Mechanical joint of panels

Description:

The invention relates to the combination of building panels, especially floor panels.

Separate panels can be mechanically joined, for example by means of a gear, to form a smooth surface so that the panels can be fixed to adhesive or additional mechanical joints, such as screws or nails. A special advantage is that the panels can be fixed with additional adhesive earth.

In JP 3-169967 A, on which the present invention is based, a mechanical coupling of the floor panels is described. Along the first lateral edge, the panels have a groove that connects between the upper and lower projection and extends parallel to the lateral edge. On the opposite side edge of the second panel is incorporated a groove that extends inclined to the upper part of the panel. In the groove is made a suitable gear element, which extends inclined to the top of the panel. In addition, the adjustment surfaces, parallel to the upper part, and which represent support points for the gear surfaces in the depression of the nut and the groove engagement element, are made in the nut and groove, ending the orientation of the respective side edge. In the direction parallel to the upper part, the upper projection covers the gear surface made in the opposite side of the nut. In the state of engagement of the joint, the adjusting surfaces and the engagement surfaces are securely fastened together, keeping the lateral edges in contact. By cooperating the adjusting surfaces and the engagement surfaces, the lateral edges of the two contacting panels are securely fastened to each other, forming о jointing ground holes.

Other mechanical joints of the panels in the art are known, being described in WO 94/269999, WO 96/27721, WO 97/47834 and in WO 98/58142.

A common feature of the mechanical joints of the panels, previously known in the art, is the possibility of a secure mechanical gear in the direction parallel to the upper part of the panels, although at the rotation of the panel it has reduced stiffness on the adjacent side edges. However, the panels can be pivoted relative to each other very easily, which leads to weakening of the mechanical joint. Earlier in the field, the simple fixing of the panels was considered to some extent desirable. At the same time, these panels have sufficient stiffness for tilting and pivoting against each other, but the joining by means of the panels has inadequate rigidity. In addition, when adjusting the pair of adjustable surfaces, the adjustment in the direction perpendicular to the top is reduced, so that the adjacent side edges do not exactly match the height, forming a considerable step [1].

The problem solved by the present invention is to provide mechanical coupling of panels characterized by improved gear and increased stability.

According to the present invention, the problem is solved by a joint, in which the groove is formed by the upper projection (31) and the lower projection (33) on the lateral edge (5) of a panel (1) and placed parallel to the lateral edge (5). The groove (32) is executed on the lateral edge (6) of another panel (2) and placed parallel to the lateral edge (6). The longitudinal recess (39) is executed in the groove (35) of the groove, having the engagement surface (16) which is inclined relative to the outer surface (3) of the panel (1). The longitudinal projection (34) is executed on the groove (32), having the engagement surface (26) which extends inclined to the outer surface (4) of the panel (2). The joint surface (14) is executed in the groove (35) and is located opposite the gear surface (16). The joint surface (24) is executed on the groove (32) and placed on the lateral edge (6). The joint surfaces (14, 24) serve as a support for the gear surfaces (16, 26). The upper projection (31) completely covers the drive surface (16). The joint surfaces (14, 24) and the engagement surfaces (16, 26) are located on the ground side in relation to each other in a state of adhesion, ensuring the contact of the lateral edges (5, 6).

According to the present invention, the two panels are stabilized against tilting and pivoting along the lateral edges in gear state by the additional adjustment surfaces in the region of the ulnar nut. the joint, in contrast, is made with the pair of gear surfaces and the pair of adjustment surfaces located in the front of the side edges and which serve as support points. Therefore the force generated by the gear surfaces effectively prevents the separate movement of the two panels in parallel plane, in relation to the upper parts, and perpendicular to the lateral edges. Thus, different adjustment-surface pairs ensure both the gear and the stabilization of the orientation of the two blocks.

Another advantage of the mechanical joining of the panels, according to this invention, is that the adjustment surface in the groove region of the first panel and the upper projection of the second panel allows very precise adjustment of the upper parts of the two panels, which effectively prevents the appearance of the rough parts on the adjacent lateral edges.

In a preferred embodiment, the adjusting surface, which is located on the opposite side of the gear surface, extends inclined faces of the upper parts within the groove. Respectively, the groove to be inserted can be guided during the junction process of the two panels.

