FLOOR PANEL FOR A VEHICLE FLOOR

Abstract: The present invention relates to a floor panel (1) for a vehicle floor. The said panel is constructed as a board-shaped sandwich laminate (1) comprising a layer of a light core material (2), preferably in the form of a foam of polyurethane or similar material. A surface layer (3), preferably in the form of a floor covering, is arranged against the light core material (2) on at least one side. Fixed to the light core material (2) there is at least one profile section intended for fixing purposes, which has a part passing through the surface layer and having a fixing channel. The board-shaped sandwich laminate (1) is provided along its edges with means designed to allow a plurality of board-shaped sandwich laminates (1) to be joined together.

Description: Floor panel for a vehicle floor The present invention relates to a floor panel for a vehicle floor according to the pre- characterising part of claim 1. In vehicles, especially buses, it is a problem to produce floors with suitable characteristics. When constructing vehicle floors nowadays these are often made of sheet metal plates or wood fibre boards, on which floor coverings are then laid in the conventional way. In order to produce thermal and/or sound insulation floor coverings of insulation material suitable for the purpose are often also arranged on the upper side and/or underside of the floor. For fixing interior fittings and safety parts, such as seats and seat belts, anchoring elements, which pass through the floor and are anchored in the framework of the vehicle, have generally to be arranged. According to one embodiment of the present invention a floor panel for a vehicle floor is produced, as specified by claim 1. In addition, preferred embodiments also have any or some of the characteristics specified in the subordinate claims. The floor panel for a vehicle floor according to the present invention has several advantages. Among other things, self-supporting floor panels are produced in the form of board-shaped sandwich laminates, from which a self-supporting vehicle floor can easily be manufactured, in which the fixing of interior fittings and safety parts, such as seats and seat belts etc. can be undertaken with the aid of profile sections incorporated into the floor, in such a way that the said fixings fulfil the safety requirements that can nowadays be expected to be demanded of such fixings. The floor panel has an integral floor covering functioning as a wearing layer and moisture barrier, thereby eliminating the need to lay a further floor covering. Owing to the light core material, laying the floor simultaneously produces both thermal and sound insulation. The floor panels can be provided with tongue and groove in order to permit laying of large floor surfaces, the joints thereby occurring in the floor covering being weldable in the conventional way. The floor panels according to the invention may, if so desired, be manufactured in one stage, floor covering, profile section for the fixing of seats and seat belts together with reinforcement and strengthening layer being placed in a mould, whereupon a structural foam, such as polyurethane foam or the like is poured into the mould, so that this bonds together the various constituent parts and forms load-bearer and insulation in the floor panel. When manufacturing floor panels in this way they can be cast with great freedom of form in order to suit a specific application in a special vehicle and, in contrast to panels of sheet metal plate or wood fibre boards are not susceptible to damp or prone to rust. The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of examples of a preferred embodiment of a floor panel for a vehicle floor according to the present invention. Figure 1 in a partially cut-away view, shows the construction of the floor panel according to the invention Figure 2 shows a section through a preferred embodiment of the floor panel according to the invention The board-shaped floor panel 1 shown in figure 1 comprises a light core material 2, preferably in the form of a structural foam of polyurethane or similar material which, where necessary, may contain reinforcement, for example in the form of glass fibres. The core material 2 constitutes the load-bearing structure in the floor panel 1, whilst at the same time providing both thermal and sound insulation. Surrounding the light core material 2, a surface layer 3, preferably comprising a floor covering suited to the purpose and preferably made of a plastic material, is arranged on at least one side of the floor panel 1. The floor covering of the surface layer 3 functions as a wearing surface and moisture barrier and can also be provided with non-slip protection. So that sharp objects such as pointed heels and umbrella tips and the like will not leave permanent impressions in the core material 2, it may be necessary to arrange a strengthening layer 4 between the surface layer 3 and the core material 2, the strengthening layer 4 preferably being made in the form of a woven fabric and a fibre material such as glass, carbon or aramide fibres. The strengthening layer 4 distributes any spot loads so that these are absorbed over a larger area. It may be necessary, especially if the core material 2 is made in one thin layer, to arrange a balancing strengthening layer 5 on the opposite side of the floor panel to the surface layer in order to produce a balanced state of tension in the sandwich laminate, which counteracts any tendencies of the sandwich laminate to bend. A sealing layer 6 may be arranged outermost on the opposite side of the sandwich laminate to the surface layer 3. As shown in figure 2, profile sections, of aluminium for example, intended for fixing purposes, can also be fixed to the light core material 2. The said profile sections 7 are arranged so that they are well anchored in the light core material 2, for example by being cast therein. That part of a profile section 7 cast in the core material 2 may be provided with perforated anchoring elements in the form, for example, of wings 7a, which serve to provide a very good anchorage in the core material 2 of the floor panel. The part of the profile section 7 passing through the surface layer 3 appropriately has a fixing channel 7b or the like, which facilitates the fixing both of seats and of seat belts. The floor panels 1 may be made so that each floor panel at its edges is provided with means 8a, 8b designed to allow the floor panels 1 to be joined together, in order to facilitate the laying of larger surfaces such as entire bus floors. The said means of joining 8a, 8b may, for example, be formed in complementary pairs as shown in figure 2 in the form of a groove 8b and a tongue 8a, which when joining together may also be supplemented by adhesive bonding. After joining together in this way the plastic floor covering is then welded together at the joints in the known way in order to produce a moisture-tight surface. A vehicle floor produced in this way is also flexible, so that it can follow the movement that generally occurs in the framework of a vehicle, such as a bus. It will be obvious that even if the above-mentioned invention is described principally in connection with bus floors, it is also suitable for use in a number of different vehicles, such as aircraft, trains, passenger cars, boats etc.

