EP2050896A1 - Flooring - Google Patents

Abstract

The flooring has strips, paneling, tile, lath or panels (10) with housings that are in the form of grooves (1, 4) opened towards a visible upper part (9), where the housings receive a joint element (8). The strips, paneling, tile, lath or panels are made of solid wood, synthetic, composite, mineral or reconstituted material and are equipped with a decorative element e.g. veneer. The grooves are coated by a polyurethane type thermoplastic adhesive. The element is in the form of grid or frame that is constituted by thermoplastic, thermosetting rubber or silicon cord.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of the building and more particularly the flooring, wall or ceiling and is for such a floor covering.

In the rest of the description, it will essentially refer to a floor covering. However, the elements taken into consideration can also find their application in the form of wall or ceiling cladding.

These coatings are generally in the form of panels, strips, tiles, slats or in the form of panels and are made of various materials, such as solid wood, synthetic or mineral composite materials, reconstituted wood, etc. .... and may comprise a decorative element, such as a wood veneer sheet, metal, laminated, in the form of a film or a printed element or in the form of any other structure attached to at least one face .

The edges of these paneling, blades, tiles, laths or panels are provided, moreover, on their periphery, of the tongue-and-groove type assembly device and / or possibly of a locking means in the assembly position, for their assembly with corresponding elements, by their adjacent edges.

The final and precise assembly of these paneling, blades, tiles, laths or panels makes it possible to form a flooring, wall or ceiling simultaneously performing the finishing and / or decor of the surfaces thus coated.

It is also known another type of wall cladding assembly called "boat deck". In such a case, solid wood boards are assembled together by gluing by means of more or less wide joints made of a putty and having a thickness equal to that of the wooden boards. Such a method of coating by laying blades alternately with seals, which are most often cast in pasty or liquid form, requires final sanding, to remove soil and ensure a smooth and uniform surface. A coating thus produced can be implemented only by operators with a great deal of experience and is therefore of a high cost price.

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of known methods to date by providing a flooring, wall or ceiling, to obtain a perfect finish with an appearance corresponding to that of an assembly said " boat deck "or tiling, this by simple and fast implementation of blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels.

For this purpose, the floor covering, which consists of boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels, is characterized in that said boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels comprise at least one housing in the form of a groove, open towards the visible upper part of the blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels and intended to receive a seal element.

• les figures 1 à 5 sont des vues en coupe de différentes variantes de réalisation de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which refers to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawing, in which:

• the Figures 1 to 5 are sectional views of different embodiments of the invention.

The Figures 1 to 5 of the appended drawing represent a flooring, which consists of boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 3, 3 ', 10 and joined to each other by a tongue-and-groove type assembly 12 and tongues 13.

According to the invention, said blades, paneling, tiles, laths or panels 3, 3 ', 10 comprise at least one housing in the form of a groove 1, 1', 4, 6, open towards the visible upper part 9 of said blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels and for receiving a joint element 8.

Blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels may be made of any material, namely solid wood, composite materials, synthetic or mineral, reconstituted wood, etc ..... and may advantageously be provided with an element decorative, such as a wood veneer or a metal sheet or a laminate, a film or other printed support or other structure reported on at least one side.

Because of the constitution of the coating by simple elements, whose assembly by groove and tongue, possibly with implementation of a complementary integrated locking, can be put in Made by poorly qualified operators and without special equipment, it is possible to realize at a lower cost a decoration or a wall finish.

According to one characteristic of the invention, and as shown by figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, the housing in the form of a groove 1, for receiving the gasket 8, is machined on at least one edge of the blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 10. Such machining of the throat 1 can be achieved simply simultaneously with the machining of the tongue 13. After assembly of the blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 10, simply insert the gasket 8 in the groove housing 1 for finish the coating.

In the embodiment according to figure 1 the machining of the housing 1 entirely on the outer edge of the boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 10 makes it possible to align the outer edge 2 of the joint element 8 in its housing with the edge upper 2 'of the blade, panel, tile, batten or adjacent panel 10 during assembly.