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In case, however, these adjustment surfaces are parallel to the upper parts, in addition to the surface-adjustment pair, according to the invention, it is advantageous to make an additional adjustment in the vertical direction.

Also, it is appropriate to arrange, in general, the upper projection and the end of the projection surface of engaging the first side edge in a plane. In this case, the junction of the panels by force pre comes the impact of the shear from the absorption of one or two projections, resulting with a more unifunctional junction of the two panels.

The invention is further described by means of two models of floor panels, with reference to the drawings that represent:

FIG. 1, the profile of the first lateral edge of the first joint, according to the present invention, cross-section;

FIG. 2, the profile of the second side edge of the first joint, according to the present invention, transverse section;

FIG. 3, the profiles shown in fig. 1 and 2, combined state;

FIG. 4, the profile of the first lateral edge in the secondary joint, according to the present invention, transverse section;

FIG. 5, the side edge profile second in the secondary joint, according to the present invention, transverse section;

FIG. 6, the profiles shown in fig. 4 and 5, combined state; and

FIG. 7, the combination of the two panels in the third realization.

All the surfaces of the panel, described below, are completely extended, or the one with the sheaf in sections, along the longitudinal or transverse edge of panels 1 and 2, which will be referred to hereinafter as the lateral edge.

Figures 1 - 7 show in detail three embodiments. The profiles of these achievements are similar and are therefore presented with the same reference characteristics. The profiles differ, generally, only by the horizontal lengths of the lower projections and grooves, which are discussed at the end of this description.

Figures 1 - 4 illustrate the first panel 1, which has the outer surface 3 and the lower part 7. The profile along the lateral edge 5 of panel 1 is included by several surfaces, from 11 to 18, which are located as shown. In continuation.

The surface 11 limits the surface 3 of the lateral edge 5 and extends downwards, generally vertical, adjacent to this surface is the surface 12, which generally extends horizontally and thus parallel to the surface 3 and is respectively limited by the vertical surface 13. Between surfaces 11 and 12, appropriately, there is provided a rounded region, which forms a hollow slab where panels 1 and 2 are combined. In addition, surfaces 11 and 12 limit the recess in steps 40, the function of which is described below.

adjacent to the surface 13 is the surface 14, which extends downwardly diagonally in the direction of the body of the panel 1. The surfaces 12, 13 and 14 include the upper projection 31. adjacent to the surface 14 of the upper projection 31 is the surface 15, which is oriented downwardly diagonally and in the direction from panel body 1. In the first embodiment, shown in Figures 1 and 3, in the region of a border, the surface 15 is modified to become the surface 43, inclined under the same angle as the surface 15 with respect to the surface 3. The surface 43 is, thus, о branching, in general, parallel surface 15.

The two surfaces 14 and 15, as well as 43, connect the groove 35, in which insert the groove 32 described below. The bottom 41 of the nut, located between the surfaces 14 and 15, has a о curved extension, so that in the blocked state a hollow slab is melted - see Figures 3 and 6. Like the hollow hollow formed at the passage between surfaces 11 and 12, this hollow hollow can serve to collect dust or adhesive, if applied, would affect the relative positions of other contact surfaces involved. It is emphasized here that the adhesive is used only additionally and is not required for mechanical bonding.

As described above, the element 31 represents the upper projection of the ulnar nut 35, on the one hand, and on the other - a groove, which may be inserted into the ulnar groove 37, described below. Thus, the two tenneni, superior prominence and groove, are used successively for the same element 31. ''

The surface 15 and the surface 43 are changed to the surface 16, which is also facing outwards, but extending upwards. adjacent to this surface are the surfaces 17 and 18, the surface 17 being parallel to the lower part 7, ie horizontal, and the surface 18 - vertical and limiting the lower part 7.

Surfaces 15 and, possibly, 43, 16, 17, 18 and 7 form the lower projection 33, while also fonning with the surfaces 16, 17 and 18 the gear element 36 directed upwards, and the surfaces 15 and 16 form a longitudinal recess 39.

