Vertically joined floor elements comprising a combination of different floor elements

• US 6,966,161 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pergo Europe AB (Mohawk Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pergo Europe AB (Mohawk Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pálsson, Jörgen, Sylegård, Ingvar
• Primary Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US10/360,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 525/861, 525/821, 525/891, 525/902, 525/923, 525/911, 52390-392, 52461-463, 525/881, 525/78, 524/71, 404 34- 35, 404/41, 403/364, 403/381
• US Class Current: 52/589.1
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 3/123 Mosaic constructs
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/04 only of wood or with a top layer of wood, e.g. with wooden or metal connecting members rollable parquet E04F15/16
• 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 2201/023 with a continuous tongue or groove
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/042 with grooves positioned on the rear-side of the panel
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/05 Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins, keys or strips
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0517 U- or C-shaped brackets and clamps
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/091 with the edge-parts forming part of the panel body

Abstract

Vertically joined flooring material comprising floor elements (1) with a mainly triangular, square, rectangular, rhomboidal or polygonal shape, as seen from above. The floor elements (1) are provided with edges (2) which are provided with joining members (20), a lower side (5) and a decorative top surface (3). The flooring material comprises a combination of at least two types of floor elements (1), which types comprises female floor elements (1′) and male floor elements (1″). The female floor element (1′) is provided with a female joining member (21) on at least half of the number of its edges (2) and a male joining member (22) on less than half of the number of its edges (2). The male floor element (1″) is provided with a male joining member (22) on at least two thirds of the number of its edges (2) and a female joining member (21) on less than one third of the number of its edges (2.) An optional joining profile (50) possibly constitutes a junction between two adjacent male joining members (22) of two adjacent floor elements (1).

Claims

1. A vertically joined flooring material comprising vertically joinable floor elements with a polygonal shape, the floor elements being provided with edges which are provided with joining members, a lower side and a decorative top surface, wherein the flooring material comprises a combination of female floor elements and male floor elements, wherein a plurality of said female floor elements are adjacent to at least one of said male floor elements, wherein,

a) the female floor element is provided with a female joining member on at least half of the number of its edges, the female joining member comprising a locking groove extending outwards and upwards from the edge, a locking surface projecting outwards and facing downwards from the locking groove and terminated by an inclined locking edge, the female floor element further comprising a female horizontal joining member on at least one edge and at least one male horizontal joining member on an opposite edge and that,

b) the male floor element is provided with a male joining member on all of its edges, the male joining member comprising a locking heel extending inwards and downwards from the edge, a locking face extending inwards and facing upwards from the locking heel and terminated by an inclined locking edge, so that the male floor element is used for locking a number of floor elements into a unity by engaging the female joining members of a plurality of female floor elements.

2. Flooring material according claim 1, wherein the female joining member, comprises an upwards protruding lip having a guiding surface, the guiding surface facing the edge, the female joining member further comprising the locking groove, having the locking surface facing downwards, which locking surface terminates in a locking edge, that an angle α

I between the guiding surface and vertical plane is in the range 0–

30° and

that an angle α

II between the locking surface and a horizontal plane is in the range 0–

30°

as seen in a perpendicular cross-section, and that, the male joining member comprises a lower side groove having a guiding face facing away from the edge and the locking heel, having the locking face facing upwards, that an angle β

I between the guiding face and vertical plane is in the range 0–

30° and

that an angle β

II between the locking face and a horizontal plane is in the range 0–

30°

as seen in a perpendicular cross-section whereby, the angles α

I and β

I are mainly the same and that also the angles α

II and β

II are mainly the same.

3. Flooring material according claim 1, wherein the part of the floor element located between each edge and its respective groove is thinner than the maximum thickness of the floor element by means of a recess located on the lower side.

4. Flooring material according to claim 1, wherein the edges of the floor elements are at least partially coated with glue or adhesive tape.

5. Flooring material according to claim 1, wherein the width to length ratio between the female floor element and the male floor element differs.

6. Flooring material according to claim 1, wherein the female floor element is hexagonal, having four shorter edges and two parallel edges extended, the female floor element comprising female joining members on the four shorter edges, a female horizontal joining member on one of the extended edges and a male horizontal joining member on the remaining extended edge, while the male floor element is mainly square with male joining members on all four edges.

7. Flooring material according to claim 1, wherein the female floor element is mainly octagonal, as seen from above, and is provided with female joining members on four perpendicularly arranged edges, female horizontal joining members on two edges and male horizontal joining members on the two remaining edges, while the male floor element is mainly square with male joining members on all four edges.