EP1170438B1 - Parquet or floor element - Google Patents

Abstract

The lath (1) has on each of its lateral edges (12,13) a fitting section which engages a complementary section on the opposite edge of an adjacent lath. The section comprises a tongue (2,3) and a groove (4,5) parallel to the large, contiguous faces (10,11) so that they are adjoined by a common facet (6,7).

Description

The present invention relates to a slat parquet or floor.

The traditional parquet slats are provided with two opposite edges, one of which has a tongue and the other a groove, which are intended for the interlocking connection of two adjacent slats during the assembly of the parquet.

To achieve a floating floor, is used laminated wood slats, and the slats are glued to each other at the tongue / groove connection.

The laminated wood slats are usually formed of several layers, a top layer - or facing - of noble wood, for example oak, an intermediate layer - or core - for example of softwood or chipboard, and a lower layer - or counter-facing - for example of softwood.

A floor does not have noble wood siding. It is made of simple plywood slats, and its surface is covered with a protective and / or decorative material. In the present description and for the sake of clarity, the term "parquet" will conventionally be used both for designating a real parquet floor and for designating a simple floor.

The link, tongue and groove bonded, two adjacent slats is relatively fragile.

It inevitably occurs within the floor of internal stresses, due to the dimensional variations of the wood at ambient humidity. These tensioning forces, which can be very important if the floor has a large surface act in the plane of the floor, transversely to the slats. They tend to separate from one another the different slats, and it happens that the connection between the tongue and the groove comes off, resulting in a breakage of the assembly.

This phenomenon of detachment or dislocation, located in the tongue-groove area, is further increased if it is a floating floor on a resilient sub-layer, that is to say a parquet whose slats are placed not on joists but on a flexible underlayer, for example foam material.

In this case, in fact, when the parquet is subjected to a non-uniform weight distribution, since each slat has a certain freedom of movement in the vertical direction, there occurs a "swaying" effect corresponding to a pair of forces whose axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the slat. This torque must be absorbed by the adjacent slat, at the groove / tongue connection, which is also a cause of rupture of this connection.

An object of the present invention is to provide a parquet slat which, while being of a simple design and acceptable cost, allows to solve the problems just mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a type of batten for obtaining a perfectly flat floor.

Another object of the invention is to confer on the connecting zone of two adjacent slats a perfect symmetry as to the distribution of the forces applying to the parquet, to allow if necessary - in particular with a large floor area, subjected to high tensions - an effective consolidation, by pointing with tips called "man-headed", with a central positioning of each point in the connection area.

Advantageously, a further object of the invention is to allow machining of each of the two edges of the slat by means of one and the same cutter, of suitable shape, the machining of each of the songs being done simply after reversal of the lath

Like the traditional slats, the floorboard which is the subject of the present invention has on each of its side edges an interlocking profile intended to engage in a complementary profile provided on the opposite edge of an adjacent slat.

This parquet strip, which could be called "hermaphrodite", has a profile that includes a tongue and a groove substantially parallel to the large faces and contiguous, so that they are adjacent by a common facet.

• le profil de l'un de ses chants comporte, du haut vers le bas, une première facette sensiblement verticale, une languette, une rainure, et une seconde facette sensiblement verticale et sensiblement coplanaire à la première, lesdites languette et rainure présentant des sections droites trapézoïdales, ainsi dimensionnées que la section de la languette correspond, au jeu d'emboîtement près, à celle de la rainure, cette languette et cette rainure étant contiguës et attenantes par une facette horizontale commune inclinée par rapport à l'horizontale ;
• le profil de son autre chant possède une forme analogue, mais inversée par rapport à celle du chant précité.

Its large faces being assumed horizontal:

• the profile of one of its edges comprises, from top to bottom, a first substantially vertical facet, a tongue, a groove, and a second substantially vertical facet and substantially coplanar with the first, said tongue and groove having straight sections trapezoidal, so dimensioned that the section of the tongue corresponds, with the interlocking game, to that of the groove, this tongue and this groove being contiguous and adjacent by a common horizontal facet inclined with respect to the horizontal;
• the profile of its other song has a similar shape, but reversed from that of the aforementioned song.

