CN1212462C - Floor and Locking Systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a floorboard and an openable locking system comprising an undercut portion on one long side of the floorboard and a protruding tongue on the other opposite long side of the floorboard. The undercut portion has an upwardly directed locking surface at a distance from its end for resisting pull-apart in the horizontal direction. The lower lip has a bearing surface that cooperates with a corresponding bearing surface on the tongue to resist the joined together floor panels from pulling apart in a first vertical direction. The tongue and tongue groove are formed to be connected by pulling the floor boards together and snapping. The problems of low production efficiency, more material consumption and poor floor connecting and disassembling functions of the floor in the prior art are solved.

Description

Floor and Locking Systems

The invention relates to a locking system for mechanically connecting floorboards and a floorboard with such a locking system.

technical field

The invention is particularly applicable to floors made of wood material, which normally have a wood core and are mechanically joined. The prior art, which will be described below, and the objects and characteristics of the present invention are directed to the application in this field, in particular to rectangular parquet floor panels mechanically joined together at the long and short sides. The invention is particularly applicable to floating floors, ie floor panels that can move relative to the base. It should be emphasized, however, that the invention is also applicable to existing hardfloors of all types, such as single wooden floor panels, wooden floor panels with a laminated or plywood core, with veneer surfaces and wood fiber Core floor panels, thin-layer laminate floor panels, floor panels with a plastic core or similar. The invention can of course also be used for other types of floors that can be machined by cutting tools, such as subfloors of plywood or particleboard. Even if not preferred, the floor can be fixed to the substrate after installation.

Background technique

Mainly due to its superior laying characteristics, joint strength, and joint quality, mechanical joints accounted for a large market share in a short period of time. Even though the floors of patent document WO9426999, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, and under the trade name Alloc' have great advantages over traditional glued floors, yet further improvements are desired.

Mechanical joining systems are very convenient not only for joining laminated floors but also for joining wooden and composite floors. Such floors may comprise a large number of different materials on the face, core and backside. These materials may also be incorporated into different elements of the connection system, such as strips, locking elements and tongues, as described below. For example, patent documents WO9426999 or WO9747834 introduce a solution of integrated strip, which provides a horizontal connection, and also relates to a tongue that provides a vertical connection. However, when forming a mechanical connection, the floor material is machined , causing cost problems caused by materials.

For optimal function, eg a 15 mm thick parquet floor should have strips of width approximately equal to the floor thickness, ie 15 mm. With a tongue of about 3mm, the amount of waste is about 18mm. The normal width of the floor is about 200mm, so about 9% of the material is wasted. In general, if the floors are made of expensive materials, if they are thick or if they are of small format, the costs caused by the waste of material are usually very large, so that the linear meters of connection per square meter of floor will be very large.

Of course, the amount of material waste can be reduced if bars are used in the form of separately manufactured aluminum bars and fixed to the floor at the factory. Furthermore, an aluminum strip can lead to a better and cheaper connection system than a strip that is machined and consists of a core. Aluminum strips however have the disadvantage that considerable investment is required and a considerable rebuilding of the factory has to be carried out in order to adapt conventional production lines to produce floors with this mechanical connection system. Aluminum strips have the advantage of not having to change the starting specification of the floor over existing technology.

The opposite is true when it comes to strips produced by machining flooring materials. Thus the specification of the floor has to be adjusted so that there is enough material to form the strips and tongues. For laminate floors it is often necessary to vary the width of the decor paper used. All these adjustments and changes also require costly modifications of the production equipment and a huge product adaptation.

In addition to the above-mentioned problems related to undesired waste of material, production costs and product adaptation, strips also have the disadvantage of being very sensitive to damage during transport and installation.

In summary, there is a great need to provide a low cost mechanical connection while maintaining the existing good properties in terms of laying, takingup, connection quality and strength. With the prior art, it is not possible to obtain low-cost floors without compromising strength and/or laying performance. An object of the present invention is to propose a technical solution that enables cost reduction while maintaining strength and performance.

The invention originates from the known floorboards having a core, a front side, a rear side and opposing connecting edge parts, one of which is formed as a tongue-and-groove groove defined by upper and lower lips , and has a bottom end, the other connecting edge portion is formed as a tongue with an upward portion at its free outer end. The tongue and groove has the shape of an undercut with an opening, an inner and inner locking surfaces. At least the lower lip portion is integrally formed with the floor core and the tongue has a locking surface which cooperates with the inner locking surface of the tongue groove on the adjacent floor plate when two similar floors are mechanically joined so that their front The sides are on the same surface plane (HP) and meet on a vertical joining plane (VP). This technique is described in patent documents WO9627721, DE-A-1212275, and JP3169967, which will be described in detail below.

Before doing so, however, the general art concerning floors and locking systems for mechanically connecting floors will be presented as a background to the present invention.

Introduction to existing technology

In order to understand and introduce the present invention and knowledge about the problems behind the present invention, the basic structure and function of the floor in patent documents WO9426999 and WO9966151 are introduced below with reference to FIGS. 1-10 . In the application section, the following description of the prior art also applies to the embodiments of the invention described below.

Figures 3a and 3b are respectively a top view and a bottom view showing the floor 1 in the patent document WO9426999. The floor 1 is a rectangle having an upper side 2, a bottom side 3, two opposite long sides forming connecting edge portions 4a and 4b and two opposite short sides forming connecting edge portions 5a and 5b.

The connecting edge portions 4a and 4b of the long sides and the connecting edge portions 5a and 5b of the short sides can be mechanically connected together without using glue in the direction indicated by arrow D in FIG. Show) contact (meet), so that in their laid state, so that their upper side in a common surface plane HP (as shown in Figure 2c).

In the illustrated embodiment, which is an example in patent document WO9426999 (shown in FIGS. 1-3 ), the floor 1 has a factory-installed planar strip 6 extending along the entire long side 4a, said strip 6 being formed by a bendable Made of elastic aluminum plate. The strip 6 extends outwards beyond the connection plane VP at the connection edge portion 4a. According to the embodiment shown, the strip 6 may be mechanically attached to the floor, or be glued or otherwise attached to the floor. As the constituent material of the strip which can be attached to the floor at the factory, as described in this document, also other strip materials can be used, for example some other sheet metal, aluminum or plastic. The strip 6 may be integrally formed with the floor 1 , for example by suitably machining the core of the floor 1 , as described in patent document WO9426999 and as described and shown in WO9966151 .

The present invention is applicable to floors in which the strip, or at least a part of the strip, is integrally formed with the core, and it solves the particular problems of joining, dismantling and production of such floors. The floor core need not but is preferably made of the same material. However the strip is always formed integrally with the floor, ie it should be formed on the floor or installed at the factory.

In the known embodiment according to the aforementioned patent documents WO9426999 and WO9966151, the strip 6 has a width of about 30 mm and a thickness of about 0.5 mm.

A similar but shorter strip 6' is provided along one short side 5a of the floor 1. A part of the strip 6 protruding out of the connection plane VP is formed with a locking element 108 extending along the entire strip 6 . The locking element 108 has at its lower part an operable locking surface 10 facing the connection plane VP, with a height of eg 0.5 mm. When laying, this locking surface 10 cooperates with a locking groove 14 made on the bottom side 3 of the connecting edge portion 4b adjoining the opposite long side of the floor panel 1'. The strip 6' along the short side is provided with a corresponding locking element 108', and the connecting edge portion 5b of the opposite short side has a corresponding locking groove 14'. The edges of the locking grooves 14, 14' away from the connection plane VP form an operative locking surface 10' for cooperating with the operative locking surface 10 of the locking element.

In order to mechanically connect the long side and the short side in the vertical direction (direction D1 in FIG. 1c), the floor panel 1 is formed with a transversely open slot along one of its long sides (connecting edge portion 4a) and its one short side (connecting edge portion 5a). Recess or tongue and groove 16. On the upper side the tongue-and-groove is delimited by the upper lip of the connecting edge portion 4a, 5a and on the lower side by the respective strip 6, 6'. On the opposite connecting edge portion 4b, 5b there is an upper recess 18 defined by a locking tongue 20 cooperating with the recess or tongue groove 16 (inset 2a).

Figures 1a-1c show how the two long sides 4a, 4b of two such floors 1, 1' on the ground U can be adjusted by tilting downwards and turning around a center C close to the intersection between the surface plane HP and the connection plane VP. Can be connected to each other while the floors are kept in contact with each other.

Figures 2a-2c show that the short sides 5a, 5b of the floor panels 1, 1' are connected together by snapaction. The long sides 4a, 4b can be connected together using two methods, after laying the first row of floors, when the long sides 4a, 4b have been connected, the connection of the short sides 5a, 5b is mainly done by snap-fitting.

As shown in Figures 1a～1c, when a new floorboard 1 ' and the floorboard 1 that has been laid are combined along their long side parts 4a, 4b, as shown in Figure 1a, the long side part 4b of new floor board 1 ' is The locking tongue 20 is inserted into the recess or tongue groove 16 by pressing against the long side portion 4 a of the already laid floor 1 . The floor 1' then moves towards the ground U inclined downwards, as shown in Figure 1b. The locking tongue 20 fully enters the recess or tongue groove 16 , while the locking element 108 of the strip 6 snaps into the groove 14 . During the downward tilting movement, the upper part 9 of the locking element 108 is active for guiding the new floor 1' to the already laid floor 1.

In the connected position shown in Figure 1c, the panels 1, 1' are locked along their long sides 4a and 4b in both directions D1 and D2, but the panels 1, 1' can be locked in the longitudinal direction along the long sides (that is, the direction D3). ) move relative to each other.

Figures 2a-2c show how the short sides 5a and 5b of the floors 1, 1' can be joined together in both directions D1 and D2 by moving the new floor 1' substantially horizontally towards the already laid floor 1. This connection is usually made after the long sides of the above-mentioned floors 1' have been connected, as shown in Figures 1a-1c, in a contiguous row by sloping inwards towards the floor 1 that has been laid. In a first step shown in Figure 2a, the beveled surface of the recess 16 and the locking tongue 20 cooperate to force the strip 6' downwards as a direct result of the joining of the short sides 5a, 5b. In the final connection stage, when the locking element 108' enters the locking groove 14', the strip 6' snaps upwards so that the operating surfaces 10, 10' on the locking element 108' and the locking groove 14' engage with each other.

By repeating the operations shown in Figures 1a-1c and Figures 2a-2c, the entire floor can be laid along all joint edges without glue. Thus prior art floors of the type described above can be connected mechanically, first by moving the long sides obliquely downwards, by moving the new floor 1' horizontally along the long sides (direction D3) of the already laid floor 1, when the long sides are locked Finally, move the short sides down at an angle and snap together. When the joints are not damaged, the floors 1, 1' can be dismantled in reverse and laid again. Some of these laying techniques are also suitable for the present invention.

For optimal function, allowing easy laying and dismantling again, after being connected, the prior art floor should be able to assume this state along its long sides, that is the operation of the locking surface 10 and the locking groove 14 of the locking elements A minimal gap occurs between the locking surfaces 10'. At the actual butt joint between the floorboards, however, no clearance is required at the connection plane VP close to the upper side of the floorboards, ie the surface plane HP. In this position, one floor must be pressed against the other. Such gaps are described in more detail in patent document WO9426999. When the long sides of the adjacent floors are pressed against each other, the gap between the operational locking surfaces 10, 10' is 0.01-0.05 mm. This gap facilitates the locking element 108 entering the locking groove 14 and also facilitates the locking element 108 leaving the locking groove 14 . However, as mentioned above, no gap is required at the joint between the floor boards, where the surface plane HP and the joint plane VP intersect on the upper surface of the floor boards.

The joining system ensures movement along the joining edge in a locked position after joining an arbitrary edge, allowing laying in a variety of ways that vary from three basic methods:

Slope the long side and snap the short side together;

Make the long sides snap together and the short sides snap together;

Slope the short sides, slope both floors up, move the new floor along the short side of the floor that has already been laid, and finally slope both floors down.

