Flooring Buckle and Flooring Installation Structure

Abstract

A flooring buckle has a buckle body with opposite sides and opposite ends that are transverse to the sides. The buckle body has four locking members extending outward from the buckle body. The flooring buckle has a I-shaped cross-section when viewed from the ends of the buckle body. The flooring buckle is symmetric about its vertical and horizontal center. The buckle body has a hole on an end that is configured to receive an expansion body. A diameter of the hole is sized smaller than a diameter of the expansion body. The flooring buckle is configured such that at least one of the four locking members is deformed and a portion of the deformed locking member engages a slot of a flooring panel when the locking member is inserted in the slot of the flooring panel and the expansion body is inserted in the hole of the buckle body.

Claims

1. A flooring buckle comprising: a buckle body having opposite first and second sides and opposite first and second ends, the ends of the buckle body being transverse to the sides of the buckle body, the buckle body having at least four locking members, a first of the at least four locking members extending outward from an upper portion of the first side of the buckle body, a second of the at least four locking members extending outward from an upper portion of the second side of the buckle body, a third of the at least four locking members extending outward from a lower portion of the first side of the buckle body, a fourth of the at least four locking members extending outward from a lower portion of the second side of the buckle body, the flooring buckle having a I-shaped cross-section when viewed from the ends of the buckle body, the flooring buckle being symmetric about a vertical and horizontal center, the buckle body having a hole on at least one of the first and second ends, the hole being adapted and configured to receive an expansion body, a diameter of the hole being sized smaller than a diameter of the expansion body, the flooring buckle being adapted and configured such that at least one of the four locking members is deformed and at least a portion of the deformed locking member engages a slot of a flooring panel when the locking member is inserted in the slot of the flooring panel and the expansion body is inserted in the hole of the buckle body.

2. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein the locking members on at least one of the first and second sides of the buckle body move away from each other when the expansion body is inserted in the hole of the buckle body

3. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the at least one of the four locking member moves between 1° and 7.5° when the expansion body is inserted in the hole of the buckle body.

4. The flooring buckle according to claim 3, wherein a distal end of the at least one of the four locking member moves between 2° and 6.5° when the expansion body is inserted in the hole of the buckle body.

5. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein the flooring buckle is formed of one of a metal and a plastic.

6. The flooring buckle according to claim 5, wherein the buckle body and the locking pieces of the flooring buckle are formed integrally.

7. The flooring buckle according to claim 5, wherein the buckle body and the locking pieces of the flooring buckle are formed monolithically.

8. The flooring buckle according to claim 5, wherein the locking members comprise separate members mechanically joined to the buckle body.

9. The flooring buckle according to claim 5, wherein the flooring buckle is made of a material comprising aluminum.

10. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the hole is no less than a length of the expansion body.

11. The flooring buckle according to claim 10, wherein a length of the expansion body is at least 5 mm, and the diameter of the hole is between 0.8 mm and 3.0 mm.

12. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein a dimension between distal ends of the locking members of the first side of the buckle body equals a dimension between distal ends of the locking members on the second side of the buckle body when the hole is devoid of the expansion body.

13. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the four locking members has a width dimension at a distal end of the locking member that is greater than a width dimension at a proximal end of the locking member.

14. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the four locking members has a distal end with an arcuate shape.

15. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein the locking members of at least one of the first side and second side of the buckle body have distal ends with an arcuate shape.

16. The flooring buckle according to claim 15, wherein a width dimension between the distal ends of the locking members on the at least one of the first side and the second side of the buckle body is greater than a width dimension between proximal ends of the locking members on the at least one of the first side and second side of the buckle body.

17. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein the flooring buckle is one of a plurality of the flooring buckles arranged end to end and formed integrally as a block of flooring buckles, each flooring buckle in the plurality of flooring buckles is separated by a line of weakness in the block sufficient to allow the flooring buckle to be detached from the block across the line of weakness, the hole of the flooring buckle comprises a through hole passing through the plurality of flooring buckles.

