U.S. patent application number 13/218950 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-22 for construction panel with improved locking mechanism allowing for separable connection with like building panels.
This patent application is currently assigned to BARLINEK S.A.. Invention is credited to Marek Konstanczak.
Application Number | 20120066996 13/218950 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43085676 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120066996 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Konstanczak; Marek |
March 22, 2012 |
CONSTRUCTION PANEL WITH IMPROVED LOCKING MECHANISM ALLOWING FOR
SEPARABLE CONNECTION WITH LIKE BUILDING PANELS
Abstract
A panel-shaped, rectangular construction panel that includes: a
visible face; a base face located opposite to the visible face; two
first shaped side faces that run parallel to each other, and two
other, second shaped side faces, also parallel to each other, that
run perpendicular to said side faces, wherein all of the side faces
are bordered by the visible face and the base face; and at least
one pair of locking mechanisms that are incorporated in the side
faces of the construction panel, are compatible with each other
and, when assembled, work together to allow for a separable
connection between like construction panels.
Inventors: |
Konstanczak; Marek;
(Barlinek, PL) |
Assignee: |
BARLINEK S.A.
Barlinek
PL
|
Family ID: |
43085676 |
Appl. No.: |
13/218950 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/588.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 2201/0153 20130101;
E04F 2201/027 20130101; E04F 2201/0146 20130101; E04F 2201/0138
20130101; E04F 2201/026 20130101; E04F 15/02 20130101; E04F 15/04
20130101; E04F 13/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/588.1 |
International
Class: |
E04C 2/38 20060101
E04C002/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 27, 2010 |
EP |
10 008 917.6 |
Claims
1. A panel-shaped, rectangular construction panel (100; 200; 300),
comprising: a visible face (11); a base face (12) located opposite
to the visible face (11); two first shaped side faces (1.1, 2.1)
that run parallel to each other, and two other, second shaped side
faces (1.2, 2.2), also parallel to each other, that run
perpendicular to said side faces (1.1, 2.1), wherein all of the
side faces (1.1, 2.1; 1.2, 2.2) are bordered by the visible face
(11) and the base face (12); at least one pair of locking
mechanisms (9, 19) that are incorporated in the side faces (1.2,
2.2) of the construction panel, are compatible with each other and,
when assembled, work together to allow for a separable connection
between like construction panels, wherein the locking mechanisms
(9, 19) located on the side faces (1.1, 2.1) of the construction
panel create a positive groove and tongue connection (40) when
connected to a like construction panel, in which the locking
mechanism (9) comprises a trapezoidal groove (13) that tapers in
the direction of the groove bottom (14) thereof and has a first
groove flank (15) that runs substantially parallel to the visible
face (11), and a second, inclined groove flank (25) located
opposite to the first groove flank, wherein the second groove flank
(25) transitions over a rounded step (17) into a sunken depression
(10) with respect to the groove (13), which is located outside of
the locking mechanism (9), said depression being arranged on a side
piece (4) that protrudes beyond the groove (13) and tapers into a
lip (8), the lip (8) being bordered by a planar inner wall (21) and
a free surface (44) that is plane-parallel to the base face (12),
and in which the locking mechanism (19) also comprises a
trapezoidal tongue (24) that engages in the groove (13) and
additionally transitions into an approximately semicircular
projection (26) that is oriented toward the base face (12) and will
be accommodated in the depression (10), wherein the semicircular
projection (26) adjoins a recess (27) in which the lip (8) engages;
characterized in that: the inner wall (21) of the lip (8) extends,
on one hand, to a rounded glide surface (20) facing a depression
(10) and adjoining the free surface (44) of the lip (8) and, on the
other hand, to a depression edge (42) located in a lowermost region
(43) of the depression (10) near the base face (12), so that the
depression (10), starting from the depression edge (42) thereof,
rises steadily toward the rounded step (17); and after the tongue
(24) has been inserted into the groove (13), the projection (26) is
accommodated in the depression (10) in such a way that a clearance
(30) approaching a zero value is created between the projection
(26) and a transition (18) from the inner wall (21) to the glide
surface (20), or a linear contact (41) is formed.
2. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the inner wall (21) is arranged perpendicularly or obliquely with
respect to the base face (12).
3. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the step (17) is located between the depression (10) and a plane
(E1) that runs perpendicular to the visible face (11), and is
defined as a continuation of an abutting surface (28.1) of the
construction panel.
4. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the inner wall (21) is arranged at an acute angle (.beta.) with
respect to a plane (E2) that is defined by the transition (18) from
the glide surface (20) to the inner wall (21) and is parallel with
respect to said plane (E1).
5. A construction panel according to claim 4, characterized in that
the angle (.beta.) is between 1.degree. and 45.degree., but
preferably between 16.degree. and 20.degree., with particular
preference being placed on an angular value of 18.degree. with an
angular tolerance of .+-.0.5.degree..
6. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the clearance (30) has a value between 0.01 mm and 0.20 mm.
7. A construction panel according to claim 6, characterized in that
the clearance (30) is a maximum 0.14 mm.
8. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the linear contact (41) occurs at the transition (18).
9. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in that
the lip (8) has a height dimension (H1) that approximately
corresponds to a height (H2) where a transition (31) from the step
(17) to the groove flank (25) is located.
10. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in
that the depression (10) is divided into two circle-section regions
(L1, L2), the region (L1) of which has a radius (R2) that equals a
radius (R1) of the glide surface (20).
11. A construction panel according to claim 10, characterized in
that the region (L2) of the depression (10) has a radius (R3) that
exceeds the value of the radius (R2).
12. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in
that the construction panel is solid.
13. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in
that the construction panel has multiple layers.
14. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in
that the construction panel is a wall, ceiling, or floor panel.
15. A construction panel according to claim 1, characterized in
that the construction panel is a furniture panel.
16. A surface covering comprising assembled construction panels
according to claim 1.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a
construction panel in the form of a rectangular panel, comprising:
[0002] a visible face; [0003] a base face located opposite to the
visible face; [0004] two first shaped side faces that run parallel
to each other, and two other, second shaped side faces, also
parallel to each other, that run perpendicular to said side faces,
wherein all of the side faces are bordered by the visible face and
the base face; [0005] at least one pair of locking mechanisms that
are incorporated in the side faces of the construction panel, are
compatible with each other and, when assembled, work together to
allow for a separable connection between like construction panels,
wherein the locking mechanisms located on the side faces of the
construction panel create a positive groove and tongue connection
when connected to a like construction panel, [0006] in which the
locking mechanism comprises a trapezoidal groove that tapers in the
direction of the groove bottom thereof and has a first groove flank
that runs substantially parallel to the visible face, and a second,
inclined groove flank located opposite to the first groove flank,
wherein the second groove flank transitions over a rounded step
into a sunken depression with respect to the groove, which is
located outside of the locking mechanism, said depression being
arranged on a side piece that protrudes beyond the groove and
tapers into a lip, the lip being bordered by a planar inner wall
and a free surface that is plane-parallel to the base face, [0007]
and in which the locking mechanism also comprises a trapezoidal
tongue that engages in the groove and additionally transitions into
an approximately semicircular projection that is oriented toward
the base face and will be accommodated in the depression, wherein
the semicircular projection adjoins a recess in which the lip
engages.
[0008] A construction panel, and more specifically a floor panel,
of the type described above is known from Applicant's EP 1585876
B1. These floor panels, engineered according to the state of the
art, have performed reliably in the marketplace and continue to be
sold. The structure of these known floor panels ensures unimpeded
sliding when dimensional changes occur perpendicular to the long
side of the floor panel, as the result of moisture.
