U.S. patent application number 15/659964 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-09 for floor covering panel.
The applicant listed for this patent is FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL. Invention is credited to Bernard Paul Joseph THIERS.
Application Number | 20170321430 15/659964 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3896562 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170321430 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
THIERS; Bernard Paul
Joseph |
November 9, 2017 |
FLOOR COVERING PANEL
Abstract
Floor covering hard panels having at least on two opposite
edges, coupling elements made in one piece with the panels, so that
several ones of such panels can be mutually coupled, whereby these
coupling elements provide for an interlocking in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of the panels, as well as in a direction
perpendicular to the edges and parallel to the plane of the panels,
and whereby these coupling elements are made such that the panels
can be rotated into and/or out of one another at least along the
above-mentioned edges. The panels are provided, at least on the
above-mentioned edges, near the top side, with a part from which
has been removed an amount of material such as by a bevel.
Inventors: |
THIERS; Bernard Paul Joseph;
(Beveren-Leie, BE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL |
Bertrange |
|
LU |
|
|
Family ID: |
3896562 |
Appl. No.: |
15/659964 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12285485 |
Oct 7, 2008 |
|
|
|
15659964 |
|
|
|
|
10923715 |
Aug 24, 2004 |
|
|
|
12285485 |
|
|
|
|
09805234 |
Mar 14, 2001 |
6786019 |
|
|
10923715 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 428/24438 20150115;
Y10T 156/1039 20150115; E04F 15/02 20130101; E04F 2201/0115
20130101; B44C 5/0453 20130101; E04F 2201/0153 20130101; E04F
15/02033 20130101; Y10T 428/24802 20150115; B44F 9/02 20130101;
Y10T 156/1044 20150115; E04F 15/181 20130101; E04F 2290/043
20130101; B44C 1/24 20130101; B44C 5/04 20130101; E04F 15/04
20130101; B44C 5/0446 20130101; B44C 5/043 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04F 15/02 20060101
E04F015/02; E04F 15/02 20060101 E04F015/02; E04F 15/18 20060101
E04F015/18; B44C 5/04 20060101 B44C005/04; B44C 5/04 20060101
B44C005/04; B44C 5/04 20060101 B44C005/04; B44C 5/04 20060101
B44C005/04; B44F 9/02 20060101 B44F009/02; B44C 1/24 20060101
B44C001/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 13, 2000 |
BE |
2000/0381 |
Claims
1. A floor covering panel for forming a floor covering, wherein the
panel has a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of
opposite edges; wherein at least the first pair of edges is
provided with coupling parts made in one piece of the material of
the panel, said coupling parts being configured such that two of
such panels can be coupled to each other in a same plane so as to
form said floor covering, and provide an interlocking in a
direction perpendicular to said plane of the coupled floor panels
and in a direction perpendicular to said edges and parallel to the
plane of the floor covering; wherein said coupling parts include a
tongue and a groove for providing the interlocking in the direction
perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering, said groove being
bordered by an upper lip and a lower lip, said lower lip extending
distally beyond the upper lip; wherein said coupling parts further
include locking parts for providing the interlocking in the
direction perpendicular to said edges and parallel to said plane,
said locking parts comprising a locking part at said lower lip and
a locking part at the lower side of the tongue, said locking parts
defining locking surfaces, said locking surfaces of two of such
panels being in contact when coupled to each other; wherein said
coupling parts are configured such that in a coupled condition of
two of said panels said lower lip is bent downwards, and creates a
force forcing the coupled panels towards each other; and wherein
said panel at said first pair of edges comprises upper edges, each
of these upper edges being provided with a bevel, resulting in that
the panels are forced against each other at a level mainly below
said bevels.