18. The flooring buckle according to claim 1 wherein the flooring buckle is adapted and configured to be disposed between opposite sides of adjacent flooring panels in a manner with the locking members of the first side of the flooring buckle inserted in slots of one flooring panel and the locking members of the second side of the flooring buckle inserted in slots of the adjacent flooring panel.

19. The flooring buckle according to claim 1, wherein the flooring buckle is adapted and configured to be used with flooring panels having a top surface and a bottom surface covered with a decorative print layer.

20. The flooring buckle according to claim 19, wherein the flooring buckle is adapted and configured to be used with flooring panels having a wear layer over the decorative print layer of the top surface and a wear layer over the decorative print layer of the bottom surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a conventional flooring lock of the prior art.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a double-sided spliced flooring.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary flooring buckle.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the flooring buckle of FIG. 3.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the flooring buckle of FIG. 3 showing the flooring buckle deformed after a screw is driven into the flooring buckle.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a block of a plurality of flooring buckles.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a flooring buckle.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further alternate embodiment of a flooring buckle.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a further alternate embodiment of a flooring buckle.

[0032] FIG. 10 is a partial, perspective view of a flooring structure.

[0033] FIG. 11 is a cross-section view of a flooring installation structure.

[0034] FIG. 12 is a partial, perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a flooring structure.

[0035] FIG. 13 is a partial, perspective view of a further alternate embodiment of a flooring structure.

[0036] The present invention is further illustrated in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 2 shows one flooring installation where adjacent flooring panels have side notches 400 and are jointed flooring buckle 500. The flooring panels may be double-sided and spliced together with the flooring buckle 500 inserted into notches (i.e, the female slot) provided on each of two opposite sides of the flooring. The flooring and the buckle are both of centrosymmetric structures (symmetrical about horizontal and vertical center of the buckle). Once the adjacent flooring panels are flipped or turned over or rotated 180 degrees in a horizontal plane, the flooring panel may still be spliced together.

[0038] To minimize the risk that when a force is applied to the flooring, the adjacent flooring panels will not separate and loosen from the buckle, the flooring buckle may be modified as described below. Making reference to FIGS. 3-5, the flooring buckle 10 may include a buckle body 11. The buckle body may have opposite first and second sides and opposite first and second ends. The ends of the buckle body may be transverse to the sides of the buckle body 11. The buckle body 11 may have at least four locking members 12,13,14,15. A first of the at least four locking members 12 may extend outward from an upper portion of the first side of the buckle body 11. A second of the at least four locking members 13 may extend outward from an upper portion of the second side of the buckle body 11. A third of the at least four locking members 14 may extend outward from a lower portion of the first side of the buckle body. A fourth of the at least four locking members 15 may extend outward from a lower portion of the second side of the buckle body 11. As best shown in FIG. 4, the flooring buckle 10 has a I-shaped cross-section when viewed from an end of the buckle body 11. Accordingly, the flooring buckle 10 may be symmetric about a vertical and horizontal center. A dimension between distal ends of the locking members 12,14 of the first side of the buckle body equals a dimension between distal ends of the locking members 13,15 on the second side of the buckle body when the hole is devoid of the expansion body.

[0039] The buckle body 11 may have a hole 16 on at least one of the first and second ends. The hole 16 may be adapted and configured to receive an expansion body 20. A diameter of the hole 16 may be sized smaller than a diameter of the expansion body 20. A depth of the hole 16 may be equal to or greater than a length of the expansion body 20. A length of the expansion body 20 may be at least 5 mm, and the diameter of the hole may between 0.8 mm and 3.0 mm. The flooring buckle 10 is adapted and configured such that at least one of the four locking members 12,13,14,15 is deformed and at least a portion of the deformed locking member engages a slot of a flooring panel when the locking member is inserted in the slot of the flooring panel and the expansion body 20 is inserted in the hole 16 of the buckle body 11.

