Abstract
A floor panel includes several side edges extending in the peripheral direction of the floor panel behind one another and separated from one another by a corner, and a plastic top surface delimited by the side edges. A portion of the top surface is provided with at least two elongate zones with a mutually different texture which also deviates from the texture of an area of the top surface which adjoins the zones. The zones form edge zones, each of which extends along one of the side edges or the long sides of the zones adjoin each other.
Claims
1.-22. (canceled)
23. A floor panel, comprising several side edges which extend in the peripheral direction of the floor panel behind one another and are separated from one another by a corner, and a plastic top surface delimited by the side edges, wherein a portion of the top surface is provided with at least two elongate zones with a mutually different texture which also deviates from the texture of an area of the top surface which adjoins to the zones, wherein the long sides of the zones adjoin each other or wherein the zones form edge zones, each of which extends along one of the side edges.
24. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein the at least two zones are of equal width.
25. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein the floor panel has a rectangular shape, and the edge zones are situated along two mutually opposite side edges.
26. The floor panel in accordance with claim 25, wherein two of the side edges are longitudinal edges and the other two are transverse edges which are shorter than the longitudinal edges, wherein the two edge zones with different texture are situated along the mutually opposite longitudinal edges and wherein two edge zones with different texture are also situated along the mutually opposite transverse edges.
27. The floor panel in accordance with claim 26, wherein the edge zones along the transverse edges are narrower than the edge zones along the longitudinal edges.
28. The floor panel in accordance with claim 26, wherein one of the longitudinal edges and one of the transverse edges have the same texture and the other longitudinal edge and transverse edge likewise have the same texture.
29. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein the width of each of the at least two zones is smaller than the thickness of the floor panel.
30. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein a transition between at least one of the zones and the area adjoining this zone of the top surface follows a non-linear line.
31. The floor panel in accordance with claim 30, wherein the non-linear line is a serrated or an undulating line.
32. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein the zones with the adjoining long sides are situated at a distance from two mutually opposite side edges.
33. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein at least one of the zones is lower than the area of the top surface adjoining this zone.
34. The floor panel in accordance with claim 33, wherein the difference in height is 0.05-0.25 mm.
35. The floor panel in accordance with claim 33, wherein the zone which is at least situated lower is parallel to the area of the top surface adjoining this zone.
36. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein the plastic top surface forms part of a coating layer which is applied to a substrate.
37. The floor panel in accordance with claim 36, wherein the texture is formed by impressions which are less deep than the coating layer.
38. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein the mutually different texture of the zones is produced in such a way that the gloss level differs by at least one point, as determined in accordance with DIN 67530.
39. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein the mutually different texture of the zones is produced in such a way that one zone has a gloss level of 10 or less and the other zone has a gloss level which is more than 10, as determined in accordance with DIN 67530.
40. The floor panel in accordance with claim 38, wherein the gloss level of the area of the top surface adjoining the zones is between the gloss levels of the zones.
41. The floor panel in accordance with claim 23, wherein the texture of at least one of the zones has a varying pattern.
42. The floor panel in accordance with claim 41, wherein both zones have varying patterns which differ from one another.
43. The floor panel in accordance with claim 41, wherein the pattern is stripe-like or the patterns are stripe-like.
44. The floor panel in accordance with claim 42, wherein the stripes of the stripe-like pattern at an edge zone are at an angle to the corresponding side edge.
Description
[0039] The invention will be described in more detail below by means of drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention in highly diagrammatic form.
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a floor panel according to the invention.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the floor panel from FIG. 1 along the line II-II in FIG. 1.
[0042] FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged views of FIG. 2 where they are denoted by IIA and IIB, respectively.
[0043] FIG. 2C is the same view as FIGS. 2A and 2B, which illustrate a situation of two coupled floor panels.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a top view of a portion of the floor panel from FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a top view of the floor panel from FIG. 1.
[0046] FIG. 5 is the same view as in FIG. 3, but shows an alternative exemplary embodiment.
[0047] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 5.
[0048] FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of FIG. 6 where it is denoted as VIA.
[0049] FIG. 7 is the same view as in FIG. 3 of another alternative exemplary embodiment.
