A set of floor panels

Technical field [0001] The invention relates generally to mechanical locking systems for floor panels and building panels that are made of plank material.

The invention relates to an assembly of floor panels with such locking systems.

Field of application of the invention [0002] The present invention is particularly suitable for use in floating floors that are formed from floor panels mechanically joined by means of locking systems integrated into the floor panel, i.e.

assembled at the factory, they are made of one or more upper layers of veneer, a decorative laminate or decorative plastic material, a central core of wood-based material or plastic material and, preferably, a lower compensation layer on the back side of the core. Therefore, a further description of the state of the art, problems in known systems and the objects and properties of the invention, in the form of a non-limiting example, will address all issues in this field of application, in particular laminate floors in the form of rectangular floor panels with long and short sides, intended for mechanical joints along both long and short sides. The long and short sides are mainly used to simplify the description of the invention.

These panels may be square, the sides may have an angle other than degrees, and they may be more than 4 sides. It should be emphasized that the invention can be used in any floor panel and can be combined with all types of known locking system, where the floor panels are to be joined by means of a mechanical locking system in horizontal and vertical directions. Thus, the invention can also be applied to, for example, solid wooden floors, parquet floors with a core of wood or wood-based material and surfaces of wood or wood veneer and the like, floors with a printed and preferably also a varnished surface, floors with a layer surface made of plastic or cork, linoleum, rubber. The invention even relates to floors with hard surfaces, such as stone, tiles or the like, as well as floors with a soft wear layer, for example of non-woven fiber adhered to boards. The invention can also be used to connect building panels that preferably contain plank material, e.g. wall panels, ceilings, furniture components and the like.

Background Art [0003] A laminate floor usually consists of a core made of 6-12 mm thick fiberboard, an upper decorative surface layer 0.2-0.8 mm thick of laminate and a lower compensation layer 0.1-0 mm thick, 6 mm of laminate, plastic, paper or similar material. The surface layer gives the floor panels a look and durability. The core ensures stability, and the compensation layer maintains the plane of the panel during relative humidity changes throughout the year. Floor panels are laid freely, i.e. without gluing, on existing ground.

A laminate floor and many other floors are made by applying a surface layer and a compensation layer to the core material. This application can be accomplished by gluing a previously produced decorative layer, for example, when the fiberboard is provided with a decorative high-pressure laminate, which is made in a separate process, consisting of pressing many impregnated paper sheets at high pressure and high temperature. However, currently the most commonly used method of producing laminate flooring is direct lamination based on a more modern principle consisting in both the production of a decorative laminate layer and bonding with fiberboard during one and the same production stage. Impregnated sheets of paper are applied directly to the panel and pressed together under pressure and with heat without gluing.

[0004] Traditional hard floor panels in this type of floating floor are usually joined with glued tongue and groove joints.

[0005] In addition to such traditional floors, which are joined by means of glued tongue-and-groove joints, floor panels have not been developed that require the use of glue, and instead they are mechanically joined by means of so-called mechanical locking systems. These systems include locking means that lock the panels horizontally and vertically. Mechanical locking systems are usually formed by machining the panel core. Alternatively, parts of the locking system can be manufactured from a separate material, e.g., aluminum or HDF, which is integrated with the floor panel, i.e. combined with the floor panel in connection with its production process.

[0006] The main advantages of floating floors with mechanical locking systems are that they can be easily and quickly laid using various combinations of inward angling, snapping and insertion. They can also be dismantled again and used again in another place. Another advantage of mechanical locking systems is the ability to produce connecting edges of floor panels from materials that do not need to have good adhesive properties. The most common core material is fiberboard with high density and good stability, usually called

HDF - High Density Fibreboard. Sometimes PDF - Medium Density Fiberboard is also used for the core.

Definitions of some terms [0007] in the following, the visible surface of the installed floor panel is called the "front side", while the opposite side of the floor panel facing the ground is called the "rear side". The edge between the front and rear side is called the "joint edge". "Horizontal plane" means a plane parallel to the outside of the surface layer. The upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of two adjoining floor panels lying directly next to each other define together a "vertical plane" perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

[0008] "Joint" or "locking system" means cooperating means connecting the floor panels vertically and / or horizontally. "Mechanical locking system" means that joining can take place without glue. In many cases, mechanical locking systems can also be joined by gluing. "Integrated with" means molded in one piece with the panel or connected to the panel at the factory.

