Decorative Panel and Decorative Covering

Abstract

A decorative PCM floor panel, in particular a floor panel, including a core provided with an upper side and a lower side. A decorative PCM floor covering, including a plurality of, preferably interconnected, floor panels according to the invention.

Claims

1. A decorative panel, in particular a floor panel, wall panel, or ceiling panel, comprising: a core provided with an upper side and a lower side, a decorative top structure affixed, either directly or indirectly, on said upper side of the core, a first coupling profile situated at a first panel edge, and a second coupling profile situated at a second panel edge, wherein the first coupling profile is configured to co-act with a second coupling profile of an adjacent panel, preferably such that the panels are locked with respect to each other both in horizontal and vertical direction, wherein the core comprises at least one base material and encapsulated phase-change material (PCM) embedded in said base material.

2. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises a plurality of PCM capsules dispersed within said base material.

3. The decorative panel according to claim 2, wherein the core comprises a plurality of PCM capsules substantially uniformly dispersed within at least an upper zone of said base material, and preferably throughout said base material.

4. The decorative a panel according to claim 2, wherein the mean diameter of the PCM capsules is situated in between 5 and 75 micron, preferably in between 10 and 50 micron.

5. The decorative panel according to claim 2, wherein at a least a fraction of the PCM capsules is composed of a, preferably substantially spherical, shell filled with PCM.

6. The decorative panel according to claim 5, wherein the shell is at least partially made of a material chosen from the group consisting of: a metal, a polymer, preferably a copolymer, and an inorganic material.

7. The decorative panel according to claim 5, wherein the shell is at least partially made of a material chosen from the group consisting of: styrene/methyl methacrylate (St/MMA) copolymer, polystyrene (PS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyurea, melamine-formaldehyde (MF resin), urea-formaldehyde, gelatine-gum Arabic, gum Arabic-modified starch, chitosan, silk fibroin, soybean protein, 1-dodecanol, a biodegradable polymer, a biobased substance, and combinations thereof.

8. The decorative panel according to claim 5, wherein the shell is at least partially made of an inorganic material chosen from the group consisting of: silica and titanium oxide.

9. The decorative panel according to claim 5, wherein the PCM/shell weight ratio is between 80/20 and 50/50.

10. The decorative panel according to claim 5, wherein the shell is provided with a coating to improve the adhesion of the shell to the surrounding base material.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the PCM is at least partially composed of a biobased organic material derived either from plants or from animals, wherein the biobased PCM is preferably at least partially composed of a non-food PCM, such as non-edible plant oils and/or waste cooking oil and/or genetically modified oil.

14. (canceled)

15. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the PCM is at least partially composed of a paraffin material, preferably chosen from the group consisting of: n-hexadecane, n-octadecane, n-nonadecane, and combinations thereof.

16. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the PCM is at least partially composed of a salt hydrate, preferably chosen from the group consisting of: LiClO.sub.3.Math.3H.sub.2O, KF.Math.4H.sub.2O, Mn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.Math.6H.sub.2O, CaCl.sub.2).Math.6H.sub.2O, LiNO.sub.3.Math.3H.sub.2O, Na.sub.2SO.sub.4.Math.10H.sub.2O, Na.sub.2CO.sub.3.Math.10H.sub.2O, CaBr.sub.2.Math.4H.sub.2O, LiBr.sub.2.Math.2H.sub.2O, Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4.Math.12H.sub.2O, and Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.Math.6H.sub.2O.

17. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the quantity of PCM dispersed in the core is situated between 10 and 50% by weight of the core.

18. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the decorative top structure comprises at least one polymeric wear layer in which further PCM capsules are encapsulated.

19. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises at least two polymer sublayers, preferably composed of the same base material, laminated together, wherein a PCM layer is embedded in between said polymer layers.

20-25. (canceled)

26. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises a laminate of a plurality of core layers, wherein at least one core layer comprises at least one base material and encapsulated phase-change material (PCM) embedded in said base material.

27-28. (canceled)

29. The decorative panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a backing layer adhered to the lower side of the core, wherein the backing layer comprises at least one base material and encapsulated phase-change material (PCM) embedded in said base material.

30. The decorative covering, comprising a plurality of, preferably interconnected, decorative panels according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] The invention will be further explained with reference to the appended figures, wherein:

[0056] FIG. 1 shows in perspective a panel according to the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a transversal cross-section of a panel according to the invention;

[0058] FIGS. 3 and 4 show in transversal cross-section two embodiments of coupling profiles of panels that are interconnected according to the invention;

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a panel according to the invention;

[0060] FIG. 6 shows in longitudinal cross-section one embodiment of coupling profiles of panels that are interconnected according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0061] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a decorative panel 1 which upper side 2 is provided with a decorative top structure 12. The panel is of a rectangular shape having a length extending longitudinally along line B-B, and a width extending transversally along line A-A.

[0062] At first side edges 9, a first coupling profile 7 is provided. At second side edge 9 a second coupling profile 8 is provided. At third and fourth side edges 3 resp. 4, a third coupling profile 5, resp. a fourth coupling profile 6 is provided.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a transversal cross-section of a panel 1 shown in FIG. 1, along line A-A. The panel 1 has a core 10 comprising at least one base material 13 and encapsulated phase-change material (PCM) 11 embedded in said base material 13. The PCM capsules 11 are dispersed in a substantially uniform way throughout the core 10 in this embodiment. Onto the upper side of the core 10 a decorative top structure 12 is affixed, preferably by means of a thin waterproof adhesive layer. Onto the lower side of core 10, a backing layer is adhered. The side edges 3 resp. 4, are provided with a third coupling profile 5, resp. a fourth coupling profile 6.