It is understood that thanks to this arrangement is obtained after nesting a substantially larger contact area - approximately double - compared to conventional slats.

In addition, on each side of the batten, this common facet represents a support plane and, where appropriate, sizing, which is continuous over a relatively large width (twice that of a traditional tongue), which improves substantially the alignment of two adjacent slats and correlatively their flatness, as well as the quality of the connection and its resistance to transverse stripping efforts (in the floor plan).

There is thus a perfect symmetry of the connection, because the length of the tongue is equal (to the insertion clearance near) to the depth of the groove in which it is housed, which gives the assembly a solidity of optimal assembly.

This binding strength can be further improved, if necessary, by pointing with tips called "head-to-head", that is to say with a small head, whose stem can be inserted into the body. interstitial space between the two upper faces of each slat.

It will be noted that such consolidation is possible only with complementary profiles of the "hermaphrodite" type in accordance with the invention, but not with slats, one of whose sides has tabs simply adapted to fit into grooves at the same level, as described for example in the document FR-2 618 826 .

Moreover, with hermaphrodite, but not symmetrical, profiles as described for example in DE-U-298 03 708 , which combine a small, strongly beveled upper tongue with a relatively deep lower groove, on the one hand there is no optimal symmetrical distribution of the moments of force between two adjacent slats, on the other hand - in case of pointing - the resistance of the constituent material of the slat is much lower on one side than the other. In addition, this kind of asymmetric profile can not be cut by means of a single tool, in this case a strawberry, acting successively against each song.

The state of the art closest to the invention seems, however, to be constituted by the lath described in the document DE 39 19 514 , whose profile corresponds substantially to that exposed above.

However, the straight sections of the tongue and the groove have a trapezoidal shape, of relatively large apical angle, approximately between 20 and 30 degrees.

This "V" profile of the elements to be inserted facilitates the installation of the parquet. However, it compromises stability. Indeed, under the effect of a load exerted from top to bottom, two adjacent slats tend to deviate from one another by corner effect.

A durable edge-to-edge bond is tricky to obtain.

On the contrary, the presence of visible gaps, both unsightly and cause of infiltration of dust particles and / or drops of liquid between the slats, is inevitable.

The invention proposes to overcome these disadvantages.

• d'une part, les languettes et rainures des deux chants ont une section droite légèrement trapézoïdale, formant par rapport à l'horizontale un angle (β) de faible valeur, de l'ordre de 1 à 2 degrés ;
• d'autre part, les facettes des deux chants ne sont pas strictement verticales, formant par rapport à la verticale un angle (α) de faible valeur, de l'ordre de 1 à 2 degrés, cette inclinaison étant ainsi orientée que lorsque deux lattes adjacentes sont accolées, il n'y a pas - ou pratiquement - pas d'interstice visible au niveau desdites grande faces ;

For this purpose, according to the invention:

• on the one hand, the tongues and grooves of the two edges have a slightly trapezoidal cross-section, forming with respect to the horizontal an angle (β) of low value, of the order of 1 to 2 degrees;
• on the other hand, the facets of the two edges are not strictly vertical, forming with respect to the vertical an angle (α) of low value, of the order of 1 to 2 degrees, this inclination being thus oriented only when two slats adjacent are contiguous, there is no - or virtually - no gap visible at said large faces;

Such a configuration offers a particularly interesting compromise between, on the one hand, the ease of installation of the floor and, on the other hand, its stability in use, the slats being perfectly applied against each other "edge to edge" because it is the upper and lower edges of the facets slightly inclined relative to the vertical which come into mutual contact.

According to a possible additional feature of the invention, the slat has on each of its end edges, profiles similar to those of the side edges.

We thus find the same link quality slats for their assembly end-to-end.

