Panel

Abstract

A panel including an upper side, an underside, a basic body, complementary locking elements, which are provided in pairs on mutually opposite panel edges, and at least one pair of locking elements having a receiving hook and an arresting hook. The receiving hook has a hook periphery and a receiving recess. The arresting hook has an arresting recess, an arresting shoulder, a transverse-joint surface and a vertically acting arresting contour. The receiving hook also has a transverse-joint surface and a form-fitting contour. The arresting hook also has a horizontal locking surface on its arresting shoulder. The receiving hook also has a horizontal locking surface in the receiving recess and contains a receiving opening.

Claims

1. A method of simultaneously locking a new quadrangular panel provided with two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges to a previous panel row already assembled from identical panels and to an identical panel already assembled in the same panel row with the proviso that a first longitudinal edge is connected to the previous panel row in positively locking relationship by pivoting the new panel into the plane of the assembled panels, wherein at the same time a first transverse edge of the new panel is brought by a scissor-like movement into positively locking engagement with a second transverse edge of the assembled panel in the same panel row, with the further proviso that the first transverse edge of the panels respectively has a first transverse joining surface and the second transverse edge of the panels respectively has a second transverse joining surface, wherein the first transverse joining surface is brought into contact at that end which is towards the first longitudinal edge with the second transverse joining surface of the assembled panel in the same panel row, wherein the positively locking connection of the longitudinal edge and the transverse edge of the new panel is produced by a wedge-shaped longitudinal join gap and a wedge-shaped transverse join gap being produced between the new panel and the previous panel row, a wedge tip of the wedge-shaped transverse join gap points in the direction of the previous panel row and a wedge tip of the wedge-shaped longitudinal join gap points in the direction of the free second transverse edge of the new panel, and the new panel is finally pivoted into the plane of the assembled panels, wherein the positively locking engagement of the transverse edges and longitudinal edges is completely brought together and the wedge-shaped join gaps are removed.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the wedge-shaped longitudinal join gap is produced by the new panel being temporarily brought out of its parallel orientation with the previous panel row and the wedge tip of the wedge-shaped longitudinal join gap being produced at the remote end of the first longitudinal edge of the new panel.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the wedge-shaped longitudinal join gap is produced by the new panel being temporarily brought out of its flat form by being curved out of its plane in the direction of its top side.

Description

(1) The invention is illustrated by way of example hereinafter in a drawing and described in detail by means of a number of embodiments. In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a first pair of edges (longitudinal edges) with pivotal profile portions,

(3) FIGS. 2a-2c show complementary locking means of a second pair of edges (transverse edges) and the stepwise joining movement thereof,

(4) FIGS. 3a-3c show a first alternative embodiment of complementary locking means of a second pair of edges (transverse edges) and the stepwise joining movement thereof,

(5) FIGS. 4a-4c show a second alternative embodiment of complementary locking means of a second pair of edges (transverse edges) and the stepwise joining movement thereof,

(6) FIGS. 5a-5c show a third alternative embodiment of complementary locking means of a second pair of edges (transverse edges) and the stepwise joining movement thereof, and

(7) FIGS. 6a-6c show diagrammatic views of a locking method for assembling panels according to the invention.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a first pair of edges of a panel 1 and 1 respectively according to the invention, namely a pair of longitudinal edges. The pair of longitudinal edges has complementary pivotal profile portions S. It is possible to use as such all positively locking profile portions which are known in the state of the art and which can be connected in positively locking relationship by inclinedly attaching a new panel to a previous row of panels and then pivoting a new panel 1 into the plane of the assembled panels.

(9) The complementary pivotal portions S in FIG. 1 include a groove profile portion 2 and a tongue profile portion 3. The groove profile portion 2 has an upper groove wall 2a which is shorter than the lower groove wall 2b. The lower groove wall is also provided with a recess 2c of undercut configuration, for the tongue profile portion 3. The recess 2c also has a horizontal locking surface 2d. The tongue profile portion 3 is provided with a tongue top side 3a and a tongue underside 3b which is arranged substantially parallel to the top side 4 of the new panel 1. The tongue underside has an undercut configuration 3c and a horizontal locking surface 3d cooperating with the horizontal locking surface 2d of the lower groove wall 2b. The inclined position of the new panel 1 is shown in FIG. 1 by the position illustrated in broken line of the tongue profile portion 3. The tongue underside is placed on the longer lower groove wall 2b. The new panel 1 is moved with the tip of the tongue leading into the groove profile portion 2 and the new panel 1 is then pivoted into the plane of the assembled panel or panels.

