U.S. patent application number 10/504485 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for panel connection.
Invention is credited to Schmidt, Detlev.
Application Number | 20050115184 10/504485 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29719300 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050115184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmidt, Detlev |
June 2, 2005 |
Panel connection
Abstract
A panel connection for, in particular, floor panels makes
provision for two tongues (14a, 14b) which engage in a groove (16)
without any web or wedge locking said tongues.
Inventors: |
Schmidt, Detlev; (Rammingen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MESMER & DELEAULT, PLLC
41 BROOK STREET
MANCHESTER
NH
03104
US
|
Family ID: |
29719300 |
Appl. No.: |
10/504485 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
June 17, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP03/06385 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/578 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 15/02 20130101;
E04F 2201/0115 20130101; E04F 2201/041 20130101; E04F 15/04
20130101; E04F 13/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/578 |
International
Class: |
E04C 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2002 |
DE |
102 27 607.2 |
Claims
1. Panel, in particular a floor panel (10, 12), having two integral
tongues, an upper tongue (14a) and a lower tongue (14b), on one
side and a groove (16) formed out in the material of the panel on
the opposite side, which tongues and groove are constructed in such
a way that a number of panels can be connected to one another by
the joining-together of the tongues (14a, 14b) and grooves (16),
the tongue-and-groove connection being provided with interlatching
means (18, 20) which prevent the separation of two panels,
characterised in that the tips (28, 30) of the tongues (14a, 14b)
protrude freely into the groove (16) on the inside in the
joined-together condition.
2. Panel according to claim 1, characterised in that the base (16a)
of the groove (16) is round.
3. Panel according to claim 1, characterised in that a vacant
indentation (32) having a depth (34) of at least 1 mm is provided
between the tongues (14a, 14b) in the joined-together
condition.
4. Panel according to claim 1, characterised in that the
interlatching means (18, 20) are disposed on the upper tongue
(14a).
5. Panel according to claim 1, characterised in that the lower
tongue (14b) is shorter than the upper tongue (14a).
6. Panel according to claim 1, characterised in that a region (26)
with continuous support from top to bottom is provided at or near a
junction plane (24) of two panels (10, 12) which have been joined
together.
7. Panel according to claim 6, characterised in that the region
(26) of continuous support is at least 1 mm wide.
8. Panel according to claim 6, characterised in that the region
(26) of continuous support is at least 1.5 mm wide.
9. Panel according to claim 5, characterised in that the lower
tongue (14b) is rounded off at the bottom at its tip (30).
10. Panel according to claim 1, characterised in that a lower
bottom projection (12a), which delimits the groove (16) at the
bottom, protrudes at least 1.5 mm (distance 36) beyond the tip (30)
of the lower tongue (14b) in the joined-together condition.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a panel, in particular a floor
panel, having two tongues on one side and a groove on the opposite
side, which tongues and groove are constructed in such a way that a
number of panels can be connected to one another by the
joining-together of said tongues and grooves, the tongue-and-groove
connection being provided with interlatching means which prevent
the separation of two panels.
[0002] Such a panel is known from DE 100 08 108 C1. In that
instance, a wedge-shaped projection protrudes between the tongues
from the base of the groove, said projection supporting the free
ends of said tongues on the faces of the wedge.
[0003] This prior art poses problems in practice. The wedge-shaped
projection requires considerable over-defining of the system, for
which reason close tolerance requirements, which can be adhered to
only with very high outlay, if at all, arise in the course of
manufacture. The lengths of the tongues, the dimensions of the
wedge-shaped projection and the individual angles, as well as the
dimensions of all the elements in the vertical direction (the
vertical direction is perpendicular to the panel), are extremely
critical. The detachment of the panels from one another is also
rather difficult, and associated with the risk of breakage, because
of the tilting of the parts that occurs in the case of this prior
art.
[0004] WO 01/48331 A1 describes a panel connection for, for
example, floor panels, which has a tongue-and-groove connection
that passes through a junction plane between adjacent panels, a
so-called "locking peg on the floor side" being provided with
latching means and said locking peg being functionally separate
from the tongue-and-groove connection.
[0005] German Utility Model 200 18 760 indicates a
tongue-and-groove connection for panels, in which a double tongue
is used with a latching contour on the upper side of the panel.
[0006] The object underlying the invention is to provide a panel in
which a reliable connection between adjacent panels can be produced
by simple means. In this context, "simple means" signifies, in
particular, simple tools, the least critical tolerances possible in
manufacture, and also the lowest possible demands on the material
of the panel. For the purposes of the invention, a "reliable
connection" signifies, in particular, high long-term stability of
the connection against drifting-apart of the panels, and also
simple assembly of panels and relatively risk-free detachment of
fitted panels from one another.
