Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F15/00—Flooring
  • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F15/00—Flooring
  • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
  • E04F15/04—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements only of wood or with a top layer of wood, e.g. with wooden or metal connecting members
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
  • E04F2201/01—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
  • E04F2201/01—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship
  • E04F2201/0138—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates or panels perpendicular to the main plane
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
  • E04F2201/01—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship
  • E04F2201/0153—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is parallel to the abutting edges, possibly combined with a sliding movement

Definitions

• the present invention refers to a floor covering formed by panels constituted by boards of cellulose fibers or wood shavings bound with synthetic resins, generally known in the art as MDF (Medium Density Fiberboards), HDF (High Density Fiberboards) and faced chipboards, as well as a method for the assembly thereof.
• MDF Medium Density Fiberboards
• HDF High Density Fiberboards
• faced chipboards as well as a method for the assembly thereof.
• the edges of the panels are profiled so as to bring about tongue-and-groove joints between contiguous panels.
• additional measures are quite often taken such as glueing the edges or using metal or plastic mtercormecting profiles.
• the edges of the panels have profiles that are so shaped as to feature snap-fit joining elements, in such a manner as to do away with the need for additional components or materials to be used for strengthening the joints.
• This solution which is described in WO 94/1628, WO 96/27719 and WO 96/27721 , is however not effective in ensuring an adequate and firm stability along all sides of the panels.
• a solution has been proposed more recently (WO 97/47834) in which the edges of the panels are provided with mutually engaging elements in the form of tongues and grooves, which are provided with mechanical locking means adapted to prevent the edges from possibly separating from each other.
• locking means are provided integrally with the related panel and the coupling is brought about laterally along the edges by just snap-fitting and/or rotating them into fastening.
• the locking means are represented by inclined-plane profiles that are forced elastically into coupling.
• the preferred inclination of the coupling surfaces is indicated to lie anywhere between 30° and 70° with respect to the horizontal plane.
• the contours of the edges of such panels appear to be rather complex, since the aim is to obtain the coupling along the longitudinal edges through a rotary movement and subsequent snap-fit engagement, while the butt joints are obtained directly by snap-fitting, preferably with the use of tools. In substance, it therefore ensues that, when the panels are so assembled, the locking means exert a tension that forces contiguous panels against each other.
• the floor covering according to the present invention therefore allows for materials without any particular solidity characteristics to be used in manufacturing said panels, as well as for the use of any kind of tools whatsoever to be done away when assembling and disassembling the same floor covering.
• the panels are provided with an appropriately profiled edge, so that any breaking or rupture that might possibly occur in use, would develop at the base thereof, and along a vertical section, so as to avoid any projection or prominence of the edge with respect to the plane of the floor.
• a floor covering according to the present invention which is essentially characterized in that the corresponding longitudinal edges of two contiguous panels are associated with each other by overlapping and engage each other without any interference along at least a vertical plane, so as to bring about a self-levelling and self-stabilizing connection under load, with the possibility for the edges to longitudinally slide relative to each other.
• FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the longitudinal edges of two panels in the phase in which the respective side profiles engage each other;
• FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the longitudinal edges of the two panels of Figure 2 in their fully engaged condition
• FIGS. 4 to 6 are partial cross-sectional views of the longitudinal edges of the two panels of Figure 3 under different load conditions;
• Figure 7 is an interrupted longitudinal sectional view of the panel of Figure 1 ;
• FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the butt sides of two contiguous panels with their respective profiles fully engaging each other;
• FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a floor covering in the phase in which the butt profiles of the panels are assembled.
• the present invention refers to a floor covering formed by panels of such a material as MDF, HDF or faced-chipboard, ie. manufactured out of board made of fibers or wooden chips impregnated with synthetic resins and faced on their surfaces with either natural or synthetic materials. These panels may have different shapes and dimensions, but they are usually rectangular and are joined with each other along all of their perimetral edges.
• a panel 10 (Fig. 1) has, on two opposite sides thereof, a section with conjugate profiles, so that two contiguous panels will then be able to join with each other along engagement surfaces that are orthogonal with respect to each other.
• the cross-sectional profile of the panel 10 can be noticed to include a portion 11 which has a reduced height with respect to the overall height of the panel and extends horizontally along the same plane as the upper plane of the panel.