In a possible embodiment, for the manufacture of a resilient parquet, the floorboard is provided on its underside, a lining of flexible material and elastically deformable.

Preferably, the lower face of the slat, to which is fixed, for example by gluing, the elastic lining, has an alternation of recesses and reliefs.

In a possible embodiment, these engage in complementary shaped projections and cutouts made in the top of the liner.

In another embodiment, the liner is a layer of constant thickness

This crenellated form ensures a good mutual connection of the batten and the lining, while allowing a gradual increase in the crushing hardness of the parquet according to the load.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the description and the accompanying drawings which show, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale, par le plan vertical référencé I-I sur la figure 2, d'une latte de parquet ;
• la figure 2 est une vue, à échelle plus petite, de la même latte coupée par le plan horizontal II-II de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique en coupe transversale, d'un assemblage de plusieurs lattes adjacentes ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de détail montrant la liaison par emboîtement de deux lattes voisines ;
• les figures 5 et 6 représentent, en coupe transversale, deux variantes de latte, à garniture élastique ;
• la figure 7 est une vue similaire à la figure 4, montrant les profils des chants complémentaires de lattes conformes à l'invention à faces légèrement inclinées, favorisant leur liaison mutuelle ;
• La figure 8 illustre une consolidation de la liaison par pointe à tête d'homme ;
• La figure 9 représente schématiquement, en coupe axiale, une fraise adaptée pour réaliser le profil de chacun des chants d'une latte de parquet conforme à l'invention.

On the drawings:

• the figure 1 is a cross-sectional view, by the vertical plane referenced II on the figure 2 , a parquet floor;
• the figure 2 is a view, on a smaller scale, of the same lath cut by the horizontal plane II-II of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an assembly of several adjacent slats;
• the figure 4 is a detail view showing the interlocking connection of two adjacent slats;
• the Figures 5 and 6 represent, in cross section, two variants of lath, with elastic lining;
• the figure 7 is a view similar to the figure 4 , showing the profiles of the complementary edges of laths according to the invention with slightly inclined faces, favoring their mutual connection;
• The figure 8 illustrates a consolidation of the man-headed point link;
• The figure 9 schematically represents, in axial section, a cutter adapted to achieve the profile of each of the edges of a floorboard according to the invention.

The embodiments of the Figures 1 to 6 and 8 are not covered by the claims, but are useful for understanding the invention.

It should be pointed out that the low-angle angle inclinations, on the one hand, of the tongues and of the groove with respect to the horizontal and, on the other hand, of said facets with respect to the vertical, have been deliberately exaggerated. on the figure 7 to better visualize the lateral profile of the slat.

The parquet batten 1 illustrated on the Figures 1 and 2 is made of wood or a similar material, for example multilayer, consisting of a core of wood-lath, or plywood, covered with a noble and hard wood siding, especially oak.

Its upper and lower faces, intended to be placed horizontally when the floor is laid, bear the references 10 and 11 respectively.

Its side edges are referenced 12, 13, and its end edges, corresponding to the short sides, are referenced 12 ', 13'.

As an indication, the length L of lath 1 is equal to 2.40 m; its width 1 is between 150 and 250 mm; its thickness E is between 20 and 25mm.

The side edges 12 and 13 have profiles of complementary shape, allowing them to interlock to one another to ensure the connection of two adjacent slats, as shown in FIG. figure 3 .

It is the same for the end edges 12 'and 13', whose shapes are identical to those of the side edges 12 and 13 respectively.

The large faces 10, 11 being assumed to be horizontal, the profile of the edge 12 comprises, from top to bottom, a vertical facet 20, a tongue 2, a groove 4, and a vertical facet 40.

The facets 20 and 40 are in the same vertical plane.

The tongue 2 and the groove 4 are oriented horizontally, and have a cross section - in the plane of the drawing sheet, ie perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lath - rectangular or square; their dimensions are such that the section of the tongue corresponds, with the set of interlocking, to that of the groove.