The figure 2 of the appended drawing represents an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the housing in the form of a groove 1 ', for receiving the gasket 8, is machined partially on at least one edge of the blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 3 and partially on the adjacent edge of a blade, panel, tile, batten or adjacent panel 3 '. In such a case, the housing 1 'has an edge of its groove formed by the upper edge 2 "of the edge of a blade, a panel, a tile, a batten or a panel 3 , the other edge of the groove being constituted by the upper edge 2 "of the adjacent edge of a blade, a panel, a tile, a batten or a panel 3 '. Thus, the seal 8 can be integrated in the jointing space of two adjacent blades, panels, tiles, slats or panels 3, after assembly of the latter and will therefore straddle two elements 3 and 3 '.

It is also possible, in accordance with another variant embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing, to provide the housing in the form of a groove 4, 7, for receiving the gasket 8, by machining outside the edges of the blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 10, in the plane formed by the surface upper visible 9 said blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 10. According to a feature of the invention ( figure 4 ), boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 3 can be provided simultaneously housing in the form of a groove 4 machined outside the edges, and housing forms a groove 1 and the machined on the edge or edges, these housing 1, 1 'and 4 being parallel to each other .

Such an arrangement of the housings 1, 1 'and 4 allows, after assembly of large panels thus equipped, to obtain an assembly appearance of a large number of blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels, of clearly dimensions. lower.

As shown in figure 3 it is also possible to provide the housings in the form of grooves 7 having a lower machined part in the blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 10 wider, to create a recessed effect and imprisonment of the element of 8. Thus, the seal member 8 may be introduced by pressure into the housing 7 and will be maintained by the constriction conferred by the open upper part of the housing 7.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the housings in the form of a groove 1, 1 ', 4 are machined in the blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels 3, 3', 10, from the visible upper surface 9 on a limited depth, but sufficient to hold and secure the joint element 8.

The figure 5 of the accompanying drawings represents another variant embodiment of the invention, in which the visible upper edges 5 'and 5' of the edges of the boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels are bevelled or chamfered to form a V-shaped or U-shaped groove. at the joint made between adjacent boards, panels, tiles, slats or panels.

Moreover, and as also shows figure 5 of the accompanying drawing, it is possible, according to another embodiment of the invention, to provide that the visible upper surface 11 of the blades, paneling, tiles, laths or panels comprises one or grooves 6 machined V-shaped or U, these grooves extending outside the edges of said blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels. These grooves 6 extend advantageously parallel to the V-shaped or U-shaped profiles formed by the upper edges 5, 5 'visible adjacent edges of the blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels.

The realization of the upper edges 5, 5 'or grooves 6 occurring during machining operations subsequent to those of manufacture of the panels, the chamfers forming the edges, and the recesses corresponding to the grooves generally have a different color that of the panel covering, namely the color of the panel. Currently, this disadvantage is overcome by implementation of a film or dye compatible with the constitution of the panels and whose shade is matched to that of the panel coating.

These known methods of coating these chamfered portions or V-shaped or U-shaped recesses require a relatively long time of drying the reported coating layers.

According to a feature of the invention, the upper edges 5, 5 'or the grooves 6 V-shaped or U are advantageously coated with a quick-drying tinted glue. Preferably, this tinted glue will be a hot melt glue of the polyurethane type mixed with a dye.

The implementation of such a tinted glue may, for example, be effected by means of a coating device comprising a heating roller and an application roller between which is brought the mixture of glue and dye, which is deposited, after heating, by the application roller on the chamfer or on the edges of the groove.

Such a device is not shown in detail and is of known constitution and operation.

The provision of such a coating makes it possible to avoid all the subsequent operations of coating and drying known to date.

Preferably, the seal member 8 is constituted in the form of a bar, a rigid or flexible rod, a mastic or the like and thus ensures a dual function of sealing and decoration. This concept of seal 8 reported in the housings 1, 1 ', 4, 6 and 7 makes it possible to achieve, in a particularly simple and fast manner, either a "boat deck" finish or tiling-like finish, the joints appearing perfectly between the edges of the individual elements.

For this purpose, the seal member 8 is stuck in its housing 1, 1 ', 4 to seal the jointing boards, panels, tiles, laths or adjacent panels after assembly.

