Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP1272716B1/en
Timestamp: 2019-08-23 03:48:01
Document Index: 646375585

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 9', 'art 9', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 9', 'arts 9', 'art 12', 'art 9', 'art 12', 'arts 9', 'arts 12', 'art 9']

EP1272716B1 - Mechanically joinable floorboards - Google Patents
Mechanically joinable floorboards Download PDF
EP1272716B1
EP1272716B1 EP20010920073 EP01920073A EP1272716B1 EP 1272716 B1 EP1272716 B1 EP 1272716B1 EP 20010920073 EP20010920073 EP 20010920073 EP 01920073 A EP01920073 A EP 01920073A EP 1272716 B1 EP1272716 B1 EP 1272716B1
EP20010920073
EP1272716A1 (en
2002-03-11 First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=20279262&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP1272716(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
2003-01-08 Publication of EP1272716A1 publication Critical patent/EP1272716A1/en
2005-08-31 Publication of EP1272716B1 publication Critical patent/EP1272716B1/en
The invention relates to a locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards (1, 1'), a floorboard having such a locking system and a flooring made of such floorboards. The locking system has mechanical cooperating means (36, 38; 6, 8, 14) for vertical and horizontal joining of adjoining floorboards. The means for horizontal joining about a vertical plane (F) comprise a locking groove (14) and a locking strip (16) which is located at opposite joint edge portions (4a, 4b) of the floorboard (4). The locking strip (6) projects from the joint plane (F) and has an upwards projecting locking element (8) at its free end. The locking groove (14) is formed in the opposite joint edge portion (4a) of the floorboard at a distance from the joint plane (F). The locking groove (14) and the locking element (8) have operative locking surfaces (10, 11). The locking surfaces are essentially plane and spaced from the upper side of the projecting strip and inside the locking groove and make a locking angle (A) of at least 50 DEG to the upper side of the board. Moreover the locking groove has a guiding part (12) for cooperation with a corresponding guiding part (6) on the locking element (8).
The invention generally relates to the field of mechanical locking of floorboards. The invention relates to a pair of mechanically joinable floorboards and a flooring made of such mechanically joined floorboards. The invention generally relates to an improvement of a locking system of the type described and shown in WO 9426999 and WO 9966151.
More specifically, the invention relates to a pair of mechanically joinable floorboards of the type having a core and preferably a surface layer on the upper side of the core and a balancing layer on the rear side of the core, said locking system comprising: (i) for horizontal joining of a first and a second joint edge portion of a first and a second floorboard respectively at a vertical joint plane, on the one hand a locking groove which is formed in the underside of said second board and extends parallel with and at a distance from said vertical joint plane at said second joint edge and, on the other hand, a strip integrally formed with the core of said first board, which strip at said first joint edge projects from said vertical joint plane and supports a locking element, which projects towards a plane containing the upper side of said first floorboard and which has a locking surface for coaction with said locking groove, and (ii) for vertical joining of the first and second joint edge, on the one hand a tongue which at least partly projects and extends from the joint plane and, on the other hand, a tongue groove adapted to coact with said tongue, the first and second floorboards within their joint edge portions for the vertical joining having coacting upper and coacting lower contact surfaces, of which at least the upper comprise surface portions in said tongue groove and said tongue.
The present invention is particularly suitable for mechanical joining of thin floating floors of floorboards made up of an upper surface layer, an intermediate fibreboard core and a lower balancing layer, such as laminate flooring and veneer flooring with a fibreboard core. Therefore, the following description of the state of the art, problems associated with known systems, and the objects and features of the invention will, as a non-restricting example, focus on this field of application and, in particular, on rectangular floorboards with dimensions of about 1.2 m * 0.2 m and a thickness of about 7-10 mm, intended to be mechanically joined at the long side as well as the short side.
