Source: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/57707718/Floor-Panels-With-Edge-Connectors---Patent-7640708
Timestamp: 2015-07-31 22:28:21
Document Index: 782028382

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 00201515', 'Application No. 00201515', 'application No. 00201515', 'application No. 00201515', 'application No. 00201515', 'application No. 00201515', 'arts 4', 'art 5']

Floor Panels With Edge Connectors - Patent 7640708 by Patents-418
57707718
1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to hard floor panels.2. Related TechnologyIn the first instance, the invention is intended for so-called laminated floors, but generally it can also be applied for other kinds of floor covering, consisting of hard floor panels, such as veneer parquet, prefabricated parquet, or otherfloor panels which can be compared to laminated flooring.It is known that such floor panels can be applied in various ways.According to a first possibility, the floor panels are attached at the underlying floor, either by glueing or by nailing them on. This technique has a disadvantage that is rather complicated and that subsequent changes can only be made bybreaking out the floor panels.According to a second possibility, the floor panels are installed loosely onto the subflooring, whereby the floor panels mutually match into each other by means of a tongue and groove coupling, whereby mostly they are glued together in the tongueand groove, too. The floor obtained in this manner, also called a floating parquet flooring, has as an advantage that it is easy to install and that the complete floor surface can move which often is convenient in order to receive possible expansion andshrinkage phenomena.A disadvantage with a floor covering of the above-mentioned type, above all, if the floor panels are installed loosely onto the subflooring, consists in that during the expansion of the floor and its subsequent shrinkage, the floor panelsthemselves can drift apart, as a result of which undesired gaps can be formed, for example, if the glue connection breaks.In order to remedy this disadvantage, techniques have already been through of whereby connection elements made of metal are provided between the single floor panels in order to keep them together. Such connection elements, however, are ratherexpensive to make and, furthermore, their provision or the installation thereof is a time-consuming occupation.Examples of embodiments which apply such
United States Patent: 7640708
7,640,708
Moriau; Stefan Simon Gustaaf (Ghent, BE), Cappelle; Mark Gaston Maurits (Staden, BE), Thiers; Bernard Paul Joseph (Oostrozebeke, BE)
11/239,085
10266669Oct., 20026993877
52/578,586.1,592.1,591.4,591.1,592.2,591.3,588.1,390,392,533,534,539,553,586.2,589.1,590.2,590.3,591.2,592.4,745.19,747.1,747.11,748.1,748.11,582.1,591.5,745.08 403/334,345,364-368,372,375,376,381 404/34,35,40,41,46,47,49-58,68,70 428/44,47-50,57,58,60,61,106,192-194
5797175
2002/0020127
78 36 825
29 16 482
29 27 425
29 40 945
79 11 924
79 28 703
32 14 207
34 12 882
35 38 538
37 41 041
40 02 547
39 32 980
41 30 115
0 667 936
6--56310
07180333
84/02155
93/13280
94/01628
94/01688
94/26999
96/23942
96/27719
96/27721
Akzenta Brief (Arguments) in Support of Intervention in Opposition Against Unilin European Patent Application No. 00201515.4 (Including Partial Translation of Document E2 Cited Therein) (Oct. 10, 2001). cited by other
Observations by Third Party (Kandl) Regarding Patentability of Unilin European Patent Application No. 00201515.4 (including Partial Translation of Document E2 Cited Therein) (Oct. 10, 2001). cited by other
Observations of M. Kandl submitted in European patent application No. 00201515.4 of Unilin Beheer, Oct. 18, 2001. cited by other
Observations of M. Kandl submitted in European patent application No. 00201515.4 of Unilin Beheer, Dec. 18, 2001. cited by other
Observations of M. Kandl submitted in European patent application No. 00201515.4 of Unilin Beheer, Jan. 14, 2002. cited by other
Observations of M. Kandl submitted in European patent application No. 00201515.4 of Unilin Beheer, Jan. 24, 2002. cited by other
Valinge Aluminum Observations Regarding Unilin European Patent No. EP 0 83 763 (Nov. 19, 1998). cited by other
&quot;Decision of Opposition Division of European Patent Office regarding EP 1 024 234 of Unilin Beheer N.V., mailed Jul. 18, 2004.&quot; cited by other
U.S. Appl. No. 11/215,037, filed Aug. 31, 2004. cited by other
Akzento Opposition to Unilin European Patent No. EP 0 843 763 B1 (Jul. 9, 2001). cited by other.
10/266,669, filed Oct. 9, 2002, which is a continuation of 09/471,014,
filed Dec. 23, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,836; which is a continuation
of application Ser. No. 08/872,044 filed Jun. 10, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No.
6,006,486.
1.  Floor covering panel, comprising an upper side, an underside and first and second pairs of opposite side edges having upper side edges at their upper ends adjacent the
upper panel side, said side edges being provided with coupling parts substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, said coupling parts configured so as to enable two of such floor panels to be coupled to each other by placement of the tongue of one
panel in the groove of the other panel, with the respective upper side edges of the panels adjoining each other;  said coupling parts being provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which in coupled condition of two of such panels cooperate
with each other to prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to an underside of the coupled floor panels;  wherein said groove is bordered by an upper lip and a lower lip, said
lower lip at least at the first pair of side edges extending beyond said upper lip;  further wherein at least at the first pair of side edges said locking elements comprise a locking element in the form of a protrusion at the lower side of the tongue and
a locking element formed in an upper side of said lower lip which borders a recess, and wherein said locking elements at the first pair of side edges comprise contact a locking surface which is located in said lower lip at a location distally beyond said
upper lip;  at least at the first pair of side edges, said coupling parts and integrated mechanical locking elements being integrally formed in one piece with the floor panel;  coupling parts and locking elements at said first pair of side edges being
configured such that said coupling of a pair of panels is achievable by a turning movement wherein one panel by its side edge is angled-in to the side edge of the other panel until a tongue of one panel is fully received in a groove of the other panel
with the locking surfaces in contact with each other with the respective upper side edges adjoining each other, and further such that coupling and interlocking by snap action of two such floor panels at said first pair of side edges also is achievable by
a translation movement of the panels towards each other in essentially a common plane extending parallel to the undersides of the panels starting from a separated condition of the panels, such that the groove of one panel receives the tongue of the other
panel, with a locking element on the tongue contacting a locking element on the lower lip and with displacement of the locking element of the lower lip while the panels are translated parallel to said plane followed by return of the displaced locking
element towards its position before coupling with a snap action effecting cooperative engagement between the locking elements preventing drifting apart of the panels along their adjoining side edges in a direction perpendicular to the respective side
edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels.
2.  The floor covering panel as in claim 1, said panel having a thickness from 0.5 to 1 cm.
3.  The floor covering panel as in claim 1, wherein said locking elements of coupled panels at least at the first pair of side edges are located such that the lowermost point of engagement of the locking elements is located underneath a top
layer of the floor panel which carries the related tongue.
4.  The floor covering panel as in claim 1, wherein at least at the first pair of side edges an upper side of the tongue and a lower side of the upper lip are provided with cooperating flat contact surfaces that engage each other upon coupling
of two panels.
5.  The floor covering panel as in claim 4, wherein said flat contact surfaces extend substantially parallel to a principal plane of the floor panel.
6.  The floor covering panel as in claim 1, wherein at least at the first pair of side edges in coupled condition of a pair of panels with the locking surfaces in contact with each other, said locking surfaces define a common line of tangency
where they contact each other, said line of tangency being obliquely inclined relative to a panel principal plane such that it extends from an upper point distally spaced from the innermost point of the groove to a lower point closer to the innermost
point of the groove with respect to the upper point.
7.  The floor covering panel as in claim 6, wherein the angle of inclination of said line of tangency is 30 to 70 degrees.
8.  The floor covering panel as in claim 1, wherein at least at the first pair of side edges said lower lip extends beyond the upper lip, measured in the plane of the floor panel and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the groove, a
distance that is less than the thickness of the floor panel.
9.  The floor covering panel as in claim 1, wherein at least at the first pair of side edges said upper lip is vertically thicker than said lower lip.
10.  The floor covering panel as in claim 1, wherein said panel is selected from the group consisting of laminated floor panels, veneer parquet and prefabricated parquet.
11.  The floor panel as in claim 1, wherein the coupling parts and locking elements at least at the first pair of side edges are configured such that said locking surfaces contact each other when a pair of the panels are coupled by placement of
the tongue of one panel into the groove of the other panel with the respective upper side edges of the panels adjoining each other, to thereby secure the upper side edges of said coupled panels in adjoined relationship while preventing unintentional
separation between the upper side edges which would produce undesired gaps between the upper side edges in directions perpendicular to the related side edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels.
12.  The floor covering panel as in claim 1, wherein the floor panel is shaped as a board of substantially uniform thickness, and wherein said coupling parts and integrated mechanical locking elements comprise cut profiles made of the board
13.  The floor covering panel as in claim 12, wherein the floor panel comprises a monolithic core, said profiles being formed in the said core.  Description
previous; and the coupling parts 4-5 preferably are interlocked free from play in all directions in a plane which is located perpendicular to the aforementioned edges to avoid undesired gaps between the panel upper edges.
In the represented example, the locking elements 6 consist of a first locking element 11, formed by a protrusion with a bent round (arcuate) shape at the lower side 12 of the tongue 9 (tongue arcuate lower surface), and a second locking element
13 (shown in FIG. 2), formed by a first recess with a bent hollow or downwardly concave shape in the lower wall 14 of the groove 10 (groove arcuate lower surface portion).
of which coincides with the respective upper side edge 15 of the floor panel 1, whereas the lower wall 14 of the locking part 5 has a curvature with a radius R2 which is equal to the radius R1, but its center coincides with the respective upper side edge
16.  Radii R1 and P2 may also be applied which are larger or smaller than the distance to the upper edge 15, 16 respectively, and/or which differ from each other in size.
