U.S. patent application number 11/038472 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-27 for flooring panel.
Invention is credited to Hecht, Hendrik.
Application Number | 20050235593 11/038472 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32240778 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050235593 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hecht, Hendrik |
October 27, 2005 |
Flooring panel
Abstract
A panel, in particular a flooring panel, of a wood material
which is provided with a mechanism for the detachable connection of
a least two panels, whereby form-fitting elements for locking in
the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction with another
panel are embodied on at least one lateral edge of a first panel,
whereby a chamfer is embodied on at least one lateral edge starting
from an upper side. The chamfer or the form-fitting elements are
coated or impregnated with at least one melamine layer.
Inventors: |
Hecht, Hendrik; (Potsdam,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Family ID: |
32240778 |
Appl. No.: |
11/038472 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/592.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 2201/0153 20130101;
B44C 5/043 20130101; E04F 15/02033 20130101; E04F 15/02 20130101;
E04F 15/04 20130101; E04F 2201/0115 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/592.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 002/08; E04B
002/18; E04B 002/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 24, 2004 |
DE |
20 2004 001 037.2 |
Claims
1. A panel of a wood material which is provided with means for the
detachable connection of a least two panels, form-fitting elements
for locking in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction
with another panel are embodied on at least one lateral edge of a
first panel, a chamfer is embodied on at least one lateral edge
starting from an upper side, the chamfer or the form-fitting
elements are coated or impregnated with at least one melamine
layer.
2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein a decorative layer is
applied to an upper side of the panel and the melamine layer
features a color approximating the decorative layer.
3. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the decorative layer is
a varnish layer applied on the chamfer of the panel or the chamfer
is printed and subsequently the melamine layer is applied.
4. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the chamfer is varnished
or printed.
5. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel includes a
core made of medium density fibreboard (MDF) or high density
fibreboard (HDF) material compressed at high pressure during
production.
6. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel includes a
core made of oriented strand board (OSB) materials, chip board or
laminated wood.
7. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the chamfer in a locked
state of adjoining panels form a V-shaped vertical joint.
8. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the
chamfer is provided with a varnish layer, a paper layer or a print
which is coated with the at least one melamine layer.
9. The panel according to claim 8, wherein the varnish is an opaque
varnish.
10. A panel comprising form-fitting elements for locking in a
vertical direction and in a horizontal direction with another panel
are provided on at least one lateral edge of a first panel, a
chamfer is provided on at least one lateral edge starting from an
upper side, the chamfer or the form-fitting elements are coated or
impregnated with at least one melamine layer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a panel, in particular a flooring
panel, of a wood material which is provided with means for the
detachable connection of a least two panels. Form-fitting elements
for locking in the vertical direction and in the horizontal
direction with another panel are embodied on at least one lateral
edge of a first panel, whereby a chamfer is embodied on at least
one lateral edge starting from an upper side of the panel.
[0003] 2. Discussion of Background Information
[0004] A panel is known from WO 01/96688 A1. In the conventional
art, the chamfer produced by milling is either left untreated or is
covered by a decorative strip which is either laminated onto it or
adhered to it. A method of this type is very expensive and requires
extremely precise work, since the chamfers are very narrow. The
production costs are high due to the correspondingly slower process
speeds; likewise, inexact gluing results in visually less appealing
products or defective cover, which leads to swelling of the wood
material when penetrated by liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the invention is to provide an improved panel
with respect to surface sealing and an economically more effective
method for producing such a panel.
[0006] This object is attained according to the invention in that
the embodied chamfer or the form-fitting elements are coated with
at least one melamine layer through which a higher durability of
the panel can be achieved with regard to mechanical wear or against
penetration by water. Furthermore, a higher quality is ensured with
respect to the prior art with regard to the sealing of the chamfer
surface.
[0007] It is provided in a further development that a decorative
layer is applied on the upper side of the panel, which decorative
layer preferably comprises a melamine-impregnated paper layer. A
decorative layer of paper is likewise applied to the surface of the
chamfer, alternatively the chamfer is varnished or printed,
preferably in the color of the decorative layer. Subsequently, the
chamfer thus treated is coated or impregnated with melamine through
which the desired resistance to water or mechanical wear is
achieved. This coating of the chamfer or of the locking elements
simultaneously serves to seal the wood material against mechanical
stress and penetration by moisture or foreign bodies. The varnish
layer applied or the printing alternatively features a color
approximating the decorative layer so that the most uniform
coloring of the surface in the installed state is achieved.
