EP3581732B1 - Panel with sealing crease and sealing ridge - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a panel comprising a top side of a panel, a bottom side of a panel, a panel core and complementary locking means, which are provided in pairs on opposite panel edges, wherein at least one pair of locking means is provided with complementary hook profiles, namely a receiving hook and, opposite this, a locking hook, with the proviso that the receiving hook has a hook edge arranged farther from the fuselage and a receiving recess arranged closer to the fuselage, the receiving recess being open to the top side of the panel and the locking hook being provided with a locking recess arranged closer to the fuselage and open to the underside of the panel and having a locking shoulder arranged farther away from the fuselage, which in the vertical joining direction in the Receiving recess of the receiving hook fits, the locking hook has a locking contour acting vertically locking and the receiving hook has a form-fitting contour, the purpose ver tical locking fits together with the locking contour of the locking hook in a form-fitting manner, wherein the locking hook has a horizontally locking holding surface arranged closer to the torso on its locking heel and the receiving hook is provided with a horizontally locking holding surface arranged in the receiving recess on the torso, wherein the receiving hook is provided with a sealing groove, which is open to the top of the panel, and wherein the locking hook has a sealing strip protruding to the bottom of the panel, which fits into the sealing groove in the assembled state of the complementary hook profiles.

From the WO 2007/081267 A1 a generic panel is known which comprises a panel core made of moisture-sensitive material and complementary hook profiles on the moisture-sensitive panel core, namely a receiving hook and a locking hook. In addition, the panel has an elastic surface layer at an upper side of the panel core. Lateral edges of the elastic surface layer can overlap and form a hook-shaped connection themselves. This prior art suggests that a sealant may optionally be included in the area of the overlapping edges. So if sealant is included, that overlapping edge on the receiving hook side can then be interpreted as a sealing groove and the overlapping edge on the locking hook side can be interpreted as a sealing strip.

From the US 2018/0002933 A1 floor panels are known which are provided with a mechanical locking system which can be locked by a vertical displacement of a first panel against a second panel. The locking system comprises a first rigid and a second flexible joint edge section with different locking functions. The first edge section provides horizontal locking and the second section provides vertical locking.

the EP 0 624 696 A2 relates to a lightweight panel assembly, comprising a connecting strip arranged to be glued to a support structure and a plurality of panels arranged to be mounted on the connecting strip and generally partially overlapping one another. Each of the plurality of panels includes first and second edge portions on opposite sides of the panel. The connecting strip includes a third edge portion. The first edge portion of each panel is configured for mating engagement with the third edge portion of the connecting strip and simultaneously with the second edge portion of an adjacent panel.

The object of the invention is to propose an improved panel with which the sealing effect can be achieved more easily.

According to the invention, the underlying object is achieved in that the sealing groove and the sealing strip are arranged in the area of the panel core, and that the surface of the sealing groove is formed from the material of the panel core and/or the surface of the sealing strip is formed from this material of the panel core.

The invention moves away from shielding the panel core from moisture in the area of the hook profiles. Instead, a sealing groove is formed in the material of the panel core and a sealing strip is also formed.

If the core of the panel is made of a material that has the property of being able to absorb moisture and thereby increase its volume, this is referred to as swelling. The invention makes use of this property and moves away from protecting the panel core from moisture.

Instead, a panel core is used which has a swelling property so that the associated volume expansion can be exploited in order to achieve a sealing effect in this way or to increase this effect.

It can also be expedient if the receiving hook is designed with its horizontally locking holding surface in the receiving recess in such a way that a permanent pretension can be generated against the horizontally locking holding surface of the locking shoulder. As a result, the two panel edges are stretched elastically against each other, which keeps the joint on the top of the panel closed. In this way, sealing by means of the sealing groove and sealing strip is promoted. The permanent prestressing can be achieved, for example, by a design that provides for elastic deflection on the underside of the panel with a simultaneously closed joint on the top side of the panel and a level, flush alignment of the top sides of the panel of the locked panels.

