KR101347755B1 - Laminate floor panels - Google Patents

Abstract

A floor panel (2) is disclosed having a layer (30) of discrete surfaces (31) and a core (30) that can be mechanically interconnected along a pair of adjacent edges, wherein the floor panel comprises at least two floor members (1) which are adhesively connectable. , 1 ').

Description

Laminate Flooring Panels {LAMINATE FLOOR PANELS}

Technical field

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of flooring systems comprising laminate flooring panels, which can be installed in a particularly enhanced pattern and are lockable / unlocked with a mechanical locking system. The present invention relates to the enhancement of floor systems and panels described in WO 03/089736, which is referred to in the present invention.

Application field

The present invention is particularly suitable for use in floating floors which are formed of mechanically connected floor panels as a locking system integrated with the floor panels, which are not attached to the sub floors, which are decorative laminates or decorative plastics. It consists of one or more top layers of printed or structured material, such as material, an intermediate core of wood fiber based material or plastics material, and preferably a bottom balancing layer on the back side of the core. The prior art, the problems of known systems, and the following description of the objects and features of the present invention are for the purpose of explanation in the art, in particular laminate flooring, as non-limiting examples.

Note that the present invention can be used in any floor panel, and that the floor panels can be combined with all known types of locking systems that are connected using a mechanical locking system that connects the panels in horizontal and vertical directions on at least two adjacent sides. shall. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a surface layer of, for example, a solid wooden floor, a wood fiber based material or a parquet floor with a wooden core, plastic or cork, linoleum, rubber or the like. It can be applied to the floor with. Floors with hardened surfaces such as stones, tiles, and the like may also be included, including floors with a soft wear layer, such as needle felt, for example, bonded to floorboards. The principles of the present invention can also be used for floors that are glued or nailed to a lower floor.

Background technology

Laminate flooring typically includes a rectangular flooring panel with a core of 6-12 mm fibrous board, a 0.2-0.8 mm thick upper laminate decorative surface layer and a balance layer of 0.1-0.6 mm thick lower laminate, plastic, paper or similar material. do. The laminate surface comprises printed melamine impregnated paper extruded into an embossed sheet. The most common core material is a high density high stability fibrous board called HDF (high density fibreboard). In addition, often medium density fibreboard (MDF) may be used as the core.

Conventional laminate flooring panels of this type have resulted in a high market share because good printing and extrusion techniques have allowed for very natural copying of wood parquet floors. Laminate flooring looks like wood, but it is more durable and cheaper than wood flooring.

In addition to these conventional floors that were installed with tongue and groove joints and adhesives, the floor panels do not require the use of adhesives but instead are mechanically connected by a so-called mechanical locking system. Developed.

Such a system includes locking means for locking the panel horizontally and vertically. Mechanical locking systems are often formed by the machining of the core of the panel. Alternatively, part of the locking system can be made of a separate material, for example formed of a separate material, which is aluminum or HDF, which is integrated with the floor panel, ie connected to the floor panel in connection with its manufacturing process. .

The main advantage of floating floors with mechanical locking systems is that they are easy to install. It is also easy to reconnect and can be used once more in different locations.

Definition of Terms

"Horizontal plane or principal plane" means a plane extending parallel to the outside of the surface layer. Immediately parallel tops of two adjacent connecting edges of two interconnected floor panels define a "vertical plane (V)" perpendicular to the horizontal plane. "Horizontal" means parallel to the horizontal plane, and "vertical" means parallel to the vertical plane.

By "locking system" is meant an interactive connection means connected with the floor panel vertically and / or horizontally. "Mechanical locking system" means that the connection is made without adhesion.

“Discontinuous surface layer and core” means that the surface layer and the core of two interconnected members form a core and the surface layer of the panels and the members, respectively, such that one panel or two interconnected panels form a floor to form a floor. It means discontinuous. At the discontinuity, a connection between two members or panels can be detected.

Prior art and its problems

Recent printing and extrusion techniques have been very advanced, and very natural stone, tile and strip copying has entered the market.

However, multiple designs and patterns cannot be manufactured and installed with current printing, extrusion and mechanical locking techniques.

