CN1756881A - Floor system and its installation method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to floorboards for mechanically joining floors in a herringbone pattern or in parallel rows, the floorboards having horizontal connecting means with mating on the short side designed differently from mating locking surfaces on the long side Lock the surface.

Description

Floor system and its installation method

technical field

The present invention relates generally to the technical field of floorboard locking systems. The invention relates on the one hand to a locking system for floorboards which can be joined mechanically into different patterns, and on the other hand to floorboards with such a locking system, and to a method of installation. More specifically, the invention relates inter alia to locking systems that primarily enable floating floors to be laid in complex patterns.

Background technique

The invention is especially suitable for floating (floating) wooden floors and laminate floors, such as solid wood floors, parquet floors and laminate floors with high pressure laminated or directly laminated surface layers. Laminate floors have a surface made of melamine-impregnated paper compressed under pressure and heat.

The following description of the prior art, the problems of known systems and the objects and features of the present invention are mainly directed to this field of application as non-limiting examples. However, it should be emphasized that the invention can be used with any floorboards joined in different patterns by means of a mechanical joining system. Thus, the invention can also be used on floors with plastic, linoleum, cork, needle felt surfaces or painted fibreboard surfaces and the like.

Definition of Terms

Hereinafter, the visible surface of an installed floorboard is referred to as the "front side", and the opposite side of the floorboard facing the sub-floor is referred to as the "rear side". By "horizontal plane" is meant a plane extending parallel to the exterior of the surface layer. The immediately adjacent upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of two joined floorboards together define a "vertical plane" perpendicular to said horizontal plane.

The outer part of the floorboard at the edge of the floorboard between the front side and the rear side is called "joint edge". Typically, the joint edge has "joint surfaces" that may be vertical, horizontal, angled, rounded, sloped, etc. FIG. These joining surfaces can be present on different materials, such as laminate, fibreboard, wood, plastic, metal (especially aluminium) or sealing materials. By "joint edge portion" is meant the joint edge of a floorboard and the part of the floorboard part close to said joint edge. "Joints", "joint systems" or "locking systems" refer to cooperating connection means that connect floorboards to each other vertically and/or horizontally. By "mechanical joining system" is meant a system in which joining is achieved without the use of adhesives. In many cases, mechanical joining systems can also be joined with adhesives. "Vertical locking" means locking parallel to a vertical plane, and "horizontal locking" means locking parallel to a horizontal plane. By "groove side" is meant that side of the floorboard in which part of the horizontal locking means is formed by a locking groove opening facing the rear side. By "locking side" is meant that side of the floorboard in which part of the horizontal locking means is formed by locking elements cooperating with said locking grooves. "Locking angle" means the angle of the locking surface relative to the horizontal. Where the locking surface is a curved surface, the locking angle is the angle with the largest angle to the tangent to the curve.

Traditional laminate and parquet floors are usually installed floating, i.e. without gluing, over an existing subfloor that does not have to be perfectly smooth or flat. Such floating floors are usually joined by glued tongue-and-groove joints (ie a joint with a tongue on one floorboard and a tongue and groove on an adjacent floorboard) on the long and short sides. In laying, the panels are laid together horizontally, and the protruding tongue along the joint edge of one panel is inserted into the tongue and groove along the joint edge of the adjacent panel. Using the same method on the long and short sides, generally lay the floorboards in parallel rows, long side to long side and short side to short side.

In addition to such conventional floorboards, which are joined by glued tongue-and-groove joints, floorboards which do not require adhesives but are joined mechanically by so-called mechanical joint systems have been developed in recent years. These systems include locking devices that lock the panels horizontally and vertically. The mechanical joint system may be formed by machining the core of the panels. Alternatively, parts of the locking system may be made of a different material which is integral with the floorboards, ie already joined to the floorboards when they are produced in the factory. In the locked position, the floorboards are connected to each other or locked together by engaging, ie engaging, by different combinations of angling, snapping and inserting along the joint edges.

The main advantage of floating floors with mechanical joint systems is that they can be laid quickly and easily with different combinations of inward angling and snapping. They can also be easily stowed away again and reused in another location.