2. The floor covering panel of claim 1, wherein also the second
pair of opposite edges is provided with coupling parts made in one
piece of the material of the panel, said coupling parts being
configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each
other in a same plane so as to form said floor covering, and
provide an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to said plane
of the coupled floor panels and in a direction perpendicular to
said edges of said second pair and parallel to the plane of the
floor covering; wherein said coupling parts of the second pair of
edges include a tongue and a groove for providing the interlocking
in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering,
said groove being bordered by an upper lip and a lower lip, said
lower lip extending distally beyond the upper lip; wherein said
coupling parts of the second pair of edges further include locking
parts for providing the interlocking in the direction perpendicular
to said edges and parallel to said plane, said locking parts
comprising a locking part at said lower lip and a locking part at
the lower side of the tongue, said locking parts defining locking
surfaces, said locking surfaces of two of such panels being in
contact when coupled to each other; wherein said coupling parts of
the second pair of edges are configured such that in a coupled
condition of two of said panels said lower lip is bent downwards,
and create a force forcing the respective coupled panels towards
each other; and wherein said panel at said second pair of edges
comprises upper edges, each of these upper edges being provided
with a bevel, resulting in that the panels are forced against each
other at a level mainly below said bevels.
3. The floor covering panel of claim 2, wherein the panel is
rectangular and oblong, and comprises a pair of long edges and a
pair of short edges, and wherein the first pair of edges forms the
long edges.
4. The floor covering panel of claim 2, wherein the panel is
rectangular and oblong, and comprises a pair of long edges and a
pair of short edges, and wherein the first pair of edges forms the
short edges.
5. The floor covering panel of claim 1, wherein the coupling parts
at the first pair of edges are configured such that two of such
panels at the respective edges can be joined by angling one floor
covering panel into the other.
6. The floor covering panel of claim 1, wherein the coupling parts
at both pairs of edges are configured such that two of such panels
at the respective pairs of edges can be joined by angling one floor
covering panel into the other.
7. The floor covering panel of claim 1, wherein said panels
comprise a core and a decorative upper surface.
8. The floor covering panel of claim 1, wherein the panel has a
core made of MDF or HDF, said lower lip being mainly formed from
said MDF or HDF.
9. The floor covering panel of claim 8, wherein the panel has a
decorative layer at its upper surface and a backing layer at the
lower surface, said backing layer extending along the underside of
the lower lip.
10. The floor covering panel of claim 9, wherein the backing layer
extends along the underside of the lower lip at least up to the
locking part belonging to that lip.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
12/285,485, filed on Oct. 7, 2008, which is a continuation of
application Ser. No. 10/923,715, filed on Aug. 24, 2004, which is a
continuation of application Ser. No. 09/805,234, filed on Mar. 14,
2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,019.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention concerns floor covering panels, in
particular hard laminate panels.
2. Related Art
[0003] It is known that such laminate panels can be made of
different layers. Usually, the panels are formed of boards based on
wood products, such as chipboard or fiberboard, in particular MDF
or HDF (medium density fiberboard and high density fiberboard),
upon which one or several layers, including a panel decorative
layer, are provided at least on the top side. The panel decorative
layer may be a printed paper layer, but in certain embodiments it
may just as well be a layer of wood, in particular veneer. Such
panels can also be made of other materials, for example merely
synthetic material, or of a base plate having a wood base, such as
chipboard, MDF or HDF and the like, upon which is provided, instead
of a printed paper layer or veneer, another material such as cork,
thin strips of wood and the like.
[0004] It is also known to couple these panels on their edges as
they are laid, either by means of a conventional tongue and groove
joint, whereby they are possibly glued together, either by means of
a glueless coupling which provides for a mutual interlocking of the
panels both in the horizontal and vertical direction, for example
as described in international patent Publication No. WO
97/47834.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] The present invention relates to hard laminate panels for
forming a floor covering and which provides for new embodiments
according to different aspects offering respective-advantages.
