Flooring material

Abstract

A surface element designed to be assembled together with similar surface elements to form a unit of a plurality of joined surface elements; said surface elements comprising a core, a decorative upper surface and edges for joining, including a first and a second edges allowing joining by rotational movement, and a third and a fourth edge allowing joining by vertical movement, wherein two adjacent edges of the surface element at the same time, and concurrently with said rotational movement, is joined with a surface element adjacent to the first edge and a surface element adjacent to the third or fourth edge.

Claims

1. A surface element designed to be assembled together with similar surface elements to form a plurality of joined surface elements: the surface element comprising a core, a decorative upper surface, an opposed lower surface and at least four edges disposed between the upper and lower surfaces; the four edges comprising a first edge and a second edge defining a first pair of opposite sides, and a third edge and a fourth edge defining a second pair of opposite sides; wherein the first edge of the surface element comprises a first male joining member and a second edge comprises a first female joining member; the first male joining member comprising a tongue and the first female joining member comprising a groove; the first male joining member and the first female joining member being configured such that two surface elements can be coupled and vertically as well as horizontally locked at respective edges by rotational movement, the third edge as a result of the rotational movement being subjected to a lowering motion; wherein the third edge of the surface element comprises a second male joining member and the fourth edge comprises a second female joining member, said second female joining member configured as a seat which is open in an upward direction, said second male joining member configured as a downward directed part that by a downward motion can be inserted in said seat of an adjacent said second female joining member; wherein the third and fourth edges are configured such that the downward directed part at the third edge is inserted in the seat of the fourth edge of the adjacent second female joining member simultaneously with said lowering motion of the respective third edge, resulting in vertical as well as horizontal locking; the second male joining member comprising a locking surface limiting the vertical movement between said third edge and said fourth edge of the adjacent second female joining member when connected thereto; said locking surface having a distal end which is proximally located from the distal end of the upper surface of said surface element at said third edge.

2. The surface element of claim 1, wherein said second female joining member comprises an undercut cooperating with said locking surface of said second male joining member.

3. The surface element of claim 1, wherein said second male joining member is formed as an upper cheek protruding at said third edge and said second female joining member is formed as a lower cheek protruding at said fourth edge; said second male joining member comprising cheek surfaces at a lower side of said upper cheek and said second female joining member comprising cheek surfaces at an upper side of said lower cheek; the cheek surfaces of said second male and said second female joining member arranged to interact with one another so that two joined adjacent floor elements become locked to each other in a horizontal direction.

4. A surface element designed to be assembled together with similar surface elements to form a plurality of joined surface elements: the surface element comprising a core, a decorative upper surface, an opposed lower surface and at least four edges disposed between the upper and lower surfaces; the four edges comprising a first edge and a second edge defining a first pair of opposite sides, and a third edge and a fourth edge defining a second pair of opposite sides; wherein the first edge of the surface element comprises a first male joining member and a second edge comprises a first female joining member; the first male joining member comprising a tongue and the first female joining member comprising a groove; the first male joining member and the first female joining member being configured such that two surface elements can be coupled and vertically as well as horizontally locked at respective edges by rotational movement, the third edge as a result of the rotational movement being subjected to a lowering motion; wherein the third edge of the surface element comprises a second male joining member and the fourth edge comprises a second female joining member, said second female joining member configured as a seat which is open in an upward direction, said second male joining member configured as a downward directed part that by a downward motion can be inserted in said seat of an adjacent said second female joining member; wherein the third and fourth edges are configured such that the downward directed part at the third edge is inserted in the seat of the fourth edge of the adjacent second female joining member simultaneously with said lowering motion of the respective third edge, resulting in vertical as well as horizontal locking; the second male joining member comprising a locking surface limiting the vertical movement between said third edge and said fourth edge of the adjacent second female joining member when connected thereto; said locking surface being positioned completely vertically below the upper surface of said surface element at said third edge.

5. The surface element of claim 4, wherein said second female joining member comprises an undercut cooperating with said locking surface of said second male joining member.

