Covering from mechanically interconnectable elements

• US 8,752,352 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guido Schulte
• Original Assignee: Guido Schulte
• Inventors: Schulte, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Agudelo, Paola
• Application Number:
  US13/499,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20120192521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 525/881, 525/821, 525/911, 525/914, 525/915, 525/921, 525/891, 403/320, 403/409.1
• US Class Current: 52/588.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/08 composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements, E04F13/072 takes precedence; borders, skirtings E04F19/02; of webs or fabrics E04F13/002; fixing strips E04F19/06; separate provisional spacers between adjacent tiles E04F21/0092; implements or means for setting tiles E04F21/18
• 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 15/02405 Floor panels
• 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 2201/0169 by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is perpendicular to the abutting edges and parallel to the main plane, possibly combined with a sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0176 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0076 and using expanding clamps

Abstract

A covering from mechanically interconnectable elements, wherein at least one of the elements is a panel, wherein the elements have on their confronting sides a complementary profiling and can be locked together via said profiling. The locking is caused by at least one tongue element which is connected to one of the elements in an articulated manner and which can be pivoted during the joining motion behind a locking edge of the adjacent element, said locking edge extending essentially in the horizontal direction. The tongue element is in part connected to a core of the element by means of an elastic material and is a one-piece component of the element prior to the joining motion, wherein the one-piece connection between the tongue element and the element is configured as a predetermined breaking site which is provided to fail, in particular break, when the tongue element is pivoted.

Claims

1. A covering, comprising:

plural elements mechanically connectable to one another, with confronting sides of opposite elements having a complementary profiling for allowing the opposite elements to be locked with one another by at least one tongue element hinged to one of the opposite elements for pivoting during a joining motion behind a substantially horizontal locking edge of the other one of the opposite elements, said opposite elements and said tongue element being made of a same first material; and

an elastic material for connecting the tongue element at least in part with a core of the one of the opposite elements, said elastic material being made of a second material different from the first material,

wherein the tongue element is formed one-piece with the one of the opposite elements before the joining motion via a predetermined breaking point adapted to fail when the tongue element is pivoted.

2. The covering of claim 1, wherein one of the opposite elements is a panel.

3. The covering of claim 1, wherein a displacement of the tongue element occurs exclusively in a direction of the other one of the opposite elements.

4. The covering of claim 1, wherein before the joining motion, a top side of the tongue element points obliquely downward from the predetermined breaking site toward a bottom side and a head side of the one of the elements.

5. The covering of claim 1, wherein a predetermined breaking groove is provided at a top side of the tongue element in a region of the predetermined breaking site.

6. The covering of claim 1, wherein the one of the opposite elements has a top side, and wherein the tongue element is connected to the one of the opposite elements via the predetermined breaking point only at an end of the tongue element which neighbors the top side.

7. The covering of claim 6, wherein a free cut is arranged between the top side of the one of the opposite elements and the predetermined breaking site.

8. The covering of claim 1, wherein the tongue element has a bottom side, for sliding on a support surface when joining neighboring opposite elements, said support surface opposing the locking edge.

9. The covering of claim 8, wherein said bottom side of the tongue element is configured convex.

10. The covering of claim 8, wherein the bottom side of the tongue element has a region which is oriented parallel to the support surface when two neighboring opposite elements are locked to one another.

11. The covering of claim 1, wherein the tongue element has a substantially even top side which abuts a bottom side of the locking edge in a substantially horizontal orientation.

12. The covering of claim 11, wherein after locking the one of the opposite element to another one of the opposite elements, the top side of the tongue element is oriented parallel to the bottom side of the locking edge and parallel to an abutting surface of the one of the elements.

13. The covering of claim 1, wherein the elastic material is arranged in a space between the core of the one of the opposite elements and a rear side of the tongue element, said rear side facing toward the core,

14. The covering of claim 1, wherein the elastic material is an adhesive or a reactive adhesive.

15. The covering of claim 1, wherein multiple tongue elements which are pivotal independent of one another are arranged on a side of the one of the opposite elements.

16. The covering of claim 1, wherein neighboring tongue elements are connected to one another by an elastic component for movement relative to one another.

17. The covering of claim 1, wherein the the one of the opposite elements has a locking rail which engages underneath another one of the opposite elements, said locking rail being configured for securing neighboring opposite elements against tensile loads in a plane of installation.

18. The covering of claim 1, wherein at least one of the opposite elements is configured as a frame component for a frame structure.