WO2009021487A1

WO2009021487A1 - Connection

Info

Publication number: WO2009021487A1
Application number: PCT/DE2008/001275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Hamberger; Peter Huber; Peter Henn; Joachim Rempe
Original assignee: Hamberger Industriewerke Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-08-10
Filing date: 2008-08-05
Publication date: 2009-02-19
Also published as: DE102007049792A1; EP2227611A1

Abstract

A connection for floor panels is disclosed in which a vertical locking occurs via spring bolts by turning down connectable longitudinal or front edges, which spring bolts each engage a locking projection on the last floor panel.

Description

connection

The invention relates to a connection for floor panels according to the preamble of claim 1.

Under the slogan "glueless connection" or "Click connection" are currently offered a variety of solutions, especially in laminate floors with a core of HDF / MDF or parquet floors with a core of OSB, or HDF, or softwood sticks (preferably spruce wood) , or find a mixture of the materials mentioned application.

In a solution known from EP 1 061 201 B1, contiguous ones are

Peripheral edges of the floor elements or panels, i. the longitudinal edges and the front or transverse edges designed with a tongue and groove connection. The lower, facing a bearing surface groove cheek of a panel is extended beyond a vertical parting plane between the panels out and has at its end portion a locking projection which dips into a corresponding recess on the underside of a spring of the other floor panel. In order to facilitate the laying of the panels, the connection is made in the engagement region of the extended groove cheek with the spring with a game, so that a displacement of the panels along the longitudinal edges is possible.

A disadvantage of this known solution is that the lower groove cheek must each be designed to be elastic in order to bring about the locking intervention can. In unfavorable conditions, for example, material defects or excessive loading of the elastically deflectable lower groove cheek or swelling caused by moisture and temperature influence, it may happen that in the connection area of the lower groove cheek cracks, so that they can no longer fulfill their locking function , In the applicant's DE 19 962 830 C2 it is proposed to solve this problem to carry out the horizontal locking via a separate locking pin, which is formed in addition to a conventional tongue / groove connection. Even with a breakage of this locking pin, the relative arrangement of the panels in the vertical direction is ensured in this technically superior solution.

In particular, in the solutions mentioned, the panels are preferably connected to each other by pushing together in the horizontal direction. Some customers prefer, however, to connect the panels by Einwinkein with an inserted panel to be laid panel is placed in an inclined position along the longitudinal edge, so that, for example, the spring of the panel to be laid dips into the groove of the laid panel. Subsequently, the panel to be laid is folded down from its oblique position, wherein the groove is completely immersed in the spring and horizontal interlocking means engage each other so that the two panels are locked along the longitudinal edge in both the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. The problem with such a solution is that the lock on the shorter end or transverse edges in the above Einschwenkvorgang is difficult to produce, so that - depending on the constructive solution - along the front edges either no vertical locking or this can be produced only with considerable effort.

In DE 201 12 474 LM, a glueless connection is disclosed in which projections are formed on the end side on a spring tongue, via which an elasticity in the horizontal direction is provided, so that the engagement of these projections in corresponding recesses of the other panel is simplified. In this solution, the vertically effective part of the locking projections is made relatively small, so that when laying a special attention must be paid to ensure that these locking projections are not damaged when swiveling down the panel to be laid on the front edge.

To improve the locking a connection is proposed in DE 10 2005 002 297, in which the front-side locking is effected via an elastic spring tongue which acts as a separate component in the front edge region of the panels is used. The spring stiffness of this spring element can be very easily and essentially adapted without regard to the material of the panels to the respective conditions of use. The disadvantage of such a solution is that the production is relatively expensive, since a separate component must be punched, bent and fixed to the panel.

Solutions, as described in the aforementioned DE 201 12 474 U1 and DE 10 2005 002 297 A1, are also referred to in professional circles as "push-button connection", since the pivoting down of the panel to be laid into a locking recess of the already installed panel latching locking projection similar to a push button acts.

In EP 1 650 375 a push-button connection is disclosed in which a spiral spring is inserted into a groove of a panel and initially plugs into the groove when the other panel is applied and then due to the elastic reversion projects into a locking position in which it engages Locking projection engages behind it in a form-fitting manner.

