Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/BE1015299A3/en
Timestamp: 2019-12-11 14:50:29
Document Index: 47778431

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 7', 'arts 7', 'arts 7', 'arts 8', 'arts 13', 'arts 7', 'arts 7', 'arts 9']

BE1015299A3 - Laminated flooring panels are packed in mixed lots of different lengths to assemble into a natural effect pattern - Google Patents
Laminated flooring panels are packed in mixed lots of different lengths to assemble into a natural effect pattern Download PDF
2003-01-09 Priority to BE2003/0020A priority Critical patent/BE1015299A3/en
2003-12-24 Priority claimed from DE20320022U external-priority patent/DE20320022U1/en
2005-01-11 Publication of BE1015299A3 publication Critical patent/BE1015299A3/en
Floor covering, of the type consisting of elongated, and more particularly rectangular, lath-shaped hard floor panels (2) with a layer-shaped construction, which extend in parallel rows, characterized in that they are floor panels (2) of at least two different lengths (L1-L2 -L3), wherein these different lengths (L1-L2-L3) are realized at the factory.
Floor covering, floor panel and set of floor panels for forming such floor covering and methods for packaging and manufacturing such floor panels.
This invention relates to a floor covering, as well as a floor panel and a set of floor panels for forming such floor covering, as well as a method for packaging such floor panels and methods for manufacturing them.
The invention is especially intended to be used with floor panels with a layer-shaped structure, which are manufactured from a larger plate with such a layer-shaped structure, but certain aspects of the invention can also be applied more generally, in other words with floor panels of a different structure .
By floor panels with a layered structure is meant in the first place traditional laminate panels which, as is known, have at least one core layer and a top layer, the core layer consisting of, for example, MDF, HDF, chipboard, so-called compact laminate or the like, while the top layer, for example, exists from different sheets of material pressed onto each other, such as resin-impregnated paper layers, including a printed decorative layer. However, floor panels with a different layer-shaped structure are not excluded, for example, wherein the top layer consists of cork, veneer, a relatively thick wood layer, etc., or wherein the floor panels are provided with special intermediate layers, such as a sound-damping layer or the like.
Traditionally, such floor panels are designed as slabs with a width in the order of magnitude of 20 cm and
a length of approximately 120 cm. Such known floor panels have the disadvantage that a plate-like appearance remains in the laid state, which seems unnatural, especially when the intention is to display a parquet motif with elongated slats, or when the intention is to imitate a "plancher".
In order to obtain a more irregular and natural appearance, it is known to use elongated floor panels of two different widths, in which case, for example, alternately one row of wide floor panels and one row of narrow floor panels are laid.
However, since the installation of the floor covering is in many cases always started with a full or half panel per row, a certain regularity still exists in the pattern formed, so that the view is still quite unnatural.
It is also known to insert a number of short floor panels between longer ones in special applications, although it is not the intention to remedy the unnatural appearance, but to create special effects, such as, for example, tile-shaped insertions in a floor covering with a parquet motif .
The present invention contemplates a technical solution to arrive at a floor covering consisting of elongated, as well as lath-shaped, hard floor panels, whereby an improvement is offered which allows to obtain that the unnatural appearance is further minimized. It is also an object of the invention to provide a solution that is suitable for use in mass production, with a minimum of any additional costs compared to the traditionally used manufacturing processes.
To this end, the invention relates in the first place to a floor covering, of the type consisting of elongated, and more particularly rectangular, slat-shaped hard floor panels with a layered construction, which extend in parallel rows, characterized in that this floor covering floor panels of at least two different lengths, these different lengths being realized at the factory. Because floor panels of different lengths are present in the floor covering, the aforementioned regularity is broken, which contributes to a natural appearance. Because the floor panels are manufactured at the factory, the user, more specifically the installer, also has the option of randomly using the floor panels, whereby the irregularity can be further emphasized.
The user or installer also has the option of making a selection between the different lengths when laying each subsequent panel, which means that he not only has the option of influencing the view, but can also choose and order floor panels based on the length of one row to be laid, in such a way that the generation of waste, especially short residues that one would rather not use in a subsequent row, can be kept to a minimum.
The invention is especially useful with floor panels that have a wood and / or parquet design at their top surface, and more particularly with floor panels that are each provided with a wood design that extends over the entire surface of the relevant floor panel, in other words floor panels whose motif represents one plank.