[0040] The locking members 12,14 on one side of the buckle body 11 may be adapted and configured to move away from each other when the expansion body 20 is inserted in the hole 16 of the buckle body. The locking members 13,15 on the other side of the buckle body 11 may be adapted and configured to move away from each other when the expansion body 20 is inserted in the hole 16 of the buckle body. A distal end of the at least one of the four locking members 12,13,14,15 may move an angle (a) between 1° and 7.5° when the expansion body is inserted in the hole of the buckle body. More preferably, a distal end of the at least one of the four locking members 12,13,14,15 may move an angle (a) between 2° and 6.5° when the expansion body is inserted in the hole of the buckle body. Making reference to FIG. 5, each of the locking members 12,13,14,15 may move an angle (a) outward away from a horizontal centerline of the buckle body 11.

[0041] The flooring buckle may be formed of one of a metal and a plastic. The buckle body and the locking pieces of the flooring buckle may be formed integrally, and may be formed monolithically. The locking members 12,13,14,15 may comprise separate members mechanically joined (welded, ultrasonically welded, hot glued) to the buckle body. The flooring buckle 10 may be made of a material comprising aluminum.

[0042] Making reference to FIG. 6, the flooring buckle may be one of a plurality of a flooring buckles arranged end to end and formed integrally or monolithically as a block of flooring buckles. The block may be extruded, punched, machined, or stamped or otherwise formed. Each flooring buckle in the plurality of flooring buckles may be separated by a line of weakness 22 (a perforation line, a crease line, smaller dimension line) in the block sufficient to allow the flooring buckle to be detached from the block across the line of weakness. The hole 16 of the flooring buckle 10 comprises a through hole passing through the plurality of flooring buckles.

[0043] FIGS. 7-9 show different embodiments of the flooring buckle 10′,10″,10′″. Each is similar in design as mentioned above with a buckle body and at least 4 locking members extending therefrom. In each of the embodiments of FIGS. 7-9, the geometry of the locking members is slightly different from that shown in FIGS. 3-5 to enhance the ability of the locking members to engage the slots in the adjacent flooring panels when the expansion body is inserted in the hole. In each of the embodiments of the flooring buckle shown in FIGS. 7-9, each of the four locking members has a width dimension at a distal end of the locking member that is greater than a width dimension at a proximal end of the locking member. In particular, the embodiment of FIG. 9 shows a flooring buckle 10′″ with four locking members 12′″,13′″,14′″,15′″ that have a distal end with an arcuate shape. Also, in the embodiments of FIGS. 7-9, the width dimension between the distal ends of the locking members 12′,12″,12′″,14′,14″,14′″ on the first side and with dimensions between the distal ends of the locking members 13′,13″,13′″,15′,15″,15′″ on the second side are the same. Also, in the embodiments of FIGS. 7-9, the width dimension of the distal end of each locking member is greater than a width dimension of the proximal end of each of the locking members. Also, in the embodiments of FIGS. 7-9, the width dimensions between the distal ends of the locking members on each side of the buckle body are greater than the width dimensions between the proximal ends of the locking members on each side of the buckle body.

Embodiment 1

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, this flooring buckle 10 includes a buckle body 11 and locking members 12, 13, 14, and 15 respectively arranged on both sides of an upper end and both sides of a lower end of the buckle body, such that the cross section of the flooring buckle is I-shaped, and the flooring buckle is of a centrosymmetric structure. A hole 16 for insertion of the expansion body 20 is provided on the buckle body of the flooring buckle. T the diameter of the hole 16 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the expansion body 20, and the depth of the hole is equal to or slightly greater than the length of the expansion body, such that the locking members are all slightly deformed at an angle α ranging from 1° to 7.5° when the expansion body is inserted. The flooring buckle is made of aluminum alloy by mould pressing and is formed integrally. The width of one end of the locking member away from the buckle body (the distal end) is equal to the width of one end connected to the buckle body (the proximal end). The flooring buckle 10 may be formed by mould pressing singly, or a plurality of flooring buckles may be formed integrally. Making reference to FIG. 6, the hole 16 is a through hole 24 passing through the plurality of flooring buckles. Tear lines 22 are arranged at joints between the flooring buckles, and each include a number of perforations penetrating the thickness of the flooring buckle.