Prior Art and Its Problems

All currently existing mechanical joining systems and floorboards to be joined by gluing have vertical locking means that lock the floorboards across their surface planes. The vertical locking means consists of a tongue that goes into a tongue and groove in an adjacent floorboard. Consequently, the panels cannot be joined groove-to-groove or tongue-to-tongue. Meanwhile, horizontal locking systems generally consist of locking elements on one side cooperating with locking grooves on the other side. Consequently, the plate cannot engage locking element to locking element or locking groove to locking groove. This means that in practice laying is limited to parallel rows. Thus, using this technique, it is not possible to lay traditional parquet patterns in which panels are joined long side to short side in a "herringbone pattern" or a different form of diamond pattern. It is known that floorboards can be produced corresponding to the form of traditional parquet and A and B designs with a mirrored flip joint system, and that such floorboards can be joined mechanically in a herringbone pattern by different combinations of angling and snapping (WO03/ 025307, owned by Vlinge Aluminum AB/Vlinge Innovation AB). Such floorboards can also be joined in parallel rows if the joining system is designed in a suitable manner. This is advantageous since multiple patterns can be provided with the same type of floorboards.

For example, installing floorboards by angling the long sides and snapping in the short sides is time-consuming, especially if the floor consists of many small floorboards.

It would be advantageous if floorboards could be installed quickly and easily, especially in herringbone patterns as well as other patterns, simply by angling the long sides. When installed in parallel rows, especially when the floor panels are narrow, eg 60-120mm, and when the small short sides must be able to handle the same high shrinkage forces as the larger panels, this simple method of laying should be used with Combination of joint systems with sufficient horizontal strength on the short side.

Installing narrow and small floorboards in parallel rows is usually more time-consuming than traditional floorboards. It would be advantageous if the installation time could be reduced by simpler joining or fewer movements when laying the different parallel rows. There is therefore a great need for improved locking systems and laying methods, especially when installing narrow floorboards that are laid only by angling inwards in a herringbone pattern and parallel rows.

Contents of the invention

The present invention relates to joint systems, floorboards, floors and methods of installation enabling faster, simpler and higher strength alignment of long sides by only an angular movement (rotation) towards the subfloor than currently known methods. Install the floating floor in intricate patterns and parallel rows on short sides. Disassembly can also be performed quickly and easily by the reverse method.

The terms long side and short side are used for ease of understanding. According to the invention, the panels may also be square or alternately square and rectangular, and optionally also have different patterns or other decorative features in different directions.

A first object of the present invention is to provide floorboards, a joint system, a method of installation and a method of dismounting, making it possible to provide a floor consisting of rectangular The short sides are mechanically joined into intricate patterns. The floorboards and locking system are characterized in that engagement and disassembly can only be done by inward angling along the long sides of the boards. The angling method is much simpler than snap-in, and a locking system that locks by angling inwards can be made stronger than a locking system that locks by snap-in. A particular object is to provide floors with high pressure laminated or directly laminated surface layers.

A second object of the invention is to provide a rectangular floorboard and a locking system fulfilling the above-mentioned requirements, characterized in that the horizontal locking system of the long and short sides consists of a tongue with locking elements cooperating with tongue and undercut grooves . Such a locking system can be produced in one piece with the floorboard and has a geometry that reduces material consumption.

A third object is to provide floorboards and locking systems in which the horizontal locking means of the short sides is different from that of the long sides. Preferably, the short sides have a horizontal locking system with locking surfaces having a larger locking angle than the locking surfaces of the long sides. The joining of short side to short side in parallel rows thus has a high strength.

A fourth object is to provide floorboards and locking systems having a horizontal locking system with locking surfaces on the long and short sides substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and when joined long side to long side and short side to short side, such The floorboards and locking system have high strength.

A fifth object is to provide different joint systems suitable for the floorboards mentioned above, which joint systems partly consist of different materials joined to the floorboards.

A sixth object is to provide a laying method which shortens the laying time, especially in the case of laying small and narrow floorboards in parallel rows.

It should be particularly emphasized that the combinations of engagement systems in this description are only examples of suitable embodiments. All joint systems can be used individually for long and/or short sides and for different combinations of long and short sides. Engagement systems with horizontal and vertical locking means can be engaged by angling and/or snapping. The geometry of the joint system and the functional horizontal and vertical locking means can be made by machining the edges of the floorboards, or by different materials formed or machined before or after jointing to the joint edge portions of the floorboards.