The profile of the lateral edge 6 of the panel 2 is adapted to the profile described above of the lateral edge 5 of the panel 1. For this purpose, the surfaces 21-28 are provided constituting the humid arrangement.

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The surface 21 limits the outer surface 4 of the panel 2 from the lateral edge 6 and generally extends vertically downwards. The surface 22 is adjacent to the surface 21 and generally extends parallel to the surface 4, ie horizontal. The surface 22 corresponds to the surface 4 and the surface 21 to the upper projection 30 of the profile of the panel 2. Neighboring this surface are the surfaces 23 and 24, which connect with the surface 32 the nut 37. The surface 23 joins the surface 22 with the surface 24 and extends vertically downwards. The surface 24 extends diagonally downwards and outwards so that the groove 37 widens towards the extreme edge.

The surface 24 passes in the vertical surface 42 and then in the surface 25 oriented diagonally downwards and outwards by the lateral edge 6, thus forming the lower projection or groove 32, whose end surface is the surface 42. The element 32 represents the lower projection of the groove 27 from - one part, and the groove that is inserted in the groove 35 of the other profile, on the other side. That is why the terms prominent superior and groove are used alternatively for the same element 32.

adjacent to the surface 25 in the lower part of the groove 32 is the surface 26, which is oriented inwards and extends diagonally upwards, the angle of inclination of the surface 26 being greater than the angle of inclination of the surface 25 with respect to the surfaces 4 and 8. The surfaces 25 and 26 border the gear member 34, which is preferably provided with a rounded region о at the lower end. This simplifies the sliding of the gear member on the surface 17 while the panels 1 and 2 are pushed together, because in this case no large frictional forces are generated, such as ft in the case of a sunken element.

The neighboring surfaces 27 and 28 generally extend parallel to the lower part 8, while the surface 28 extends parallel thereto. Surfaces 26, 27 and 28 line the gear groove 38.

Figures 3, 6 and 7 show the mechanical joining of two panels 1 and 2. The lateral edges 5 and 6 of the surfaces 3 and 4 delimit the surfaces 11 and 21 and form a closed upper part, grooved or hollow earth.

Here it is emphasized that in the geared state there are only the two surfaces 11 and 21, which extend perpendicularly on the surfaces 3 and 4, remaining face to face, thus defining the relative position of the two panels. All other profiles of the pairs of surfaces that generally extend vertically are disassembled.

The shell 37, closed by the upper projection 30 and the lower projection 32, in panel 2 receives the upper projection 31 of the profile of panel 1 with the horizontal surfaces 12 and 22 and the surfaces 14 and 24, left face to face. Hole 40 receives upper projection 30. Nut 35, formed by upper projection 31 and lower projection 33, receives groove 32 similarly. Further, longitudinal projection 34 is located in the gear depression 39. The gear member 36 is further arranged in the gear groove 38. This gear mechanism prevents the sliding of panels 1 and 2 in horizontal direction in the first place and allows the exact adjustment of panels 1 and 2 to their mutually perpendicular positioning.

Another way to describe the gear mechanism is to establish that in the figures the pair of surfaces 11,21 and the pair of surface surfaces 16, 26 perform the gear in a horizontal direction. Gearing or adjusting vertically is performed with the pairs of surfaces 12, 22; 14, 24 and 15, 25.

As can be seen from the description above, the two profiles of panels 1 and 2 are no longer different from one another in that one profile represents the grooved part, and the other - the groove. That is, the structural achievements of the groove and groove are ensured on the two respective profiles of the lateral edges 5 and 6. For the profile of panel 1 these are the upper projection 31, the groove 35 and the gear protrusion 33. For the profile of panel 2 these are the lower projection or groove 32 and the groove 38, in which the engagement member 36 extends to the front end of the lower prominence 33.

In the cooperation of the two profiles, the two functions - mechanical gear in the horizontal direction, first, and the vertical positioning by adjusting the surfaces, secondly, are separated by separate structural elements. These separation effects aim at better stability of panels 1 and 2, used for flooring.

