EP1165906A1

EP1165906A1 - Panel and fastening system for panels

Info

Publication number: EP1165906A1
Application number: EP99957872A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans-Jürgen HANNIG; Ralf Eisermann
Original assignee: Akzenta Paneele and Profile GmbH
Current assignee: Akzenta Paneele and Profile GmbH
Priority date: 1999-06-30
Filing date: 1999-10-09
Publication date: 2002-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-09
Also published as: CA2377919A1; CA2377799A1; EP1190149A1; EP1243721A2; ES2182582T3; EP2312087A2; CA2377799C; EP1190149B1; CA2377919C; EP1243721A3; PT1190149E; ES2228133T3; DE59902425D1; AU1546600A; US7896571B1; EP2116666A1; EP2312087B1; ATE222634T1; DE59908387D1; EP1165906B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening system (1) for panels (2, 3), especially for floor panels, that are placed on a base (U) and whose edges are provided with holding profiles. The holding profile of a long edge and the holding profile of the opposite edge as well as the holding profiles of the other two short edges of a panel (2, 3) match one another in such a manner that further panels (3) can be fastened to the free edges of one of the placed panels (2). The holding profiles of the long edge of the panels (2, 3) are configured as complementary positive fit profiles (4, 5) and the panels (2, 3) are interconnected by pivoting them to be joined. The complementary positive fit profile is provided with a recess opposite the edge of the panel (2). The upper side facing away from the base is beveled so that there is room for the common joint.

Description

Panel and fastening system for panels

The invention relates to a panel and a fastening system for panels, in particular for floor panels, which are to be laid on a substrate and the narrow sides of which are provided with holding profiles, the holding profile of a long narrow side and the holding profile of the opposite narrow side and the holding profiles of the other two short ones Fit the narrow sides of a panel to one another in such a way that further panels can be fastened to the free narrow sides of a laid panel, at least the holding profiles of the long narrow sides of the panels being designed as mutually associated positive locking profiles and the panels being able to be fastened to one another by a rotating joining movement such that the positive locking profile is one the long narrow sides of a panel has a recess and the opposite narrow side of this panel has a matching projection that the wall of the recess facing the substrate has a cross section on the inside with a concave arch ung and that the associated form-fitting profile of the opposite narrow side of the panel has a projection which has a cross-section with a convex curvature on its underside facing the ground, and that the convex curvature of the projection and the concave curvature of the recess are essentially complementary ,

Fastening systems of the type mentioned hold panels together in the fully installed state by means of a positive connection. Especially when floating on a surface laid floor panels, a positive connection between the panels prevents the formation of joints, which can occur, for example, due to thermal expansion or shortening when the temperature drops.

From the German ^"Utility Model G 79 28 703 Ul a generic fastening system is known. Floor panels with such a positive engagement profile can be very easily by a rotary joining movement together. The compound is suitable in principle for a multiple laying. The resulting form-fitting connection is very rigid and prevents the formation of joints very reliably.

The known fastening system is disadvantageously only suitable for particularly flat substrates. In the case of irregular, rough and corrugated substrates, a panel floor with the known fastening system conforms very poorly to the shape of the irregular substrate. If, for example, a panel that is held in the installed state by the neighboring panels with a little air above a corrugated surface is pressed onto the surface during loading, floor panels attached to one another bend. This deflection particularly stresses the connection points with the interlocking interlocking profiles. Depending on the load, the interconnected panels are bent downwards or upwards and pressed out of the normal installation level. Because of the high stiffness of the connection, a high load occurs in the weak cross sections of the form-fitting profiles, which are quickly damaged. The damage progresses quickly until a projection or a recess wall breaks.

Even on a flat surface, panels can undergo an alternating deflection if a soft intermediate layer, for example an impact sound-absorbing film or the like, is laid on the surface. The intermediate layer is pressed in at a stressed point and the panels buckle at their connection points.

The invention is therefore based on the object of developing the known fastening system so that the rigidity of the connection of two interlocking interlocking profiles is adapted to the stress ^. who have to endure the connections when laying the panels on an irregular surface.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the form-fitting profiles of the long narrow sides of two panels form a joint in the installed state of two panels, that the upper side of the projection of a panel facing away from the ground has an oblique material removal which extends to the free end of the projection, that the thickness of the projection is increasingly reduced by the removal of material towards the free end, and that the removal of material creates freedom of movement for the common joint.

The new construction allows articulated movement of two interconnected panels. In particular, two panels that are connected to one another can be bent upward at the connection point. If, for example, a panel lies on a base with an elevation, so that a narrow side of the panel is pressed onto the base under load and the opposite narrow side bounces upwards, then a second panel attached to the upward bobbing narrow side is moved upwards. However, the bending forces acting on it do not damage the narrow cross sections of the interlocking profiles. Instead, a joint movement takes place. A floor laid with the proposed fastening system thus has a flexibility which is adapted to irregular rough or corrugated surfaces. The fastening system is therefore particularly well suited for panels for renovating irregular floors in old buildings. Of course, it is also better suited for laying panels on a soft intermediate layer than the known fastening supply system.

