U.S. patent application number 10/257671 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-21 for device for assembling the longitudinal edges of panels, lath or wainscots.
Invention is credited to Becker, Arnaud.
Application Number | 20030154684 10/257671 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29404159 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030154684 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Becker, Arnaud |
August 21, 2003 |
Device for assembling the longitudinal edges of panels, lath or
wainscots
Abstract
The invention concerns a device for assembling longitudinal
edges of panels, laths or wainscots (1) consisting of a male
portion (2), for equipping the longitudinal edge of said panels,
laths or wainscots (1) and of a female portion (3) with matching
shape for equipping the other longitudinal edge of the panels,
laths or wainscots (1). The male portion (2) is in the form of a
longitudinal tongue inclined upwards, the female portion (3) having
matching cross-section and inclination. The device is equipped with
vertical load transfer elements in service position. The invention
is more particularly useful in the building sector, in particular
for flooring, wall facing or ceiling finish, with panels, laths or
wainscots made of different materials, such as wood, skin materials
and synthetic materials.
Inventors: |
Becker, Arnaud; (Brumath,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Family ID: |
29404159 |
Appl. No.: |
10/257671 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
April 4, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR01/01012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/592.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 2201/027 20130101;
E04F 15/04 20130101; F16B 5/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/592.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 002/08; E04B
002/18; E04B 002/32; E04B 002/46 |
Claims
1. Assembly device for the longitudinal edges of panels, laths or
wainscots (1), constituted by a male portion (2) on a longitudinal
edge of said panels, laths or wainscots (1) and by a female portion
(3) of corresponding shape on the other longitudinal edge of said
panels, laths or wainscots (1), characterized in that the male
portion (2) is present in the form of a longitudinal upwardly
inclined tongue, the female portion (3) having a corresponding
cross-section and inclination, and in that it is provided with
vertical load transfer means in the service position.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical
load transfer means is present in the form of at least one
longitudinal shoulder (4) connecting at least the lower edge of the
inclined tongue (2), forming the male portion of the device, to the
corresponding longitudinal edge, and at least one other shoulder
(5) provided on the corresponding edge delimiting the female
portion (3) of the assembly device, these shoulders (4 and 5) being
parallel to the upper and lower planes (1' and 1") of the panels,
laths or wainscots (1).
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the male
portion (2) in the form of a longitudinal tongue has a
cross-section that narrows from the longitudinal edge of the panel,
lath or wainscot (1) in the direction of the free edge of said
tongue.
4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the shoulder
(4) projects from the corresponding longitudinal edge of the panel,
lath or wainscot (1) and is connected to the male portion in the
form of a tongue (2) by a right angle edge, the corresponding
shoulder (5) being present in the form of a corner recess of the
corresponding edge of the panel, lath or wainscot (1).
5. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the shoulder
(4) is present in the form of a surface of a longitudinal throat,
whose other surface forms a surface of the longitudinal tongue
constituting a male portion (2), the shoulder (5) thus constituting
a surface of a projecting edge of corresponding shape to that of
the throat, whose other surface is constituted by one of the walls
forming the recess constituting the female portion (3).
6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical
load transfer means is constituted by two longitudinal shoulders
(4) extending on opposite sides of the inclined tongue (2), forming
a male portion of the device, and connecting the corresponding
edges of said tongue to the corresponding longitudinal edge, and by
two other shoulders (5) provided on the corresponding edge
delimiting the female portion (3) of the assembly device and
delimiting a straight longitudinal groove, these shoulders (4 and
5) being parallel to the upper and lower planes (1' and 1") of the
panels, laths or wainscots (1).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of construction,
in particular coverings for the ground, walls or ceilings,
particularly in the form of panels, laths or wainscots of different
materials, such as wood, layered materials, synthetic materials . .
. , and has for its object a device for assembling the longitudinal
edges of such panels, laths or wainscots.