[0009] There is a need, however, to further develop the
construction panels, particularly with respect to their ability to
slide against each other along the long sides thereof, and to
reduce internal stress in the regions where the construction panels
connect.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0010] According to this invention, the problem is solved by a
generic construction panel, in which: [0011] the inner wall of the
lip extends, on one hand, to a rounded glide surface facing a
depression and adjoining the free surface of the lip and, on the
other hand, to a depression edge located in a lowermost region of
the depression near the base face, so that the depression, starting
from the depression edge thereof, rises steadily toward the rounded
step; and [0012] after the tongue has been inserted into the
groove, the projection is accommodated in the depression in such a
way that a clearance approaching a zero value is created between
the projection and a transition from the inner wall to the glide
surface, or a linear contact is formed.
[0013] Hereafter, the term "construction panel" may be replaced by
the term "floor panel," which, however, also refers to wall or
ceiling coverings, or to furniture panels. A floor panel is defined
here as an object in the shape of a panel characterized by a long
side and a short side. The term "rounded glide surface" can refer
to a cylindrical glide surface, as well as to divergent geometrical
shapes, such as parabolic or elliptical shapes.
[0014] The floor panels according to this invention can be made of
wood, wood-based materials, plastic or metal, and may be of a
solid, i.e., single-layer, or multi-layer design. In addition, the
floor panels may be made of solid wood or so-called HDF laminate
(high density fiberboard) or of MDF laminate (medium density
fiberboard), or of other wood-based materials, including
combinations of wood composites and plastic.
[0015] The invention particularly relates to embodiments in wood.
Wood floors are generally durable and hold up well under pressure.
An important feature of wood floors is their tendency to absorb and
release moisture, and consequently to expand and shrink. Wood or
wooden materials offer many positive characteristics, such as air
ionization, micro-climate regulation of interior rooms, and
protection against electrostatic charges and dust attraction. Their
anti-allergic effects are also well-known.
[0016] The inner wall of the lip can be arranged perpendicular or
obliquely to the base face. However, an oblique arrangement of the
inner wall is preferred, wherein the inner wall is at an acute
angle to a plane that is perpendicular to the base face, or at an
obtuse angle (complementary angle) thereto.
[0017] The step that is opposite to the inner wall and leads to the
depression can be situated within or outside of a projection of the
side groove on the base face.
[0018] In principle, there is negligible clearance between the
projection and the transition from the inner wall to the glide
surface when the floor panels are made of single-layer solid wood.
This is due to the wood fibers in the floor panel that run
substantially in a longitudinal direction and are subject to the
greatest degree of expansion when exposed to moisture. The
clearance can have a value between 0.01 mm and 0.20 mm, and a value
between 0.12 mm and 0.15, with a panel thickness of 14 mm, is
preferred.
[0019] Conversely, in multi-layer floor panels (triple layers, in
the present case), there is a linear contact, rather than a
clearance, since the dimensional increase is not equal, but
different for all three layers. The total dimensional increase
resulting from changes in volume caused by moisture or temperature
is smaller than that in the case of floor panels made of solid
wood. In this connection, reference is made to Applicant's previous
documents EP 1585876 B1 and DE 203 21 445 U1, and the full scope of
the disclosure thereof is to be incorporated in the present
invention.
[0020] As a rule, the wood fibers of the upper and lower layers
(usage layer and bottom layer) run parallel to the long side of the
floor panel, while those in the middle layer (core layer) run
perpendicular to the long side of the floor panel. As a result,
expansion of the upper and lower layers occurs perpendicular to the
long side, both in-plane with the panel and perpendicular to the
panel surface.
[0021] The expansion of the core layer occurs perpendicular to the
long side, but in a plane that is perpendicular to the base face
and parallel to the long side in the panel plane. The latter
expansion direction has no practical bearing on dimensional changes
to the panel connection. The longitudinal arrangement of the fibers
in the core layer, which is opposed to the expansion direction of
the usage and bottom layers, effectively overcomes the expansion
force of these two layers.