Claims: Claims 1. Floor panel (1) for a vehicle floor, characterised in that it is constructed as a board-shaped sandwich laminate (1) comprising a layer of a light core material (2), preferably in the form of a foam of polyurethane or similar material, that a surface layer (3), preferably in the form of a floor covering, is arranged against the light core material (2) on at least one side, and that fixed to the light core material (2) there is at least one profile section (7), intended for fixing purposes, which has a part passing through the surface layer and having a fixing channel (7b), and that the board-shaped sandwich laminate (1) is provided along its edges with means (8a, 8b) designed to allow a plurality of board-shaped sandwich laminates to be joined together. 2. Floor panel (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that a reinforcing layer (4), preferably of a fibre material in the form of a woven fabric, is arranged between the surface layer (3) and the layer of core material (2) 3. Floor panel (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a balancing layer (5), preferably of a fibre material in the form of a woven fabric, is arranged on the opposite side of the core material layer (2) to the surface layer (3). 4. Floor panel (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a sealing layer (6) is arranged outermost on the opposite side of the sandwich laminate to the surface layer (3). 5. Floor panel (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the profile section (7) intended for fixing purposes is provided with perforated anchoring elements (7a), which are cast into the light core material (2). 6. Floor panel (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means of joining are designed as a groove (8b) and a tongue (8a) respectively. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 25 February 2000 (25.02.00); original claim 1 replaced by amended claim 1 ; original claims 2 and 3 cancelled; original claims 4-6 renumbered as claims 2-4 (1 page)] 1. Floor panel ( 1 ) for a vehicle floor, constructed as a board-shaped sandwich laminate (1) comprising a layer of a light core material (2), and a surface layer (3), arranged against the light core material (2) on at least one side, and fixed to the light core material (2) there is at least one profile section (7), intended for fixing purposes, characterised in that the core material (2) is in the form of a polyurethane or similar material, that the surface layer (3) is in the form of a floor covering, that the profile section (7) has a part passing through the surface layer (3) and having a fixing channel (7b), that the board-shaped sandwich laminate (1) is provided along its edges with means (8a, 8b) designed to allow a plurality of board-shaped sandwich laminates to be joined together, that a reinforcing layer (4) of a fibre material in the form of a woven fabric, is arranged between the surface layer (3) and the layer of core material (2) and that a balancing layer (5), of a fibre material in the form of a woven fabric, is arranged on the opposite side of the core material layer (2) to the surface layer (3). 2. Floor panel (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that a sealing layer (6) is arranged outermost on the opposite side of the sandwich laminate to the surface layer (3). 3. Floor panel (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the profile section (7) intended for fixing purposes is provided with perforated anchoring elements (7a), which are cast into the light core material (2). 4. Floor panel (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means of joining are designed as a groove (8b) and a tongue (8a) respectively.

Inventors: BLIKSTAD MAARTEN, KRONBLAD FRITHJOF, BLIKSTAD, MAARTEN, KRONBLAD, FRITHJOF
Applicants: BLIKSTAD MAARTEN, KRONBLAD FRITHJOF, SONOFORM AB, BLIKSTAD, MAARTEN, KRONBLAD, FRITHJOF
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B62D25
IPC codes: B61D17, B62D25