Panel, in particular floor panel

p0001The invention relates to a panel, in particular floor panel, with a core of wood material or wood-plastic mixture, a top and a bottom, which has a corresponding to the spring groove on at least one side edge of a spring and on the opposite side edge, and two identical formed panels are joined together by a substantially horizontal joining movement in horizontal and vertical directions connected and locked, the lock in the horizontal direction by at least one vertically movable, cooperating with the spring spring element is effected, the during the joining movement behind a located in a extending from the horizontal direction deviating direction locking edge snaps.

p0002Such a panel is known for example from <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO2004085765A1"><text>WO 2004/085765 A1</text></patcit> known. This realized with this type of locking panel is preferably provided on the longitudinal side of the floor panels. However, it can also be provided on the transverse side or on both the lateral side as well as on the long side. The V-shaped spring element is made of plastic and is in a vertical, provided in the top of the spring groove on the long side of the side edge employed. On the upper lip of the formed at the opposite side edge groove, an undercut is provided, which cooperates with the spring lip of the spring element. When the two panels together horizontally pushed, the spring lip takes on the upper lip of the groove and is compressed. Upon further insertion of the tongue into the groove, the spring lip arrives sometime overlap with the formed in the upper lip undercut, snaps back in the vertical direction and snaps into the undercut, whereby the locking is effected in a horizontal direction. In the vertical direction, the locking is effected by the received in the groove of the other panel spring.

p0003For the production of this spring element Special injection molds are necessary, so that the production is relatively expensive. Furthermore, should a high-quality plastic are used to provide sufficient strength values ​​are available, which further increases the cost, the spring element. If plastics are used with insufficient strength values, this leads to relatively large dimensions of the spring elements, as is only by ensuring that appropriate extraction forces can be generated or transmitted.

p0004The fact that the locking element is designed as a separate component, results in additional expenses. The manufacture of the locking element is carried for technological reasons spatially separate from the panels, so that an inclusion in the continuous production process, in particular for floor panels, is not more possible. Due to the different materials, wood material on one side and plastic on the other hand, the alignment of manufacturing tolerances of two separate manufacturing processes is complex and expensive. Since the locking in the horizontal direction would be ineffective in the absence of locking element, this also needs to be secured in the further production process and during transport from falling out of the introduced in the spring vertical groove. This backup, is complex. Alternatively, the locking element could be provided to the consumer separately available.

p0005the disputed floor panels of DIYers are laid and more often, so that in principle it is possible due to lack of experience, that the required number of locking elements is initially misjudged and they will not be procured in sufficient quantity to fully interpret a space can. It is also not excluded that the Handyman makes mistakes at the onset of the spring element, which results in that the lock is not exactly possible and the composite dissolves over time, which is then wrongly attributed by the consumer to the quality supplied by the manufacturer.

p0006From the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO9747834A"><text>WO 97/47834</text></patcit> panels are known, which are provided at opposite side edges with a tongue and groove profiling. On the underside of the spring, a locking projection is provided corresponding to an introduced in the recess lower lip. If two panels horizontally connected to each other pivots the lip from down and springs back when the locking projection enters the locking recess About covering with. A disadvantage of this configuration is that the lower lip must be far led out on the upper lip of the groove, to milling the locking recess can. Conventional panels have a total thickness of 6-12 mm. The remainder of the lower lip strength is therefore very low. The lower lip is particularly strong risk of breakage during transport. Tear down the core material of the panel in the lower lip, a sufficiently high restoring forces can be applied so that no secure locking two panels can be carried out, which also leads to the release of the connection, which is then attributed to legal consumer produced by the manufacturer quality ,

p0007Starting from this problem to the panel initially described to be improved.

p0008To solve the problem a generic floor panel is characterized in that the spring element is integrally formed out of the core.

p0009Through this design, the production is drastically simplified. The balancing of the tolerances of different components will be omitted. Production times and costs are reduced because it is not necessary to integrate different components and hold together. Post-consumer is also ensured that no components are missing and in such a case, then could not be continued. This profiling is preferably provided on the transverse side of panels which have already been connected to the longitudinal side, for example by Squaring and are then joined by displacement along the long side of one another on the transverse side.

