(51) Int. Cl.⁷:

E 04 F 15/02

(19) Federal Republic of Germany

[emblem]

German Patent and Trademark Office

(12) Patent

(10) DE 102 32 508 C1

(21) Application number: 102 32 508. 1-25

(22) Filing date: July 18, 2002

(43) Date of disclosure: -

(45) Publication date of

the patent grant: December 18, 2003

Opposition may be filed within 3 months following publication of the grant.

(73) Patent holder: Kronotec AG, Lucerne, CH (74) Representative: GRAMM, LINS & PARTNERS GbR, 38122 Braunschweig

(72) Inventor: Request not to be named has been filed. (56) Publications that were considered to evaluate the patentability: DE 100 34 407 C1 DE 100 57 901 A1 DE 100 08 166 A1 WO 01/96 688 A1

(54) Floor Panel

(57) The invention relates to a floor panel, which is defined in the horizontal plane by an upper side (15) and an underside (7), which is provided for laying on a subfloor and which is provided with means for detachably connecting at least two panels (1, 2) to at least two opposing side edges (10), so that in the laid state the two panels (1, 2) form a butt joint (13). The object of the invention is to provide a floor panel, which reduces the risk of the butt joint (13) swelling. This object is solved in that the upper side (15) exhibits a recess (12) in the panel (1) on at least a side of the side edge (10) that faces away from the butt joint (13).

DE 102 32 508 C1

Federal Government Printing Office 10.93 203 510/194/7A 1

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a floor panel, as disclosed in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The design of floor panels exhibiting mechanisms for connecting together a plurality of panels has existed for many years. Usually a first side edge exhibits groove-shaped locking means; and the opposing side edge exhibits tongue-shaped locking means. The result is a matching tongue and groove that can shape-lock in the transverse and vertical direction. These locking means can be designed as either so-called laying profiles, as described, for example, in the DE 100 08 166 A1, or as so-called snap-lock profiles, as described, for example, in the DE 100 57 901 A1.

[0003] As an alternative, the DE 100 34 407 C1 discloses that the interlocking of the panels is achieved by means of separate locking means, which are slid into the corresponding grooves in the side edges of the panels. Similarly a combination of so-called snap-lock and laying profiles or a combination of laying profiles with separate locking elements is also conceivable.

[0004] Such floor panels are usually manufactured of medium density or high density fiberboards (abbrev. MDF and HDF respectively), on the upper side of which is applied a decorative layer, which has the appearance of wood and constituents a wear resistant layer.

[0005] In particular, boards made of a wood material have the major problem that the core material is susceptible to moisture. All floor panels made of medium and high density fiberboard have this problem in common so that moisture and dirt can penetrate into the side edges, which are provided with a decorative layer and which lie side by side and form a butt joint in the laid state. The moisture causes the core material of the panels to swell, if the manufacturer has not applied an insulating layer on the uncoated edge or has applied an inadequately sufficient insulating layer on the uncoated edge. The results are visual and functional drawbacks.

[0006] The WO 01/96688 A1 discloses a floor panel that exhibits a chamfer directly on the side edge of the panel. This chamfer extends from the upper side of the panel as far as to the side edge, which forms with another side edge a butt joint. In the fitted together state, the result is a V-shaped chamfer above the butt joint.

[0007] Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a floor panel, which reduces the risk that the butt joint will swell.

[0008] This object is solved, according to the invention, with a floor panel exhibiting the features disclosed in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are depicted in the dependent claims.

[0009] The design of the floor panel having a recess immediately in the vicinity of the butt joint on the side facing away from the side edge achieves the goal that any moisture on the floor or moist dirt will collect in the recess and, therefore, cannot penetrate into the butt joint. This feature prevents the core material from swelling and, moreover, prevents irregularities in the area of the butt joint as well as a loss of mechanical strength. It is practical to design the recess in such a manner that moisture that has collected in the recess cannot flow into the core material.

[0010] One possibility of guaranteeing a non-penetration is to coat the recess and the entire upper side of the floor panel with a protective decorative layer. This layer is usually very hard, wear resistant, and water-tight. As an alternative to applying a decorative layer, the entire floor panel can be made of an oriented strand board (abbrev. OSB), which has by nature a certain resisting force to the penetration of moisture. In this case the formation of a recess achieves the goal of preventing the moisture from reaching the connecting point between two panels and, thus, weakening the mechanical connection by soaking the panel material.

[0011] The recess is milled out advantageously at the same time that the side edges are cut and then sealed with a strip of the decorative layer so that the desired sizes are cut economically from large base boards.