6. The surface element of claim 4, wherein said second male joining member is formed as an upper cheek protruding at said third edge and said second female joining member is formed as a lower cheek protruding at said fourth edge; said second male joining member comprising cheek surfaces at a lower side of said upper cheek and said second female joining member comprising cheek surfaces at an upper side of said lower cheek; the cheek surfaces of said second male and said second female joining member arranged to interact with one another so that two joined adjacent floor elements become locked to each other in a horizontal direction.

7. A surface element designed to be assembled together with similar surface elements to form a plurality of joined surface elements: the surface element comprising a core, a decorative upper surface, an opposed lower surface and at least four edges disposed between the upper and lower surfaces; the four edges comprising a first edge and a second edge defining a first pair of opposite sides, and a third edge and a fourth edge defining a second pair of opposite sides; wherein the first edge of the surface element comprises a first male joining member and a second edge comprises a first female joining member; the first male joining member comprising a tongue and the first female joining member comprising a groove; the first male joining member and the first female joining member being configured such that two surface elements can be coupled and vertically as well as horizontally locked at respective edges by rotational movement, the third edge as a result of the rotational movement being subjected to a lowering motion; wherein the third edge of the surface element comprises a second male joining member and the fourth edge comprises a second female joining member, said second female joining member configured as a seat which is open in an upward direction, said second male joining member configured as a downward directed part that by a downward motion can be inserted in said seat of an adjacent said second female joining member; wherein the third and fourth edges are configured such that the downward directed part at the third edge is inserted in the seat of the fourth edge of the adjacent second female joining member simultaneously with said lowering motion of the respective third edge, resulting in vertical as well as horizontal locking; the second male joining member comprising a locking surface limiting the vertical movement between said third edge and said fourth edge of the adjacent second female joining member when connected thereto; the second male joining member being free from portions protruding beyond the upper surface of said surface element at said third edge.

8. The surface element of claim 7, wherein said second female joining member comprises an undercut cooperating with said locking surface of said second male joining member.

9. The surface element of claim 7, wherein said second male joining member is formed as an upper cheek protruding at said third edge and said second female joining member is formed as a lower cheek protruding at said fourth edge; said second male joining member comprising cheek surfaces at a lower side of said upper cheek and said second female joining member comprising cheek surfaces at an upper side of said lower cheek; the cheek surfaces of said second male and said second female joining member arranged to interact with one another so that two joined adjacent floor elements become locked to each other in a horizontal direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described further in connection to enclosed figures showing different embodiments of a flooring material whereby,

(2) FIG. 1 shows, in cross-section, a first and a second edge 2.sup.I and 2.sup.II respectively, during joining.

(3) FIG. 2 shows, in cross-section, a second embodiment of a first and a second edge 2.sup.I and 2.sup.II respectively, during joining.

(4) FIG. 3 shows, in cross-section, a third embodiment of a first and a second edge 2.sup.I and 2.sup.II respectively, during joining.

(5) FIG. 4 shows, in cross-section, a fourth embodiment of a first and a second edge 2.sup.I and 2.sup.II respectively, during joining.

(6) FIG. 5 shows, in cross-section, a third and a fourth edge 2.sup.III and 2.sup.IV respectively, during joining.

(7) FIG. 6 shows, in cross-section, a second embodiment of a third and a fourth edge 2.sup.III and 2.sup.IV respectively, during joining.

(8) FIG. 7 shows, in cross-section, a third embodiment of a third and a fourth edge 2.sup.III and 2.sup.IV respectively, during joining.

