CA2380303C

CA2380303C - Floor covering plate

Info

Publication number: CA2380303C
Application number: CA002380303A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Bernd Schneider
Original assignee: Witex AG
Current assignee: Witex Flooring Products GmbH
Priority date: 2000-06-29
Filing date: 2001-04-28
Publication date: 2008-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-28
Also published as: CN1383464A; DE50114836D1; US6385936B1; ATE428833T1; US20020007606A1; ES2323939T3; DE10031639A1; AU5632901A; BR0106992A; RU2222675C2; WO2002001018A1; US6584747B2; PL352609A1; EP1294995A1; CN1211550C; CA2380303A1; AU759735B2; PL202343B1; DE10031639C2; EP1294995B1

Abstract

A floor tile, in particular a laminate panel, parquet element, veneer floor element, ready-to-lay parquet element or such like comprises an edge profile on at least two opposite edges in the form of a modified groove and tongue joint for the purpose of connecting adjacent tiles, with a coincident arrangement consisting of one groove (22.122.26.126) and one tongue (20,120,30,130) on each of at least two edges, of which the tongue on one edge of a first tile and the groove in an associated edge of a second tile rise obliquely upwards from the bottom of the tile.
The edge profiles are contrived directly in the support material of the floor tile, the groove (26.126) in the first tile is disposed directly above its tongue (20,120) and the lower wall of this groove falls off towards the back end (28.128) of the groove by the same degree as the tongue (20,120) on the first tile rises upwards.
The upper wall of the groove (26,126) in the first tile (10,110) runs essentially parallel to the plane of the tile, and the tongue (30,130) on the second tile (12,112) matches the shape of the groove (26.126) in the first tile by having a top surface that runs essentially parallel to the plane of the tile and a bottom surface that falls off towards the end of the tongue (30.130).

Description

- ~ -FLOOR COVERING PLATE

This invention relates to a floor tile. In particular a laminate panel.
parquet ele-ment. veneer Aoor elemcnt, ready-to-lay parquet element or such like. with an edge profile on at least two opposite edges in the fonn of a modified groove and tongue joint for the purpose of connecting adjaccnt tiles. with a coiricident ar-rangemcnt consisttng of one groove and one tongue on cach of at least two ed-ges, of which the tongue on one edge of a first tile and the groove in an associa-ted edge of a second tile rise obliquely upwards from the bottom of the tile.

A floor tile of this type is disdosed in DE 33 43 604 C2. In this prior art ttle, the act of connecting two Identical tiles results in a"rnodifled" groove and tongue jo-int in that adjacent tiles are held in position liy the joint relative to each other in both the vertical and horizontal dircctions. I.e. they cannot come apart uninten-tionally. Altliough this horizontal fixation can also be achieved by glueing toge-ther adjacent tiles provided with a simple groove and tongue joint.. the glucing process Involves considerably more work when laying the ilooring. and joints of this kind are often not sufficiently long-lasting.

Jn practice, thcrc is therefore a preference for the type of cdge proilles thRt gua-rantee an interlocking connection bctween adjacent tiles in the horizontal dlrcc-tion as well, without glueing being required.

Intcrlocking joints of this type ai-e disclosed in the above-rncntioned publication as well as In OB 2 256 023 A. WO 98/58142, US 4 426 820, DE-08 2 238 660, J)E 79 28 703 U 1 and DE 198 54 475 A].

In the process of laying the floor tiles described here, the edge proille of each consecutive tile is generally held at an angle and pushed or slotted Into the edge profile of a tile that has already been laid, and then lowered Into a horizontal po-sition. This ensures that both edge profiles lock Into each olher. A floor surface that has been laid In this way is removed by executing the steps in reverse order.
Thts type of assembly or disasscmbly method means that a kind of articulated joint, which allows the tiles to be angled up and down. occurs at the adjacent cdges. In prior art solutions, the consequence of this is that the modiftcd groove and tongue joint has low resistanee to buckling, and adjacent tlles rnay bulge or covapse in the vicinity of the joint which separates them. This low resistance to buckling is naturally unacccptable in the context of the glueless laying method that is now preferred today.

