# US 10,480,199 B2 · Floorboards with horizontally and vertically locking connecting profiles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,199 B2 - Document ID: US10480199B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/735,805 - Filed: 2016-06-22 - Published: 2019-04-11 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-26 - Assignees: Tarkett GDL - Applicants: Tarkett GDL S.A. - Inventors: Jean-Yves Simon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480199B2 ## CPC - E04F 15/02038: {characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements} - E04F 15/08: only of stone or stone-like material, e.g. {ceramics}, concrete; of glass {or with a top layer of stone or stone-like material, e.g. ceramics, concrete or glass (E04F15/02005 takes precedence)} - E04F 2201/0153: by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is parallel to the abutting edges, possibly combined with a sliding movement - E04F 2201/0161: with snap action of the edge connectors - E04F 2201/02: Non-undercut connections, e.g. tongue and groove connections - E04F 2201/043: with tongues and grooves being formed by projecting or recessed parts of the panel layers - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) ## Abstract The invention relates to a floorboard for a flooring system comprising a plurality of mechanically connectable floorboards. The floorboard comprises a first connecting profile along a first side and a second connecting profile along a second side that is parallel to the first side. The first connecting profile is configured for locking engagement with the second connecting profile of another floorboard both horizontally and vertically. The first connecting profile comprises a protruding strip at the bottom face of the floorboard, the protruding strip terminating outwardly in a locking element projecting towards the top face of the floor board. The second connecting profile comprises an overhanging tongue delimiting at its bottom a recess for receiving the protruding strip, the recess comprising a locking groove configured for cooperating with the locking element so as to provide a horizontal locking effect. The first connecting profile comprises a tongue groove arranged above a stem portion of the protruding strip. The tongue groove is configured to accommodate the tip of the overhanging tongue so as to provide a vertical locking effect. The overhanging tongue comprises an upper contact surface and a lower contact surface that are inclined with respect to each other. Complementarily, the tongue groove is delimited by an upper delimiting surface and a lower delimiting surface. The upper and lower contact surface of the overhanging tongue are configured to be put into contact with the upper and lower delimiting surface, respectively, of the tongue groove. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A floorboard for a flooring system comprising a plurality of mechanically connectable floorboards, the floorboard comprising a bottom face and a top face, a first connecting profile along a first side and a second connecting profile along a second side, which is parallel to the first side, the first connecting profile being configured for locking engagement with the second connecting profile of another floorboard both horizontally and vertically, wherein the first connecting profile comprises a protruding strip having a horizontal bottom surface that is part of the bottom face of the floorboard, the protruding strip terminating in a locking element projecting towards the top face of the floorboard so that the protruding strip has its biggest thickness at the locking element; wherein the second connecting profile comprises an overhanging tongue delimiting at its bottom a recess for receiving the protruding strip, the recess comprising a locking groove configured for cooperating with the locking element so as to provide a horizontal locking effect, the overhanging tongue comprising a tip; wherein the first connecting profile comprises a tongue groove arranged above a stem portion of the protruding strip, the tongue groove being configured to accommodate the tip of the overhanging tongue so as to provide a vertical locking effect; wherein the tip of the overhanging tongue comprises an upper contact surface and a lower contact surface that are inclined with respect to each other so as to define a first virtual intersection axis that lies outside the respective floorboard; wherein the tongue groove is delimited by an upper delimiting surface and a lower delimiting surface that are inclined with respect to each other, so as to define a second virtual intersection axis that lies inside the respective floorboard; wherein the upper and lower contact surface of the tip of the overhanging tongue are configured to be put into contact with the upper and lower delimiting surface, respectively, of the tongue groove, so that said first virtual intersection axis substantially coincides with said second virtual intersection axis, when the first connecting profile is in locking engagement with the second connecting profile of another floorboard; wherein the lower contact surface and the lower delimiting surface are inclined relative to a horizontal plane; and wherein the upper contact surface and the lower contact surface define an angle therebetween that is comprised in the range from 3° to 20°, while the upper delimiting surface and the lower delimiting surface also define an angle therebetween that is comprised in the range from 3° to 20°. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip of the overhanging tongue has a horizontal upper contact surface and wherein the upper delimiting surface of the tongue groove is also horizontal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floorboard is a wood flooring panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floorboard is a laminate flooring panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floorboard is a polymer-based flooring panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The floorboard as claimed in claim 5, wherein the floorboard is a vinyl tile. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floorboard is a fibre-cement-based flooring panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floorboard is a geopolymer-based flooring panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, comprising a third connecting profile along a third side and a fourth connecting profile along a fourth side, which is parallel to the third side, the third connecting profile being configured for locking engagement with the fourth connecting profile of another floorboard both horizontally and vertically, wherein the third connecting profile comprises a protruding strip at the bottom face of the floorboard, the protruding strip terminating in a locking element projecting towards the top face of the floorboard; wherein the fourth connecting profile comprises an overhanging tongue delimiting at its bottom a recess for receiving the protruding strip, the recess comprising a locking groove configured for cooperating with the locking element so as to provide a horizontal locking effect; wherein the third connecting profile comprises a tongue groove arranged above a stem portion of the protruding strip, the tongue groove being configured to accommodate the tip of the overhanging tongue so as to provide a vertical locking effect; wherein the overhanging tongue comprises an upper contact surface and a lower contact surface that are inclined with respect to each other, wherein the tongue groove is delimited by an upper delimiting surface and a lower delimiting surface, and wherein the upper and lower contact surface of the overhanging tongue are configured to be put into contact with the upper and lower delimiting surface, respectively, of the tongue groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The floorboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and third connecting profiles on the one hand and the second and fourth connecting profiles on the other hand are differently dimensioned. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The floorboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and third connecting profiles on the one hand and the second and fourth connecting profiles on the other hand are identical. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, having a height from the bottom face to the top face comprised in the range from 4 mm to 15 mm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A flooring system, comprising a plurality of floorboards as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 14 A fibre-cement-based flooring panel for a flooring system comprising a plurality of mechanically connectable panels, the panel comprising a bottom face and a top face, a connecting profile along a first side and a second connecting profile along a second side, which is parallel to the first side, the first connecting profile being configured for locking engagement with the second connecting profile of another panel both horizontally and vertically; wherein the first connecting profile comprises a protruding strip having a horizontal bottom surface that is part of the bottom face of the floorboard, the protruding strip terminating in a locking element projecting towards the top face of the floorboard so that the protruding strip has its biggest thickness at the locking element; wherein the second connecting profile comprises an overhanging tongue delimiting at its bottom a recess for receiving the protruding strip, the recess comprising a locking groove configured for cooperating with the locking element so as to provide a horizontal locking effect; wherein the first connecting profile comprises a tongue groove arranged above a stem portion of the protruding strip, the tongue groove being configured to accommodate a tip of the overhanging tongue so as to provide a vertical locking effect; wherein the overhanging tongue comprises an upper contact surface and a lower contact surface that are inclined with respect to each other, wherein the tongue groove is delimited by an upper delimiting surface and a lower delimiting surface, and wherein the upper and lower contact surface of the overhanging tongue are configured to be put into contact with the upper and lower delimiting surface, respectively, of the tongue groove, when the first connecting profile is in locking engagement with the second connecting profile of another panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fibre-cement-based flooring panel as claimed in claim 14, wherein the upper contact surface and the lower contact surface define an angle therebetween that is comprised in the range from 3° to 20°, while the upper delimiting surface and the lower delimiting surface also define an angle therebetween that is comprised in the range from 3° to 20°. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The fibre-cement-based flooring panel as claimed in claim 14, wherein: the tongue has a tip that is received in the corresponding tongue groove, and the tip of the tongue and the corresponding tongue groove have a maximum height corresponding approximately to one third of the entire thickness of the floorboard. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The fibre-cement-based flooring panel as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lower contact surface and the lower delimiting surface are inclined relative to a horizontal plane by an angle of 13°. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip of the tongue and the corresponding tongue groove have a height corresponding approximately to one third of the entire thickness of the floorboard. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inclination angle of the lower contact surface and the horizontal plane amounts to 13°. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The floorboard as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a structural body layer providing stability, and a top surface layer providing appearance and durability to the floorboard; wherein the structural body layer has a thickness in the range from 3 to 8 mm; and the first and second connection profiles are incorporated into the edges of the structural body layer.