This object is achieved wholly or partly by flooring systems and methods according to the appended independent claims. Embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims and in the following description and figures.

According to a first aspect, the invention comprises a floor system consisting of mechanically lockable rectangular floorboards. In this flooring system, each floorboard has a pair of opposing connecting means along its long sides for locking the floorboard together vertically and horizontally with similar adjacent floorboards, and along its short sides. There is a pair of opposite connection means. Furthermore, the connecting means of the floorboards are designed to be able to lock the long sides together by angling along the upper joint edges. The floor system is characterized in that said pairs of opposing connecting means of said short sides are adapted to lock floorboards only horizontally; said system comprises two different types of floorboards, one type of floorboards The connecting means along a pair of opposing edge portions are arranged in a mirror-inverted manner with respect to corresponding connecting means along the same pair of opposing edge portions of another type of floorboard.

In one embodiment, the connection means of the floorboards is designed to lock the long sides together by angling along the upper joint edge and the short sides together by a substantially vertical movement, wherein: the first short side can be vertically and lock horizontally to the first long side; the second short side can only be locked horizontally to the second long side by a substantially vertical movement; and the mating locking surface of the horizontal connecting device on the short side is designed to be horizontal to the long side The mating locking surfaces of the connecting devices are different.

Differently designed means, for example, to be different in:

a) the angle, shape, magnitude of the contact surfaces and their vertical position in the joint system,

b) type of material, combination of materials, impregnation modification chemicals,

c) Design of joint system parts that affect strength, compressibility and relative position between locking surfaces.

As an example of item c) above, it can be pointed out that different designs of the locking elements, especially their horizontal extent, can have a great influence on the strength of the locking surfaces when subjected to tension loads. The presence or absence of gaps between the locking surfaces can result in different performance of the engagement system.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a method for laying two types of floorboards A and B with a mirror-reversed joint system.

In one embodiment, the two long sides of at least two floorboards of a first type are locked together by angling towards two similar floorboards of the same type and by angling inwards the second Another floorboard of a type of floorboard is locked together towards a similar floorboard of the same type to lay a herringbone pattern.

According to another embodiment, parallel rows are laid by forming an angle in such a way that the first B-slab of a new row is joined to the last laid A-slab of the previous row.

There is also provided a flooring system consisting of rectangular floorboards with long sides having pairs of opposing connecting means which at least allow locking together horizontally and vertically by angling inwards. This flooring system is characterized in that it consists of floorboards with a laminated surface layer, which are joined in a herringbone pattern and whose joining and dismounting is effected by an angular movement.

Finally, there is provided a flooring system comprising rectangular floorboards joined in a herringbone pattern and having a high pressure laminated or direct laminated surface layer, in which system each floorboard has a pair of Opposite mechanical connection means for locking together vertically and horizontally with similar adjacent floorboards by angling inwards. In this embodiment, the short sides only have horizontal locking means. Since the floorboards are narrow and the short sides are held together by the long sides, this is enough to fit the boards in a herringbone pattern.

Description of drawings

Figures 1a-b show a floorboard according to the invention;

Figures 2a-2f show joint systems on long and short sides;

Figures 3a-3d illustrate joining a herringbone pattern;

Figures 4a-4c illustrate angling joints by downward;

Figures 5a-5g illustrate joining a herringbone pattern;

Figures 6a-6d illustrate an engagement system according to the invention;

Figures 7a-7d illustrate an engagement system according to the invention;

Figures 8a-8d illustrate an engagement system according to the invention;

Figures 9a-9e illustrate an engagement system according to the invention;

Figures 10a-10d illustrate the machining of the joining system;

Figures 11a-11j illustrate an engagement system according to the invention;

Figures 12a-12j illustrate an engagement system according to the invention;

Figures 13a-13f illustrate splicing into parallel rows;

Figures 14a-14d illustrate splicing into parallel rows.