[0006] According to a first aspect, the invention provides for a
floor panel comprising at least on two opposite edges having
coupling means or elements made in one piece with the panels, so
that several ones of such panels can be mutually coupled at such
edges, whereby these coupling elements provide for an interlocking
in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering, as
well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and
parallel to the plane of the floor covering, and whereby these
coupling elements are made such that the panels can be rotated into
and/or out of one another at least along the above-mentioned edges,
and wherein the panels are provided, at least on the
above-mentioned edges, near the top side, with a part from which
has been removed an amount of material (e.g., a bevel).
[0007] With material removed from the top edge, several advantages
are obtained. A first advantage consists in that the panels, as
they are rotated, both when rotating into one another and when
rotating out of one another, can be moved more easily in relation
to one another, as there are no angular edges anymore which hinder
the mutual rotation of the panels. A second advantage consists in
that the panels can be made heavier, in particular thicker than as
usual, as the thickness of the panels, thanks to the bevel, has
little or no influence anymore on the good working order of the
above-mentioned coupling means, during the rotating in and/or the
rotating out.
[0008] Preferably, the above-mentioned parts consist of bevels, in
particular with a gradient of 45.degree.. Practically, the bevels
preferably extend, in a horizontal direction, over a distance of at
least 1 millimetre. Preferably, however, this distance is in the
order of magnitude of 2 millimetre.
[0009] According to a different variant of the first aspect of the
invention, the coupling elements are made such that the panels,
instead of being disconnectable at least by a rotation, can be
disconnected from one another at least in one other manner. Even
then, the above-mentioned bevel still offers certain advantages, as
will become clear from the following description.
[0010] According to the most preferred embodiment, the panels are
rectangular and are provided with the above-mentioned parts, that
is, the above-mentioned bevels, respectively, on all
four-sides.
[0011] According to a second aspect which can either or not be
combined with the first aspect, the invention provides for a floor
covering panel comprising a hard panel with a core upon which is
provided a panel decorative laver, whereby these panels are
rectangular and elongated and are provided with coupling means at
least on the two opposite longitudinal edges, so that several ones
of such panel can be mutually coupled to one another, whereby these
coupling elements provide for an interlocking in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering, as well as in a
direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the
plane of the floor covering, and whereby these coupling elements
are made such that each panel can be coupled to and/or uncoupled
from another similar panel by means of a rotation along their
opposed longitudinal edges, and the width of the panels is smaller
than 17 cm, and preferably even smaller than 16 cm.
[0012] Further, the panel, apart from the above-mentioned maximum
width, preferably has a length which amounts to at least eight
times the width.
[0013] It is known that hard panels, which are equipped with
coupling elements which provide for a horizontal and a vertical
interlocking on at least two of their edges, are made as relatively
small plates with a width of 19 to 20 cm and a length of 1.20 to
1.40 m. It is also known that the plates, when being laid, have to
be occasionally rotated into one another and out of one another so
as to make them fit against a wall, skirting board or the like. A
disadvantage of the known embodiments of the above-mentioned plates
consists in that it is often difficult to carry out said rotation,
for example when the plates have to be installed with their far
ends under the edge of an overhanging cupboard or such. According
to the above-mentioned second aspect of the invention, this
disadvantage, as well as others, are avoided, if not minimised.
Thanks to the small width, the panels are less high when being
rotated, so that there are no disadvantages during the installation
in a large number of practical applications.
[0014] Moreover, the above-mentioned relation between length and
width offers a technical solution, as a result of which the visual
`plate-like` effect is excluded.
[0015] According to a third aspect of the invention, floor covering
panels having a laminated structure include a panel decorative
layer on the top surface, and bevels or such are formed as by
cutting away on one or several edges of the panels, near the top
side, and the surface of these bevels is also provided with a bevel
film or coating-like decorative layer, preferably a layer provided
as a separate material and separate from the panel decorative
layer. In particular, such a layer preferably consists of a
separately provided print. Thanks to the use of such a separate
print, the bevels can be easily provided with a bevel decorative
surface. The base panels can then be made in a conventional manner
by sawing them out of a large plate which has already been provided
with a panel decorative layer, and the bevels may be printed
later.