The most common and safest way is to start with the long sides sloping down, with the floors locked to each other. Then, in the locked state, move to the short side of the third floor so that the short side can snap. It can also be laid along one side, ie along the long side or the short side, to snap into another floor. Then move in lockout until the other side snaps together with the third floor. Both methods require at least one side to snap together. However, laying can also be done without snap-in. A third way is that the short side of the first floor is first inclined inwardly towards the short side of the second floor whose long side has been joined to the third floor. After joining, the first and second floors are sloped upwards slightly. The first floor is moved obliquely upward along its short sides until the upper connecting edges of the first and third floor contact each other, after which the two floors are inclined downwardly.

For laminate floors with a thickness of about 7 mm and for floors with aluminum strips with a thickness of about 0.6 mm, the above-mentioned floor and its locking system are very popular on the market. Likewise, a modification of the floor of patent document WO9966151 shown in Figures 4a and 4b has been very successful, however it has been found that this technique is not particularly suitable for floors made of wood fiber based materials, especially those made of heavily wood Or a parquet floor made of glued laminated wood materials. One reason why this known technique is not suitable for this type of product is that a large amount of material is wasted due to the machining of the edge portions to form the tongue and groove of the necessary depth.

British patent document GB-A-1430423 describes a known mechanical locking system for floors as shown in Figures 5a and 5b. This system is a tongue-and-groove connection with an additional holding hook provided on a flange extending on one side of the tongue-and-groove groove, with corresponding holding ridges formed on the upper side of the tongue-and-groove. This system requires that the flanges equipped with hooks have considerable elasticity and cannot be disassembled without destroying the joint edges of the floor. Tighter fits make manufacturing difficult, and the geometry of the connections leads to a lot of material waste.

Patent document WO9747834 describes a floor with a different mechanical locking system. This locking system for locking the long sides of the floor (Figs. 2-4, 11 and 22-25 in this document) is designed in such a way that it is mounted and dismantled by connecting and tilting movements. The locking system for locking the short sides of the floor (figures 5-10) is designed so that they are connected together by snapping by pushing towards each other, but when the short sides of the floor are not damaged or in some cases damaged , the locking system cannot be disassembled.

Patent document WO9747834 describes floorboards, which are fixed and disassembled by turning or snapping (Figures 2-4 in WO9747834 and accompanying drawings 14a-14c), which have grooves on one side in which strips The lower portion protrudes and extends beyond the joining plane of the two floor top sides when joined. The strip cooperates with complementary portions formed on opposite edges of the panels so that two identical panels can be joined together. A common feature of these floors is that the upper side of the tongue and the corresponding upper interface of the groove on the floor are planar and parallel to the upper surface of the floor. With the locking surface on the upper side of the tongue on the one hand and the strip below the upper side of the lower lip or groove on the other hand, a floor connection is obtained which prevents the connection planes from being pulled apart transversely. These locking systems also have the disadvantage that they require strips extending out of the connection plane, resulting in waste of material also in the connection edges forming the slots.

In order to mechanically join different types of floors, several proposals have been made, wherein when using wood fibers and wood-based flooring materials, there is less material waste and production can be done in an efficient manner. Patent documents WO9627721 (Figs. 5a-5b in the part of the drawings) and JP3169967 (7a-7zb in the part of the drawings) describe two types of snap connections which result in less waste of material, but they have the disadvantage that The removal of the floor is not easy. Also in these systems large locking angles cannot be used in order to reduce the risk of being pulled apart. The geometry of the joints is not conducive to snap-fits that require substantial deformations of the material, and must be accommodated in terms of manufacturing tolerances in that the large surface parts must be adjusted exactly to each other. These surface portions which are in contact with each other also make it more difficult for the floors to move relative to each other in the locked condition.

Another known system is described in patent document DE-A-1212275, as shown in Figures 8a and 8b. This known system is suitable for sports floors made of plastic and cannot be produced with large disc-shaped cutting tools for forming sharp undercuts. This known system cannot be disassembled without using a material with great elasticity, ie the upper and lower lips around the undercut part can deform greatly when pulled apart. If a high-strength joint is desired, this type of joint is not suitable for floors made of wood-based materials.

FR-A-2675174 describes a mechanical joining system for ceramic tiles with complementary opposing edges, when separate spring clips are used, which are mounted at a distance from each other and are used to grasp A bead on the edge portion of the adjoining tile. The connection system is designed so that it cannot be disassembled by turning, as detailed in Figure 10a and in particular Figure 10b.

Another yielding system is described in DE 20001225U1. However, this existing construction is very sensitive and has great disadvantages since the lower lip is already weakened by the locking groove.

DE19925248 describes a system with upwardly pointing locking elements.

As mentioned above, prior art systems have both disadvantages and advantages. However, no system is suitable for the rational production of floors with a locking system optimized in production technology, with the least waste of material, with optimum laying and dismantling functions, which can be used for high quality, strength in the laid state and functional flooring.

An object of the present invention is to meet this need, to provide an optimal locking system for floors and an optimal floor. Another object of the invention is to provide a snap connection that can be produced in a rational manner. The present invention will become more clear from the above contents and the contents to be introduced below.

Summary of the invention

A floor and a releasable locking system comprising an undercut portion on one long side of the floor and a protruding tongue on the other long side. The undercut portion at a distance from its tip has a corresponding upwardly leading inner locking surface. The tongue and undercut sections are formed and snapped together. The preferred embodiment also disassembles by an angling motion centered near the intersection between the surface plane and the common joining plane of the two adjoining floors. The undercut in the tongue-and-groove groove of this locking system can be machined with a disc-shaped cutting tool whose axes of rotation are inclined relative to each other, thereby forming the first inner part of the undercut of the groove, and then forming a The locking surface is positioned closer to the slot opening.

Technical scheme of the present invention is as follows:

A locking system for mechanically joining floorboards at a joining plane, said floorboards having a core, a front side, a back side and opposing joining edge parts, one of the joining edge parts being formed as a tongue-and-groove groove Delimited by an upper lip and a lower lip and having a bottom end, the other connecting edge part is formed as a tongue with an upwardly pointing portion at the free outer end of said tongue, the tongue groove has an undercut when viewed from the connecting plane The shape of the groove, the undercut groove has an opening, an undercut portion, and an inner locking surface; at least part of the lower lip is integrally formed with the floor core; the tongue and groove has a locking surface, when two such floors are When mechanically joined, this locking surface interacts with the inner locking surface in the tongue-and-tongue groove of the adjoining floor so that their front sides lie in the same surface plane and meet in a joining plane perpendicular to the surface plane, characterized in that : the inner locking surface of the tongue-and-groove is formed on the upper lip in the undercut part of the tongue-and-groove, for cooperating with the corresponding locking surface of the tongue, which is formed on the upwardly directed part of the tongue, For resisting the pulling apart of two floors mechanically joined together in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the joining plane, said lower lip has a bearing surface cooperating with a corresponding bearing surface on the tongue, said bearing surface For this interaction, the relative movement of the two connected floors is resisted in a first vertical direction perpendicular to the surface plane, as seen from the intersection of the surface plane and the connection plane, all parts of the lower lip connected to the core lie in the plane Furthermore, this plane is farther from said intersection point than the locking plane, which is parallel to the plane and at the interaction of the tongue-and-groove and the tongue. All parts connected to the core on the edge are shorter than the upper lip and terminate at a certain distance from the connecting plane. The lower lip is elastic, and the stiffness of the upper lip is greater than that of the lower lip. Viewed parallel to the surface plane, the lower lip The bearing surface of the lip is located at a distance from the inner part of the undercut groove and is closer to the connecting plane than the inner part of the undercut groove, the upper and lower lips of the connecting edge part being formed to pass substantially parallel to the existing The movement of the surface of the laid floor that pushes the new floor and the installed floor together so that the parts of the locking system snap together during the downward bending of the lower lip of the tongue and groove so that the installed floor and the new floor floor connection.

Preferably, the tongue is elastic.

Preferably, the joining edge portion is designed so that by the movement of pushing a new floor and an existing floor together, during the flexing of the tongue and lower lip, the surface planes of the two floors are substantially aligned with each other, so that the existing The laid floor is joined with the new floor.

Preferably, the upper and lower lips of the connecting edge portion are designed to allow the tongue on one floor to rotate upwards relative to the other about a center of rotation near the intersection between the surface plane and the connecting plane. Comes out of the tongue-and-groove on the other floor and separates two mechanically joined floors.

Preferably, the upper and lower lips of the connecting edge portion are designed to bend the lower lip downwardly by rotating one floor relative to the other about a center of rotation near the intersection between the surface plane and the connecting plane. In the process, the tongue on one floor is released from the tongue and groove on the other floor, and the two mechanically connected floors are separated.

Preferably, at least a substantial part of the bottom end of the tongue-and-groove, viewed parallel to the surface plane, is farther from the connection plane than the free outer end of the tongue-and-groove.

Preferably, the angle between the bearing surface of the tongue and the lower lip designed to interact and the surface plane is smaller than the angle between the interacting locking surface of the upper lip and the tongue and the surface plane.

Preferably, the angle between the locking surface and the surface plane is substantially equal to the angle between a tangent of an arc that engages the locking surfaces with each other at a point closest to the bottom end of the undercut groove. Tangent, the center point of the arc is the point of intersection between the surface plane and the joining plane.

Preferably, the angle between the locking surface and the surface plane is greater than the angle between a tangent of an arc tangent to the mutually engaging locking surfaces at a point closest to the bottom end of the undercut groove, The center point of this arc is the point of intersection between the surface plane and the connection plane.

Preferably, the upper lip and the tongue have contact surfaces, which interact in the locked state, in the region between the connection plane and the locking surfaces of the tongue and the upper lip, in the locked position, The locking surfaces interact.

Preferably, the contact surfaces slope upwards and outwards towards the connection plane, seen from the interacting locking surfaces of the tongue and upper lip.

Preferably, the contact surface is substantially parallel to the surface plane.

Preferably, the contact surface is substantially planar.

Preferably, the tongue and the undercut groove are designed such that along substantially the entire distance from the locking surface where the upper lip and the tongue engage each other to the interacting bearing surfaces of the lower lip and the tongue, the outer end of the tongue Located at a certain distance from the undercut groove.

Preferably, a surface portion of the outer end of the tongue that is in contact with a surface portion of the undercut groove is smaller in size than the locking surface, viewed in a vertical plane, when two floorboards are mechanically connected.

Preferably, at least part of the lower bearing surface of the tongue and lower lip is positioned at a greater distance from the connection plane than the inclined locking surface of the upper lip and tongue.

Preferably, the undercut groove and tongue are designed to enable movement of a floorboard already mechanically connected to a mating floorboard in a third direction along the connection plane.

Preferably, the undercut groove and the tongue are designed so that by turning one floor relative to the other while maintaining contact between the floor panels at a point close to the floor joint edge portion of the intersection between the surface plane and the joint plane , which separates one floor from another.

Preferably, the undercut groove and the tongue are designed so that the contact between the retaining floorboards is at a point of the floor joint edge portion close to the intersection between the surface plane and the joint plane and the side of the tongue away from the surface plane and the lower lip The floors can be separated by rotating one floor relative to the other while substantially not touching each other.

Preferably, the angle between the cooperating bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip and the joining plane, seen in cross-section of the floor, is equal to or less than the angle between the bearing surfaces engaging each other at a point closest to the bottom end of the undercut groove. The angle between the tangent of the tangent arc and the joining plane, the center point of which is the intersection of the surface plane and the joining plane.

Preferably, the angle between the interacting bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip and the plane of the surfaces is greater than that between the tangent of the arc tangent to the mutually engaging bearing surfaces at a point closest to the bottom end of the tongue and groove and the connecting plane The angle between them, the center point of the arc is at the intersection of the surface plane and the connecting plane.