[0007] According to the invention, these goals are achieved, in a
panel of the type initially mentioned, through the fact that, when
two panels are in the joined-together condition, the tips of the
two tongues protrude freely into the groove.
[0008] According to the invention, therefore, there is no need to
form out, in the base of the groove, any additional functional
element which, after the fashion of a wedge-shaped projection, for
instance, as in the prior art explained above, engages between the
tongues and at the same time supports the latter in the upward and
downward directions.
[0009] According to a preferred configuration of the invention,
provision is made for the base of the groove to be rounded. This
benefits the elasticity of the tongue-and-groove connection as a
whole, and also reduces the risk of cracks, i.e. benefits the
stability of the connection.
[0010] Another preferred configuration of the invention makes
provision for a vacant indentation having a depth of at least 1 mm,
and preferably 1.5 mm, to be provided between the tongues in the
joined-together condition.
[0011] This exemplified embodiment of the invention can also be
further developed to the effect that the depth of the aforesaid
vacant indentation amounts to at least 2 mm or at least 2.5 mm. The
depth of this indentation largely determines the springiness of the
tongues. Said springiness in turn determines, on the one hand, the
stability of the interlatching arrangement and, on the other, the
degree of resistance both when assembling two panels and when
detaching them from one another.
[0012] Particularly simple detachment of the panels from one
another comes about if, according to a preferred further
configuration of the invention, the interlatching means are
disposed on the upper tongue. In this case, a projection on said
upper tongue preferably protrudes upwards and engages in a recess
which is formed out in the upper boundary of the groove (i.e., the
upper side wall of the groove) in the adjacent panel. In the
assembled condition, a small clearance which is not filled up by
the projection is, in this case, preferably left in the
depression.
[0013] According to another preferred configuration of the
invention, provision is made for the lower tongue to be shorter
than the other tongue. This facilitates, in particular, the
detachment of two panels from one another and, in the process,
reduces the danger of breakage. When reference is made to "top" and
"bottom" in the context of this invention, these indications relate
to the usual use of the panels as a floor covering, and "top"
therefore means vertically opposite to the direction of
gravitational force, and "bottom" conversely means vertically in
the direction of gravitational force, i.e. lying directly on the
ground. If, on the other hand, the panels are not used on the
floor, that is to say are used on a wall, for example, the terms
are understood in an analogous manner, to the effect that "bottom"
means: facing the wall.
[0014] In the case of the prior art initially mentioned, when two
panels are in the assembled condition, there are cavities in the
region of the junction plane, i.e. a section perpendicular to the
surface of the panels in, or in the vicinity of, the junction plane
intersects cavities. This is critical to the stability of the
connection.
[0015] According to another, particularly preferred aspect of the
present invention, therefore, provision is made for a region with
continuous support from top to bottom to be provided at the
junction plane of two panels which are joined together.
[0016] This means that a section perpendicular to the surface of
the panels in, or in the vicinity of, the junction plane,
intersects, at least over a certain width (that is to say, measured
in the horizontal direction, i.e. in the direction parallel to the
surface of the panels), material which is solid overall, that is to
say intersects no cavities (air spaces or spaces with an adhesive
filling or the like) worth mentioning.
[0017] According to another preferred configuration of the
invention, provision is made for the lower tongue to be slightly
rounded-off on the underside at its tip. This facilitates, in
particular, the detachment of the panels from one another, but also
their assembly. In this case, therefore, the lower tongue is
preferably shaped asymmetrically at its tip, with a rounded-off
portion on the underside.
[0018] Another preferred configuration of the invention makes
provision for a lower bottom projection, which delimits the groove
at the bottom, to protrude at least 1.5 mm beyond the tip of the
lower tongue (distance 36) in the joined-together condition.
[0019] An exemplified embodiment of the invention will be described
below with the aid of the drawings.
[0020] FIG. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a section through a first
exemplified embodiment of a connection between two floor panels;
and
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic section through a second
exemplified embodiment of a connection between two floor
panels.
[0022] In the drawings, components which correspond, and are
functionally similar, to one another are provided with the same
reference symbols.
[0023] The floor panels 10, 12 are represented, solely in the
region of their tongue-and-groove connection, in FIGS. 1 and 2. It
is understood that the panel 10 has a groove on its left side (not
represented) like the panel 12, and that, correspondingly, the
panel 12 has a double tongue on its right side (not represented)
like the panel 10.