[0022] The shape of the cross section of the lip is chosen in such
a way that the height dimension of the lip, measured from the base
face, approximately corresponds to a height where a transition from
the step to the groove flank is situated.
[0023] The depression can be level and/or bow-shaped. The
depression is preferably divided into two regions in the form of
circle-sections. The region closer to the inner wall has a radius
that is equal to a radius of the glide surface. The remaining
region of the depression has a radius that exceeds the value of the
other radii.
[0024] It is particularly advantageous that the contact surface of
the projection with the depression or the point of transition from
the inner wall to the glide surface is limited to the
aforementioned linear contact. This significantly improves the
slide of the floor panels with respect to each other, both during
and after installation.
[0025] An advantage is that the normally occurring stresses, at
least on the long sides of the new panel construction, as well as
any potential concavities in the usage layer in the region of the
abutting surfaces can be avoided or considerably limited.
[0026] Possible woods for the floor panel according to this
invention include, among others, the following domestic types of
wood, as well as especially hardy tropical varieties: [0027]
American maple [0028] American black cherry [0029] American walnut
[0030] Bamboo, light [0031] Birch [0032] Pear [0033] Bubinga [0034]
Beech [0035] Cabreuva [0036] Cumaru [0037] Diamond wood (Guatambu)
[0038] Doussie (afzelia superior) [0039] Oak [0040] Alder [0041]
Ash [0042] Eucalyptus [0043] European maple (mountain maple) [0044]
European cherry [0045] Hevea [0046] Ipe [0047] Iroko [0048] Jatoba
[0049] Kempas [0050] Mahogany [0051] Merbau [0052] Mutenye [0053]
Niangon [0054] Padouk [0055] Rosewood [0056] Peroba [0057] Pitch
pine [0058] Red pine [0059] Sucupira [0060] Tali-Missanda [0061]
Teak [0062] Tigerwood [0063] Wenge (Panga-Panga)
[0064] Woods from responsible and sustainable lumber operations are
stamped with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) seal and are
preferred for production.
[0065] The Brinell hardness of the wood varieties listed above is
between 43 N/mm.sup.2 (mountain maple) and 90 N/mm.sup.2
(Sucupir).
[0066] The invention also relates to a surface covering consisting
of trimmed construction panels of the type described above. The
surface covering can be a floor, wall or ceiling covering, facade
siding, or furniture paneling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0067] The drawings describe exemplary embodiments of the invention
in greater detail. The drawings and the particulars of the figures
include important information that will be appreciated to those
skilled in the art in contemplating the figures. The figures
show:
[0068] FIG. 1 a floor panel according to the invention in a top
view of the flat face;
[0069] FIG. 2 section A-A from FIG. 1;
[0070] FIG. 3 a section of an enlarged detail of the side face with
a groove, which extends along the long side, and is shown in FIG.
2;
[0071] FIG. 4 a section of an enlarged detail of two floor panels
having multiple layers in the vicinity of the longitudinal side
faces thereof after assembly;
[0072] FIGS. 5 to 7 sections of an enlarged detail of another
variant of the side face, with the groove shown in FIG. 3, with the
step to the depression set back;
[0073] FIG. 8a a section of an enlarged detail of two floor panels
having multiple layers, after assembly;
[0074] FIG. 8b a section of an enlarged detail of two solid floor
panels, after assembly;
[0075] FIG. 9 section B-B from FIG. 1;
[0076] FIGS. 10 and 11 sections of enlarged details of two floor
panels having multiple layers in the vicinity of the narrow sides
thereof, before and after assembly;
[0077] FIG. 12 a perspective view of the floor panels shown in FIG.