(10) FIGS. 2a to 2c each show a portion of a second pair of edges, namely transverse edges of a panel 1 and 1 respectively. The panels 1 and 1 are identical. Each individual panel, at mutually opposite transverse edges of a pair of edges, has complementary profile portions 5 and 6 respectively. In the case of the panel 1 therefore the edge (not shown) identically has the profile portion 5 of the panel 1 and in the case of the panel 1 the edge (not shown) identically has the profile portion 6 of the panel 1.

(11) Embodiments of quadrangular panels are also possible, whose first pair of edges (pair of longitudinal edges) is formed with complementary profile portions identical to the profile portions of the second pair of edges (pair of transverse edges). Further examples of pairs of transverse edges are described hereinafter.

(12) The series in FIGS. 2a to 2c shows in a number of steps the procedure in principle of the joining movement for the purposes of connecting and locking the panels 1 and 1.

(13) The complementary profile portions 5 and 6 of each panel 1 and 1 respectively form complementary locking means in the form of hook profiles H. The hook profile of the panel 1 forms a receiving hook 7 and the hook profile of the profile portion 1 forms an arresting hook 8 which fits into the receiving hook, wherein the two hook profiles are of such a configuration that an arresting action is effected, which counteracts a reversal of the joining movement. Thus after locking has been effected the panels 1 and 1 cannot be released from each other again perpendicularly to the plane of assembled panels.

(14) Each panel 1 and 1 includes a body 9 and 9 respectively, on which the above-mentioned complementary locking means are arranged. The top side 4 of the panels forms a working surface.

(15) Provided on the receiving hook 7 remote from the body is a hook edge 10 while closer to the body is a receiving recess 11. The receiving recess 11 is open to the top side 4.

(16) The arresting hook 8 is provided with an arresting recess 13 which is arranged closer to the body and which is open to the underside 12 and remote from the body has an arresting step 14. The arresting step fits into the receiving recess 11 of the receiving hook, in the perpendicular joining direction T. In addition the arresting hook 8 has a transverse joining surface 15 remote from the body and also remote from the body an arresting contour 16 which has a vertically locking action. Near the body the receiving hook 7 has a transverse joining surface 17 and also near the body a positively locking contour 18 which fits together in positively locking relationship with the arresting contour 16 of the arresting hook 8. Formed in that way is an upper latching means V1 with which locking can be implemented perpendicularly to the plane of the panel.

(17) The arresting hook 8 also has arranged near the body a horizontal locking surface 19 arranged on its arresting step 14. In matching relationship therewith the receiving hook 7, arranged remote from the body in the receiving recess 11, has a horizontal locking surface 20 cooperating with the horizontal locking surface 19 of the arresting hook 8.

(18) At its receiving recess 11 the receiving hook 7 is provided with a narrowed receiving opening 21. The arresting step 14 can be introduced into the receiving recess 11 substantially in a vertical joining direction T, that is to say in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the locked panels.

(19) Referring to FIGS. 2a to 2c the panel 1 is arranged with the receiving hook 7 on a fixed substrate (not shown). The arresting step 14 of the panel 1 is lowered perpendicularly to the plane of the panel (vertically). The arresting contour 16, that is remote from the body, of the arresting hook 8 has a female latching element 16a (recess). The female latching element 16a has a latching surface 16b directed towards the top side 4 of the panel 1 and which is set back behind the plane of the transverse joining surface 15 of the arresting hook 8. The positively locking contour 18, that is near the body, of the receiving hook 7 is of such a configuration that it has a male latching element 18a having a latching surface 18b which is directed towards the underside 12 of the panel 1 and which projects beyond the plane of the transverse joining surface 17 of the receiving hook 7 and which in the locked condition engages behind the female latching element 16a of the arresting hook 8. In addition the arresting step 14 and the receiving opening 21 are of such a configuration that the free end of the arresting step 14, during the beginning of the joining movement, firstly fits into the receiving opening 21 without any elastic deformation worth mentioning of the hook profiles. In that situation the horizontal locking surface 19 of the arresting hook 8, with a part of its surface, comes into contact with the horizontal locking surface 20 of the receiving hook 7.