[0002] At present, elements for covering the ground, walls or
ceilings are generally present in the form of panels, laths or
wainscots produced of different materials, such as solid wood,
compressed particles provided with a synthetic coating or solid
wood or entirely in synthetic material having a textured visible
surface.
[0003] These different elements are generally assembled together by
known means of the tongue and groove type. Two adjacent sides of
these elements are for example provided with a tongue adapted to
coact with grooves provided on two corresponding sides of the
corresponding elements. Thus, each element has, on the one hand,
two tongues on two adjacent sides, the two other sides being
provided with grooves.
[0004] These assembly means generally permit correctly satisfying
the requirements of connection of the elements together and of
positioning these elements at the same level but require, to hold
the assembly and for perfect joining, the use of glue or else
gripping means on the lower surface and securement of the latter to
battens or the like.
[0005] However, securement to a batten invariably leads to the
creation of a vacuum below the covering elements, which is often
incompatible with the desired effect, namely for example for
positioning the ground coverings called floating parquet. Thus, in
such a case, the covering elements must be disposed directly on a
support layer or the like, possibly with the interposition of a
sound and/or heat insulating element. In such a case, it is
necessary to provide gluing of the different elements together at
the level of their longitudinal and lateral joints of the tongue
and groove type.
[0006] To avoid these drawbacks, it has been proposed to provide
panels, laths or wainscots, near their tongue and groove assembly
means along their longitudinal edges, with a mechanical device
improving the quality of said assembly by creating of an
anti-dislocation means in the assembled position, which is to say
when two successive elements are assemble by tongue and groove and
are disposed flat. This mechanical device permits moreover, in the
position assembled flat, a movement along the longitudinal axis of
the elements, so as to promote the interfitting of their end
tongues in the corresponding end groove of the adjacent
element.
[0007] Such mechanical devices are essentially of two types, namely
using complementary locking mechanical portions, or provided with a
portion integrated by locking, and are known from EP-A-0 877 130,
EP-A-0 855484, EP-A-0 969 164, EP-A-969 163, WO-A 99/66152, WO-A
99/66151, WO-A 98/24995, WO-A 98/24994 and WO-A 97/4783.
[0008] The complementary mechanical portions are either profiles
with a cross-section in the form of a hook, or hooks uniformly
distributed along the length of the elements and coacting with
grooves of corresponding shape provided in the edges of said
elements.
[0009] Such elements of course permit a correct connection between
the panels, laths or wainscots, but require quite specific
positioning manipulations, namely, an engagement of the connecting
elements in an inclined position of the panels, laths or wainscots
relative to each other, then a return to horizontal position of
these latter for their lateral engagement, or a preliminary
arrangement of the connecting profiles of cross-section in the form
of hooks, below the edge of one of the panels, laths or wainscots
and the engagement of the other end of these profiles below the
corresponding edge of the adjacent panels, laths or wainscots, the
lateral engagement being carried out after this mechanical
connection or on the longitudinal edges.
[0010] These known supplemental mechanical connection devices have,
however, the drawback of being of a relatively complicated
construction, using simultaneously tongue and groove assemblies and
a mechanical means for holding in service position, providing any
sliding of a panel, lath or wainscot relative to another
perpendicularly to their longitudinal edges.
[0011] Moreover, in the case of a mechanical connection between
longitudinal edges by means of only the coaction of the shape of
complementary elements forming an integral portion of the panels,
laths or wainscots, and machined together with assembly tongue and
grooves, there arises, on the one hand, a problem of machining the
mechanical connecting elements and, on the other hand, a problem of
reliability over time of these mechanical connection elements.
Thus, the connection and assembly means known from the above
documents are essentially adapted to ensure perfect mounting of the
panels, laths or wainscots with an assembly without play at their
joints, equivalent to a traditional assembly by gluing the panels,
laths or wainscots together or by nailing these on support battens,
whilst permitting complete disassembly for possible remounting on
another utilization site.
