Patent Publication Number: US-2009217611-A1

Title: Flush profiled expansion element

Description:
The present invention relates to a profiled expansion element for floor or wall panels as well as an associated laying method. During the substantially area-wide laying of panels which are made from wood materials such as laminate, parquet and so on, it is necessary to provide expansion joins due to the not avoidable changes in dimensioning due to swelling und shrinking during absorbing and discharging of humidity. For example, panels are laid in such a manner that they are not abutting on the adjacent wall respective on the floor and a slot for the remaining extension. At the edge this slot can be covered respectively closed with cover strips and/or elastic filling materials such as silicon most comparatively without any problems. The situation at door-passages or in the central area of the laid surface area presents different. For example, for floor laying it is proposed to provide an expansion join after latest 8 to 12 meter so that an extension is possible at all due to the occurred weights and friction forces. Thus, on the one hand, it is the object to design an expansion join in that manner that said expansion join is integrated as well as possible into the floor covering so that on the one hand said expansion join does not disturb as possible and on the other hand to provide the laying of the expansion join as simple as possible. 
     A well known, profiled expansion element system is provided in a two part form and is mounted in the slot between the opposed edges of two floor or wall panels. For this purpose, a first element is mounted at the opened underground in the slot i.e. at the wall or the floor while it is doweled or glued there. Then, a further cover element is mounted, for example with a clip connection onto the first element and it is designed in such a manner that it has a cover surface supported onto one of the two panels which covers the slot. This cover element has, for example a T-shaped cross section. 
     Thereby, that the upper cover surface is supported onto the panels the cover element disadvantageously protrudes above the flat which is built by the panels. This disturbs not only the visual impression of the laid panels, but also this can built for a floor covering unfavorable stumble edge and humidity can easily reach under the cover surface and so to the panel itself. In addition, the mounting of the panels onto the underground in the slot is disadvantageous to that effect that during the doweling comparative extensive holes have to be drilled during that it could be come to damages of wires or pipes, for example of a floor heating system or that depending on the underground the cluing can bring along adhesion problems or it is difficult to remove during removing the floor or wall covering. As a result, that the known profiled expansion element is not mounted onto the floor respective onto the wall covering it comes to a disadvantageous detach of the cover element from the floor respective from the wall covering during a detachment of the mounting, whereby damages, for example to parquet or laminate may occur. 
     Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved expansion element wherein its mounting is improved and which can be better incorporated from its design into a floor or wall covering. An improved laying method is the subject matter of a further independent claim. Advantageous embodiments result from the dependent claims. 
     The present invention relates to an expansion element for an arrangement basically between two opposite distanced edges of floor or wall panels in particular of floor or wall panels which are at least partially composed of wood materials like MDF, HDF or chips. An example therefore are so called laminate panels. The expansion element according to the invention has at least two profiled elements. The floor and wall profiles are arranged with distance in such a manner that without the arrangement of the expansion element they build a slot which builds a space for potential expansions of the floor respective wall panel. 
     The expansion element has means for mounting the respective profiled element at the respective floor or wall profile. Thereby, advantageously the mounting in the slot between the floor respective wall panel is omitted. For example, the underground has not to be disadvantageously drilled with the risk that damages of wires respective pipes occur, for example of the floor heating system. Further, a gluing with a possible not sufficient adhesion and potential glue rests when removing the expansion element respective the floor covering respective wall covering is omitted. Further, through the direct mounting at the wall respective floor panel the laying of the expansion element is simplified and accelerated in comparison with the state of the art. Thereby, that the expansion element is mounted at the panels the risk is omitted that, because of removing the expansion element from the underground, a relative movement between profile and floor respective wall panel, for example while stepping onto the profile and therefore damaging the panel appears. 
     The profiled elements are provided in such a manner that in the aforementioned arrangement said profiled elements are at least partially slidable against each other along a direction which is perpendicular to the edges. Therefore, it is achieved that the expanding element is extra effectively able to compensate possible changes in dimensioning, for example by panels which consist of wood material due to swelling and shrinking during absorbing and discharging of humidity. 
     The profile, according to the invention, is extra flexibly applicable and adoptable to many slot dimensions. The necessity to produce and provide different expansion elements for different slots in order to ensure an optimal, i.e. neither to wide reaching covering through the profile is omitted. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the expansion element is provided in such a manner that it does not overtop the edge of the floor or wall panel which remotes of the floor respective of the wall. Thereby, it is achieved that stumble edges are avoided. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the expansion element is provided in such a manner that the opened surface of the laying underground and the herewith joined floor or wall panel top side forms basically a plane. This has to be understood in such a manner that the expansion element in laid condition builds a plane with the respective panels. Thereby, the “plane” is not interpreted close and comprises provided protrusions respective cavities, for example in view of stability reasons. With such a basically flush-positioned expanding element a proper junction between the floor respective wall panel surfaces which are separated by a slot is provided. Thereby, dirt and dust gatherings at the edges are avoided and in this way an optimal integration into the floor respective the wall covering is reached. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the profiled elements are detachable joined with each others. Thereby, it is achieved that the individual elements are independently mountable in separated conditions of each other at the respective wall respective floor panel and can joined later during the laying. Thereby, the laying can happen extra quickly. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, one of the profiled elements is provided with a tongue and the other profiled element with a groove wherein the groove cooperates together with the tongue in order to achieve the slidability of the profiled elements. Thereby, on the one hand the slidability and on the other hand a dustproof join between the elements is extra simply achieved. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment, the means for mounting the respective profiled elements on the respective floor or wall profile correspond to the mounting means on the edges of the floor or wall panels. With this compatibility of the means for mounting on the profiled elements with the mounting means which act between the panels, the extension element can be mounted in particular quick and simple without further means. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment, means for limiting of the slidability of the profiled elements are provided. Thereby, it can be prevented that during the assembling the profiled elements will be pulled apart too far. For example, the tongue which is provided between the profiled elements for sliding is provided with a protrusion which abuts upon a stopper during pulling out of the groove of the further profiled element and thus limits the slidability or prevents a pulling out too far in order to avoid that the tongue will be pulled out of the groove. For example, the means for limiting are provided in such a manner that there limit the slidability, but through a pulling apart with an expenditure of force, which is clear over the quantity which is needed for the sliding, the limiting effect of the means can be overcome, for example by a springy deflection, and so the profiled elements can be separated. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of an extension element according to the invention, the means for mounting comprise at least one groove respective tongue For example, the panels have at one edge a groove and at the opposite edge a tongue. Thus, a profiled element has a groove for receiving the tongue of a panel. Thus, the further profiled element has a tongue, which cooperates together with the groove of a panel. Thereby, a particular simple and with the panel flush join between the panel and the expansion element is achieved. 
     The means for mounting comprise in a further advantageous embodiment also latching elements. For example, the latching elements are provided in the form of rills and nose edge therein interacting in a snapping manner. Thereby, a particular safe, effective, and as possible liquid proofed join between the panel and the respective profiled element is achieved. For example, the groove of one profiled element has at the bottom side, therefore, at the side which is arranged to the underground, a protruding shoulder which is provided with a nose edge which is oriented to the top side, therefore, to the side which is opposite to the underground. This snaps in, for example in a rill which is open to the bottom side at the tongue of a panel which is arranged to the bottom side. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the means for mounting of the respective profiled element at the respective floor or wall profile are provided in such a manner that by pivoting the profiled element respective the floor or wall panel a mounting between the respective profiled element and floor respective wall panel is achieved. Thereby, an assembling of the expansion element can be achieved particular simply and quickly. Thereby, it has shown that compare to the aforementioned described state of the art expansion element the expenditure of time for assembling can be reduced up to 97%. 
     Suchlike mounting means with latching elements which are latched through pivoting arise, for example from the patent EP 1282752 and are the subject matter of the present application by way of reference. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment, the profiled elements consist of wood material like MDF or HDF. Thereby, at the one side, the profile can be produced comparatively inexpensive. At the other side, thus, it is sufficiently flexion elastic. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment, the expansion element consists at least partially of metal. Thereby, a durableness of the profile is achieved. For example, aluminum is used because while laying it is comparably simple to handle and further due to the comparable low weight storing and transporting is easier. In a further embodiment only the side which is opposite to the floor or wall, i.e. at the upper surface of the profile, a metal coating is provided. Thereby, the expansion element is particular durableness at step area. In order to prevent a slipping onto the profile it can be provided with rills. 
     In the laying method for an expansion element according to the invention, in a first step a pre-laid floor or wall panel is joined with a first profiled element of an expansion element according to one of the preceding described embodiments. In a second step the first profiled element is joined with the second profiled element. In a third step a floor or wall panel is joined with the second profiled element. Through this procedure an expansion element can be particular quickly assembled. The time-consuming mounting at the underground with its further disadvantages involved like the risk of damaging a wire or a pipe which is arranged in the floor respective wall is omitted. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the laying method for an expansion element according to the invention, in the first step and third step the join is achieved by pivoting and linking of linking elements. Thereby, a particular time-saving assembling of the expansion element is achieved. 
     A further advantageous embodiment of the laying method includes that in an intermediate step afore the third step a spacer is at least partially inserted between the profiled elements in order to temporarily prevent a movement of the profiled elements at least in direction of a closer spacing of the profiled elements by the further laying. Thereby, it can be particular simply ensured that during the assembling a distance between the edges of opposite floor respective wall panels remains which is sufficient to enable an effective expansion compensation through movement of the profiled elements into each other. 
    