p0010The spring element may be formed on the spring or on the lower lip of the groove.

p0011Preferably, the at least one spring element in the direction of its side edge and in direction of the opposite lateral edge relative to the core and freely connected at at least one, particularly preferably at its two ends to the core. The size of the active compound of the spring element with the core elasticity, the spring can be adjusted.

p0012The exposure of the spring element preferably takes place by means of two substantially vertical slots, which may extend parallel to each other. By the width of the slots not only the strength of the connection of the spring element is determined to the core material, but by the choice of the width of the vertical slot, which is the center of the panel nearest to the position of a stopper in the horizontal direction for the spring element can be created so that it is protected against overexpansion.

p0013If the length of the side edge, a plurality of spaced spring elements, the stability of the compound is increased by the free path in the longitudinal direction of the spring element is limited. The distance between the individual spring elements can be made large more or less. The smaller the distance is, the greater the effective area of ​​course, is locked to the so that the transferable forces in the vertical direction are correspondingly high.

p0014On the two other opposite side edges are also mutually corresponding profilings may be provided, so that two identically formed panels are connected by a substantially vertical joining movement in the horizontal and vertical direction, connected to each other and can be locked, wherein the locking in the vertical direction by at least one in the horizontal direction is movable spring element effected, the snaps during the joining movement behind a substantially horizontally extending locking edge. Also this spring element may be integrally formed out of the core.

p0015The type of locking last described will preferably be then provided on the transverse side of the panel, when the connection on the longitudinal side by the first described profiling, which is instead provided on the transverse sides on the long sides, not by a pure horizontal joining movement, but panels are reciprocally swung by the newly created panel angularly applied to an already-laid panel, inserted the tongue into the groove and then the new panel is lowered to the ground.

p0016For this case, the at least one spring element toward the top and toward the opposite side edge will be free and is connected in the direction of its side edge at at least one of its two ends to the core relative to the core. The spring member is particularly preferably exposed by means of a substantially horizontal slot and a substantially vertical slot with respect to the core.

p0017Using an Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in greater detail below.

p0018It shows:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>the top view of a first panel in a partial representation;</dd><dt>figure 1a</dt><dd>the top view of another panel in partial view;</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>the view according to arrow II after <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> two panels at the connecting point;</dd><dt>figure 2a</dt><dd>the view according to arrow IIa <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 1a</figref> two panels at the connecting point;</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>the section along the line III-III according to <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> two panels at the connecting point;</dd><dt>3a</dt><dd>the section along the line IIIa-IIIa by <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 1a</figref>;</dd><dt>figure 4</dt><dd>the partially sectional perspective view of the panel according to <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>;</dd><dt>4a</dt><dd>the partially sectional perspective view of the panel according to <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 1a</figref>;</dd><dt>figure 5</dt><dd>the top view of a third embodiment of a panel in a partial representation;</dd><dt>figure 6</dt><dd>the view according to arrow VI <figref idrefs="f0007">figure 5</figref> two panels at the connecting point;</dd><dt>figure 7</dt><dd>the section along the line VII-VII according to <figref idrefs="f0007">figure 5</figref> two panels at the connecting point; </dd><dt>figure 8</dt><dd>a partially sectional perspective view of the panel according to <figref idrefs="f0007">figure 5</figref>;</dd><dt>figure 9</dt><dd>the representation of two linked on the transverse side panels of a further embodiment in partial section;</dd><dt>figure 10</dt><dd>the view of two on the lateral sides of interconnected panels in partial view according to the sectional representation in <figref idrefs="f0010">figure 9</figref>;</dd><dt>figure 11</dt><dd>the partially sectional perspective view of the panel according to <figref idrefs="f0010">figure 9</figref>,</dd></dl>

p0019The panels 1, 2 and 1a, 2a are of identical design. On one side edge I, la, they contain a spring 6, 6a and on the opposite side edge II, IIa formed with a groove 3, 3a. The groove 3, 3a has a lower lip 4, 4a and an unspecified upper lip. The core 37 consists of wood material or a wood-plastic mixture.

p0020The in <figref idrefs="f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006">Figures 2 to 4</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0004 f0006">2a to 4a</figref> Embodiments illustrated correspond basically. The panels 1a, 2a have against the panels 1, 2 on a projects beyond the upper lip 4 lower lip 4a. Otherwise, the panels are constructed similarly. Therefore, the item numbers is only adding a.