EP 1 415 056 B1 discloses a push-button connection in which an elastically deflectable sheet-metal spring element is inserted into an end edge of a floor panel. This spring element has a leg, which is first deformed when fitting to an already laid floor panel in an investment position and then springs back in the locking position due to its elastic restoring forces in the locking position to lock the two panels in the vertical direction.

A disadvantage of these solutions is that the designed as a separate inserts elastically deformable locking elements have a relatively complex structure, wherein the locking takes place in each case by elastic bending of the locking element, so that they must be performed with considerable strength to ensure vertical locking. In contrast, the present invention seeks to provide a simple connection for floor panels, in which a reliable vertical locking is possible with little effort.

This object is achieved by a connection for floor panels with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, at least one spring bolt is provided in the connection for floor panels at a longitudinal or end edge of a floor panel to be laid, which slides on pivoting down of the panel to be laid on an end face of a locking projection of the other panel and then protrudes into its locking position by the force of the spring.

Such spring bolts can be assembled with minimal effort in mass production because they are only used in pre-drilled holes, preferably by press-fitting.

Preferably, in addition to the at least one spring bolt further spaced spring bolts are provided, whereby an extremely strong locking of the panels can be made possible.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring bolt is designed with a locking head, which is biased by a spring or other elastic element, such as an elastomer, in the direction of its locking position.

In an advantageous solution, the locking head of the spring bolt is rounded.

This locking head with the spring biasing him is used for example in a sleeve which in turn is pressed into a recess or bore of the panel. The behind of the spring bolt locking projection has preferably frontally two mutually employed inclined surfaces along which the spring bolt slides down pivoting.

The horizontal locking between the two panels is done for example via mutual hook connections.

In a particularly compact solution of the spring bolt is located with its locking head below the hook connection to the locking projection.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, three spring bolts are arranged at a distance from one another along the front edge.

In a further preferred embodiment, a spring element is associated with several spring bolts. This arrangement can be produced very inexpensively, since only one spring element is mounted.

The spring element is preferably arranged in a groove which extends parallel to the end edge and consists of inexpensive materials, such as hard foam or an elastic hot melt adhesive.

The spring bolt is advantageously introduced self-locking in through holes, which extend continuously from an end face portion to the groove. These through holes are inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

The length of a respective spring bolt protrudes, for example, the length of the respective associated through hole.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of further subclaims.

In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to schematic drawings. Show it: Figure 1 is a side view of an end edge of a rectangular floor panel according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a side view of the other end edge of the floor panel GE measure the first embodiment;

Figure 3 is a section along the line A-A in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section along the line B-B in Figure 1;

FIG. 5 shows two panels connected along the end edges shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 according to the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a floor panel according to a second embodiment; and

7 shows a section along the line C-C in Figure 6.

The compound according to the invention can generally be realized in floor panels, for example in laminate or parquet panels. Such panels usually have a rectangular cross-section with longer longitudinal edges and shorter end edges. At the longitudinal edges usually a lock connection is executed, as described for example under www.Hamberger.de or in WO 97/47834 A1. Such lock connections can be connected along their longitudinal edges by Einwinkein a panel to be laid in an already laid panel. As described above, it is necessary by this Einwinkein to provide locking elements on the shorter end edges, which can be connected to each other by pivoting down the panel to be laid on an already laid panel. For this purpose, the push-button connections described above have hitherto been used.

FIG. 1 shows a view of an end edge 2 of a floor panel 1, which along its two longitudinal edges 4, 8 (perpendicular to the view in FIG. suitable connection, for example, a lock connection is executed. In the illustration according to FIG. 1, a groove / tongue connection is made on the longitudinal edges for the sake of simplicity, wherein a groove 6 is arranged on one longitudinal edge 4 and a spring 10 on the other longitudinal edge 8.

According to the section shown in Figure 3 along the line AA in Figure 1 is on the front edge 2 a to a top 12 of the panel 1 opening towards hook groove 14 is formed, the left wall in Figure 3 is milled off from the surface 12, so that a Locking horizontal surface 16 stops. The adjacent to the left end face is designed with an inclined surface 18, which merges into an end face portion 20, to which a locking inclined surface 22 connects, so that by the surface portions 16, 18, 20, 22 a in Figure 3 to the left from the end edge 2 protruding Locking projection 23 is formed.

