LEAK-PROOF AND UNBREAKABLE PANEL COMPRISING A LOCKING ELEMENT, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A PANEL

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a panel comprising: a panel body extending in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction; a retaining groove extending in the transverse direction in an end short side of the panel body; and a locking element which is inserted in the retaining groove substantially immovably, wherein, for an extension bo of the retaining groove in the transverse direction relative to a nominal width B of the panel body between a first edge extending in the longitudinal direction and a second edge of the panel body extending in the longitudinal direction, the following applies: 0.50b.sub.0/B0.97, in particular 0.75b.sub.0/B0.95, preferably 0.85B.sub.0/B0.93 and particularly preferably b.sub.0/B=0.900.02. An unbreakable and leak-proof panel having good and material-friendly locking is made possible by the retaining groove which extends over only a large portion of the short side and by the locking element immovably received in the retaining groove.

Claims

1. A panel for covering a surface of a room, comprising a panel element extending in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction for transferring use loads introduced at an upper side of the panel element to a lower side of the panel element facing the surface of the room, wherein the upper surface is spaced apart from the lower side in a thickness direction; a retaining groove extending in an end face short side of the panel element in the transverse direction; and a locking element inserted into the retaining groove, in particular immovably, wherein, for an extension b.sub.0 of the retaining groove in the transverse direction with respect to a nominal width B of the panel element between a first edge of the panel element extending in the longitudinal direction and a second edge of the panel element extending in the longitudinal direction 0.50b.sub.0/B0.97, in particular 0.75b.sub.0/B0.95, preferably 0.85b.sub.0/B0.93 and particularly preferably b.sub.0/B=0.900.02.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein a first reinforcing area with an extension t.sub.1 in the transverse direction is formed between a first end of the retaining groove facing the first edge in the transverse direction, wherein a second reinforcing area with an extension t.sub.2 in the transverse direction is formed in the transverse direction between a second end of the retaining groove facing the second edge in the transverse direction, wherein for the first reinforcing area 0.005t.sub.1/B 0.090, in particular 0.015t.sub.1/B0.0050, preferably 0.020t.sub.1t.sub.1/B0.030 and particularly preferably t.sub.1/B=0.0250.002 and/or for the second reinforcing region 0.005t.sub.2/B0.090, in particular 0.015<t.sub.2/B<0.050, preferably 0.020t.sub.2/B0.030 and particularly preferably t.sub.2/B=0.0250.002 applies, with the proviso that t.sub.1+b.sub.0+t.sub.2=B.

3. The panel according to claim 2, wherein the panel element comprises at the first edge a bung groove extending into the panel element and at the second edge a bung projection projecting from the panel element, wherein t.sub.1<t.sub.2, in particular 0.75t.sub.1/t.sub.20.99, preferably 0.80t.sub.1/t.sub.20.95 and particularly preferably 0.85t.sub.1/t.sub.2 0.90.

4. The panel according to any claim 1, wherein for an extension bi of the locking element in the transverse direction with respect to the nominal width B of the panel element 0.40b.sub.1/B0.95, in particular 0.50b.sub.1/B0.90, preferably 0.60b.sub.1/B0.80 and particularly preferably b.sub.1/B=0.700.05.

5. The panel according to claim 1, wherein a frictional engagement of the locking element in the retaining groove is achieved exclusively by means of clamping forces point in the thickness direction.

6. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a latching web which can be elastically bent at least partially in the direction into the retaining groove.

7. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the retaining groove comprises a receiving space adjoining an end face of the short side for receiving a part of the locking element, in particular for temporary receiving an elastically flexible latching web of the locking element, and a fastening space adjoining the side of the receiving space facing away from the end face for fastening a fastening projection of the locking element in a frictional and/or form-fitting manner, wherein the extension of the fastening space in the thickness direction is smaller than the extension of the receiving space in the thickness direction.

8. The panel according to claim 7, wherein the locking element abuts at both surfaces of the receiving space facing in the thickness direction, in particular with a clamping force, wherein in particular the locking element comprises a receiving pocket extending into the receiving space for temporarily receiving an elastically bendable latching web of the locking element.

9. The panel according to any claim 1, wherein the panel element comprises at the short side forming the retaining groove a locking hook projecting in the longitudinal direction from the short side of the panel element for latching into a retaining groove of a further panel.

10. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the retaining groove comprises in a cross-sectional plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction at the ends of the retaining groove facing in the transverse direction a rounded feed-out area which can be produced by rotary machining.

11. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the retaining groove comprises in a cross-sectional plane spanned by the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction an in particular rectangular cross-sectional area which can be produced by milling.