[0012] The machining of the directly ready mechanical connection
elements at longitudinal edges, involves the use of relatively fine
and extremely sharp tools, so as to permit production of thin walls
that necessarily result from machining the panels, laths or
wainscots of very small thickness. As a result, the tools used are
of high cost and the machining itself requires verification at
relatively short regular intervals so as to avoid fluctuations of
dimensions arising from relatively rapid wear of the cutting tools
used. These machining problems have the logical consequence of a
corresponding increase in the cost of the panels, laths or
wainscots.
[0013] Moreover, the production of mechanical holding elements in
the form of relatively thin walls and projecting elements on these
walls gives rise to a certain fragility of these mechanical
elements which has as its result fairly rapid destruction of said
elements during repeated handling during assembly and dismounting
of the panels, laths or wainscots thus constituted. Thus, because
of the interfitting of the mechanical elements with each other and
the holding with light gripping of the corresponding longitudinal
edges of the panels, laths or wainscots thus provided, these
mechanical elements are urged by a tractive force perpendicular to
the longitudinal edges, as well as by flexure forces, during each
assembly or disassembly.
[0014] It has also been proposed, in WO-A-97/4783, to provide an
assembly and holding means in the form of a longitudinal element of
transverse cross-section of the arc of a circle, whose female
portion is on a longitudinal edge of a panel, of a lath, or of a
wainscot and whose male portion, in the form of a hook, is on the
opposite longitudinal edge. Theoretically, such an assembly permits
simultaneously perfect holding at the level of the joints, in the
service position. However, the stability of this assembly cannot be
ensured, particularly because an inequality in the ground or
support, in particular in the form of a hollow, will have as a
result the possibility of dislocation of the assembly, because
vertical load bearing has not been provided. Such an effect is
further accentuated if the blades are disposed on a flexible sound
and/or thermal insulating support. Moreover, the production of such
an assembly means by machining is totally impossible, in particular
along the edges of panels, laths or wainscots of small
thickness.
[0015] The present invention has for its object to overcome the
drawbacks of these assembly and holding devices known to date, by
providing an assembly device for the longitudinal edges of such
panels, laths or wainscots, permitting ensuring simultaneously by
shape mating, a perfect and automatic juncture of the adjacent
longitudinal edges of the panels, laths or wainscots and a
self-locking of said panels, laths or wainscots against each other,
along said longitudinal edges, in particular under a load.
[0016] To this end, the assembly device for the longitudinal edges
of such panels, laths or wainscots, which is constituted by a male
portion along a longitudinal edge of said panels, laths or
wainscots and by a female portion of corresponding shape along the
other longitudinal edge of said panels, laths or wainscots, is
characterized in that the male portion is present in the form of an
upwardly inclined longitudinal tongue, the female portion having
corresponding cross-section and inclination, and in that it is
provided with a vertical load transfer means in the service
position.
[0017] The invention will be better understood from the following
description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way
of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the
accompanying schematic drawing, in which:
[0018] FIGS. 1 to 3 show in side elevation and in crosssection,
three embodiments of the device according to the invention.
[0019] FIGS. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings show an assembly
of two panels, laths or wainscots 1 by means of an assembly device
for the longitudinal edges, which is constituted by a male portion
1 on one longitudinal edge of said panels, laths or wainscots 1 and
by a female portion 3 of corresponding shape on the other
longitudinal edge of said panels, laths or wainscots 1.
[0020] According to the invention, the male portion 2 of this
assembly device is present in the form of an upwardly inclined
longitudinal tongue, a female portion 3 having a corresponding
cross-section and inclination. Moreover, the assembly device
according to the invention is provided with a vertical load
transfer means in the service position.