WO 9426999 and WO 9966151 (owner Välinge Aluminium AB) disclose a strip-lock system for joining building panels, particularly floorboards. This locking system allows the boards to be locked mechanically at right angles to as well as parallel with the principal plane of the boards at the long side as well as at the short side. Methods for making such floorboards are disclosed in EP 0958441 and EP 0958442 (owner Välinge Aluminium AB). The basic principles of the design and the installation of the floorboards, as well as the methods for making the same, as described in the four above-mentioned documents, are usable for the present invention as well.
In order to facilitate the understanding and description of the present invention, as well as the comprehension of the problems underlying the invention, a brief description of the basic design and function of the known floorboards according to the above-mentioned WO 9426999 and WO 9966151 will be given below with reference to Figs 1-3 in the accompanying drawings. Where applicable, the following description of the prior art also applies to the embodiments of the present invention described below.
Figs 3a and 3b are thus a top view and a bottom view respectively of a known floorboard 1. The board 1 is rectangular with a top side 2, an underside 3, two opposite long sides with joint edge portions 4a, 4b and two opposite short sides with joint edge portions 5a, 5b.
Without the use of the glue, both the joint edge portions 4a, 4b of the long sides and the joint edge portions 5a, 5b of the short sides can be joined mechanically in a direction D2 in Fig. 1c, so that they join in a joint plane F (marked in Fig. 2c). For this purpose, the board 1 has a flat strip 6, mounted at the factory, which strip extends throughout the length of the long side 4a and which is made of flexible, resilient sheet aluminium. The strip 6 projects from the joint plane F at the joint edge portion 4a. The strip 6 can be fixed mechanically according to the embodiment shown, or by means of glue, or in some other way. Other strip materials can be used, such as sheets of other metals, as well as aluminium or plastic sections. Alternatively, the strip 6 may be made in one piece with the board 1, for example by suitable working of the core of the board 1. The present invention is usable for floorboards in which the strip is integrally formed with the core, and solves special problems appearing in such floorboards and the making thereof. The core of the floorboard need not be, but is preferably, made of a uniform material. However, the strip 6 is always integrated with the board 1, i.e. it is never mounted on the board 1 in connection with the laying of the floor but it is mounted or formed at the factory. The width of the strip 6 can be about 30 mm and its thickness about 0.5 mm. A similar, but shorter strip 6' is provided along one short side 5a of the board 1. The part of the strip 6 projecting from the joint plane F is formed with a locking element 8 extended throughout the length of the strip 6. The locking element 8 has in its lower part an operative locking surface 10 facing the joint plane F and having a height of e.g. 0.5 mm. When the floor is being laid, this locking surface 10 coacts with a locking groove 14 formed in the underside 3 of the joint edge portion 4b of the opposite long side of an adjoining board 1'. The short side strip 6' is provided with a corresponding locking element 8', and the joint edge portion 5b of the opposite short side has a corresponding locking groove 14'. The edge of the locking grooves 14, 14' closest to the joint plane F forms an operative locking surface 11 for coaction with the operative locking surface 10 of the locking element.
Moreover, for mechanical joining of both long sides and short sides also in the vertical direction (direction D1 in Fig. lc) the board 1 is formed with a laterally open recess 16 along one long side (joint edge portion 4a) and one short side (joint edge portion 5a). At the bottom, the recess 16 is defined by the respective strips 6, 6'. At the opposite edge portions 4b and 5b there is an upper recess 18 defining a locking tongue 20 coacting with the recess 16 (see Fig. 2a).
Figs 1a-1c show how two long sides 4a, 4b of two such boards 1, 1' on an underlay U can be joined together by means of downward angling. Figs 2a-2c show how the short sides 5a, 5b of the boards 1, 1' can be joined together by snap action. The long sides 4a, 4b can be joined together by means of both methods, while the short sides 5a, 5b - when the first row has been laid - are normally joined together subsequent to joining together the long sides 4a, 4b and by means of snap action only.