Furthermore, it is therefore considered useful if the panel core comprises a material that promotes moisture swelling. In the case of the generic panel, an attempt is made not to allow moisture to reach the panel core.

It is generally known to produce the panel core for panels of the generic type from so-called swellable boards, the swelling control of which serves to counteract swelling, for example by adding a wax component during production of the board. The invention departs from this teaching and instead proposes dispensing with measures for swelling control or at least reducing the swelling control of the material of the panel core.

The panel core can simply comprise a wood fiber material. A wood fiber material with reduced swelling compensation or no swelling compensation at all is preferably used for the panel according to the invention. A panel made from a swelling-modified wood fiber material can, for example, contain water-repellent components such as wax. This reduces the swelling of the wood fiber material depending on the dosage of the water-repellent component.

In addition to high-density wood fiber board (HDF), medium-density fiber board (MDF) and OSB board (oriented strand board), wood fiber materials within the meaning of this invention also include fiber-containing composite materials such as WPC (wood plastics composite) or NFRP (natural Fiber Reinforced Plastics).

According to the invention, the swelling property of the panel core is used to contribute to the sealing of interlocked panel edges. As a result of the proposed measure, deeper areas of the panel core surprisingly remain free of moisture, although water-repellent components in the wood fiber material are omitted or at least reduced. Surprisingly, it has been shown that almost no moisture gets below the level of the sealing groove and sealing strip. Those areas of the hook profiles that bring about the cohesion of locked panel edges remain dry, namely the locking contour of the locking hook and the form-fitting contour of the receiving hook. Corresponding tests in the area of T-joints have shown that water, in the area of a T-joint on a floor surface which is joined together from panels according to the invention, cannot seep through to the underside of the floor covering, even after a long period of time.

The sealing strip is expediently designed without excess relative to the sealing groove so that they can be easily fitted together.

It is helpful if the sealing groove is provided with opposite side walls, has a groove base and is limited distally by a groove edge protruding in the direction of the top side of the panel, the side walls occupying a wedge-shaped arrangement relative to one another, the wedge angle to the top side of the panel being open, and where the wedge angle is in the range from 30° to 70°, preferably in the range from 40° to 60° and particularly preferably at 45° to 55°.

As has been found, it is particularly helpful to provide the proposed wedge-shaped arrangement of the side walls in such a way that the space between the side walls becomes narrower towards the bottom of the sealing groove. Furthermore, it helps if the sealing strip also has outer surfaces which are adapted to the wedge-shaped arrangement of the side walls of the sealing groove.

It also helps that the cross section of the sealing groove has a rounded transition between the side walls and the bottom of the groove. (eg radius) ... in contrast to the SdT of Fig. 5c WO 2007/081267 , where rectangular cross-sections can be seen) In this way, through round transitions and the avoidance of angular contours, the swelling is uniform, which according to the invention is to be utilized for sealing.

A round transition is also useful in cross-section between the distal side wall and the edge of the groove.

At the top of the proximal side wall of the sealing groove is an abutment surface, which is preferably arranged perpendicularly to the top side of the panel.

The distal surface of the groove edge is preferably perpendicular to the panel top.

Appropriately, a recess open downwards in the direction of the underside of the panel is provided on the locking hook proximal to the sealing strip. In this recess, which is open at the bottom, there is room for the grooved edge of the receiving hook that protrudes upwards. The cross section of the recess is preferably larger than the cross section of the groove edge, specifically so that in the assembled state a cavity is formed between an upper side of the groove edge and the base of the recess.

It has turned out to be useful if the sealing strip is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the sealing groove. In this way, and by avoiding angular contours, you can benefit from an even swelling.

A further benefit is seen in the fact that a separate vertical locking element is provided and that the separate vertical locking element is provided either as part of the locking contour of the locking hook or as part of the form-fitting contour of the receiving hook before locking the panel edges.