[0021] This vertical load transfer means is present preferably in
the form of at least one longitudinal shoulder 4 connecting at
least the lower edge of the inclined tongue 2, forming the male
portion of the device, to the corresponding longitudinal edge and
at least one other shoulder 5 provided on the corresponding edge
delimiting the female portion 3 of the assembly device, these
shoulders 4 and 5 being parallel to the upper and lower planes 1'
and 1" of the panels, laths or wainscots 1.
[0022] The male portion 2 in the form of a longitudinal tongue
preferably has a cross-section which narrows from the longitudinal
edge of the panel, lath or wainscot 1 in the direction of the free
edge of said tongue. This, the assembly of the corresponding edges
of the panels, laths or wainscots can be easily carried out by
placing the inlet opening of the female portion 3 in registry with
the free edge of the tongue forming the male portion 2, with a
slight preliminary inclination of the panel, lath or wainscot to be
connected, this inclination progressively approaching horizontal to
the extent that the male and female portions 2 and 3 of the panels,
laths or wainscots 1 enter into coaction during assembly. Toward
the end of the assembly operation, the longitudinal shoulder or
shoulders 4 and 5, delimiting respectively the tongue forming the
male portion 2 and the opening forming the female portion 3, enter
into intimate contact and coact so as to provide an intermediate
support at the level of the joint between the panels, laths or
wainscots 1.
[0023] FIGS. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing show two possible
modified embodiments of the means for transferring the vertical
load. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the shoulder 4 can project from the
corresponding longitudinal edge of the panel, lath or wainscot 1
and is connected to the male portion in the form of a tongue 2 by a
right angle edge, the corresponding shoulder 5 being present in the
form of a recess in the corner of the corresponding edge of the
panel, lath or wainscot 1. It is also possible, as shown in FIG. 3,
that the shoulder 4 be present in the form of the surface of a
longitudinal throat, whose other surface forms a surface of the
longitudinal tongue constituting the male portion 2, the shoulder 5
thus constituting one surface of a projecting edge of a shape
corresponding to that of the throat, whose other surface is
constituted by one of the walls forming the recess constituting the
female portion 3.
[0024] According to a modified embodiment of the invention and as
shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing, the vertical load
transfer means is preferably constituted by two longitudinal
shoulders 4 extending on opposite sides of the inclined tongue 2,
forming the male portion of the device, and connecting the
corresponding edges of said tongue to the corresponding
longitudinal edge, and by two other shoulders 5 provided on the
corresponding edge delimiting the female portion 3 of the assembly
device and delimiting a straight longitudinal groove, these
shoulders 4 and 5 being parallel to the upper and lower planes 1'
and 1" of the panels, laths or wainscots 1.
[0025] Such an embodiment of the load transfer means permits
ensuring maximum transfer of the load between two consecutive
panels, laths or wainscots at the level of their joint whilst
ensuring a perfect self-locking and self-jointing of said panels,
laths or wainscots 1.
[0026] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to provide panels,
laths or wainscots, whose assembly of the longitudinal edges
permits a self-locking and a self-jointing of said edges, as well
as self-blocking of said panels, laths or wainscots in the mounted
position, whilst permitting a longitudinal displacement of said
panels, laths or wainscots 1 for their assembly by tongue and
groove along their lateral edges.
[0027] Moreover, the invention permits optimum absorption and
distribution of the loads, equivalent to that of a current tongue
and groove assembly.
[0028] The panels, laths or wainscots thus provided can be machined
in a particularly simple manner with existing tools and with
reduced requirement for intermediate adjustment of the tools. Thus,
the forming of the tongue comprising the male portion 2, as well as
of the shoulders 4, can be carried out by means of milling saws of
relatively simple shape, the recess forming the female portion 3,
as well as the shoulders 5 being adapted also to be formed by means
of such milling saws.
[0029] As a result, the panels, laths or wainscots thus produced
are of less price than those known at present.
[0030] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Modifications remain possible, particularly as to the construction
of the various elements or by substitution of technical
equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection
of the invention.
* * * * *