This means that the length of each tongue 2, 3 is very slightly less than the depth of the groove 5, respectively 4, intended for the to receive ; similarly, their thicknesses are equal, with a small clearance required for embedding and the presence of a certain thickness of glue.

As will be seen below, with reference to the figure 7 , in the lath according to the invention these complementary profiles have very slightly inclined faces, forming chamfers that promote the interlocking of two adjacent profiles.

The profile of the edge 13 has a similar shape, but reversed, with respect to the profile of the edge 12.

It comprises, from top to bottom: a vertical facet 50, a groove 5, a tongue 3, and a vertical facet 30, substantially coplanar with the facet 50.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the tongue 2 and the groove 4 are contiguous and adjoining by a common horizontal facet 6. The lower horizontal face of the tongue 2 therefore extends the upper face of the groove 4.

It is the same for the opposite edge 13, where the tongue 3 is contiguous to the groove 5, and adjacent thereto by the horizontal facet 7; the upper horizontal face of the tongue 3 here extends the lower face of the groove 5.

The figure 3 , which shows an assembly of several laths juxtaposed and placed on a horizontal ground S, makes it possible to understand how the connection is made by interlocking the laths, the tongues 2, 3 of a lath being housed in the grooves 5 and, respectively, 4 adjacent slats.

A similar interlock is obtained "end" at the end of the slats (on their short sides).

In the usual way, the bonding is done by gluing, the whole of the faces of the grooves and tongues, being coated with glue before interlocking.

Thanks to the particular shape of the profiles, a large coating surface is obtained. In addition, the horizontal bearing facets 6 and 7 having a significant length - double that of the tongues and grooves - there is at this level an extended continuous bonding area, providing an extremely strong bond slats together.

On the figure 4 , we deliberately exaggerated the interlocking game between two adjacent slats 1a, 1b.

It is symbolized by arrows i, j ₁ and j ₂ the reaction forces developed by the profile of the lath 1a when the batten 1b is solicited by a displacement torque symbolized by the arrow F.

It is found that the forces i and j ₂ are developed by the bottom of the groove 5a and the edge of the tongue 3a, respectively, with a lever arm corresponding to the width of the facets 6b, 7a, relatively important. Added to the torque due to j ₁ , the lever arm corresponds to the width of the groove 5a.

This high torque, and the cooperation of facets 6a and 7a has the effect of reducing the risk of an angular offset of the two slats, ensuring excellent and durable flatness of all elements.

The same effect is obtained at the end, by interlocking the songs 12 'and 13'.

It should be noted that this effect goes beyond a simple duplication of the interlocking groove / tongue, which would be encountered by providing on one of the songs two superimposed grooves, and on the other two superposed tongues, situation in which the resistance to swaying would be much worse.

In the variant of the figure 5 , a lining 8 of flexible and elastically deformable material, for example foam rubber, is fixed under the lower face 11 of the lath 1.

Fixing is done by gluing.

The face 11 has a crenellated shape, composed of an alternation of grooves 14 and longitudinal bosses 15, for example of trapezoidal shape.

The top of the liner 8 has a complementary shape.

The embodiment of the figure 6 has a slat whose lower face 11 is crenated, of identical shape or similar to that of the figure 5 .

However, the flexible liner layer 9, which is glued against this face 11, has a constant thickness.

Thus, under the effect of the load, the flexible and elastically deformable material constituting the layer 9 can partially and progressively flow in the open grooves 14.

These arrangements have the advantage of giving the batten, when it bears on the floor - and therefore the floor - a progressive resistance to crushing, which gives it a moderate flexibility, particularly comfortable, especially for floors to sporting use.

As illustrated on the figure 7 , in the batten according to the invention the tabs 2, 3 on the one hand and the grooves 5, 4 on the other hand, do not have a strictly rectangular section; these sections are slightly trapezoidal, forming an angle β with respect to the horizontal (entry chamfer), of low value, of the order of 1 to 2 degrees. Moreover, the so-called "vertical" facets 50, 20 and lower 30, 40 are also slightly inclined relative to a strictly vertical plane, as can be seen on the figure 7 , of an angle α, whose value is also of the order of 1 to 2 degrees. Their inclination is thus oriented that when two adjacent slats are contiguous, there is no - or virtually no - visible gap at the faces 10 and 11.