(20) Provided on the receiving hook 7 is a flexural leg 22 which can best be seen from FIG. 2b. The flexural leg 22 is of such a configuration that the width of the receiving opening 21 can be enlarged by its elastic bendability so that the arresting step 14 can be inserted into the receiving recess 11 without any problem. In addition, because of the bendability of the flexural leg 22, the arresting contour 16 of the arresting hook 8 can be very easily introduced into the positively locking contour 18 of the receiving hook 7.

(21) The hook profiles are to be brought into engagement at the beginning of the joining movement without already being elastically deformed at the engagement location. It is only upon further progress with the joining movement that the undercut regions, namely the female latching element 16a of the arresting contour and the male element 18a of the positively locking contour, come into contact at the engagement location. That contact however causes elastic deformation which takes place substantially at another location, namely at the flexural leg 22 provided for that purpose. Admittedly the arresting contour 16 and the positively locking contour 18 are also pressed and deformed, but the harder and more brittle that the material of the body 9/9 is, the correspondingly less is the elastic deformation of the arresting contour 16 and the positively locking contour 18 and the correspondingly greater is the degree of elastic deformation of the flexural leg 22.

(22) The female latching element 16a of the arresting hook 8 can be deeper and the male latching element 18a of the receiving hook 7 can project further from the transverse joining surface 17 of the receiving hook 7, than in the case of the panel without a flexural leg 22. The increased degree of undercut configuration improves the resistance to assembled panels being moved away from each other perpendicularly to the panel plane. In spite of the increased resistance the arresting contour 16 and the positively locking contour 18 can be brought into engagement without any problem because the flexural leg 22 permits an enlargement of the receiving opening 21. The arresting contour 16 and the positively locking contour 18 can thus be moved past each other without severe inherent deformation until they are in positively locking engagement and deploy their locking action.

(23) FIG. 2b shows that an inclined surface is provided remote from the body at the arresting step 14, which forms an inclined sliding surface 14a. The inclined sliding surface contacts the male latching element 18a of the positively locking contour 18 of the receiving hook 7. During the scissor-like joining movement of the arresting hook 8 a horizontal movement is thereby superimposed, which moves the panels 1/1 away from each other so that a spacing is formed between the transverse joining surfaces 15/17. At the same time the horizontal locking surface 19 of the arresting hook 8 exerts a force which presses against the horizontal locking surface 20 of the receiving hook 7. The force acting on the horizontal locking surface 20 of the receiving hook is transmitted to the flexural leg 22 of the receiving hook, which is thereby elastically flexed.

(24) In addition FIG. 2b shows that at its hook edge 10 the receiving hook 7 has a male latching element 10a and the arresting recess 13 is provided with a female latching element 13a which cooperates with the male latching element 10a and which in the assembled condition of the panels also counteracts movement of assembled panels away from each other perpendicularly to the panel plane. That configuration forms a lower latching means V2 which supports the upper latching means V1. For that purpose the female latching element 13a has a latching surface 13b which is directed towards the top side 4 of the panel 1 while the male latching element 10a has a latching surface 10b which is directed towards the underside 12 of the panel 1 and cooperates with the female latching surface 13b.

(25) The arresting hook 8 is so designed that in the joining process the arresting recess 13 of the arresting hook 8 is enlarged and that facilitates introduction of the hook edge 10 with the male latching element 10a into the arresting recess provided with the female latching element 13a. For that purpose a flexural leg 23 is provided on the arresting hook. When a force acts from the outside on the horizontal locking surface 19 of the arresting hook 8, as in FIG. 2b, by virtue of the horizontal locking surface 20 of the receiving hook 7, the flexural leg 23 is bent with that force, and that results in enlargement of the arresting recess 13 and facilitates assembly.