[0009] "Flexible tongue" means a separate tongue that has a length direction along the joint edges and which forms part of the locking system vertically and can be moved horizontally during locking. The tongue could, for example, be flexible and resilient in such a way that it could bend along its length and resiliently return to its initial position.

[0010] "Flexible feather pattern" means two or more flexible feathers joined in one piece.

Examples of such flexible feather patterns will be described in more detail below.

[0011] "Fastening the flexible tongue" means that the flexible tongue should at least be properly attached to the floor panel so that it cannot accidentally fall off when maneuvering the floor panel, at the factory, during transport and / or installation. "Mechanical fastening" means that the fastening is essentially related to the shape or the action of the friction force.

[0012] "Angling" means a connection that occurs as a result of a rotational movement during which the angle between two parts that are connected or disconnected changes. When angling refers to the connection of two floor panels, an angular movement occurs with the upper parts of the joint edges at least partially touching each other during at least part of this movement.

[0013] "Vertical stacking" means the connection of three panels in which the first and second panels are in a connected state and where angling results in the connection of two perpendicular edges of the new panel with the first and second panels. Such a connection occurs, for example, when the long side of the first panel in the first row is already connected to the long side of the second panel in the second row. Then the third panel is connected by angling the long side of the first panel in the first row. This specific type of angling, which also connects the short side of the new panel to the second panel, is called vertical stacking.

The prior art and problems occurring in it [0014] For mechanical joining of both long and short sides in vertical and horizontal direction (direction D1,

D2) several methods are used, but locking is always carried out with 3 stages in which angling or snapping-in is combined with displacement along the joint edge in the locked position after joining the optional side.

<angling of the long side, displacement and snapping of the short side;

<slamming the long side, displacement and slamming the short side;

<angling the short side, moving the new panel along the edge of the short side of the previous panel and finally angling the two panels down. [0015] These laying methods can also be combined with insertion along the joint edge.

[0016] However, it is known that the locking system can be formed in such a way that the latching can occur as a result of a movement that is vertical with respect to the floor panel surface. Generally, the long side is locked by angling and the short side is locked by vertical angling, which causes it to snap into place. Such a system is described in WO 01/0248127 (Akzenta). This connection of panels is complicated and difficult because you need to compress the fibers and use a hammer with a tapping block. The panels are locked in the vertical direction mainly due to the friction force and the locking strength is low.

[0017] It is known that floor panels can be locked on the long and short sides vertically and horizontally in one simple vertical folding operation (WO 03/083234 Applicant Valinge Aluminum). This document contains part of this application. The purpose of WO 03/083234 is to provide a joint system and floor panels that can be laid by means of vertical laying.

[0018] A floor panel with a vertical joint in the form of a flexible tongue and groove is provided, which tongue is made of a separate material and is flexible so that at least one of the sides of the floor panel can be joined by vertical movement parallel to the vertical plane.

[0019] This document also shows how a coupling system with a flexible spring tongue can be made, which can be displaced and / or compressed horizontally in one direction or the other, or alternatively can be bent vertically up or down. It describes a separate tongue made of, for example, wood fiber material that can be moved horizontally by means of a flexible material, e.g. a rubber paste. It also describes an embodiment with a tongue that has an inner portion that is elastic.

[0020] This known technique using a tongue which, when locking, moves horizontally with respect to adjacent edges, has several advantages over known assembly methods. Blocking is easy and faster because 3 stages have been reduced to one stage.

[0021] However, the invention described in WO 03/083234 does not show the best method of locking floor panels by means of vertical laying. It is possible to significantly improve production costs as well as blocking action. [0022] WO03 / 01665 and WO01 / 51732 disclose floor panels for installation using a technique similar to vertical installation. Furthermore, WO01 / 098604 and WO00 / 47841 disclose locking systems for floor panels with a flexible tongue.