Because of the difficulty in controlling the expansion and contraction of printing paper and the positioning of printing paper and press sheets, most designs, including patterns or structures, some of which must be aligned in the form of floor panels, are difficult. Connections with parts designed to be a unit across a particular pattern have an unnatural appearance.

It is known that certain enhanced patterns are each provided with small rectangular floor panels that can be connected to the floor unit. Such patterns and floor panels are disclosed in WO 03/08973. This known technique has the disadvantage that the connection between the floor panels is expensive and complicated to manufacture, especially when the floor unit comprises certain small panels. It would be a great advantage for each floor member to provide and connect a wider floor panel at the most efficient cost.

Summary of the Invention and Its Purpose

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a flooring system and flooring panel which can be installed in an enhanced pattern, preferably with a mechanical locking system, in which the size, shape and A wider range of patterns can be obtained by mechanical operation. Semi-finished plates are machined within the floor member and can be combined with a wider range of new floor panels. This can be done without a printing cylinder and an extrusion plate.

More specifically, the object is to provide a floor panel with a mechanical locking system in which one or several of the following advantages can be obtained.

Preferably, the floor panel should be mechanically assembled to the floor surface generally obtainable as small individual wood, tile or stone parts of different sizes and structures and as panels that are not floating but glued or nailed to the lower floor. .

The floor panels should be easy to install even though the floor pattern may include a plurality of small floor panels in enhanced shape and different sizes than conventional rectangular floor panels based on the same print and extruded plates.

In floors comprising small floor panels, the substantial residues needed to provide the mechanical locking system and floor panels should be reduced as much as possible.

The above objects of the invention can be achieved in whole or in part by a mechanical locking system and a floor panel according to the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims and the description and the drawings.

According to the invention, a flooring system is provided with a flooring system comprising a plurality of flooring panels. The floor panel comprises a discontinuous core with core connections and a discontinuous surface layer with surface connections. The floor panel includes at least two floor members that are mutually mechanically interconnectable along a pair of adjacent edges and are adhesively interconnected, wherein the surface connection is adjacent to the core connection.

The floor member is factory connected with the floor panel and is preferably packaged at the installation site and delivered to the floor panel as part of a pre-installed floor.

The floor panel is formed of any individual floor member and provides a plurality of advantages. A pattern can be created in which printing of the edges or linear machining cannot be provided. Since the predetermined floor member can be installed simultaneously, it is easy to install. The main feature of the present invention is that the connection between the floor members can be simple, inexpensive and robust since the floor members are adhesively connected at the factory where suitable equipment is used. A plurality of very concise adhesive base tongue and groove connections can be used, and residues can be greatly reduced.

The floors are pre-installed in many parts factories, with each member interconnected in a very effective way. Much time consuming and difficult installation work that floor installers must work near the floor can be moved to a controlled factory environment.

Brief description of the drawings

1A-4B illustrate a prior art locking system.

4C-5 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

6A-10C illustrate another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To help understand, certain floor panels and locking systems are schematically illustrated in the drawings. It should be noted that enhanced or different functions may be achieved using a combination of preferred embodiments. The inventors have tested all types of flooring panels, in particular laminates and wood floorings, which are known and commercially available on the market, the conclusion of which is at least all these known with locking members cooperating with one or more tongues and grooves or locking grooves. It is pointed out that an integrated locking system can be used to bond the floor member to the floor panel with an adhesive and to connect the floor panel to the floor with a mechanical locking system.

Angles, dimensions, rounded portions, etc. are only embodiments and may be adjusted within the principles of the invention.

1A-1C show a known mechanical locking system, which may be locked by angling and / or snapping. This locking system locks the tongue 10 and groove 9 for vertical locking with adjacent edges parallel to the vertical plane V and the horizontal locking parallel to the horizontal plane H with the locking member 8 for horizontal locking. It has a groove 12. The locking member is located on the tongue 10 or the strap 6. Such a locking system is well suited for use in a floor panel according to the invention.

