Glue-Down Decorative Floor Covering System

Abstract

The invention relates to a glue-down decorative floor covering system. The invention also relates to a glue-down floor covering realized by a plurality of tiles of the glue-down floor covering system according to the invention. The invention further relates to a tile for use in a glue-down floor covering system according to the invention.

Claims

1. A glue-down decorative floor covering system, comprising a plurality of interlockable decorative flexible floor tiles, wherein each floor tile has a thickness of less than 4.7 mm, preferably less than 4 mm, and wherein each floor tile comprises at least one flexible substrate layer at least partially composed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and wherein each floor tile is rectangular, either oblong or square, and thus comprises a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges; wherein the first pair of opposite edges comprise mechanical coupling parts allowing to mutually mechanically couple a plurality of such tiles to each other, wherein said coupling parts form a first locking system which effects a locking of mutually coupled tiles in the plane of the tiles and perpendicular to the respective edges, as well as form a second locking system which effects a locking of mutually coupled tiles perpendicular to the plane of the tiles, wherein these coupling parts substantially are realized from said substrate layer; wherein the coupling parts at said first pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such tiles can be coupled to each other at these edges by means of a turning movement, and wherein the second pair of opposite edges is free of any mechanical coupling parts.

2. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling parts of the first pair of opposite edges are designed to snap or click together during mutual coupling.

3. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein during mutual coupling of the coupling parts at one coupling part is forced to deform.

4. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling parts are configured to co-act form-fittingly with each other.

5. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling parts of the first pair of opposite edges comprise at a first edge a sideward tongue extending in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the tile, the bottom front region of said sideward tongue at least partially being rounded or being flat, the bottom back region of said tongue being configured as bearing region, wherein the bottom back region is located closer to the level of the upper side of the tile than a lowest part of the bottom front region, and wherein the coupling parts of the first pair of opposite edges comprise at an opposite second edge a recess for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue of a further tile, said recess being defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, said lower lip being provided with a upwardly protruding shoulder for supporting the bearing region of the sideward tongue, the sideward tongue being designed such that locking takes place by an introduction movement into the recess of the sideward tongue a further tile and a angling down movement about an axis parallel to the first edge, as a result of which a top side of the sideward tongue will engage the upper lip and the bearing region of the sideward tongue will be supported by and/or facing the shoulder of the lower lip, leading to interlocking of adjacent tiles at the first and second edges.

6. The floor covering system according to claim 5, wherein the sideward tongue is configured to be introduced into the recess in a form-fitting manner.

7. The floor covering system according to claim 5, wherein the outer dimensioning of the sideward tongue exceeds the dimensioning of the recess.

8. The floor covering system according to claim 5, wherein, in coupled condition of the coupling parts, the sideward tongue and the recess mutually enclose a plurality of gaps.

9. The floor covering system according to claim 5, wherein a lower surface of the bearing region, which is configured to be supported by and/or to face the shoulder of the lower lip, is upwardly inclined in the direction of the bottom front region of the sideward tongue.

10. The floor covering system according to claim 5, wherein an upper surface of the shoulder of the lower lip is upwardly inclined in the direction of the upper lip.

11. The floor covering system according to claim 5, wherein the distance between the upper surface of the tile and a lower surface of the bearing region, which is configured to be supported by and/or to face the shoulder of the lower lip, is smaller than the distance between the upper surface of the tile and the shoulder of the lower lip.

12. The floor covering system according to claim 5, wherein, in coupled condition of adjacent tiles, the bearing region and the shoulder of the lower lip mutually enclose an upper glue chamber.

13. The floor covering system according to claim 5, wherein the lower lip is provided with a substantially vertical first end surface.

14. The floor covering system according to claim 5, wherein the bearing region is connected to a substantially vertical second end surface of the tile, in particular of the substrate layer.

15. The floor covering system according to claim 14, wherein, in coupled condition of adjacent tiles, the first end surface faces the second end surface, such that the first end surface and the second end surface mutually enclose a lower glue chamber.

16. The floor covering system according to claim 14, wherein the first end surface and/or the second end surface are provided with at least one glue collecting cavity, in particular at least one glue collecting groove.

17. The floor covering system according to claim 12, wherein the upper glue chamber is connected to the lower glue chamber.

18. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the second pair of opposite edges consists of a third edge and an opposite fourth edge, wherein the third edge is provided with a substantially vertical third end surface and wherein the fourth edge is provided with a substantially vertical fourth end surface.

19. The floor covering system according to claim 18, wherein, in coupled condition of adjacent tiles, the third end surface faces the fourth end surface, such that a top section of the third end surface and the fourth end surface engage to each other, and such that at least a part of a bottom section of the third end surface and the fourth end surface mutually enclose a lateral glue chamber.