12. A method of producing a panel according to claim 1, in which the retaining groove is formed by rotary machining by use of a chip-removing tool engaging into the panel element at the short side of the panel element and rotating about an axis of rotation extending in the thickness direction, wherein the cutting tool engages into the panel element at a distance from the first edge and the second edge, subsequently is linearly moved in the transverse direction relative to the panel element, and subsequently the cutting tool exits from the panel element spaced from the first edge and the second edge.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the cutting tool comprises cutting teeth comprising, with respect to the axis of rotation, a major cutting edge facing in a substantially radial direction and two minor cutting edges facing in substantially opposite axial directions, wherein, in addition to the main cutting edge, the two minor cutting edges engage in the panel element in a chip-removing and/or smoothing manner in order to produce the retaining groove.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the cutting tool comprises cutting teeth having radial extensions of different widths in the axial direction with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein in particular the cutting teeth have a radial profiling for simultaneously producing both a receiving space and a fastening space of the retaining groove.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0029] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0030] In the following, the disclosure will be explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings based on preferred exemplary embodiments, wherein the features shown below may each individually or in any combination represent an aspect of the disclosure. In the figures:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an end portion of a panel;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic cutaway side view of the panel of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic cutaway side view of the panel of FIG. 2 during production; and

[0034] FIG. 4 is a schematic cutaway side view of a detail of the panel of FIG. 1 with an inserted locking element.

[0035] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] Panel 10 shown in FIG. 1 can be used, for example as a floor laminate, for covering a surface of a room. The panel 10 can comprise at its respective long sides extending in the longitudinal direction 30 a bung groove 12 on the one hand and a bung projection 14 on the other hand. A nominal width B is provided between the long sides of the panel 10, wherein for the nominal width B between the edges of the panel 10 at the long sides the bung groove 12 and the bung projection 14 are disregarded and considered as non-existing. In particular, the panel 10 comprises at the short sides extending in the transverse direction 32, a locking hook 16 on the one hand, and a tongue body 18 which can cooperate with such a locking hook 16 on the other hand. For example, at the short side with the locking hook 16 a retaining groove 20 is formed, into which a locking element 22 can be inserted immovably. In this case, the retaining groove 20 does not extend over the entire nominal width B, but only over a partial section b.sub.0, so that between the retaining groove 20 and the long side with the bung groove 12 a first reinforcing area 24 with an extension ti in the transverse direction 32 and between the retaining groove 20 and the long side with the bung projection 12 a second reinforcement area 26 with an extension t.sub.2 in the transverse direction 32 remains. The retaining groove 20 may be produced by a groove cutter 40 engaging in the short side of a panel element 28 of the panel 10 and configured in the manner of a circular saw or circumferential cutter, so that rounded feed-out areas 31 with an extension b2 in the transverse direction 32 are produced at the ends of the retaining groove 20. The extension bi of the retaining groove 20 remaining between the feed-out areas 31 can essentially correspond to the extension of the locking element 22 in the transverse direction 32.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the retaining groove 20 may have different depths in the longitudinal direction 30 at different heights in a thickness direction 34 of the panel element 28. The retaining groove 20 thereby has a receiving space 36 adjoining the short side of the panel element 28 in the longitudinal direction 30 and a fastening space 38 projecting from the receiving space 36 in the longitudinal direction 30 into the interior of the panel element 28, which differ in their extension in the thickness direction 34. The extension of the receiving space the thickness direction 34 is greater than the extension of the fastening space 38 in thickness direction 34.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the stepped retaining groove 20 can be formed by use of a groove miller formed in the type of a circular saw or a circumferential cutter The groove cutter 40 comprises for this purpose a cutting tool 42, on the radially outer side of which cutting teeth 44 are provided. The cutting teeth 44 are profiled radially outwardly in a stepped manner so that main cutting edges 46 offset in the radial direction are obtained. The receiving space 36 with the shorter extension in the longitudinal direction 30 and the fastening space 38 with the greater extension in the longitudinal direction 30 can thus be produced in a common manufacturing step. In addition, the cutting teeth 44 have minor cutting edges 48 facing in the thickness direction 34, so that the entire retaining groove 20 with a defined surface can be produced. The retaining groove 20 can be spaced apart from an upper side 52 of the panel element 28 to such an extent in the thickness direction 34 that the cutting tool 42 of the groove cutter 40 can be guided past the locking hook 16. At the same time, the retaining groove 20 is spaced far enough from a lower side 50 of the panel element 28 in the thickness direction 34, so that a sufficient strength of the panel element 28 is also provided in the region of the retaining groove 20. Preferably, the retaining groove 20 is produced by use of the groove cutter 40 while the upper side 52 of the panel 10 faces downward and the lower side 50 of the panel 10 faces upward so that the locking hook 16 overlapping the cutting teeth 44 above can discharge separated chips downward.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, the locking element 22 may include a fastening projection 60 pressed into the fastening space 38 of the retaining groove 20. If necessary, the locking element 22 may also be pressed into a portion of the receiving space 38 of the retaining groove 20 facing the fastening space 38. The locking element 22 comprises a latching web having a latching lug 56, which can slide on the outside of the other panel during locking with another panel and thus can be swiveled elastically in the direction of the receiving space 36 of the retaining groove 20 and optionally can be swiveled wholly or partially into a receiving pocket kept free by the locking element 22. When the designated relative posture of the panel 10 to the other panel is assumed, the latching web 54 can elastically snap out of the receiving space 36 so that the latching lug 56 can engage in a corresponding latching groove 58 and result in latching.

[0041] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are inter-changeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.