Detailed ways

Figures 1a-b show floorboards of a first type A and of a second type B according to the invention, in this embodiment the length of the long sides 4a, 4b of the floorboards is three times the length of the short sides 5a, 5b . The long sides 4a, 4b of the floorboards have vertical and horizontal connection means and the short sides 5a, 5b of the floorboards have horizontal connection means. In this embodiment, the two types (of the floorboards) are identical except that the position of the locking means is mirror-reversed. The locking means allow long side 4a to engage long side 4b by at least inward angling, long side 4a to short side 5a by inward angling, and also allow short side 5b to long side 4b by perpendicular movement. In this embodiment it is possible to join the long sides 4a, 4b with the short sides 5a, 5b in a herringbone pattern only by angular movement along the long sides 4a, 4b. The long sides 4a, 4b of the floorboards have connection means, which in this embodiment consist of strips 6 , grooves 9 and tongues 10 . The short side 5 a also has the strip 6 and the tongue and groove 9 , while the short side 5 b has no tongue 10 . Various variations are possible. The two types of floorboards need not be of the same form, the locking means can also have different shapes, as long as they can be joined long side to short side as mentioned above. The connecting means can be made of the same material or of different materials, or of the same material with different material properties. For example, the connection means can be made of plastic or metal. They can also be made of the same material as floorboards, but undergo a treatment that changes their properties, such as impregnation, etc.

Figures 2a-2e show connection means of two panels 1, 1' joined to each other. Figure 2a shows the long sides 4a and 4b. The vertical locking means consists of a groove 9 cooperating with a tongue 10 . The horizontal locking means consist of a bar 6 and a locking element 8 cooperating with a locking groove 12 . The locking system can be engaged by angling inwardly along the upper engaging edge. This is shown by the dotted line parts in Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b. In Figure 2c, HP is the horizontal plane and VP is the vertical plane. The locking element 8 and the locking groove 12 have cooperating locking surfaces which, in Fig. 2a, have a locking angle LA of approximately 60 degrees. The panel 1' has a decorative groove 133 at the upper joint edge.

Figure 2b shows the connection means on the short side. They consist of strips 6 and locking elements 8 cooperating with locking grooves 10 and provide horizontal locking of the floorboards 1, 1'. The short side 5a has a groove 9 adapted to cooperate with the tongue 10 of the long side 4a when the long side and the short side are locked to each other. However, the short side 5b has no tongue 10 . Figures 2c, 2e show how the short side 5b is locked to the long side 4b by a vertical movement. The preferred joining system in Figure 2e can only be joined vertically by placing the short side 5b, called the groove side, onto the long or short side with the protruding strip 6, called the locking side. In this embodiment, no locking is possible with the locking edge placed on the edge of the groove. Figure 2d shows how the short side 5a is locked vertically and horizontally to the long side 4a using a joint system that allows inward angling. FIG. 2c shows that it is advantageous to have a clearance between the locking groove 12 and the locking surface 14 on the locking element 8 . A preferred embodiment is characterized in that when the panels 5b and 4b are pressed together they can be positioned with a gap of eg 0.01-0.1 mm. This gap relieves the prestressing even when the humidity is high, the panel 5b is not forced to move upwards as would be the case if the panels were connected with prestressing and no vertical displacement was prevented eg by a tongue. This gap can be combined with a decorative groove 133 coated or impregnated with colour. Such a decorative groove 133 makes it possible to make the gap invisible, even if the gap is quite large, eg 0.1-0.2 mm.

Figures 3a-3d illustrate the installation of a floor in a herringbone pattern that can be formed by angling inwards only. The floorboards can be disengaged from each other in reverse order by angling upwards.

Figure 3a shows how to join a type B floorboard to a type A floorboard by angling the long side 4a against the short side 5a. Since the floorboard B2 has no tongue on the short side 5b, it can be angled downwards towards the floorboard A3. Numbers 1-3 indicate the proper installation sequence. According to FIG. 3 b , seen transversely to the laying direction ID, the first row R1 can be joined by angling inwards, inserting along the joining edge, etc. FIG.