The construction takes into account the principle of "adapted deformability". This principle is based on the knowledge that very stiff and therefore supposedly stable connection points cause high notch stresses and therefore easily fail. To avoid this, "components should be designed in such a way that they have a resilience or" adapted deformability "that is matched to the intended use and in this way notch stresses are reduced.

In addition, the form-fitting profiles are designed such that a load on the top of the floor panels in the installed state is transmitted from the top wall of the recess of a first panel into the projection of the second panel and from the projection of the second panel into the bottom wall of the first panel. The walls of the recess of the first panel are in contact with the top and bottom of the projection of the second panel when installed. However, the upper wall of the recess has only a short area at the free end of the upper wall of the recess in contact with the projection of the second panel. In this way, the construction allows a slight movement of the joint between the panel with the recess and the panel with the projection with little elastic deformation of the walls of the recess. In this way, the rigidity of the connection is optimally adapted to an irregular base, which inevitably leads to a buckling movement between panels fastened to one another.

Another advantage is seen in the fact that panels with the fastening system according to the invention are better suited for multiple laying than panels with the known fastening system, because the panels with the fastening system according to the invention do not have any pre-damage to the interlocking profiles even after long use on an irregular surface. The form-fitting profiles are dimensionally stable and durable. They can be used much longer and can be relocated more often during their life cycle. Advantageously, the convex curvature of the projection and the concave curvature of the recess essentially each form a circular section, with the center of the circle of the circular sections being arranged on the top of the projection or below the top of the projection in the installed state. In the latter case, the center of the circle lies within the cross section of the projection.

This simple construction results in a joint whose convex curvature of the projection is designed like a joint ball and the concave curvature of the recess is similar to a joint socket, whereby, in contrast to a socket joint, of course only a flat rotary movement but no spherical rotary movement is possible.

In a favorable further development, the most protruding point of the convex curvature of the projection of a panel is arranged in such a way that it is located approximately below the top edge of the panel. This results in a relatively large cross section for the projection in relation to the total thickness of the panel. In addition, the concave curvature of the recess offers a sufficiently large undercut for the convex curvature of the projection, so that these can hardly be moved apart by tensile forces acting in the laying plane.

The joint properties of two interconnected panels can be further improved if the wall of the recess of a panel facing the substrate has an inclined material removal on its inside, which extends to the free end of the wall and the wall thickness of this wall is increasingly thinner towards the free end. The removal of material when two panels are installed creates freedom of movement for the joint. With this improvement, the proportion of elastic deformation of the walls of the recess is further reduced during the deflection of the installed panels.

It is also useful if the recess of a panel for Connection with the projection of another panel can be widened by a resilient deformation of its lower wall and that the resilient deformation of the lower wall which occurs during the joining is withdrawn again in the fully connected state of two panels. The positive locking profiles are thus only elastically deformed during the joining process and during a joint movement and, if they are not loaded, are not subject to any elastic tension.

It is useful if the holding profiles of the short narrow sides of a panel are also designed as mutually associated positive locking profiles and can be fastened to one another by a straight-line joining movement.

The holding profiles of the short narrow side of a panel are simply provided with conventional, approximately rectangular tongue and groove cross-sections. These can be produced very simply and inexpensively and can be brought into one another in a particularly simple manner by sliding them laterally after the long narrow sides of a panel have been joined. The long narrow sides of the panels can also be pushed into each other along their entire length in a parallel direction.

Another development of the short narrow side of a panel provides that the cross sections of the form-fitting profiles essentially correspond to the cross-sections of the form-fitting profiles of the long narrow sides of the panel. The ability to flexibly connect two panels on their short narrow sides also benefits the resilience of a floor covering.

The positive-locking profiles are preferably formed in one piece on the narrow sides of the panels. The panels can be manufactured very easily and with little waste.

The form-fitting profiles according to the invention are particularly suitable if the panels consist essentially of an MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), HDF (High Density Fiberboard) or a chipboard material. These materials are simple to process and maintain sufficient surface quality, for example by machining. In addition, these materials have a high dimensional stability of the milled profiles.

_^ A further benefit ergibt- when the movement spaces are provided for the common joints with a soft elastic hardening filler in the laid state of the panels. This filler preferably seals all joints and in particular the joint on the top in such a way that no moisture and no dirt can penetrate. During a joint movement of the interconnected panels, the flexible filler is squeezed or stretched depending on the direction of rotation of the joint movement. It always adheres to the contact surfaces of the narrow sides of the panels and returns to its original shape when the joint movement decreases. The filler contributes to the restoration of the joint due to its elastic inner deformation.

An alternative embodiment of the fastening system provides that a short narrow side of a panel has a first hook element and the opposite short narrow side of the panel has a complementary hook element to the first hook element and that the hook elements are provided with holding surfaces through which the panels in the assembled state in such a way are held against each other that there is a gap-free abutting surface of the panels on the short narrow sides.