20. The floor covering system according to claim 18, wherein the third end surface and/or the fourth end surface is/are provided with at least one glue collecting cavity, in particular at least one glue collecting groove.

21. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of the tile is adapted to engage substantially seamless to the upper side of another tile.

22. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein each tile comprises at least one balancing layer affixed, either directly or indirectly, to a lower surface of the substrate layer.

23. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein each tile comprises at least one decorative layer affixed, either directly or indirectly, to an upper surface of the substrate layer.

24. The floor covering system according to claim 23, wherein the decorative layer is a printed layer.

25. The floor covering system according to claim 23, wherein each tile comprises at least one wear layer affixed, either directly or indirectly, to an upper surface of the decorative layer.

26. The floor covering system according to claim 23, wherein each tile comprises at least one lacquer layer affixed, either directly or indirectly, to an upper surface of the decorative layer, preferably to an upper surface of the wear layer.

27. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of each tile is provided with an adhesive allowing the tile to be adhered to the subfloor.

28. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is initially covered by a peelable cover.

29. The floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the second pair of opposite edges comprise mechanical coupling parts allowing to mutually mechanically couple a plurality of such tiles to each other, wherein said coupling parts form a first locking system which effects a locking of mutually coupled tiles in the plane of the tiles and perpendicular to the respective edges, as well as form a second locking system which effects a locking of mutually coupled tiles perpendicular to the plane of the tiles, wherein these coupling parts substantially are realized from said substrate layer.

30. The floor covering system according to claim 29, wherein the coupling parts at said second pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such tiles can be coupled to each other at these edges by means of a turning movement.

31. The floor covering system according to claim 29 wherein the coupling parts at said second pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such tiles can be coupled to each other at these edges by means of a vertical movement.

32. A glue-down floor covering realized by interlocking a plurality of tiles of the glue-down floor covering system according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures, wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a glue-down tile of a glue-down floor covering system according to the invention,

[0025] FIG. 2 a lateral cross-section of the tile according to FIG. 1,

[0026] FIG. 3 a longitudinal cross-section of the tile according to FIG. 1,

[0027] FIG. 4 a glue-down floor covering consisting of a plurality of interlocked glue-down tiles according to FIG. 1,

[0028] FIG. 5 a detailed view of a part A of the floor covering according to FIG. 4,

[0029] FIG. 6 a cross-section according to line B-B of the floor covering according to FIG. 4,

[0030] FIG. 7 a top view of a glue-down floor covering consisting of a plurality of interlocked glue-down tiles according to FIG. 1 installed according to a first installation pattern, and