In Figure 3c, the next row is joined by A-plates marked 6, 7 and 8 that form an angled joint inwardly along the long sides. The panels 7 and 8 can be joined in this way because they do not have a tongue on the short side 5b of the type that prevents the short side from angling downwards with respect to the long side. Finally, Figure 3e shows how the panels 9 and 10 are laid by angling inwards. The laying method is thus characterized in that the entire floor can be laid in a herringbone pattern by angling inwards. Laying long side to short side alternately locks the panels vertically and horizontally. With this method of laying, all short sides will be able to be locked both horizontally and vertically, although the short sides do not have vertical locking means, eg in the form of tongues. The laying is characterized in that two panels of the same type, eg panel A6 and panel A7, must be laid before panel B9 can be angled inwards. Within the scope of the invention, the locking system according to FIG. 2b can also provide a vertical locking device 10' with a snap-in effect allowing vertical movement, as shown in outline in FIG. 12b. However, this is of limited importance to the function of the floor and is more difficult to install, but this joint system can provide greater strength when the panels are laid in parallel rows.

Floorboards suitable for laying in a herringbone pattern can also be joined in parallel rows if the joining system is designed in a convenient manner. This is advantageous as more patterns can be provided with the same type of floorboards and this facilitates manufacturing and stock keeping. Figures 4a and 4b show how a new floorboard A4 in a new row R2 is joined to an already laid floorboard A2 in a previous row R1 by means of an angular movement A along the long sides 4a and 4b. The short side of the new panel A4 with the grooved side 5b is vertically folded down (folded) over the short side of the already laid panel A3 and the locking side 5a. When the subsequently laid panel A5 is joined to the floorboards A3, A4 in the subsequent row R3, the long sides of the previous row R1 and the following row R3 will lock the short sides 5a and 5b and prevent the groove side 5b from angling upwards. Thus, the short sides are joined vertically and horizontally. Plates can be disassembled in reverse order. In this laying method, the tongue and groove 9 of the locking side 5a has no effect, but is necessary for joining to the long side 4a. Therefore, the tongue and groove 9a is not required if only joints are made in parallel rows. A locking angle of, for example, approximately 60 degrees is generally sufficient to provide high strength on the long sides. This angle favors inward angulation. The corresponding angles on the short sides do not provide sufficient strength, especially in narrow panels with a width of eg 60-120 mm. When the locking angle is small, the long sides cannot keep the short sides in the same plane. This can lead to snap-out or unwanted joint play. The large locking angles on the short sides create no defects when laying the slabs with a vertical movement towards the subfloor.

Figure 5a shows a tongue lock in the form of a joint system consisting of a tongue 10 with a locking element 8 within one joint edge of a floorboard 1 at its outer and upper part close to the floor surface. The joint system also has a tongue and groove 9 with an upper lip 21 and a lower lip 22 and an undercut groove 12 in the other joint edge of the floorboards 1 ′. Since the tongue 10 is produced by machining the joint edges of the floorboards, this joint system can be manufactured compactly, which reduces waste of material. Since the floorboards are narrow and short, waste of material is important. Figures 5b-5g show how such a joining system can be adjusted to enable joining herringbone patterns and parallel rows by angling. In this embodiment, the short groove side 5b has no lower lip to prevent vertical locking. The long sides can be joined by angling according to Figure 5e, and the long sides can also be locked to the short sides by angling and vertically overlapping according to Figures 5c and 5f. Obviously, the long sides can be angled (slanted) locking side to groove side and groove side to locking side. The joint system can also be made of different materials joined to the joint edge. If it is only intended to lay the floorboards eg in parallel rows, the long sides can be formed with a tongue lock according to Fig. 5a and the short sides with a strip lock according to Fig. 2a.

Figures 6a-6d show how the tongue lock is modified in order to meet two requirements, namely: it should be easy to engage long side to long side and long side to short side by angular movement, while, when the short side is engaged by angular movement towards the floor When it comes to the other short side, it should have a lot of strength. In FIGS. 6a and 6b the locking elements on the long side 4b and the short side 5a have an upper locking surface 15 close to the surface of the floorboard, the locking angle LA1 of which is smaller than the locking angle LA2 of the lower locking surface 14 . The long groove side 4a is adapted to cooperate with the upper locking surface 15 having a smaller locking angle LA1, while the short groove side 5b is adapted to cooperate with the lower locking plane 14 having a larger locking angle LA2. Figures 6c and 6d illustrate the joining of the long side to the short side. A small locking angle on the long sides facilitates machining, since it then enables the use of large rotary tools to produce the undercut groove 12 . Larger locking angles can be produced, for example, by scraping a stationary tool against a moving joint edge. Due to the absence of the lower lip 22, large locking angles in the groove 12 can be easily produced.

