Method for laying and interlocking panels

A rectangular floor panel, comprising:

• a joint projection edge, provided on a first edge of the panel, complementary to and adapted to project into ajoint recess of an adjacent panel of the same structure to form a common joint, the joint projection edge comprising:
• a joint projection, having a single convex curvature on a lower portion thereof, and having an upper portion provided with a short straight section, adjacent the panel, which is parallel to the plane of the panel, and a beveled section, adjacent the short straight section, which angles downward and extends to an end of the joint projection,
• a top edge, above the joint projection, which is perpendicular to the plane of the panel and forms an abutting joint surface which extends to approximately above a lowest point of the convex curvature of the joint projection, and
• a bottom edge, below the joint projection, which is perpendicular to the plane of the panel, and which extends further from an end of the joint projection than does the top edge of the joint projection edge;
• and
• a joint recess edge, provided on a second edge of the panel, complementary to and adapted to receive ajoint projection of an adjacent panel of the same structure to form a common joint, the joint recess edge comprising:
• a joint recess, having a single concave curvature on a lower portion thereof, an upper wall, which forms an upper portion of the joint recess, an upper portion of which is parallel to the plane of the panel, the upper wall being provided at an end thereof with an abutting joint surface which is perpendicular to the plane of the panel, and
• a lower wall, which forms the lower portion of the joint recess and extends further from the panel than does the upper wall of the joint recess, and which is provided, between the convex curvature of the joint recess and an end of the lower wall, with a beveled portion which angles downward to the end of the lower wall, so that a wall thickness of the lower wall decreases toward the end.

Method for laying and interlocking rectangular panels provided with a pair of opposite long sides and a pair of opposite short sides, each of which pair of sides displays complementary retaining profiles extending over a length of the sides, the method comprising:

• connecting a first new panel with a laid panel in a first row on short sides thereof, either with complementary retaining profiles of the laid panel and the first new panel slid into each other in a longitudinal direction of the panels in a common plane, or with the retaining profile of the first new panel initially inserted in an inclined position relative to the laid panel having a complementary retaining profile of the laid panel, and subsequently interlocked, both in a direction perpendicular to the connected ends and in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the laid panels, by pivoting the first new panel into the plane of the laid panel;
• thereafter laying a second new panel in the second row by inserting the retaining profile of the long side of the second new panel into the retaining profile of a long side of a panel of the first row by positioning at an angle relative to the panel of the first row and subsequently pivoting the second new panel into the plane of the laid panels;
• pivoting the panel laid in the second row upwards, at least at an end thereof, and
• thereafter laying a third new panel in the second row, by first interlocking the third new panel with the panel of the second row on a short side thereof, such that the third new panel assumes an inclined position in which the retaining profile of the long side of the third new panel can be inserted into the complementary retaining profile of the panel or panels laid in the first row and, after insertion, the inclined third new panel and the panel laid in the second row interlocked with the third new panel are pivoted into the plane of the laid panels.

Method for laying and interlocking rectangular panels provided with a pair of opposite long sides and a pair of opposite short sides, each of which pair of sides displays complementary retaining profiles extending over a length of the sides, the method comprising:

• connecting a first new panel with a laid panel in a first row on short sides thereof, either with complementary retaining profiles of the laid panel and the first new panel slid into each other in a longitudinal direction of the panels in a conmon plane, or with the retaining profile of the first new panel initially inserted in an inclined position relative to the laid panel having a complementary retaining profile of the laid panel, and subsequently interlocked, both in a direction perpendicular to the connected ends and in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the laid panels, by pivoting the first new panel into the plane of the laid panel;
• thereafter laying a second new panel in the second row by inserting the retaining profile of the long side of the second new panel into the retaining profile of a long side of a panel of the first row by positioning at an angle relative to the panel of the first row and subsequently pivoting the second new panel into the plane of the laid panels;
• and
• thereafter laying a third new panel in the second row, by first interlocking the third new panel with the panel of the second row on a short side thereof, and thereafter pivoting the panel laid in the second row upwards, at least at an end thereof, together with the third new panel, into an inclined position in which the retaining profile of the long side of the third new panel can be inserted into the complementary retaining profile of the panel or panels laid in the first row and, after insertion, the inclined third new panel and the panel laid in the second row interlocked with the third new panel are pivoted into the plane of the laid panels.