Process for sealing of a joint

• US 8,341,916 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pergo Europe AB (Mohawk Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pergo Europe AB (Mohawk Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sjoberg, Ake, Wernersson, Hakan, Hansson, Krister, Nilsson, Magnus, Kornfalt, Sven, Engström, Nils-Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Herring, Brent W
• Application Number:
  US13/275,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20120034024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 525/921, 525/922, 525/924, 525/913, 525/911, 527/414, 522/821, 525/81, 428/192, 156/304.5
• US Class Current: 52/592.4
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02 Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements of webs E04F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02005 Construction of joints, e.g. dividing strips E04F15/024, E04F15/04, E04F15/06, E04F15/10 and E04F15/14 take precedence; separate provisional spacers E04F21/0092
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02011 with joint fillings integrated in the flooring elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02016 with sealing elements between flooring elements sealings of joints between building constructions in general E04B1/68
• 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 2201/0153 by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is parallel to the abutting edges, possibly combined with a sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/026 with rabbets, e.g. being stepped
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/03 Undercut connections, e.g. using undercut tongues or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/07 with connections using a special adhesive material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/472 including mechanical interlock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature

Abstract

A joint for panels, the panels comprising a core, a decorative upper surface and edges provided with joining means for positioning the panels towards one another. Predetermined portions of the edges are provided with a layer of polymer. The panels are joined to one another by use of the joining means where the polymer forms a seal in the joint preventing penetration of water into the joint wherein a highly water resistant unit of a plurality of panels is formed.

Claims

1. A joint assembly for panels, the joint assembly comprising:

two panels, each panel comprising;

a core;

a decorative upper surface; and

edges provided with contact surfaces for positioning the panels towards one another;

wherein predetermined portions of the edges are provided with a layer of polymer whereby the panels are joined to one another to form a joint therebetween by use of the contact surfaces, where the polymer forms a seal in the joint preventing penetration of water into the joint, wherein a highly water resistant unit of a plurality of panels is formed; and

wherein the joint is adapted to move between a stretched state and a compressed state upon stretching and compression of the polymer.

2. The joint assembly according to claim 1, wherein the panels are provided with male and female edges, the male edges being intended to being joined with the female edges.

3. The joint assembly according to claim 2, wherein predetermined parts of mating surfaces of the male edges and female edges respectively are each provided with the layer of polymer.

4. The joint assembly according to claim 3, wherein the polymer of the mating surface migrates to form a unit.

5. The joint assembly according to claim 4, wherein the polymer is water repellent.

6. The joint assembly according to claim 4, wherein the polymer is a butyl rubber.

7. The joint assembly according to claim 4, wherein the polymer forming the seal is water impervious.

8. The joint assembly according to claim 1, wherein the joint comprises a flexible insert arranged on a portion of a recessed contact surface.

9. The joint assembly according to claim 8, where the flexible insert is compressed when the joint is in the stretched state and where the flexible insert is unloaded when the joint is in the compressed state.

10. The joint assembly according to claim 8, wherein the flexible insert is positioned within the panel such that it is disposed below the polymer.