The advantageous embodiment of the groove 32 consists in the fact that the front surface of the end, that is, the front end of the groove 32, is projected exceeding the vertical extension of the surface 21 - to the left in Figures 2 and 5. respectively, in the type of installation described below, the impact block does not crease near the surface 21 and thus adjacent to the lateral edge 6 with the possibility of damage, the impact affecting only the front end of the groove 32.

The profiles described above are installed as shown. Panel 2 is located in the position provided for it and panel 1 is moved to panel 2 in a direction perpendicular to the lateral edges 5 and 6, until specific resistance is perceived. Then, an impact block located on the edge of panel 1, opposite to the lateral edge 5, has the effect of combining the two profiles by the impact force.

Adifitionally, the arrangement process can be reversed, ie panel 1 is placed in the predestined place and panel 2 is moved to the first until the specific resistance is perceived. The impact block is placed on the lateral edge opposite the lateral edge 6.

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As the two side edges 5 and 6 move toward each other, the projection 33 is bent downwards by contact of the gear member 34, which is formed by the surfaces 25 and 26 with the surface 17. Further, the two surfaces 14 and 24 are positioned face to face and in this position surfaces 11, 21; 12, 22; 14, 24; 15, 25 and 16, 26 lie at least partially opposite each other, which results with the gear position defined in the horizontal direction, this being the direction of surfaces 3 and 4, and in addition in the perpendicular direction.

In embodiment two and three, surfaces 15 and 25 remain face to face throughout the length, in the first embodiment (see fig. 3) surface 15 covers only portions of surface 25 which, due to the posterior positioning of surface 43, are in the front of the end of the groove 32. A gap is formed between the surfaces 43 and 25. This gap increases the precision of the contact between the gear surfaces 16 and 26.

In the third embodiment of the profiles, shown in figure 7, the surfaces 14 and 24 are not inclined, as shown in figures 1-6, but the surfaces 14 and 24 are generally oriented parallel to the upper parts 3 and 4 Panels 1 and 2 are guided to their final positions, as described above. However, the horizontal orientation enhances the vertical direction adjustment.

Both panels 1 and 2 can be endowed either with the profile shown in Figures 1 and 4 or with the profile shown in Figures 2 and 5, so several panels 1 and 2 can be joined to form a flat surface. So far, the panels are provided with a profile, according to figures 1 and 4, on the longitudinal and transverse side, respectively, and on other parts, according to figures 2 and 5.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 - 7 represent single-piece implementations of the components in or on panel 1 or 2. Of course, it is possible to make components in several pieces, for this using, for example, metal or plastic profiles. which can be used in combination with wood paneling. Therefore, the invention is not limited to one-piece production.

As shown in Figures 1-3, Figures 4 - 6 and Figure 7, the profiles are generally distinguished by the dimensions of the lower projection 33 in a horizontal direction, ie parallel to the surfaces 3 and 4 or 7 and 8, respectively, and by the size of the groove 32.

In the second embodiment, according to Figures 4-6, the lower projection 33 is projected beyond the front end of the upper projection 31, while in the first embodiment, according to Figures 1-3, the lower gear prominence 33 extends generally , along the entire length of the upper projection 31. The lengths of the grooves and grooves in the third embodiment are practically the same.

Thus, in all these embodiments, the recess 39 formed by the surfaces 15 and 16 is completely located on the closed side of the front end of the groove 31, ie the surface 13, when viewed from the side of the panel that is left in Figures 1, 4 and 7. The groove formed by the surfaces 15 and 16, however, is the one that is partially located on the other side of the surface 11, shown on the right side in figures 1, 4 and 7. The gear member 34, respectively, is located on the farther side of the surface 23, viewed from the closer part of the surface 21, shown on the right side in figures 2 and 5. In addition, the nut 35, formed by the surfaces 14 and 15, is deeper in panel material 1, compared to surface 11, while the front end of groove 32 is projected to be farther from surface 21.

Co-operation of geared surfaces results in good vertical stability, first and foremost. Also, the surfaces 16 and 26, fixed to each other under the prestress, due to the projection 33 exert a torsion moment acting on the adjacent edges 5 and 6. This torsion moment, due to the interposed grooves 31 and 32, is not transmitted entirely on edges 5 and 6; however, this moment allows the lateral edges 5 and 6 to remain sufficiently fastened to each other.