(26) In the further joining movement the widest location of the arresting step 14 passes the enlarged receiving opening 21 of the receiving recess 11. The bending of the flexural leg 22 then decreases and the receiving opening 21 narrows again. The transverse joining surfaces 15/17 of the panels, which surfaces are at the spacing k, are pressed towards each other by the flexural stress of the flexural leg 22. At the same time the bending of the flexural leg 23 decreases and the hook edge 10 also passes in positively locking relationship into the arresting recess 13 and the panels are also pressed towards each other by the flexural stress of the flexural leg 23. The panels can be pressed towards each other in such a way that a closed transverse join is afforded.

(27) In FIG. 2c the arresting contour 16 and the positively locking contour 18 have reached a position in which they fit into each other in positively locking relationship. The hook profiles H can be so designed that a remaining flexural stress of the flexural legs 22 and 23 is maintained and an elastic force (spring force) is exerted by way of the horizontal locking surface 20 of the receiving hook 7, which elastic force permanently biases the transverse joining surface 15 of the arresting hook 8 in the direction of the transverse joining surface 17 of the receiving hook 7. In that way a closed transverse join can be durably produced. In FIG. 2c the horizontal locking surface 19, 20 of the two hook profiles H bear snugly against each other and exert no permanent biasing.

(28) The upper latching means V1 and the lower latching means V2 are so matched to each other that firstly the upper latching means passes into its positively locking position and then the lower latching means passes into its positively locking position. For that purpose the flexural properties (degrees of flexural stiffness) of the receiving hook 7 and the arresting hook 8 can be suitably matched to each other.

(29) In particular implementation of the flexural stiffness of the receiving hook 7 requires particular care and thoroughness. If the receiving hook for example is bent into a soft substrate which deadens the sound of footsteps and which affords scarcely any backing in relation to the pressure force transmitted from the top side 4 of the panel, the elastic bending of the flexural leg 22 must generate an adequate return force to ensure the positively locking connection of the lower latching means V2.

(30) FIGS. 3a-3c show a first alternative to the embodiment of FIGS. 2a-2c. The same references are used for identical technical features. The difference lies in a modified configuration of the upper latching means V1. More specifically the arresting contour 16 of the arresting hook is provided with a male latching element 16c. It has a latching surface 16d which is now directed towards the top side 4 of the panel 1. Provided on the positively locking contour of the receiving hook 7 is a female element 18c which is matched thereto, having a latching surface 18d, now directed towards the underside 12 of the panel 1. At the beginning of the joining movement the transverse joining surface 15 of the arresting hook is at a larger spacing from the transverse joining surface 17 than in the embodiment of FIGS. 2a-2c. Because now the tip of the male latching element 16c bears against the transverse joining surface 17 the arresting step 14 is overall at a greater spacing from that transverse joining surface 17. So that the arresting step 14 nonetheless fits into the receiving recess 11 in such a way that the horizontal locking surfaces 19 and 20 can be brought partially into contact the horizontal locking surface 20 is inclined more greatly than in the embodiment of FIGS. 2a-2c. The inclinations of the horizontal locking surface 19/20 are matched to each other.

(31) FIGS. 4a-4c show an embodiment in which the upper latching means V1 is identical to that in FIGS. 3a-3c. The upper latching means V1 involves the same function as described in the previous embodiment so that attention is directed to the description there. Provided in the region of the lower latching means V2 is a modified configuration. More specifically the hook edge 10 of the receiving hook 7 is provided with a female latching element 10c having a latching surface 10d. In this case that latching surface 10d is directed towards the underside 12 of the panel 1. Matching same the arresting recess 13 of the arresting hook 8 has a male latching element 13c. It is provided with a latching surface 13d directed towards the top side 4 of the panel 1.

(32) FIGS. 5a-5c show an embodiment whose upper latching means V1 has an arresting contour corresponding to FIGS. 2a-2c, but in this case the horizontal locking surface 19 involves a greater angle of inclination. The lower latching means V2 is identical to that in FIGS. 4a-4c. To be able to easily connect together that configuration of the lower latching means V2, the greater angle of inclination of the horizontal locking surface 19 is desirable. The angle of inclination of the horizontal locking surface 20 is adapted to the angle of inclination of the horizontal locking surface 19.