To install the panels, the form-fitting profiles of the long narrow sides of the panels must first be put together. For this purpose, a panel is placed at an angle and inserted with the protrusion of a long narrow side into the recess of the long narrow side of a laid panel. This creates the joint. The panel is then held in the inclined position and shifted in its longitudinal direction until it abuts the short narrow side of an adjacent panel. In this position they overlap Hook elements on the short narrow sides of the adjacent panels. If the inclined panel is now folded down using the joint, the overlapping hook elements fit into one another. This results in reaching behind, which locks the panels against pulling apart in their longitudinal direction. A degree of undercut can be achieved by the hook elements, which is approximately a third of the total panel thickness. The type of locking of the short narrow sides of the panels is reminiscent of roof tiles that reach behind one another.

A2 The first hook element is simply formed from a web projecting approximately vertically from the short narrow side and arranged on the upper side of the panel, a hook projection pointing towards the underside of the panel being arranged at the free end of the web and the second hook element from one of the opposite one protruding short narrow side and on the underside of the panel arranged web, wherein at the free end of this web a hook projection facing the panel top is arranged.

The top of the panel goes from the area with the thickness of the complete panel with a gradation into the web. The web has a thickness that corresponds to a third of the panel thickness. The same applies to the underside of the panel. Opposite the hook element on the upper side, the underside web merges from the area of the complete thickness of the panel with a gradation in thickness into the web, which likewise has about a third of the thickness of the panel. The webs and the hook projections are therefore relatively solid. This results in an improvement in strength and durability for the fastening system according to the invention.

A3 When the panel is in the assembled state, the hook projection of the underside web lies against the top web of a second panel. In addition, between the hook projection of the top web of the second panel and Air is provided on the underside web of the first panel.

Of course, this is also reversible, so that air is provided between the hook projection of the lower web of the first panel and the upper web of the second panel. It comes ^"on it. On that there is always a pairing clearly abut land / hook projection of joined hook elements in the assembled state together, and the other mating land / hook projection has the same hook elements air. If the fastening system designed so that always two pairs of web / hook projection abut each other , tolerances in the manufacture of the holding profiles would not result in a clear system and sometimes the one and the other pair of web / hook projection.

A4 A further development of the fastening system provides that the holding surfaces of the hook projections engage behind in such a way that they can only be hooked into one another by elastic deformation. In this way it can be prevented that the hook elements can be moved apart under load, for example because of an uneven surface. When a panel is loaded, the connected panel is moved in the same direction with the loaded panel. The joint remains together.

A5 Simply the holding surfaces of the hook projections are inclined and the hook projections taper from their free ends towards the webs. Furthermore, the holding surfaces of complementary hook jumps lie against one another at least in regions. This is a simple design of the hook projections provided with an undercut, because an easy to produce flat holding surface is provided as the undercut.

A6 There is a further benefit if the end face of the upper hook projection of one panel in the assembled state is in contact with the second panel at least in the area of the upper side of the panel and between the lower hook hook. projection of the second panel and the face of the first panel air is provided. This measure in turn serves to create an unambiguous installation of two connected panels through the constructive design.

On the underside of the panels, which is hoofed on a base, for example a screed, an air gap between the panels can be tolerated in the area of the joint.

An alternative embodiment with hook elements on the short narrow sides of the panel is constructed in such a way that at least one of the end faces of one of the hook elements of the panels has at its free end a projecting latching element which engages in an undercut recess in the other hook element of the panel. This construction has proven to be particularly easy to handle because the holding profiles can be locked into one another with slight pressure and with elastic deformation. In addition, the holding elements have good wear resistance, which favors multiple laying. The wear resistance is good because different locking functions are carried out by different holding element areas and the stress on the holding element occurs in a distributed manner. The panels are locked, for example, by the locking element and the recess perpendicular to the installation level. The locking of the panels against pulling apart in the longitudinal direction, however, is accomplished by the holding surfaces of the hook projections.

The protruding locking element of the first panel is simply designed as a bead, which extends over the entire length of the narrow side, and the undercut recess of the second panel is designed as an elongated throat, which receives the bead in the assembled state. To join, the bulge and throat must be joined together under an elastic deformation of the hook elements.

This embodiment of the fastening system is then suitable if no gluing is carried out, particularly good for multiple laying. In order to resume installed panels, it is advisable to first lift a row of panels lying next to one another so that they rotate obliquely upwards in the joint. Then the projections are pulled out of the recesses in an oblique direction and the joint is taken apart. The panels are now only connected on the short narrow sides. It is advisable to pull apart the nested holding elements of the short narrow sides in their longitudinal extent, in order to prevent the hook elements from being deformed during the disassembly process.

A7 Another improvement is seen in the fact that the areas provided with air when two panels are installed form glue pockets. In addition to using the proposed fastening system for glue-free laying of floor panels, it is particularly well suited for connection with glue. For this purpose, those points of the holding profiles that have to be provided with glue can be identified, for example, in an instruction manual or by markings on the holding profile itself. In this way, the user can apply glue very precisely where there are glue pockets when two panels are installed.

In the majority of applications of floor panels, glued installation is considered the most appropriate type of installation. This is because the durability of the panels is significantly improved. The gluing of the holding profiles has the effect that the penetration of dirt and moisture into the joints is almost prevented. This minimizes moisture absorption and swelling of the panels in the joining area of the holding profiles.