11 during assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0078] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0079] Although the following text sets forth a detailed
description of at least one embodiment or implementation, it is to
be understood that the legal scope of protection of this
application is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the
end of this disclosure. The detailed description is to be construed
as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment
since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if
not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments and/or
implementations are both contemplated and possible , using either
current technology or technology developed after the filing date of
this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the
claims
[0080] To allow for better understanding of the exemplary
embodiments, the following concepts, used in connection with the
drawings, will be explained: [0081] The "visible face," which is
also called the tread surface, constitutes the top of the floor
panels, after installation, i.e., the usage layer thereof; [0082]
The "base face" corresponds to the underside of the floor panel
that is opposite the visible face; [0083] "Abutting surface," or
"abutting" refers in this case to two surfaces of the side faces,
particularly in the usage layer, which are oriented perpendicular
to the visible face or base face, and are in contact with each
other; [0084] "Counter panel" refers to a floor panel that works
together with the counterpart thereof and is of the same design. In
the present case, the counter panels are indicated by the reference
symbols 100', 200', and 300'; [0085] "Side face" means the floor
panel face that borders the visible and base faces and extends from
the edges thereof;
[0086] Terms such as "above," "upper," "below," "lower,"
"lowermost," "under," "over," left," "right," etc. refer to the
floor panels installed on a horizontal bottom surface as shown in
the drawing.
[0087] FIG. 1 shows a rectangular floor panel 100, 100', or 200,
200', in a schematic top view of the visible face 11 thereof. The
floor panel 100, 100' or, 200, 200', has two side faces 1.1, 2.1
that are parallel to each other, and two side faces 1.2, 2.2 that
are perpendicular to the side faces 1.1, 2.1, with the side faces
1.1, 2.1 being arranged on the long sides and the remaining side
faces 1.2, 2.2 being arranged on the short sides of the floor
panel.
[0088] Given the schematic representation in FIG. 1, the details of
the side faces 1.2, 2.2; 1.2, 2.2 cannot be seen. These will be
covered in the present description by way of additional figures.
FIG. 1 shows two different embodiments of the floor panels. The
differences between the embodiments relate only to the long sides
of the floor panels.
[0089] The floor panel 100, 100' is shown in greater detail in
FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The side faces 1.1, 2.1 along the long sides
have locking mechanisms 9; 19, which form a tongue and groove
connection 40 as shown in FIG. 4.
[0090] According to FIG. 2, the floor panel 100, 100' consists of
three layers, namely a bottom layer 7, an upper usage layer 5
having a visible face 11, and a central core layer 3. FIG. 2
further schematically depicts expansion directions QR1, QR2, QR3,
and QR4.
[0091] The wood fibers of the usage and bottom layers 5; 7 run
parallel to the long side of the floor panel (not visible in FIG.
2). The expansion direction QR1 is indicated by arrows pointing
perpendicular to the long side. The expansion direction QR2 is
indicated by arrows pointing perpendicular to the visible face or
the base face.
[0092] In the core layer 3, a schematic view of wood fibers 23 that
run perpendicular to the long side is shown. QR3 indicates an
expansion direction perpendicular to the long side and to the base
face 12. The obliquely extending expansion direction QR4 is
indicated by oblique arrows. The expansion direction QR4
corresponds to the direction of the long side; thus it is also
parallel to the panel plane, shown in FIG. 2 as point P.
[0093] The side face 2.1 comprises, starting from the visible face
11, an abutting surface 28.1, a groove 13, and a lower side piece
4, which protrudes beyond the abutting surface 28.1 and ends with
an upwardly oriented lip 8.
[0094] The side piece 4 has a depression 10 that, on one hand,
adjoins an inner wall 21 of the lip 8 and, on the other hand,
adjoins a gently rounded step 17, which in turn transitions into a
lower, oblique groove flank 25 of the groove 13. A free, upper
surface 44 of the lip 8 transitions along a rounded glide surface
20 into the inner wall 21. An upper, second groove flank 15 of the
groove 13 is parallel to the visible face 11. The groove 13 is thus
shaped as an orthogonal trapezoid, and thus tapers towards the
groove bottom 14 thereof.
