Abstract
A panel having a panel upper side and a panel lower side and at least two opposing panel edges, which have each an edge break on the panel upper side, the edge breaks forming in the connected state a joint in a covering surface. The edge break of one of the panel edges is formed larger than the edge break of the opposing panel edge, and a lower part of the large edge break of the one panel edge is overlapped in the connected state by the small edge break of the opposing panel edge.
Claims
1. A panel, comprising: a panel top side; a panel underside; and at least two mutually opposite panel edges, which respectively have an edge break at the panel top side, wherein the edge breaks in a connected condition of two of the panels together form a joint in a covering surface, wherein the edge break of a first of the panel edges is a larger edge break than the edge break of the opposite, second panel edge and the edge break of the opposite, second panel edge is a smaller edge break, wherein the first and second panel edges each have a butting surface, wherein the smaller edge break has an undercut with a surface, and wherein a lower part of the larger edge break of the first panel edge in the connected condition is overlapped by the smaller edge break of the opposite, second panel edge so that an overlap area is formed between the smaller edge break and the larger edge break, wherein in the connected condition in the overlap area an upper surface of the larger edge break is parallel to the undercut surface of the smaller edge break and a slot is formed between the upper surface of the larger edge break and the undercut surface of the smaller edge break when the butting surface of the first panel edge butts the butting surface of the second panel edge.
2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein one of the panel edges has an undercut contour having a lateral projection in an upper region near the panel top side and the smaller edge break is disposed upwardly at the lateral projection of said contour.
3. The panel according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the edge breaks is formed as a bevel.
4. The panel according to claim 2, wherein the lateral projection of the contour has a locking surface directed towards the panel underside.
5. The panel according to claim 2, wherein a set-back butting surface is provided between the panel underside and the lateral projection.
6. The panel according to claim 2, wherein the panel edge with the lateral projection has a lower edge break which is equal to or larger than the lower edge break of the complementary panel edge.
7. A panel according to claim 2, wherein the lateral projection forms a distal area of the panel edge.
8. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the at least two mutually opposite panel edges each have a lower edge break at the panel underside.
9. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel underside is an adhesive underside.
10. A method of adhesively bonding a panel according to claim 1, comprising the step of applying adhesive to the panel underside so that an edge region of the panel underside remains free of adhesive.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein when the panel is pressed against a substrate, the adhesive flows to the edge region of the panel underside and in part passes between the panel edges.
12. A panel according to claim 1, wherein the gap in the overlap area is between the entire undercut surface of the smaller edge break and the upper surface of the larger edge break.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a panel according to the invention of rectangular shape,
(2) FIG. 2 shows mutually opposite panel edges of a panel according to the invention in the connected condition,
(3) FIG. 3 shows mutually opposite panel edges of an alternative embodiment of a panel according to the invention in the connected condition,
(4) FIG. 4 shows a development of the embodiment of FIG. 3,
(5) FIG. 5 shows mutually opposite panel edges of a further embodiment of a panel according to the invention in the connected condition,
(6) FIG. 6 shows mutually opposite panel edges of a further embodiment of a panel according to the invention in the connected condition,
(7) FIG. 7 shows mutually opposite panel edges of an alternative embodiment of a panel according to the invention with a large join in the connected condition,
(8) FIG. 8 shows mutually opposite panel edges of a further embodiment of a panel according to the invention with a large join in the connected condition,
(9) FIG. 9 shows mutually opposite panel edges of another embodiment of the panel according to the invention, and
(10) FIG. 10 shows mutually opposite panel edges of still a further embodiment of the panel according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(11) The example shown in FIG. 1 involves a panel 1 of a rectangular base surface. The panel has two pairs of edges, whose panel edges 2, 3 and 4, 5 respectively are respectively disposed in paired opposite relationship. The panel edges are provided with panel edges according to the invention.
(12) FIG. 2 shows oppositely disposed panel edges 2 and 3 of a panel 1. The panel has a panel top side 1a and a panel underside 1b. At the panel top side 1a the panel edge 2 is respectively provided with an edge break and the panel edge 3 is respectively provided with an edge break which is larger than the edge break of the panel edge 2. Both edge breaks are in the form of a 45° bevel. In the illustrated connected condition the small edge break 6 and a part of the large edge break 7 together form a V-shaped join 8 in a covering surface 9. In the connected condition a lower part of the large edge break 7 of the panel edge 3 is overlapped by the small edge break 6 of the oppositely disposed panel edge.