Preferably, the angle between the designed interacting bearing surface of the tongue and the lower lip and the surface plane is smaller than the angle between the interacting locking surface of the upper lip and the tongue and the surface plane.

Preferably, the bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip designed to interact are inclined in the same direction as the interacting locking surfaces of the upper lip and tongue, but at an angle to the plane of the surface that is greater than that of the upper lip and tongue. The angle between the interacting locking surface and the plane of the surface is small.

Preferably, the locking surfaces of the upper lip and the tongue are substantially planar, at least in the surface portions intended to interact with each other when two such floors are connected.

Preferably, the tongue has a guide surface positioned outside the locking surface of the tongue, seen from the connection plane VP, at a smaller angle to the surface plane than the locking surface is to the surface plane.

Preferably, the upper lip has a guide surface which is closer to the opening of the tongue-and-groove groove than the locking surface on the upper lip, and which has an included angle with the surface plane which is smaller than the locking surface of the upper lip and the surface plane. The included angle is small.

Preferably, at least part of the bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip are at a greater distance from the connection plane than the inclined locking surfaces of the upper lip and tongue are from the connection plane.

Preferably, the connecting edge portion bearing the tongue and/or the connecting edge portion bearing the tongue groove has a recess above the tongue and terminating at a distance from the surface plane.

Preferably, viewed in cross section, the undercut groove has an outer opening portion which tapers inwardly in a funnel shape.

Preferably, at the outer edge of the upper lip furthest from the plane of the surface, the upper lip has a bevel.

Preferably, seen in cross section, the tongue has a tapering end.

Preferably, seen in cross-section, the tongue has separate ends forming upper and lower tongue portions.

Preferably, the upper and lower tongue parts are made of different materials with different material properties.

Preferably the tongue and groove and the tongue are integrally formed with the floor.

Preferably, the upper lip is thicker than the lower lip.

Preferably, the minimum thickness of the upper lip adjacent the undercut portion is greater than the maximum thickness of the lower lip adjacent the bearing surface.

Preferably, the material properties of the tongue are different from the material properties of the upper lip or the lower lip.

Preferably, the upper lip and the lower lip are made of materials having different properties.

Preferably, the locking system further comprises a second mechanical locking comprising: a locking groove formed on the underside of the connecting edge portion of the supporting tongue, the locking groove extending in a direction parallel to the connecting plane; integrally connected to the floor A locking strip on the connecting edge portion of the connecting edge portion, the locking strip extending along substantially the entire length of the connecting edge portion and having a locking element protruding from the strip, said locking element being received when two such floors are mechanically connected In the locking groove of the adjoining floor.

Preferably, the locking strip protrudes beyond the connection plane.

Preferably, the locking system is formed on the floor with a core made of wood fibre-based material.

Preferably, the locking system is formed on the floor with a core made of wood.

A floor having a core, a front side, a back side and two opposing parallel connecting edge portions formed as part of a mechanical locking system, one of the connecting edge portions being formed as a A tongue and tongue groove, which is delimited by an upper lip and a lower lip and has a bottom end, the other connecting edge part is formed as a tongue with an upwardly pointing portion at its free outer end, viewed from the connecting plane See, the tongue and groove has the shape of an undercut groove with an opening, an undercut portion, and an inner locking surface; at least part of the lower lip is integrally formed with the floor core; the tongue has a locking surface, the locking surface is formed to interact with the inner locking surface in the tongue-and-groove of the adjoining floorboards when two such floorboards are mechanically joined so that their front sides are in the same surface plane and The surface planes meet in a connection plane perpendicular to the tongue, characterized in that the inner locking surface of the tongue-and-groove groove is formed on the upper lip in the undercut portion of the tongue-and-groove groove for cooperating with the corresponding locking surface of the tongue-and-groove groove, Said locking surface is formed on an upwardly directed portion of the tongue for resisting the pulling apart of two floors mechanically joined together in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the joining plane, said lower lip having a A supporting surface cooperating with a corresponding bearing surface on a tenon, said bearing surfaces being adapted to interact to resist relative movement of two joined floors in a direction perpendicular to the surface plane, as viewed from the point of intersection of the surface plane and the joining plane Go, all parts of the lower lip that are connected to the core are located out of a plane that is located farther from said intersection than the plane, parallel to the plane, and between the tongue groove and the tongue The active locking surfaces are tangent to these locking surfaces at their most inclined relative to the plane of the surfaces, all parts of the lower lip connected to the core are shorter than the upper lip and terminate at a distance from the connecting plane, the lower lip is elastic Yes, the upper lip is stiffer than the lower lip, and the bearing surface of the lower lip, viewed parallel to the surface plane, is located at a distance from the inner part of the undercut groove and is closer to the connection than the inner part of the undercut groove plane, the upper and lower lips of the connecting edge portion are designed to be pushed together by a movement substantially parallel to the plane of the surface on which the floor has been laid, so that during the downward bending of the lower lip of the tongue-and-groove, The parts of the locking system snap together to join the installed floor to the new floor.

Preferably, the tongue is elastic.

Preferably, the connecting edge portion is designed so that it can be moved between the tongue and the lower lip by a movement of pushing the new floor and the installed floor together when the surface planes of a new and an existing floor are aligned with each other. The existing floor is joined to the new floor during edge bending.

Preferably, the upper and lower lips of the connecting edge portion are designed to allow the tongue on one floor to rotate upwards relative to the other about a center of rotation near the intersection between the surface plane and the connecting plane. Comes out of the tongue-and-groove on the other floor and separates two mechanically joined floors.

Preferably, the upper and lower lips of the connecting edge portion are designed to be able to be rotated upwardly by one floor relative to the other about a center of rotation near the intersection between the surface plane and the connecting plane, during downward bending of the lower lip , causing the tongue on one floor to disengage from the tongue and groove on the other floor, thereby separating two mechanically joined floors.

Preferably, seen parallel to the surface plane, at least a substantial part of the bottom end of the tongue-and-groove is farther from the connection plane than the outer end of the tongue-and-groove.

Preferably, the interacting bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip, which are designed to interact, form a smaller angle with the surface plane than the interacting locking surfaces of the upper lip and tongue, preferably at a smaller angle with the surface plane .

Preferably, the angle between the locking surface and the surface plane is substantially equal to the angle between a tangent to an arc of a circle which, at a point closest to the bottom end of the tongue-and-groove, meets the mutually engaging locking surfaces. Tangent, the center point of the arc is at the point of intersection between the surface plane and the join plane.

Preferably, the angle between the locking surface and the surface plane is greater than the angle between the tangent of an arc tangent to the mutually engaging locking surfaces at a point closest to the bottom end of the tongue-and-groove, which The center point of the arc is at the point of intersection between the surface plane and the join plane.

Preferably, the upper lip and the tongue have contact surfaces which interact in their locked state and are located in the region between the connection plane and the locking surfaces of the tongue and upper lip, said locking surfaces being in their lock state interactions.

Preferably, the contact surfaces slope upwards and outwards towards the connection plane, seen from the interacting locking surfaces of the tongue and upper lip.

Preferably, the contact surface is substantially parallel to the surface plane.

Preferably, the contact surface is substantially planar.

Preferably, the tongue and the undercut groove are designed such that along substantially the entire distance from the locking surface where the upper lip and the tongue engage each other to the interacting bearing surfaces of the lower lip and the tongue, the outer edge of the tongue The end is located at a certain distance from the undercut groove.

Preferably, a surface portion of the outer end of the tongue that is in contact with a surface portion of the undercut groove is smaller in a vertical plane than the locking surface when two such floors are mechanically connected.

Preferably, the distance between at least part of the bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip and the connection plane is greater than the distance between the inclined locking surfaces of the upper lip and tongue and the connection plane.

Preferably, the undercut groove and tongue are designed to enable movement of a floor already mechanically connected to a mating floor in a third direction along the connection plane.

Preferably, the undercut groove and tongue are designed so that contact between the floor panels can be achieved by making one panel relative to the other while maintaining contact between the panels at a point close to the floor joint edge portion of the intersection between the surface plane and the joint plane. Turn so that one floor is separated from the other.

Preferably, the undercut groove and the tongue are designed so as to be able to maintain contact between the floorboards at a point of the floor joint edge portion close to the intersection between the surface plane and the joint plane and the side of the tongue away from the surface plane and the lower lip The two floors can be separated by rotating one floor relative to the other while there is substantially no contact between the edges.

Preferably, the angle between the interacting bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip and the plane of connection, seen in cross-section of the floor, is equal to or smaller than the angle between the bearing surfaces engaging each other at a point closest to the bottom end of the tongue and groove. The angle between the tangent of the tangent arc and the joining plane, said arc having its center point at the intersection of the surface plane and the joining plane.

Preferably, the angle between the interacting bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip and the plane of the surfaces is greater than that between the tangent of the arc tangent to the mutually engaging bearing surfaces at a point closest to the bottom end of the tongue and groove and the connecting plane The angle between , the center point of the arc is at the point of intersection of the surface plane and the connecting plane.

Preferably, the angle between the bearing surface designed for interaction of the tongue and the lower lip and the surface plane is smaller than the angle between the interaction locking surface of the upper lip and the tongue and the surface plane.

Preferably, the bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip designed to interact are inclined in the same direction as the interacting locking surfaces of the upper lip and tongue, but at an angle to the surface plane that is greater than that of the upper lip and tongue. The angle between the interacting locking surfaces of the tenons and the plane of the surfaces is small.

Preferably, the locking surfaces of the upper lip and the tongue are substantially planar, at least in planar portions adapted to interact with each other when two such floorboards are joined.

Preferably, the tongue has a guide surface, seen from the connection plane VP, which is located outside the locking surface of the tongue and which has a smaller angle to the surface plane than the locking surface to the surface plane.

Preferably, the upper lip has a guide surface that is closer to the opening of the undercut groove than the locking surface on the upper lip and that is at an angle that is closer to the surface plane than the locking surface of the upper lip is to the surface plane. The angle is small.

Preferably, at least part of the bearing surfaces of the tongue and lower lip are at a greater distance from the connection plane than the inclined locking surfaces of the upper lip and tongue are from the connection plane.

Preferably, the connecting edge portion bearing the tongue and/or the connecting edge portion bearing the tongue groove has a recess above the tongue and terminating at a distance from the surface plane.

Preferably, viewed from the inside of the cross section, the undercut groove has an outer opening portion that tapers inwards in a funnel shape.

Preferably, at the outer edge of the upper lip furthest from the plane of the surface, the upper lip has a bevel.

Preferably, seen in cross section, the tongue has a tapering end.

Preferably, seen in cross section, the tongue has separate ends forming upper and lower tongue portions.

Preferably, the upper and lower tongue parts of the tongue are made of different materials with different material properties.

Preferably the tongue and groove and the tongue are integrally formed with the floor.

Preferably, the upper lip is thicker than the lower lip.

Preferably, the minimum thickness of the upper lip adjacent the undercut portion is greater than the maximum thickness of the lower lip adjacent the bearing surface.

Preferably, the material properties of the tongue are different from the material properties of the upper lip or the lower lip.

Preferably, the upper lip and the lower lip are made of materials having different properties.

Preferably, the locking system also includes a second mechanical locking comprising: a locking groove formed on the underside of the connecting edge portion of the support tongue, the locking groove extending in a direction parallel to the connecting plane; a locking strip integrally attached to the joining edge portion of the floor panels below the tongue and groove, the locking strip extending along substantially the entire length of the joining edge portion and having locking elements protruding from the strip, when two such floor panels are mechanically joined, The locking element is received in a locking groove of an adjoining floor.

Preferably, the locking strip protrudes beyond the connection plane.

Preferably, it is formed on a board with a core made of wood fibre-based material.

Preferably, it is formed on a board with a core made of wood.

Preferably, said floor is a quadrilateral with pairs of parallel sides.

Preferably, said floor has a mechanical locking system on all four sides.