[0016] According to a major embodiment of the third aspect, the
above-mentioned print consists of a print which is obtained by
means of transfer printing. Such transfer printing offers the
advantage, in combination with its use on floor panels, that high
production rates can be obtained and that any pattern whatsoever
can be realized. Further, this technique excludes the risk of the
decorative top surface of the panels being soiled. Another major
advantage hereby consists in that the print is immediately or
almost immediately dry, so that the panels can be stacked and
packed almost immediately.
[0017] Preferably, the floor panels, which are made according to
the third aspect of the invention, have a core made of a material
having a wood base, in particular wood which has been ground into
particles or fibres, mixed with a binding agent, upon which the
decorative layer is provided, and whereby the above-mentioned
bevels extend through the material of the core. Thus a porous
surface is obtained on the bevels, guaranteeing a good bond for the
print layer.
[0018] As usual, the decorative layer of the panel preferably
contains a layer printed with a pattern, such as a wood pattern,
and the decorative layer according to the invention, in particular
the print on the bevels or such, is preferably a similar
pattern.
[0019] Moreover, use is preferably made of a moisture-proof,
impermeable bevel decorative layer or print respectively, which is
particularly advantageous in case the panels have a base plate
which consists of porous material, such as MDF, HDF (medium density
fiberboard and high density fiberboard) or the like. Thus is
obtained an entirely moisture-proof structure on the top surface,
on the flat surface by means of the usual layer of synthetic
material on the one hand, and on the bevels by means of the
additional bevel decorative layer situated on the bevel on the
other hand.
[0020] Although the decorative layer on the bevels is preferably
realized by means of transfer printing, other possibilities are not
excluded. Thus, for example, use can be made of a self-adhesive
strip.
[0021] According to a fourth aspect, the invention provides for a
floor covering panel having a core made of MDF or HDF, or a similar
material, wherein the panel is provided with an underlayer provided
on the bottom side and fixed onto it, preferably made of
polyethylene or a polyethylene based material. The combination of
MDF or HDF with the use of an underlayer fixed onto it, especially
when it is formed of polyethylene or is made on the basis of
polyethylene, offers the advantage that particularly good
sound-insulating qualities are obtained.
[0022] The present invention concerns embodiments applying only one
of the above-mentioned aspects as well as embodiments in which two
or several of the above-mentioned aspects are combined. In this
respect it should be noted that two or several of the
above-mentioned embodiments can be mutually combined at random, in
any possible combination, provided these embodiments have no
contradictory qualities.
[0023] Although, according to some of the above-mentioned aspects,
the panels may consist of different sorts of material, the
invention is particularly suitable for panels made of MDF or HDF,
or a similar material.
[0024] According to a special embodiment, the panels have a
thickness of 9 mm at the least, and better still of 10 mm at the
least, as opposed to the usual thickness of 7 or 8 mm.
[0025] Thus are obtained relatively heavy panels, which
consequently have a better sound-insulating effect, as a result of
which less sound is produced when they are walked on.