Brief Description of the Invention and its Purposes [0023] The first general purpose of the present invention is to provide a floor panel assembly using a locking system operating on the principle of vertical folding with a flexible tongue inserted into the tongue groove. The locking system should allow vertical and horizontal locking of all four sides of one panel with the other panels as a result of angling only. The costs and functions should be more advantageous compared to the known technique. The main part of the overall goal is to improve the operation and costs of those parts of the locking system that cause the flexible tongue to move during locking and spring back in the locked position.

[0024] More specifically, the object is to provide an assembly of floor panels that uses a locking system based on a vertical folding arrangement with a flexible tongue that provides one or more of the following advantages.

[0025] Preferably, the flexible tongue should be able to move during locking with such a low force that no tools will be needed for assembly.

[0026] The spring should be reliable and the flexible tongue should always move back to its predefined position after bringing the panels to the position in which they are to be locked.

[0027] Vertical locking should be strong and prevent two locked panels from moving vertically when humidity changes or people walk on the floor.

[0028] The locking system should be able to lock the floor panels vertically with high accuracy so that the surfaces are in substantially the same plane.

[0029] The vertical locking system should be constructed in such a way that material and production costs can be reduced.

[0030] It should be possible to combine a separate flexible tongue with a floor panel in a simple and cost-effective manner. The connection should keep the flexible tongue connected to the panel during production, transport and assembly.

[0031] The above objects of the invention are achieved wholly or partly by means of a set of floor panels according to the independent claim. Embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims and in the description and drawings.

[0032] An advantage is connecting the flexible tongue to the panel at the factory prior to assembly, but the invention is not excluded of the embodiment in which the flexible tongue is supplied as separate components for connection to the panel by the installer prior to assembly.

[0033] The invention allows horizontal and vertical locking of all sides of the floor panels by simply angling only the long sides. It is therefore particularly suitable for use in panels that are difficult to move in the locked position, for example because they are long, in panels in which parts of the locking system are made of high-friction material such as wood and in locking systems manufactured with a tight interference fit without backlash or even with pretension. Panels with such initial tension are particularly difficult to move, at which the blocking strip is bent in the blocking position and squeezes the panels together. A locking system enabling vertical stacking will significantly reduce the installation time of such panels.

[0034] The invention is also particularly suitable for panels that are joined long side with short side and for panels that are wide, for example with a width of more than 20 cm. Such panels are difficult to snap on the short side and in most materials they must have vertical locking to avoid height differences between the joined surfaces.

Brief description of the drawings [0035]

Figures 1a-d show one embodiment of a locking system;

Figures 2a-e show at various stages the mechanical joining of floor panels according to the invention;

Figures 3a-b show floor panels with a mechanical locking system on the short side;

Figures 4a-b show the flexible tongue during blocking;

Figures 5a-b show how short sides of two panels can be blocked by vertical folding;

<td>Figures 6a-c</td><td>they present</td><td>different</td><td>example</td><td>execution</td>

<td>invention; Figures 7a-f</td><td>they present</td><td>different</td><td>examples</td><td>execution</td>

flexible feathers;

Figures 8a-d schematically show how a separate flexible tongue can be combined with a floor panel;

Figures 9a-f schematically show examples of ways how all known locking systems can be adapted for vertical stacking with a flexible tongue and how the flexible tongue can be optionally attached to a strip panel or stacked panel;

Figures 10a-d show how two types of panels can be locked vertically and horizontally blocking the long side with the short side with only a simple angling;

Figures 11a-d show another embodiment according to the principles shown in Figures 10a-d;

Figures 12a-f show square panels and alternative locking methods;

Figures 13a-c show how commonly used traditional vertical panels can be adapted;

Fig. 14 shows the flexible tongue in another embodiment.

Description of embodiments according to the invention [0036] It will now be described with reference to

Figures 1a-1d a first preferred embodiment of a floor panel 1, 1 'provided with a mechanical locking system according to the invention. To facilitate understanding, the locking systems in all figures are shown schematically. It should be emphasized that it is possible to obtain improved or other functions by using a combination of preferred embodiments.