[0012] In order to obtain a uniform pattern for the entire floor, it is provided that the side edge, which is opposite the first side edge, has a corresponding recess, so that, when viewed in the cross section, the area of the butt joint has a V-shaped contour, which is configured advantageously on the long sides of the panel. As an alternative, it is provided that the recess is designed so as to be circumferential, in order to prevent the moisture from penetrating into the butt joints of the panels.

[0013] In order to achieve the goal of minimizing the visual drawbacks caused by the recess that is cut, it is provided that the recess is immediately adjacent to the side edge, forming the butt joint, so that the actual butt joint can be visually covered by a suitable tinting of the side area of the recess. In order to protect the sensitive area of the pointed edge, running along the side edge, it is provided that the level in the area of the butt joint is lower than the level of the upper side of the rest of the panels, so that the butt joint itself is lower than the level of the upper side of the floor. However, the recesses still terminate on a lower level, so that in this case, too, the function of collecting moisture and dirt continues to be guaranteed.

[0014] Embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the attached figures.

[0015] Figure 1 is a top view, seen from an oblique angle, of a cross section of a panel.

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of a section of the recesses arranged on both sides of a butt joint; and

[0017] Figures 3 and 4 depict variations of the design of the recess.

[0018] Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a floor panel 1 with an upper side 15 and an underside 7 with a first side edge 10, which in the case of a rectangular design of the floor panel is designed preferably as a longitudinal side. A groove is milled into the panel below the side edge 10. Into this groove are fitted either corresponding tongue elements of a second panel or separate locking elements, in order to connect together the two panels 1, 2. In the embodiment under discussion, the groove brings about a locking action both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction, a feature that does not, in principle, have to be fulfilled. Immediately adjacent to the first side edge 10 runs a recess 12 in the panel. The cross section of this recess exhibits a V-shape. The recess 12 was milled out together with the groove in the panel 1 and then subsequently provided with a water-tight seal, so that moisture, collecting in the recess 12, cannot penetrate into the core of the panel 1. It is desirable to cut the panels 1, 2 from a large base board, preferably from HDF or MDF material, which is provided with a decorative layer and a wear resistant layer, and to mill out or form a corresponding profile on the circumferential sides. In this profile milling step the recess 12 is also milled out while simultaneously removing the decorative and wear resistant layer. In a separate working step this recess is provided with a suitable decorative layer and wear resistant layer, so that a uniform image is guaranteed.

[0019] By making the respective flank of the recess 12 a suitable color, it is possible to visually cover the actual butt joint, as indicated in Figures 2 to 4.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of a cross sectional view of two panels 1, 2 in a laid state. In this case a graphical rendering of the connecting means was omitted. Both sides of the butt joint 13 have recesses 12 on the panels 1, 2, so that dirt and/or moisture can collect in the recesses 12. It is practical for the level of the butt joint to be lower than the upper side 15 of the panels 1, 2, in order to place the tip, forming on the butt joint, lower and to protect against mechanical stress.

[0021] Figure 3 shows a unilateral design of the recess 12 in the area of the butt joint 13 - just as in Figure 4 -, but in this case the recess 12 is formed in the shape of a U.

[0022] As an alternative to the aforementioned design of the recess 12 immediately adjacent to the side edge 10, it is provided that a leg of negligible width adjoins the side edge 10, in order to create a plateau in the case of a bilateral design of the recesses 12, in order to reduce the mechanical stress on the side edge 10, tapering to a point.

Patent Claims

1. Floor panel, which is defined in the horizontal plane by an upper side (15) and an underside (7), which is provided for laying on a subfloor and which is provided with means for detachably connecting at least two panels (1, 2) to at least two opposing side edges (10), so that in the laid state the two panels (1, 2) form a butt joint (13), characterized in that the upper side (15) of the panel (1) has a recess (12) opposite the upper side edge rim on or in the vicinity of the side edge (10).

2. Floor panel, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the upper side (15) and the recess (12) are provided with a decorative layer or the like.

3. Floor panel, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the floor panel (1) is made of an oriented strand board material.

4. Floor panel, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (12) is milled out.

5. Floor panel, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (12) is formed on a second side edge, which is opposite the first side edge (10).

6. Floor panel, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (12) is configured so as to be circumferential.

7. Floor panel, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of the recess (12) is formed in the shape of a V or U in relation to the longitudinal stretch of the side edge (10).

8. Floor panel, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (10) is immediately adjacent to the side edge (12).

9. Floor panel, as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the level of the side edge (10) lies below the upper side (15).

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1 sheet(s) of drawings

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DRAWINGS PAGE 1 Number: DE 102 32 508 C1

Int. Cl.⁷: E 04 F 15/02

Publication date: December 18, 2003

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