When a new board 1' and a previously installed board 1 are to be joined together along their long side edge portions 4a, 4b as shown in Figs 1a-1c, the long side edge portion 4b of the new board 1' is pressed against the long side edge portion 4a of the previous board 1 as shown in Fig. 1a, so that the locking tongue 20 is introduced into the recess 16. The board 1' is then angled downwards towards the subfloor U according to Fig. 1b. In this connection, the locking tongue 20 enters the recess 16 completely, while the locking element 8 of the strip 6 enters the locking groove 14. During this downward angling, the upper part 9 of the locking element 8 can be operative and provide guiding of the new board 1' towards the previously installed board 1. In the joined position as shown in Fig. 1c, the boards 1, 1' are locked in both the direction D1 and the direction D2 along their long side edge portions 4a, 4b, but the boards 1, 1' can be mutually displaced in the longitudinal direction of the joint along the long sides.
Figs 2a-2c show how the short side edge portions 5a and 5b of the boards 1, 1' can be mechanically joined in the direction D1 as well as the direction D2 by moving the new board 1' towards the previously installed board 1 essentially horizontally. Specifically, this can be carried out subsequent to joining the long side of the new board 1' to a previously installed board 1 in an adjoining row by means of the method according to Figs 1a-1c. In the first step in Fig. 2a, bevelled surfaces adjacent to the recess 16 and the locking tongue 20 respectively cooperate such that the strip 6' is forced to move downwards as a direct result of the bringing together of the short side edge portions 5a, 5b. During the final bringing together, the strip 6' snaps up when the locking element 8' enters the locking groove 14', so that the operative locking surfaces 10, 11 of the locking element 8' and of the locking groove 14' will engage each other.
In addition to what is known from the above-mentioned patent specifications, a licensee of Välinge Aluminium AB, Norske Skog Flooring AS, Norway (NSF), introduced a laminated floor with mechanical joining according to WO 9426999 in January 1996 in connection with the Domotex trade fair in Hannover, Germany. This laminated floor, which is shown in Fig. 4a and is marketed under the trademark Alloc®, is 7.2 mm thick and has a 0.6-mm aluminium strip 6 which is mechanically attached on the tongue side. The operative locking surface 10 of the locking element 8 has an inclination (hereinafter termed locking angle) of about 80° to the plane of the board. The locking element has an upper rounded guiding part and a lower operative locking surface. The rounded upper guiding part, which has a considerably lower angle than the locking surface, contributes significantly to positioning of the boards in connection with installation and facilitating the sliding-in of the locking element into the locking groove in connection with angling and snap action. The vertical connection is designed as a modified tongue-and-groove joint, the term "modified" referring to the possibility of bringing the tongue groove and tongue together by way of angling.
WO 9747834 (owner Unilin Beeher B.V., the Netherlands) describes a strip-lock system which has a fibreboard strip and is essentially based on the above known principles. In the corresponding product, "Uniclic®", which this owner began marketing in the latter part of 1997 and which is shown in Fig. 4c, one seeks to achieve biasing of the boards. This results in high friction and makes it difficult to angle the boards together and to displace them. The document shows several embodiments of the locking system. All locking surfaces have an angle that does not exceed 70° and the joint systems have no guiding surfaces.
Other known locking systems for mechanical joining of board materials are described in, for example, GB-A-2,256,023 showing unilateral mechanical joining for providing an expansion joint in a wood panel for outdoor use. The locking system does not allow joining of the joint edges and is not openable by upward angling round the joint edges. Moreover the locking element and the locking groove are designed in a way that does not provide sufficient tensile strength. US-A-4,426,820 (shown in Fig. 4e) which concerns a mechanical locking system for a plastic sports floor, which floor is intentionally designed in such manner that neither displacement of the floorboards along each other nor locking of the short sides of the floorboards by snap action is allowed.
In the autumn of 1998, NSF introduced a 7.2-mm laminated floor with a strip-lock system which comprises a fibreboard strip and is manufactured according to WO 9426999 and WO 9966151. This laminated floor is marketed under the trademark "Fiboloc®" and has the cross-section illustrated in Fig. 4b.
In January 1999, Kronotex GmbH, Germany, introduced a 7.8 mm thick laminated floor with a strip lock under the trademark "Isilock®". A cross-section of the joint edge portion of this system is shown in Fig. 4d. Also in this floor, the strip is composed of fibreboard and a balancing layer.