[0026] In so far as coupling means as mentioned above are used
which allow for a glueless interlocking, they can be of different
nature. Thus, these coupling means can have one of the following
characteristics or a combination of two or several of them: [0027]
that they are provided on two opposite edges of the panels; [0028]
that they are provided on panels which are rectangular, whereby
they are provided on both pairs of opposite edges; [0029] that at
least for a number of the edges they allow for an assembly
according to one of the following possibilities: [0030] at-least by
shifting the panels towards one another; [0031] exclusively by
shifting the panels towards one another; [0032] at least by
rotating the panels along the edges concerned; [0033] exclusively
by rotating the panels along the edges concerned; [0034] by
shifting the panels towards one another or by rotating them, as
desired; [0035] that, at least for a number of the edges, they
allow for an uncoupling according to any of the following
possibilities: [0036] at least by shifting the panels out of one
another in a direction perpendicular to the edges; [0037]
exclusively by shifting the panels out of one another in a
direction perpendicular to the edges; [0038] at least by rotating
the panels along the edges concerned; [0039] exclusively by
rotating the panels along the edges concerned; [0040] by shifting
the panels out of one another as well as by rotating them; [0041]
that they are of the type which consists of a tongue and a groove
on the one hand, and of locking means which ensure at least a
specific interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the edges of
the coupled panels and parallel to the plane of the panels on the
other hand; [0042] that they are realized as in the preceding
paragraph, whereby the lip which limits the bottom side of the
groove, seen from a cross section, extends past the upper lip, and
whereby the locking means consist of one or several parts on the
lip limiting the bottom side of the groove on the one hand, and of
one or several parts on the bottom side of the tongue working in
conjunction with the latter on the other hand; [0043] that the
above-mentioned tongue and groove are made such that when two of
such panels are freely shifted towards one another, over a base or
such, the tongue automatically is introduced into the groove;
[0044] that they are formed such that the panels, when coupled, fit
into one another without any play or almost without any play.
[0045] Naturally, the invention also concerns panels with which the
above-described floor coverings can be realized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] In order to better explain the characteristics of the
invention, the following preferred embodiments are described as an
example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0047] FIG. 1 schematically represents a part of a floor covering
which is built up of panels according to the invention;
[0048] FIG. 2 represents a top view of a panel from the floor
covering of FIG. 1;
[0049] FIGS. 3 and 4 represent sections, according to lines and
IV-IV respectively in FIG. 2;
[0050] FIG. 5 represents a section according to line V-V in FIG. 1
to a larger scale;
[0051] FIG. 6 represents a section according to line VI-VI in FIG.
1 to a larger scale;
[0052] FIG. 7 represents the part indicated by F7 in FIG. 6 to a
larger scale;
[0053] FIG. 8 shows a view analogous to that in FIG. 7, but whereby
the panels are mainly shifted towards one another in one and the
same plane;
[0054] FIG. 9 shows a section of another panel according to the
invention, with bevels which are provided with a print;
[0055] FIG. 10 schematically represents how the print can be
provided in the embodiment of FIG. 9;
[0056] FIG. 11 schematically represents a section according to line
XI-XI in FIG. 10; and
[0057] FIG. 12 represents a section of another panel according to
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0058] As represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention concerns a
floor covering 1 as well as hard panels 2 from which such a floor
covering 1 is built up.
[0059] According to a first aspect of the invention, a floor
covering 1 is formed of hard laminate panels 2, wherein these
panels 2 are provided at least on two opposite edges 3-4, and
preferably, as represented in the FIGS. 2 to 8, on both pairs of
edges 3-4, 5-6 respectively, with coupling means or elements 7 made
in one piece out of the core material of the panels 2, so that
several of such panels 2 can be mutually coupled to one another,
whereby these coupling means 7 provide for an interlocking in a
direction R1 perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering 1, as
well as in, a direction R2 perpendicular to the edges 3-4 or 5-6
concerned and parallel to the plane of the floor covering 1 or
panels 2, and whereby these coupling means 7 are made such that the
panels 2 can be assembled and/or disassembled at least along the
above-mentioned edges 3-4, 5-6 respectively, by means of a
rotation.
[0060] Such coupling means 7, which make it possible to couple the
panels 2 without any glue being required, at least on two sides and
preferably on all sides, and whereby the panels 2 are uncoupled by
rotating them out of one another, are known as such from
international patent Publication No. WO 97/47834.
[0061] From WO 97/47834 it is also known that the above-mentioned
coupling means 7, as represented in FIGS. 3 to 8 of the present
application, may consist of a tongue 8 and a groove 9 on the one
hand, and of locking device 10 on the other hand which at least
ensure a specific interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the
edges 3-4, 5-6 respectively, of the coupled panels 2 and parallel
to the plane of these panels 2. As is further represented, these
coupling means 7 are moreover preferably made such that the lip 11
which limits or defined the bottom side of the groove 9, seen from
a cross section, extends past the upper lip 12, while the locking
means 10 are formed of interlocking parts 13-14 working in
conjunction, on the above-mentioned lip 11 which limits the bottom
side of the groove 9 and on the bottom side of the coupled panel 2
respectively, in particular the bottom side of the tongue 8 or the
extension of this bottom side.