[0095] The locking mechanism 19 comprises a trapezoidal tongue 24
that protrudes beyond an abutting surface 28.2 and then continues
in a semicircular, downwardly oriented projection 26. In the
assembled state according to FIG. 4, the projection 26 is located
slightly above the depression 10, so as to form a clearance 29
there. The projection 26 is, however, supported on a transition 18
from the inner wall 21 to the glide surface 20, in such a way as to
create a linear contact 41 which can be seen as a point in FIG.
4.
[0096] The abutting surface 28.1 (see FIG. 3) ends with a lower
bevel 45 in the region of the usage layer 5. The bevel 45 leads to
a rounding 46 that in turn adjoins the upper groove flank 15.
[0097] FIG. 5 shows a floor panel 200, or 200', in the region of
the side face 2.1 thereof, which differs from the first embodiment
according to FIG. 3 in terms of the manner in which the transition
17 is arranged. The transition 17 is located in front of a plane E1
that is defined as a downward continuation of the abutting surface
28.1. FIG. 5 also shows that the inner wall 21 is arranged
obliquely with respect to the base face 12.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 6, the inner wall 21 assumes an acute angle
.beta. with respect to a plane E2 that is defined by the transition
18 from the glide surface 20 to the inner wall 21, and which is
disposed parallel to the aforementioned plane E1. In the present
case, the angle .beta. is 18.degree..
[0099] As shown in FIG. 6, the lip 8 has a height dimension H1 that
approximately corresponds to a height H2 at which a transition 31
from the step 17 to the groove flank 25 is disposed. In addition,
FIG. 6 shows a bevel or a chamfer 22 on the abutting surface 28.1
that adjoins the upper groove flank 15.
[0100] FIG. 7 shows how the depression 10 is divided into two
regions L1, L2 in the form of circle-sections. Region L1 has a
radius R2 that corresponds to a radius R1 of the glide surface 20
and is smaller than a radius R3 of the larger region L2.
[0101] The assembled floor panels 200, 200' are shown in FIG. 8a.
The lip 8 is accommodated within a recess 27 in the counter panel,
and in a manner similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the
lower projection 26 of the tongue creates a clearance 29 with the
depression 10, and creates the linear contact 41 at the transition
18 from the inner wall 21 to the glide surface 20. Additionally, in
a lowermost region 43 of the depression, a depression edge 42 is
visible as a point. In particular, it is seen that, notwithstanding
the circle-section regions L1, L2 (see FIG. 7), the depression 10
steadily rises toward the step 17.
[0102] FIG. 8b shows solid wood floor panels 300, 300' before and
after the tongue 24 has been inserted into the groove 13. The
inclined position of the floor panel 300, where the tongue 24,
having a lower beveled edge 47, glides over the gently rounded step
17, is shown by a dot-dashed line. In this position, the lower
projection 26 is still supported by an edge 48 formed by the upper
surface 44 of the lip 8 and the glide surface 20. When the tongue
24 is pushed deeper into the groove 13, the rounded projection 26
will also glide over the glide surface 20 and sink in the direction
of the depression 10 to the extent that the aforementioned
clearance 29 is created there. An additional clearance 30 is,
however, also created between the projection 26 and the transition
18 from the glide surface 20 to the inner wall 21. The clearance 30
has a maximum value of 0.14 mm, with a panel thickness of 14
mm.
[0103] FIG. 9 shows the aforementioned floor panel 100 or 100'
(this also applies to the floor panel 200, 200') according to the
section B-B in FIG. 1. The triple-layer floor panel 100 (100') has
a further locking mechanism 6 (left side of the figure) in the form
of a trapezoidal head piece 48 that is arranged on the side face
1.2, and a groove-shaped recess 49 that adjoins the head piece 48
and is bordered by a lip 51.