2A-2C show a mechanical locking system, which can be locked by horizontal snapping. The locking member consists of a single part of the core or a separate material as in FIG. 2C, hereinafter referred to as a snap of two parts as in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Such snap systems have low snapping resistance and high locking strength and are therefore well suited for use in floor panels according to the invention.

3A-3C show a mechanical locking system, which can be locked by vertical folding. Such a system may have only means for horizontal locking as in FIG. 3a or may have a small tongue 10 made of one part as in FIG. 3b. Alternatively, tongue 10 may be flexible as in FIG. 3C. This vertical fold with tongue can be replaced horizontally, which is very suitable for use in the floor panel according to the invention. Such a system is referred to as a rigid tongue system.

4A-4B show a conventional locking system, which is locked vertically by the tongue 10 and the groove 9 and horizontally by the adhesive 7. 4C shows how the tongue and groove connections may be suitable for use in the factory connection of the floor member. Specific adhesion can be used with the controlled device, so that the tongue 10 is made smaller. The lower lip 6 is longer and extends beyond the upper lip 6 '. This simplifies the application of the adhesive, and the lower lip 6 is formed to create a vertical pretension and to hold the floor members together until the adhesive dries.

5 schematically shows a cross section of a floor panel 2 according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising two separate floor members 1, 1 ′, which are connected at the factory with a tongue and groove locking system. It became. The floor panel 2 has a discontinuous surface layer 31 and a core 30 and in the preferred embodiment has an edge which is locked by angling. The floor member has a decorative groove 40, a bevel, or the like at one edge. When the floor member is connected with the floor panel, a highly enhanced pattern is obtained which cannot each be provided in a cost effective way with conventional floor panels.

All these locking systems can be used in various combinations connecting the floor panels according to the invention. The mechanical locking system can be controlled to lock the floor member, for example with a simple and concise snap system, which holds the panels together until the adhesive dries. Since the panels at the factory are positioned horizontally with easy modifications to each other and generally do not require a horizontal connection, a preferred embodiment of connecting floor members is a locking system using adhesive only. The floor member may also be taped on the back side or adhered to an underlay 16, which may be various layers such as foam, cork layer, plastic material, wood based sheet material or wood veneer. Such a connection is considered an adhesive connection.

6a shows two rectangular floor members 1, which are connected to the floor panel 2 with a predetermined floor member. The floor member may have a surface of the same material which is for example a laminate, but may also have a surface layer of different materials such as, for example, laminate-wood, plastic material-laminate, cork-wood and the like. Two or more different materials may be combined. The floor member has a decorative groove 40 on two edges.

6b shows how the floor panel 2 is installed on the floor with a combination of angling, snapping and vertical folding.

FIG. 6C shows a cross section along line A-A in FIG. 6B. The floor members 1, 1 ′ have two edges 4a, 4b which can be mechanically connected by angling and two edges which are connected to the tongue 10 and groove 9 connections which are succinctly glued 7. (4b, 4c). Other different edges of the floor panels are preferably provided with an angling locking system or a flexible tongue system.

In addition, it is evident that all embodiments are used to provide flooring consisting of a single flooring member. However, in the real test, for example, a floor panel having five floor members has one floor side or one long side compared to when floors are installed in a floor panel having only one floor member. It was installed 5 times faster with an enhanced pattern like short side connected to

7a shows two floor members 1, 1 ′ with a mirror invert locking system. Panels are generally referred to as A and B panels. The two floor members are on the same long edge but with different short edge grooves 9. These two floor members can be connected to only one type of floor panel 2. This simplifies packaging and placement. 7B shows a floor panel connected to the floor. Such panels are preferably locked by angling or vertical folding.

8a-8c show how two floor members 1, 1 ′ of different sizes can be factory connected to the floor panel 2. Although easy to install as a conventional floor panel, it is a more advanced design because different structures, designs and decorative grooves 40 can be combined and provided more effectively than conventional techniques.

8D-E show a more enhanced installation pattern as floor panels comprising four different floor members of different sizes. The present invention provides a floor panel with decorative grooves between the edges of the panel and makes it possible to meet each other in T-shaped patterns 43a and 43b.