p0021On the lower lip 4, 4a that is excellent 16 towards the top of spring element 5, 5a is arranged, by means of its two ends 12, 13 with the core 37 of the panels 1, 2; 1a, 2a is connected. Relative to the core 37, the spring element 5, 5a through the vertical slot 8, 8a is separated. With its upper edge 18, the spring element ends at the groove bottom. Since the spring element 5, 5a is connected only at its two ends 12, 13 with the core 37, it is movable in the vertical direction V. The inner wall 8 'which forms as a result of the slot 8, 8a on the core 37, used as a stop in the horizontal direction for the spring element 5, 5a, so that it is protected in the horizontal direction with respect to elongation. As<figref idrefs="f0005">figures 4</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0006">4a</figref> show the top 18 of the spring element 5, 5a is chamfered, ascending towards the groove base 3 'to. At the bottom of the spring 6, 6a an undercut 6 'is provided, whose inner contour corresponds substantially to the outer contour of the spring element 5, 5a. If two panels 1, 2; 1a, 2a connected to each other by moving in the horizontal direction H, bathes the spring 6, 6a of the panel 1, 1a in the groove 3, 3a of the panel 2, 2a. The spring element 5, 5a engages with its inclined top side to the underside of the spring 6, 6a, and will be resilient in the vertical direction V downward. Enters the spring element 5, 5a with a further joining movement in height of the undercut 6, 6a it springs in the opposite vertical direction V back and snaps behind the spring 6, 6a, whereby the panels 1, 1a; 2, 2a are locked in the horizontal direction H together. The locking in the vertical direction V via the spring 6, 6a and the groove 3, 3a.

p0022In the in the <figref idrefs="f0007 f0008 f0009">Figures 5-8</figref> Illustrated embodiment, the spring element 5 is formed on the spring 6, by two substantially extending in the vertical direction V slots 7, 8 and extending in the horizontal direction H slit are introduced 9, so that the spring element 5 is exposed from the core and with both its ends 14, 15 is connected to the core material. As<figref idrefs="f0009">figure 8</figref> reveals the extending in the horizontal direction slit may be designed to be continuous over the length L 9 of the side edge I. The parallel slots 7, 8 terminate in a plane below the upper side 16. The bottom edge 5 'of the spring element 5 is tapered and falls, such as<figref idrefs="f0009">figure 8</figref> reveals toward the center of the panel from. On the opposite side edge II lip 4 is provided with an undercut 4 ', whose inner contour corresponds substantially to the outer contour of the spring element. 5 When two panels 1, 2 connected together by joining in a horizontal direction H, the spring 6 engages the panel 1 in the groove 3 to the panel 2, the inclined edge 10 comes to bear against the lower lip 4, wherein the further joining movement of this pressed in the vertical direction V upwards and springs in the opposite direction back again when the spring element 5 'passes to overlap with the undercut 4, so that the lock is then produced in the horizontal direction H.

p0023<figref idrefs="f0010">Figures 9 and 10</figref> show the connection of two panels 21, 22 at the lateral side. As already mentioned, the core 37 made from wood material or a wood-plastic mixture. At their opposite side edges III, IV, the panels 21, 22 are profiled, with the side edge IV of the top 16 and the side edge was processed by milling from the bottom III 17th At the side edge IV, the spring element 23 is formed, which has been produced by milling of the core 37 by a horizontal slot 31 and a substantially vertically extending slot 30 has been milled. The side edges of III, IV have the length I. In the longitudinal direction of the side edge III, the spring element 23 is connected at its ends to the core material. The exposure of the spring member 23 from the core 37 takes place exclusively through the slots 30, 31. The outer edge 23c of the spring element 23 is inclined relative to the top side 16 of the panel 22 at an angle. The vertical surfaces of the side edges of III, IV are processed so that in the area of ​​the top 16 contact surfaces 35, 36 form.