The inventor has tested all known, and especially all commercially used, locking systems in all types of floor panels, especially laminate and wooden floors, and the conclusion is that it is possible to adapt at least all known locking systems with one or more feathers to a system with one or more with flexible feathers. Most of them can be easily customized to be compatible with these systems. Several flexible feathers can be placed in both adjacent edges, one above the other, and they can be at different levels in the same edge or inserted into the same groove one after the other. The flexible tongue may be on the long and / or short side and one side with the flexible tongue may be combined with the other side which may have all known locking systems, preferably locking systems that can be locked by angling or by vertical movement. The invention does not exclude floor panels with flexible tongue on, for example, long and short sides. Such panels can be installed by moving vertically without any angling. Angles, dimensions, rounded parts, etc. are only examples and can be selected within the framework of the principles of the invention.

[0037] The first preferred embodiment of a floor panel 1, 1 'provided with a mechanical locking system is described below, referring to Figures 1a-1d.

[0038] Fig. 1a schematically shows a cross-section of a joint between the joint edge 4a of the short side of the panel 1 and the opposite joint edge 4b ​​of the short side of the second panel 1 '.

[0039] The front sides of the panels 61 are approximately in a common horizontal HP plane, and the upper parts 21, 41 of the joint edges 4a, 4b abut against each other in the vertical plane VP. The mechanical locking system provides locking of the panels relative to each other in the vertical direction D1 as well as in the horizontal direction D2.

[0040] To ensure the connection of two joint edges in directions D1 and D2, the edges of the floor panel are provided in a known manner with a locking strip 6 with a locking element 8 in one joint edge, hereinafter referred to as a "strip panel" which cooperates with the locking groove 14 in the other joint edge, hereinafter referred to as "folding panel" and provides horizontal locking.

[0041] The mechanical locking system comprises a separate flexible tongue 30 entering into the displacement groove 40 formed in one of the joint edges. The flexible tongue 30 has a groove portion P1 which is located in the displacement groove 40 and a protruding portion P2 protruding out of the displacement groove 40. The protruding portion P2 of the flexible tongue 30 in one of the joint edges cooperates with a tongue groove formed in the other joint edge.

[0042] In this embodiment, the panel 1 may have, for example, a core or core 60 of wood fiber-based material such as HDF, plywood or solid wood.

[0043] The flexible tongue 30 has a protruding portion P2 with a rounded outer portion 31 and a sliding surface

32, which in this embodiment is formed similar to a miter. It has an upper 33 and a lower 35 displacement surface of the tongue and an internal part 34.

[0044] The displacement groove 40 has an upper opening 42 and a lower 46, which in this embodiment are rounded, the bottom 44 and the upper 43 and lower 45 the displacement surface of the groove, which are preferably approximately parallel to the horizontal plane HP.

[0045] The tongue groove 20 has a locking surface 22 of the tongue that cooperates with the flexible tongue 30 and locks the joint edges in the vertical direction D1. The stack panel 1 'has a vertical locking surface 24 which is closer to the rear side 62 than the tongue groove 20. The vertical locking surface 24 interacts with the strip 6 and locks the joint edges in the second vertical direction. The lay panel, in this embodiment, has a sliding surface 23 that interacts during locking with the sliding surface 32 of the tongue.

[0046] Figs. 2a-2e show how a stacked panel 1 'can be locked with a strip panel 1. These figures show the vertical movement of the two panels towards each other.

These figures also show a part of the vertical stacking connecting three panels together, as shown in Fig. 5a. Figures 2a-2e show how two cross sections AA and A'-A 'of Fig. 5a will be joined when the folded panel 1' is tilted towards the strip panel 1. Figures 2b-c show how they interact sliding surfaces with each other during vertical movement of the 1 'stacked panel towards the strip panel 1. The flexible tongue is displaced as a result of the first displacement approximately horizontally in the displacement groove 40 towards the bottom 44. When the panels are in the position in which they are to lock together, the flexible tongue 30 elastically returns with its second displacement to its initial position and the panels are locked vertically between the vertical locking surface 24 and the strip 6 and the lower displacement surface 35 and the tongue locking surface 22.