(9) FIG. 8 shows, in cross-section, a fourth embodiment of a third and a fourth edge 2.sup.III and 2.sup.IV respectively and a vertical assembly joining profile 30, during joining.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Accordingly FIG. 1 shows, in cross-section, a first and a second edge 2.sup.I and 2.sup.II respectively, during assembly. The figure shows parts of a flooring material comprising sheet-shaped floor elements 1 with a mainly square or rectangular shape. The floor elements 1 are provided with edges 2, a lower side 5 and an upper decorative layer 3. The floor elements 1 are intended to be joined by means of joining members 10. The floor elements 1 are provided with male joining members 10.sup.I on a first edge 2.sup.I while a second edge 2.sup.II of the floor elements 1 are provided with a female joining member 10.sup.II. The second edge 2.sup.II is arranged on a side opposite to the first edge 2.sup.I. The male joining member 10.sup.I is provided with a tongue 11 and a lower side 5 groove 12. The female joining member 10.sup.II is provided with a groove 13 and a cheek 14, the cheek 14 being provided with a lip 15. The floor elements 1 are intended to mainly be joined together by tilting the floor element 1 to be joined with an already installed floor element 1 or a row of already installed floor elements 1, with the male joining member 10.sup.I of the floor element 1 angled downwards and that the first edge 2.sup.I is allowed to be mainly parallel to the second edge 2.sup.II of the already installed floor element 1 or elements 1. The tongue 11 of the tilted floor element 1 is then inserted into the groove 13 of the female joining member 10.sup.II of the already installed floor element 1 or elements 1, whereby the tilted floor element 1 is turned downwards, with its lower edge as a pivot axis, so that the lip 15 eventually falls into the lower side 5 groove 12 where the decorative upper layer 3 of the floor elements 1 are mainly parallel.

(11) The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 corresponds mainly with the one shown in FIG. 1. The lip 15 and lower side 5 groove 12 are, however, provided with a cam 16 and a cam groove 17 which provides a snap action locking.

(12) The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 corresponds mainly with the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 above. The lip 15 and lower side 5 groove 12 are, however, provided with a cam 16 and a cam groove 17 which provides a snap action locking.

(13) The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 corresponds mainly with the one shown in FIG. 1 above. The lip 15 and cheek 14 is however shaped as a thin resilient section which provides a snap action locking.

(14) FIG. 5 shows, in cross-section, a third and a fourth edge 2.sup.III and 2.sup.II respectively, of a floor element 1 according to any of the FIGS. 1 to 4. The floor elements 1 are provided with a male vertical assembly joining member 10.sup.III on a third edge 2.sup.III while a fourth edge 2.sup.IV is provided with a female vertical assembly joining member 10.sup.IV. The fourth edge 2.sup.IV is placed on a side opposite to the third edge 2.sup.III. The male vertical assembly joining members 10.sup.III are provided with mainly vertical lower cheek surfaces 21 arranged parallel to the closest edge 2. The lower cheek surfaces 21 are intended to interact with mainly vertical upper cheek surfaces 22 arranged on the female vertical assembly joining members 10.sup.IV so that two joined adjacent floor elements 1 are locked against each other in a horizontal direction. The male vertical assembly joining members 10.sup.III are moreover provided with two snapping hooks 23 while the female vertical assembly joining members 10.sup.IV are provided with matching under cuts 24, which by being provided with mainly horizontal locking surfaces limits the vertical movement between two joined adjacent floor elements 1.

(15) The joint between a third and a fourth edge 2.sup.III and 2.sup.IV respectively of two joined floor elements 1 further comprises contact surfaces which are constituted by the horizontal locking surfaces of the under cuts 23 and hooks 24, the mainly vertical upper cheek surfaces 22 lower cheek surfaces as well as upper mating surfaces 25. The joint between two joined floor elements 1 also comprises cavities 6.

(16) Shown at 40, in both FIGS. 6 and 7, are mainly horizontal locking surfaces of undercut 24. Specifically, mainly horizontal locking surfaces 40 are designed to interact with snapping hook 23 to lock the respective floor elements 1 in place.

(17) The joint between a third and a fourth edge 2.sup.III and 2.sup.IV respectively of two joined floor elements 1 further comprises contact surfaces which are constituted by the horizontal locking surfaces of the under cuts 24 and hooks 23, the mainly vertical upper cheek surfaces 22 lower cheek surfaces as well as upper mating surfaces 25. The joint between two joined floor elements 1 also comprise cavities 6.

(18) The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 corresponds in the main with the one shown in FIG. 6. The snapping hook 23 on the male vertical assembly joining member 10.sup.III is, however, moved somewhat inwards in the floor element 1 whereby a guiding angle is formed above the undercut 24 of the female vertical joining member 10.sup.IV.