Figures 7a-7d show how to modify the bar lock with the protruding bar 6 supporting the locking element 8 in the same way as the tongue lock, so that the locking angle of the short side 5a to the short side 5b is larger than that of the long side to the long side. Locked corners in case of edges or short edges. The locking elements on both the long and short sides have an upper locking surface 15 with a locking angle smaller than that of the lower locking surface 14 . The locking element 8 of the short side 5a has a wider horizontal extent than the short side. This increases the strength of the short sides while only increasing the material consumption at the edges. All preferred locking elements 8 can be made larger on the short sides in this way and the locking grooves of the long sides can be adjusted so that they can engage on the locking elements 8 of the short sides.

Figures 8a-8b show a bar lock with locking elements on long and short sides, wherein the locking element has a locking surface 14 substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane. The contact surface KS1 between the locking element 8 and the locking groove 12 is larger on the long side than the contact surface KS2 on the short side. As a non-limiting example, it may be pointed out that the contact surface KS1 on the long side provides sufficient strength with a vertical width of only 0.1-0.3 mm. Despite the large locking angle, material compression and strip bending still allows inward angling and upward angling. Such a joint system on the long side can be combined with a joint system on the short side with a large locking angle and a contact surface KS2 of eg 0.5-1.0 mm. A small gap of eg 0.01-0.10 mm on the long sides between the locking surfaces also facilitates upward angling and eases manufacturing when pressing the panels together in a horizontal direction. This gap does not cause a visible joint gap between the upper joint edges. The joint system can be made in more than 90 degrees joint angle. If this is done only on the short sides, the panels can easily be released from each other by pulling out parallel to the joint edges after the long sides have been released, for example by angling upwards.

Figures 9a-9d show bar locks constructed of different materials such as fibreboard based materials such as HDF. Such joint systems are less expensive than joint systems made in one piece with floorboards. Furthermore, it is possible to use strip materials which have other properties better than floorboards and which are especially suitable for the function of the joining system. The strip 6 in Figure 9a is mechanically connected to the floorboard 1 at the factory by snapping in an upwardly angled position. This is shown in Figure 9e. Figure 9a shows that the joint edge portions of the strip and the floorboards have cooperating parts that lock the strip with great precision both horizontally and vertically and prevent the verticality of the outer part 7 of the strip up to the floor surface and down to the rear side sports. The strip is positioned and locked to the floorboard both horizontally and vertically by the tongue 10' of the strip cooperating with the tongue and groove 9' of the floorboard and by the locking element 8' of the floorboard cooperating with the locking groove 12' of the strip . Portions Db1 and Db2 prevent the outer part 7 of the strip from bending downwards in case of tension loads, and parts Ub1 and Ub2 prevent the outer part 7 from bending upwards so that the strip does not become loose during operations before laying. Parts IP and UP position the bars at their inner and outer positions relative to the vertical plane VP.

Figure 9b shows an embodiment which is convenient for eg wooden floors. The upward bending is prevented by the parts Ub1 and Ub2 and by the fact that the locking angle LA is greater than the tangent angle of the arc C1 centered at the point of rotation Ub2. Figure 9c shows an embodiment in which the strip 6 lies in a plane closer to the surface than the rear side of the floor. The strip 6 can thus be made of thinner sheet material than in the embodiment according to Figures 9a and 9b. Figure 9d shows how the short sides are formed. All of these embodiments can be combined with the joint angles and joint geometries described above. Various combinations are possible. For example, the long sides may have a joint system with separate strips, while the short sides are formed in one piece according to eg some of the aforementioned preferred embodiments.

Figures 10a-d show how the lower lip 22 is formed with a large rotary tool. The joining system according to Figures 10a and 10b requires two tools TP1A and TP1B that machine the joining edge at two different angles. RD indicates the direction of rotation. The corresponding parts in the joining system according to Figs. 10c and 10d can be produced using only one tool. In both embodiments, the lower lip 22 protrudes from the vertical plane VP.

