Panel of a Floor System

• US 20130036695A1
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fritz Egger GmbH & Company og (Beteiligung FM Deutschland-Privatstiftung)
• Original Assignee: Fritz Egger GmbH & Company og (Beteiligung FM Deutschland-Privatstiftung)
• Inventors: Durnberger, Johann
• Granted Patent: US 8,820,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/309.3
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02038 characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0115 with snap action of the edge connectors
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0138 by moving the sheets, plates or panels perpendicular to the main plane
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0146 with snap action of the edge connectors
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/041 Tongues or grooves with slits or cuts for expansion or flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/049 wherein the elements are made of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials

Abstract

The invention concerns a panel (1, 2, 50, 52, 70, 72, 100, 102, 120, 122, 130, 132, 160, 162, 200) of a flooring system, in particular a laminate floor, with a first side edge (3, 54, 74, 104, 134, 164, 202), and with a second side edge (4, 64, 86, 108, 123, 137, 168) which is arranged opposite the first edge (3, 54, 74, 104, 134, 164, 202), wherein the side edges (3, 4, 54, 64, 74, 86, 104, 108, 123, 134, 137, 164, 168, 202) can be locked with corresponding side edges (3, 4, 54, 64, 74, 86, 104, 108, 123, 134, 137, 164, 168, 202) of further panels (1, 2, 50, 52, 70, 72, 100, 102, 120, 122, 130, 132, 160, 162, 200), wherein the side edges (3, 4, 54, 64, 74, 86, 104, 108, 123, 134, 137, 164, 168, 202) can be brought into engagement with each other, wherein the first side edge (3, 54, 74, 104, 134, 164, 202) is fitted with at least one locking lip (7, 56, 58, 76, 78, 148, 150, 172, 206) and with an elasticity groove (9, 62, 82, 116, 144, 174, 208) adjacent to the locking lip (7, 56, 58, 76, 78, 148, 150, 172, 206), wherein the second side edge (4, 64, 86, 108, 123, 137, 168) is fitted with a locking element and wherein the locking element in the locked state is in engagement with the locking lip (7, 56, 58, 76, 78, 148, 150, 172, 206). To be able to set the elasticity of the locking lip more satisfactorily, it is provided that the elasticity groove (9, 62, 82, 116, 144, 174, 208) is at least partly filled with at least one filling compound (30, 60, 80, 94, 96, 114, 142, 176, 178, 190, 210).

Claims

1. A panel of a flooring system, in particular a laminate floor, the panel comprising:

a first side edge, and

a second side edge which is arranged opposite the first edge,

wherein the first and second side edges can be locked with corresponding side edges of further panels,

wherein the side edges can be brought into engagement with each other,

wherein the first side edge is fitted with at least one locking lip and with an elasticity groove adjacent to the locking lip,

wherein the second side edge is fitted with a locking element and

wherein the locking element in the locked state is in engagement with the locking lip, and

wherein the elasticity groove is filled at least partly with at least one filling compound.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the elasticity groove has an opening perpendicular and/or parallel to the panel.

3. The panel according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second side edges can be brought into engagement with each other substantially by a vertical movement,

wherein the first side edge is fitted

with a locking lip directed downward

and with an elasticity groove arranged on the side of the locking lip facing away from the outer end of the first side edge,

wherein the locking element of the second side edge is formed as an upward directed locking tongue, and

wherein in locked state the locking tongue is in engagement with the locking lip.

4. The panel according to claim 1, wherein two locking lips are provided and the elasticity groove is adjacent to both locking lips.

5. The panel according to claim 1, wherein

the locking element of the second side edge is formed as a locking lip and

wherein an elasticity groove is provided adjacent to the locking lip of the second side edge and at least partly filled with at least filling compound.

6. The panel according to claim 1, wherein

the first side edge is fitted with a fitting tongue directed away downwards and with a locking groove arranged between the fitting tongue and the locking lip,

wherein the second side edge is fitted with a fitting groove adjacent to the locking tongue,

wherein in a locked state the fitting tongue is in engagement with the fitting groove, wherein a distal end of the fitting tongue lies on the groove base of the fitting groove and wherein the locking tongue is in engagement with the locking groove and the locking lip.

7. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the filling compound is an elastic compound, in particular a silicone, an acrylate and/or a melt adhesive.

8. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the filling compound is a foamed filling compound, preferably a foamed melt adhesive.

9. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the filling compound is a filling compound which hardens slowly, preferably at least partly by drying or by contact with air oxygen.

10. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the filling compound is connected by a material fit with the panel.

11. The panel according to claim 1, wherein

the elasticity groove is at least partly filled with at least two different filling compounds and

wherein the two filling compounds have different moduli of elasticity.

12. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filling compound is provided in segments along a longitudinal extent of the elasticity groove.

13. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the elasticity groove is angled in relation to a vertical direction such that a groove base of the elasticity groove in a horizontal direction is arranged closer to an outer end of the first side edge of the panel than an opening of the elasticity groove.

14. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the locking lip has at least one tapered segment in a region of a base of the elasticity groove and/or in a region facing away from a free end.

15. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the elasticity groove in a region of a groove base is expanded in relation to the adjacent region of an elasticity groove.

16. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the locking lip has a smaller horizontal width than the elasticity groove.

17. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the filling compound of the elasticity groove is dyed.

18. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the elasticity modulus of the at least one filling compound is adapted according to an application.

19. The panel according to claim 1, wherein

the panel has a third side edge and a fourth side edge opposite the third side edge, and

that the third and fourth side edges are lockable with corresponding side edges of further panels substantially by a swivel movement about a parallel to the side edges to be joined.

20. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second side edges are provided on short narrow sides of the panel.