The invention is also based on a third understanding which is related to the guiding of the floorboards during inward angling when the floor is to be laid. Guiding is of great importance in inward angling of the long sides of the floorboards since the floorboards have often warped and curved and therefore are somewhat arcuate or in the shape of a "banana". This shape of a banana can amount to some tenths of a millimetre and is therefore not easily visible to the naked eye in a free board. If the guiding capacity of the locking system exceeds the maximum banana shape, the boards can easily be angled downwards, and they need not be pressed firmly against the joint edge in order to straighten the banana shape and allow the locking element to be inserted into the locking groove. In prior-art locking systems, the guiding part is formed essentially in the upper part of the locking element, and if the locking surface is moved up to the upper part, it is not possible to form a sufficiently large guiding part. A sufficiently great and above all more efficient and reliable guiding is achieved according to the invention by the guiding part being moved to the locking groove and its lower part. According to the invention it is even possible to form the entire necessary guiding in the lower part of the locking groove. In preferred embodiments, coacting guiding parts can also be formed both in the upper part of the locking element and the lower part of the locking groove.
The invention is directed to a pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as defined by the appended independent claim.
show in three stages a downward angling method for mechanical joining of long sides of floorboards according to WO 9426999.
show in three stages a snap-action method for mechanical joining of short sides of floorboards according to WO 9426999.
are a top plan view and a bottom view respectively of a floorboard according to WO 9426999.
Figs 4a-e
show four strip-lock systems available on the market and a strip-lock system according to US 4,426,820.
shows in detail the basic principles of a known strip-lock system for joining of the long sides of floorboards according to WO 9966151.
shows a variant of a locking system (applicant Välinge Aluminium AB) for which protection is sought and which has not yet been published.
Figs 7+8
illustrate a locking system according the invention.
shows another example of a floorboard and a locking system according to the present invention.
Figs 10-12
show variants of a locking groove and a locking component of three further examples of a floorboard and a locking system according to the present invention.
The cross-sections shown in Fig. 5 are hypothetical, not published cross-sections, but they are fairly similar to the locking system of the known floorboard "Fiboloc®" and to the locking system according to WO 9966151. Accordingly, Fig. 5 does not represent the invention but is only used a starting point of a description of the technique for a strip lock system for mechanical joining of adjoining floorboards. Parts corresponding to those in the previous Figures are in most cases provided with the same reference numerals. The construction, function and material composition of the basic components of the boards in Fig. 5 are essentially the same as in embodiments of the present invention, and consequently, where applicable, the following description of Fig. 5 also applies to the subsequently described embodiments of the invention.
In the embodiment shown, the boards 1, 1' in Fig. 5 are rectangular with opposite long side edge portions 4a, 4b and opposite short side edge portions 5a, 5b. Fig. 5 shows a vertical cross-section of a part of a long side edge portion 4a of the board 1, as well as a part of a long side edge portion 4b of an adjoining board 1'. The boards 1 have a core 30 which is composed of fibreboard and which supports a surface layer 32 on its front side (upper side) and a balancing layer 34 on its rear side (underside). A strip 6 is formed from the core and balancing layer of the floorboard by cutting and supports a locking element 8. Therefore the strip 6 and the locking element 8 in a way constitute an extension of the lower part of the tongue groove 36 of the floorboard 1. The locking element 8 formed on the strip 6 has an operative locking surface 10 which cooperates with an operative locking surface 11 in a locking groove 14 in the opposite long side edge portion 4b of the adjoining board 1'. By the engagement between the operative locking surfaces 10, 11 a horizontal locking of the boards 1, 1' transversely of the joint edge (direction D2) is obtained. The operative locking surface 10 of the locking element 8 and the operative locking surface 11 of the locking groove 14 form a locking angle A with a plane parallel with the upper side of the floorboards. This locking angle A of 60° corresponds to the tangent to a circular arc C which has its centre in the upper joint edge, i.e. the intersection between the joint plane F and the upper side of the boards, and which passes the operative locking surfaces 10, 11. In upward angling of the floorboard 1' relative to the floorboard 1, the locking groove will follow the circular arc C, and taking-up can therefore be made without resistance. The upper part of the locking element has a guiding part 9, which in installation and inward angling guides the floorboard to the correct position.