Of course, there may be applications for which a glue-free installation is preferred. For example, when a floor covering that is frequently laid has to be taken up again and re-laid, for example in the case of trade fair construction floors. A8 The panels are preferably formed from a coated carrier material and the holding profiles are integrally formed on the narrow sides of the panels. It has been found that the strength of modern excipients, such as edium dense fiberboard (MDF) or high density fiberboard (HDF), which are provided with an abrasion-resistant wear layer, are particularly suitable for use ^{^} of the proposed fastening system. Even after repeated laying, the retaining profiles are still in good shape so that a secure connection is possible even on uneven surfaces.

The invention is shown by way of example in a drawing below and described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Show it:

1 shows a fastening system in sections based on the cross sections of two panels before joining one another,

2 shows the fastening system according to FIG. 1 in the fastened state,

3 shows a joining process in which the projection of a panel is inserted into the recess of a second panel in the direction of the arrow and the first panel is subsequently locked with a rotary movement,

4 shows a further joining process in which the projection of a first panel is inserted into the recess of a second panel parallel to the laying plane,

5 shows the fastening system in the fastened state according to FIG. 2, the common joint being moved upwards from the laying plane and the two panels forming a kink,

6 shows the fastening system in the installed state according to FIG. 2, the joint being moved downward from the installation plane and the two panels forming a kink, Fig. 7 shows a fastening system in the installed state of two panels with a filler between the form-fitting profiles of the narrow sides.

8 special holding profiles for the short narrow sides of a panel in the nested state,

9 shows a further embodiment of special holding profiles for the short narrow sides of a panel in the inserted state,

10 shows a schematic representation of a holding profile with a web on the underside and a representation of two cutting tools for producing the undercut,

11 shows a third embodiment of special holding profiles for the short narrow sides of a panel in the interlocked state,

12 shows an embodiment according to FIG. 11, which is supplemented by an additional latching element,

According to the drawing, the fastening system 1 is explained using the example of elongated rectangular panels 2 and 3, a section of which is shown in FIG. 1. The fastening system 1 has holding profiles arranged on the narrow sides of the panels, which are designed as complementary form-fitting profiles 4 and 5. The opposite form-fitting profiles of a panel are each complementary. In this way, a further panel 3 can be attached to each panel 2 that has already been installed.

The positive locking profiles 4 and 5 are based on the state of the art of the German utility model G 79 28 703 Ul. In particular on the positive locking profiles of the exemplary embodiment which is disclosed in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 and in the associated description part of G 79 28 703 Ul. The form-fitting profiles according to the invention are developed in such a way that they enable an articulated and flexible connection of panels.

One of the form-fitting profiles 4 of the present invention is provided with a projection 6 protruding from the narrow side. The underside of the Prior jump ^{^} 6, which faces in the installed state of the base, has for the purpose of the articulated connection to a cross-section with a convex curvature. 7 The convex curvature 7 is rotatably supported in the complementary form-fitting profile 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the convex curvature 7 is designed in the form of a segment of a circle. The part 8 of the narrow side of the panel 3 which is arranged below the projection 6 and which faces the underlay in the installed state is further back from the free end of the projection 6 than the part 9 of the narrow side which is arranged above the projection 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the part 8 of the narrow side arranged below the projection 6 steps back approximately twice as far from the free end of the projection 6 as the part 9 of the narrow side arranged above the projection 6. The reason for this is that the circular section of the convex curvature 7 is relatively wide. As a result, the most protruding point of the convex curvature 7 of the projection 6 is arranged in such a way that it is located approximately below the upper edge 10 of the panel 3.

The part 9 of the narrow side arranged above the projection 6 protrudes from the narrow side at the top of the panel 3 and forms a joint joint surface 9a. Part 9 of the narrow side is set back between this joint joint surface 9a and the projection 6 of the panel 3. This ensures that part 9 of the narrow side always forms a closed top-side joint with the complementary narrow side of a further panel 2.

The upper side of the protrusion 6 opposite the convex curvature 7 of the protrusion 6 has a short straight section 11, which in the installed state is also parallel to the lower reason U is arranged. From this short section 11 towards the free end, the top of the projection 6 has an inclined material removal 12, which extends to the free end of the projection 6.

The form-fitting profile 5 of a narrow side, which is complementary to the form-fitting profile 4 discussed, has a cutout 20. This is essentially delimited by a lower wall 21 facing the subsurface U in the installed state and an upper wall 22. On the inside of the recess 20, the lower wall 21 is provided with a concave curvature 23. This has the function of a bearing shell. The concave curvature 23 is also designed in the form of a circular section. So that the relatively wide concave curvature 23 can be accommodated on the lower wall 21 of the recess 20, the lower wall 21 protrudes further from the narrow side of the panel 2 than the upper wall 22. The concave curvature 23 forms at the free end of the lower wall 21 an undercut. In the finished installed state of two panels 2 and 3, this undercut is undercut by the projection 6 of the associated form-fitting profile 4 of the adjacent panel 3. The degree of engagement, that is, the difference between the thickest point of the free end of the lower wall and the thickness of the lower wall at the lowest point of the concave curvature 23 is coordinated so that a good compromise between an articulated flexibility of two panels 2 and 3 as well as a good hold against pulling apart the form-fitting profiles 4 and 5 in the laying plane.