[0050] FIG. 8 is the same view as in FIG. 5 of another alternative exemplary embodiment.
[0051] FIG. 9 is the same view as in FIG. 2 of another alternative exemplary embodiment.
[0052] FIG. 10 is the same view as in FIG. 3 of another alternative exemplary embodiment.
[0053] FIG. 11 is the same view as in FIG. 3 of another alternative exemplary embodiment.
[0054] FIG. 12-16 show top views of respective portions of various alternative exemplary embodiments of a floor panel according to the invention.
[0055] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a floor panel 1 according to the invention. The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a rectangular shape with four side edges 2-5, namely two mutually opposite transverse edges 2, 4 and two mutually opposite longitudinal edges 3, 5. The side edges 2-5 extend in the peripheral direction of the floor panel 1 behind one another and are separated from one another by a right angle. The longitudinal edges 3, 5 are longer than the transverse edges 2, 4. On both pairs of mutually opposite side edges, the floor panel 1 is provided with coupling parts by means of which several such floor panels 1 can be coupled to each other in order to form a floating floor covering. It is also conceivable for a floor panel to be free from coupling parts and to be attached directly to a floor, for example by means of glue, or loose. Also, a floor panel having a different shape than a rectangle is also conceivable.
[0056] FIGS. 2-4 show more detailed views of the floor panel 1 from FIG. 1. The floor panel 1 is configured as a laminate, of which only a substrate 6 with a plastic top layer 7 and a plastic bottom layer is shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity. In the fitted state of the floor covering, the top layer 7 forms the visible side of the floor panel 1. In reality, one or several intermediate layers may be present between the substrate 6 and the top layer 7, for example a decorative layer. In FIG. 2-4, the top layer is shown as being relatively thick for the sake of the explanation, but in reality the thickness may be, for example, only 0.2 millimeter, whereas the total thickness of the floor panel 1 is, for example, between 6 millimeters and 15 millimeters. The plastic of the top layer 7 may contain a thermosetting resin. It should be noted that the top layer 7 is not necessarily a laminated layer. The substrate may be made, for example, from MDF or HDF.
[0057] Due to the presence of the abovementioned top layer 7, the floor panel 1 has a plastic top surface which is delimited by the side edges 2-5. The top surface is provided with a non-uniform texture. FIG. 4 shows that the top surface is provided with four elongate edge zones or strips which are delimited by the respective side edges 2-5 and extend along the respective side edges 2-5. The respective edge zones along the two mutually opposite longitudinal edges 3, 5 have a different texture, denoted by A and B, see FIG. 3. The respective edge zones along the two mutually opposite transverse edges 2, 4 also have a different texture, in this case likewise denoted by A and B, see FIG. 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the edge zones along the longitudinal edges 3, 5 are of equal width, as is indicated by D1, and the edge zones along the transverse edges 2, 4 are of equal width, as is indicated by D2. However, the width of the edge zones along the longitudinal edges 3, 5 is greater than the width of the edge zones along the transverse edges 2, 4. Although the edge zones in FIGS. 2-4 have been shown as being of equal width, they are relatively narrow in reality, for example narrower than the thickness of the floor panel 1. The widths are, for example, in the order of magnitude of 0.5 centimeter. Also, the textures A, B illustrated in FIG. 2 have been drawn as exaggerated rough surfaces, but in reality the roughness of the surfaces is on a microscopic scale. The top surface of the top layer 7 has a different texture between the edge zones than within the edge zones, which is denoted as C. The expression ‘different texture’ may also be understood to mean that there is no texture. In addition to the texture C, the structure on the actual top surface may also comprises rougher structural features, such as patterns of impressions which imitate, for example, wood grains, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, but numerous other patterns are conceivable.
[0058] FIG. 2C illustrates that if two identical floor panels 1 are coupled to one another in such a way that the respective longitudinal edges 3, 5 come into contact with each other, the respective edge zones with different texture A, B adjoin each other. This was found to create a surprising visual effect, because the impression is given that a V groove is present in the transition area between the adjoining floor panels 1. In order to achieve this effect, the average level of the top surface at the location of the edge zones does not necessarily have to be lower than the average level of the top surface in the area between the edge zones.