p0024At the spring element 30 opposite side edge IV the panel 21 is provided with a substantially horizontally extending groove H 29 whose upper side forms a substantially horizontally extending locking edge 24th The groove base of the groove 29 runs parallel to the outer edge 23c of the spring element 23, which facilitates the manufacturing of the groove 29th However, it could be carried out strictly in the vertical direction V or with a different angle from the outer edge 23c of the spring element 23 angle.

p0025The locking of the two panels 21, 22 in the horizontal direction H via the by milling produced by a stepped profiling hook elements 40, 41 and in the vertical direction V via the spring element 23 in connection with the locking edge 24 of the groove 29. On downwardly extending shoulder 25 the hook member 41 is formed an at least partially planar top surface 32, which cooperates with a recess formed on the hook element 40 on the opposite side edge IV bearing surface 33 which extends back behind the paragraph 26th The head surface 12 and the supporting surface 13 ends in the same horizontal plane E, such that interconnected panels 21, 22 supported on one another. The profiling of the hook elements 40, 41 is selected so that in the junction a bias voltage is generated and the vertical contact surfaces 35, 36 of the panels 21, 22 are then injected sequentially, so that at the top 16 of two interconnected panels 21, 22 no visible gap. To facilitate the joining of the panels 21, 22, the upwardly projecting shoulder 26 of the hook member 40 and the downwardly projecting shoulder 25 of the hook member 41 are chamfered or rounded at their edges. To simplify the manufacturing for forming the spring element 23, either the horizontally extending slot 31 or the substantially vertically extending slot 30 can be continuous, rich so over the full length l of the side edge III.

p0026In all the embodiments described above, the surface, that the height and the width determined, with which the ends 12, 13 of the spring element 5, 5a and 23a, 23b of the spring element 23 are connected to the core 37, the spring rate of the spring element. Over the length L, I of the side edge of I, II, III plurality of spring elements 23 may be formed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

p0027<dl id="dl0002" compact="compact"><dt>1</dt><dd>paneling</dd><dt>1a</dt><dd>paneling</dd><dt>2</dt><dd>paneling</dd><dt>2a</dt><dd>paneling</dd><dt>3</dt><dd>groove</dd><dt>3a</dt><dd>groove</dd><dt>4</dt><dd>bottom lip</dd><dt>4a</dt><dd>bottom lip</dd><dt>4 '</dt><dd>Undercut / undercut</dd><dt>5</dt><dd>spring element</dd><dt>5a</dt><dd>spring element</dd><dt>5 '</dt><dd>lower edge</dd><dt>6</dt><dd>feather</dd><dt>6a</dt><dd>feather</dd><dt>6 '</dt><dd>undercut</dd><dt>7</dt><dd>slot</dd><dt>8th</dt><dd>slot</dd><dt>9</dt><dd>slot</dd><dt>10</dt><dd>oblique edge</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>end</dd><dt>13</dt><dd>end</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>end</dd><dt>15</dt><dd>end</dd><dt>16</dt><dd>top</dd><dt>17</dt><dd>bottom</dd><dt>18</dt><dd>top</dd><dt>21</dt><dd>paneling</dd><dt>22</dt><dd>paneling</dd><dt>23</dt><dd>spring element</dd><dt>23a</dt><dd>end</dd><dt>23b</dt><dd>end </dd><dt>23c</dt><dd>outer edge</dd><dt>23d</dt><dd>lower edge</dd><dt>24</dt><dd>locking edge</dd><dt>25</dt><dd>paragraph</dd><dt>26</dt><dd>paragraph</dd><dt>29</dt><dd>groove</dd><dt>30</dt><dd>slot</dd><dt>32</dt><dd>head face</dd><dt>33</dt><dd>bearing surface</dd><dt>35</dt><dd>vertical surface</dd><dt>36</dt><dd>vertical surface</dd><dt>37</dt><dd>core</dd><dt>40</dt><dd>hook member</dd><dt>41</dt><dd>hook member</dd><dt>e</dt><dd>level</dd><dt>H</dt><dd>horizontal direction</dd><dt>L</dt><dd>length</dd><dt>I</dt><dd>length</dd><dt>V</dt><dd>vertical direction</dd><dt>I</dt><dd>side edge</dd><dt>II</dt><dd>side edge</dd><dt>III</dt><dd>side edge</dd><dt>IV</dt><dd>side edge</dd></dl>Re / dg