(13) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 an undercut contour having a lateral projection 10 is provided at the panel edge 2 in an upper region near the panel top side 1a, wherein the small edge break 6 is arranged directed towards the panel top side, that is to say upwardly, at the lateral projection 10 of that contour. The lateral projection forms the distal region of the panel edge. It projects laterally furthest from the panel edge.
(14) The lateral projection has a locking surface 11 facing towards the panel underside 1b.
(15) In the connected condition the overlapped part of the large edge break 7 of the panel edge 3 is oriented in parallel in relation to the locking surface 11 provided downwardly on the lateral projection 10 of the panel edge 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the lateral projection 10 is in the form of an asymmetrical point. An upper flank of the point is formed by the small edge break 6 and a lower flank of the point includes the locking surface 11 of the lateral projection 10. The lower flank is extended in aligned relationship and extends down to the panel underside 1b.
(16) The panel edge 3 provided with the large edge break 7, at the panel underside 1b, has a lower edge break 12 in the form of a 45° bevel. Extending between the edge break 7 and the edge break 12 is a free butting surface 13 which is perpendicular to the panel top side.
(17) FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which the panel edge 3 also has a free butting surface 13, from which the large edge break 7 extends upwardly towards the panel top side 1a. A lower edge break 12 extends from the free butting surface 13 towards the panel underside 1b. The contour of the panel edge corresponds in principle to that shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3 however there is a panel edge 2 which differs from that shown in FIG. 2, more specifically in that the locking surface 11 provided downwardly on the lateral projection 10 is not extended in aligned relationship as far as the panel underside 1b. Instead there is provided a set-back butting surface 14 oriented perpendicularly to the panel top side 1a. The set-back butting surface 14 of the panel edge 2 cooperates with the free butting surface 13 of the panel edge 3, the surfaces abutting against each other and limiting the joining movement when the panel edges 2 and 3 are moved towards each other. In addition the overlapped part of the large edge break 7 is also contacted by the locking surface 11 of the lateral projection.
(18) At the panel underside 1b the panel edge 2 is provided with a lower edge break 15 which is in the form of a 45° bevel symmetrically with respect to the lower edge break 12 of the panel edge 3.
(19) FIG. 4 shows a development of the previous embodiment. This development differs by virtue of a gap S1 which occurs between the locking surface 11 and the overlapped part of the large edge break 7 when the panel edges 2 and 3 are fitted together. In this embodiment contact of the panel edges 2 and 3 only occurs instead between the free butting surface 13 of the panel edge 3 and the set-back butting surface 14 of the panel edge 2.
(20) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the panel in which the edge breaks have rounded portions. The join which occurs in the connected condition is substantially V-shaped, but with curved limbs of the V-shape. The V-shape limbs project towards the interior of the V-shaped cross-section of the join.
(21) The large edge break 7 is again overlapped by the small edge break 6. The small edge break 6 is arranged at a lateral projection 10 and has a locking surface 11 directed towards the panel underside. The overlapped part of the large edge break 7 extends with a curvature under the small edge break 6 and is in contact with the locking surface 11 which has a curvature matching same.
(22) At the panel underside 1b the panel edge 2 is provided with a lower edge break 15 which is in the for of a 45° bevel symmetrically relative to the lower edge break 12 of the panel edge 3.
(23) FIG. 6 differs from the previous embodiment in substance by modified rounded configurations of the edge breaks. Here the large edge break 7 of the panel edge 3 is in the shape of a quarter of a circle. The small edge break 6 of the panel edge 2 is of a radius of the same size as the radius of the quarter circle of the panel edge 3.
(24) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment for edge breaks in the form of rounded portions which however have their center point outside the panel cross-section. The rounded portions are of a configuration in the manner of a hollow fillet. Together they form a V-shaped join 8, wherein the V-limbs are curved outwardly so that they enlarge the V-shaped cross-section. In this embodiment also a lateral projection 10 is provided with a locking surface 11 directed towards the panel underside 1b, wherein the locking surface 11 provided downwardly on the lateral projection 10 is of an arcuate configuration and its radius is adapted to the radius of the overlapped part of the large edge break 7 of the panel edge 3. The panel edge 3 also has a free butting surface 13 and the panel edge 2 has a set-back butting surface 14, as in FIG. 3. In the connected condition of the panel edges 2 and 3 they are in contact with each other. At the panel underside 1b the panel edge 2 is provided with a lower edge break 15 which is in the form of a 45° bevel symmetrically relative to the lower edge break 12 of the panel edge 3.
