Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element

• US 9,175,703 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2009
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited Sarl (Mohawk Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Unilin Bvba (Mohawk Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Maertens, Luc, Cappelle, Mark, Vanhastel, Luc, Deman, Luc, Van Hooydonck, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): FORD, GISELE D
• Application Number:
  US13/140,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20120027967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 525/881, 525/78, 525/921, 524/59
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2230/0081 Mortise and tenon type joints with some general male and female joints
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2230/0096 Assembling sheet parts by male and female parts formed in the sheet thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/042 Panels connected without frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/201 Edge features
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/206 with laminates comprising planar, continuous or separate layers
• CPC Class Codes: B27M 3/0026 characterised by oblong elements connected laterally B27M3/006 takes precedence; making fencing or the like comprising bars connected by wires B21F29/02; cane or similar material joined by strand or wire twisting B27J1/006
• CPC Class Codes: B27M 3/18 of furniture or of doors B27D5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 21/02 the layer being formed of fibres, chips, or particles , e.g. MDF, HDF, OSB, chipboard, particle board, hardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 21/04 comprising wood as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/042; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/042; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/10; next to a metal layer B32B15/10; next to a glass layer B32B17/062; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/042; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/044
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2471/00 Floor coverings B32B2419/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/06 for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support , or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking
• 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 13/0894 with tongue and groove connections
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/10 of wood or with an outer layer of wood E04F13/0864 takes precedence
• 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 15/02038 characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/045 Layered panels only of wood
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0115 with snap action of the edge connectors
• 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 2201/041 Tongues or grooves with slits or cuts for expansion or flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0523 : Separate tongues; Interlocking keys, e.g. joining mouldings of circular, square or rectangular shape
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/125 : using mortise and tenon joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/26 : using snap-action elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/46 : Non-metal corner connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2012/463 : for wooden members without additional elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2012/466 : using mortise and tenon joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0056 : by moving the sheets, plates or panels or the interlocking key perpendicular to the main plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 : Lugged member, rotary engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 : Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/19 : Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 : including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24488 : Differential nonuniformity at margin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 : including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31591 : Next to cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31982 : Wood or paper

Abstract

Composed element including at least two panel-shaped elements, which each have an edge zone in which coupling means are present in the form of a profiled part respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the respective edge zone, as well as each including an end face extending transversely to the respective edge zone, wherein said profiled parts allow coupling the panel-shaped elements together in an interlocking manner, wherein at least one of the panel-shaped elements includes an arrangement which hides from view at least a portion of the profiled part formed at the pertaining edge zone at the location of the end face.

Claims

1. A set of panel-shaped elements for forming a composed element, the composed element comprising a first and at least a second panel-shaped element, which mutually can be coupled together in an interlocking manner such that when coupled together, the first panel-shaped element is oriented at a different angle with respect to the second panel-shaped element;

wherein each of said first and second panel-shaped elements have an edge zone having coupling means in the form of a profiled part respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the respective edge zone, each of said first and second panel-shaped elements further comprising a first planar side surface and a second planar side surface, the first planar side surface being on an opposite side of the panel-shaped element from the second planar side surface and the first planar side surface being parallel to the second planar side surface, each of said first panel-shaped element and said second panel-shaped element further comprising an end face extending transversely to the respective edge zone and the first planar side surface and the second planar side surface;

wherein said coupling means of the first and second panel-shaped elements respectively comprise a tongue and a groove, wherein a side of the tongue is provided with a locking element which in coupled condition cooperates with a corresponding locking element at the groove, thereby preventing the drifting apart of said tongue and groove;

wherein the first planar side surface of the first panel-shaped element comprising the tongue extends transversely to the respective edge zone;

wherein the edge zone of the second panel-shaped element comprising the groove is located in the first planar side surface of the second panel-shaped element;

wherein for said first and second panel-shaped elements, said profiled parts are configured to enable said coupling of the first and second panel-shaped elements together in said interlocking manner at least by means of an angling motion of the first panel-shaped element relative to the second panel-shaped element, said profiled parts further being configured to allow starting said angling motion from a position in which the angle between the first planar side surface of the first panel-shaped element comprising the tongue, the first planar side surface being situated at said side of the tongue at which said locking element is present, and the first planar side surface of the second panel-shaped element comprising the groove is acute;

wherein at least the second panel-shaped element comprising the groove at its end face is provided with a strip of covering material, which, in the proximity of said edge zone, has a contour different from a contour of said profiled part, thereby hiding from view at least a portion of the profiled part formed at the respective edge zone;

wherein said strip is provided to said end face so as to form part of the second panel-shaped element, the end face being generally oriented in a direction perpendicular to the edge zone;

wherein the strip of covering material consists of an edge strip adhered to the end face;

wherein the strip of covering material in the proximity of said edge zone shows a rectilinear course; and

wherein said tongue and groove and said locking elements are configured such that in the coupled condition of said first and second panel-shaped elements the locking elements at said end face are located behind said strip of covering material.

2. The set of panel-shaped elements of claim 1, wherein the strip of covering material consists of an adhered edge strip, formed by a laminate strip or an ABS strip.

3. The set of panel-shaped elements of claim 1, wherein when the first and second panel-shaped elements are in coupled condition, said respective end faces are provided with a covering strip such that according to a view toward the respective end faces the profiled parts are hidden from view.

4. The set of panel-shaped elements of claim 3, wherein the first and second panel-shaped elements in the coupled condition show end faces with a rectangular end contour depicting the first and second panel-shaped elements fitting against each other with straight sides.

5. The set of panel-shaped elements of claim 1, wherein the first and second panel-shaped elements are mainly formed as board material and wherein said tongue and groove and said locking elements are substantially made as profiled parts in the board material itself.

6. The set of panel-shaped elements of claim 1, comprising four panel-shaped elements, wherein said four panel-shaped elements can be coupled to each other, such that said four panel-shaped elements completely surround a space and form an element with four corners, by coupling means in the form of profiled parts integrated into the edges of the panel-shaped elements, said profiled parts allowing that all four panel-shaped elements can be joined into each other laterally;

wherein said four panel-shaped elements have end faces defining visible front side edges, wherein each of said end faces is covered with such strip of covering material, wherein said strips in the proximity of the respective edge zones have a contour differing from a contour of the profiled parts, so as to hide from view at least a portion of the profiled part formed at the respective edge zone.

7. The set of panel-shaped elements of claim 1, wherein the panel-shaped elements can be coupled together to form a piece of furniture.

8. The set of panel-shaped elements of claim 6, wherein the panel-shaped elements can be coupled together to form a piece of furniture.