The fastening system of the prior art according to FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 of the utility model G 79 28 703 U1, on the other hand, has a considerably larger degree of undercut. This results in extremely stiff connection points, which cause high notch stresses due to the stress on an irregular surface U.

The inside of the upper wall 22 of the recess 20 of the panel 2 is in the installed state according to the embodiment arranged parallel to the underground U.

On the lower wall 21 of the recess 20 of the panel 2 facing the underground U, the inside of the wall 21 has an oblique material removal 24 which extends to the free end of the lower wall 21. This makes the wall thickness of this wall increasingly thinner towards the free end. According to the exemplary embodiment, the material removal 24 adjoins one end of the concave curvature 23.

The projection 6 of the panel 3 and the recess 20 of the panel 2 form, as can be seen in FIG. 2, a common joint G. The material removal 12 discussed above on the top of the projection 6 of the panel 3 and the material removal 24 of the the lower wall 21 of the recess 20 of the panel 2 in the installed state of the panels 2 and 3 create freedom of movement 13 and 25, respectively, which allow the joint G to rotate in a small angular range.

In the installed state, the short straight section 11 of the top of the projection 6 of the panel 3 is in contact with the inside of the upper wall 22 of the recess 20 of the panel 2. In addition, the convex curvature 7 of the projection 6 bears against the concave curvature 23 of the lower wall 21 of the recess 20 of the panel 2.

The side joint joint surfaces 9a and 26 of two connected panels 2 and 3 facing the upper side always lie clearly against one another. In practice, a simultaneous exact contact of the convex curvature 7 of the projection 6 of the panel 3 with the concave curvature 23 of the recess 20 of the panel 2 is not possible. Manufacturing tolerances would result in that either the joint faces 9a and 26 lie exactly against one another or the projection 6 / recess 20 lie exactly against one another. In practice, the positive-locking profiles are therefore designed so that the joint faces 9a and 26 always lie exactly against one another and the projection 6 / recess 20 are not moved sufficiently far into one another for an exact system can. However, since the manufacturing tolerances are in the order of magnitude of one hundredth of a millimeter, the projection 6 / recess 20 nestle almost exactly against one another.

Panels 2 and 3 with the described complementary form-fitting profiles 4 and 5 can be attached to one another in different ways. 3, a panel 2 with a cutout 20 has already been installed, while a second panel 3 with a complementary projection 6 is inserted obliquely into the cutout 20 of the first panel 2 in the direction of the arrow P. Then the second panel 3 is wrapped around the common circle center K of the circular sections of the convex curvature 7 of the projection 6 and the concave curvature 23 of the recess 20 is rotated until the second panel 3 rests on the substrate U.

A further type of joining of the panels 2 and 3 discussed is shown in FIG. 4, according to which the first panel 2 is laid with a recess 20 and a second panel 3 with a projection 6 in the laying plane and perpendicular to the interlocking profiles 4 and 5 in the direction of arrow P. is moved until the walls 21 and 22 of the recess 20 expand a little elastically and the convex curvature 7 of the projection 6 has overcome the undercut at the front end of the concave curvature 23 of the lower wall and the final laying position has been reached.

The latter type of joining is preferably used for the short narrow sides of a panel if these are provided with the same complementary form-fitting profiles 4 and 5 as the long narrow sides of the panels.

5 shows the fastening system 1 in use. The panels 2 and 3 lie on an irregular surface U. The first panel 2 with the form-fitting profile 5 has been loaded on its upper side. As a result, the narrow side of the panel 2 with the form-fitting profile 5 has been raised. The form-fitting profile 4 of the pair connected to the form-fitting profile 5 neels 3 has also been raised. The joint G results in a kink between the two panels 2 and 3. The freedom of movement 13 and 25 create space for the rotary movement of the joint. The joint G formed from both panels 2 and 3 has been moved upwards a little from the laying plane. The freedom of movement 13 has been fully utilized for the rotation, so that the top of the projection 6 of the panel 3 lies in the area of the material removal 12 on the inside of the wall 22 of the panel 2. The connection point is flexible in itself and does not impose any unnecessary and material-fatiguing bending load on the interlocking profiles 4 and 4 involved.

The damage that occurs early in form-fitting profiles according to the prior art due to breakage of the projection or the walls of the form-fitting profiles is thus avoided.

A further advantage results from a joint movement according to FIG. 5. This can be seen in the fact that the two panels fall back into their laying plane after being relieved by their own weight. In this case there is also a slight elastic deformation of the walls of the recess. This elastic deformation supports the panels falling back into the installation level. Only a very slight elastic deformation occurs because the pivot point of the joint, which is defined by the curved sections 7 and 23, is within the cross section of the projection 6 of the panel 3.

6 shows an articulated movement of two installed panels 2 and 3 in the opposite direction of rotation. The panels 2 and 3 laid on an irregular sub-floor U are bent downwards. The construction is designed in such a way that when the connection point bends out of the laying plane towards the subsurface U, there is a significantly greater elastic deformation of the lower wall 21 of the recess 20 than when it bends upward from the laying plane. The purpose of this measure is that the panels 2 and 3 which have been bent downwards cannot return to the installation level due to their own weight after being relieved. The greater elastic deformation of the lower wall 21 of the cutout 20, however, produces a tension force which moves the panels 2 and 3 back into the installation plane resiliently after relief.