[0024] In accordance with FIG. 1, the tongue-and-groove connection
has two tongues 14a, 14b which are constructed so as to be integral
(in one piece) with the panel 10 and which jut out from the latter
in the horizontal direction. The terms "horizontal" and "vertical"
will be used here with reference to the use of the panels as a
floor covering.
[0025] The lower tongue 14b is represented in the figure with a
cross-hatched region 14c at its tip. This cross-hatching indicates
that the horizontal length of the tongue 14b can be varied,
approximately by the span of the cross-hatched region, something
which will be explained in greater detail further on.
[0026] When the panels are assembled, the two tongues 14a, 14b
engage in a groove 16 in the panel 12. At its base 16a, the groove
16 does not have any projection that comes into engagement with the
two tongues 14a, 14b in the assembled condition. Rather, said
groove 16 has a rounded-off base 16a. This has a number of
advantages: In contrast to a groove that has corners in the region
of its base, the danger of cracks or even of a break is greatly
reduced. Furthermore, the round configuration of the groove,
coupled with high elasticity, permits a diminution in the cavity
formed, and thus an improvement in the stability of the panel
connection. In the exemplified embodiment represented, the base 16a
of the groove is approximately semicircular in shape and merges
tangentially into the parallel side faces of said groove 16.
[0027] On its upper side, the upper tongue 14a has a projection 18
which engages in a latching manner in a depression 20 in the upper
outrigger 12b of the panel 12, in order to prevent separation of
the panels 10, 12 in the horizontal direction in a force-locking
manner. The connection therefore does not necessarily need any
glue. In the assembled condition, a clearance is left in the
depression 20, as is represented.
[0028] This configuration of the interlatching means permits simple
disengagement of the connection without the danger of breakage.
Simple unlatching and also simple assembly are further benefited by
the fact that the two tongues 14a, 14b engage freely in the groove
16, that is to say a certain elastic relative movement of the two
tongues towards one another is possible in the assembled condition.
It has proved to be the case that, in spite of this elasticity,
very satisfactory resistance of the connection to coming undone in
the horizontal direction is nevertheless achieved with that
construction of the tongue-and-groove connection which is
represented. The interlocking on the upper side permits clean and
close contact of the panels against one another over their entire
lateral edges. When the connection is taken apart, the lower tongue
14b can be easily detached from the groove, without there being any
danger of breakage, since it is neither latched in, nor pressed
into a constrained location by a wedge.
[0029] The drawing also shows the junction plane 24 between the two
connected panels 10, 12. Located directly below the upper joining
line between the two panels is a clearance 22 which may optionally
accommodate glue and also, apart from that, promotes precise
contact of the two panels in the region of their upper joining
line.
[0030] Represented in the figure, next to, and to the right of, the
junction plane 24, is a region 26 in which a force vector acting
vertically from above over the entire connection from top to bottom
is completely absorbed by solid material. For this purpose, the
regions which are cross-hatched in the figure are important: First
of all, the figure shows a cross-hatched region 10a which can be
described as a "feather-arm support". Said region 10a is an
integral (one-piece) constituent part of the panel 10, i.e. the
material of said panel 10 extends fully into the cross-hatched
region 10a. The only clearance then remaining between the tongues
14a, 14b is the indentation 32. As has been mentioned above, it is
possible, in a modification to the exemplified embodiment shown in
the figure, to vary the cross-hatched region 10a, i.e. the
right-hand boundary of said region 10a can be altered, in
accordance with the double arrow represented, towards the left or
even towards the right. It is possible to alter the springiness of
the tongues 14a, 14b, depending upon the horizontal length of the
region 10a. On the other hand, the size of the region 10a defines
the region 26 over which, continuously from top to bottom, a force
operating vertically in the region of the junction plane is
absorbed, without cavities, by solid material. For this purpose,
the bottom projection 12a of the right-hand panel 12, which
projection is represented at the bottom in the figure, is also
significant. The material of the bottom projection 12a is formed
out in a manner integral (in one piece) with the material of the
right-hand panel 12, and the horizontal length of said bottom
projection 12a can be varied over the cross-hatched region, in
which connection two possible extreme locations are represented in
the figure:
[0031] In accordance with one extreme location, that bottom
projection 12a of the panel 12 which is represented in a
cross-hatched manner reaches as far as the junction plane 24, but
in the other extreme location, said bottom projection 12a is
substantially shorter and reaches under the lower tongue 14b only
by the span 36, i.e. the lower bottom projection 12a is precisely
long enough to come into plane-parallel contact, with satisfactory,
stable support, with the lower face of the tongue 14b. The bottom
projection 12a is preferably constructed in such a way that it
protrudes into the region 26 by more than 1 mm, and preferably more
than 1.5 mm, in order to thus guarantee that a force vector acting
perpendicularly (vertically) in the region 26 is absorbed at every
point by material.
