Floor panel and floor covering composed of such floor panels
AssigneeFlooring Industries Limited, Sarl
InventorMark Cappelle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Floor panel in a board shape having at least at two opposite edges coupling parts enabling several of the panels to be coupled to each other, wherein the coupling parts have contact portions forcing the floor panels in the coupled condition with a tension force at least laterally towards each other. The coupling parts also include support portions, which, in the coupled condition of floor panels, create a fixation in the mutual position of the contact portions cooperating under tension.
Claims36
- Floor panel, comprising a board-shaped element, including at least at two opposite edges having coupling parts enabling several of such floor panels to be coupled to each other, such that said coupling parts, in coupled condition of two of such floor panels, provide a locking in a first direction perpendicular to the plane of the floor panels, as well as in a second direction perpendicular to the respective edges and parallel to the plane of the floor panels, wherein said coupling parts comprise a tongue and a groove, further wherein the groove is located between an upper lip and a lower lip, whereby the lower lip extending beyond the upper lip, and the coupling parts including locking portions effecting a locking in said second direction and being at least formed by contact portions, which, in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels, cooperate with each other, wherein one of said contact portions is situated in the upper side of the lower lip, such that said one contact portion is located at least partially beyond the upper lip and wherein said contact portions are situated such that the floor panels, in coupled condition, are urged with a tension force at least laterally towards each other, and wherein said coupling parts also comprise support portions, which, in the coupled condition of the respective floor panels, cause a fixation in the mutual position of the contact portions cooperating under tension.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the support portions are formed as abutment portions.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein in the coupled condition, a tension force exists between the cooperating contact portions as well as between the cooperating support portions.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the edges are provided with profiles, which, in their unloaded condition, show an overlapping design, wherein the overlapping is such that the overlap, measured in vertical direction, at the support portions is smaller than the overlap, measured in vertical direction, at the contact portions
- Floor panel according to claim 4, wherein said vertical overlap at the support portions is approximately one-half of said vertical overlap at the contact portions.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the overlap, measured in a vertical direction, at the support portions is smaller than the theoretical vertical displacement among the contact portions, and, is larger than the actual vertical displacement, such that the actual vertical displacement represents the actual vertical displacement at the height of the support portions that would occur if no contact among the support portions existed.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the measured overlaps are determined starting from a mutual position, wherein the floor panels, next to their upper edge, adjoin each other laterally and wherein the upper side of the tongue rests against the lower side of the groove.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein, in the coupled condition of the respective floor panels, the contact surfaces of the contact portions, at the location where they cooperate with each other, define a tangent line forming an angle with the plane of the floor panels which is smaller than 80 degrees.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the contact portions define a tangent line forming an angle with the plane of the floor panels that is larger than 80 degrees
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein, in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels, the contact portions seen in a cross-section, in or next to their highest-located contact point define a tangent line deviating less than 30 degrees from the tangent line through the same point, however, tangential to the angling curve drawn through this point, said curve being followed by the floor panels when angling them in or out relative to each other.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the contact portions comprises a flat contact surface.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein at least one support portion has a flat support surface.
- Floor panel according to claim 12, wherein another support portion has a convex or pointed shape.
- Floor panel according to claim 1. wherein the support portions define a tangent line which is parallel to the plane of the floor panel or deviates from this plane with an angle that is smaller than 30 degrees.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the support portions seen in cross-section, and according to a direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and in the plane of the floor panels are situated at a short distance in front of or behind the contact portions.
- Floor panel according to claim 15, wherein said distance is less than 2 millimeters.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the floor panel, at least at the height of the contact portions and the support portions, comprises wood or a wood-based product.
- Floor panel according to claim 17, wherein said wood-based product is MDF or HDF.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the coupling parts are entirely formed of MDF/HDF.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the coupling parts are manufactured in one piece from the core of the floor panel.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the coupling parts are configured such that two of the respective floor panels can be coupled to each other by shifting them towards each other, and such that they engage each other by means of a snap action.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the coupling parts are configured such that two of the respective floor panels can be coupled to each other by means of an angling movement.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the floor panel has a thickness of less than 17 mm.
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel is a laminate panel of the type having a continuous board-shaped core as comprising MDF or HDF a laminate top structure situated thereupon, comprising at least a printed and resin-impregnated decor layer, as well as a backing layer at the underside of the floor panel.
- (canceled)
- Floor panel according to claim 1, wherein at least on one of the contact portions, a sliding agent is provided.
- Floor panel, comprising a board-shaped element and a layer of carpet product directly or indirectly attached thereupon, wherein the floor panel, at least at two opposite edges, is provided with coupling parts enabling several of such floor panels to be coupled to each other, wherein said coupling parts, in coupled condition of two of such floor panels provide for a locking in a first direction perpendicular to the plane of the floor panels, as well as in a second direction perpendicular to the respective edges and parallel to the plane of the floor panels, and wherein said coupling parts comprise a tongue and a groove, wherein the groove is situated between an upper lip and a lower lip, and wherein the coupling parts also comprise locking portions effecting a locking in said second direction and being formed by contact portions, which, in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels, can cooperate with each other, such that said contact portions are situated such that the floor panels, in coupled condition, are forced towards each other with a tension force, and such that said opposite edges of the floor panels are formed such that said tension forces are entirely or largely taken up by the board-shaped element.
- Floor panel comprising a board-shaped element of wood or a wood-based product, upon which a layer of carpet product is provided, wherein between the board-shaped element and the layer of carpet product at least one layer is provided forming a barrier against the permeation of liquids.
- Floor panel according to claim 28, wherein the barrier consists of a layer of glue extending at least over 90% of the surface of the board-shaped element.
- Floor panel according to claim 29, wherein the barrier at least comprises a laminate layer which, in its turn, comprises one or more layers.
- Floor panel according to claim 30, wherein said laminate layer comprises a single layer, in that it is formed of one carrier provided with resin.
- Floor panel comprising a board-shaped element, upon which a layer of carpet product is provided, wherein the board-shaped element comprises a core of wood or a wood-based product, wherein this board-shaped element has a sandwich structure.
- Floor panel according to claim 32, wherein the core is located between an upper layer and a counterbalancing backing layer.
- Floor panel according to claim 33, wherein the core comprises a single continuous MDF or HDF board.
- Floor panel according to claim 33, wherein the upper layer and backing layer comprise laminate layers comprising resin.
- Floor panel, comprising a board-shaped element, including at least at two opposite edges having coupling parts enabling several of such floor panels to be coupled to each other, such that said coupling parts, in coupled condition of two of such floor panels provide a locking in a first direction perpendicular to the plane of the floor panels, as well as in a second direction perpendicular to the respective edges and parallel to the plane of the floor panels, wherein said coupling parts comprise a tongue and a groove, further wherein the groove is located between an upper lip and a lower lip, the lower lip extending beyond the upper lip, and the coupling parts including locking portions effecting a locking in said second direction and being at least formed by contact portions, which, in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels, cooperate with each other, wherein one of said contact portions is situated in the upper side of the lower lip, such that said one contact portion is located within the length of the distal end of the upper lip and wherein said contact portions are situated such that the floor panels, in coupled condition, are urged with a tension force at least laterally towards each other, and wherein said coupling parts also comprise support portions, which, in the coupled condition of the respective floor panels, cause a fixation in the mutual position of the contact portions cooperating under tension.