The locking contour of the locking hook simply has a groove for the separate vertical locking element, with the form-fitting contour of the receiving hook also having a groove for the separate vertical locking element.

Expediently, either the groove in the receiving hook or the groove in the locking hook is designed as a holding groove in order to be able to hold the separate vertical locking element in a captive manner before locking the panel edges, with a part of the separate vertical locking element protruding from the captive groove being engaged during a joining process with the other groove. The separate vertical locking element can therefore be captively applied in the groove of the locking hook. On the other hand, if it is to be held captive in the groove of the receiving hook, then it may have to be applied in a changed orientation in the sense of a kinematic reversal in order to ensure the function.

It has turned out to be useful that both the groove in the receiving hook and the groove in the locking hook are open in the distal direction relative to the panel core.

The separate vertical locking element simply has a holding area, which is provided for captive application of the vertical locking element by means of one of the grooves, and that a protruding part of the vertical locking element is provided with a locking tab. i.e. the holding area of the vertical locking element interacts with the groove in which the vertical locking element is to be held captive.

The holding area and/or the snap-in tab of the separate vertical locking element can be designed to be resilient, namely for the purpose of automatic latchability of the snap-in tab in a groove during a joining process of complementary hook profiles. This measure enables automatic latching, so that the vertical locking takes place automatically.

At least one panel edge provided with a hook profile is expediently provided with a broken edge on the top side of the panel. If both panel edges with complementary locking means have a broken edge, a covering surface with a visually appealing joint can be produced when the panels are in the assembled state. The joint can be a V-joint, for example, which is formed from two opposing bevels. A joint has the advantage of protecting the panel edges, especially a V-joint, or the respective chamfer offers good protection for the respective panel edge.

An edge break can be provided with a coating. Such a coating is expediently provided which counteracts the absorption of moisture into the material of the panel core on the surface of the broken edge. Any suitable sealing coating material can be used for this purpose, for example paint or foil. The utilization of the swelling property of the material of the panel core according to the invention should only begin on those areas of the panel edge located below an edge break and develop its effect there where sealing by swelling of material is required and desired.

Fig. 1

ein erstes Paar Paneelkanten des erfindungsgemäßen Paneels im Querschnitt,

Fig. 2

eine Weiterbildung des Paneels mit alternativer Ausführungsform des Paneelkantenpaares gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Weiterbildung des Paneels mit alternativer Ausführungsform des Paneelkantenpaares gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

eine Ausführungsform des Paneels mit einem ersten Paar Paneelkanten mit separatem Vertikalsperrelement,

Fig. 5

eine weitere Ausführungsform des Paneels mit einem ersten Paar Paneelkanten mit separatem Vertikalsperrelement,

Fig. 6

ein zweites Paar Paneelkanten des Paneels mit formschlüssiger Nut- und Federverbindung sowie mit Dichtungssteg und Dichtungsnut gemäß der Anmeldung EP 18155583.0 ,

Fig. 7

das erste Paar Paneelkanten gemäß Fig. 5 mit leerer Nut für ein Vertikalsperrelement,

Fig. 8

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel mit einem alternativen separaten Vertikalsperrelement.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in a drawing and described in detail below. Show it:

1

a first pair of panel edges of the panel according to the invention in cross section,

2

a further development of the panel with an alternative embodiment of the pair of panel edges according to FIG 1 ,

3

a further development of the panel with alternative Embodiment of the pair of panel edges according to 2 ,

4

an embodiment of the panel with a first pair of panel edges with a separate vertical locking element,

figure 5

a further embodiment of the panel with a first pair of panel edges with a separate vertical locking element,

6

a second pair of panel edges of the panel with a form-fitting tongue and groove connection and with a sealing web and sealing groove according to the application EP18155583.0 ,

Figure 7

the first pair of panel edges as per figure 5 with an empty groove for a vertical locking element,

8

another embodiment with an alternative separate vertical locking element.