It is clear that the aforementioned floor panels of different lengths preferably have the same width
show. However, the floor covering can also have floor panels of different widths, wherein for each width of floor panel then preferably also different lengths exist.
Preferably, the aforementioned floor panels are each provided with mechanical coupling parts at their four edges. It is also preferred that the coupling parts on at least two opposite edges of each floor panel, and, preferably, on both pairs of opposite edges, be designed such that, when realizing a coupling with an adjacent floor panel, both a locking in vertical , if horizontal direction is obtained. By "vertical direction" is meant in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the floor covering. By "horizontal direction" is herein meant in a direction perpendicular to the respective coupled sides or edges of the floor panels and parallel to the surface of the floor covering.
In a preferred embodiment, the floor covering comprises floor panels of at least three different lengths, which lengths have been realized at the factory, so that the aforementioned technical advantages come into their own even more.
In a practical embodiment, the floor covering is characterized in that, at least for the floor panels of a specific width, the floor panels of the largest length are present in a greater number than the floor panels of a different specific length, in order to obtain the number of lay floor panels for covering a certain floor surface, notwithstanding the fact that shorter floor panels are also used,
remains limited, which lowers installation costs.
Furthermore, it is preferable that at least the floor panels with the largest length have a length that is at least eight times, and more preferably at least ten times, the width of these panels. After all, it is especially in combination with such elongated floor panels that the invention is especially useful.
Of course, the invention also relates to floor panels, characterized in that these floor panels allow forming a floor covering according to the invention.
It also relates to a set of floor panels, characterized in that it consists of floor panels of at least two different lengths, which make it possible to form at least a part of a floor covering in accordance with the invention.
According to a special feature, such a set of floor panels is packaged in the same package, more specifically in the same package box. This ensures that the user, and more specifically the installer, automatically has floor panels of at least two different lengths available when opening each new package. This also has the consequence that, when the floor panels are mainly laid as they become available from successively opened packages, a sufficient mixing between floor panels of different lengths in the floor covering is automatically guaranteed.
This method of packaging also offers the advantage that a distributor must maintain a smaller inventory.
If the floor panels of different lengths were to be traded in separate packages, it may happen that specific lengths will be sold more than other lengths, which is difficult for a distributor to predict and which means that he would have to build up a large stock of floor panels of any length, whereas in the case of packages in which the floor panels have already been mixed, such stock can be kept smaller overall.
If different lengths are available for forming a specific floor covering, even if there are more than two different lengths, it is therefore preferable that they are packaged in such a way that they are evenly distributed over the different packages and that each package contains floor panels of any length.
It is noted that the packaging of floor panels of different lengths in this way is also advantageous for other floor panels, irrespective of whether or not they are of a layered construction, thus also for solid floor panels or floor parts. According to an independent aspect, the present invention therefore relates to a method for packaging floor panels, characterized in that it is concerned with floor panels consisting of rectangular elongated slat-shaped hard floor panels intended to form a floor covering containing floor panels that are factory-fitted to at least two lengths have been manufactured, and that during packaging thereof, floor panels of different lengths are arranged in the same package, more specifically in the same box.
The floor panels are preferably packaged in such a way that each package contains floor panels that allow to precisely cover a specific surface. This precludes the buyer of such floor panels having to determine for themselves how many floor panels of one length as floor panels of the other length he needs. Because of the mixing in the package, and the fact that each package contains floor panels that allow to cover the same surface, the buyer can easily determine the number of packages to be purchased, more specifically boxes with floor panels, by dividing the total floor surface by the number of square meters present in one box or the like.
The floor panels are preferably stacked flat in a box, wherein they are arranged in such a way that they can never tilt in a horizontal position of the box, which, as explained in the following description, yields various advantages.
Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing floor panels for forming the aforementioned floor covering, characterized in that it consists of forming plates with a layer-shaped structure and sawing these plates into rectangular elongated slat-shaped floor panels of at least two different lengths, wherein, during manufacture, coupling parts are also formed on their edges.
With the insight to better demonstrate the features of the invention, hereinafter, as an example without any limiting character, are some preferred embodiments
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 schematically represents a floor covering according to the invention; figures 2 and 3 show possible embodiments of coupling parts that can be applied to the floor panels of the floor covering of figure 1; figure 4 represents a variant of a floor covering according to the invention; Figures 5 to 7 relate to different techniques for manufacturing floor panels according to the invention; Figures 8 and 9 relate to specific methods for packaging floor panels.