Preferably, the connecting edge part with tongue and/or the connecting edge part with tongue and groove on one pair of parallel connecting edge parts is formed from the same material as the connecting edge part with tongue on the other pair of parallel connecting edge parts. The forming material of the connecting edge part and/or the connecting edge part with the tongue-and-groove differs.

Furthermore, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the description below.

Before describing specific and preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, the basic concept of the invention, its claimed strength and function will be described.

The invention is applicable to a rectangular floor having a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides. To simplify the description, the first pair of sides is referred to as the long side and the second pair of sides is referred to as the short side hereinafter. It should however be pointed out that the invention is also suitable for square floors.

high connection quality

High joint quality means a tight fit between the floors in the locked position both horizontally and vertically. Floors can be joined without large visible gaps between the joining edges or with gaps that do not differ greatly in number from place to place, either under load or under normal load conditions. In a high-quality floor, the difference in the number of connection gaps and gaps should not be greater than 0.2 and 0.1 mm, respectively.

slope up around the join edge

Normally, it should be possible to turn the long side of the floor up to allow removal of the floor. Since the floors in the initial position are connected with tight connecting edges, this upward pivoting can be achieved by the upper edges touching each other and moving rotationally at the connecting edges. The possibility to turn upwards is important not only when changing floors or moving floor panels. Many floors are trial laid or laid incorrectly next to doors, in corners, etc. It would be a serious disadvantage if the floor could not be easily dismantled during laying without the locking system being compromised. A floor that can be sloped inwards can also be sloped upwards again, and when connecting with a downwards slope, the strip always bends slightly downwards, so that the locking element bends downwards backwards and is opened. If the connection system is not formed with suitable angles and radii, after laying, the floor can be locked in this way, ie cannot be taken up. After the long side connection has been opened by turning it up, the short side can always be pulled out along the connecting edge, but it is better if the short side can be opened by turning it up. The advantage is more pronounced when the floor is long, eg 2.4 meters, making it more difficult to pull out the short sides. The upward pivoting should be achieved very safely, without the floors jamming and pinching each other, with the risk of the locking system being compromised.

snap

It should be possible to lock the short sides of the floor with a horizontal snap. This requires part of the connection system to be elastic and bendable. Even though it is easier and faster to turn the long sides inwards compared to snapping, since some laying operations such as around doors require the floors to be connected horizontally, it is advantageous if the long sides can also be snapped. In the case of a snap-fit connection, there is a risk of edge lift if the geometry of the connection part is not suitable.

Material cost for long and short sides

If the size of the floor is 1.2*0.2 meters, the long side joints of the floor panel per square meter are six times the short side joints. High material consumption and expensive joining materials are less important on the short side compared to the long side.

horizontal strength

In order to obtain high strength, the locking elements must generally have a large engagement angle so that the locking elements do not snap out. The locking elements must be high and wide so that they do not break when subjected to high tensile loads caused by the floor shrinking in winter due to low humidity. This also applies to the material closest to the locking slot in the other floor. The short-side connections should have greater strength than the long-side connections, since during winter contraction the tensile load is distributed over a shorter length on the short side than on the long side.

vertical strength

Should be able to maintain floor level when subjected to vertical loads. Furthermore, movement at joints should be avoided since surfaces that are under pressure and move relative to each other, such as upper joint edges, may cause squeaking.

mobility

Being able to lock all four sides, the new floor to be laid must be able to move along the floor already laid in the locked position. With a reasonable amount of force, it should be possible to achieve this, eg using blocks and a hammer, to bond the floors together provided that the joint edges are not damaged and the joint system need not be formed with horizontal and vertical visible gaps. Because long connections lead to greater friction, mobility on the long side is more important than mobility on the short side.

productivity

Proper use of large turning cutting tools with good precision and capacity should enable the production of joint systems.

Measurement

Good function, production tolerances and quality require that the connection profile can be continuously measured and checked. Critical parts in mechanically connected systems should be designed in a way that is easy to produce and measure, they should be able to be produced within tolerances of a few tens of micrometers, and they should be able to be measured with high precision, for example with so-called profile projectors. If the connection system is manufactured using a wire-cut machine, apart from certain production tolerances, the connection system has the same profile over the entire edge section. The joint system can be measured with high precision by sawing some samples with a saw for the floor and measuring them with a profile projector or a measuring microscope. Rational production requires, however, that the connection system can also be measured quickly and easily without destructive methods, for example using gauges. It is very convenient to use a meter to measure if the number of critical components in the connection system is as small as possible.

Optimization of long and short sides

In order to manufacture floors optimally at the lowest cost, the long and short sides should be preferred in view of their different properties, as mentioned above. For example, the long sides should preferably be turned down, turned up, positioned and moved, and the short sides should preferably be snap-fit and high-strength. The optimal design of the floor should have different joining systems on the long and short sides.

Possibility of connecting edges to move laterally

Wood-based floors and floors that often include wood fibers expand and contract as the relative humidity changes. Expansion and contraction usually start from above, and the surface layers can move to a greater extent than the core, the part that forms the connection system. In order to prevent the upper joint edge section from lifting or crushing due to high expansion, or to develop gaps when drying, the joint system should be constructed so as to allow movement in order to compensate for expansion and contraction.

invention

The invention is based on the first understanding that by using appropriate production methods, essentially machining, using tools whose diameters significantly exceed the thickness of the board, it is possible to form wood, wood-based boards and plastic materials with high precision and rational shape, this type of machining can be performed in a tongue and groove at a distance from the joining plane. The shape of the connection system should thus be suitable for rational production, capable of being carried out with very small tolerances. However, this adaptability cannot be produced at the expense of the locking system and other important properties of the floor.

The invention is also based on a second understanding, on this requirement that must be fulfilled by an optimally functioning mechanical connection system. This understanding can be achieved in unknown ways, for example by a) designing the connection system in such a way that there are special angles, radii, gaps, free surfaces and ratios between the different elements of the system, b) preferably using the material properties of the core , such as compression, elongation, flexural, tensile and compressive strength combined.

The present invention is also based on the third understanding that, on the premise of ensuring or improving function and strength, by combining manufacturing technology, connection design, material selection and preferred long and short sides, a connection system can be provided at low cost.

The invention is based on the fourth understanding that connection systems, manufacturing techniques and measurement techniques must be developed and adjusted so that critical components requiring very small tolerances are to a greater extent as few as possible and designed to be able to be measured and measured in serial production examine.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a locking system and a floor having such a locking system for locking the floor in a first vertical direction D1, a second horizontal direction D2 and a third direction D3 perpendicular to the second horizontal direction. All four sides are mechanically linked to corresponding sides of another floor with the same locking system.

On both sides of the floor there may be a detachable mechanical connection system of known type, which can be moved laterally in a locked state and locked by turning inwards around the connection edge or with a horizontal snap. On the other two sides, the floor has a locking system according to the invention. Floors can have a locking system according to the invention on all four sides.

At least two opposite sides of the floor have a joint system designed according to the invention comprising a tongue and a tongue groove defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, with an upwardly leading portion on the upper and outer sides of the tongue, the tongue groove It has an undercut portion in and above it. The upwardly leading portion of the tongue and the undercut portion of the tongue groove on the upper lip have locking surfaces that resist and prevent horizontal separation in a transverse direction perpendicular to the connection plane, namely the second horizontal direction D2. The tongue and the tongue-and-groove also have co-operating bearing surfaces which prevent vertical separation in a first vertical direction D1 parallel to the connection plane. Such bearing surfaces are present at least on the bottom of the tongue and on the lower lip of the tongue groove. In the upper part, co-operating locking surfaces can be used as upper bearing surfaces, but preferably the upper lip of the tongue groove and the tongue have separate upper bearing surfaces. The tongue, tongue and groove, locking elements and undercuts are designed in such a way that they can be machined with a tool having a diameter greater than the floor thickness. With its upwardly guiding part, the tongue can be inserted into the tongue groove and its undercut by horizontal snapping to bend the lower lip so that the upwardly guiding part of the tongue can be inserted into the undercut. The lower lip is shorter than the upper lip to facilitate the formation of an undercut with a locking surface that has a relatively large inclination to the surface plane of the floor, giving greater horizontal locking force, which can be compared with the elastic lower lip Combine.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the floorboard has two edge parts formed with a connection system according to the invention, the tongue has an upwardly leading part, by snap-fitting, the tongue with the upwardly leading part can be inserted into the tongue-and-groove groove and its bottom In the cut section, the tongue can be moved out of the tongue groove by turning upwards while keeping the upper connecting edges of the floorboards in contact with each other.

Additionally, the tongue can be made elastic to facilitate snapping on the short sides after the long sides of the floorboards have been joined together. The invention thus also relates to a snap-in connection, which can also be released by pivoting upwards with the upper connecting edges in contact with one another.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the floor has two edge parts formed with a connection system according to the invention, when the floor is held in an upwardly turned position, the tongue can be snapped into the tongue groove and then passed around the upper connection edge Turn, turn down.

The lower lip is shorter than the upper lip, thereby ensuring greater freedom when designing the undercut portion on the upper lip and its locking surface.

These aspects are not combined with the preferred locking system described, and aspects of the invention are also applicable to known systems.

The invention also introduces the basic principle that the tongue-and-groove and tongue-and-groove connection should meet, so that the tongue and the tongue-and-groove engage with the connecting element under the premise that the connection element is minimally bent and the surface planes of the floor are basically in the same plane.

Different aspects of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing different embodiments of the invention, using the same reference numerals to designate parts of the floor of the invention that are the same as those of the prior art floor in FIGS. 1 and 2 .

Description of drawings

Figures 1a-1c show the three steps of the downardangling method for mechanically connecting the long sides of the floorboards in the patent document WO9426999;

Figures 2a-2c show the three steps of the snap-fit method for mechanically connecting the short sides of the floorboards in the patent document WO9426999;

Figures 3a-3b are respectively a top view and a bottom view showing the floor in the patent document WO9426999;

Figures 4a and 4b show two different embodiments in the patent document WO9966151;

Figures 5a and 5b show the floor in the patent document GB1430423;

Figures 6a and 6b show the mechanical locking system of the long and short sides of the floor in the patent document WO9627721;

Figures 7a and 7b show the mechanical locking system in the patent document JP3169967;

Figures 8a and 8b show the floor in the patent document DE-A-1212275;

Figures 9a and 9b show the snap connection in patent document WO9747834;

Figures 10a and 10b show the snap connection in patent document FR2675174;

Figures 11a and 11b schematically show two parallel connecting edge portions according to a first preferred embodiment of a floor according to the invention;

Figures 12a-12c show the snap-fit of the variant of the present invention;

Figures 13a-13c show the method of turning up and down using the present invention;

Figure 14 shows a variant of the engagement of the present invention;

Figure 15 shows this variation of the invention, illustrating lifting by turning upwards while flexing and compressing the connecting material;

Figures 16a-16c show examples of floors according to the invention;

Figures 17a-17c show how the connection system can be designed for snapping;

Figure 18 shows the snap in the tilted position;

Figure 19 shows the locking of the short sides by snapping;

Figures 20a and 20b show the snapping of the outer and inner corners of the short sides;

Figure 21 shows a connection system according to the invention with an elastic tongue;

Figures 22a-22e show in detail the snapping of the outer corners of the short sides using an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 23a-23e show in detail the engagement of the inner corners of the short sides using an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed introduction of the preferred embodiment

A first preferred embodiment of a floor panel 1, 1' equipped with the mechanical locking system of the invention is described below with reference to Figures 11a and 11b. For ease of understanding, the connection system is shown schematically. It should be emphasized that better functioning can also be achieved using other preferred embodiments which will be described below.