[0062] As explained in WO 97/47834, such coupling means 7,
depending on their embodiment, allow for different couplings.
According to the most preferred embodiment, they are, as will be
described hereafter by means of FIG. 1, made such that they allow
for a coupling by rotating into one another as well as by shifting
towards one another in a generally common plane. The latter allows
such panels to be coupled by first rotating them into one another
on their edges 3-4, as represented by the panel 2A in FIG. 1, with
a rotation W1, and by subsequently snapping them together on their
edges 5-6 by means of a translation T1. According to a variant, the
connection on the edges 3-4 of the panels concerned can also be
realized by starting from a position as is schematically indicated
with reference 2B, and by coupling the panel concerned by means of
a translation or sliding motion T2.
[0063] The above-mentioned rotation is further illustrated in FIGS.
6 and 7, whereas the sliding motion is represented in FIG. 8. It
should be noted that the tongue 8 and groove 9 are preferably made
such that, as is also represented in FIG. 8, when two such panels 2
are freely shifted towards one another over a bottom or support,
the tongue 8 automatically is introduced into and ends up in the
groove 9.
[0064] It is also possible, while holding a panel 2A in a rotated
position, to couple a following panel 2C onto it on the edges 5 and
6 respectively, either by means of a generally co-planar
translation T3, or by a mutual rotation between the panels 2A and
after which both panels 2A and 2C are then rotated down to be
interlocked with the preceding row of panels.
[0065] Another advantage consists in that a glueless coupling
without any play or practically without any play remains possible,
also with thicker panels which can be rotated into and/or out of
one another, without any extreme compression forces being created
on the edge parts during the rotation. The bevels according to this
invention ensure that such forces are excluded and/or remain
limited, so that the risk of damages, among others to the top layer
or to the surface of the bevels, are excluded, if not
restricted.
[0066] What makes the first aspect of the invention special is that
the above-mentioned panels 2 are provided, at least on two of their
edges 3-4 or 5-6 and preferably on all four edges 3 to 6, near the
top side, with a part from which an amount of material has been
cut-away and removed (a cut-away portion), which part preferably
each time is in the form of a bevel 15.
[0067] As represented in FIGS. 6 and 7, these bevels 15 among
others offer the advantage that the panels 2 can be easily rotated
in relation to one another, as the material parts 16 and 17 which
are otherwise present no longer press onto one another, and a
contact zone 18 is obtained which is situated relatively low in the
panel thickness.
[0068] Another advantage is that when it is required for the
above-mentioned interlocking parts 13 and 14, in particular the
accompanying lower contact surfaces 19 and 20, to extend
tangentially or almost tangentially around a circle having the
contact zone 18 as its centre, the average gradient A of the
contact surfaces can be kept relatively large for a same distance E
of the protruding part of the lower lip 11, as indicated in FIG. 5,
as a result of which a solid interlocking can be ensured, even with
thicker panels 2.
[0069] Another advantage consists in that, irrespective of the
thickness D of the panels 2, the contact zone 18 can always be
situated at a certain height H above the bottom side of the panels
2, provided the bevels 15 are realized over an appropriate height
H1. Thus it is possible, if required, to always work with similar
cutting tools to form the tongue 8 and groove 9, for thinner as
well as for thicker 5 panels 2.
[0070] Although the above-mentioned advantages are particularly
felt with embodiments of the type whereby the uncoupling of the
panels 2 can be realized by means of a rotation around the
above-mentioned contact zone 18, it should be noted that the
above-mentioned bevels 15 also offer advantages which do not
necessarily coincide with the fact whether it is either or not
possible for the panels 2 to be disassembled by means of rotation.