7'hi9 invention Is therefore based on the task of providing a floor tile of the abo-ve-mentioned type with a modified groove and tongue joint which will lock into place in the hoi-lzontal direction as well in the manner clcfined abovc, and wriich also guarantees ajoint with high resistance to buckling between acljacent tiles.
In the case of a floor tile of the type mentioned above, this task is solved 3n that the edge profiles are contrived directly In the support matcrlal of the floor tile, in that the gi-oove In the first tile is disposed directly above its tongue, in that the lower wall of this groove falls off towards the back end of the groove by the same degree as the tongue on the first tile rises upwards, in that the upper wall of the groove in lhe first tile runs essentially parallel to the plane of the tile, and In that the tonguc on the second tile matches the shape of the groove In the first tile by having a top surface that runs essentially parallel to the plane of the tile and a hottom surfacc that falls off towards the end of the tongue.

Since in a cerlain sense the invention results in a double groove and longue jo-int, adjacent tiles are rnutually supported in relation to liorizontal pull and pres-sure at several points preferably well spaced apart, so that the joint between ad-jacent tiles has a correspondingly high resistance to buckling. Even if the tilca are laid without glue in a floating conflguration the floor will retain Its precisely level position.

With regard to the tenninology used here, it should be noted that comments are always made with reference to the tiles in the position in which they are shown in the drawings, which will be cxplained below. The terms "top" and "bottom"
In particular should be undcrstood in this scnse. It Is also evident. however, that thc ai-rangement could equally wcll be reversed, i.e. that the positions "top"
and bottom" can be interchanged without departing from the scopc of the invcntion.
Floor tiles of the above-mentioned type arc ge:-Aerally made from derived tlxnber products, in particular medium or high density fibreboard, but also from so]id wood. Support tiles made from syntiietically produced materials or recycled ma-terials such as e.g. polyurcthane recycling materials could also be used. "fhe applicability of this Invention is noL limited with regard to the type of tile materi-al used. In all cases, however, the invention relates to support tiles where the edge profiling is contrived directly in the material of the support tiles.
This is not the case with DE 33 43 604 C2 as mentioned at the outset, because in this case the edge profile Is formed by an extrusion profile which is connected with the support tile.

The extent of the undercut resulting from the intcraction of the tongue on the first tile and the groove in the second tile will also depend in each case on the elasticity of the material. The undercut can be defined by selecting the inclinali-on and the length of ihe tongue on the first tile. As a general rule, an anglc of 150 is appropriate.

To facilitate the joining proccss, the edges at the front end of the tonguGs and the cdges at the entrance to the grooves should prefei-ably be tapercd.

7be tonbue on the second tilc is preferably disposed dircctly above its groove.
The torigue on the second tile therefore forms the top llmit of the groove in the second tile. The bottom surface of the tongue on the second tile is therefore in-clined by the same degree as the tongue on the first tile. Whilst the tongue on the first tile has two essentially parallcl top and bottom surfiaces inclined up-wards at an angle of e.g. 15 , the lower surface of the tongue on the second tile lb is inclined downwards towards the free end, as already mentioncd, whilst the upper surface is essentially liorizontal, i.e. parallel to the tile plane of the tilea to be,loined. It Is preferable to ensure that the projecting cdges on the top and bot-tom sides of the tongue on the second tile are also tapered. The bottom edge sl-mtiltaneously forins the top edgc of the groove in the second tile.
In ttic event that the locking effect of the above-mentioned edge joint Is insuffici-ent, provision can be made for an additional locking rib with engages with a lok-king groove in the other tile. 7hc locking rib can be disposed ctther on the top or bottorn surface of one of the tongues. or. alternatlvcly, on the top or bottom wall of one of the grooves. The locking rib is pi-eferably disposed on the top surface of the tongue on the second tile and the matching locking groove is clisposed in the top wall of the groove In the first tile. Basically, however, it is of no Importance on which of the tongues the locking rib or locking groove takes effect, oi-whether this happcns on the top or bottom side of the tongue.

If this additional locking means is used, the two tongties can possibly be made shorter. or can be angled to a lesser degree.

The vertical cross-section of the locking rib and locking groovc is preferably con-trived as a trapezoidal or rounded trapezoidal shape which therefore has sides that slope to a greater or lesser degree. Stcep or even vertical sides result in greater rigidity, but render the assembly and disassembly process more difficult.

