DEVICE FOR LOCKING TWO FLOOR PANELS

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a device for locking two interconnected floor panels that are identically embodied and includes a core, an upper side and a lower side, and a first lateral edge (I) and a second lateral edge (II) opposite the first lateral edge. On the upper side, the first lateral edge (I) of the first floor panel abuts against the second lateral edge (II) of the second floor panel. A horizontal groove extending into the core is embodied in the second lateral edge (II), with an upper wall, an inner wall and a lower wall, the lower wall being formed from a lower lip projecting on the first lateral edge (I), which, on the outer end thereof, has a projection that is oriented towards the upper side and has a first locking edge, and at least one locking element is inserted in the region of the connection point of the two floor panels. An outwardly projecting spring is provided on the second lateral edge (II), and includes a step forming a spring tip on the outer end thereof, and on the end thereof facing the core, a second locking edge extending in the vertical direction (V), the locking edge being the outer wall of a vertical groove open towards the lower side, in which the projection engages. The locking takes place, in the vertical direction, by means of the spring tip engaging in the horizontal groove, and in the horizontal direction, by means of the locking element supported on the first locking edge of the projection and on the second locking edge of the spring. The disclosure is characterised in that the locking element is compressible in the vertical direction (V) and not compressible in the horizontal direction.

Claims

1. A device for locking two floor panels which are connected to each other and which are constructed identically and which comprise a core, an upper side and a lower side, a first side edge an opposing second side edge, and at the upper side, the first side edge of the first floor panel abuts the second side edge of the second floor panel, in the second side edge there is formed a horizontal groove which extends into the core and which has an upper wall, an inner wall and a lower wall, wherein the lower wall is formed by a lower lip which protrudes at the first side edge and which has at an outer end thereof a projection which faces in a direction of the upper side and which has a first locking edge, and in a region of the connection location of the two floor panels at least one locking element is inserted, and wherein at the second side edge there is provided a tongue which protrudes outward and which has at an outer end thereof a graduation which forms a tongue tip and at an end thereof facing the core a second locking edge which extends in a vertical direction, wherein the locking edge is an outer wall of a vertical groove which is open in a direction toward the lower side and in which the projection engages and the locking is carried out in a vertical direction by the tongue tip which engages in the horizontal groove and in a horizontal direction by the locking element which is supported, on the first locking edge of the projection and on the second locking edge of the tongue, wherein the locking element is compressible in the vertical direction and incompressible in the horizontal direction.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second locking edges extend parallel with each other.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking edges extend at an angle of less than 90 with respect to the upper side.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a groove which is adjacent to the projection and which is provided in the lower lip for at least partially receiving the at least one locking element.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking element is inserted between two floor panels which are connected to each other.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking element is securely connected to the lower lip.

7. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking element is placed in the groove which is provided in the lower lip.

8. The device as claimed claim 1, further comprising a plurality of locking elements provided with spacing from each other.

9. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking element is securely connected to the lower lip by adhesively bonded.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Embodiments of the invention are intended to be explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a floor panel;

[0026] FIG. 2a is a partial cross-section of two floor panels at the connection location at the beginning of the joining movement according to a first embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 2b shows the representation according to FIG. 2a in the course of the continuing joining movement;

[0028] FIG. 2c shows the representation according to FIG. 2b at the end of the joining movement;

[0029] FIG. 2d shows the representation according to FIG. 2c with the locking element inserted;

[0030] FIG. 3a is a partial cross-section of two floor panels at the connection location at the beginning of the joining movement according to a second embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 3b shows the representation according to FIG. 3a in the course of the continuing joining movement;

[0032] FIG. 3c shows the representation according to FIG. 3b at the end of the joining movement;

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the time sequence of the connection and locking of the floor panels;

[0034] FIG. 5a is a side view of a first locking element;

[0035] FIG. 5b is a perspective view of the locking element according to FIG. 5a in the decompressed state;

[0036] FIG. 5c shows the locking element according to FIG. 5b in the compressed state;

[0037] FIG. 6a is a side view of a second locking element;

[0038] FIG. 6b is a perspective view of a second locking element in the decompressed state;

[0039] FIG. 6c shows the locking element according to FIG. 6b in the compressed state;

[0040] FIG. 7a is a side view of a third locking element;

[0041] FIG. 7b is a perspective view of a third locking element in the decompressed state;

[0042] FIG. 7c shows the locking element according to FIG. 7b in the compressed state;

[0043] FIG. 8a is a side view of a fourth locking element;

[0044] FIG. 8b is a perspective view of a fourth locking element in the decompressed state;

[0045] FIG. 8c shows the locking element according to FIG. 8b in the compressed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a floor panel 1 or 2 in cross-section with the mutually opposing side edges I, II which are profiled in such a manner that two identically constructed floor panels 1, 2 are connected to each other and can be locked to each other in a horizontal direction H and in a vertical direction V. The profiling described below is preferably formed at the transverse side of rectangular floor panels 1, 2. It is particularly highly suitable for square floor panels 1, 2.