(33) Fitting a new panel 24 involves performing a method which is provided for locking a new quadrangular panel having two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges to a previous panel row P2 which has already been assembled from identical panels and simultaneously for locking to an identical panel 25, which has already been fitted, in the same panel row P3.

(34) FIG. 6a shows the production of an assembled surface consisting of panels according to the invention. The rows of panels P1-P3 are shown portion-wise. The new quadrangular panel 24 is only diagrammatically illustrated. The panels used involve an embodiment having a pair of longitudinal edges 24a/24b provided with complementary positively locking pivotal profile portions S and a pair of transverse edges 24c/24d having complementary hook profiles H. The pivotal profiles S serve to connect panels of different rows together. In this embodiment the hook profiles H serve to connect panels of the same row P3 together. The hook profiles H of the pair of transverse edges can be of the configuration as in one of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2a to 5c.

(35) FIG. 6a shows how a new panel 24 is fitted in the foremost row P3, which panel 24 is to be locked both to the previous row of panels P2 and also to a transverse edge 25d of an adjacent panel 25 in the same row P3. The new panel 24 is fitted to the front row P2 of panels inclinedly in relation to the plane of the assembled panels and with one of its pivotal profile portions S. Then it is locked to the previous row of panels P2 by pivotal movement into the plane of the assembled panels. At the same time in that case the hook profile provided at the transverse edge 24c (arresting hook 8) of the new panel 24 is also locked to the hook profile provided at the transverse edge 25d (receiving hook 7) of the panel 25 of the same row P3. While the new panel 24 is being pivoted into the plane of the assembled panels the arresting hook 8 is simultaneously brought into engagement with the receiving hook 7 in a scissor-like joining movement.

(36) In that case the positively locking connection of the longitudinal edge 24a and the transverse edge 24c of the new panel 24 is produced by a longitudinal join gap L being formed between the new panel 24 and the previous row of panels P2 and a transverse join gap Q being formed between the transverse edge 25d of the panel 25 and the transverse edge 24c of the new panel 24. The wedge tip of the transverse join gap Q points in the direction of the previous row of panels P2 and the wedge tip of the longitudinal join gap L points in the direction of the free second transverse edge 24d of the new panel 24. When finally the new panel 24 is pivoted into the plane of the assembled panels the positively locking engagement of the transverse edges 24c/25d and the longitudinal edge 24a with the previous row of panels P2 is completely produced in the assembled condition and the wedge-shaped join gaps Q and L are eliminated.

(37) The longitudinal join gap L is produced by the new panel 24 being temporarily moved out of its parallel orientation with respect to the previous row of panels P2 and by the wedge tip of the longitudinal join gap L being produced at the remote end of the first longitudinal edge 24a of the new panel 24.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(38) 1 panel 1 panel 2 groove profile 2a upper groove wall 2b lower groove wall 2c recess 2d horizontal locking surface 3 tongue profile 3a tongue top side 3b tongue underside 3c undercut configuration 3d horizontal locking surface 4 top side 4 top side 5 profile 6 profile 7 receiving hook 8 arresting hook 9 body 9 body 10 hook edge 10a male latching element 10b latching surface 10c female latching element 11 receiving recess 12 underside 12 underside 13 arresting recess 13a female latching element 13b latching surface 14 arresting step 14a inclined sliding surface 15 transverse joining surface (arresting hook) 16 arresting contour 16a female latching element 16b latching surface 16c male latching element 16d latching surface 17 transverse joining surface (receiving hook) 18 positively locking contour 18a male latching element 18b latching surface 18c female latching element 18d latching surface 19 horizontal locking surface (arresting hook) 20 horizontal locking surface (receiving hook) 21 receiving opening 22 flexural leg (receiving hook) 23 flexural leg (arresting hook) 24 new panel 24a longitudinal edge 24b longitudinal edge 24c transverse edge 24d transverse edge 25 panel 25d transverse edge H hook profile L longitudinal join gap Q transverse join gap S pivotal profile portion T joining direction V1 upper latching means V2 lower latching means