' 4 -Another cmbodiment of the invention is based on a combination of features of the eimbodiineni:s described above. In this embodiment too, adjacent tilcs are held together with a high degree of stability in a level position and prcvented from warping or buckling in the vicinity of the seam. Thc profile in question here is also a double groove and tonguc profile with relatlvely simplc, stable profile clements and a relativcly low volume of waste in the region of the edge profiles.

A floor tilc according to this embodiment In conjunction with the features of the floor tile mentioried above is characterized in that the edge profiles are contrived directly in the support material of the floor tile, in that the tongue on the first tile projects beyond the front end of the first tile. in that the surface on the top side of the tongue on the first tilc falls off at an angle Into the groove in the first tile, in that the tonguc on the second tile has an upwardly projecting rib on its outer edge, and in that a locking groove which coi-responds with the rlb is provided In the top wall of the groove in the first tile.
With this type of profile adjacent tiles supporL each other mutually in the upper portion of their front ends, and the torigue on the first tile also rcsts in the groo-vc in the second tile. This re-gults in two relatively widely spaced support points which securely retain adjacent tiles in a planc-parallel positio:x and prevent them frotn tilting up or down. rurther support is provided in the groove in the first tile. in which thc rJb on the toiigue of the second tile and the locking groove in the groove in the first tile interact.

The advantages achieved are based in particular on the fact that the tongue on 2IS the first tile projects beyond its front end and Is also inclincd upwards at ati angle. As a result, this means that the groove in the first tile is at least covered over by the tongue on the first t.ilc and that the locking groove inside the groove in the first tile cannot be milled from outside the groove using a rotating milling cutter. 7'he profile of the invention on the tilc cdges can therefore only be pre-prepared with the help of milling cuttcrs, with at least partial reworking being required using planing tools wliich are moved along in the longitudinal direction of the profile edges. or with the profile edges bcing moved along the planing tools. One advantageous sidc cffect of using such planing tools is that the pro-filcs can be worked wtth great precision.

This problem also exlsts with certain fcature combinations of the embodiments described above. Any disadvantages arising out of the need for planing also being required In addition to milling are compensated by the fact that the rrsul-tant profilcs arc particularly dcep and can be inler-anchored with a high degree of stabiiity.

Other features and advantages of the invention derive frorn the sub-claims.
Prc-fcrrcd embodiments of the invention will be explained tn more detail below wjth reference to the enclosed drawings. in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic section of the adjacent eclgcs of two tilrs to be joined;

Fig. 2 Is a corresponding representation of a first step in the process ofjo ining up the tiles;
Fig. 3 shows a further step in the process of joining up the tiles;

Ffg. 4 is a con-esponding representation showing thc tile4 In their joined-up cnd position;
Fig. 5 corresponds to Rig. 1, but shows another embodiment of the iloor tiles;

Fig. 6 sliows the first step In joining togcthcr the two tile edges:
17ig. 7 is a scction showtng the position of the joined-up tiles:

I%ig. 8 is a anothcr cmbodlnlcnt showfng a schematic section through two tile edges to be joined-up, before they are brought togetber;

Fig. 9 shows two floor tiles to be joined up with the edge px=ofiles of Fig. 8 during the laying process:

Fig. 10 corresponds to Fig. 8, but also contains some measurements of a preferred embodiment in miilimetres.

Fig. 1 shows the edges of two floor tiles to be joined, of which thc left-hand one w411 be referred to below as the first tile, 10, and the right-hand one as the se-cond tile, 12. 7'tles 10, 12 may be nzade from a laininatc, from a derivr.d timber product and/or plastic. or from solid wood. A top covering layer 14,16 is shown hcre by way of example. Thc first tile 10 shown on the left of Mg. I has a tongue 20 that rises up from the boLtom surface 18 of the f3rst tile and engages with a groove 22 in the second tilc 12, said groove rising upwards towards the inside of groove 22. i.e. towards the back end 24 of the groove by the same degree as ton-gue 20 rises upwards.

