A floor may include a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may consist of a printed thermoplastic film and a thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer provided on the printed thermoplastic film. The top layer may be directly adhered to the substrate by heat welding the printed thermoplastic film and the top side of the substrate, in the absence of a glue layer. The substrate may be a synthetic material board including a filler. The substrate at least at two opposite edges may include coupling means provided in the synthetic material board. The thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer may be provided with a structure.

A floor panel has a rectangular and oblong shape, and includes a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate and forming a decorative side of the floor panel. The top layer is composed of a print provided on a carrier sheet and a transparent thermoplastic layer situated above the print. The substrate has a thickness from 2 to 10 millimeter and forms at least half of the thickness of the floor panel. The substrate is a polyurethane-based substrate and the transparent thermoplastic layer is polyurethane-based. The floor panel has a length of more than 1.1 meters and has a plurality of reinforcing layers situated outside the center line of the substrate. A reinforcing layer may be provided in combination with the substrate and the top layer.

A floor may include a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may consist of a printed thermoplastic film and a thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer provided on the printed thermoplastic film. The top layer may be directly adhered to the substrate by heat welding the printed thermoplastic film and the top side of the substrate, in the absence of a glue layer. The substrate may be a synthetic material board including a filler. The substrate at least at two opposite edges may include coupling means provided in the synthetic material board. The thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer may be provided with a structure.

A load distributing and absorbing system that lies below a barrier layer that is exposed to percussive and/or point-applied forces. The load distributing and absorbing system has one or more load distributing and absorbing tiles. At least some of the tiles have an underlayment infrastructure positioned below a barrier layer. The underlayment infrastructure includes one or more hat-shaped absorbing members. Each has a ceiling primarily for load distribution and a curvilinear wall primarily for load absorption extending from the ceiling. A transition feature is provided to smoothly graduate from one height and type of load distributing and absorbing tile to a load distributing and absorbing tile of another type and height. He system distributes and absorbs forces applied to the barrier layer over a broad area when applied either on a seam between adjacent tiles or within a tile.

A joining system for floor panels includes a groove and a tongue on opposite floor panel sides. The tongue is shaped for vertical locking engagement with the groove of an adjoining floor panel in a direction perpendicular to the sides of the panels and parallel to a horizontal floor plane. Two locking recesses are formed in a lower portion of the groove. A first recess is located in an internal portion and a second is located in a lip portion. Two locking lugs are formed in a lower portion of the tongue for engagement with the recesses. A first lug extends downwardly from a tip portion of the tongue and a second lug extends downwardly from a root portion. The first recess and the first lug have curved surfaces. The second recess and the second lug have inclined surfaces.

An insulated panel assembly having improved insulative R-value. The insulated panel assembly comprises a cover panel, a first insulation layer, and at least one additional insulation layer, wherein the at least one additional insulation layer has a higher R-value than the first insulation layer. The first insulation layer is secured to the cover panel. The first insulation layer further forms at least one recessed portion. The at least one additional insulation layer is positioned in the at least one recessed portion of the first insulation layer. Examples of the at least one additional insulation layer may include vacuum insulated panels and modified atmosphere insulation panels.

In an aspect there is provided a joint assembly 16 for panel board materials, comprising: a first member 14 comprising a tongue 22 extending from a surface 26 of the first member 14, the tongue 22 comprising a first groove 24 in a side 28 of the tongue 22; wherein at least a portion of the side 28 of the tongue 22 including the first groove 24 extends generally perpendicular to the surface 26 of the first member 14; and a second member 12 comprising: a second groove 32 in a surface 36 of the second member 12, the second groove 32 being arranged to receive the tongue 22; and a lip 34 extending into the second groove 32; wherein, in an assembled position, the tongue 22 is arranged to slot into the second groove 32 and the lip 34 is arranged to slot into the first groove 24 thereby to join the first and second members 14, 12.

A floor may include a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may consist of a printed thermoplastic film and a thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer provided on the printed thermoplastic film. The top layer may be directly adhered to the substrate by heat welding the printed thermoplastic film and the top side of the substrate, in the absence of a glue layer. The substrate may be a synthetic material board including a filler. The substrate at least at two opposite edges may include coupling means provided in the synthetic material board. The thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer may be provided with a structure.

A floor panel includes at least two reinforcing layers extending in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the panel to allow one of the at least two reinforcing layers to be situated at a level between 30˜70 percent of a thickness from a top surface of the panel to a highest part of a top surface of the tongue, and/or a bottom surface of the panel to a lowest part of an upper surface of the lower lip.

A flooring element suitable for connection to other elements in a flooring system. The flooring element comprises a body, a female connector and a retainer. The body defines a connector surface that is horizontal when in use. The female connector comprises a connector recess which is suitable for receiving a male connector and also which defines a connector opening in the connector surface. The retainer is connectable to the body such that, while it is connected to the body, the retainer is movable between and open position and a closed position. When in the closed position, the retainer is arranged to restrict movement of the male connector to guard against the male connector exiting the connector recess through the connector opening. When in the open position, the retainer does not restrict movement of the male connector thereby permitting the male connector to exit the connector recess through the connector opening.