[0064] In the shown embodiment, the PCM capsules 11 are composed of a substantially spherical shell 11a and a capsule core 11b. The shell 11 a is made of a solid material which remains solid while the PCM material inside the core 11b melts or solidifies. The PCM capsules 11 are embedded within the base material 13 and in this embodiment the capsules 11 are of different sizes. This is optional and the capsules 11 may also have the same size. The PCM in the capsule core 11b will be chosen depending on the application of the panel. For example, in case the decorative panel is used as outdoor panel in colder or moderate climates, a PCM with a lower melting point (e.g. 0 to 10 degrees Celsius) is typically preferred, while in case the decorative panel is used as outdoor panel in hot (desert) climates, a PCM with a lower melting point (e.g. 18 to 30 degrees Celsius) is typically preferred. It is possible that all capsules 11 comprise the same PCM in the capsule core 11b. It is also possible that different PCM materials are used, such that the core of different capsules 11 have different phase change temperatures. This way (latent) heat is released or stored at different temperature (ranges), which enables a panel to be suitable for various seasons.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the third and fourth coupling profiles 5 and 6, as depicted in FIG. 2, in detail when connecting two panels 1 and 1 with each other.

[0066] The third coupling profile 5 of panel 1, comprises a sideward tongue 51 extending in a direction substantially parallel to the upper side of the panel, one second downward flank 53 lying at a distance from the sideward tongue 51, and a second downward groove 54 formed between the sideward tongue 51 and the second downward flank 53.

[0067] The fourth coupling profile 6 of panel 1, comprises a third groove 61 configured for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue 51 of the third coupling profile 5 of a second identical panel 1, said third groove 61 being defined by an upper lip 62 and a lower lip 63, wherein said lower lip is provided with an upward locking element 64.

[0068] In the situation shown in FIG. 3, the third coupling profile and the fourth coupling profile 6 are configured such that the respective panels 1 and 1, can be coupled to each other by means of a turning movement as indicated by arrow T, which involves the sideward tongue of panel 1 being inserted into the third groove of the other identical panel 1, wherein the upward locking element 64 of the panel 1, is inserted into the second downward groove 54 of the panel 1.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows analogously to FIG. 3, a different design of coupling profiles 5 and 6, having rounded features at tongue 51 and at third groove 61. The turning movement for coupling may also be referred to as a hinging movement in this alternative embodiment to FIG. 3. All other functional features and their numerals are the same as already defined for FIG. 3.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a panel 1 shown in FIG. 1, along line B-B. The panel 1 has a core 10 that is made of a base material and encapsulated phase-change material (PCM) embedded in said base material.

[0071] Onto the upper side of the core 10 a decorative top structure 12 is adhered.

[0072] At side edges 9 resp. 10, a first coupling profile 7 resp. a second coupling profile 8 is provided.

[0073] The first coupling profile 7 comprises an upward tongue 71, an upward flank 72 lying at a distance from the upward tongue 71, an upward groove 73 formed in between the upward tongue 71 and the upward flank 72 wherein the upward groove 73 is adapted to receive at least a part of a downward tongue 81 of a second coupling profile 8 of another, identical panel, and at least one first locking element 75, preferably provided at a distant side of the upward tongue 71 facing away from the upward flank 72.

[0074] The second coupling profile 8 comprises a first downward tongue 81, a first downward flank 82 lying at a distance from the downward tongue 81, a first downward groove 83 formed in between the downward tongue 81 and the downward flank 82, wherein the downward groove 83 is adapted to receive at least a part of an upward tongue 71 of a first coupling profile 7 of another, identical panel, and a second locking element 85 adapted for co-action with a first locking element 75 of the other, identical panel, which is provided at the downward flank 82.

[0075] FIG. 6 shows how the first and second coupling profiles 7 and 8 of a panel can interact, when connecting the respective profiles 7 and 8 of a panel 1 and a panel 1, depicted at the far left. The panel 1 is hereby moved vertically downwards wherein the profiles 7 and 8 engage with each other by receiving upward tongue 71 in downward groove 83 and receiving downward tongue 81 in upward groove 73.

[0076] 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. Various embodiments of the panel as described above and in the appended claims may be combined with this alternative panel configuration.

[0077] By horizontal is meant a direction which extends parallel to a plane defined by the floor panel, and which may intersect the core. By vertical is meant a direction which is perpendicular to said plane defined by the floor panel.

[0078] The ordinal numbers used in this document, like first, second, and third are used only for identification purposes. Hence, the use of the expressions third locking element and second locking element does therefore not necessarily require the co-presence of a first locking element.

[0079] By complementary coupling profiles is meant that these coupling profiles can cooperate with each other. However, to this end, the complementary coupling profiles do not necessarily have to have complementary forms. The floor panel according to the invention may also applied as wall covering element, ceiling covering element, or alternative covering element. In case in this document reference is made to a floor tile or floor panel, these expressions may be replaced by expressions like tile, wall tile, ceiling tile, covering tile.

[0080] 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.

[0081] 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.