Disposed in the first tilc above the obliquely rising tongue 20 there is a groove 26 whose bottom wall, which is formed by the top surface of tongue 20, falls way to-wards the back end 28 of the groove. In contrast, the top wall of groove 26 i-uns essentiaily horizontally, parallel to the tile plane of the two tiles 10,12.

The top of groove 22 in the second tile 12 is defined by a wall that rises upwFSrds at an angle towards the back end 24 of the groovc, forsning the bottom surface of a tongue 30 on the second tile 12. 'Phis tongue 30 hag a top surface that runs essentially horizontally, parallel to the plane of the tile to match the cross-scc-tion of groove 26 in the first tile.
The top and bottom edges of the end of tongue 20 on the first tile 10 are cach contrived with a tapcr 32.34 to facilitate the inscrtion into groove 22. 'nie top edge of this groove 22 also has a taper 36. which simult--ncously forms the bot-torn edge of tongue 30.
Above groove 26 in the flrst tile 10 and tongue 30 on the sccond tile 12 there are vertical front faces 38,40, whtch come Into contact with cach other whcn the ti-lcs arc laid, thereby defining thc position of the tiles. Groove 22 in the second tile 12 is downwardly limited by a lip 42. whose top surface is formed by the wall of groove 22, and which Is in turn downwardly limited by the bottom surface 44 of the second tile 12.

Figures 2 to 4 show three consecutive steps in the process of laying the floor ti-les of the invcnuon according to the first embodiment shown in F'tg. 1.

As shown In Fig. 2. taper 32 on the top edge of tongue 20 and taper 36 on the bottom cdge of tongue 30 on the second tile 12, which simultaneously fornls the top edge of groove 22, comc into contact with each other first, Provided the ma-terial Is sufilciently }lexiblc, tongue 20 on the first tile 10 is bent slightly down-wards in the process, whilst tongue 30 on the second tile is bent sliglitly up-wards. If the material of tiles 10.12 is less flexible, the second tile 12 is raised very sliglit upwards. as shown in Fig. S.

In this case, the upper edge of tongue 30 on the second tile 12, which is provi-ded with a taper 46, abuts against the top edge of groovc 26, which is also provi-ded with a taper 48.

Dcspite the Interacting tapers 46.48, when thc two tiles are pushed together the slight ovcr-dimensioning of tongue 30 In relatton to the rccess of groove 26 has to be overcome by elastic deformation in order for the tiles to finish tip in the po-sition shown In Fig. 4. In the position shown in Flg. 4. the end position of the two tilcs 10,12 is determined by the top portion of the two front ends 38.40.
Ton6ues 20.30 do not, however, come into contact with the respective back ends 24.28 of the grooves, thcrcb,y reliably eliminating the possibility of an open gap forming on the top surface of tiles 10.12.
rigures 5 to 7 show another embodiment of the invention whieh basically coinci-des to a harge degree with the first embodirncnt, but nevertheless differs in one or two signiflcant ways. To allow a direct comparison between the two eznbodi-ments, the same reference numbcr:g increased by 100 will be used foi- the 4r.c:ond embodiment. One of the main differences with respect to the firsL embodiment is lhat the tongue 120 on the first tilc 110 is considerably sl'iorter than In the first einbodiincnt, whilst the tongue 130 on the second tile 112 is longer on the other hand. Tongue 120 on the first tile essentially encis in the same plane as the top front end 138 of the first tile 110.

Otherwise, however, tongue 120 on the first tile is also inclincd upwards in thc second cmbodiment. e.g. at an angle of 15 , and groove 122 In the second ttle 112 runs obliquely upwards at the san-ie angle towards the back end, 124, of thc groove. As a resulL, the bottom edge of groove 126 in the first tile 110 also falls away towards the back cnd 128 of the groove, whilst the associated tongue 130 on the second tile 112 runs obliquely downwards towards its free end, I.e. to-wards the left in Flg. S.

Tapers are also contrivcd on the outer edges of tongues 120,130 and on thc ed-ges of grooves 126, 122 In the second embodiment.

When the two tiles 110,112 are pushed together, tapers 146 and 148 on the top edge of tongue 130 and the top edgc of groove 126 abut against each other so that the elements Involved necessarily undergo a certain deformation. Just after-wards in the proccss of pushing the tiles together. tapers 132 and 136 on the top edge of tongue 120 and the bottorn edge of tongue 330 abut against each other as can be seen in FYg. 6.