As shown in Figure 1, the invention relates to a floor covering 1, of the type consisting of elongated, and more particularly rectangular, lath-shaped hard floor panels 2 with a layer-shaped construction, which extend in parallel rows, with the special feature that this floor covering 1 comprises floor panels 2 of at least two different lengths, these different lengths being realized at the factory. In this example, even three different lengths of floor panels 2 are used, as indicated by L1, L2 and L3, respectively.
As mentioned above, these floor panels 2 preferably have one continuous wood pattern at their top surface, which pattern is not shown in Figure 1.
At the edges or sides 3-4-5-6 of the floor panels 2, coupling parts 7-8-9-10 are formed which allow such
floor panels 2 can be mutually coupled to each other in a mechanical manner. These coupling parts 7-8-9-10 are preferably embodied such that they offer both a locking in the vertical and horizontal direction. Such coupling parts are known per se in various forms, inter alia from WO 97/47834, and it may be concerned here with coupling parts that allow joining of floor panels 2 according to different possibilities, for example by sliding the floor panels 2 towards each other, wherein these coupling parts engage with each other by means of a snap effect, by rotating the floor panels 2 into one another, or by vertically joining them together.
By way of example, the coupling parts 7 and 9 could be made as shown in Figure 2, while the coupling parts 8 and 10 could be made as shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, use will preferably be made made of coupling parts in the form of a tooth 11 and a groove 12 with locking parts 13 and 14 which provide a locking in the horizontal direction.
In the embodiment of Figure 1, all floor panels 2 have the same width B1. According to a variant, it is also possible to work with different widths. Figure 4 shows an example of this, wherein use is made of floor panels 2 with two widths B1 and B2, wherein, for each width B1-B2, both floor panels 2 of different lengths are available.
It is noted that preferably a well-defined ratio of numbers of floor panels 2 of different lengths is generally used, although this is not
really necessary. For example, on average per eight floor panels 2 of the length L1, four of the length L2 and four of the length L3 can be used.
Of course, the values of L1, L2, L3, B1 and B2 can be freely selected by the manufacturer. A practical, non-limiting example is values L1 = 140 cm, L2 = 80 cm, L3 = 60 cm, B1 = 8 to 12 cm and B2 = 10 to 14 cm.
The floor panels 2 are preferably laminate panels, more particularly panels formed at least at their top from one or more layers soaked in resin and pressed onto each other, more particularly paper layers, including a printed decorative layer. Such floor panels 2 then consist, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, preferably of a core 15 of MDF, HDF, chipboard or the like, which is provided with a top layer 16 and a counter layer 17, the top layer 16 comprising the aforementioned decorative layer .
As schematically shown in figures 5 and 6, the aforementioned floor panels 2 are preferably manufactured by forming plates 18 with a layer-shaped structure and subsequently sawing these plates 18 into rectangular elongated slat-shaped floor panels 2 of at least two different lengths, wherein, during the manufacture, the respective coupling parts 7-8-9-10 are also formed at their edges 3-4-5-6.
The manufacture of the plates 18 can take place according to all techniques known to date, or in any other way that allows to form a composite plate 18.
As is also shown in figures 5 and 6, it is preferable that floor panels 2 of different lengths, in this case the aforementioned lengths L1, L2 and L3, are manufactured from the same plate 18.
Such a plate 18 can be provided in various ways with a pattern, more particularly a wood pattern, and sawn into floor panels 2.
According to the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the plate 18 is provided with individual designs per floor panel 2 to be formed, whereafter the plate 18 is sawn into floor panels 2 as a function of the boundary lines 19-20 of these designs. An advantage hereof is that the designs can be realized in such a way that, when two floor panels 2 are laid one behind the other, they will never give the impression that the designs merge exactly.
According to the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the plate 18 is provided with motifs extending at least in the longitudinal direction of the floor panels 2 to be formed and the plate 18 is sawn into floor panels 2 of the desired lengths. This technique, in turn, has the advantage that the transverse cuts can be realized afterwards at any place, since they are not bound to transitions or boundary lines 20 between two motifs, as is the case in figure 5. Thus, assuming the same overall motif for a plate 18, floor panels 2 with lengths of choice are made therefrom.