(25) The embodiment of FIG. 8 is based on that shown in FIG. 7. It includes the hollow fillet-shaped small edge break 6 in an identical configuration. The large edge break 7 is also in the form of a hollow fillet in the region which is not overlapped and which forms the one side of the join. In the overlapped region however the rounded configuration is not hollow fillet-shaped but is turned outwardly. In addition there is no edge break at the panel underside, which also represents a possible alternative in all preceding embodiments. Equally the present configuration as shown in FIG. 8 could have edge breaks as in the previous embodiments.
(26) The surface nature of the panel underside is adapted for good adhesion of an adhesive.
(27) Reference is made to FIG. 4 to describe an embodiment with 45° bevels at the panel top side, wherein this embodiment has a gap S1 when the panel edges 2 and 3 are connected. It will be appreciated that the embodiments of FIGS. 5 through 8 can also be modified in such a way that, beneath the locking surface 11 of the lateral projection 10 of the panel edge 2, there is a gap when the panel edges 2 and 3 are connected together.
(28) A further embodiment of a panel is shown in FIG. 9. This panel 1 again has mutually opposite panel edges 2 and 3 and the panel has a panel top side 1a and a panel underside 1b. At the panel top side 1a the panel edge 2 is respectively provided with an edge break 16 and the panel edge 3 is respectively provided with an edge break 17, wherein in this case the edge break 16 of the panel edge 2 is larger than the edge break 17 of the panel edge 3. Both edge breaks are in the form of a 45° bevel. In the connected condition as illustrated the small edge break 17 and a part of the large edge break 16 together form a V-shaped join 8 in a covering surface 9. A lower part of the large edge break 16 of the panel edge 2 in the connected condition is overlapped by the small edge break 17 of the oppositely disposed panel edge 3.
(29) The large edge break 16 is disposed at a lateral projection 10 which has a locking surface 11 facing towards the panel underside 1b. Adjoining the locking surface 11 is a butting 14 which in the present example is arranged perpendicularly to the panel top side 1a.
(30) Beneath the small edge break 17 the panel edge 3 has a recess 18. The recess 18 has an undercut recess surface 19. A lower surface 20 of the recess blends in aligned relationship into a locking surface which cooperates with the complementary locking surface 11 of the panel edge 2.
(31) The projection 10 of the panel edge 2 projects into the recess 18 of the panel edge 3. In that case the large edge break 16 is not in contact with the undercut recess surface 19 of the recess 18.
(32) At the panel underside 1b the panel 2, as in FIG. 3, is provided with a lower edge break 15 which is in the form of a 45° bevel symmetrically relative to a lower edge break 12 of the panel edge 3.
(33) A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 10. As in the previous embodiment, FIG. 10 also shows two oppositely disposed panel edges 2 and 3 of a panel type in the connected condition. The panel again has a panel top side 1a and panel underside 1b. At the panel top side 1a the panel edge 2 is provided with an edge break 26 and the panel edge 3 is provided with an edge break 27, the edge break 26 of the panel edge 2 being larger than the edge break 27 of the panel edge 3. Both edge breaks are in the form of a bevel. In the illustrated connected condition the small edge break 27 and a part of the large edge break 26 together form a V-shaped join 8 in a covering surface 9. A lower part of the large edge break 26 of the panel edge 2 is overlapped in the connected condition by the small edge break 27 of the opposite panel edge 3.
(34) In addition there is a lateral projection 30 at which the large edge break 26 is provided. The projection 30 has a free end, the cross-section of which is rounded (convexly). Matching same the complementary panel edge 3 has a recess 38 of round cross-section (concave). At the top side of the projection 30 the rounded configuration thereof passes tangentially into the large edge break 26 which is in the form of a bevel. At the underside of the projection 30 it goes into a surface 31 arranged almost parallel to the plane of the panel.
(35) The round recess 38 of the panel edge 3 has a lower wall 39 having a free end 40 which in the connected condition of the panel edges 2 and 3 is at a spacing relative to the complementary panel edge 2.
(36) The rounded configuration of the projection 30 is closely matched tot the round cross-section of the recess 38. That provides for precise positioning (centering) and at the same time that gives a locking action which acts to prevent locked panel edges from moving away from each other perpendicularly to the plane of the panel.
(37) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