Another particularity of the second embodiment Is that on the top surface of ton-gue 130 on the second tile 112, therc is a locking rib 150 running in the longitu-dinal direction of tongue 130. which matches with a locking groove 152 iri the top wall of groove 126 in the first tilc 110. Locking rlb 150 has a flattened or rounded trapezoidal shaped cross-section. i.e. has slightly rising flanks on both 5ides t.o facilitate insertion into groove 126 and - in the cvent of the tiles being scparated - removal frorn locking groove 152.

In the end position shown in FtI;. 7. the top portion of front ends 138 and once again determines the end position. ')'he locking effect is guaranteed by both the interaclion of locking rib 150 with locking groove 152, and by the interacting sloping surfaces of tongue 120 on the first tile 110 and tongue 130 on the se-cond tilc 112.

In Fig. 8 a first tiic is designated as 210 and a second tile as 212. The two tiles 210 and 212 are preferably made overall from a derived timber product, In parti-cular medium or hlgh density fibreboard. and are provided with a top covering layer 214.216 in the example shown. Thc bottom surface 218 may be provided wlth c.g. a sound-absorbing layer (nol shown).

Rising upwards at an angle from the bottom surface 218 of the first tile 210 is a tongue 220 whose angle of inclination is somewhere In the order of 15 . Tongue 220 on the first tile 210 engages with a groove 222 in the second tilc 212 which, just like tongue 220, has an essentially rectangular cross-section with parallel upper and lower walls, as will be explained In morc detail below.

Groove 222 in the second tile 212 rises upwards at the same angle as tongue 220 on the first tile 210. The dimcnsions are selected so that tongue 220 on thc first tile 210 rest.s against the back cnd 224 of groove 222.

Above tongue 220 on the first tile 210 there is a groove 226 in the first tile whose bottom wall Is formed by the top surface of tongue 220 on the first tile and f.-ills off into the groove at an angle, but then rises in an arched shape, or in several ldnks, towards the back end 228 of the groove up to essentially the height of the tongue 220 so that overall, a profile like a trough fornis the bottom wall of groove 228.

Groove 226 serves to accomniodate a tongue 230 on the second tile 212. Tongue 230 has a horizontal top suiface which runs parallcl to the tile planc. '1?ie front bottom edge of tongue 230 on the second tile 212 is pz-ovidcd wltb a taper 236 which facilitfitcs the process of pushino tongue 230 over the top corner of tongue 220 on the first tile when the tiles are joined together.

Above groove 226 in the first tile and tongue 230 on the second tilc t.licrc arc es-sentially vertical, or slightly rccliriing front ends 238.240 whieh meet up when the tiles are laid and determine the position of the tile. In addition to this sup-port for the tiles 210,212 in thc top portion, the tiles are also supported In the bottom portion by the interaction between tonguc 220 and groove 222. Due to the inclination at which groove 222 is conti-ived in the second tile 212, a triangti-lar lip 242 is created undemeath this groove which engages with tongue 220 from underneath.
On the top surface of tongue 230 on the second tile 212. the outer front edge fs provided with an upwardly projecting essentially trapczo9dal locking rib 250, which engages with a locking groove 252 in the top wall of groove 226 in the first tile.

Some other particularities of the edge profiling of the two tiles 210,212 will be descrlbed below. The bottom surface of tongue 230 on the second tile 212 initial-ly slopes down away to the left from the back end 224 of the groove in line with the shape of groove 222 in the secoiid tile, but then runs Into a horizontal sec-tion at the levcl of front end 238, and then r-ises again towards the free end of tongue 230.

'!'his latter upward inclination in the bottom surfacc facilitates the process ofjoi-ning up adjacent tiles. The locldng rib 250 on the outer front edge of tongtue has sloping surfaces on both sidcs, of which the sloping surface positioned to-wards the end is flatter, and the more rearward sloping surface is steeper, as shown in Fig. S.

The top surface (not designated) of groove 226 In the first tile runs hoi-tzontal or parallel to the tile plane. but has sloping surfaces on both sides of the locking groove 252.