[0047] Preferably, the flexible tongue 30 should be connected to the displacement groove 40 with high accuracy. Depending on the elasticity and friction between the flexible tongue 30 and the displacement groove

40, the tongue as a whole or various parts thereof may be connected by a small looseness, e.g. 0.01-0.10 mm, precise interference fit or with pretension. Between the flexible tongue and the displacement groove and / or the tongue groove and / or in the locking system, wax or other friction reducing materials or chemicals can be used to facilitate the movement of the tongue and blocking and / or to facilitate the connection of the flexible tongue to the displacement groove.

[0048] Even in the case of play, a precise fit can be realized between the upper joint edges. The lower tongue displacement surface 35 may be formed to press the tongue locking surface 22 and the locking surface 24 vertically against the strip 6. For example, the protruding portion P2 of the tongue displacement surface 35 may be formed to form a small angle with the horizontal plane HP. The protruding portion P2 of the flexible tongue will lean forward and a portion of the upper displacement surface 33 of the tongue will press against the upper displacement surface 43 of the groove while the parts of the lower displacement surfaces

35, 45 located near the bottom 44 of the displacement groove 40 will press on each other. In this embodiment, the vertical fit between the upper joint edges will mainly depend on the manufacturing tolerances between the vertical locking surfaces 24 and the vertical contact surface 6 ', in this embodiment located on the upper part of the strip

6, which in locked position will contact each other and preferably press against each other. The flexible tongue 30 may be formed so that it exerts a constant horizontal force in the locked position. This means that the flexible tongue will only partially spring back to its initial position. The flexible tongue 30 may optionally have such dimensions that in the locked position it moves slightly towards its initial position when people walk on the floor or after the panels warp under different humidity conditions. Gradually a perfect vertical connection will be achieved.

[0049] Figure 3a shows a cross-section AA of the panel of figure 3b seen from above. The flexible tongue 30 has a length L along the joint edge, a width W parallel to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the length L and a thickness T in the vertical direction D1. The sum of the largest groove portion P1 and the largest protruding portion P2 is equal to the total width TW. The flexible tongue also has in this embodiment the middle section MS and two ES edge sections adjacent the middle section. The dimension of the protruding part P2 and the groove part P1 changes in this embodiment along the length L and the tongue is at a distance from the two corner sections 9a and 9b.

This shape is advantageous for facilitating the first and second displacement of the flexible tongue 30.

[0050] Figures 4a and 4b show the position of the flexible tongue 30 after the first displacement towards the bottom 44 of the displacement groove 40. This displacement is mainly caused by the flexing of a portion of the flexible tongue in its length direction L, parallel to the width

W. This property is important for this embodiment of the invention and has several advantages.

[0051] The first important advantage is the possibility of making the tongue of a rather rigid material that is strong and stable in the vertical direction, and at the same time can be flexible in the horizontal direction D2. The bending parts can be much larger than the horizontal displacement needed to implement the locking.

[0052] A second advantage is that the parts that are flexible and allow the first and second horizontal displacement, simultaneously maintain the vertical stability of the tongue. The advantage is that the total width TW of the flexible tongue and the depth of the displacement groove can be quite limited. This improves the strength and deformation of the joint edge caused by moisture. As a non-limiting example, it may be mentioned that the total width TW of the flexible tongue can be 5-15 mm.

[0053] A third advantage is that the flexible tongue can be made in one piece from a single material without using any soft and compressible materials.

This reduces production costs and makes it easier to connect the blade in the displacement groove.

[0054] In this preferred embodiment, the slide groove is a continuous groove over the entire length of the joint edge. However, the displacement groove 40 can be formed only in part of the edge and need not be parallel to the edge. This displacement groove 40 may for example be curved. Such a groove is easy to produce with a rotary tool that can move along the edge.

[0055] The stacking panel can be detached by means of a needle-shaped tool which can be inserted from the corner section 9b into the tongue groove 20 and push the flexible tongue back into the displacement groove 40. The stacked panel can then be angled up during when the strip panel remains on the ground. Of course, these panels can also be detached in the traditional way.

[0056] Figs. 5a and 5b show one embodiment of vertical laying. The first 1 "panel in the first row is connected to the second panel in the second row. The new panel 1 'is connected with its long side 5a to the long side 5b of the first panel by angling.