• This portion 11 further extends downwards, thereby forming a laterally protruding rib 12 which, in a preferred manner, is interrupted at one or more points, ie. along one or more tracts, along its overall extension.
• the portion 11 has on its lower side a plane horizontal surface 13 and a recess 14, the bottom of which is also plane and substantially horizontal.
• the surface 13 and the recess 14 are connected by a tract of inclined surface 15.
• the the other, ie. opposite side of the panel 10 has in turn a portion 16 which has again a reduced height with respect to the overall height of the panel and extends horizontally along the same plane as the lower surface of the panel.
• the portion 16 further extends upwards with a rib 17 which extends all along the side of the panel and whose upper surface 18 is substantially horizontal.
• the portion 16 has furthermore a horizontal plane surface 19 at a lower level than the level of the surface 18 and connected to the latter through a vertical groove 20 opening upwards.
• the side of the panel is provided with a recess 21.
• the groove 20 forms a balanced union joint specially adapted to lead towards the floor, underneath the neutral axis of the panel, the strains induced by expansions which the panel itself may undergo in use, thereby mamtaining the coplanarity of the treading surface.
• the minimum section of the panel under the groove 20 shall at most be equal to one fourth of the overall thickness of the panel.
• Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the longitudinal sides of two panels 10 in the phase in which the respective profiles thereof are mutually engaging.
• the panel that has to be inserted (the one shown on the right side of the Figure) is drawn in an inclined position alongside the already arranged matching panel, while the insertion is made by simply rotating the edge portion 11 of the panel to be inserted with respect to the edge portion 16 of the matching panel already arranged in position.
• the rib 12 and the corresponding accomodating seat 21 hereby form the fulcrum about which the rotary motion for assembling and disassembling the panels is performed.
• the upper resting plane between the rib 12 and its seat 21 must be horizontal and positioned very close to or coinciding with the neutral axis of the cross-section of the panel.
• the insertion is facilitated by the fact that the vertical engagement profiles of the two panels are "relieved", ie. slightly beveled in order to prevent them from mutually interfering when they are coupled together and enter into contact with each other.
• Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the detail shown in Figure 2, however in the phase in which the engagement, ie. coupling between the two contiguous panels has been completed. It should be noticed that the panels turn out to be simply resting on each other along a horizontal plane on which the lower surface 13 of the portion 11 of a panel (ie. the one shown in the left side of the
• Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the detail of the longitudinal coupling of two panels with each other under differing conditions of load applied to the floor.
• Figure 4 illustrates the case in which a force F, applied to the upper end portion of the panel on the right side of the Figure, triggers a reaction R of the slab under the floor, wherein said reaction is transmitted through the mutual contact surfaces along the path indicated by the arrows inside the panels.
• a force F applied to the upper end portion of the panel on the right side of the Figure
• a reaction R of the slab under the floor is transmitted inside the panels where it balances at the vertical contact surfaces.
• Figure 7 is an interrupted longitudinal-section view of the panel illustrated in Figure 1, while Figure 8 is a partial sectional view of the butt sides of two contiguous panels 10 with the respective profiles in a fully engaged condition.
• a panel ie. the one on the left-hand side of the Figure
• the other panel ie. the one on the right-hand side of the Figure
• the planes 31 and 35 can be noticed to be mutually coupled by simply resting on each other when the two panels are assembled, while the hook-like end portions 33 and 36 engage each other.
• Figure 9 is a partial perspective view the positioning phase for the butt assembly of the panels of Figure 8.
• the assembly is carried out by bringing the longitudinal edge of a panel 10 to rest, according to the arrow A, on the corresponding edges of the contiguous panels, while bringing the butt edges 37 and 38 of the panels to be assembled into mutual contact.
• the panel 10 is rotated according to the arrow B, while causing, with a scissor-like motion according to a vertical plane, the edge 37 to close against the edge 38, until the panel 10 is fully coplanar with the contiguous panels.
• the floor covering according to the present invention as obtained by assembling panels having the afore described profile and coupled together by simply rotating and laying them down to rest on each other, without any forced engagement of the edges, is self-levelling and self-stabilizing under load conditions.

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11395517

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (34)

Families Citing this family (33)

Citations (7)

• 1999
  • 1999-04-20 IT IT1999PN000038A patent/IT1311220B1/it active
  • 1999-12-01 EP EP99961045A patent/EP1171679A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-12-01 CA CA002370705A patent/CA2370705A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-12-01 AU AU17795/00A patent/AU1779500A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-12-01 WO PCT/EP1999/009390 patent/WO2000063510A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-12-17 AR ARP990106522A patent/AR020554A1/es unknown
• 2001
  • 2001-10-22 US US10/047,661 patent/US20020178681A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (7)

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