Source: http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/2475076/summary.html
Timestamp: 2019-08-19 15:07:09+00:00
Document Index: 328098903

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 4', 'arts 4', 'arts 4', 'arts 4', 'arts 4', 'arts 4', 'arts 4', 'arts 4']

Patent 2475076 Summary - Canadian Patents Database
Canadian Patents Database / Patent 2475076 Summary
(11) CA 2475076
Revêtement de sol composé de panneaux de plancher durs (1) qui sont pourvus d'éléments d'accouplement coopérants (4-5, 28-29) au moins au niveau des bords de deux côtés opposés (2-3, 26-27), ces éléments étant sensiblement sous forme de languettes (9-31) et de rainures (10-32), caractérisé par le fait que les éléments d'accouplement (4-5, 28-29) sont pourvus de moyens de verrouillage mécanique intégrés (6) qui empêchent deux panneaux de plancher accouplés de s'éloigner l'un de l'autre en une direction (R) perpendiculaire aux bords associés (2-3, 26-27) et parallèle à la face inférieure (7) desdits panneaux accouplés (1).
1. A floor covering panel comprising laminated hard floor panel having a
wood-based core material comprising a ground wood product and a binding
agent unified to form a cured composite;
- said floor panel having a decorative layer above said core material;
- said floor panel having an upper side, an under side and a perimeter
defining first and second pairs of opposed substantially parallel sides;
- said first and second pairs of sides both being provided with coupling parts
substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove the coupling parts further
including locking elements;
- said groove of at least said first pair of sides including an upper lip and
lower lip, said lower lip extending distally beyond the upper lip;
- said coupling parts cooperating to establish a locking between coupled parts
in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panel as well as in a
perpendicular to the side edges and parallel to a plane including the panel
the coupling parts of a plurality of ones of said panel are coupled;
- said tongue, groove and locking elements being monolithically formed in
said composite core;
- said coupling parts and locking elements of at least said first pair of
enabling coupling of two of such panels so that the panels are coupled free
play in the plane of the coupled panels;
- the coupling parts of said first pair of sides being engageable and coupled
by rotational motion relative to each other;
- said tongue of said first pair of sides including an upper tongue contact
surface and a lower tongue contact surface and an outer peripheral portion of
the tongue defined along and between said tongue contact surfaces;
- said groove of said first pair of sides including corresponding upper and
lower groove contact surfaces which engage the upper and lower tongue
contact surfaces of said tongue upon coupling of said coupling parts;
- said lower tongue and groove contact surfaces comprising said coupling
parts and locking elements enabling coupling of two of such panels so that the
panels are coupled free from play in a plane including the coupled panels;
- said coupling parts of said first pair of sides upon coupling defining a
plurality of separate clearances adjacent at least a portion of said outer
peripheral portion of said tongue between said groove and said tongue;
- said panel at said first pair of sides comprising at least one intermediate
tongue contact surface on said tongue positioned along the outer peripheral
portion of said tongue intermediate the upper and lower tongue contact
groove contact surface intermediate the upper and lower groove contact
- said intermediate tongue and groove contact surfaces of two of said panels
cooperating with each other upon coupling of two of said panels.
2. The floor panel according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate contact
surface on said groove is disposed proximally relative to a distalmost portion
said upper lip.
3. The floor covering according to claim 1, wherein at least one clearance is
defined by said engaged tongue and groove in an area between the respective
intermediate tongue and groove contact surfaces and the lower tongue and
groove contact surfaces of said engaged tongue and groove.
4. The floor covering panel according to claim 1, wherein the coupling parts
of said second pair of sides are engageable and coupled by rotational motion
relative to each other about an axis extending parallel to said sides.
5. The floor covering panel according to claim 1, wherein the cured
composite core comprises MDF/HDF.
6. The floor covering according to claim 1, wherein the locking elements
include a locking protrusion defined on the tongue and a cooperating recess
defined in the groove.
7. The floor covering panel according to claim 6, wherein the locking
protrusion is defined on an under side of said tongue.
8. The floor covering panel according to claim 6, wherein the locking
protrusion is in the form of a local sharp protrusion on the under side of
9. The floor covering panel according to claim 6, wherein the cooperating
recess formed in the lower lip defines a portion of a clearance between the
tongue and the groove that is established when the coupling parts are coupled.
10. The floor covering panel according to claim 7, wherein the locking
protrusion provided in the under side of the tongue extends substantially
downward from the under side of the tongue and the recess defined in the
groove is aligned with the locking protrusion when the coupling parts are
11. The floor covering panel according to claim 1, wherein the lower lip has a
cross-section configuration uniform along the length of the respective edge
including the lower lip and has a non-uniform thickness between upper and
12. The floor covering panel according to claim 11, wherein the lower lip has
a thickness adjacent a proximal inner portion of the groove that becomes non-
uniformly thinner in the distal direction of the lip.
13. A floor covering panel comprising hard floor panel having a perimeter
defining at least a first pair of opposed substantially parallel edges and
substantially planar and parallel upper and lower sides;
- said pair of edges being provided with complementary coupling parts
substantially in the form of a tongue and groove extending distally along the
length of said pair of edges and being formed in the panel material which is
located between said planar upper and lower sides;
- the coupling parts further including locking elements;
- said coupling parts and locking elements cooperating upon coupling of said
coupling parts such that coupled ones of said panel are locked in a direction
the edges and parallel to a plane including the panel;
- said groove having an upper lip and a lower lip, said lower lip extending
distally beyond said upper lip:
- said upper lip defining a first clearance below said upper side of said
and defining an upper lip contact surface adjacent said clearance, said first
clearance defining an upper chamber below said upper side and above said
tongue upon coupling of cooperating coupling parts;
- said lower lip having an inwardly and downwardly inclined lower lip contact
surface formed therein;
- said tongue having an upper tongue contact surface and a lower tongue
contact surface located along the tongue periphery such that the upper and
lower tongue contact surfaces respectively abut the upper and lower lip
surfaces when adjacent panels are coupled; and
- at least one second chamber being defined between the tongue and groove
in the area along the tongue periphery between the respective upper tongue
contact surface and the lower tongue contact surface when adjacent panels are
14. The floor covering panel according to claim 13, wherein the tongue and
groove may be coupled to each other by rotating one coupling part relative to
another cooperating coupling part about an axis extending parallel to the
respective coupled edges.
15. The floor covering panel according to claim 13, wherein said first
clearance is a closed chamber bounded on a lower side by abutting upper lip
and upper tongue contact surfaces upon coupling of said coupled parts.
16. The floor covering panel according to claim 15, said upper lip contact
surface extending along the panel edge and parallel to the plane of the panel.
17. The floor covering panel according to claim 13, wherein said floor panel
a laminate including an MDF/HDF core.
18. The floor covering panel according to claim 13, wherein said tongue,
groove and locking elements of at least said first pair of edges enable two of
such panels to be coupled to each other free from play in the plane of the
19. The floor covering panel according to claim 13, wherein said second
chamber is located in front of the distal end of the tongue tip.
20. The floor covering panel according to claim 13, wherein said locking
elements include a locking protrusion at the lower side of the tongue, said
second chamber being located below said tongue and in front of said locking
21. The floor covering panel according to claim 13, wherein the panel is a
laminate and includes a core, and said coupling parts as well as said locking
elements are made in one piece with said core.
22. The floor covering panel according to claim 13, wherein the locking
protrusion having a convex rounded bottom profile.
23. The floor covering panel according to claim 13, wherein the locking
protrusion having a convex rounded profile and a recess in the lower lip, said
recess having a concave rounded profile.
24. The floor covering panel according to claim 23, wherein said rounded
profiles are substantially circle-shaped.
25. The floor covering panel according to claim 23, wherein said lower lip
contact surface and said lower tongue contact surface comprise said locking
26. The floor covering panel according to claim 23, wherein said locking
protrusion, seen in cross-section, extends over a substantial portion of the
- said floor panel having a core material and a decorative layer material
said core material;
- said floor having a thickness between 0.5 and 1.5 cm;
- said first and second pairs of sides both being provided with coupling
substantially in the form of a tongue and groove, the coupling parts further
- said coupling parts of at least said first pair of side cooperating to
locking between coupled parts in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the
panel as well as in a direction perpendicular to the side edges and parallel
plane including the panel when the coupling parts of a plurality of ones said
panel are coupled;
- said tongue, groove and locking elements or said first pair of sides being
formed in one piece with the panel, the coupling parts of said first pair of
being engageable and coupled by rotational motion relative to each other;
- said locking elements of at least said first pair of sides including a
- said locking protrusion being in the form of a local sharp protrusion on the
under side of said tongue;
- said protrusion in one direction laterally being delimited by a first
said first surface acting as a locking element preventing relative movement
between coupled panels in a direction parallel to a plane including the
- said protrusion, in the opposite direction being limited by a second
- said tongue and groove defining a clearance which is located directly
adjacent said second surface and below the tongue portion which is located
distally beyond said protrusion.
28. The floor covering panel according to claim 27, wherein the core material
is MDF or HDF.
29. The floor covering panel according to claim 27, wherein said coupling
parts of said at least first pair of sides are configured so that when coupled
are free of play.
CA 02475076 2004-08-17
WC 97!47834 PCTIEP97/03006
Floor covering, consisting of hard floor panels and
method for manufacturing such floor panels.
In first instance, the invention is. intended for so-
IO called laminated floors, but generally it can also be
According to a first possibility, trre floor panels are
that it is rather complicated and that. subsequent changes
obtained in this manner, also called. a floating parquet
flooring, has as an advantage that its is easy to install
" and that the complete floor surface can move which often
is convenient in order to receive possible expansion and
W~ 97147834 PCTlEP97lQ3UQ6
shrinkage, the floor panels themselvEa can drift apart,
only is appropriate far massive wooden parquetry.
CA 02475076 2005-10-25
floor panels of~which can be manufactured in a smooth
comprising laminated hard floor panel having a wood-based core material
comprising a ground wood product and a binding agent unified to form a cured
CA 02475076 2006-O1-23
these form a fixed part of the floor panels, either by
floor panels towards each other. As a result of this is
According to another preferred embodiment, the coupling parts, hereby, are
floor panels ; that the coupling parts have such a shape
the lips which border the aforementioned groove,.. measured
which the aforementioned core and locking means are
groove, extends beyond the upper lip: that the locking
described above-are applied along the longitudinal sides
According to another preferred form of embodiment, coupling parts are provided
at the other two sides, too, either of another construction than described
material use shall. be made of the aforementioned product,
agent, composed to a singlecompound. More particularly,
described above, offers the advantage that with .the
from play,. Also, very special forms of coupling parts can
Preferably, the applicants also discovered that the aforementioned materials,
such as mentioned above, as these material show the right features in respect
to elastic deformation in order to, on the one hand, realize a snap-together
1D effect, and, on the other hand, receive expansion and shrinkage forces in
elastic manner, whereby it is avoided that the floor panels come unlocked or
based~on synthetic material, to this end solid synthetic
20 floor panels into each other free of glue. Hereby, the
30 According to the present invention, there is also provided with a floor
panel for forming a floating floor:
the coupling parts further including locking elements;
According to the present invention, there is also provided with a floor
panel comprising hard floor panel having a perimeter defining at least a first
of opposed substantially parallel edges and substantially planar and parallel
the edges and parallel to a plane including the pariel;
The invention also relates to a method for the manufacturing of the
aforementioned floor panels with which the advantage that the tongues and/or
grooves, including the corresponding locking means, can be provided at the
floor panels at high production speeds without problems. More particularly, it
aims at a method which allows that the rather complicated forms of the tongue
and the groove of the aforementioned floor panels can be formed completely by
means of milling cutters, the diameter of which can be chosen independent of
the form to be realized, such that the use of small milling cutters, for
finger cutters, with diameters smaller than the depth of the tongue or groove
Preferably, for the aforementioned two milling cycles, thus, milling cutters
used which extend outside the groove, respectively the tongue. More
the diameters of these milling cutters shall at least be 5 times and even
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:.
according to"the invention;
figure 2, on a larger scale, represents a ~cross-
PCTlEP97/03006
' WO 97/47834
figures 6 and Z represent how two floor panels with
figures 8 to 21 represent a number of variants of
(figures 14 to 21, on a larger scale and in cross-
2Q invention;
floor panels according to figure 22 to each other,
WO 97147834 PCTIEP97/03006
apposite sides 2-3, provided with coupling parts 4-5
1: the coupling parts 4=5 and the locking means 6 are
subsequent floor panels i can be engaged into each other
into the previous; and the coupling ,parts 4-5 preferably
regresented.in figure 1, the respective coupling parts 4-
a tongue 9 and a groove 30.
floor, panel 1 is provided with coupling parts 4-5 and
a lateral movement in the horizontal.plane in respect to
side.l2 has a curvature with a radius R1, the center of
R1, but whereby its center coincides. with the related
The upper side I7 of the tongue 9 and the upper wall 18
The front sides 19 and 20~of the tongue 9 and the groove
l0 of two interlocked floor panels 1 preferably do not
W~ 97147834 PCT/EP97103006
24 .and a recess 25 can be provided, as represented in
CA 02475076 2006-03-O1
' the lower~wall 37 of the groove 32. The locking element
.. tangent line L which is'determined by the contact planes'
incliwed portions 40 and 41 which, when engaging two
The thickness W1 of the tongue 31 preferably is equal to
the width w2 of the groove 32, such that the upper lip 42,
which, 'in its turn, then is supported by the lower lip
.and a chamfer 45 are provided also at the edges 28-29.
WO 97147834 PCT/EP97I03006
locking elements 3.3-34 which consist of rather local
I0 In this case, the locking elements 46-47 are also
provided at the lower side I2 of the tongue 9 and the
lower wall 14 of the groove IO»
I5 contact surfaces 48-49 which are at an angle with the
plane of the floor panel I° Hereby, a coupling is
obtained which is interlocked in-:,a particularly fixed
20 As represented.in figure 9, the locking elements 46-47
The surfaces, directed towards each other, of the locking
WO 97147834 PCTIEP97103006
to in the groove 10.
In figure to, a variant is represented whereby at least
at the height of the upger edges 15~-1s, a sealing
provided previously at the floor parcel 1, either at one
or both upper edges 15°-16.
In ffigure 11, a further variant is represented, whereby
portion 53 at the tongue 9 which, as-a result of a
In general, acctrrding to the invention, the difference
' between, on one hand, the radius R1, R3 respectively,
'.. W097147834 PCTIEP97/03006
situated inside the circle C1,. C2 respectively, which
the groove l0-32 automatically are positioned in front of
shorter than the upper lip 22, in thsair turn, offer the
extreme edge of the f loon Which might cause problems in
lower iip 23-43, measured in the plane of the floor panel
stability's sake, normally this total. thickness F shall
WO 97147834 PCTlEP97IU3006
advantage that the lower lap must not be strengthened by
panel 1 is kept free of possible defo7rmations.
As explained in the introduction, for the care 8 a
agent or by means of melting together,~is composed
made of MDF board, FiDF board or similar, whereby at least
at the upper side of this core 8 on.e or more layers of
layer, , imgregnated with resin, for example, made of
,' WO 97147834 PCT/EP97/03~06
to Preferably, also a backing layer 58 shall be applied at
As represented schematically in figure 12 , the tongue 9
by means of two perpendicular movements V2 and V2,
whereby during the first movement profiles at. two
at the other edges; in this case the small edges, by
the related floor panel Z.
The figures 28-19 and 20-21 represent similar views
showing how the groove 32 and the tongue 32 are realized
groove l0, whereas the milling cutter 64 determines the
other milling cutters are applied, for. example, in order
garts with an elastically bendable portion, in this case
to which provides for that the engaged floor panels I are
i5 In order to obtain that the tension force K results i:n
In the figures 2 and 5, the .portions form complementary
WO 97147834 PCTIEP97~03006
s together of the floor panels 1. and, on the other hand, to
resgectively disassembled.
1.5 example, several hundredths up to several tenths of a
by. manufacturing the coupling parts 4-5, including the
' WO 9714')834 PCTlEP97103006
1o elastically compressible material.
25 in figure 24, as well as by means of shifting them
20 lip 43, which bending Vm is less pronounced, if not non-
25 The advantage of this consists in that the floor panels 1
of shifting them. This latter as useful, in first
3o instance, when the' last panel has to be placed partially
35 adjacent floor panel 1.
WO 97/47834 PCTlEP97103006
According to the invention, in the ease that the four
sides 2-3-25-27 are provided with coupling parts 4-5-28-
least two portions 75-76, resgectively a portion 75 with
WO 97147834 PCT/EP97103006
- a curvature ?7 at the lower side of the tongue 9
panels I and that the locking elements are not
- dust chambers 81, or spaces 21 as ,in figure 4,
between all sides, directed latera3ly towards each
other, of the engaged f loos panels l, with the
~'; WO 97!47834 PCTIEP97103006
between the floor panels 1 is counteracted;
to plane which is defined by the floor panels 1, as well
f loon panels 1 is possible, even if the insertion
15 depth of the tongue 9 into the groove 1Q should vary
no height differences may occur between the ad~acant
2Q In the form of embodiment of figures 22 to 25, all these
means 5, in other words, the portion providing for the
layer,vf the floor panel 1. For clarity's sake, this top
° WO 97!47834 P~TIEP97103006
upward direction, ~~in other words, such that, as
2-3 and/or 26-27 with a surf ace densifying agent, more
WO 97147834 P~TIEP97103006
In figure 22, such impregnation. 88 is z°epresented
obtained. As a result of this, the .coupling parts 4-5
PCT/EP97103006
v wo 9~~a~rssa
described before cah be applied at the longer side as
Examination Requested 2004-08-17
Request for Examination $800.00 2004-08-17
Registration of Documents $100.00 2004-08-17
Filing $400.00 2004-08-17
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 2 1999-06-07 $100.00 2004-08-17
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 3 2000-06-07 $100.00 2004-08-17
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 4 2001-06-07 $100.00 2004-08-17
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 5 2002-06-07 $200.00 2004-08-17
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 6 2003-06-09 $200.00 2004-08-17
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 7 2004-06-07 $200.00 2004-08-17
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 8 2005-06-07 $200.00 2005-05-20
Final $300.00 2006-03-21
Maintenance Fee - Patent - New Act 14 2011-06-07 $250.00 2011-05-18
Maintenance Fee - Patent - New Act 15 2012-06-07 $450.00 2012-05-24
Maintenance Fee - Patent - New Act 18 2015-06-08 $450.00 2015-05-26
Description 2006-01-23 32 1,553
Claims 2006-01-23 7 283
Abstract 2004-08-17 1 20
Description 2004-08-17 28 1,450
Claims 2004-08-17 7 367
Representative Drawing 2004-09-29 1 26
Cover Page 2004-10-07 1 58
Description 2005-10-25 32 1,555
Claims 2005-10-25 7 290
Drawings 2006-03-01 10 519
Description 2006-03-01 32 1,545
Representative Drawing 2006-05-18 1 27
Cover Page 2006-05-18 1 58
Prosecution-Amendment 2006-01-23 11 406
Correspondence 2004-08-31 1 44
Correspondence 2004-12-03 1 15
Fees 2005-05-20 1 32
Prosecution-Amendment 2005-11-02 1 13
Prosecution-Amendment 2005-11-18 2 60
Prosecution-Amendment 2006-03-01 4 156
Prosecution-Amendment 2006-03-21 1 19
Correspondence 2006-03-21 1 30
Fees 2007-05-17 1 44
Fees 2009-05-21 1 33
Fees 2010-05-18 1 34
Fees 2011-05-18 1 34
Fees 2012-05-24 1 38
Prosecution-Amendment 2005-10-25 22 1,077
Prosecution-Amendment 2006-02-15 2 51