Patent ID: 7644553
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: C08K,C09J,E04F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A floor covering comprising: a first panel having a laterally mounted interlocking first element comprising a groove formed at an edge of the first panel with lateral groove flank surfaces extending obliquely outwardly, and an undercut at a groove entry; the edge of the first panel above the groove entry being offset from the edge of the first panel below the groove entry; the first element including a water activatable adhesive material, wherein said adhesive material is in a passive state at room temperature and transitions from the passive state to an active state at room temperature upon contact with water or water moisture and stabilizes by extraction of water; a second panel with a second laterally mounted interlocking element comprising a tongue extending from an edge of the second panel and having lateral tongue flank surfaces tapering obliquely, the tongue including a neck portion engaging the undercut, wherein the edge of the second panel defines a recess above the neck of the tongue, the edge of the first panel below the entry to the groove and the edge of the second panel below the tongue are spaced apart when the first panel and the second panel are engaged, the second element including said adhesive material; the groove flank surfaces and the tongue flank surfaces and the tongue flank surface receiving said adhesive material, and said adhesive material is coated on said first element groove, said second element tongue, or both said first element groove and said second element tongue; and wherein the first and second panels comprise a timber material, said first and second panels having complementary lateral positive mechanically interlocking elements configured for mutual snap-in engagement between each other.