This angling also connects the short side 4b of the new panel to the short side 4a of the second panel.

The stack panel 1 'is locked with the strip panel 1 as a result of the combined vertical and rotational movement along the vertical plane VP. The protruding part P2 has a rounded and / or oblique laid part P2 ', which during laying cooperates with the sliding surface 23 of the laid panel

1 '. The combined action of the laying part P2 'and the sliding surface 32 of the tongue, which during installation interacts with the sliding surface 23 of the laid panel 1', greatly facilitates the first displacement of the flexible tongue 30.

The horizontal compressive force can spread over a much larger portion than the thickness T of the flexible tongue and the stacked panel can easily be inserted downwards with low force, even if the deflection elasticity is high. As a non-limiting example, it can be mentioned that a vertical pressure force of 10 N on a 100 mm long element along the long side, applied to the long side 5b of the stacking panel, as shown in Fig.

5a, can move the protruding part P2 to the inner position even if the spring force is 20 N.

Most of the pressure force will be horizontal and the flexible tongue will be displaced into the displacement groove 40 without being blocked by friction or tilting and / or vertical deflection of the flexible tongue 30. The advantage is to design the locking system so that the locking element 8 is partly in the locking groove 14 when the first displacement begins. This is shown in Fig. 5b. The upper edges 41, 21 are partly in contact with each other and the 1 'fold panel is in the correct start position. The locking element 8 and the locking groove prevent the strip panel 1 and the folding panel 1 'from separating when the flexible tongue 30 is pressed into the displacement groove 40. An important property of this embodiment is the position of the protruding part P2 which is at a distance from the corner section

9a and 9b. Preferably, this distance should be at least 10% of the length of the joint edge, in this case the visible short side 4a. Fig. 5a shows that the distance from both corner sections 9a and 9b gives such flexibility that during vertical stacking the stacked panel is connected to the long side of the first 1 "panel by means of a side

5a pen or side 5b of the strap.

[0057] Figs. 6a-6b show that the flexible tongue can be in the edge of the folding panel 1 '. The sliding surface 32 of the tongue cooperates in this embodiment with the upper edge of the strip panel. Thanks to the P2 'laying part, it is possible to block without damaging the upper surface layer at the edge.

The advantage of this embodiment is that it is possible to combine the short side with the flexible tongue with the traditional long side or short side of the locking system with the strap 6 and the tongue groove 20 in the same edge.

and surface 24

Locking surfaces [0058] Fig. 6c shows an embodiment in which the displacement groove 40 is not parallel to the horizontal plane HP. This facilitates the flexible tongue 30 to enter the displacement groove 40. The protruding part of the flexible tongue 30 has a wedge shape to press the vertical locking contact surface 6 'vertically towards each other, between the locking element 8 and the locking groove 14 are oblique and have an angle less than 90 degrees to the horizontal plane HP and the locking system can be combined with interference fit and / or preload.

[0059] Figs. 7a-7e show various embodiments of the flexible tongue 30. In Fig. 7a, the flexible tongue 30 has a friction connection 36 on one of the edge sections, which can be shaped, for example, as a local small vertical projection. This friction connection holds the flexible tongue in the displacement groove 40 during assembly or during production, packaging and transport if the flexible tongue is integrated with the floor panel at the factory. In fig. 4b shows that the friction connection 36 maintains one edge section ES in the connected state while the other edge section ES 'moves along the edge.

The length L 'in the inner position is in this embodiment larger than the length L' in the locked position. [0060] Fig. 7b shows a feather pattern 50 consisting of several flexible feathers 30 joined together. In this embodiment, the flexible tongue 30 is made by stamping, preferably injection molding. Any type of polymeric materials such as PA (polyamide), POM, PC, PP, PET or PE or the like with the properties described above in various embodiments can be used. These plastic materials can be reinforced, for example with fiberglass. The recommended material is glass fiber reinforced PA.

[0061] Figs. 7c-e show various embodiments made by injection molding. With this production technique, a wide range of complex three-dimensional shapes can be cheaply produced, and the flexible feathers 30 can easily be combined to form 50 feather patterns. Of course, the flexible tongue 30 can be made of metal. In fig. 7e shows that the flexible tongue can be made of an extruded or machined plastic section that can be further shaped by, for example, punching to form a flexible tongue.