Figures 11a and 11b schematically show a section through the joint between a connecting edge portion 4a formed by a long edge portion of a floor 1 and a connecting edge portion formed by an opposite long edge portion 4b of another floor 1';

The upper surface of the floor is located substantially in a common surface plane HP, the connecting edge portions 4a, 4b engaging each other in a vertical connecting plane VP. The mechanical locking system causes the floors to be locked relative to each other in a first vertical direction D1 and in a second horizontal direction D2 perpendicular to the connection plane VP. During laying of floors with floors in adjoining row of floors, one floor (1') can however be moved along the connection plane VP in a third direction D3 (see figure 19) along the other floor (1). This movement can be used, for example, to lock together floors located in the same row.

In order to provide the connection of two connecting edge parts perpendicular to the vertical plane VP and parallel to the horizontal plane HP, the floor has on one of its edge parts 4a a tongue and groove 36 located inside the connecting plane VP, formed on the other connecting edge 4b. There is a tongue 38 which extends beyond the connection plane VP.

In this embodiment, the floor panel 1 has a core or wooden core 30 which supports a wooden surface layer 32 on its front side and a balancing layer on its rear side 34 . The floor 1 is rectangular with a second locking system on two parallel short sides. In some embodiments, this second locking system may have the same design as the locking system on the long side, but the locking system on the short side may also have a different design than the mechanical locking system of the present invention or be a known mechanical locking system. lock system.

As an illustrative but non-limiting example, the floor may be a parquet floor having a thickness of 15 mm, a length of 2.4 meters and a width of 0.2 meters. However, the invention can also be applied to square parquet floors or to parquet floors with different dimensions.

The core 30 may be of the lamella type, consisting of narrow blocks of an inexpensive type of wood. The surface layer 32 may have a thickness of 3-4 mm, consist of decorative hardwood, and be painted. The balancing layer on the back side 34 may consist of 2 mm thick plywood. In some cases, different types of materials may be used in different parts of the floor for optimizing the properties of a single part of the floor.

As mentioned above, the mechanical locking system according to the invention comprises a tongue and groove 36 on one connecting edge part 4a of the floor and a tongue and groove 38 on the opposite connecting edge part 4b of the floor.

The tongue-and-groove 36 is delimited by an upper lip 39 and a lower lip 40 and has the form of an undercut groove with an opening between the two lips 39 , 40 .

The various parts of the tongue-and-groove 36 are shown more clearly in FIG. 11b. A tongue and groove is formed on the core or core 30 and extends from the edge of the floor. Above the tongue and groove, there is an upper edge portion or connecting edge surface 41 extending upwards to the surface plane HP. Inside the opening of the tongue-and-groove, there is an upper engaging or bearing surface 43, which in this case is parallel to the surface plane HP. The engaging or bearing surface becomes an inclined locking surface 43, which forms an angle A between the locking surface and the horizontal plane HP, ie, the locking angle. Inside the locking surface there is a surface portion 46 which forms the upper boundary surface of the undercut portion 35 of the tongue and groove. The tongue and groove also has a tongue and groove bottom end 48 extending down to the lower lip 40 . On the upper side of the flange, there is an engaging or bearing surface 50 . The outer end of the lower lip has a connecting edge surface 52 at a distance from the connecting plane VP.

The shape of the tongue is also best shown in Figure lib. The tongue is made of the material of the core or core 30 which extends beyond the connection plane VP when this connection edge portion 4b is connected to the connection edge portion 4a of the adjacent floor. The connecting edge portion 4b also has an upper edge portion or upper connecting surface 61 which extends down the connecting plane VP to the root of the tongue 38 . The upper side of the tongue root has an upper engaging or bearing surface 64 which in this case extends to an inclined locking surface 65 of the upwardly directed portion 8 close to the tongue end. The locking surface 65 meets a guide surface portion 66 terminating in an upper surface 67 of the upwardly directed portion 8 of the tongue. The surface 67 intersects an inclined surface which is used as a guide surface 68 . The guide surface 68 extends to a free outer end 69 forming the end of the tongue. At the lower end of the free outer end 69 there is also a guide surface 70 and an engaging or bearing surface 71 extending obliquely downwards to the lower edge of the tongue. When two such floors are mechanically connected to each other, this bearing plane 71 cooperates with the bearing surface 50 of the lower lip so that their upper sides lie in the same surface plane HP and meet in a connection plane VP perpendicular to the surface plane HP , so that the upper connecting edge surfaces 41, 61 of the floor panels engage each other. The tongue has a lower connecting edge surface 72 extending to the underside.

In this embodiment, there are separate engagement or bearing surfaces 43, 64 on the tongue groove and the tongue, respectively, which engage each other in the locked state, with lower bearing surfaces 50, 71 on the lower lip and the tongue. Cooperating, a locking is provided in a first vertical direction D1 perpendicular to the surface plane HP. In other embodiments which will be described below, locking surfaces 45, 65 are used both as locking surfaces for locking the two floorboards together in a second horizontal direction D2 parallel to the surface plane HP, and The bearing surface is used to resist movement in a first vertical direction D1 perpendicular to the surface plane HP. In the embodiment shown in Figures 11a, 2b, the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the engaging surfaces 43, 64 cooperate as upper bearing surfaces within the system.

It is evident from the figure that the tongue 38 extends beyond the connection plane VP and has an upwardly directed portion 8 at its free outer end 69 or end. The tongue 38 also has a locking surface 65 which cooperates with the inner locking surface 45 in the tongue groove 36 of the adjacent floor plate when the two floors are mechanically connected so that their front sides lie in the same surface plane HP and meet in a connection plane VP perpendicular to the surface plane HP.

As shown in FIG. 11 b , the tongue 38 has a surface portion 52 between the locking surface 51 and the connection plane VP. When the two floors are joined, the surface portion 52 engages with the surface portion 45 of the upper lip 8 in order to insert the tongue into the undercut groove by turning inwards or snapping, as shown in Figures 11a, 11b, at the locking surface 65 Between and the surface portion 57 the tongue may have a bevel 66 . Furthermore, a bevel 68 can be provided between the free outer end 69 of the tongue and the surface part 57 . By having an angle of inclination towards the plane of the surface that is smaller than the inclination A of the locking surfaces 43, 51, the bevel 66 can be used as a guide portion.

In this embodiment, the bearing surface 71 of the tongue is substantially parallel to the surface plane HP. Between this bearing surface and the free outer end 69 of the tongue, the tongue has a bevel 70 .

According to the invention, the lower lip 40 has a bearing surface 50 for cooperating with a corresponding bearing surface 71 on the tongue 36 . In this embodiment, the bearing surface is at a distance from the inner part 47 of the undercut groove. When two floorboards are joined to each other there is engagement both between the bearing surfaces 50, 71 and between the upper lip 39 engaging or bearing surface 43 and the corresponding engaging or bearing surface 64 on the tongue. In this way, locking is obtained in a first vertical direction D1 perpendicular to the surface plane HP.

Preferably, at least a substantial part of the inner portion 47 of the undercut groove is further from the connection plane VP than the free outer end 69 or end of the tongue, seen in a direction parallel to the surface plane HP. With this design, the manufacture is greatly simplified, facilitating the movement of one floor relative to the other along the connection plane.

Another important feature of the mechanical locking system of the invention is that all parts of the lower lip 40 connected to the core 30 lie outside the plane LP2, seen from the point of intersection C, ie the intersection of the connecting plane VP and the surface plane HP. The plane LP2 is farther from said point of intersection C than the locking plane LP1 , which is parallel to the plane LP2 , and which is tangent to the cooperating locking surfaces 45 , 65 of the tongue 38 and the undercut groove 36 . These locking surfaces are maximally inclined with respect to the surface plane HP. Due to this design, the undercut portion can be machined by using a large disk-shaped rotary cutting tool for machining the edge portion of the floor, as described below.

Another important feature is that the lower lip 40 is elastic, which is shorter than the upper lip 39 . This ensures that the undercut is produced using a large disk-shaped rotating cutting tool, since the large disk-shaped rotating cutting tool can be set at a relatively large angle with respect to the surface plane HP, whereby the locking surface 65 can be produced with a larger locking angle a. The large locking angle significantly reduces the downward component that causes the tensile load to rise. This means that although the lower lip is elastic, the connection system will be of high strength and thus have a limited ability to resist downward elements, resulting in a high locking force with low snapping resistance. High snapping resistance makes snapping difficult and increases the risk of damaging floor edges. The inventors have found that by having the lower lip of the appropriate thickness and length to work within the preferred attachment system, most commonly used materials in flooring can be made sufficiently resilient and provide sufficient locking force.

Figures 12a-12c show two floor panels being snapped together by bending the lower lip 40. As shown in Figure 12b, snap-fitting is achieved with minimal curvature of the lower lip, while the surface planes of the floor are substantially at the same height, which reduces the risk of cracking.

Figures 13a-13c show that the locking system according to Figures 12a-12c can also be turned upward and downward when taking-up and laying. The upper and lower lips 39 and 40 and the tongue 38 are formed to ensure that the two floors are mechanically connected by turning one floor relative to the other upwards about a center of rotation near the intersection C between the joining plane VP and the surface plane HP are disassembled apart so that the tongue of one floor is turned out of the undercut groove of the other.

The snap connection according to the invention can be used both on the long side and on the short side of the floor.

Figures 14 and 15 however show a variant of the invention, most importantly suitable for snapping along the short sides of floors made of relatively stiffer materials such as hardwood or fibreboard.

In this embodiment, the depth of the tongue groove exceeds that required to receive the tongue. The lower lip 40 is thus rendered more flexible. Furthermore, the locking system has a long tongue with an upwardly directed portion forming a thick locking part. The locking surfaces 45, 65 also have a large angle of inclination. Dotted lines indicate snap action.

The design according to Figures 14 and 15 allows the two floors to be disassembled apart by turning one floor upwards and slightly bending the lower lip 40 of the other downwards. In other preferred embodiments of the invention, however, there is no need to bend the lower lip downwards when removing the floor.

In the locked position, the floor can be moved longitudinally along the connection. Thus, after the long side has been removed, for example by turning it upwards, the short side is removed by pulling out in the longitudinal direction of the connection.

For ease of manufacture, inward sloping, upward sloping, snapping and mobility in the locked position and to reduce the risk of breakage, all surfaces not intended to form a tight connection with the upper connecting edge, vertical and horizontal connecting edges shall be formed in the locked position Do not touch each other, preferably not during locking and dismounting. This allows these joints to be manufactured without requiring high precision tolerances, reducing friction when moving laterally along the joint edges. The surfaces or parts of the connection system that do not contact each other in the locked position are the parts indicated by reference numerals 46-67, 48-69, 50-70 and 52-72.

According to the preferred embodiment the connection system can be made of several material combinations. The upper lip 39 may include a rigid and hard upper surface 32 and a softer lower portion as part of the core 30 . The lower lip 40 may comprise an upper portion 30 which is also softer and a lower soft portion 34 made of another wood. The fiber directions of the three types of wood can be different. It is thereby possible to provide a joining system that takes advantage of these material properties. The locking element according to the invention is arranged close to the upper hard and rigid part, the elasticity and compressibility of which is limited, while the snap function is performed by the softer lower and elastic part. It should be noted that the connection system can be made of the same material.

Figures 16a-16c illustrate an example of a floor according to the invention. This example shows in particular that the connection system has a different design on the long and short sides. On the short side, the locking system is preferably snap-fit by having a large locking angle, a deep tongue-and-groove and an upper lip shorter than the lower lip, while the locking surface has a smaller height in order to reduce downward bending requirements. On the long side, by turning, the connection system is adjusted for connection/rolling.

Furthermore, the connection system may comprise different materials and combinations of materials 30a, 30b and 30c. Ability to choose different materials on the long and short sides. For example the groove 36 on the short side may be made of eg a harder and more ductile wood than the tongue 38 which is made of a material which is hard and rigid and has different properties than the long side core 30 . On the short side with the tongue groove 36 , for example a wood 30 b can be selected which is more flexible than the wood 30 c on the other short side on which the tongue 38 is formed. It is more convenient for parquet floors with a laminated core, the upper and lower sides of which are made of different woods, the core consisting of glued blocks. This structure is more likely to change the combination of materials in order to optimize function, strength and production cost.