To form a vertical lock in the D1 direction, the joint edge portion 4a has a laterally open tongue groove 36 and the opposite joint edge portion 4b has a laterally projecting tongue 38 which in the joined position is received in the tongue groove 36. The upper contact surfaces 43 and the lower contact surfaces 45 of the locking system are also plane and parallel with the plane of the floorboard.
In the joined position according to Fig. 5, the two juxtaposed upper portions 41 and 42 of the surfaces, facing each other, of the boards 1, 1' define a vertical joint plane F.
Since the edge of the locking groove 14 closest to the joint plane F has portions which are positioned outside the circular arc C1 to be able to retain the locking element 8 in the locking groove, these portions will, in taking-up of the floorboard 1', follow a circular arc C2 which is concentric with and has a greater diameter than the circular arc C1 and which intersects the lower edge of the operative locking surface 11 of the locking groove. Taking-up of the floorboard 1' by upward angling requires that the strip 6 can be bent or that the material of the floorboards 1, 1' can be compressed.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the boundary surface of the locking groove 14 closest to the joint plane F has a lower guiding part 12 which is positioned inside the circular arc C1 and which will therefore efficiently guide the locking element 8 in connection with the laying of the floor and the downward angling of the floorboard 1' relative to the floorboard 1.
As is also evident from Fig. 7, there is an inclined surface 13 between the upper side of the locking strip 6 and the lower edge of the operative locking surface 10 of the locking element 8. In this shown embodiment, there is a gap between this inclined surface 13 and the guiding part 12 of the locking groove 14, so that the transition of the guiding part to the underside of the edge portion 4b is located inside the circular arc C1. Owing to such a gap, the friction is reduced in mutual displacement of the floorboards along the joint plane F in connection with the laying of the floor.
Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the groove 36 and the tongue 38 have been made shorter than in the embodiment according to Figs 7 and 8. As a result, the mechanical locking of two adjoining floorboards 1, 1' can be carried out both by vertical snap action and by inward angling during the bending of the strip. The vertical snap action can also be combined with known shapes of locking surfaces and with a possibility of displacement along the joint direction in the locked position and also taking-up by pulling out along the joint edge or upward angling. However, the Figure shows the floorboards during inward angling of the floorboard 1'. The lower part or guiding part 12 of the locking groove guides the floorboards and enables the introduction of the locking element 8 into the locking groove 14 so that the locking surfaces 10, 11 will engage each other. The strip 6 is bent downwards and the locking element 8 is guided into the locking groove although the edge surface portions 41, 42, facing each other, of the floorboards are spaced apart. The locking angle A is in this embodiment about 80°. The bending of the strip can be facilitated by working the rear side of the strip, so that a part of the balancing layer 34 between the joint plane F and the locking element 8 is wholly or partly removed.
In this embodiment, the locking element has in its upper part a guiding part 9 which is located outside the circular arc C1. The guiding parts 9, 12 of the locking element and the locking groove respectively contribute to giving the joint system a good guiding capacity. The total lateral displacement of the floorboards 1, 1' in the final phase of the laying procedure is therefore the sum of E1 and E2 (see Fig. 10), i.e. the horizontal distance between the lower edge of the guiding part 12 and the circular arc C1 and between the upper edge of the guiding part 9 and the circular arc C1. This sum of E1 and E2 should be greater than the above-mentioned maximum banana shape of the floorboards. For the joint system to have a guiding capacity, E1 and E2 must be greater than zero, and both E1 and E2 can have negative values, i.e. be positioned on the opposite side of the circular arc C1 relative to that shown in the Figure.
Fig. 11 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this case, use is made of a locking element 8 which has an upper operative locking surface 10 with an angle of about 85° which is greater than the clearance angle, which is about 75°. In this embodiment, the guiding part 12 of the locking groove 14 is also used as a secondary locking surface which supplements the operative locking surfaces 10, 11. This embodiment results in very high locking forces. The drawback of this embodiment, however, is that the friction in connection with relative displacement of the floorboards 1, 1' in the lateral direction along the joint plane F will be considerably greater.
Fig. 12 shows one more embodiment with essentially perpendicular locking surfaces 10, 11 and small guiding parts 9, 12, which makes it necessary to bend the strip 6 in connection with laying of the floorboards. The joint system is very convenient for use at the short sides of the floorboards where the need for guiding is smaller since in practice there is no "banana shape". Opening of the short side can be effected by the long sides first being angled upwards, after which the short sides are displaced in parallel along the joint edge. Opening can also be effected by upward angling if the locking groove and the locking element have suitably designed guiding parts 12, 9 which are rounded or which have an angle less than 90°, and if the operative locking surfaces 10, 11 have a small height LS (Fig. 12), so that their height is less than half the height of the locking element. In this embodiment, E2 is greater than E1, which makes the sum of E2 and E1 greater than zero (E1 represents in this case a negative value). If in this case E1 and E2 should be of almost the same size, the guiding may be effected by downward bending of the strip 6, which automatically causes displacement of the guiding part 9 of the locking element 8 away from the intended joint plane F and also causes a change in angle of the locking element 8 so that guiding takes place.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards comprising a first floorboard (1) and a second, similar floorboard (1'), whereby each of said floorboards (1, 1') has a core (30) and opposite first and second joint edge portions (4a, 5a and 4b, 5b, respectively), whereby adjoining floorboards (1, 1') in a mechanically joined position have their first and second joint edge portion (4a, 5a and 4b, 5b, respectively) joined at a vertical joint plane (F), said floorboards comprising
a) for vertical joining of the first joint edge portion (4a) of said first floorboard (1) and the second joint edge portion (4a, 5a and 4b, 5b, respectively), of said adjoining second floorboard (1'), mechanical cooperating means (36, 38), and
b) for horizontal joining of the first and second joint edge portions (4a, 5a and 4b, 5b, respectively), mechanical cooperating means (6, 8; 14) which comprise
a locking groove (14) formed in the underside (3) of said second floorboard (1') and extending parallel with and at a distance from the vertical joint plane (F) at said second joint edge portion (4b, 5b) and having a downward directed opening, and
a strip (6) integrally formed with the core of said first floorboard (1), which strip at said first joint edge portion (4a, 5a) projects from said vertical joint plane (F) and at a distance from the joint plane (P) has a locking element (8), formed on the strip (6) and projecting towards a plane containing the upper side of said first floorboard (1) and which has at least one operative locking surface (10) for coaction with said locking groove (14),
that said at least one operative locking surface (10) of the locking element (8) is essentially plane and located at the upper part of the locking element, close to the top of the locking element, at a distance from the upper side of the projecting strip (6) and faces the joint plane (F),
that the locking groove (14) at the lower edge closest to the joint plane (P) has an inclined or rounded guiding part (12) which extends from the locking surface (11) of the locking groove and to the opening of the locking groove and which is designed to guide the locking element (8) into the locking groove (14) during the downward angling of the second floorboard relative to the first floorboard by engaging a portion of the locking element (8) which is positioned above the locking surface (10) of the locking element or adjacent to its upper edge,
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the floorboards (1, 1') have a core (30), a surface layer (32) on the upper side of the core and a balancing layer (34) on the rear side of the core (30).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the operative locking surfaces (10 and 11, respectively) of the locking element (8) and the locking groove make an angle (A) of at least 60° to the upper side of the boards (1, 1').
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the operative locking surfaces (10 and 11, respectively) of the locking element (8) and the locking groove make an angle (A) of at least 80° to the upper side of the boards (1, 1').
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the operative locking surfaces (10 and 11, respectively) of the locking element (8) and the locking groove make an angle (A) of essentially 90° to the upper side of the boards (1, 1').