Fig. 9 shows the two adjacent tiles in Lhe assembled position. It can be seen that a support is provided both in the vicinity of the two front ends 238. and also bet-ween tongue 220 on the ftrst tile and the back end 224 of the groove 222 in the second tile. At the same time the generously dimensioned locking rlb 250 enga-ges within loclcinf; groove 252 with the wall portion of the top wall of groove 226 which limits the groove.

This multiple support provided at widely spaccd points eliminates the formation of an articulated joint between adjacent tile.s, wliich would in turn cause instabi-lity around the connected edgc sections.
T'ktc embodiment of Figurc..g 8 to 10 is particularly well stiited for pre-glued tile systems in which an adhesive that can be activated during the laying process by pressure, moisture or heat is applied In advance In thc vicinity of groove and tongue. With this kind of glueing it is vcry diff[cult with many tile systems to dis-place adjacent tilcs laterally in relation to each other. With the system according to thc invention and according to Figures 8 to 10, the contact surfaces in the slightly angled position of the newly added tile are small, so there is no reason to fear any blocking of the newly added tile as a result of pre-glucing.
Furthermore, the newly added tile can be brought In at a far steeper position than the one shown In Fig. 9. Thanks to the trough shape of the bottom wall of groove 226 in the first tile, which matches the bottom surface of the tongue on the second tile, the tiles can always be brought togctlier smoothly and with little force after being lowered out of the position shown in Ftg. 9.

Many of the elements shown in conjunction with the three embodimerits deseri-bed here are sutted to all three embodiments.

= ~~ _ ln particular a locking rib as shown in Figures 5 to 7 and In Figures 8 to 10, for exarnple, can also be used for the embodiments of Figures 1 to 6. The locking rib may be disposed in more or lcss any position on the top surface of the tongue of the second Ulo, namely in the central portion, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, or at g the outer cnd.

Claims

1. A floor tile with an edge profile on at least two opposite edges in the form of a modified groove and tongue joint for the purpose of connecting adjacent tiles, with a coincident arrangement consisting of one groove and one tongue on each of at least two edges, of which the tongue on one edge of a first tile and the groove in an associated edge of a second tile rise obliquely upwards from the bottom of the tile, characterized in that the edge profiles are contrived directly in the support material of the floor tile, in that the tongue on the first tile projects beyond the front end of the first tile, in that the surface on the top side of the tongue on the first tile falls away at an angle into the groove in the first tile, in that the tongue on the second tile has an upwardly projecting locking rib on its outer edge, and in that a locking groove which corresponds with the locking rib is provided in the top wall of the groove in the first tile.

2. The floor tile of claim 1, characterized in that the bottom wall surface of the groove in the first tile, following on from the top surface of tongue falling away at an angle into the groove, subsequently rises up again towards the back end of the groove in a trough shape.

3. The floor tile of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking groove of the groove in the first tile is contrived to border on the back end of the groove.

4. The floor tile of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking groove in the first tile is limited by inclined surfaces.

5. The floor tile of claim 4, characterized in that the sloping surface of locking groove oriented towards the back end of the groove is flatter than the sloping surface oriented towards the exterior.

6. The floor tile of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the top surface of tongue on the second tile runs parallel to the tile surface.

7. The floor tile of claim 6, characterized in that the locking rib on the top surface of tongue on the second tile runs into the top surface of tongue via inclined surfaces.

8. The floor tile of any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bottom side of tongue on the second tile falls away at an angle from its root in the vicinity of the groove in the second tile up to the end of groove and then rises slightly again from the region of the front end of the second tile.

9. The floor tile of any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the amount by which tongue on the first tile projects beyond front end corresponds to at least half the depth of the groove contrived in the first tile.

10. The floor tile of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the position in which tongue on the first tile rises up from the bottom tile side is located essentially at the level of the front end of the first tile.

11. The floor tile of any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the depth of groove in the second tile is approximately half as large as the depth of groove in the first tile.

12. The floor tile of any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the tongue on the first tile and, therefore, the groove in the second tile rise by about 15° from the horizontal.

13. The floor tile of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the floor tile is selected from the group consisting of laminate panel and parquet element.