Figures 11a-11j show an embodiment in which the bar 6 is made of sheet metal, preferably aluminum. This design is chosen so that the strip 6 can be formed by bending only. This can be manufactured with high precision and low cost. Sufficient strength can be achieved with metal sheets having a thickness of 0.4-0.6 mm. All embodiments allow internal (IP) and external (OP) positioning, they also inhibit the upward (Ub1 , Ub2 ) and downward (Db1 , Db2 ) angular movement of the bar 6 . The joining edge can also be produced rationally by means of a large rotary tool.

Figures 12a-12i show the short sides. Figures 12b and 12f show that the joint system can also be made as a vertical locking device in the form of a small tongue 10. This allows locking with a vertical snap. Figure 12j shows how the strips are installed in the factory by snapping in an upwardly angled position. Obviously, separate strips can be provided such that they are attached to the floorboards when installed. This can be done manually or with the aid of a tool, see Fig. 9e, which is formed such that the floorboards and strips are for example moved over a press roller PR which mounts the strip 6 by a snap-in and angled combination. Strips, for example of aluminum sheet, formed by bending only and connected to the joint edges of the floorboards by snap-fitting, are cheaper and easier to manufacture than other known alternatives.

The floorboards may have on one side, for example the long side, a type of joint system formed according to a preferred embodiment and integrally made of fibreboard-based material or metal. The other sides may be of another type (of the joint system). Obviously, many variations can be provided by varying angles, radii and dimensions. Strips can be made by extruding metal, plastic and various combinations of materials. The joining system can also be used to join other articles, such as wall panels and ceilings, and also to join components of furniture. The mechanical connection system for floors can also be used, for example, to mount kitchen cupboards on walls.

Figures 13a-f illustrate the laying method for floor joints. Figure 13a shows a type A floorboard with locking sides 5a and grooved sides 5b. Since the grooved sides overlap the locking sides down, it is easy to install the floor so that all rows are installed from the same side. Usually, the floor layer must then be moved several times. This can take a considerable amount of time when installing large surfaces. The installation sequence is A1, A2…A9.

Figures 13c and 13d show that the B-plate should be installed from the opposite direction because the locking system on the short side is mirror-flipped with respect to the A-plate.

Figure 13e shows that if A and B plates are used, they can be installed alternately from left to right. This shortens the laying time.

Figure 13f shows that installation can also be performed backwards in the installation direction ID.

Figures 14a-14d illustrate the rational installation of A and B panels in parallel rows using a joint system with mirror inversion. According to Fig. 14a, the rows R1-R5, for example with A panels, are installed first. Then move and install the remaining A-plates according to Figure 14b. In the next steps, the B-plates are installed, and then the rest of the B-plates are moved and can be installed. Therefore, only two moves are required to install the ten rows. The method in this example is characterized in that the first B panel in the new row R6 is joined to the last laid A panel in the previous row R5. Therefore, the invention also includes a floor consisting of two types of panels A and B joined in parallel rows with a mirror-reversed joint system.

If the floorboards have short sides which can be joined in two directions parallel to the long sides, it is also possible to carry out the installation according to the above-mentioned preferred method by forming angles and snapping and using only one type of floorboards.

Claims (13)

1. but floor system that comprises the rectangular area plate (1,1 ') of mechanical caging, in this system, each floor board block have along its long limit (4a, 4b) a pair of relative linkage be used for described floor board block (1) with similarly be adjacent to plate (1 ') vertically and flatly (D1, D2) lock together, and each floor board block has a pair of relative linkage along its minor face (5a, 5b), wherein, the linkage of floor board block is designed to be able to lock together by growing the limit along last trip edge angulation, it is characterized in that:

The described a pair of relative linkage of described minor face (5a, 5b) only is suitable for flatly (D2) locking floor board block,

Described system comprises two kinds of dissimilar floor board block (A, B),

One type floor board block (A) is arranged to along the linkage (9,10) of a pair of opposed edges portion: the mode that becomes mirror image switch with respect to the floor board block (B) of another type along the linkage (9,10) of the correspondence of identical a pair of opposed edges portion.

2. floor system according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the linkage of the floor board block on the minor face (5a, 5b) is designed to be able to by vertical substantially sports level locking.

3. floor system according to claim 1 and 2 is characterized in that, floor board block (1,1 ') can be taken apart from subfloor by angular movement.