Materials such as plastics, metals, preferably aluminum, wood based sheet materials such as HDF and compact laminates can be used.

[0062] Fig. 7f shows an embodiment which includes two connected sections 38 and 39.

This will be further explained in connection with the figures

12d-12f.

[0063] Generally, any shape enabling bending of the tongue portion in the length direction and elastic return in such a way that the protruding portion can be displaced by 0.1 mm or more will be possible.

Normally, the displacement should be 1-3 mm, but very small displacements of 0.1 mm could be sufficient to create vertical locking that prevents vertical movement, especially in HDF material.

[0064] Figs. 8a-8d show schematically a production method enabling a flexible tongue to be secured in a displacement groove. In this embodiment, the flexible tongue is mechanically attached. Of course, you can also use glue or mechanical devices. To simplify understanding, the panel 1 'is positioned with its front side facing up. The panel could also be rotated with its back side up.

Blades 50 are displaced through a separation assembly 51 that separates the flexible tongue 30 from the blades 50. Then the flexible tongue 30 can be moved to a lower level by means of a vertical device 55. This movement can also be combined with separation. The pusher 54 slides the flexible tongue 30 into the displacement groove 40 and connects it to the friction connection 36.

The flexible tongue is guided over the strip 6 between the upper 52 and lower 53 guiding devices. Vacuum may also be used to connect the flexible tongue 30 to the upper guide device during horizontal insertion into the displacement groove 40. As a guiding principle, many alternatives are possible to separate the flexible tongue from the feather pattern containing at least two connected flexible tongues and move approximately parallel to its width and / or length into the displacement groove 40, where it is immobilized by friction.

[0065] Figures 9a to 9f show examples showing that all known locking systems can be adapted for vertical stacking with a flexible tongue 30 and that the flexible tongue 30 can be optionally attached to a belt or panel being laid. In the embodiment of Fig. 9e, the strip is not rigid enough to form a vertical contact surface. This can be solved with a tongue 10 and a groove 9 above the flexible tongue 3 30. Of course, the vertical contact surface 6 'may be part of the tongue groove and the vertical locking surface 24 may be the protruding part of the tongue as shown in Fig. 9e.

[0066] Figs. 10a-b show how a locking system can be constructed to lock the long side 4a with the long side 4b by angling, short side 5a with short side 5b by vertical stacking and / or positioning under angle and short side with long side by vertical stacking or angling.

Figures 10c-10d show how two panels A and B with mirror locking systems can be locked to the floor with an improved mounting pattern. Panels 1-6 can be mounted by angling. Panel 7 can be mounted by angling the short side relative to the long side of panel 6. Panels 8-9 can be mounted by angling. Panel 12 is mounted by angling the short side.

Panels 13-23 are installed by stacking. Panels 24-26 are mounted by angling and panels 27-34 by stacking. Thanks to the flexible tongue 30 on the short side, the entire floor can be mounted by means of simple angling despite the fact that all panels are connected on all sides vertically and horizontally and all panels are connected long side with long side and long side with short side. This mounting method can be used in conjunction with all types of flexible feathers, not just those embodiments that bend along the length direction. In fig.

10b shows that the locking system can be locked by the pressure force F caused by the flexible tongue

30.

[0067] Figs. 11a-11d show how panels A and B with a flexible tongue can be mounted and locked vertically

D1 and horizontally D2 in the form of a single or double sagittal system with just a simple angling. [0068] Figs. 12a-c show assembly of square panels by means of vertical laying. The flexible tongue 30 has several protruding parts P2. This embodiment can be used as an alternative to several separate flexible tongues when the length of the joint edge exceeds, for example,

200 mm. For example, friction connection 36 may be in the center section.

[0069] Figs. 12d-e show an alternative method of moving the flexible tongue. This method can be combined with a flexible tongue as shown in Fig. 7f. The new panel 1 'is in an inclined position with the upper part of the joint edge in contact with the first panel 1 "in the first row. The first panel 1 ', the laid panel is then moved towards the second panel 1 until the edges are approximately in contact and a portion of the flexible tongue 30 is pressed into the displacement groove 40, as can be seen in Fig. 12e. The new panel 1 'is then laid downwards towards the second panel 1. In Fig. 12f it is shown that the tongue can be on the laid panel.