Ability to vary material along edge length. Thus for example the blocks located between the two short sides can be made of different woods or materials so that suitable properties can be selected according to their distribution, improving laying, strength etc. Different properties can be achieved by different orientations of the fibers on the long and short sides, and it is also possible to use plastic material on the short sides, for example on different parts of the long sides. If the floor or part of its core consists of e.g. plywood with several layers, these layers can be chosen so that the upper lip, the tongue and the lower lip on the upper and short sides make it possible for all parts to consist of different materials , or have different fiber orientations, etc. Therefore, they have different characteristics in terms of strength, flexibility, and mechanical properties.

Figures 17a-17c show the basics of how the lower part of the tongue is designed relative to the lower lip 40, so as to facilitate a horizontal snap-fit according to the invention within a connection system comprising a rigid upper lip 39 and an elastic lower lip 40, said The upper lip 39 has an undercut or locking groove 8 thereon. In this embodiment the upper lip 39 is stiffer compared to the other parts due to being thicker or made of a harder and more rigid material. The lower lip 40 can be thinner and softer, allowing the lower lip 40 to flex easily during the snap connection. Since the maximum bending of the lower lip 40 is limited as much as possible, the snap-in is facilitated more than otherwise. Figure 17a shows that the bending of the lower lip 40 will increase to a maximum level B1, ie the tongue 38 is inserted into the tongue groove 36, and the circular guide parts contact each other. When the tongue 38 is inserted further, the lower lip 40 will bend back until the snap-fit is terminated and the upwardly directed portion 8 forming the locking part is fully inserted into its final position within the undercut portion 35 . The lower and front part 49 of the tongue 38 should be designed so that this part 49 does not bend the lower lip 40 downwards, instead the lower lip 40 is bent downwards with the lower bearing surface 50 . This portion 49 of the tongue should have such a shape that when the lower lip 40 is bent along the outside of the lower engagement surface 50 of the tongue 38, this portion 49 is in contact with or out of contact with the lower lip 40 at the level of maximum bending. If the tongue 38 has such a shape, that is, in the position covering the lower lip shown by the dotted line 49b, the bend B2 shown in FIG. Risk of damage to connection points. FIG. 17 c shows that the maximum bending can be limited by designing the tongue 38 and tongue groove 36 in such a way that there is a space S4 between the lower and outer portion 49 of the tongue and the lower lip 40 . The upper lip is made more rigid and the lower lip more elastic, thereby reducing the risk of the edges on the upper side of the floor lifting upwards after laying when the floor shrinks and expands under the influence of room humidity. The combination of the highly rigid upper lip and the locking surface necessitates the use of greater pull-off forces transverse to the connection point. The curvature of the lower lip helps reduce the risk of edge lift.

After locking the long sides, it is common to use horizontal snaps when snapping the short sides together. It is also possible to engage the connection system of the present invention with a floor in a slightly upwardly inclined position when the long sides are engaged. Figure 18 shows this upwardly angled snap position. The lower lip 40 has only to be bent slightly in order to guide the guide portion 66 of the locking element into contact with the guide portion 44 in the locking groove so that by turning downwards the locking member can be inserted into the undercut 35 .

Figures 19 and 20 also describe problems that may arise when the short sides of the two panels 2a and 2b snap together after the long sides have been connected to the other first panel 1 . When the floor panel 2a and the floor panel 2b are connected by snap action, the inner corners 91 and 92 closest to the long sides of the first floor panel 1 are located in the same plane. The above phenomenon occurs because the long sides of the two floor panels 2a, 2b are respectively connected to the same floor panel 1 . As shown in Figure 20b showing section C3-C4, the tongue 38 cannot be inserted into the tongue groove 39 so that the lower lip 40 bends downwards. On the outer corners 93, 94 on the other long side, as shown in Fig. 20a section C3-C4, the tongue 38 can be inserted into the tongue by causing the floor 2b to be automatically pressed and inclined upwards with respect to the height of the locking part groove 36 and begin to bend the lower lip 40 downward.

The inventors have found that when a tongue is formed at its end with an upwardly directed portion and is inserted into a tongue groove equipped with an undercut portion, problems may arise with respect to the snapping of the inner corners moving laterally in the same plane. These problems lead to high resistance to engagement and a risk of rupture within the connection system. These issues can be addressed by properly designing the connection and choosing a material that ensures that the material deforms and bends over multiple connected sections.

When engaging this specially designed connection system, the following occurs. During lateral movement, the tongue and the outer guide part formed by the ramps 42, 68 of the upper lip cooperate to force the upwardly directed part of the tongue or locking part below the outer part of the upper lip 9. As indicated by the arrows in Figure 20b, the tongue is bent downwards and the upper lip is bent upwards. The corner 92 in Fig. 19 is pressed upward by the lower lip 40 on the long side of the floor 2b being bent, and the corner 91 is pressed down by the upper lip on the long side of the floor 2a which is bending upward. The connection system should have such a structure that the sum of these four deformations is so large that the locking member can slide along the upper lip and snap into the undercut portion 35 . It is known that the tongue-and-groove groove 36 should be widened for ease of snapping. It is not known that it is also very advantageous if the normally rigid tongue is designed to bend when snapped together.

Figure 21 shows an example of this. On the inside of the vertical plane VP, grooves or the like 63 are machined on the upper and inner parts of the tongue. The entire length of the tongue, ie the length PB from its inside to its outside, can be extended, eg can be made larger than half the thickness T of the floor.

Figures 22 and 23 show how parts of the connection system bend when the inner corners 91, 92 (figure 19) and outer corners 93, 94 (figure 19) of the two floorboards 2a and 2b snap together. To simplify manufacture, only thin flanges and tongue bends are required. In practice, of course, material thickness, bending properties, structure, all parts under pressure will be compressed and bend to different degrees depending on.

Figure 22a shows the outer corners 93,94 and Figure 23a shows the inner corners 91,92. These two images show where the floor edges are when they touch each other. The connection system is designed such that even in this position the outermost end of the tongue 38 is located within the outer end of the lower lip 40 . When still continuing to push the floorboards towards each other, as shown in Figures 22b and 23b, the tongue 38 will press the floorboard 2b upwards in the inner corners 91,92. The tongue 38 will bend downwards and the floor panel 2b will turn upwards at the outer corners 93,94. Figure 23c shows that the tongue 38 at the location of the inner corners 91, 92 will bend downwards. As shown in Figure 22c, at the outer corners 93, 94 the tongue 38 is bent upwards and the lower lip 40 is bent downwards. As shown in Figures 22d and 23d, as the floor plates are still pushed towards each other, this bending continues, as shown in Figure 23d, with the lower lip 40 also bending downwards at the inner corners 91,92. Figures 22d and 23e show the snapped state. Thus if the tongue 38 is also elastic, after the floor is locked along the two other sides, when the floor snaps together in the same plane, when the tongue and the groove contact each other, if the outside of the tongue 38 is on the lower lip 40 Significantly facilitates snapping inside the outside.

Other preferred versions of the present invention are as follows:

Preferably, the edge connecting parts 4a, 4b with tongue and groove 38 and tongue and groove 36 respectively are designed in such a way that when two floors are connected, measured from the front side 2 in the form of the upper side of the floor to its lower side 34, the edge There is a surface contact between the parts 4a, 4b which is a maximum of 30% of the edge surface along the edge portion of the bearing tongue 38 .

Preferably, the interacting lower bearing surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue 38 and the lower lip 40 are set at an angle of at least 10° to the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the interacting bearing surfaces 50 , 71 of the tongue and lower lip are set at an angle of at most 30° to the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the interacting bearing surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue and lower lip are set at an angle of at most 20° to the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the distance between the locking plane LP2, outside of which all parts of the lower lip are connected to the core, and the plane LP1 parallel thereto is at least 10% of the thickness T of the floor.

Preferably, the angle between the locking surfaces 45, 65 of the upper lip and tongue and the surface plane HP is less than 90°, but at least 20°.

Preferably, the angle between the locking surfaces 45, 65 of the upper lip and tongue and the surface plane HP is at least 30°.

Preferably, the angle between the bearing surfaces 50, 71 and the surface plane HP is at least 20° greater than the angle between the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the angle between the bearing surfaces 50, 71 and the surface plane HP is at least 20° greater than the angle between the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the distance between the locking surface 65 of the tongue and the end 69 of the tongue is at least 0.1 times the thickness T of the floor.

Preferably, the mutually interacting locking surfaces 45 , 65 have a vertical dimension smaller than half the vertical dimension of the undercut portion 35 , viewed in the connection plane VP parallel to the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the locking surfaces 45, 65 have a vertical dimension of at most 10% of the thickness T of the floor, seen in a vertical section through the floor.

Preferably, the tongue 38 has a length at least 0.3 times the floor thickness T in a direction perpendicular to the connection plane VP.

Preferably, the size of the bearing surface is at most 15% of the thickness T of the floor.

Preferably, the vertical dimension of the tongue and groove between the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40 measured at the outer end of the bearing surface 50 in a direction parallel to the connection plane VP is at least 30% of the thickness T of the floor.

Preferably, the depth of the tongue groove 36 measured from the connection plane VP is at least 2% greater than the corresponding dimension of the tongue 38 .

Preferably, the edge connecting parts 4a, 4b with tongue and groove 38 and tongue and groove 36 respectively are designed in such a way that when two floor panels are connected, measured from the upper side of the floorboards to the lower side thereof, between the edge parts 4a, 4b There is a surface contact which is a maximum of 30% of the edge surface along the edge portion 46 of the bearing tongue 38 .

Preferably, the interacting bearing surfaces 50, 71 of the tongue and lower lip are set at an angle of at least 10° to the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the angle between the interacting bearing surfaces 50 , 71 of the tongue and lower lip and the surface plane HP is at most 30°.

Preferably, the angle between the interacting bearing surfaces 50 , 71 of the tongue and lower lip and the surface plane HP is at most 20°.

Preferably, the distance between the locking plane LP2, out of which all parts of the lower lip connected to the core lie, and the plane LP1 parallel thereto is at least 10% of the thickness T of the floor.

Preferably, the angle between the locking surfaces 45, 65 of the upper lip and tongue and the surface plane HP is less than 90°, but at least 20°.

Preferably, the angle between the locking surfaces 45, 65 of the upper lip and tongue and the surface plane HP is at least 30°.

Preferably, the angle between the bearing surfaces 50, 71 and the surface plane HP is at least 20° greater than the angle between the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the angle between the bearing surfaces 50, 71 and the surface plane HP is at least 20° greater than the angle between the locking surfaces 45, 65 and the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the distance between the locking surface 65 of the tongue and the end 69 of the tongue is at least 0.1 times the thickness T of the floor.

Preferably, the mutually interacting locking surfaces 45 , 65 have a vertical dimension smaller than half the vertical dimension of the undercut portion, seen in the connection plane VP parallel to the surface plane HP.

Preferably, the dimension of the locking surfaces 45, 65 is at most 10% of the thickness T of the floor, seen in a vertical section through the floor.

Preferably, the tongue 38 has a length at least 0.3 times the floor thickness T in a direction perpendicular to the connection plane VP.

Preferably, the dimensions of the bearing surfaces 50, 71 are at most 15% of the thickness T of the floor.

Preferably, the vertical dimension of the tongue and groove between the upper lip 39 and the lower lip 40 measured at the outer end of the bearing surface in a direction parallel to the connection plane VP is at least 30% of the thickness T of the floor.

Preferably, the depth of the tongue groove 36 measured from the connection plane VP is at least 2% greater than the corresponding dimension of the tongue 38 .

