Panel of a floor system, in particular of a laminate floor

p0001The invention relates to a panel of a floor system which can be mechanically locked to other panels, having a first side edge and a second side edge which is arranged opposite the first side edge, and a top side, the side edges being lockable with corresponding side edges of further panels, And wherein the side edges of the panel and the side edges of further panels can be brought into engagement by a vertically extending movement.

p0002More particularly, the invention relates to a panel of a laminate flooring system wherein the panels consist of a core of an HDF or MDF board or a chipboard provided with an upper laminate coating.

p0003From the prior art of the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO0166876A"><text>WO 01/66876</text></patcit> as well as the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO0148331A"><text>WO 01/48331</text></patcit> There are known panels in which the tongue and groove connection and a locking lip and a locking spring for horizontal locking are made in one piece from the material of the panel. For this purpose, the locking lip is formed on the side edge with the spring of the tongue-and-groove connection and the locking spring is formed on the side edge of the groove of the tongue / groove connection. Thus, the locking spring simultaneously also constitutes the lower lip of the groove, thus having a double function.

p0004The previously described panels have the disadvantage that the laying of a plurality of panels to form a floor is made more difficult and can generally only be carried out using tools.

p0005From the <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="DE20203311U"><text>DE-U-20203311</text></patcit>, of the <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="DE20120704U"><text>DE-U-20120704</text></patcit>, of the <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="WO0188306A1"><text>WO 01/88306 A1</text></patcit> and the <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="WO0102670A"><text>WO 01/02670</text></patcit> Further embodiments of a panel profile in which the connecting elements are brought into connection with a vertical movement can be seen. For this purpose, essentially a tongue-and-groove connection is provided which is provided with detent elements acting in the vertical direction. However, since, in these embodiments, the horizontal and vertical locks are realized with the same components, the horizontal locking may subsequently also be weakened if the vertically acting catch elements are damaged during the interlocking.

p0006From the <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="WO0188307A"><text>WO 01/88307</text></patcit> A floor covering consisting of panels can be removed, whereby the panels can be joined together along their longitudinal edges by means of a tongue-and-groove connection. The disclosed panels have male and female profile elements corresponding to each other along their longitudinal edges. In this case, the longitudinal edges of the panels carrying the profile elements to be connected extend along parallel oblique surfaces. Because of this feature, it is not possible to engage the edges of the panels to be joined by means of a perpendicular movement. Moreover, in these embodiments, the horizontal and vertical locking is also implemented with the same components, so that the horizontal locking can subsequently also be weakened in the event of a damage occurring during the locking of the vertically acting catch elements.

p0007The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of specifying a panel which can be connected simply and largely without the use of tools with other panels and at the same time ensures a great stability of the interconnected panels.

p0008The technical problem set forth above is solved according to the invention by a panel with the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the subclaims.

p0009According to the invention it has been recognized that the panel explained at the outset is designed as follows. The lateral edges can be brought into engagement with each other by means of a perpendicular movement. For this purpose, the two lateral edges are provided with mutually corresponding profiles.

p0010The first side edge has a key which is directed away from the top side downwards, a locking lip which is directed downwards from the top side, a locking groove arranged between the key and the locking lip, and an elasticity groove arranged on the side of the locking spring facing away from the locking groove.

p0011The second side edge, on the other hand, has a locking spring which is directed upwards from the bottom side and a fitting groove adjoining the locking spring.

p0012In the locked state, that is to say after the two side edges have been brought into engagement with a substantially vertically extending movement, the key is engaged with the fitting groove, the distal end of the key bearing against the groove base of the fitting groove. Further, the lock spring is engaged with the lock groove and the lock lip.

p0013Thus the horizontal locking and the vertical locking are achieved with separate profile elements. The locking lip is the component which during the locking step is at least partly bent for vertical locking and thus subjected to a mechanical load. The key, in turn, is inserted without bending into the fitting groove and ensures an exact horizontal locking.

p0014The previously described profile allows the two side edges to be locked together by a substantially vertical movement. In this way, each new panel to be laid can be brought into engagement with already laid panels by placing the new panel with the corresponding side edges above the side edges of the already laid panels. This is then locked by a pressure exerted from above.

p0015In order to achieve the aforementioned vertical and horizontal locks, preferably the key has a first fitting surface adjoining the upper side, an inwardly arranged second fitting surface and a lower third fitting surface. The locking lip has a first locking surface running obliquely to the upper side. In addition, a fourth mating surface adjoining the upper side is provided. The locking spring, in turn, has a second locking surface which runs at an angle to the lower side and a fifth mating surface. Finally, the groove base of the pass groove forms a sixth fit surface. In the locked state, the first mating surface on the fourth mating surface, the second mating surface on the fifth mating surface, the third mating surface on the sixth mating surface, and the first locking surface on the second mating surface. The interaction of the pairs of mating surfaces and the locking surface pair results in a stable vertical and horizontal locking mechanism. The pairs of mating surfaces of the first and fourth as well as of the second and fifth mating surfaces cause the horizontal locking and the mating surface of the third and sixth mating surfaces as well as the two locking surfaces effect the vertical locking.

p0016Furthermore, the locking groove preferably has a first bearing surface on the side opposite the key, while the locking spring has a second bearing surface on the side facing away from the fitting groove. In the locked state, the first contact surface rests against the second contact surface and effects an additional stabilization of the connection.