Such bevels 15 offer the advantage that the panels 2 never press
directly onto one another on their top surface, so that damage of
the top layer resulting from mutual contact between the panels 2 is
excluded, which is particularly important in the case of laminate
parquet, as well as for floor coverings which are connected without
any glue and whereby the panels are driven one another laterally in
a generally common plane by means of a hammer and a stop block.
[0071] Also, according to a different embodiment, the first aspect
of the invention no longer merely applies to panels 2 which can be
disassembled by means of a rotation, but it also applies to all
sorts of panels 2 which are provided with coupling means 7 which
make it possible for the panels 2 to be interlocked both vertically
and horizontal on their edges 3-4, 5-6 respectively, irrespective
of whether the assembly and/or disassembly has to be or can be
realized by means of a rotation or sliding motion.
[0072] The above-mentioned bevels 15 preferably extend at an angle
X of 45.degree. in relation to the plane which is determined by or
includes the panels 2. However, other gradients are not
excluded.
[0073] Practically, the bevels 15 will extend in a horizontal
direction over a distance Z in the order of magnitude of 2
millimeter, although other dimensions are not excluded here
either.
[0074] As is further represented in FIG. 5, lateral surfaces, in
particular upper contact surfaces 21, 22 are present under the
above-mentioned bevels 15, which fit up to one another at least at
the top when the panels 2 are coupled, and thus form a mutual stop.
A recess 38, 39 is formed on each panel below the upper contact
surfaces 21, 22 such that when opposed panels 2 are coupled, and a
clearance 40 is formed by the recesses 38, 39 between the opposed
panels below the upper contact surfaces 21, 22 and above the tongue
8 and the groove 9 of the opposed panels 2. And as shown in FIGS. 7
and 8, at a lowermost portion of the upper lip 12, recess 39 is
further formed by a bevelled lower edge 71.
[0075] A V-shaped width (50) is defined by the bevels (15) of the
first and second panels (2). The width (52) of the clearance (40)
is less than the V-shaped width (50).
[0076] It is clear that the first aspect of the invention can be
applied with panels 2 having an elongated design, as represented in
FIG. 2, as well as with panels 2 having a square design.
[0077] According to the above-mentioned second aspect of the
invention, which the given example of FIGS. 1 and 2 is combined
with the above-mentioned first aspect, but which can also be
realized as separate from the first aspect, the invention concerns
a floor covering 1, consisting of laminated hard panels 2 having a
core 23 and a panel decorative upper surface 24, whereby these
panels 2 are rectangular and elongated and are provided with
coupling means 7 on at least two opposite longitudinal edges 3-4
and/or 5-6, as a result of which several of such panels 2 can be
mutually coupled to one another, whereby these coupling means 7 are
provided with an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the
plane of the floor covering 1, as well as in a direction
perpendicular to the edges 3-4-5-6 concerned and parallel to the
plane of the floor covering, and whereby these coupling means 7 are
made such that the panels 2 can be coupled and/or uncoupled by
means of a rotation along their longitudinal edges 3-4 and/or 5-6,
such that the useful width B of the panels 2 is smaller than 17 cm,
and preferably amounts to 15.5 cm.
[0078] Such a narrow width B, combined with coupling means 7 of the
type whereby the uncoupling has to be carried out by rotating the
panels 2 in relation to one another, as represented in FIG. 6,
offers the advantage that the height H2 over which the panel 2 to
be uncoupled has to be rotated before it is detached, also remains
relatively small, as a result of which the disadvantage mentioned
in the introduction is minimised.
[0079] Moreover, the panels 2, according to the second aspect of
the invention, preferably also have a length L which amounts to at
least eight times the width B.
[0080] Preferably, the panels 2 made according to the second aspect
of the invention, also have a single pattern which is repeated over
the entire top surface, in particular a wood pattern.
[0081] FIG. 9 illustrates the third aspect of the invention.