[0104] As seen in FIG. 10, the head piece 48 has a trapezoidal base
face 35 that runs plane-parallel to the base face 12, as well as
two oblique sidewalls 36, 56 that adjoin the trapezoidal base face.
The outer sidewall 36 of the head piece 48 transitions into a step
38.2 on an abutting surface 64.2. The recess 49 has a flank 65 that
is oriented perpendicular to the base face 12 and is situated
opposite the sidewall 56 of the head piece 48.
[0105] Accordingly, the recess 49 is shaped as an orthogonal
trapezoid, the bottom 67 of which is wider than the inside width 66
of the recess 49. Additionally, in the lowermost region thereof the
head piece 48 is beveled on both sides to facilitate insertion of
the counter panel in a groove 34 (not depicted).
[0106] The second side face 2.2 (see right side of FIG. 9)
comprises a locking mechanism 16 that is compatible with the
locking mechanism 6 and bears a locking arm 33 that protrudes
beyond an abutting surface 64.1 of the floor panel. The locking arm
transitions into the trapezoidal lip 51 that protrudes upward.
[0107] The open groove 34 is countersunk in the locking arm 33. The
groove 34 has a groove bottom 39 that is parallel to a base face 12
of the floor panel and two groove flanks 52.1, 52.2 that are
inclined in such a way that the groove 34 tapers toward the top. A
step 38.1 in the groove flank 52.1 adjoins the abutting surface
64.1. The groove 34 takes the form of a nearly equilateral
trapezoid.
[0108] The two steps 38.1, 38.2 run parallel to the base face 12 of
the floor panel and are slightly shifted with respect to each other
by the fact that the height dimension of the abutting surface 64.1
slightly exceeds the height dimension of the abutting surface
64.2.
[0109] In the assembled state (see FIG. 11) a positive tongue and
groove connection 50 (dovetail joint) is created, in which the
groove flanks 52.1, 52.2 press against the sidewalls 36, 56 of the
head piece 48. However, a clearance 37 remains between the two
steps 38.1, 38.2, and a further clearance 60 remains between the
trapezoid base face 35 and the groove bottom 39.
[0110] The extent of the clearance 37 as well as that of the second
clearance 60 approaches a value of zero when the wood material
expands.
[0111] The purpose of the two clearances 37 and 60 is to compensate
for dimensional changes in the floor panels once installed. The
steps 38.1, 38.2 stabilize the resulting dovetail joint 32
perpendicular to the visible face 11 and protect the abutting
surfaces from destructive pressures caused by moisture-related
dimensional changes in the engineered wood product. The magnitudes
of the clearance 37 and the clearance 60 are negligible and, in the
present case, range between 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm.
[0112] FIG. 12 shows the short side of an assembly of the solid
floor panels 300, 300'. When the floor panel 300' swings down
around a swivel axis X, the head piece 48 is pressed into the
groove 34 of the counter panel until a positive tongue and groove
connection 50 is achieved (as in FIG. 11). The swivel axis X runs
parallel to the long side of the floor panels and is defined by the
cooperating parts thereof, which is to say, by the lower
semicircular projection 26 of the floor panel and the glide surface
20 of the counter panel. The swivel axis X does not necessarily
represent a straight line in the geometrical sense and may also be
called a swivel axis region.
[0113] Examples of various features/aspects/components/operations
have been provided to facilitate understanding of the disclosed
embodiments of the present invention. In addition, various
preferences have been discussed to facilitate understanding of the
disclosed embodiments of the present invention. It is to be
understood that all examples and preferences disclosed herein are
intended to be non-limiting.
[0114] Although selected embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described individually, it is to be understood that
at least aspects of the described embodiments may be combined.
[0115] Although selected embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it is to be understood the present
invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it
is to be appreciated that changes may be made to these embodiments
without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention,
the scope of which is defined by the claims and the equivalents
thereof.
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