The opposite end edge 24 shown in Figure 2 has a corresponding structure. According to the section shown in Fig. 4 along the line BB in Figure 2, a hook projection 26 is formed at this end edge 24 which is bounded at the bottom by a hook surface 28 and to the left (view of Figure 4) by a longitudinal groove 30 , The geometry of the longitudinal groove 30 and the hook projection 26 is to the appropriate dimensions, i. the horizontal width of the locking projection 23 and the width and depth of the hook groove 14 adapted so that they can be engaged in a known manner with each other (see Figure 5).

The left wall of the longitudinal groove 30 in FIG. 4 is formed by an end face section 32 into which three spring bolts 34 spaced apart from one another according to FIG. 2 are inserted. For this purpose, in each end face section 32 opens a blind hole 36 into which one of the spring bolts 34 is inserted. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring pin 34 has a fixed in the blind hole 36 guide sleeve 38 in which a locking head 40 is guided axially displaceable. This is biased by means of a spring 43 in an illustrated stop position on the sleeve 38, in which a rounded head 42 protrudes from the end face portion 32 by a predetermined amount. In the illustrated embodiment, the head 42 projects about half of the width B of the longitudinal groove 30 from the end face portion 32 before. When laying a panel to an already laid panel 1, the longitudinal edges are first aligned with each other and then the panel to be laid along the longitudinal edge in the already laid panel 1. In this case, the lowered end edge 24 of the panel to be laid is brought into locking engagement with a front edge 2 of a laterally adjacent, already installed panel. During this downward bend of the panel 1 (left in FIG. 5), the head 42 of the spring bolt 34 first runs with its underside on the inclined surface 18 of the locking projection 23 and slides along it, the locking head 40 against the force of the spring 43 in the guide sleeve 38 or the blind hole 36 is moved into it. Upon further lowering of the head 42 is then the front side of the end face portion 20 of the locking projection 23 and has thus reached its lowest position. Upon further pivoting down the hook projection 26 dives accurately into the hook groove 14, in which case the head 42 of the locking head 40 is pressed by the force of the spring 43 against the lower locking inclined surface 22. In the fully pivoted-down position, the head 42 rests in the transition area between the locking inclined surface 22 and the adjoining, vertically extending wall section 44 (see FIG. 5). The angle of attack of the locking inclined surface 22 is selected comparatively at an acute angle to the horizontal in FIG. 5, so that the two panels 1 can not be disengaged so easily by pivoting back. For this purpose, the two panels must either be solved by moving the front side or initially angled downwards. Since the front-side locking is effected by means of three spring bolts 34 spaced apart from each other, reliable vertical locking is ensured even in the case of large fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and the formation of over-tooth due to vertical displacement of adjacent panels 1 is largely excluded.

The assembly of the spring bolts 34 is extremely simple, since these can be used as prefabricated components in bores of the front edges 24 of the panels 1 NEN. The geometry of the associated front edge 2 with the locking projection 23 is also very easy to produce by milling, so that this solution both in terms of manufacturing technology and in the applied locking forces so- As in the precision of the relative positioning of the two panels 1 is superior to the solutions described above.

In principle, it is also possible to receive the spring bolts 34 without a guide sleeve 38 directly in the blind hole 36 or any other receiving bore - it must only be taken appropriate measures to secure the locking head against loss.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the panel 1 according to a second exemplary embodiment. Here, the spring bolts 34, which are arranged along the end edge 24, a common spring element 46. This is introduced into a groove 48 which is milled into the bottom 50 of the panel 1 parallel to the end edge 24 and consists of an elastic material, for example of a thermoplastic material, of a hard foam or a hot melt adhesive. The length of the spring element 46 is smaller or approximately equal to the length of the groove 48, so that the spring element 46 is disposed completely within the groove 48, so that a flush concerns the longitudinal edges 4, 8 of the panels 1 in the installed state.

Figure 7 illustrates the section taken along line C-C in Figure 6 through the panel 1. It can be seen that the spring bolts 34 are inserted into a through hole 52 which extends perpendicularly from the end face portion 32 to the groove 48. The length of the spring pin 34 is longer than the length of the through hole 52.