This allows, for example, that the manufacturer, if he so wishes, can only produce floor panels 2 with a length L1, while still being able to switch to the production of, for example,
floor panels 2 of, both the lengths L1, L2, and L3, without having to choose another global motif for the plate 18. This also creates the possibility of manufacturing floor panels 2 with lengths L1 from certain plates 18, while floor panels 2 with lengths L2 and L3 are produced from other plates 18, without having to have different global motifs for the plate 18 for this purpose .
According to a variant (not shown), the plate 18 can be provided over its entire surface with a continuous pattern, more particularly a wood pattern, after which the plate 18 is sawn into floor panels 2 of the desired lengths.
This means that there are no longer any boundary lines 21 in the global motif, as is the case in figure 6. This allows that, starting from the same global motif, floor panels 2 of different widths can also be produced at will.
As shown diagrammatically in Figure 7, according to a specific embodiment of the method for producing it, the plates 18 can first be divided into repels 22, more specifically sawed into repels 22, then coupling parts 7-8 on the long sides 3- 4 of these repels 22 are formed, and only then from these repels 22 the floor panels 2 of different lengths, for example L1-L2-L3, are formed, whereafter coupling parts 9-10 are also formed on the short sides 5-6 of the floor panels 2 are being formed.
Figures 8 and 9 schematically illustrate the method already described in the introduction for packaging such floor panels 2.
The special feature here is that floor panels 2 of different lengths, in this case three lengths L1-L2-L3, are installed in the same package, more specifically in the same box 23, in this case a cardboard box with a bottom 24 and side walls 25 wherein a plastic foil 26, for example shrink plastic, is arranged around this box, which provides the advantages mentioned in the introduction.
Here, the floor panels 2, as shown, are preferably stacked flat in the box 23, these being arranged therein such that they can never tilt in a horizontal position of the box 23. Tipping could make packaging more difficult. After all, such floor panels 2 are generally brought successively from a conveyor belt into a box 23, and when tilting floor panels 2 they would protrude from the box 23, making it difficult to apply the plastic film 26.
Figure 8 shows a method of packaging in which the floor parts of the lengths L2 and L3 are adjacent to each other, such that the floor parts of the length L1 situated above them are properly supported.
Figure 9 shows a method of packaging in which the lengths L2 and L3 do not allow two floor panels 2 of these lengths to be arranged next to each other. The stacking is then done in such a way that the upper floor panels 2 also remain flat here.
As is still shown in figures 8 and 9, the upper floor panel 2 from the box 23 will preferably be a floor panel 2 of the largest length L1, so that
it is avoided that a floor panel 2 which is slidable in the package is present directly below the plastic foil 25, which, when manipulating such a box 23, could shift and thereby cause the plastic foil 25 to peel open.
The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described by way of example and shown in the figures, but such floor covering, floor panels, sets of floor panels, method for packaging floor panels and method for manufacturing floor panels can be realized according to different variants, without outside within the scope of the invention.
Floor covering, of the type consisting of elongated, and more particularly rectangular, lath-shaped hard floor panels (2) with a layered construction, which extend in parallel rows, characterized in that they are floor panels (2) of at least two different lengths ( L1-L2-L3), wherein these different lengths (L1-L2-L3) are realized at the factory.
Floor covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the floor panels (2) have a wood and / or parquet design on their upper surface.
Floor covering according to claim 2, characterized in that the floor panels (2) are each provided with a wood pattern extending over the entire surface of the relevant floor panel (2).
Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned floor panels (2) are of different lengths (L1-L2-L3) of the same width (B1 or B2).
Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has floor panels (2) of different lengths (L1-L2-L3), as well as floor panels (2) of different widths (B1-B2), as mentioned above .
Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned <Desc / Clms Page number 16> floor panels (2) are each provided with mechanical coupling parts (7-8-9-10) at their four edges (3-4-5-6).
Floor covering according to claim 6, characterized in that the coupling parts (7-8; 9-10) on at least two opposite edges (3-4; 5-6) of each floor panel (2), and, preferably, on both pairs of opposite edges (3-4-5-6) are designed such that, when realizing a coupling with an adjacent floor panel (2), both vertical and horizontal locking are obtained.
Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises floor panels (2) of at least three different lengths (L1-L2-L3), which lengths (L1-L2-L3) are realized at the factory.
Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, at least for the floor panels (2) of a specific width (B1 and / or B2), the floor panels (2) of the largest length (L1) in a larger number the floor panels (2) of a different determined length (L2-L3) are then present.
Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the floor panels (2) with the largest length (L1) have a length that is at least eight times, and more preferably at least ten times, the width (B1; B2) of these floor panels (2).
Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor panels (2) consist of laminate panels, more particularly panels that <Desc / Clms Page number 17> be formed at least on their upper side from one or more layers soaked in resin and pressed onto each other, more particularly paper layers, including a printed decorative layer.
Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a number of the floor panels (2) which, as aforementioned, have a different length are formed from the same slab (18) sawn to the relevant floor panels (2).
Floor panel, characterized in that it is a floor panel (2) that makes it possible to form a floor covering (1) according to one of the preceding claims.
Set of floor panels, characterized in that it consists of floor panels (2) of at least two different lengths (L1-L2-L3), which allow at least a part of a floor covering (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 to shape.
Set of floor panels according to claim 14, characterized in that this set is packaged in the same package, more specifically in the same box (23).
16. Method for packaging floor panels, characterized in that it is concerned with floor panels (2) consisting of rectangular elongated slat-shaped hard floor panels (2) intended to form a floor covering (1) containing floor panels (2) which are factory-made are manufactured in at least two lengths (L1-L2-L3), and that, when packed, floor panels (2) of different lengths (L1-L2-L3) are placed in the same package, more specifically in the same box (23) applied. <Desc / Clms Page number 18>
Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the floor panels (2) are packaged in such a way that each package contains floor panels (2) that allow to precisely cover a specific surface.
Method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the floor panels (2) are stacked flat in a box (23), whereby they are arranged in such a way that they can never tilt in a horizontal position of the box (23).
Method for packaging floor parts according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that it is used for floor parts for realizing a floor covering (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12.
Method for manufacturing floor panels for forming a floor covering according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it consists of forming plates (18) with a layered structure and sawing these plates (18) into rectangular elongated lath-shaped floor panels (2) of at least two different lengths (L1-L2-L3), whereby, during manufacture, also coupling parts (7-8-9-10) at the edges (3-4-5-6) are formed.
Method according to claim 20, characterized in that floor panels (2) of different lengths (L1-L2-L3) are manufactured from the same plate (18).
Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the plate (18) according to one of the following options <Desc / Clms Page number 19> is provided with a design and is sawn into floor panels (2): - the plate (18) is provided with individual designs per floor panel (2) to be formed, after which the plate (18), depending on the boundary lines (19-20), these motifs are sawn into floor panels (2); - the plate (18) is provided with a continuous pattern at least in the longitudinal direction of the floor panels (2) to be formed, after which the plate (18) is sawn into floor panels (2) of the desired lengths (L1-L2-L3); - the plate (18) is provided with one continuous motif over the entire surface of the plate (18), after which the plate (18) is sawn into floor panels (2) of the desired lengths (L1-L2-L3).
Method according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the plates (18) are first divided into repels (22), more specifically sawn into repels (22), then coupling parts (7-8) to the long sides of these repels (22) are formed, and only after these repels (22) are the floor panels (2) of different lengths (L1-L2-L3) formed, whereafter also on the short sides (5-6) of the floor panels (2) coupling parts (9-10) are formed.
BE2003/0020A 2003-01-09 2003-01-09 Laminated flooring panels are packed in mixed lots of different lengths to assemble into a natural effect pattern BE1015299A3 (en)
BE2003/0020A BE1015299A3 (en) 2003-01-09 2003-01-09 Laminated flooring panels are packed in mixed lots of different lengths to assemble into a natural effect pattern
DE20320022U DE20320022U1 (en) 2003-01-09 2003-12-24 Set of floor panels for forming a floor covering
AT04075032T AT471414T (en) 2003-01-09 2004-01-06 Packaged set of floor panels
ES04075032T ES2347242T3 (en) 2003-01-09 2004-01-06 Set of packed soil panels.
DE200460027678 DE602004027678D1 (en) 2003-01-09 2004-01-06 Packed set of floor panels
BE1015299A3 true BE1015299A3 (en) 2005-01-11
BE (1) BE1015299A3 (en)
2003-01-09 BE BE2003/0020A patent/BE1015299A3/en active
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DE60118912T2 (en) 2006-12-21 Flooring consisting of mechanically connectable laminate panels with a decorative, printed top layer
JP2004257239A (en) 2004-09-16 Fixing system and flooring board