Because the displacement of the new panel 1 'presses the edge section of the flexible tongue 30 into the displacement groove

40, it will be possible to make vertical stacking with less resistance. Such assembly can be done using a flexible tongue that has a straight protruding part. The flexible tongue 30 need not bend in the length direction if it has a flexible device such as rubber that can be squeezed. Bending can be replaced by a horizontal rotation during which one edge section of the flexible tongue during locking is closer to the bottom 44 of the displacement groove 40 than the other opposite edge section.

[0070] Figs. 13a-c show how a known locking system, commonly used in the market, can be converted into vertical laying, preferably in two stages. The first step is to replace the traditional blade 10 with a flexible blade 30. In this embodiment, the locking systems will be compatible, which means that it is possible to lock the old and new panels together. After selling all products from the stores, you can customize the groove 9 of the strip part.

[0071] Within the framework of the invention, there are many alternative solutions for carrying out vertical stacking with a flexible tongue.

[0072] A flexible tongue can be made in the same way as known mechanical devices that produce a spring effect similar to the locking devices used in doors, windows, furniture, cars and cell phones. A flexible tongue with these mechanical devices can be made with dimensions suitable for 6-15 mm thick floors, especially wooden floors, and inserted into the edge. In fig. 13d shows that the flexible tongue 30 can be mounted, for example, in a separate slide section 56 made of plastic or metal or any other suitable material and containing a compressible or flexible element 57 of rubber, metal or plastic or the like capable of producing an effect elastic. This sliding section 56 can be connected to the edge of the floor panel in a holding groove 40 ', which in this embodiment is rounded and has a shape similar to a part of a rotating saw blade. Since the holding groove 40 'is formed only in part of the edge of the short side, so it can be made quite deep and the edge will still have sufficient strength.

The recommended property of this embodiment is that the deepest part of the holding groove 40 'is only in part of the edge. Unlike other embodiments, the holding groove 40 'is not parallel to the joint edge and does not run over the entire edge.

Of course, other shapes are possible and a parallel groove is not excluded.

[0073] Especially on long and wide floor panels, quite complicated devices can be used, because only 2-4 elements are needed per m2 of floor.

Even despite the rather high unit costs, the advantages of vertical stacking are significant and can offset the rather high cost of the locking system. Due to the fact that the short sides are not often cut, metal elements can also be used and these elements can be formed in such a way that they are easy to remove from the floor panel if you need to cut the edge of the short side.

[0074] For floor panels about 20 cm wide, a flexible tongue a few cm long is sufficient if it is in the middle of the short side at a distance of about 6-9 cm from the corner section.

[0075] The flexible tongue can also be made of a single piece as described in the embodiment above and with a thickness of only about 1 mm and can be used to connect floorboards less than 4 mm thick.

[0076] All the features of the embodiment described above can be combined or used separately.

Flexible blades can be combined with all displacement or holding grooves shown. Interlocking systems can be used in any joint or floor panel shown. The system of Fig. 14 can be used, for example, in the floor panels described in Figs. 10a-d.

The tongue as shown in Fig. 7f can also have the shape shown in Fig. 7b and can be made such that it bends in the length direction, where the bend is partly supported by flexible material 38. Locking straps can be made in all embodiments from separate material or in one piece. For ease of attachment with the connector, part of the strap 6 of Fig. 14, located underneath the plastic element 56 [0077] The method of producing a separate tongue that is inserted into the groove can of course be used to save material and improve friction properties even if the tongue is not flexible or able to move. These methods and the principle can also be used together with a flexible tongue, which can be bent vertically up and / or down during locking.

[0078] This system can be used to connect glaze tiles applied to walls and. Such tiles can be combined with each other and with a locking element attached to the wall.

[0079] The flexible tongue can be used without the locking strip to perform only vertical locking.

Valinge Innovation AB

Proxy:

38P22263PL00

EP 1 650 375 B1