[0032] In the shaping of the panel connection, the dimensions are
important. The figure shows said panel connection on a scale of
10:1. In the exemplified embodiment represented, the overall height
of the two panels (in the vertical direction) amounts to 7 mm.
[0033] The horizontal length of the lower tongue 14b can likewise
be varied within the bounds of the cross-hatched region 14c. As is
represented in the exemplified embodiment, the maximum horizontal
length of the lower tongue 14b is less than the horizontal length
of the upper tongue 14a, i.e. the tip 30 of the lower tongue 14b
lies closer to the junction plane 24 than the tip 28 of the upper
tongue 14a. The span 34, i.e. the depth of the vacant indentation
32 with reference to the front end of the tongue 14b, is critical
to the elasticity of the lower tongue 14b, which elasticity is
significant, particularly when unlatching the connection. In the
course of the unlatching operation, a panel is normally raised
slightly. In the process, the lower tongue 14b has to deflect
elastically a little. In order to benefit this possibility of
deflection and to reduce the forces on the tongue 14b, the latter
is rounded-off on its underside, as is represented in the
figure.
[0034] The horizontal length of the lower bottom projection 12a,
which can also be described as a "side of the groove" with
reference to the groove 16, is coordinated with the length of the
lower tongue 14b. One extreme combination is represented in the
figure by those regions of the bottom projection 12a and tongue 14b
which have single hatching. Another extreme combination is
represented in the figure by the double-hatched (chequered) regions
of said elements. In one preferred exemplified embodiment, what
applies as regards the horizontal length of the tongue 14b is that
at least half the latter protrudes into the region 26. For accurate
assembly, it is also advantageous to take the end face 10b of the
panel 10, which end face lies opposite the bottom projection 12a,
back behind the junction plane 24.
[0035] That construction of the panel connection which is
represented permits the use of less expensive materials than the
comparable prior art (which requires more outlay,
construction-wise). It is also possible, depending upon the choice
of the variable dimensions explained above, to use lower-quality
HDF as the material or even MDF as well. Compared with the prior
art, the tongues 14a, 14b may be of relatively robust dimensions,
i.e. their dimensions in the vertical direction may be relatively
large. In the exemplified embodiment represented, the upper tongue
14a has a vertical height of about 1.3 mm (other than in the region
of the projection 18), while the lower tongue 14b has a vertical
dimension of 1.2 mm. When the floor panel has a thickness of 7 mm,
dimensions of 1 to 1.4 mm are generally eligible for consideration
for the upper tongue 14a, and dimensions of 1 to 1.3 mm for the
lower tongue.
[0036] In a modification to the exemplified embodiment described
above, it is also possible for the interlatching means to be
disposed on the lower arm 14b, that is to say a downwardly pointing
nose and a corresponding recess in the bottom projection 12a may be
provided in an analogous manner. This variant is advantageous, in
particular, when no unlocking of the panels is planned.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a modification to the exemplified embodiment
described above with the aid of FIG. 1. The features which are
identical are immediately apparent from FIG. 2. Thus, for example,
in the exemplified embodiment according to FIG. 2, the lower tongue
14b likewise protrudes less far into the groove 16 than the upper
tongue 14a. As already explained above, "lower" and "upper" mean
that the first one lies closer to the ground on which the floor
panel is disposed.
[0038] In a modification to the exemplified embodiment according to
FIG. 1, the indentation 32 between the two tongues 14a, 14b has a
different shape in the exemplified embodiment according to FIG. 2.
On its inner side, the upper tongue 14a has an approximately
sinusoidal profile (cf. FIG. 2) from its tip 28 as far as the point
of connection to the lower tongue 14b. This sweeping curve, which
avoids sharp angles, is designated by the reference numeral 32 in
FIG. 2. This shaping of the underside of the upper tongue 14a leads
to increased stability of the latter and to the avoidance of cracks
when panels are taken apart. In the exemplified embodiment
according to FIG. 2, the front tip 28 of the upper tongue 14a abuts
against a point on the base of the groove 16.
[0039] Furthermore, the upper outrigger (12b) of the panels is
rounded-off in a bead-shaped manner in the exemplified embodiment
according to FIG. 2. This configuration likewise benefits both the
assembly and the taking-apart of the panels.
* * * * *