(19) The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 corresponds mainly with the one shown in FIG. 7. Both the third and the fourth edges 2.sup.III and 2.sup.IV respectively are, however, provided with male vertical assembly joining members 10.sup.III. A vertical assembly joining profile 30, provided with a female vertical assembly joining profile 10.sup.IV on both sides of a vertical symmetry line, is used for joining the two floor elements 1. The female vertical assembly joining members 10.sup.IV of the vertical assembly joining profile 30 are equipped similar to the female vertical assembly joining members 10.sup.IV in FIG. 7 above.

(20) Two adjacent edges 2 of a floor element 1 can at the same time, and in the same turning motion, be joined with a floor element 1 adjacent to the first edge 2.sup.I and a floor element 1 adjacent to the third or fourth edge 2.sup.III and 2.sup.IV respectively, when assembling floor elements 1 according to the above described embodiments.

(21) The floor elements 1 according to the present invention most often comprises a core. The core is most often comprised of particles or fibre of wood bonded with resin or glue. It is advantageous to coat the surface closest to the joint in cases where the floor will be exposed to high levels of moisture since the cellulose based material is sensitive to moisture. This coating may suitably incorporate resin, wax or some kind of lacquer. It is not necessary to coat the joint when it is to be glued since the glue itself will protect from moisture penetration. The upper decorative layer 3 is constituted of a decorative paper impregnated with melamine-formaldehyde resin. One or more so called overlay sheets of -cellulose, impregnated with melamine-formaldehyde resin may possibly be placed on top of the decorative layer. The abrasion resistance may be improved by sprinkling one or more of the sheets with hard particles of for example -aluminum oxide, silicon carbide or silicon oxide. The lower side 5 may suitably be coated with lacquer or a layer of paper and resin.

(22) The invention is not limited by the embodiments shown since they can be varied within the scope if the invention.

(23) According to a first particularly preferred embodiment, the invention relates to flooring material comprising sheet-shaped floor elements with a mainly square or rectangular shape, which floor elements are provided with edges, a lower side and an upper decorative layer, whereby the floor elements are joined by means of joining members, the edges being separated into a first and a second edge, which first and second edges are arranged on opposite sides, and a third and a fourth edge being adjacent to the first and the second edge and which third and fourth edges are arranged on sides opposite to one another, whereby the floor elements are provided with male joining members on the first edge, having a tongue and a lower side groove, and female joining members on the second edge, having a groove and a cheek, the cheek being provided with a lip, whereby the floor elements are joined together via the male and female joining members by tilting the floor element to be joined with an already installed floor element or a row of already installed floor elements, with the male joining member of the floor element angled downwards, that the first edge is positioned mainly parallel to the second edge of the already installed floor element or row of floor elements, whereupon the tongue of the titled floor element is inserted into the groove of the female joining member of the already installed floor element or row of floor elements, whereby the tilted floor element is turned downwards, with its lower edge as a pivot axis, so that the lip eventually snaps into the lower side groove where the decorative upper layer of the floor elements are mainly parallel, and that the third and fourth edges of the floor elements are joined by means of joining members selected from the group consisting of: a) wherein the floor elements, on the third edge, are provided with a male vertical assembly joining member while the fourth edge is provided with a female vertical assembly joining member, the fourth edge being arranged on a side opposite to the third edge, the male vertical assembly joining members being provided with mainly vertical lower cheek surfaces arranged parallel to the third edge, which lower cheek surfaces are arranged to interact with undercuts arranged on the female vertical assembly joining members so that two joined adjacent floor elements becomes locked to each other in a horizontal direction, that together the male and female vertical assembly joining members are provided with at least one snapping hook to interact with said undercuts which by being provided with a mainly horizontal locking surface limits the vertical movement between two joined adjacent floor elements, whereby the third edge and the fourth edge are joined with respective edges of adjacent floor elements through vertical motion, and b) wherein the floor elements on the third edge, are provided with a male vertical assembly joining member while the fourth edge also is provided with a male vertical assembly joining member, the fourth edge being arranged on a side opposite to the third edge, which adjacent male vertical assembly joining members are joined by means of a separate vertical assembly joining profile which vertical assembly profile is provided with female vertical assembly joining member, the male vertical assembly joining members being provided with mainly vertical lower cheek surfaces arranged parallel to either the third or the fourth the edge, which lower cheek surfaces are arranged to interact with mainly vertical upper cheek surfaces arranged on the female vertical assembly joining members so that two joined adjacent floor elements becomes locked to each other in a horizontal direction, that together the male and female vertical assembly joining members are provided with at least one snapping hook to interact with said undercut which by being provided with a mainly horizontal locking surface limits the vertical movement between two joined adjacent floor elements, whereby the third edge and the fourth edge are joined with respective edges of adjacent floor elements through vertical motion, whereby two adjacent edges of a floor element at the same time, and concurrently with the turning motion, is joined with a floor element adjacent to the first edge and a floor element adjacent to the third or fourth edge.