The groove 48 has a rectangular cross-section and has a depth x which is slightly smaller than the depth y of the longitudinal groove 30. The width a is approximately the same for both grooves 30, 48, s. FIG. 6. The distance b of the left groove wall 54 of the groove 48, in FIG. 7, from the end edge 24 corresponds approximately to four times the distance c of the end face section 32 to the end edge 24. The spring element 46 has an approximately oval or circular cross section. the sections abuts the Nutinnenwandungen the groove 48 and is slightly spaced from the underside 50 of the panel 1 and thereby frictionally or positively, depending on the material, is fixed in the groove 48. The spring bolts 34 in FIG. 7 are flattened on the spring-element-side end section 56 with a flat side 58 and abut in sections therewith on the spring element 46. The spring element 46 is arranged with respect to the spring pin 34 so that the flat side 58 as large as possible rests on the spring element 46, so that the spring element 46 can develop their optimal spring action. The cross section of the through holes 52 substantially corresponds to the cross section of the spring bolts 34, whereby they are held in the through-holes 52 in a self-locking manner and, for example, can not fall out of this during the transport of a panel 1.

The laying of the panel 1 according to the second embodiment is carried out according to the first embodiment, wherein the spring element 46, the function of the springs 43, s. Fig. 5, takes over. When laying and pivoting down the panels 1, the spring bolts 34, as described above, first axially displaced away from the end edge 24 and thereby pressed with the flat side 58 in the spring element 46, which is thereby elastically deformed. Upon reaching the end position of the panels 1, the spring bolts 34 are pushed by the force of the elastically deformed spring element 46 back axially towards the front edge 24.

It is conceivable that the spring element 46, in order to save material, from several

Shares and these are each introduced only in the region of the spring pin 34 in the groove 48. Also, different cross-sectional shapes of the spring element 46 are possible, such as rectangular shapes to achieve optimum spring action.

Disclosed is a connection for floor panels, in which a vertical locking along by pivoting down connectable longitudinal or end edges via spring bolts takes place, each engage behind a locking projection on the other floor panel. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 panel

2 forehead edge

4 longitudinal edge

6 groove

8 longitudinal edge

10 spring

12 surface

14 hook groove

16 locking horizontal surface

18 inclined surface

20 end face section

22 locking inclined surface

23 locking projection

24 front edge

26 hook projection

28 hook surface

30 longitudinal groove

32 end face section

34 spring bolts

36 blind hole

38 guide sleeve

40 locking head

42 head

43 spring

44 wall section

46 spring element

48 groove

50 bottom

52 through hole

54 groove wall

56 end section

58 flat side

Claims

claims

1. Connection for floor panels along along longitudinal or end edges (2,

24; 4, 8) formed locking elements over which two floor panels (1) are lockable in horizontal and vertical directions, said

Locking along the respective edge (2, 24) by pivoting down a panel to be laid (1) about an adjacent edge (4, 8) takes place, wherein for vertical locking a locking element (34) of the one panel (1) has a locking projection (23) of the engages behind another panel, characterized in that at least one of the one panel (1) projecting spring pin (34) is provided which slides downwardly on a front surface (18, 20, 22, 44) when pivoting down and then protrudes into a locking position ,

2. A compound according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the at least one spring bolt (34) more of spaced feather bolts (34) are provided.

3. A compound according to claim 2, wherein the spring bolts (34) have a locking head (40), which via a spring (43) or another elastic

Element is biased into its locking position.

4. Connection according to claim 3, wherein the spring (43) and / or the locking head (40) are inserted into a guide sleeve (38).

5. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking projection (23) frontally with two mutually engaged inclined surfaces (18, 22) is executed.

6. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a horizontal locking via a mutual hook connection (26, 14, 30, 23) takes place.

7. A compound according to claim 6, wherein the engagement of the spring pin (34) takes place below the horizontal latch.

8. A compound according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein three spring bolts (34) are spaced from each other and the locking projection (23) extends along the entire other end edge (2).

9. A compound according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the locking head is rounded.

10. A compound according to claim 3 or 5 to 9, wherein a spring element (46) is associated with a plurality of spring bolts (34).

11. A compound according to claim 10, wherein the spring element (46) in a groove (48) is arranged, which extends parallel to the end edge (24).

12. A compound according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the spring element (46) consists of a hard foam or of a hot melt adhesive.

13. A compound according to claim 11 to 12, wherein the spring bolts (34) in through holes (52) which extend continuously from an end face portion (32) to the groove (48) are introduced self-locking.

14. A compound according to claim 13, wherein the length of a respective spring bolt (34), the length of the respective associated through hole (52) surmounted.