There are several variants within the scope of the invention. The inventors have made and evaluated a large number of variants, ie making different parts of the connection system with different floor materials with different widths, lengths, thicknesses, angles and radii, and the same plastic and wood panels. All connection systems were tested in an upside-down transition position, test snap, test tongue and tongue-and-groove angling relative to each other, using combinations of said systems and systems of the prior art on long and short sides. The locking system is manufactured, the locking surface is also the upper bearing surface, the tongue and the tongue groove have a plurality of locking elements and locking grooves, the lower lip and the lower part of the tongue are formed horizontal locking means in the form of locking elements and locking grooves.

Claims (87)

1. one kind at a locking system that connects mechanical connection floor, plane (VP), described floor has core (30), one positive side (2), one dorsal surface (34) and relative adjoining edge part (4a, 4b), one of them adjoining edge partly is formed slip feather groove (36), this slip feather groove is limited by upper lip (39) and lower lip (40) and has a bottom (48), another adjoining edge partly forms slip feather (38), have in the free outer end of described slip feather (69) and to be directed upwards towards part (8)

Look from connecting plane (VP), slip feather groove (36) has the shape of a nip, and described nip has locking surface (45) in an opening, the bottom cutting portion (35) and;

Forming of lower lip (40) to small part and floor core (30) are whole;

Slip feather (38) has a locking surface (65), when two such floors during by mechanical connection, this locking surface interacts with interior locking surface (45) in the slip feather groove (36) on floor and cooperates, so that their positive side (2) is in the same surface plane (HP), and meeting with vertical being connected in the plane (VP) of this surface plane (HP)

It is characterized in that: the interior locking surface (45) of slip feather groove is formed on the upper lip (39) in the bottom cutting portion (35) of slip feather groove, be used for cooperatively interacting with the corresponding locking surface (65) of slip feather, this locking surface is formed on being directed upwards towards on the part (8) of slip feather, be used to resist two floors mechanically coupled together perpendicular to drawing back on second horizontal direction (D2) that connects plane (VP)

Described lower lip (40) have one with slip feather on the area supported (50) that cooperatively interacts of respective support surfaces (71), described area supported is used for this mutual effect, resisting two floors that link together relatively moves along first vertical direction (D1) perpendicular to surface plane (HP)

Look with the intersection point that is connected plane (VP) (C) from surface plane (HP), lower lip (40) goes up all parts that link to each other with core (30) and is positioned at outside the plane (LP2), (LP1) compares with lock plane, this plane (LP2) is farther apart from described intersection point (C), plane (LP1) is parallel with plane (LP2) and at the interaction locking surface (45 of slip feather groove and slip feather, 65) maximum tangent with respect to the inclination angle of surface plane (HP) with locking surface (45,65)

It is shorter than upper lip (39) that lower lip (40) goes up all parts that link to each other with core (30), and end at apart from connection a distance, plane (VP),

Lower lip (40) is resilient,

The rigidity of the ratio of rigidity lower lip (40) of upper lip (39) is big,

Be parallel to surface plane (HP) and see, the area supported of lower lip (50) is positioned at interior section (47) a distance apart from nip, and connects plane (VP) than more close this of the interior section (47) of nip,

Adjoining edge part (4a, upper and lower antelabium 4b) be formed can by be arranged essentially parallel to the surface plane of laying floor (HP) new floor with laying floor to the motion that pushes away, so that in the lower lip that is bent downwardly the slip feather groove (40) process, the each several part of locking system is interlocked, and making, laying floor is connected with new floor.

2. locking system according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: slip feather (38) is resilient.

3. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: adjoining edge part (4a, 4b) be designed to by a new floor and a laying floor being pushed away motion together, in slip feather (38) and lower lip (40) BENDING PROCESS the surface plane on two floors is in alignment with each other basically, laying floor is connected with new floor and make.

4. locking system according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: adjoining edge part (4a, upper and lower antelabium 4b) is designed to by a floor is rotated around making progress near the center of rotation of intersection point between surface plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP) with respect to another floor, be used for making a slip feather (38) on the floor to deviate from, and make two floor separation of mechanical connection from the slip feather groove (36) on another floor.

5. as locking system as described in the claim 4, it is characterized in that: adjoining edge part (4a, upper and lower antelabium 4b) is designed to rotate by a floor is made progress around the center of rotation near the intersection point between surface plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP) with respect to another floor, and in being bent downwardly the lower lip process, make the slip feather groove (36) of a slip feather (38) on the floor from another floor, and make two floor separation of mechanical connection.

6. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that: be parallel to surface plane (HP) when seeing, the major part at least of slip feather bottom land end (48) than the free outer end (69) of slip feather further from connecting plane (VP).

7. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: the area supported (50 that is designed to interactional slip feather (38) and lower lip (40), 71) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) littler than the interactional locking surface (45,65) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) of upper lip (39) and slip feather (38).

8. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: locking surface (45,65) with surface plane (HP) between angle and a tangent line of a circular arc equate basically with angle between the surface plane (HP), this circular arc is in any and the locking surface that is engaged with each other (45 of the most close nip bottom (48), 65) tangent, the central point of this circular arc is surface plane (HP) and the point that connects intersection between the plane (VP).

9. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: locking surface (45,65) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) greater than a tangent line of a circular arc and the angle between the surface plane (HP), this circular arc is in any and the locking surface that is engaged with each other (45 of the most close nip bottom (48), 65) tangent, the central point of this circular arc is surface plane (HP) and the point that connects intersection between the plane (VP).

10. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: upper lip (39) and slip feather (38) have contact surface, these two contact surfaces interact at lock-out state, these two contact surfaces are positioned at the locking surface (45 that connects plane (VP) and slip feather and upper lip, 65) in the zone between, in latched position, described locking surface interacts.

11. as locking system as described in the claim 10, it is characterized in that: look from the interactional locking surface (45,65) of slip feather and upper lip, contact surface upwards connects plane (VP) to extroversion and tilts.

12. as locking system as described in the claim 10, it is characterized in that: contact surface is arranged essentially parallel to surface plane (HP).

13. as locking system as described in the claim 10, it is characterized in that: contact surface is the plane basically.

14. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: slip feather (38) and nip are so designed, promptly along the locking surface (45 that is engaged with each other from upper lip (39) and slip feather (38), 65) to the interactional area supported (50 of lower lip and slip feather, 71) whole basically distance, the outer end of slip feather (69) are positioned at apart from nip a distance are arranged.

15. as locking system as described in the claim 14, it is characterized in that: when two floor machineries link to each other, see that in vertical plane the size of a surface portion that contacts with a surface portion of nip of the outer end of slip feather (69) is littler than locking surface (45,65).

16. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: the lower support surface (50 of slip feather and lower lip, being positioned to small part 71) is bigger with the distance that is connected between the plane (VP) than the locking surface (45,65) of the inclination of upper lip and slip feather with the distance that is connected between the plane (VP).

17. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that: nip (36) and slip feather (38) be designed to make with a floor of matching the floor that links to each other of machinery mobile along the third direction (D3) that is connected plane (VP).

18. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: nip (36) and slip feather (38) are so designed, thereby when the some place of the floor adjoining edge part of intersection point contacts between near surface plane (HP) and connection plane (VP) between the maintenance floor,, a floor is separated with another floor by making a floor with respect to another floor rotation.

19. as locking system as described in the claim 18, it is characterized in that: nip (36) and slip feather (38) are so designed, thereby keeping between the floor near surface plane (HP) and the floor adjoining edge that connects intersection point between the plane (VP) (4a partly, some place contact 4b) and slip feather are away from the discontiguous basically while between the side of surface plane (HP) and the lower lip (40), by a floor is rotated with respect to another floor, the floor can be separated.

20. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: look from the cross section on floor, the interactional area supported (50 of slip feather and lower lip, 71) be connected angle between the plane be equal to or less than the most close nip bottom (48) a bit with the tangent line and the angle that is connected between the plane of the tangent circular arc of the area supported that is engaged with each other, the central point of described circular arc is surface plane (HP) and the intersection point that is connected plane (VP) (C).

21. as locking system as described in the claim 20, it is characterized in that: the interactional area supported (50 of slip feather and lower lip, 71) with surface plane (HP) between angle greater than the most close slip feather bottom land end (48) a bit with the tangent line and the angle that is connected between the plane of the tangent circular arc of the area supported that is engaged with each other, the central spot of described circular arc is in surface plane (HP) and the intersection point place that is connected plane (VP).

22. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: slip feather and lower lip be designed to interactional area supported (50,71) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) littler than the interactional locking surface (45,65) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) of upper lip and slip feather.

23. as locking system as described in the claim 22, it is characterized in that: slip feather and lower lip be designed to interactional area supported (50,71) with the interactional locking surface (45 of upper lip and slip feather, 65) tilt along same direction, but and the angle between the surface plane (HP) is littler than the interactional locking surface (45,65) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) of upper lip and slip feather.

24. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: be used in the surface portion interact with each other when two this floors are connected at least, the locking surface of upper lip and slip feather (45,65) is the plane basically.

25. as locking system as described in the claim 24, it is characterized in that: slip feather (38) has a guide surface (68), look from connecting plane VP, this guide surface is positioned at the outside of the locking surface (65) of slip feather, and the angle of itself and surface plane (HP) is littler with the angle of surface plane (HP) than locking surface (65).

26. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: have a guide surface (42) on the upper lip (39), this guide surface is compared with the locking surface (45) on the upper lip, the opening of its more close slip feather groove, the angle of itself and surface plane (HP) is littler than the angle of the locking surface of upper lip and surface plane (HP).

27. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: the area supported (50 of slip feather and lower lip, 71) to small part be connected between the plane (VP) distance than the locking surface (45,65) of the inclination of upper lip and slip feather with is connected between the plane (VP) apart from greatly.

28. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: the adjoining edge part (4b) of the adjoining edge part (4a) of supporting slip feather and/or supporting slip feather groove has recessed portion (63), recessed portion (63) is positioned at slip feather (38) top, and stops in the position of distance surface plane (HP) certain distance.

29. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: see that in cross section nip (36) has outer opening portion, outer opening portion is funnel-form and inwardly is tapered.

30., it is characterized in that as locking system as described in the claim 29: upper lip away from the outward flange of surface plane (HP), upper lip has an inclined-plane (42).

31. locking system is characterized in that: see that in cross section slip feather has tapered end as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

32. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that: see that in cross section slip feather has the end that separates that is formed with upper and lower slip feather portion.

33. as locking system as described in the claim 32, it is characterized in that: upper and lower slip feather portion is made by the different materials with dissimilar material properties.

34. locking system is characterized in that: slip feather groove (36) and slip feather (38) and ground slab integral formation as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

35. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: upper lip (39) is thicker than lower lip (40).

36. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 is characterized in that: the maximum ga(u)ge of the lower lip of the neighbour nearly area supported (50) of the minimum thickness of the upper lip (39) of contiguous bottom cutting portion (35) is big.

37. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: the material behavior of slip feather (38) is different with the material behavior of upper lip (39) or lower lip (40).

38. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: upper lip (39) and lower lip (40) are made by the material with different qualities.

39. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: locking system also comprises second mechanical caging, and second mechanical caging comprises:

Be formed on the lock slots of adjoining edge part (4b) downside of supporting slip feather (38), this lock slots extends along being parallel to the direction that connects plane (VP);

By the bar (6) of the locking usefulness on the whole adjoining edge part (4a) that is connected the floor, the bar of this locking usefulness extends along the whole basically length of adjoining edge part, and have from the outstanding locking member (108) of bar, when two such floors machineries linked to each other, described locking member was housed in the lock slots (14) on floor (2) of adjacency.

40. as locking system as described in the claim 39, it is characterized in that: the bar (6) of locking usefulness reaches and connects outside the plane.

41. locking system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: this locking system is formed on the floor with core (30) of being made by the wood fiber sill.

42. as locking system as described in the claim 41, it is characterized in that: this locking system is formed on the floor with core (30) of being made by timber.