[0059] FIGS. 5, 6 and 6A show an alternative exemplary embodiment. In this case, the strips or elongate zones with a mutually different texture A, B are situated at a distance from the longitudinal edges 3, 5 and extend parallel to the longitudinal edges 3, 5. Respective long sides of these zones adjoin each other. On both sides of the adjoining zones, the top surface of the top layer 7 is provided with a different texture, which is again denoted here by C. If desired, the texture on both sides of the adjoining zones may be different, as long as there is a difference between each zone and the adjoining area of the top surface.
[0060] FIGS. 7 and 8 show further exemplary embodiments, which are variants of those from FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, respectively. In these cases, the transition between a zone with deviating texture A, B and an area of the top surface adjoining this zone follows a non-linear, in this case a wavy, line 8.
[0061] FIG. 9 shows yet another alternative exemplary embodiment, wherein the edge zones are situated lower than the top surface in the area between the edge zones. The depression is relatively small; the difference in height may be, for example, in the range of 0.1-0.15 mm. In this case, the top surface in the edge zones is parallel to the top surface in the area between the edge zones. Such depressions may also be used with elongate zones in embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8.
[0062] FIG. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment, in which the texture of the edge zones have varying patterns. In this case, the patterns are stripe-like, the stripes being at an oblique angle to the longitudinal edges 3, 5. Numerous alternative patterns are conceivable. Such pattern may also be used with elongate zones in embodiments as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8.
[0063] FIG. 11 shows a further exemplary embodiment which is very similar to the exemplary embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3, but with the transitions between the textures A, B of the edge zones, on the one hand, and the texture C in the area which adjoins the edge zones, on the other hand, being accentuated by means of transition lines 9. In FIG. 11, these transition lines 9 are shown relatively thick, but in reality these may be relatively thin. Such a transition line 9 may be created by allowing the texture to deviate locally with respect to the textures on both sides of the transition line 9. It is also possible to provide a recess or protrusion in the top surface at the location of the transition line 9.
[0064] FIGS. 12-16 show further exemplary embodiments with variations in the edge zones. FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment wherein the texture of the edge zones comprises stripe-like patterns. The orientation of the stripes along the side edges changes in longitudinal direction of the edge zones. FIG. 12 shows that the edge zones on the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the panel 1 differ from each other. FIG. 13 shows a variant in which straight transition lines 9 are provided between the textures A, B of the edge zones and a portion of the top surface which extends between the edge zones. FIG. 14 shows a further variant in which the transition lines 9 have an irregular shape.
[0065] FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment in which transitions between the edge zones at the location of corners 10 between respective side edges are accentuated, in this case by bold lines which are at an angle of 45° to the adjoining side edges at the location of the respective corner 10. This accentuation may also be provided with the exemplary embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0066] FIG. 16 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the textures A, B of the edge zones are reversed compared to those in FIG. 12. This exemplary embodiment may likewise be combined with the accentuation of the corners 10, as illustrated in FIG. 15, and/or with the straight transition lines 9 from FIG. 13 and/or with the irregular transition lines 9 from FIG. 14.
[0067] The textures A, B may be formed by impressions which are less deep than the top layer 7. Each of the textures A, B may be provided in such a way that a certain gloss level is achieved. The mutually different textures A, B of the zones may be produced in such a way that the gloss level differs by at least one point, as determined in accordance with DIN 67530, preferably at least three points and more preferably at least five points. One zone may have a gloss level of 10 or less and the other zone may have a gloss level of more than 10 and is preferably more than 20, as determined in accordance with DIN 67530. The gloss level of the area of the top surface adjoining the zones with texture C, may be between the gloss levels of the zones.
[0068] The texture C in the area which adjoins one of the zones with deviating texture A or B may have a varying pattern, for example a gradually changing pattern, which becomes more glossy or less glossy as one gets closer to the zone with deviating texture A or B.
[0069] The texture may be created in a known manner by providing a pressing sheet metal or press plate with a desired texture via, for example, etching techniques or spark milling before pressing down the top layer.
[0070] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described above which may be varied in different ways without departing from the scope of the invention. It is for example conceivable to combine the features of the various exemplary embodiments with one another.