9A-9C show that more enhanced star-shaped floors are provided and installed. Four floor members 1a-1d can be connected to two different floor panels 2, 2 ′ and are connected in a star shape according to FIG. 9c. With a suitable locking system combining modern manufacturing techniques and angling and vertical folding, it may be easy to install the floor panels in a star shape, for example to cover a large floor space, for example 10 × 10 meters or more.

9d-e show a highly enhanced floor panel 2 provided with floor members of different shapes and sizes. The floor panel may include 40 or more floor members. All floor members may have a decorative layer 40 or a sloped surface. The connections between the floor members can be glued in a manner that prevents moisture penetration through the connections.

10a-10c show an embodiment of the invention with respect to the floor panel 2, which comprises a first member 1a and a second member 1b and a third square panel 1c in the form of a parallelogram. . 10B shows that the first member 1a and the second member 1b are mirror inverted and connected along adjacent edges and the third square member is connected to the edges of the mutually oriented first and second members. As shown in Fig. 10C, the floor panels are connected to floor panels 2 ', 2 "which are substantially identical in combination with an angling lock and / or flexible tongue system. Preferably, the first and second members are An angling locking system is provided at the outer parallel edge of the flexible tongue system at the outer edge of the third member and opposite outer edges of the first and second members. The installation shows that a three-dimensional pattern is created when the floor panels are connected.

These embodiments use different combinations and simple locking systems in which the present invention connects the floor members in a very simple manner and the shape of the floor panels is effective compared to conventional locking techniques where each floor panel is difficult to locate and install. It shows the possibility.

The present invention can be used to connect panes in the form of tiles mounted on furniture components or walls.

Claims (19)

A plurality of floor panels 2, 2 ′ comprising two or more floor members 1, 1 ′, The floor members 1, 1 ′ are interconnected to form a discontinuous core 30 having a core joint 42 and a discontinuous surface layer 31 having a surface connection 41, The floor panels are mechanically connectable to each other along a pair of adjacent edges, In the flooring system, The floor members are interconnected at the factory by tongue and groove joints and glue, and The surface connection is adjacent to the core connection, Flooring system. The method of claim 1, Wherein the at least one floor member comprises a surface layer which is a printed layer, Flooring system. The method of claim 2, At least one of the floor members comprises a laminate surface layer, Flooring system. The method of claim 1, Said floor members comprising at least two pairs of adjacent edges bonded by a moisture resistant adhesive, Flooring system. The method of claim 1, Two or more floor members have decorative grooves 40 on one or more edges, and Characterized in that the two or more decorative grooves meet each other in a T-shaped pattern spaced apart from the panel edge, Flooring system. The method of claim 1, Characterized in that the floor members are different in size, Flooring system. The method of claim 1, The floor panel comprises at least three floor members, and Characterized in that the two or more floor members are different in size, Flooring system. The method of claim 1, Adjacent floor panels are characterized in that they have a first pair of adjacent edges, which are provided with an angling locking system, Flooring system. 9. The method of claim 8, Said adjacent floor panels having a second pair of adjacent edges, provided with a vertical folding locking system, Flooring system. The method of claim 9, Wherein said adjacent floor panels have one or more edges with separate flexible tongues, Flooring system. The method of claim 1, Adjacent floor panels are characterized by having a pair of adjacent edges provided with a horizontal snapping or vertical folding system, Flooring system. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 4 to 11, The surface layer comprises at least two different materials, Flooring system. 13. The method of claim 12, Characterized in that one of the different materials is wood, Flooring system. 13. The method of claim 12, Characterized in that one of the materials is a laminate layer, Flooring system. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 4 to 11, The surface material is characterized in that the thermoplastic material, Flooring system. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 4 to 11, Characterized in that the surface material is wood, Flooring system. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 4 to 11, The core is characterized in that consisting of wood fiber based sheet (wood fiber based sheet), Flooring system. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 4 to 11, The core is made of HDF, Flooring system. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 4 to 11, The floor panel comprises an underlay material 16, characterized in that the floor members are adhered to the underlay, Flooring system.

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