p0017The resilience groove serves to provide the locking lip with sufficient resilience since the locking lip is essentially the only element that is bent during locking. The length of the elasticity groove is thereby a simple means for adjusting the elasticity.

p0018The thickness of the elasticity groove, on the other hand, defines the maximum deflection of the locking lip. Thus, unwanted divergence of the connection can be prevented to a certain extent.

p0019In a further preferred manner, the elasticity groove at least partly has a resilient means. With this remedy; Which in particular can be a PVC adhesive, an additional force can be generated which makes the bending more difficult. Furthermore, this means serves to prevent the penetration of moisture into the core of the panel. In some cases, the groove can occupy a large part of the thickness of the panel.

p0020The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments, for which reference is made to the attached drawing. In the drawing show<dl id="dl0001"><dt>FIG</dt><dd>A first exemplary embodiment of a panel according to the invention in the locked state, </dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 with panels separated from one another and</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a panel according to the invention.</dd></dl>

p00211 and 2 show a first exemplary embodiment of two panels 1 and 2 according to the invention, which have a first side edge 3 and a second side edge 4, wherein the side edges 3 and 4 lie opposite one another on a same panel 1 or 2.

p0022The side edges 3 and 4 can be locked with corresponding side edges 4 and 3 of further panels 1 and 2, since the profiles of the side edges 3 and 4 are designed corresponding to one another. In this case, the lateral edges 3 and 4 can be brought into engagement with one another essentially by means of a vertically extending movement.

p00231 and 2, the first side edge 3 has a key 6 directed downwards from the top 5, a locking lip 7 directed downwards from the top 5, a locking groove 8 arranged between the key 6 and the locking lip 7 Has an elasticity groove 9 arranged on the side of the locking lip remote from the locking groove 8.

p0024The second lateral edge 4, on the other hand, is provided with a locking spring 11 directed upwards from the underside 10 and with a fitting groove 12 adjoining the locking spring 11.

p0025In the locked state, the key 6 engages with the fitting groove 12, with the distal end 13 of the key 6 resting against the groove bottom 14 of the fitting groove 12. Further, the lock spring 11 is engaged with the lock groove 8 and the lock lip 7.

p0026For the realization of the horizontal and vertical locking, the previously described profile elements have the following fitting and locking surfaces in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. These are marked with reference symbols, in particular in FIG. 2, whereas in FIG. 1 these are not shown for reasons of clarity.

p0027The pass spring 6 has a first fitting surface 15, which is adjacent to the upper side 5, a second fitting surface 16 arranged in the inner side, and a lower third fitting surface 13, the previously mentioned distal end of the fitting spring 6.

p0028The locking lip 7 is provided with a first locking surface 17 which extends obliquely with respect to the upper side 5. Furthermore, a fourth fitting surface 18, which adjoins the upper side 5, is provided on the second lateral edge 4. The locking spring 11 in turn has a second locking surface 19 running obliquely to the lower side 10 and a fifth mating surface 20. The groove bottom 14 of the fitting groove 12 forms a sixth fitting surface.

p0029In the locked state, the first fitting surface 15 rests against the fourth fitting surface 18, the second fitting surface 16 rests against the fifth fitting surface 20, the third fitting surface 13 rests against the sixth fitting surface 14, and the first locking surface 17 rests against the second locking surface 19.

p0030In other words, the mating face pair 15 and 18 and the mating face pair 16 and 20 form the horizontal lock, these mating surfaces are substantially vertical. The mating face pair 13 and 14 as well as the locking surface pair 17 and 19, on the other hand, form the vertical locking mechanism. Since the locking surfaces 17 and 19 extend obliquely, they even have an effect with respect to both horizontal and vertical locking.

p00311 and 2, the locking groove 8 can have a first bearing surface 21 on the side opposite the key 6, and the locking spring 7 can have a second bearing surface 22 on the side facing away from the fitting groove 12 so that, in the locked state, The first abutment surface 21 and the second abutment surface 22 rest against the two lateral edges 3 and 4. This is not necessary in itself for the locking of the profiles, but leads to a stabilization of the entire profile.

p0032FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein like reference characters designate the same components and surfaces. The profile shown is similar to the profile shown in FIG. 1, but the profile shown in FIG. 3 has further features which, alone or in combination, further develop the present invention.

p0033In contrast to FIGS. 1 and 2, the contact surfaces 21 and 22 are not present so that the locking springs rest against one another only along the locking surfaces 17 and 19.

p0034The length of the elasticity groove 9 determines the elasticity of the locking lip 7. Therefore, the elasticity of the locking lip 7 can be changed by changing the position of the reason of the elasticity groove 9. *** " This is illustrated in FIG. By dashed lines 23 for two alternative lengths.

p0035In addition, the thickness of the elastic groove 9 determines the maximum deflection of the locking lip 7. For this reason, when the latching lip 7 on the left side of the locking lip 7 on the left side of the elasticity groove 9 abuts against the opposite side of the elasticity groove 9, further bending of the locking lip 7 is no longer possible.

p0036In addition, the elasticity groove 9 can also be partially filled with an elastic means. This is indicated by a black filling of the surface of the illustrated elasticity groove 9 in FIG. Shown is a complete filling of the elasticity groove 9, a sectionwise filling is also possible.

p0037In a preferred manner, the elastic means is a PVC adhesive. However, other elastic natural or artificial substances are also suitable for use.