    
     
       With reference to the FIGURES: 
         FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the expansion element according to the invention in a cross section view with respective at the two profiled element  1 ,  2  mounted floor panels  3 ,  4 . 
     
    
    
     The movability of the two profiled elements  1 ,  2  is achieved through a groove  6  in the profiled element  1  and a with the groove cooperating tongue  5  in the profiled element  2  while the tongue  5  enters deeper into the groove  6  and fills out more the cavity  11  during elongation of the panels  1  or  2 . Tongue  5  and groove  6  are provided with cooperating protrusions  12 ,  13  in order to hinder a sliding out of the tongue  5  of the groove  6  while expenditure of force which is needed for the moving and which have, for example a high of 1.5 mm. The tongue has, for example a length of 20 mm and a thickness of 2 mm; the groove is as well 20 mm deep. At the two profiled elements  1 ,  2  respective with mounting means  7 ,  8 ,  10 ,  11  floor panels are mounted. The mounting means correspond to the mounting means which are respectively provided between the panels. Thereby, the tongue  8  of the profiled elements provides a mounting in the panel in cooperation with the groove  7  in a direction which is perpendicular to the joining plane. The profiled element  2  is accordingly complementary provided and thus has the groove which the tongue of the panels  4  gathers. The mounting means comprise latching means. Thus, at the bottom side, so the side which is oriented to the underground, the tongue of the profiled element  1  is provided with a to the underside opened rill in which a to the upper side pointed nose edge  9  can be snap in at the lower protruding shoulder of the groove  7  of the panel  3 . In the profiled element  2  the groove of the profiled element  2  has at the bottom side, so the side which is oriented to the underground, a protruding shoulder which is provided with a nose edge which points to the upper side, so the side which is opposite to the underground. It snaps in, for example in a rill which is opened to the underground at the side which is oriented to the bottom side of the tongue of the panel  4 . By the latching a mounting of the profiled elements in the joining plane, perpendicular to the edges of the panels is achieved. The profiled elements  1  and  2  which, for example have respective a cross section length L 1 =L 2 =43 mm are provided at the upper side in such a manner that a flush positioned joining of the panels  3  and  4  is achieved. For this purpose, the for the movement provided join of groove  6  and tongue  5  on the profiled elements  1  and  2  is arranged as near to the upper side as possible. For example, the thickness of the shoulder of the groove  6  which is arranged at the upper side has 1.5 mm. The lower shoulder of the groove  6  has, for example a thickness of 3 mm with a laminate which has a thickness of 8 mm, and 8 mm with a laminate which has a thickness of 12 mm.