The positive-locking profiles 4 and 5 described are integrally formed on the narrow sides of the panels 2 and 3 in the present case. This is preferably done by a so-called formatting process, in which the positive-locking profiles 4 and 5 mill the shape of the narrow sides of the panels 2 and 3 with a plurality of milling tools connected in series in one pass. The panels 2 and 3 of the exemplary embodiment described essentially consist of an MDF board with a thickness of 8 mm. The top of the MDF board is wear-resistant and has a decorative coating. A so-called counter-tension layer is attached to your underside, which compensates for the residual stresses caused by the top coating.

Finally, FIG. 7 shows two panels 2 and 3 in the installed state, a fastening system 1 with a soft-elastic hardening filler 30 being used. The filler 30 is provided between all adjoining parts of the positively connected narrow sides. In particular, the top joint 31 is closed with the filler so that no moisture and no dirt can penetrate. In addition, the filler 30 deformed in itself in the bent state of two panels 2 and 3, due to its elasticity, brings the panels 2 and 3 back into the laying plane.

Fig. 8 shows special holding profiles, which are provided for the short narrow sides of panels 40 and 41. Each panel has matching holding profiles 42 and 43 with complementary hook elements 44 and 45 on opposite short narrow sides. In this way, a right holding profile 42 of a first panel 40 can always be connected to a left holding profile 43 of a second panel 41. In Fig. 8 shows the short narrow sides of the panels 40 and 41 in the assembled state. The hook element 44 is formed from a web 46 which protrudes approximately vertically from the narrow side and is arranged on the upper side 0 of the panel. In this case, a hook projection 47 facing the underside V of the panels 40 and 41 is arranged on the free end of the web 46. The hook projection 47 engages with a hook projection 48 of the second panel 41. The hook element 45 of the second panel 41 is formed from a web 49 which protrudes from the narrow side of the second panel 41 and is arranged on the underside V of the second panel 41. The hook projection 48 is arranged at the free end of the web 49 and faces the top side 0 of the panel 40. The hook projections 47 and 48 and the two panels 40 and 41 are hooked into one another.

In the assembled state of the second panel 41, the hook projection 48 of the second panel 41 with the web 49 on the underside bears against the top web 46 of the first panel 40. In the present embodiment, air L1 is provided between the hook projection 47 of the upper web 46 of the first panel 40 and the lower web 49 of the second panel 41 for the purpose of unambiguous positioning.

According to FIG. 8, gripping surfaces 50 and 51 of hook projections 47 and 48 engage behind one another such that hook projections 47 and 48 can only be hooked into one another by elastic deformation. An opening is formed between the inner surface 52 of the holding profile 43 of the second panel 41 and the opposite holding surface 50 of the hook projection 48, which has the width a at its narrowest point. This is less than the width b of the hook projection 47 of the first panel 40 at its farthest point. This design and the elastic deformation when joining the hook projections 47 and 48 cause the complementary hook projections 47 and 48 to snap into a defined end position. In the present embodiment, the holding surfaces 50 and 51 of the hook projections 47 and 48 are kept simple and as oblique provided flat surfaces. The hook projections 47 and 48 taper from the free ends to the webs 46 and 49. In the present exemplary embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 8, the holding surface 51 of the hook projection 47 of the first panel 40 is rounded off at the upper and the lower end. The same applies _^ for the holding surface 50 of the hook projection 48 of the second panel 41. As a result, the interlocking joining the hook projections 47 and 48 supports, are expanded slowly elastically in which while a direction perpendicular to the laying plane Fügebe- movement the retaining profiles 42 and 43rd This simplifies the laying and protects the holding profiles 42 and 43.

The abutting holding surfaces 50 and 51 of the interacting panels 40 and 41 therefore nestle against one another in some areas. The resulting gaps can advantageously serve as glue pockets 53.

Furthermore, air L2 is provided between the end face 54 of the hook projection 48 on the underside of the second panel 41 and the inner surface 55 of the first panel 40. The resulting space can also serve as a glue pocket 53. The same applies to the end face 56 of the upper-side hook projection 4 of the first panel 40, which in the assembled state rests at least in the area of the upper side 0 of the panel and on the second panel 41. Below the top side 0 of the panel and towards the inside of the connection, a gap widens in the present exemplary embodiment, which is also designed as a glue pocket 53.

A second embodiment of a fastening system is illustrated in FIG. 9. The same technical features are provided with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 8. The embodiment according to FIG. 9 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 8 in that that of the two pairs of web 49 / hook projection 47 or web 46 / hook projection 48. which abuts each other and which have changed the one which has an air gap Ll. The basic function of the fastening system remains the same. This again results in a clear contact of the hook projection 47 and a gapless surface of the floor covering.

10 shows a schematic illustration of a panel 41 with a holding profile 43 according to the invention. Schematically, it is shown how the undercut contour of the hook projection 48 can be produced with the aid of two cutting tools W1 and W2, which rotate about the axes XI and X2. The tools W1 and W2 create a recess 57 in which a complementary hook projection of another panel (not shown) can be snapped into place.