A first exemplary embodiment of a panel 1 according to the invention is shown in 1 shown. It comprises a panel top 2, a panel bottom 3, a panel core 4 and complementary locking means 5 and 6, which are provided in pairs on opposite panel edges 7 and 8. The panel edges in 1 can be thought of as the panel edges that belonged to a panel. In practice, it is quite common to cut through a panel, for example if the panel at the end of a row of panels is too long. Then it is shortened to a suitable length and severed for the purpose. The leftover piece that has been cut off can usually be used to start a new row of panels. The side with the cut surface becomes placed at the beginning of a new row so that at the opposite end of this leftover panel piece there is the appropriate locking means to continue the new row of panels and lock another panel to it. Complementary locking means of a severed panel therefore always mate and can be locked together as in 1 shown.

Of course, the panel edges shown in sections according to 1 can in principle also be understood as the panel edges of two panels which are not severed.

According to the first embodiment, the complementary locking means 5 and 6 of the panel are formed as a pair of complementary hook profiles. One hook profile is a receiving hook 9 and the hook profile opposite this is a matching locking hook 10 . The receiving recess 12 is open to the panel top 2 . The locking hook 10 has a locking recess 13 arranged closer to the hull and open to the underside of the panel 3 , and it is provided with a locking shoulder 14 on the hull. The locking shoulder 14 fits into the receiving recess 12 of the receiving hook 9 in the vertical joining direction, ie it can be moved down into the receiving recess 12 in a substantially vertical joining direction. A gap is provided between the bottom of the locking recess 13 and the top of the hook edge 11 in the locked condition. The locking paragraph sits flat on the bottom of the receiving recess 12. Retaining surfaces are provided for horizontal locking. They are intended to counteract the movement of locked panels apart in the panel plane, specifically perpendicular to the panel edges. One of the holding surfaces 11a is arranged proximally on the edge of the hook. It virtually delimits the receiving recess 12 of the receiving hook 9. The complementary holding surface 14a of the locking hook 10 is provided on the locking shoulder 14 proximally.

Furthermore, the locking hook 10 has a locking contour 15 that has a vertical locking effect and is made in one piece from the material of the panel core 4 . The locking contour 15 includes a groove 16 which has an approximately triangular cross section and forms a locking groove. A form-fitting contour 17 provided on the receiving hook 9 is also made of the same material and fits together in a form-fitting manner with the locking contour 15 of the locking hook 10 for the purpose of vertical locking. The form-fitting contour 17 is designed as a distal, protruding web 18 . The web 18 has an approximately triangular cross-section and has a locking surface 19 whose surface normal is directed obliquely to the panel underside 3 , and a free surface 20 whose surface normal is directed obliquely to the panel top 2 . The locking surface of the web 18 interacts with a groove wall 21 of the locking groove.

Above the form-fitting contour 17, the receiving hook 9 has a sealing groove 22, the surface of which is formed from the material of the panel core 4.

Matching this, a sealing strip 23 is provided above the locking contour 15 of the locking hook 10 , which in turn is formed from the material of the panel core 4 and nestles against the contour of the sealing groove 22 .

The sealing groove 22 of the receiving hook 9 has a groove edge 24 that protrudes in the direction of the top side of the panel 2 limited, wherein the locking hook 10 has a downwardly open recess 25 for the groove edge 24 is provided. The sealing groove 22 has a proximal side 26 and a distal side 27 facing the groove edge 22 and a groove bottom 28. The groove bottom has a convexly curved contour, this curvature also extending to the sides 26 and 27.

The proximal side wall 26 of the sealing groove 22 transitions into an upper abutment surface 29 which is arranged perpendicularly to the top side 2 of the panel. The distal side wall 27 has a tangent line 30 as a transition to a concave, round contour which forms the upper side 31 of the edge 24 of the groove. The edge of the groove 24 is bounded distally by a lower abutment surface 32 which is arranged perpendicularly relative to the top side 2 of the panel.