Finally, according to another alternative embodiment of the invention, not shown in the accompanying drawing, the seal member 8 may advantageously be constituted in the form of a frame or a grid reproducing the frame of the housings provided on the visible side and / or on the edges of the boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels, this frame or grid being either in the form of a putty to be bonded or constituted by hot-melt cords, thermoplastics, thermosetting agents, or rubber or silicone, or based on one of these components. Thus, after installation and assembly of the blades, paneling, tiles, laths or panels, it is sufficient to have the joint member 8 in the form of a grid or a large frame on the flooring thus laid and d then introduce said seal member 8 into the corresponding housing, by pressure, by gluing and / or by hot application.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to produce more particularly a floor covering but also a wall or ceiling coating based on boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels, assembled together, this assembly being completed by the setting in place of the joint element which can simultaneously form a decorative element and a sealing element.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawing. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (16)

Flooring consisting of boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels (3, 3 ', 10), characterized in that said boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels comprise at least one housing in the form of a groove (1, 1 ', 4, 6) open towards the visible upper part (9) and intended to receive a seal element (8). Floor covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels can be made of any material, namely solid wood, composite materials, synthetic or mineral, reconstituted wood, etc. .... and are provided with a decorative element, such as a wood veneer or metal foil or a laminate, film or other printed support or other structure on at least one side. Floor covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing in the form of a groove (1) is machined on at least one edge of the boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels (10). Floor covering according to Claim 1, characterized in that the housing in the form of a groove (1 ') is partially machined on at least one edge of the boards, panels, tiles, slats or panels (3). and partially on the adjacent edge of a blade, tile, panel, or adjacent panel (3 '). Floor covering, according to Claim 1, characterized in that the housing or slots in the form of a groove (4, 7) are machined outside the edges of the boards, panels, tiles, slats or panels (10), in the plane formed by the visible upper surface (9) of said blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels (10). Floor covering according to any one of claims 1 and 2 to 4, characterized in that the boards, panels, tiles, slats or panels 3 are provided simultaneously with housing in the form of a groove (4) machined outside the edges, and housing form a groove (1 and 1 ') machined on the edge or edges, these housings (1, 1' and 4) being parallel to each other. Floor covering according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the groove housings (1, 1 ', 4) are machined in the boards, tiles, panels or panels. (3, 3 ', 10), from the visible top surface (9) to a limited depth but sufficient to hold and secure the seal member (8). Floor covering according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housings are in the form of grooves (7) having a lower part machined in the boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels (10) plus wide, to create a recessed effect and imprisonment of the seal member (8). Floor covering according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the visible upper edges (5 and 5 ') of the edges of the boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels are bevelled or chamfered to form a groove. V or U-shaped at the joint between boards, panels, tiles, battens or adjacent panels. Floor covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the visible upper surface (11) of the boards, paneling, tiles, slats or panels comprises one or more grooves (6) machined in the shape of a V or U, these grooves being extending outside the edges of said blades, paneling, tiles, slats or panels. Floor covering according to either one of Claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the groove or grooves (6) are parallel to the V-shaped or U-shaped grooves formed by the visible upper edges (5, 5 ') of the grooves (5). edges of boards, tiles, paneling or panels. Floor covering according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the V-shaped or U-shaped upper edges (5, 5 ') or grooves (6) are coated with a drying tinted glue. fast. Floor covering according to Claim 12, characterized in that the colored glue is a polyurethane-type hot melt glue mixed with a colorant. Floor covering according to one of Claims 1, 7 and 8, characterized in that the joint element (8) is formed in the form of a bar, a rigid rod, a putty or the like. . Floor covering according to one of Claims 1, 7 and 8, characterized in that the sealing element (8) is glued in its housing (1, 1 ', 4) to ensure sealing of the blades, panels, tiles, laths or adjacent panels after assembly. Floor covering according to any one of Claims 1, 7 and 8, characterized in that the joint element (8) is constituted in the form of a weft or a grid reproducing the weft of the housings provided on the visible face and / or the edges of the boards, paneling, tiles, laths or panels, this frame or grid being either in the form of a putty to be bonded or constituted by thermofusible, thermoplastic, thermosetting or rubber or silicone, or based on one of these components.

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