Embodiment 2

[0045] As shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 8, the flooring buckle 10′,10″ includes a buckle body 11′,11′ and locking members 12′,12″,13′,13″,14′,14″,15′,15″ respectively arranged on both sides of an upper end and both sides of a lower end of the buckle body, such that the cross section of the flooring buckle is I-shaped, and the flooring buckle is of a centrosymmetric structure. A hole 16′,16″ for insertion of an expansion body 20 is provided on the buckle body 11′, 11′ of the flooring buckle. The diameter of the hole is slightly smaller than the diameter of the expansion body 20, and the depth of the hole is equal to or slightly greater than the length of the expansion body 20, such that the locking members are all slightly deformed at an angle ranging from 2° to 6.5° when the expansion body is inserted. The flooring buckle 10′,10″ is formed integrally by engineering plastic. The width of one end of the locking member away from the buckle body (the distal end) is slightly greater than the width of one end connected to the buckle body (the proximal end).

Embodiment 3

[0046] As shown in FIG. 9, this flooring buckle 10′″ includes a buckle body 11″ and locking pieces 12′,13′,14′″,15″ respectively arranged on both sides of an upper end and both sides of a lower end of the buckle body, such that the cross section of the flooring buckle is I-shaped, and the flooring buckle is of a centrosymmetric structure. A hole 16′″ for insertion of an expansion body 20 is provided on the buckle body of the flooring buckle. The diameter of the hole is slightly smaller than the diameter of the expansion body 20, and the depth of the hole is equal to or slightly greater than the length of the expansion body, such that the locking pieces are all slightly deformed at an angle ranging from 2° 6.5° when the expansion body is inserted. The flooring buckle 10′″ is formed by combining the buckle body and locking members 12′″,13′,14′″,15′ with a hot-melt adhesive after making them from engineering plastic. The width of one end of the locking piece away from the buckle body (the distal end) is slightly greater than the width of one end connected to the buckle body (the proximal end).

Embodiment 4

[0047] This embodiment has a structure substantially the same as that in Embodiment 1, and the difference lies in that the flooring buckle is formed by welding the buckle body and the locking pieces after making them from aluminum alloy.

Embodiment 5

[0048] This embodiment has a structure substantially the same as that in Embodiment 1, and the difference lies in that the flooring buckle is formed integrally by magnesium alloy.

Embodiment 6

[0049] This embodiment has a structure substantially the same as that in Embodiment 1, and the difference lies in that the flooring buckle is formed integrally by titanium alloy.

Embodiment 7

[0050] As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, this flooring installation structure includes a flooring panel 30 with notches or slots 31 adapted and configured to receive the locking members of one of the aforementioned embodiments of floor buckles. The slots or notches 31 of the flooring panel are provided at two opposite sides of the flooring. The flooring panel 30 is of a centrosymmetric structure, and the length of the flooring buckle from end to end is the same as the length of the flooring.

Embodiment 8

[0051] As shown in FIG. 12, this flooring installation structure has a structure substantially the same as that in Embodiment 10, and the difference lies in that the top surface and the bottom surface of the flooring are each covered with a printing layer 32. The printing layers on the top surface and the bottom surface may have the same or different patterns. It is also possible to only provide the printing layer on the top surface, and provide a balance layer on the bottom surface.

Embodiment 9

[0052] As shown in FIG. 13, this flooring installation structure has a structure substantially the same as that in Embodiment 10, and the difference lies in that the top surface and the bottom surface of the flooring are each covered with a printing layer 32 and a wear resistant layer 33. The printing layers 32 on the top surface and the bottom surface may have the same or different patterns.

[0053] In the present invention, in addition to magnesium alloy, aluminum alloy or titanium alloy, alloys of other castable metals such as iron, copper, nickel, manganese, lead, gold and silver can all be used to prepare this flooring buckle.

[0054] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, the orientations or positional relations indicated by the terms “center,” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “inside,” “outside” are orientations or positional relations shown based on the accompanying drawings, or orientations or positional relations where the product of the invention is commonly placed during use, which are merely given for ease and simplification of description of the present invention, instead of indicating or implying that the apparatus or device must have specific orientations and be constructed and operated at the specific orientations, so that they cannot be construed as limitations to the present invention.