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) which cooperate for vertical locking and the means (6, 8; 14) which cooperate for horizontal locking have a configuration that allows insertion of the locking element (8) into the locking groove (14) by inward angling of one floorboard (1) towards the other floorboard (1') while maintaining contact between the joint edge surface portions (41, 42) of the two floorboards close to the border between the joint plane (F) and the upper side of the floorboards.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) which cooperate for vertical locking and the means (6, 8; 14) which cooperate for horizontal locking have a configuration which allows insertion of the locking element (8) into the locking groove (14) by a substantially horizontal motion of one floorboard (1) towards the other floorboard (1') during bending of the integrated strip (6) for snapping in the locking element (8) into the locking groove (14).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) which cooperate for vertical locking and the means (6, 8; 14) which cooperate for horizontal locking have a configuration which allows insertion of the locking element (8) into the locking groove (14) by a substantially vertical motion of one floorboard (1) towards the other floorboard (1') during bending of the integrated strip (6, 8) for snapping in the locking element (8) into the locking groove (14).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the relationship W > 0.5 H, where
thickness of the locking element (8) parallel with the upper side of the floorboards on a level with the operative locking surface (10) of the locking element,
height of the locking element (8) seen from the upper side of the strip (6).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, characterised in that the relationship W < 5 * H, where
thickness of the locking element (8) parallel with the upper side of the floorboards on a level with the operative locking surface (10) of the locking element
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking element (8) has a thickness parallel with the upper side of the floorboards which is greater at the lower part of the locking element than at its upper part.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lower guiding part (12) of the locking groove (14) and the corresponding lower part of the locking element (8) are designed so as not to contact each other in the locked position.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guiding part (12) of the locking groove (14) has a portion which is located inside a circular arc (C1), which has its centre (C3) where the joint plane (P) intersects the upper side of the floorboards (1, 1') and which is tangent to the upper part of the locking element (8).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking element (8) has an upper inclined or rounded guiding part (9) which is positioned above the operative locking surface (10) of the locking element (8) and outside a circular arc (C1), which has its centre (C3) where the joint plane (F) intersects the upper side of the floorboards (1, 1') and which is tangent to the upper part of the locking element (8).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the sum of on the one hand the horizontal distance (E1) between a lower edge of the guiding part (12) of the locking groove (14) and said circular arc (C1) and, on the other hand, the horizontal distance (E2) between an upper edge of the guiding part (9) of the locking element (8) and said circular arc (C1) always exceeds zero, said horizontal distance (E1) for the lower edge of the locking groove being considered negative if this lower edge is located outside said circular arc (C1).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15, characterised in that the guiding part (9) of the locking element (8) and the locking groove (14) are designed so as not to contact each other in the locked position.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the height of the locking element (8) and the depth of the locking groove (14) are such that the upper part of the locking element in the locked position does not engage the locking groove.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) which cooperate for vertical locking and the means (6, 8; 14) which cooperate for horizontal locking have a configuration that allows the locking element (8) to leave the locking groove (14) in upward angling of the floorboard (1') having the locking groove, while maintaining contact between the joint edge surface portions (41, 42) of the two floorboards close to the border between the joint plane (F) and the upper side of the floorboards.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) which cooperate for vertical locking and the means (6, 8; 14) which cooperate for horizontal locking have a configuration that allows the floorboards (1, 1') to be displaceable parallel with the joint plane (F) in the locked position.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) for vertical joining of the floorboards are formed in the joint edge portions (4a, 4b) of the floorboards.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) for vertical joining of the floorboards are formed as a tongue-and-groove joint.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the strip (6) is made of a material other than that of the core (30) of the floorboard and is integrally connected with the core.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 1-19, characterised in that the strip 18 made in one piece with the core (30) of the floorboard and integrally connected with the core.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 1,