43. floor, has a core (30), one positive side (2), one dorsal surface (34) and two relative parallel adjoining edge part (4a, 4b), described adjoining edge part (4a, 4b) be formed the part of a mechanical locking system, one of them adjoining edge partly is formed a slip feather groove (36), this slip feather groove is limited by upper lip (39) and lower lip (40) and has a bottom (48), another adjoining edge partly forms a slip feather (38), have in the free outer end (69) of described slip feather and to be directed upwards towards part (8)

From connecting plane (VP), slip feather groove (36) has the shape of a nip, and described nip has locking surface (4) in an opening, the bottom cutting portion (35) and;

Forming of lower lip (40) to small part and floor core (30) are whole;

Slip feather (38) has a locking surface (65), this locking surface is formed when two such floors during by mechanical connection, interact with interior locking surface (45) in the slip feather groove (36) on the floor of adjacency and to cooperate, so that their positive side (2) is in the same surface plane (HP), and meeting with vertical being connected in the plane (VP) of this surface plane (HP)

It is characterized in that: the interior locking surface (45) of slip feather groove is formed on upper lip (39) and goes up in the bottom cutting portion (35) of slip feather groove, be used for cooperating with corresponding locking surface (65) interaction of slip feather, described locking surface (65) is formed on being directed upwards towards on the part (8) of slip feather, be used to resist two floors mechanically coupled together perpendicular to drawing back on second horizontal direction (D2) that connects plane (VP)

Described lower lip has an area supported (50) that cooperates with a respective support surfaces (71) interaction on the slip feather, described area supported is suitable for interacting, relatively move along direction (D1) to resist two floors that link together perpendicular to surface plane (HP)

From surface plane (HP) be connected plane (VP) intersection point (C) point and look, lower lip (40) goes up all parts that link to each other with core (30) and all is positioned at outside the plane (LP2), (LP1) compares with the plane, the position on this plane (LP2) is farther apart from described intersection point (C), plane (LP1) is parallel with plane (LP2), and it is tangent with respect to inclination place of surface plane (HP) with these locking surfaces at the interactional locking surface (45,65) of slip feather groove and slip feather

It is shorter than upper lip (39) that lower lip (40) goes up all parts that link to each other with core (30), and end at apart from connection a distance, plane (VP),

Lower lip (40) is resilient,

The rigidity of the ratio of rigidity lower lip (40) of upper lip (39) is big,

Be parallel to surface plane (HP) and see, the area supported of lower lip (50) is positioned at interior section (47) a distance apart from nip, and connects plane (VP) than more close this of the interior section (47) of nip,

The upper and lower antelabium (39 of adjoining edge part, 40) be designed to by be arranged essentially parallel to the surface plane of laying floor (HP) direction to the motion that pushes away together, with in the reclinate process of lower lip (40) of slip feather groove, each one of locking system is interlocked, and laying floor is connected with new floor and make.

44. as floor as described in the claim 43, it is characterized in that: slip feather (38) is resilient.

45. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: adjoining edge part (4a, 4b) be designed to by new floor and laying floor being pushed away together motion under the situation about being aligned with each other, and laying floor is connected with new floor on a new floor and a surface plane of laying floor.

46. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: adjoining edge part (4a, upper and lower antelabium 4b) is designed to by a floor is rotated around making progress near the center of rotation of intersection point between surface plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP) with respect to another floor, be used for making a slip feather (38) on the floor to deviate from, and make two floor separation of mechanical connection from the slip feather groove (36) on another floor.

47. as floor as described in the claim 46, it is characterized in that: adjoining edge part (4a, upper and lower antelabium 4b) is designed to by a floor is rotated around making progress near the center of rotation of intersection point between surface plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP) with respect to another floor, in the reclinate process of lower lip (40), make the slip feather groove (36) of a slip feather (38) on the floor from another floor, and make two floor separation of mechanical connection.

48., it is characterized in that as floor as described in claim 43 or 44: be parallel to surface plane (HP) and see, the major part at least of slip feather bottom land end (48) than the outer end (69) of slip feather further from connecting plane (VP).

49. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: slip feather (38) and lower lip (41) be designed to interactional area supported (50,71) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) littler than the interactional locking surface (45,65) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) of upper lip and slip feather.

50. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: locking surface (45,65) with surface plane (HP) between angle and the tangent line of a circular arc equate basically with angle between the surface plane (HP), this circular arc is at the point of the most close slip feather bottom land end (48) and the locking surface (45 that is engaged with each other, 65) tangent, the central spot of this circular arc is on the point of intersection between surface plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP).

51. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: locking surface (45,65) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) greater than the tangent line of a circular arc and the angle between the surface plane (HP), this circular arc is at the point of the most close slip feather bottom land end (48) and the locking surface (45 that is engaged with each other, 65) tangent, the central spot of this circular arc is on the point of intersection between surface plane (HP) and the connection plane (VP).

52. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: upper lip (39) and slip feather (38) have contact surface (43,64), these two contact surfaces interact at their lock-out state, and be positioned at the locking surface (45 that connects plane (VP) and slip feather and upper lip, 65) in the zone between, described locking surface interacts at their lock-out state.

53. as floor as described in the claim 52, it is characterized in that: look from the interactional locking surface (45,65) of slip feather and upper lip, contact surface (43,64) upwards connects plane (VP) to extroversion and tilts.

54. as floor as described in the claim 52, it is characterized in that: contact surface (43,64) is arranged essentially parallel to surface plane (HP).

55. as floor as described in the claim 52, it is characterized in that: contact surface (43,64) is the plane basically.

56. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: slip feather (38) and nip are so designed, so that along the locking surface (45 that is engaged with each other from upper lip (39) and slip feather (38), 65) to the interactional area supported (50 of lower lip and slip feather, 71) whole basically distance, the outer end of slip feather (69) are positioned at apart from nip a distance are arranged.

57. as floor as described in the claim 56, it is characterized in that: when two this floor machineries link to each other, in vertical plane, the size of a surface portion that contacts with a surface portion of nip of the outer end of slip feather (69) is littler than locking surface (45,65).

58. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: the area supported (50 of slip feather and lower lip, 71) bigger with the distance that is connected between the plane (VP) with the distance that is connected between the plane (VP) than the tilt-lock surface (45,65) of upper lip and slip feather to small part.

59., it is characterized in that as floor as described in claim 43 or 44: nip and slip feather (38) be designed to make one with the floor of matching the floor that links to each other of machinery is mobile along being connected plane (VP) at third direction (D3).

60. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: nip and slip feather (38) are so designed, thereby can a floor be separated with another floor by making a floor when the some place of the floor adjoining edge part of intersection point contacts between near surface plane (HP) and connection plane (VP) between the maintenance floor with respect to another floor rotation.

61. as floor as described in the claim 60, it is characterized in that: nip and slip feather (38) are so designed, thereby can keep between the floor near surface plane (HP) and the floor adjoining edge that connects intersection point between the plane (VP) (4a partly, contact of 4b) some place and slip feather are away from the discontiguous basically while between the side of surface plane (HP) and the lower lip, by a floor is rotated with respect to another floor, make two floors can be separated.

62. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: look from the cross section on floor, the interactional area supported (50 of slip feather and lower lip, 71) be connected angle between the plane be equal to or less than the most close slip feather bottom land end (48) a bit with the tangent line and the angle that is connected between the plane of the tangent circular arc of the area supported that is engaged with each other, the central point of described circular arc is located with the intersection point that is connected plane (VP) (C) in surface plane (HP).

63. as floor as described in the claim 62, it is characterized in that: the interactional area supported (50 of slip feather and lower lip, 71) with surface plane (HP) between angle greater than the most close slip feather bottom land end (48) a bit with the tangent line and the angle that is connected between the plane of the tangent circular arc of the area supported that is engaged with each other, the central point of described circular arc is on surface plane (HP) and the intersection point that is connected plane (VP).

64. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: slip feather and lower lip be designed to interactional area supported (50,71) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) littler than the interaction locking surface (45,65) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) of upper lip and slip feather.

65. as floor as described in the claim 64, it is characterized in that: slip feather and lower lip be designed to interactional area supported (50,71) with the interactional locking surface (45 of upper lip and slip feather, 65) tilt along same direction, but and the angle between the surface plane (HP) is littler than the interactional locking surface (45,65) and the angle between the surface plane (HP) of upper lip and slip feather.

66. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: when two this floors were connected, in being suitable for planar section interact with each other, the locking surface of upper lip and slip feather (45,65) was the plane basically at least.

67. as floor as described in the claim 66, it is characterized in that: look from connecting plane VP, slip feather (38) has guide surface (68), this guide surface is positioned at the outside of the locking surface (65) of slip feather (38), and the angle of this guide surface and surface plane (HP) is littler with the angle of surface plane (HP) than locking surface (65).

68. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: have guide surface (42) on the upper lip (39), compare with the locking surface (45) on the upper lip, the opening of the more close nip of this guide surface (42), and the angle of itself and surface plane (HP) is littler than the angle of the locking surface of upper lip and surface plane (HP).

69. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: the area supported (50 of slip feather and lower lip, 71) to small part be connected between the plane (VP) distance than the tilt-lock surface (45,65) of upper lip and slip feather with is connected between the plane (VP) apart from greatly.

70. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: the adjoining edge part (4b) of the adjoining edge part (4a) of supporting slip feather and/or supporting slip feather groove has recessed portion (63), recessed portion (63) is positioned at slip feather (38) top, and stops in the position of distance surface plane (HP) certain distance.

71. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: look in cross section, nip (36) has outer opening portion, and outer opening portion is funnel-form and inwardly is tapered.

72., it is characterized in that as floor as described in the claim 71: upper lip (39) away from the outward flange of surface plane (HP), upper lip has an inclined-plane (42).

73. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: in cross section, slip feather has a tapered end (69).

74. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: in cross section, slip feather has the end that separates that is formed with upper and lower slip feather portion.

75. as floor as described in the claim 74, it is characterized in that: the upper and lower slip feather portion of slip feather is made by the different materials with dissimilar material properties.

76. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: slip feather groove (36) and slip feather (38) form with the ground slab integral.

77. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: upper lip (39) is thicker than lower lip (40).

78. as floor as described in the claim 45, it is characterized in that: the maximum ga(u)ge of the lower lip (40) of the neighbour nearly area supported (50) of the minimum thickness of the upper lip (39) of contiguous bottom cutting portion (35) is big.

79. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: the material behavior of slip feather (38) is different with the material behavior of upper lip (39) or lower lip (40).

80. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: upper lip (39) and lower lip (40) are made by the material with different qualities.

81. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: locking system also comprises one second mechanical caging, and second mechanical caging comprises:

One is formed on the lock slots on the adjoining edge part downside that supports slip feather (38), and this lock slots extends along being parallel to the direction that connects plane (VP);

One below the slip feather groove by the locking bar on the whole adjoining edge part that is connected the floor, this locking bar extends along the whole basically length of adjoining edge part, and have from the outstanding locking member (108) of bar, when two such floors machineries linked to each other, described locking member was housed in the lock slots (14) on floor (2) of adjacency.

82. as floor as described in the claim 81, it is characterized in that: locking bar reaches and connects outside the plane.

83. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: it is formed on one has on the plate of the core of being made by the wood fiber sill (30).

84. as floor as described in the claim 83, it is characterized in that: it is formed on one has on the plate of the core of being made by timber (30).

85. as floor as described in claim 43 or 44, it is characterized in that: described floor is to have parallel side (4a, 4b, 5a, quadrangle 5b) in pairs.

86. as floor as described in the claim 85, it is characterized in that: described floor all has mechanical locking system on four sides.

87., it is characterized in that as floor as described in the claim 85: at the adjoining edge part (4b) on the adjoining edge part of pair of parallel and/or the formation material of adjoining edge part (4a) with slip feather groove with slip feather with partly the formation material of (4a) is different to the adjoining edge part (4b) with slip feather on the parallel adjoining edge part and/or adjoining edge with slip feather groove at another.

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