(24) In such particularly preferred embodiment, the force needed to overcome the static friction along the joint between two completely assembled male and female joining members is preferably larger than 10N per meter of joint length.

(25) In such particularly preferred embodiment, the floor elements are preferably provided with male vertical assembly joining members on a third edge and provided with female vertical assembly joining members on a fourth edge, the male vertical assembly joining members being provided with mainly vertical lower cheek surfaces arranged parallel to the third edge, which lower cheek surfaces are arranged to interact with mainly vertical upper cheek surfaces arranged on the female vertical assembly joining members so that two joined adjacent floor elements becomes locked to each other in a horizontal direction, that together the male and female vertical assembly joining members are provided with at least one snapping hook with matching undercut which by being provided with a mainly horizontal locking surface limits the vertical movement between two joined adjacent floor elements.

(26) Preferably, the joint between third and the fourth edge of two joined floor elements comprises contact surfaces which are constituted by the mainly horizontal locking surfaces of the undercuts and hooks, the mainly vertical upper cheek surfaces and lower cheek surfaces as well as upper mating surfaces.

(27) Preferably, the joint between two joined floor elements also comprises cavities.

(28) The said snapping hook can be constituted by a separate spring part placed in a cavity.

(29) Preferably such spring part is constituted by an extruded thermoplastic profile.

(30) Preferably, such spring part is constituted by a profile of a thermosetting resin.

(31) Alternatively, such spring part is constituted by an extruded metal profile.

(32) In such particularly preferred embodiment, the undercut may be constituted by a separate spring part which is placed in a cavity.

(33) Preferably, such spring part is constituted by an extruded thermoplastic profile.

(34) Alternatively, such spring part is constituted by a profile of a thermosetting resin.

(35) Further alternatively, such spring part may be constituted by an extruded metal profile.

(36) In such particularly preferred embodiment, the floor elements may be coated with twin-faced adhesive tape or glue.

(37) In such particularly preferred embodiment, the joining members may be coated with twin-faced adhesive tape or glue.

(38) In such particularly preferred embodiment, the force needed to overcome the static friction along the joint between two completely assembled male and female joining members is preferably larger than 100N per meter of joint length.

(39) According to a second particularly preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a surface element designed to be assembled together with similar surface elements to form a unit of a plurality of joined surface elements; said surface elements comprising a core, a decorative upper surface and edges for joining, at least one of said edges for joining comprising a cavity, and a separate spring part placed in said cavity.

(40) In such particularly preferred embodiment, the spring part is preferably formed of thermoplastic.

(41) Alternatively, such spring part is formed of thermosetting resin or of metal.

(42) Such spring part may comprise a snapping hook or an undercut.

(43) In such second particularly preferred embodiment, the decorative surface preferably comprises a laminate or a lacquer.

(44) The invention further relates to an assembled unit of a plurality of surface elements described herein above. Clearly, such assembled unit of surface elements preferably is characterized in that the edges for joining comprise a male joining element and female joining element on an opposite side edge, and third and fourth joining edges, the male and female joining elements capable of being joined by tilting the surface elements and relatively inserting the tongue into the groove and relatively turning downwards the surface elements towards one another and at least one of the third and fourth edges comprising the spring part.