According to this third aspect, the invention concerns a floor
covering 1 consisting of hard panels 2 with a laminated structure,
having a panel decorative layer 25 on the top surface, wherein
cut-away bevels 15 or such are formed on one or several edges 3 to
6 of the panels 2, near the top side, and in that the exposed
surface of these bevels 15 or such is also provided with a bevel
decorative layer, in this case a print 26, which is preferably
obtained as a print layer that has been provided on this surface by
means of transfer printing.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 8, the cut-away bevels 15 extend through
the core 23 of each panel as well as the panel decorative layer 25,
thereby exposing edges of the respective layers 23 and 25. The
print layer 26 (FIGS. 9, 10) covers or masks the exposed core and
panel decorative edges, preferably matching the pattern of the
panel decorative layer so that, when viewed from the top surface,
the exposed bevel area is covered by the bevel decorative
layer.
[0083] The panel decorative layer 25 may as such consist of several
layers, but it preferably contains at least one film or
coating-like layer imprinted with a pattern, for example a wood
pattern printed on a paper layer. In this case, the print 26 can be
realized on the bevels 15 or such with a similar pattern. As a
printing technique is applied for the decorative layer as well as
for the print 26, it is very easy to match both patterns as far as
colour and/or design are concerned. As mentioned in the
introduction, the print 26 is preferably moisture-proof and
impermeable. Thus is obtained a sealing on the bevels 15, which is
particularly useful when the panels have a porous core, for example
made of MDF or HDF.
[0084] FIGS. 10 and 11 schematically represent how the print 26 can
be provided on the surface 27 by means of transfer printing. A
support 28 which is provided with a printing layer 29 is put into
contact with the surface 27 and is applied with a preferably heated
press-on roller 30, as a result of which the printing layer 29
adheres to the material of the panel 2 and comes off the support
28, so that the above-mentioned print 26 is created. The support 28
with the printing layer 29 is hereby supplied as of a roller 31,
whereas said support 28, after the printing layer 29 has been
transferred to the surface 27, is rolled up on a roller 32.
[0085] Other transfer printing techniques which are known as such
are not excluded, however.
[0086] It should be noted that, both as far as the above-mentioned
first aspect and the third aspect are concerned, according to a
preferred embodiment, one or several, and preferably all bevels 15
extend at such an angle that the plane including the bevel 15, does
not intersect the contour of the panel 2 or at most just touches
it, as indicated by the lines W in FIGS. 3, 4 and 10 outside the
bevel area. This is advantageous in that, both when the bevels 15
are formed and when the print 26 is applied, these bevels 15 are
easily accessible to the machine parts used in the manufacturing
procedures.
[0087] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, it concerns a
floor covering consisting of laminated hard panels 2 with a core 23
based on MDF or HDF, or a similar material, wherein the panels 2
are each separately provided with an underlayer 36 made of
synthetic material or another dampening or insulating material
provided on the bottom side and fixed onto it, preferably made of
polyethylene or polyethylene base material, as represented in FIG.
12. The combination of these materials offers the advantage that
little sound is produced when these panels 2 are walked on.
[0088] The above-mentioned underlayer 36 can be fixed to the bottom
side of the panel 2 in any way whatsoever, for example by means of
gluing or by melting it onto the panel. In the case of a
conventional laminate construction, the structure thus consists of
the decorative layer 25, the core 23, usually based on MDF or HDF,
a counterlayer 37, and the above-mentioned underlayer 36.
[0089] It is clear that the fourth aspect of the invention can be
used in combination with floor panels which are provided with a
conventional tongue and groove on their edges, as well as in
combination with floor panels with coupling means which provide for
a horizontal and a vertical interlocking, for example coupling
means 7 as described above.
[0090] The invention is by no means limited to the above-described
embodiments represented on the accompanying drawings; on the
contrary, such a floor and in particular the above-mentioned
panels, can be made in all shapes and dimensions while still
remaining within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *