Floor board with universal connection system

A method of manufacture of a first board and a second similar board, each board having a core layer with an underside and edges and edge faces, the method comprising:

• forming by machining a plurality of recesses in the underside of the core layer of the first and second boards to form a plurality of machined recesses;
• forming the upper shape of hooking tongues extending outwardly from the edges of the core layer by machining the core layer of the first and second boards;
• isolating the hooking tongues from each other by machining the core layer to form a plurality of isolated machined hooking tongues along the edges separated by regions of the core edge located between the isolated machined hooking tongues of the first and second boards;
• whereby the machined recesses are adapted for engaging with the isolated machined hooking tongues, the isolated machined hooking tongues and the plurality of machined recesses of each board being arranged to allow engagement of the isolated machined hooking tongues of a first board with the machined recesses of the second adjacent board to form a tessellation;
• and
• forming machined beveled surfaces on outer edges of the core layer in the regions between the isolated machined hooking tongues of the first and second boards, the isolated machined hooking tongues having machined beveled nose surfaces, such that joining of the first board to the second board can be done by sliding boards together while they are substantially co-planar, whereby a machined beveled surface on the edges of the core layer of the first board is adapted to come into contact with the machined beveled nose surface of an isolated machined hooking tongue of the second board to facilitate the isolated machined hooking tongue passing along and under the machined beveled surface of the edge into a machined recess on the underside of the core layer.

A plurality of first, second and third polygonal boards, each board having a core layer with an underside, a topside, edges and edge faces,

• the core layer having a plurality of isolated machined hooking tongues formed integrally with the core layer and extending outwardly from the edges of the core layer, the isolated machined hooking tongues being isolated from each other along the edges by machining of the core layer;
• the core layer of the first board having at least two recesses machined in the underside of the core layer on two sides for engaging with isolated machined hooking tongues of the second or third board,
• the isolated machined hooking tongues and the at least two recesses of each board being arranged to allow sliding mating of the isolated machined hooking tongues of the first board with the machined recesses of the adjacent second board and with the machined recesses of the adjacent third board thereby forming an abutment surface in the joint between the first board and the second board and between the first and third boards,
• the isolated machined hooking tongues and machined recesses of adjacent boards co-operating to provide both vertical and horizontal locking engagement of any two boards of the first to third boards;
• the core layer of each of the first to third boards further having machined beveled surfaces formed on outer edges of the core layer in regions of the core layer between the isolated machined hooking tongues,
• the isolated machined hooking tongues having machined beveled nose surfaces, such that joining of one board to another board can be done by sliding boards together while they are substantially co-planar,
• whereby the machined beveled surface on the edges of the core layer of the first board is adapted to contact the machine beveled nose surface of the isolated machined hooking tongue of the second or third board when sliding boards together to facilitate the isolated machined hooking tongue passing along and under the machined beveled surface of the edge of the core layer into one of the machined recesses on the underside of the core layer of the second or third board.