[0031] FIG. 8 a top view of a glue-down floor covering consisting of a plurality of interlocked glue-down tiles according to FIG. 1 installed according to a second installation pattern.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a rectangular glue-down tile 1 of a glue-down floor covering system 2 (see FIGS. 4-8) according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a lateral cross-section of the tile according to FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 a longitudinal cross-section of the tile according to FIG. 1. The tile 1 is mechanically interconnectable with two similar tiles for forming said covering 2. The tile 1 comprises a first pair of opposing long edges 1a, 1b, identified as the first edge 1a and the second edge 1b, and second pair of opposing short edges 1c, 1d, identified as the third edge 1c and the fourth edge 1d. The first pair of opposing edges 1a, 1b comprises complementary mechanical coupling parts 3, 4, identified as the male coupling part 3, and the female coupling part 4 to allow the tile 1 to be mechanically coupled with two other tiles 1. The second pair of opposing edges 1c, 1d is free of any mechanical coupling parts, which makes the tile 1 suitable to be mechanically coupled to two tiles only. Each edge 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is provided with a longitudinal groove 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d extending in a direction parallel to the corresponding edge. Grooves 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d of adjacent edges 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are mutually connect and together form a circumferential groove 5. The circumferential groove 5 is intended to receive glue during gluing down of the tile 1 onto a subfloor 6 to intensify the connection between the tile 1 and the subfloor 6 and between the tile 1 and adjacent tiles. The male coupling part 3 comprises a sideward tongue 7 which is integrally connected to a central body 8 of the tile 1. A front region 7a of the sideward tongue 7 is provided with a flat bottom surface 9. An outer end (a tip) of the front region 7a of the sideward tongue 7 is provided at an upper side with an inclined locking surface 10. A back region 7b of the sideward tongue 7 is situated in between the front region 7a and the central body and connects the front region 7a to the central body 8. An lower side of the back region 7b could be identified as a bearing surface 11. This bearing surface 11 is inclined in the direction of the front region 7a of the sideward tongue 7. The bearing surface 11 connects to a substantially vertical first end surface 12 of the central body 8. The female coupling part 4 comprises an upper lip 13 and a lower lip 14 defining a recess 15. Both lips 13, 14 are integrally connected to the central body 8. As shown in FIG. 1, the width of the upper lip 13 is substantially smaller than the width of the lower lip 14. The recess 15 has a shape which is complementary to the shape of the sideward tongue 7. More in particular, a top surface 16 of a back region 14a of the lower lip 14 has a (complementary) flat shape, configured to co-act with the flat bottom surface of the front region 7a of the sideward tongue 7, while a front region 14b of the lower lip 14 is provided with a upwardly protruding shoulder 17, configured to face the bearing surface 11 of the sideward tongue 7 of another tile, at a distance from said bearing surface 11. The space created this way, in coupled condition, is defined as upper glue chamber 21. A lower surface 18 of the upper lip 13 is inclined and corresponds to the locking surface 10 of the sideward tongue 7. A substantially vertical distal end surface 19 of the lower lip 14 is connected to a lower surface 20 of the tile 1, and in coupled condition with another tile, will face the end surface 12 of the central body 8, and will be positioned at a distance from said end surface 12 of the central body 8. The space created this way, in coupled condition, is defined as lower glue chamber 22, which is connected to the upper glue chamber 21 as visualized in more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIGS. 4-8 a floor covering system according to the invention is shown, and more in particular a floor covering realized by said floor covering system, wherein a plurality of tiles 1 are interconnected, and wherein the tiles 1 are glued down to the subfloor 6 by using solidified glue 23. As shown in FIG. 5, the glue has flown (and solidified) in the upper and lower glue chambers 21, 22. As shown in FIG. 6, the groove 5c of the third edge 1c and the groove 5d of the fourth edge 1d are facing each other and together form a (small) further glue chamber 24. To allow glue 23 to flow into this glue chamber 24 during installation, a glue inlet 25 is created at the bottom in between the tiles 1. This glue inlet 25 is actually formed by cut-away portions of the bottom parts of the third edge 1c and the fourth edge 1d. The top sections of the outer surfaces of the third edge 1c and the fourth edge 1d are typically positioned against each other, wherein (uncoupled, loose) direct contact is present between these top sections. Optionally, during installation a thin film of glue may flow in between these top sections. The aforementioned further glue chamber 24 formed in between the grooves 5c and 5d contributes to further stabilization of the floor covering once the glue has been solidified. As shown by arrow C in FIG. 4, two tiles 1 can be mechanically connected by angling down (turning down) a tile 1 be coupled while the male coupling part 3 of the tile 1 is inserted into the female coupling 4 of an already installed tile 1. During this angling down movement, wherein the coupling parts 3, 4 co-act with each other, the tile 1 to be installed will automatically be installed and aligned in a proper manner, while prevent that glue will flow in between the coupling parts 3, 4 up to the top surfaces of the tiles 1 (which would foul the tiles 1). During this angling down movement at least coupling parts 3, 4 will have to be deformed temporarily in order to be able to insert the sideward tongue 7 into the complementary recess 15. In the installed state, the coupling parts 3, 4 will normally return to their initial shape to the complementary shapes of both coupling parts 3, 4. This temporary deformation of one of more coupling parts 3, 4 will lead to a click-type or snap-type connection, whereas the male coupling part 3 will have to be clicked or snapped into the female coupling part 4. This interconnection will lead to locking of two tiles 1 in both horizontal direction and vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tiles 1 have a layered structure, wherein a substrate layer 26 (core layer) is normally the thickest layer and comprises PVC, plasticizer, and preferably at least one filler. The plasticizer soften the PVC which typically provides the tile 1 as such a flexible character. A backing layer 27, also referred to as balancing layer is affixed to a lower side of the substrate layer 26, and typically has the function to balance the tile 1 as such. On top of the substrate layer 26 successively a decorative printed layer 28, a wear layer 29, and a UV hardened lacquer layer 30 are applied. The thickness of this panel is preferably between 2.8 and 4.7 mm. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 the rectangular tiles 1 can be installed in a horizontal grid, but as shown in FIG. 8 it is also imaginable to install the tiles for example in an offset or staggered brickwork pattern.

[0033] The above-described inventive concepts are illustrated by several illustrative embodiments. It is conceivable that individual inventive concepts may be applied without, in so doing, also applying other details of the described example. It is not necessary to elaborate on examples of all conceivable combinations of the above-described inventive concepts, as a person skilled in the art will understand numerous inventive concepts can be (re)combined in order to arrive at a specific application.

[0034] It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the working examples shown and described herein, but that numerous variants are possible within the scope of the attached claims that will be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

[0035] The verb comprise and conjugations thereof used in this patent publication are understood to mean not only comprise, but are also understood to mean the phrases contain, substantially consist of, formed by and conjugations thereof.