In case of laying of the parquet, in particular of a floor intended to be covered by a coating, of extended surface, it may be interesting to nail the slats together, to limit as much as possible the surface deformations - that is to say say in the floor plan-.

This is illustrated in figure 8 , which shows a tip 100 said to head of man, driven into the gap separating two contiguous slats.

The floor is then covered with a layer of coating 101, for example plastic, which covers the head of the tips 100.

At the simple observation of this figure, we understand that this point, although placed in this gap, ensures the best cohesion of the two slats, without weakening one of the songs to the detriment of the other, thanks to the symmetry of the assembly, which would not be the case with an arrangement according to DE-U-298 03 708 supra.

The figure 9 represents a strawberry adapted to successively cut each of the two songs of the same batten, thanks to the arrangement both "hermaphrodite" and symmetrical profiles.

This cutter F , cutting edge, is rotated about an axis ZZ ' , for example vertical.

It has the form of a body of revolution, including an annular projection F ₅₄ and a groove F ₃₂ , and whose section corresponds to the profile of the song of the batten.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to successively cut the two edges of the slat with the aid of this bur in two successive phases. For this, it is advisable to calibrate perfectly in thickness the material of the batten. After cutting a song, simply turn the lath 180 degrees around its longitudinal axis, either manually or by means of an automated apparatus, to present its other song strawberry.

This type of operation, which can be implemented in particular in certain applications in which the floor is reversible, would be possible with non-hermaphrodite edge slats (as disclosed for example in the FR-A-2,618,826 ), or with slats whose songs, although hermaphrodites, are asymmetrical (as in the DE-U-298 03 708 ).

Claims (6)

1. Parquet flooring or floor element (1) which has, on each of its lateral edge faces (12; 13), an interlocking profile intended to interlock with a complementary profile provided on the opposing edge face (13; 12) of an adjacent element, in which element, assuming its two main faces (10, 11) to be horizontal:

   - the profile of one (12) of its edge faces has, from the top downwards, a substantially vertical first facet (20), a tongue (2), a groove (4), and a substantially vertical second facet (40) substantially coplanar with the first, the said tongue (2) and groove (4) having trapezoidal cross sections so dimensioned that the cross section of the tongue corresponds, give or take the interlocking clearance, to that of the groove (4), this tongue (2) and this groove (4) being contiguous and connected by a common facet (6) that is inclined with respect to the horizontal;

   - the profile of its other edge face (13) has a shape that is analogous but inverted with respect to that of the said edge face (12);
   characterized in that:

   - on the one hand, the tongues (2, 3) and grooves (4, 5) of the two edge faces have a slightly trapezoidal cross section, their upper and lower faces making, with respect to the horizontal, a small angle (β) of the order of 1 to 2 degrees;

   - on the other hand, the facets (20, 30, 40, 50) of the two edge faces are strictly vertical, making, with respect to the vertical, a small angle (α) of the order of 1 to 2 degrees, its inclination being so directed that when two adjacent elements are pushed together, there is no - or practically no - visible gap along the said main faces (10, 11).
2. Element according to Claim 1, characterized in that on each of its end edge faces (12'; 13') it has profiles similar to those of the lateral edge faces (12; 13).
3. Element according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on its lower face (11) it is provided with a covering (8; 9) made of a flexible and elastically deformable material.
4. Element according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said lower face (11) has an alternation of indentations and reliefs (14, 15).
5. Element according to Claim 4, characterized in that the top of the said covering (8) has projections and cutouts that complement the said indentations and reliefs (14, 15).
6. Element according to Claim 4, characterized in that the said covering (8) is a layer of constant thickness.

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