[0047] The floor panels 1, 2 are connected to each other by a first row of panels 01, 02 initially being connected to each other at the side edges I, II and then in a second row of panels the first panel 1 initially being angled with the longitudinal side thereof into the row of panels 01, 02 which has already been laid then in a substantially vertical joining movement pivoted in a downward direction onto the lower floor. The second panel 2 is then angled with the longitudinal side thereof into the row of panels 01, 02 which has already been laid, then also pivoted downward in a substantially vertical joining movement onto the lower floor and then placed with the second side edge II against the first side edge I of the first panel 1 which has already been laid in the second row. However, this will be described in greater detail below.

[0048] The floor panel 1, 2 comprises a core 3 of wood-based material or a wood-based material/plastics material mixture and can be coated at the upper side 10, 20 thereof and/or lower side 11, 21 thereof with a decorative layer. The floor panels 1, 2 are constructed identically. The floor panel 1 will be referred to below when the first side edge I is involved and the floor panel 2 will be referred to below when the second side edge II is involved.

[0049] At the first side edge I thereof, the panel 1 is provided with a horizontal groove 4 which is provided in a horizontal direction H and which forms an upper wall 4.1, an inner wall 4.2 and a lower wall 4.3.

[0050] At the opposing second side edge II thereof, the panel 2 is provided with a tongue 2.1, which as a result of a graduation 2.2 which is produced when the side edge II is milled from the upper side 20 to the lower side 21 forms a tongue tip 2.3. As a result of a stepped vertical groove 6 which is open in the direction toward the lower side 21, there is formed at the side of the tongue 2.1 opposite the tongue tip 2.3 a second locking edge 2.5 which can be connected in a state merging into a chamfer 2.7 to the base 2.6 of the tongue 2.1.

[0051] The lower wall 4.3 is formed by the upper side 1.4 of a lower lip 1.1 which protrudes over the side edge I and which is provided at the outer end thereof with a projection 1.2 which faces toward the upper side 10 and on which a first locking edge 1.5 which extends parallel with the inner wall 4.2 of the horizontal groove 4 is formed. The spacing between the first locking edge 1.5 and the inner wall 4.2 is greater than the length of the base 2.6 of the tongue 2.1 from the tongue tip 2.3 to the second locking edge 2.5.

[0052] FIGS. 2a to 2d show the joining movement for connecting the second panel 2 to a panel 1 which has already been laid, which movement is substantially carried out by means of a vertical downward pivoting onto the lower floor (cf. FIG. 4). The second panel 2 is initially angled into a row of panels 01, 02 which has already been laid and then lowered with the tongue 2.1 thereof onto the lower lip 1.1 of the first panel 1 until the tongue 2.1 rests with the base 2.6 thereof on the upper side of the lower lip 1.1 (FIG. 2b). The second panel 2 is then displaced in a horizontal direction H so that the tongue 2.1 is inserted into the horizontal groove 4 until the abutment faces of the side edges I, II are in abutment with each other. Between the tongue tip 2.3 of the tongue 2.1 and the inner wall 4.2 of the horizontal groove 4 there is formed an intermediate space which can act as a dust pocket. Between the first locking edge 1.5 and the second locking edge 2.5 there is produced an intermediate space which forms between the panels 1,2 a locking groove 7 into which the locking element 5 can be inserted (cf. FIG. 4c).

[0053] In another embodiment of the invention, there is additionally formed in the lower lip 1.1 a groove 1.3 which is adjacent to the projection 1.2 and in which the locking element 5 is placed. The locking element 5 is compressible in a vertical direction V. Toward the end of the lowering movement, the base 2.6 of the tongue 2.1 compresses the locking element 5. During the following horizontal connection movement, when the tongue 2.1 has been introduced into the horizontal groove 4 and the connection faces of the side edges I, II are in abutment with each other, the locking element 5 can spring back into the intermediate space which is formed between the first locking edge 1.5 and the lateral locking edge 2.5 and which acts as a locking groove 7.