that the operative locking surfaces (10 and 11, respectively) of the locking element (8) and the locking groove (14) have a height (LS) parallel with the joint plane (F) which is less than 0.5 times the height (H) of the locking element (8), and
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 24, characterised in that the sum of on the one hand the horizontal distance (E1) between a lower edge of the guiding part (12) of the locking groove (14) and a circular arc (C1), which has it centre (C3) where the joint plane (F) intersects the upper side of the floorboards (1, 1') and which is tangent to the upper part of the locking element (8) and, on the other hand, the horizontal distance (B2) between an upper edge of the guiding part (9) of the locking element (8) and said circular arc (C1) always exceeds zero, said horizontal distance (E1) for the lower edge of the locking groove being considered negative if this lower edge is located outside said circular arc (C1).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 24 or 25, characterised in that the floorboards (1, 1') have a core (30), a surface layer (32) on the upper side of the core and a balancing layer (24) on the rear side of the core (30).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 24, 25 or 26, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) which cooperate for vertical locking and the means (6, 8; 14) which cooperate for horizontal locking have a configuration that allows insertion of the locking element (8) into the locking groove (14) by a substantially horizontal motion of one floorboard (1) towards the other floorboard (1') during bending of the integrated strip (6) for snapping in the locking element (8) into the locking groove (14).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 24-27, characterised in that the lower guiding part (12) of the locking groove (14) and the corresponding lower part of the locking element (8) are designed so as not to contact each other in the locked position.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 24-28, characterised in that the locking element (8) has an upper guiding part (9) which is positioned above the operative locking surface (10) of the locking element (8) and further away from said centre (C3) than the circular arc (C1) which is tangent to the upper end of the locking element (8).
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 29, characterised in that the guiding part (9) of the locking element (8) and the locking groove (14) are designed so as not to contact each other in the locked position.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 24-30, characterised in that the height of the locking element (8) and the depth of the locking groove (14) are such that the upper part of the locking element in the locked position does not engage with the locking groove.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 24-31, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) which cooperate for vertical joining and the means (6, 8; 14) which cooperate for horizontal joining have a configuration that allows the floorboards (1, 1') to be displaceable parallel with the joint plane (F) in the locked position.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 24-32, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) for vertical joining of the floorboards are formed in the joint edge portions (5a, 5b) of the floorboards.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in claim 33, characterised in that the mechanical means (36, 38) for vertical joining of the floorboards are formed as a tongue-and-groove joint.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 24-34, characterised in that the strip is made of a material other than that of the core (30) of the floorboard and is integrally connected with the core.
A pair of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of claims 24-35, characterised in that the strip is made in one piece with the core (30) of the floorboard and integrally connected with the core.
A flooring composed of mechanically joinable floorboards as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims.
EP20010920073 2000-04-10 2001-04-09 Mechanically joinable floorboards Active EP1272716B1 (en)
EP10180456.5A Division EP2275618A3 (en) 2000-04-10 2001-04-09 Floorboards
EP05018797A Division EP1617009B1 (en) 2000-04-10 2001-04-09 Set of mechanically joinable rectangular floorboards
EP1272716A1 EP1272716A1 (en) 2003-01-08
EP1272716B1 true EP1272716B1 (en) 2005-08-31
EP05018797A Active EP1617009B1 (en) 2000-04-10 2001-04-09 Set of mechanically joinable rectangular floorboards
EP20010920073 Active EP1272716B1 (en) 2000-04-10 2001-04-09 Mechanically joinable floorboards
EP10180456.5A Pending EP2275618A3 (en) 2000-04-10 2001-04-09 Floorboards
EP08168247A Revoked EP2014845B1 (en) 2000-04-10 2001-04-09 Mechanically joinable rectangular floorboards
ES2403375T3 (en) 2013-05-17 Rectangular floorboards mechanically joinable
Free format text: MECHANICALLY JOINABLE FLOORBOARDS
2005-08-17 RAP1 Rights of an application transferred
Ref document number: 60113086
Ref document number: 2244600
Ref document number: 20050403456
2006-07-19 26 Opposition filed
Opponent name: TILO GMBH
2006-09-01 NLR1 Nl: opposition has been filed with the epo
2008-04-23 R26 Opposition filed (corrected)
2008-07-01 NLR1 Nl: opposition has been filed with the epo