Finally, an alternative embodiment with special complementary holding profiles 60 and 61 on the short narrow sides of panels 62 and 63 can be seen in FIG. 11. Again, hook elements 64 and 67 are provided which, like the previous embodiments, have webs and hook projections. The embodiment according to FIG. 11 is constructed in such a way that the end face 75 of the hook element 64 on the underside of the second panel 63 has at its free end a protruding catch element 65 which engages in an undercut recess 66 in the top hook element 67 of the first panel 62. The hook elements 64 and 67 can be locked into one another with slight pressure and with elastic deformation. The panels 62 and 63 are locked perpendicularly to the laying plane by the latching element 65 engaging in the recess 66. The locking of the panels 62 and 63 against pulling apart in their longitudinal direction is accomplished by holding surfaces 68 and 69, which are provided on hook projections 70 and 71 of the hook elements 64 and 67.

The protruding locking element 65 of the second panel 63 is designed in the embodiment shown as a bead which extends over the entire length of the narrow side. The undercut recess 66 of the first panel 62 is formed as an elongated throat, which the bead in the added state. Bead and throat can be milled in a single pass by formatting. In order to join the panels 62 and 63, the bulge and the throat must be inserted into one another with elastic deformation of the hook elements 64 and 67.

FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment which is based on the embodiment according to FIG. 11. The same features of these two figures are provided with the same reference numerals. Compared to the embodiment in FIG. 11, the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 12 is constructed in such a way that the end face 72 of the upper-side hook element 67 of the first panel 62 also has a projecting latching element 73 at its free end, which engages in an undercut recess 74 in the underside hook element 64 of the second panel 63 engages. In order to lock the hook elements 67 and 64, a slightly greater pressure must be exerted than in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 11. The panels 62 and 63 are engaged by the locking element 65 which engages in the recess 66 and the additional element which engages in the recess 74 The locking element 73 is more firmly locked than in the embodiment according to FIG. 11. The protruding locking elements 65 and 73 of the panels 62 and 63 are designed as beads which extend over the entire length of a narrow side. Of course, instead of a bead on a hook projection 64 or 67, for example, a protruding nose with a bevel can also be provided (not shown), the bevel of the nose being oriented such that the corresponding hook element is gently widened as the joining process progresses. The undercut recesses 66 and 74 of the panels 62 and 63 are designed as elongated grooves which receive the beads in the assembled state. Bead and throat can be milled in a single pass by formatting. In order to join the panels 62 and 63, the bulge and the throat must be inserted into one another with elastic deformation of the hook elements 67 and 64. In addition, the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 11 and 12 differ in the interaction of the webs 46, 49 with the hook projections 71, 70. According to FIG. 11, the web 46 bears against the hook projection 71 and air is provided between the hook projection 70 and the web 49. 12, there is air between the web 46 and the hook projection 71 and the hook projection 70 bears against the web 49.

Panel and fastening system for panels

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Fastening system Panel Panel form-fit profile form-fit profile projection convex curvature part of the narrow side part of the narrow side joint joint surface upper edge section material removal movement space recess lower wall upper wall concave arch material removal movement space joint joint surface filler upper joint panel panel 2 retaining profile 3 retaining profile 4 hook element 5 hook element 6 web 7 hook projection 8 hook projection 9 web 0 retaining surface 1 retaining surface 2 inner surface 3 glue pocket 4 end face 5 inner surface 6 end face 7 recess

60 holding profile

61 holding profile

62 panel

63 panel

64 hook element

65 locking element

66 deepening

67 hook element

68 holding surface

69 holding surface

70 hook projection

71 hook projection

72 end face

73 locking element

74 deepening

75 end face

G joint

K circle center

0 panel surface

P arrow

U document

V bottom

Claims

Panel and fastening system for panels

claims

1. Fastening system (1) for panels (2, 3), in particular for floor panels, which are to be laid on a subsurface (U) and whose narrow sides are provided with holding profiles, the holding profile of a long narrow side and the holding profile of the opposite narrow side and the holding profiles the two remaining short narrow sides of a panel (2, 3) fit together in such a way that further panels (3) can be fastened to the free narrow sides of a laid panel (2), with at least the holding profiles of the long narrow sides of the panels (2, 3) being as one another assigned form-fitting profiles (4, 5) and the panels (2, 3) can be fastened to one another by a rotating joining movement so that the form-fitting profile (5) has a recess (20) on one of the long narrow sides of a panel (2) and the opposite narrow side This panel (2) has a matching projection that the wall (21) of the recess (20) facing the substrate (U) on the inside has a cross section with a concave curvature (23) and that the associated positive locking profile of the opposite narrow side of the panel (2) has a projection which has a cross section with a convex curvature on its underside facing the base (U), and that the convex Curvature of the projection and the concave curvature of the recess are essentially complementary, characterized in that that the form-fitting profiles of the long narrow sides of two panels form a joint in the installed state of two panels, that the top of the projection of a panel facing away from the ground has an oblique material removal that extends to the free end of the projection, that the thickness of the projection is increasingly reduced by the removal of material towards the free end and that the removal of material creates freedom of movement for the common joint.

