A unique modified shiplap joint with a transverse spline extending into the respective edge of each piece of siding forming the joint. The spline ensures that the two adjacent pieces of siding are properly and adequately connected to each other, and, through the nail in the underlap portion of the joint, to the wall. The spline may be located in four possible positions: (1) attached to the back side of the underlap section of the joint (i.e., closest to the wall); (2) through the center of the underlap section of the joint; (3) directly attached to the front face of the underlap section of the joint; and (4) through the overlap section of the joint (i.e., closest to the outside face). The spline may be installed on one of the pieces of siding during manufacturing or at the factory, or alternatively, at the job site.

A method for manufacturing panels includes at least the step of covering one or more side edges of a relevant panel, and moving the panel with its respective side edge relatively beyond an application device. The application device includes at least one nozzle, positioned in the plane of the panel when viewed at an angle of less than 90° to the corresponding side edge. A floor panel includes a covered side edge.

A panel can have a face surface having a length and a width. The panel can include a first tongue that extends along the length and a second tongue that extends along the width. The panel can further include first front and back legs that extend along the length of the panel and define a first groove therebetween and second front and back legs that extends along the width of the panel and define a second groove. At least one of the first tongue or the first back leg has a longitudinal dimension that is greater than the length of the face surface; or at least one of the second tongue or the second back leg can have a longitudinal dimension that is greater than the width of the face surface.

A unique modified shiplap joint with matching or corresponding reverse curves on opposing edges or ends of a piece of siding, each forming one-half of the joint: an underlap edge, and an overlap edge. The respective curves engage and resist or prevent separation of the edges, particularly under a pre-determined wind load. A fastener channel in the underlap section allows for a nail or fastener to be used, while the nail head is then covered by the adjacent overlap section. The respective edges form an angled gap, which is configured to prevent water or rain from entering.

A method is provided for manufacturing a panel that includes a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate. The top layer may include a decor film and a transparent film. The decor film may be a printed synthetic material film chosen from the group consisting of a vinyl-based film, a polyethylene based film, a polyurethane based film, and a polypropylene film. A print may be situated on an upper side of the printed synthetic material film. The transparent film may be a thermoplastic synthetic material film the material of which is chosen from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyurethane, and polypropylene. The method may involve providing the decor film and the transparent film on the substrate by performing a first press treatment at an increased temperature to form a package of the substrate, the decor film, and the transparent film. The first press treatment may be performed by a calendar device or a continuous press device. A structure may be formed in the thermoplastic synthetic material that forms a surface of the package by performing a second press treatment using a press device with a structured press element at a temperature that is lower than the increased temperature.

The floor or wall panel has a substrate and a top layer applied thereon. The substrate consists mainly of a mineral material. The panel is provided, on at least two opposite edges, with coupling means that allow two such panels to be coupled together at the respective edges, wherein in the coupled state there is locking in the vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the coupled panels and in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and in the plane of the coupled panels.

A load distributing and absorbing system that lies below a superstructure material which is exposed to percussive forces. The load distributing and absorbing system is interposed between the superstructure material and a foundation. The system has a barrier layer that lies below the superstructure material and an underlayment infrastructure positioned below the barrier layer. Included in the underlayment infrastructure are hat-shaped absorbing members.

The invention relates to an area covering element including at least one sheet-like carrier core, at least one protective layer and a decorative layer arranged between the sheet-like carrier core and the at least one protective layer. The sheet-like carrier core consists in this case of a strong, load-bearing carrier material and has at least an upper side and an underside arranged opposite from the upper side and also at least a first and second side face, arranged opposite from one another and respectively joining the upper side and underside. The decorative layer is formed by a printed film, which is firmly connected to the carrier core, the printed film at least partially covering at least the upper side and the first and second side faces of the sheet-like carrier core and the protective layer covering the full surface area at least of the printed film connected to the carrier core.

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.

The present invention relates to a floor panel and to a floor. The floor panel according to the invention includes a core provided with an upper and lower surface, and a first and second core flank at a first and second side of the core, respectively. The floor panel includes a first coupling part and a second coupling part provided at the first side and the second side of the core, respectively. Each of the coupling parts includes an inner side flank, an outer side flank, and an upper portion flank connecting the inner side flank to the outer side flank. According to the invention, a portion of the first core flank and an upper portion of the outer side flank of the second coupling part are inclined such that when the floor panel is coupled to an adjacently arranged further floor panel these upper portions lie against each other for the purpose of providing a locking in a vertical direction. In addition, a first upper portion flank of the tongue of the first coupling part includes a curved recess and the groove of the second coupling part may include a bulge complimentary to the curved recess.