Alternatively, contrasting colors can be provided based on esthetic
preferences, so that the V-shaped vertical joint produced between
two panels is emphasized. A color design is particularly
advantageous when the carrier plate of the decorative layer was
made of a fiber material which generally features a design that is
less appealing in terms of color. If other wood materials are used,
e.g., with the use of chipboard or OSB (Oriented Strand Boards), a
decorative layer can be omitted; however, transparent films or
transparent protective layers are usually pressed onto the surfaces
of such materials in order to ensure a surface protection.
[0008] To increase throughput speeds, it is provided that the
melamine applied is dried via a thermal radiator or a heating duct.
To avoid premature hardening or clotting or a non-uniform coating,
it is provided that a standard climate is created in the vicinity
of the application head so that the melamine or varnish application
is always carried out under the same microclimatic conditions. This
occurs in that the air in the vicinity of the varnish head is
humidified.
[0009] Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present
invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure
and the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention is described in the detailed
description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of
drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments
of the present invention, in which like reference numerals
represent similar parts throughout the several views of the
drawings, and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a panel in
cross-sectional view; and
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a panel 1 in a cross-sectional view which is
coated on an upper side 15 with a decorative layer 16 and on an
under side 5 with a so-called counteracting layer 6. The core 10 of
the panel 1 is made of an MDF or HDF material and is compressed at
high pressure during production. The decorative layer 16 and the
counteracting layer 6 serve as a stabilizing film and give the
panel 1 a durable surface. The form-fitting elements 2, 3 arranged
on the lateral edges are used to lock several panels to one another
and lock the panels both in the horizontal direction H and in the
vertical direction V. In addition to the embodiment shown, laying
profiles or pivot profiles can also be available on the lateral
edges.
[0014] Alternatively to the use of fiberboards as core 10, OSB
materials, chipboard or laminated wood can be used. Starting from
the upper side 15, one chamfer 20 each is milled out on both
lateral edges, which chamfers in the locked state form a V-shaped
vertical joint.
[0015] In order to avoid a swelling of the core 10 and in order to
make the panel 1 more durable, it is provided that the surfaces of
the chamfers 20 are provided with a varnish layer, a paper layer or
a print which are coated with a melamine layer 21.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the panel 1 in an enlarged
representation from which it can be discerned that material was
removed, preferably milled, from the decorative layer 16 and the
core 10 on one lateral edge of the panel 1. This chamfer 20
preferably arranged at an angle of 45.degree. is coated with a
melamine layer 21, the melamine layer 21 being applied after
varnishing, printing or coating with a paper layer.
[0017] The varnish can be embodied as an opaque varnish if the core
10 of the panel 1 has an undesirable color. In particular, when
natural woods are used, as with a laminated wood or with OSB, no
decorative layer needs to be present, instead a surface sealing,
e.g., through a transparent melamine film, is sufficient. The
varnish to be applied and the melamine layer 21 for sealing the
chamber 20 then can also be transparent.
[0018] Alternatively to a color-coordinated embodiment of the
varnish layer or the melamine layer 21, this can be embodied to
contrast with the decorative layer 16 in order to emphasize the
embodiment of the joint.
[0019] In contrast to a film adhesion on the chamfer 20, the
varnishing or printing and the subsequent coating with melamine has
a higher quality regarding resistance to moisture and wear.
Likewise the process control is simpler and high throughput speeds
and thus higher productivity can be achieved. Drying the varnish,
the printing ink and the melamine takes place through a thermal
radiator, which preferably works in a range of 200.degree. C. to
400.degree. C.
[0020] While the present invention has been described with
reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the
words which have been used herein are words of description and
illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made,
within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and
as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the
present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention
has been described herein with reference to particular means,
materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to
be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present
invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures,
methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended
claims.
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