2. Fastening system according to claim 1, characterized in that the convex curvature (7) of the projection (6) and the concave curvature (23) of the recess (20) essentially form a circular section, with the center (K) of the circular section or is arranged below the top of the projection (6).

3. Fastening system according to claim 1 or 2, so that the most protruding point of the convex curvature (7) of the projection (6) is arranged so that it is located approximately below the upper edge of the panel (3).

4. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bottom (U) facing the lower wall (21) of the recess (20) of a panel (2) on its inside has an oblique material removal (67), which up extends to the free end of the lower wall (21) and that the wall thickness of this wall (21) is increasingly thinner towards the free end, with the material removal (67) in the installed state of two panels (2, 3) providing freedom of movement (25) for the joint (G) is created.

5. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the off Saving (20) of a panel (2) for connection to the projection (6) of a further panel (3) can be expanded by a resilient deformation of the lower wall (21) and that the resilient deformation of the lower wall that occurs during joining (21) in the fully connected state of two panels (2, 3) is withdrawn again.

6. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 5, so that the holding profiles of the short narrow sides of a panel (2, 3) are designed as mutually associated form-fitting profiles and can be fastened to one another by a straight-line joining movement.

Fastening system according to claim 6, so that the holding profiles of the short narrow sides of a panel (2, 3) are provided with conventional approximately rectangular tongue and groove cross-sections.

8. Fastening system according to claim 6, so that the cross sections of the interlocking profiles of the short narrow sides of a panel (2, 3) essentially correspond to the cross sections of the interlocking profiles (4, 5) of the long narrow sides of the panel (2, 3).

9. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 8, so that the positive-locking profiles (4, 5) are integrally formed on the narrow sides of the panels (2, 3).

10. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the installed state of the panels (2, 3) the freedom of movement (13, 25) for the common joints (G) are provided with a soft-elastic curing filler (30) ,

1. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a short narrow side of a panel (2, 3, 40, 41, 62, 63), a first hook element (44, 45, 64, 67) and the opposite short Narrow side of the panel (2, 3, 40, 41, 62, 63) has a hook element (44, 45, 64, 67) which is complementary to the first and that the hook elements (44, 45, 64, 67) have holding surfaces (50 , 51, 68, 69) are provided, by means of which the panels are held against one another in the assembled state in such a way that a gap-free abutting surface results on the short narrow sides.

12. Fastening system according to claim 11, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the first hook element

(44) is formed from a web (46) which protrudes approximately vertically from the narrow side and is arranged on the top of the panel (0), a hook projection (47) pointing to the underside (V) of the panels being arranged on the free end of the web (46) and that the second hook element (45) is formed from a web (49) protruding from the narrow side and arranged on the underside (V) of the panels, a free end of this web (49) pointing towards the top (0) of the panel Hook projection (48) is arranged.

13. Fastening system according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the hook projection (48, 71) of the underside web (49) in the assembled state of the panels rests on the top web (46) of a first panel (40) and that between the hook projection of the upper web (46) of the first panel and the lower web (49) of the second panel (41) is provided with air (L1) or vice versa.

14. Fastening system according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the holding surfaces (50, 51, 68, 69) of the hook projections (47, 48, 70, 71) reach behind such that they can only be hooked into one another by elastic deformation of the hook elements (44, 45, 64, 67).

15. Fastening system according to claim 14, characterized in that the holding surfaces (50, 51, 68, 69) of the hook projections (47, 48, 70, 71) are inclined in that the hook projections (47, 48, 70, 71) of their free ends taper towards the webs (46, 49) and that the holding surfaces (50, 51, 68, 69) of complementary hook projections (47, 48, 70, 71) bear against one another at least in regions.

16. Fastening system according to claim 14, dadurchge - indicates that between the end face (54) of the underside hook projection (48) of the second panel (41) and the inner surface (55) of the first panel (40) air (L2) is provided and, that the end face of the hook projection (47) on the top side of the first panel (40) in the assembled state bears against the second panel (41) at least in the area of the top side (0) of the panel.

17. Fastening system according to claim 14, characterized in that at least one of the end faces (72, 75) of one of the hook elements (64, 67) of the panels (62, 63) has a projecting latching element (65, 73) at its free end, which engages in an undercut recess (66, 74) of the other hook element (64, 67) of the panel (62, 63).

18. Fastening system according to claim 17, characterized in that the projecting locking element (65, 73) of the panel (62, 63) is designed as a bead which extends over the entire length of the narrow side and that the undercut recess (66, 74) of the panel (62, 63) is designed as an elongated throat, which receives the bead in the assembled state.

19. Fastening system according to one of claims 13 to 18, so that the two spaces (2, 3, 40, 41, 62, 63) provided with air form glue pockets (53) in the assembled state of two panels (2, 3, 40, 41, 62, 63).

20. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 19, d a d u r c h g e k e n n e e c h n e t that the panels are formed from a coated carrier material and the FORRAS closing profiles and retaining profiles are integrally formed on the narrow sides of the panels (2, 3, 40, 41, 62, 63).

21. Fastening system according to one of claims 1 to 20, so that the panels (2, 3) consist essentially of an MDF, HDF, or chipboard material.

22. Panel (2, 3, 40, 41, 62, 63) with a fastening system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 21.