[0054] The chamfer 2.7, with which the locking edge 2.5 merges into the base 2.6 of the tongue 2.1, ensures that the locking element 5 after it has been compressed can also rebound into the locking groove 7. If the chamfer 2.7 is not intended to be fitted, it would be advantageous to allow the locking edge 2.7 to extend in a slightly oblique manner toward the upper side 20. The same effect can also be achieved when the resilient locking element 5 is configured in a slightly oblique manner at the side thereof facing the locking edge 2.5, as would be the case, for example, with the locking elements 5 which are round in cross-section, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8or has a chamfer 5.4 (FIGS. 5a, 6a). In any case, however, it should certainly be assumed that the locking element 5 springs back into the locking groove 7. Even if this should be only partially the case, a locking occurs in the horizontal direction H.

[0055] The locking element 5 may be used as a separate component, which is placed in the groove 1.3 at the time of laying, but it can also be placed in the groove 1.3 in the factory and secured at that location, for example, adhesively bonded.

[0056] With reference to FIGS. 4a to 4c, which each correspond to the representations of the connection/locking of the two panels 1, 2 according to FIG. 2a to 2c or 3a to 3c, it can be seen how the laying of the floor panels is carried out. Firstly, a first row is configured with panels 01, 02, etc. There is then placed on this first row a first floor panel 1 by being laid at an angle on the corresponding longitudinal side and then pivoted down onto the lower floor. The next floor panel 2 is also first placed with the longitudinal side against the panel 01 which has already been laid in the first row and then pivoted down in the direction of the lower lip 1.1 of the first panel 1. When the tongue 2.1 rests on the lower lip 1.1, the floor panel 2 is displaced horizontally in the direction of the floor panel 1 so that the tongue 2.1 reaches the horizontal groove 4, whereby the locking of the panels 1, 2 with respect to each other is carried out in a vertical direction V. After the locking element 5 has been placed in the locking groove (FIG. 4d) or when the compressed locking element 5 has been decompressed again and rebounds in the direction of the upper side of the panel 2, the locking of the panels 1, 2 with respect to each other in the horizontal direction H is produced.

[0057] FIGS. 5a to 5c show a first embodiment of a decompressible resilient element 5 which has a rectangular shape in cross-section. A plurality of plates 5.2 which protrude in a vertical direction from a base plate 5.1 are resiliently connected to the base plate 5.1. With respect to the base plate 5.1, the plates 5.2 extend in a slightly oblique manner. They can be angled in the direction of the base plate 5.1 and then pivot back into their upright position if no more force is applied to them in a vertical direction V (arrow P.sub.3). There may be provided a covering plate (not shown) which is arranged parallel with the base plate 5.1 and against the lower side of which the plates 5.2 abut. It can be seen that, as a result of an application of force in the direction of the arrow P.sub.3, there is enabled a redirection of the plates 5.2 which then bend in the direction of the arrow P.sub.2 which corresponds to the longitudinal direction L of the side edge I, II (cf. FIG. 2b), whereby a compression of the locking element 5 is carried out, but a compression in a horizontal direction H of the arrow P.sub.1 which corresponds to the horizontal direction H illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is excluded. This also applies to the alternative locking elements described below.

[0058] FIGS. 6a to 6c show another embodiment of a locking element 5 which comprises a strip which is angled several times and which can be pressed flat by means of a vertical application of force and which after release of the force springs back into its original shape and is then decompressed again. The strip comprises a plurality of rectangular elements 5.3 which are arranged one behind the other and of which in each case two are connected to each other at an edge and in the decompressed position are arranged at an angle with respect to each other.

[0059] FIGS. 7a to 7c show a locking element 5 which is constructed in a tubular manner and is undulating and in a similar manner to the locking element 5 which is illustrated in FIG. 6 can be compressed and decompressed again by means of corresponding rebounding.

[0060] FIGS. 8a to 8c show a particularly simple form of a locking element 5 which is constructed in a tubular or cylindrical manner. Upon application of force, the locking element 5 is compressed and assumes the form 1 shown in FIG. 8b. After release of the force, it springs back again and assumes the tubular or cylindrical cross-section again.