The upper side or surface 17 of the tongue 9 (tongue planar upper surface portion) and the upper surface or side 18 of the groove 10 (groove planar upper surface portion, also identifiable as the lower surface of upper lip 22) are preferably
planar and preferably are located in the horizontal plane.
The inner side 20 of the groove 10 and the front side or distal end 19 of the tongue 9 of the two interlocked floor panels 1 preferably do not fit closely against each other, such that an intermediate space 21 is created between them into which
possible dust remainders or such can be pushed away by means of the tongue 9.
The tongue 9 and the groove 10 preferably have shapes which are complementary to each other, such that the tongue 9 in the engaged condition of two identical floor panels 1 precisely sits against the upper wall 18 and the lower wall 14, whereby a
pressure P, exerted against upper lip 22, is received or reacted not only by this lip 22, but by the complete structure, because this pressure can be transmitted through the tongue 9 and the lower lip 23 to cause the panels to be urged towards each
It is, however, clear that a number of minor deviations to these complementary forms can occur which, anyhow, have no or almost no effect upon the receipt and transmission of pressure forces.  For example, a chamfer 24 on lip 22 and a second
recess 25 can be provided, as represented in FIGS. 2 to 4, as a result of which the subsequent floor panels 1 can easily be pushed and guided into each other, such that no possible ridges in the subflooring or such render good insertion difficult.
In this case, the locking elements 33-34 have contact surfaces 38-39 which are parallel to each other and preferably extend in an obliquely inclined manner, according to a direction which simplifies the snapping-together of the panels.  In FIG.
5, locking surface on tongue 38 is inclined downwardly and distally, with the surface facing proximally on the tongue, and locking surface 39 on the lower lip is inclined downwardly and proximally, while facing proximally on the lower lip.  The common
plane or line of tangency L which is determined by the common tangent at the meeting point or area of surfaces 38-39, hereby forms an oblique angle A sloping inwardly and downwardly relative to the innermost point of the groove or from an outer region to
an inner region relative to the underside 7, which angle is smaller than 90.degree..
engaging two floor panels 1, inevitably infiltrates there.
In FIG. 10, a variant is represented whereby at least at the level of the upper contact edges 15-16, a sealing material 52 is provided, as a result of which a watertight sealing can be assured.  This sealing material 52 may consist of a strip or
covering which is provided previously at the floor panel 1, either at one or both upperside edges 15-16.
According to a particular form of embodiment, the central line or plane M1 through the tongue 9 and the groove 10 is situated lower than the center line or plane M2 of the floor panel 1, such, that the upper lip 22-42 is thicker than the lower
lip 23-43.  In first instance, this is essential in this kind of connection, because then it is the lower lip 23-43 which bends, whereby the upper side of the floor panel 1 is kept free of possible deformations.
least partially bent away and in this way creates a tension force which results in the engaged floor panels 1 being forced towards each other.  The resultant bending V, as well as the tension force K, are indicated in the enlargement view of FIG. 23.
edges of the locking elements 33-34, with the advantages that the locking elements can easily shift over each other during their engagement, or during disassembly of the floor panels 1 and that the locking elements will not be damaged, for example,
crumble away at their edges, even if the floor panels are engaged and disassembled; dust chambers 81, or spaces 21 as in FIG. 4, between all sides, directed laterally towards each other, of the engaged floor panels 1, with the advantage that inclusions
which get between the floor panels 1 during the engagement do not exert an adverse influence upon good engagement; a shaping of the tongue 9 which is such, for example, by the presence of a chamfer 82, that the upper side of the tongue 9 becomes situated
from the first joining together or substantial contact of the panels, under the lower side of the upper lip 42 when the floor panels 1 are pushed towards each other in substantially the same plane, as indicated in FIG. 25, with the advantage that the
front extremity or end of the tongue 9 does not press against the front side of the upper lip 42 or the front edge of the bottom lip 43 when the floor panels are pushed towards each other in the same plane; a ramp surface 83, hereinbefore also called
inclined portion 41, formed at the distally outer end of the lower lip 43, with the advantage that the locking elements 33-34 shift smoothly over each other and that the lower lip 43 is bent uniformly; in the engagement direction only one important
contact point which is formed by a section 84 at the location of the upperside edges of the floor panels 1, with the advantage that the aforementioned tension force is optimally transferred to the upper side of the floor panels 1 and that the development
of openings between the floor panels 1 is counteracted; contact surfaces 85-86, more particularly abutment surfaces, formed by the upper side of the tongue 9 and the upper side of the groove 10 which, over the largest portion  of their length, are flat
and run parallel to the plane which is defined by the floor panels 1, as well as contact surfaces cooperating with each other, formed by curvatures 77-78, with the advantage that no mutual displacement in height between two engaged floor panels 1 is
possible, even if the insertion depth of the tongue 9 into the groove 10 should vary due to various causes; in other words, no height differences may occur between the adjacent floor panels.
"Floor Panels With Edge Connectors - Patent 7640708"