4. floor system according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, the linkage of floor board block (1,1 ') is designed to be able to lock together and by vertical substantially motion minor face (5a, 5b) is locked together by will grow limit (4a, 4b) along the upper joint edges angulation, and first minor face (5a) can be vertically and flatly (D1, D2) lock onto on the first long limit (4a), second minor face (5b) can lock onto on the second long limit (4b) by only move both vertically substantially flatly (D1);

Horizontal linkage (8,12) on the minor face (5a, 5b) has the cooperation locking surface that cooperates locking surface to form differently with the horizontal linkage (8,12) of growing the limit.

5. floor system according to claim 4 is characterized in that, the cooperation locking surface of minor face (5a, 5b) has the lock angle (LA) bigger than the cooperation locking surface of long limit (4a, 4b) with respect to the leading flank of floor board block.

6. floor system according to claim 4, it is characterized in that, the cooperation locking surface of the floor board block on long limit (4b) and the minor face (5a) has the lock angle (LA) on the surface of the floor board block of being basically perpendicular to, and the cooperation locking surface of minor face (5a, 5b) has the high field amplitude of cooperation locking surface than long limit (4a, 4b).

7. according to claim 4 or 5 described floor systems, it is characterized in that the part of horizontal linkage is made of the independent fiberboard base bar that is mechanically coupled on the floor board block.

8. according to claim 4 or 5 described floor systems, it is characterized in that the part of horizontal linkage is by constituting by the independent aluminium flake bar that is bent to form and is mechanically coupled on the floor board block.

9. method of making the floor by the rectangular area plate of mechanical caging, this floor board block have along its long limit (4a, 4b) a pair of relative linkage be used for similarly be adjacent to plate vertically and flatly (D1, D2) lock together, and this floor board block has along its minor face (5a, 5b) and allows and similarly be adjacent to plate (D2) paired relative linkage of locking together flatly

The linkage of the floor board block on the wherein long limit is designed to be able to lock together by the angular movement along upper joint edges,

The linkage of the floor board block on the minor face (5a, 5b) is designed to be able to by vertical substantially motion locking together, described floor board block comprises the floor board block of first kind and second type, the difference of these two kinds of floor board block is, the linkage of first type floor board block (A) is arranged to along a pair of opposed edges portion: become the mode of mirror image switch with respect to the floor board block (B) of second type along the corresponding connecting arrangement of identical a pair of opposed edges portion, described method comprises:

The floor board block of second type (B) in the newline (R6) is joined on the floor board block of first type (A) of the last laying in the previous row (R5).

10. method according to claim 9 is characterized in that, the horizontal linkage (8,12) on the minor face (5a, 5b) have with long limit (4a, 4b) on the cooperation locking surface that cooperates locking surface (8,12) differently to design.

11., it is characterized in that described floor board block (1,1 ') is laid to parallel row according to claim 9 or 10 described methods.

12. the method by the rectangular area plate manufacturing floor of mechanical caging,

This floor board block have along its long limit (4a, 4b) paired relative linkage be used for similarly be adjacent to plate vertically and flatly (D1, D2) lock together, and this floor board block has along its minor face (5a, 5b) and allows and similarly be adjacent to plate (D2) paired relative linkage of locking together only flatly;

The linkage of the floor board block on the wherein long limit (4a, 4b) is designed to be able to lock together by the angular movement along upper joint edges, described floor board block comprises the floor board block of first kind and second type, the difference of this floor board block of two types is, the linkage of first type floor board block (A) is arranged to along a pair of opposed edges portion: the floor board block with respect to second type (B) becomes the mode of mirror image switch along the corresponding connecting arrangement of identical a pair of opposed edges portion, and described method comprises:

By angulation, two long limits of at least two floor board block (A6, A7) of first type floor board block (A) and two similar floor board block (A1, A3) of same type (A) are locked together;

By inside angulation, the other floor board block (B9, B10) of second type floor board block (B) and the similar floor board block (B2, B4) of same type (B) are locked together.

13. floor system that comprises rectangular area plate (1,1 '), this floor board block has the long limit (4a and 4b) with paired relative linkage, this linkage at least can by inside angulation flatly and vertically (D1, D2) lock together, it is characterized in that:

This system comprises the floor board block with laminating surface layer, and described floor board block is bonded into herringbone pattern, and can realize engaging and dismounting by angular movement.

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