A wedge-shaped cross-sectional area is formed between the upper abutment surface 29 and the tangent line 30 .

The sealing strip 23 of the locking hook 10 is adapted to the contour of the sealing groove 22 described above and has a quasi-matching wedge-shaped cross section. The sealing strip 23 has a proximal strip side 33, which is based on the tangent line 30, and a distal strip side 34, which is adapted to the proximal side wall 26 and also has a transition into an upper abutment surface 35, which interacts with the abutment surface 29.

The locking hook 10 is provided with a lower abutment surface 36 to match the lower abutment surface 32 of the receiving hook. The lower abutment surface 36 is arranged between the downwardly open recess 25 and the locking groove 16 .

For the sealing strip of the embodiment of 1 a wedge angle α of 50° is provided. This proposed wedge-shaped arrangement is favorable for panels that have a panel core made of swelling material. The sealing groove and sealing strip are easier to fit together than, say, a parallel-sided sealing groove/strip because they need a lot of clearance to fit together, but they seal poorly. In contrast, the wedge-shaped design promotes tightness because the side wall 26 of the sealing groove 22 is in contact with the distal strip side 34 of the sealing strip 23 and at the same time the distal side wall 27 of the sealing groove 22 is in contact with the proximal strip side 33 of the sealing strip. Size differences in the cross section of the sealing strip on the one hand and the cross section of the sealing groove on the other hand are less critical than in the case of designs in which the sealing groove/sealing strip provide parallel surface pairs for sealing.

2 shows a further development of the panel with an alternative embodiment of the pair of panel edges. In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiment, a broken edge is provided on each of the two hook profiles on the top side 2 of the panel. For the rest, the design is identical to that according to FIG 1 . On the receiving hook 9, the panel top 2 has an edge break K in the form of a chamfer F1 at the panel edge, which is inclined here at an angle of 35° relative to the panel top. Likewise, the locking hook 10 is provided on the top side 2 of the panel with an edge break K in the form of a chamfer F2, which is designed as a mirror image and to match the chamfer F1 of the receiving hook 9. The two chamfers protect the respective panel edge 7 or 8. The chamfer reduces the risk of breakage at the concerned panel edge. Together, the chamfers F1 and F2 form a V-joint that is visually appealing and, overall, protects a covering surface because breakage of the panel edges 7 and 8 is rarer and less severe.

With 3 is a further development of that panel 2 shown. Like the previous exemplary embodiment, it has broken edges in the form of bevels. In addition, an additional second vertically locking measure is provided. For this purpose, a distal surface of the hook edge 11 is provided with a male locking contour M, which protrudes in the distal direction. Matching this, a female locking contour W is provided in the locking recess 13 of the locking hook 10 on a proximal surface, which is in contact with the male locking contour and has a vertical locking effect.

Another embodiment of the panel is in 4 shown, which according to the embodiment 1 based. In contrast to 1 the form-fitting contour 17 of the receiving hook includes a separate vertical locking element 37 which is held captive in a retaining groove 38 in the receiving hook 9 . Before the production of a panel covering, the separate vertical locking element 37 is captively applied in the retaining groove 38 of the receiving hook 9 provided for this purpose, which can be done automatically during the production of the panel, or separate vertical locking elements are enclosed as individual parts in the appropriate number when panels are delivered. Before complementary hook profiles can be locked, a vertical locking element must then be inserted manually in the retaining groove 38 of the receiving hook 9 .

A part 39 of the separate vertical locking element protruding from the retaining groove 38 forms a spring-elastic latching tab. Due to its elastic properties, this can recede during a joining process if a complementary locking hook is pushed against it. When the locking hook is brought to the final locking position, the protruding part of the separate vertical locking element can automatically re-protrude towards its neutral position by means of resilient tension. This more neutral position of the vertical locking element or its spring-elastic locking tab is at the same time also the vertically locking position, which counteracts the hook profiles moving apart in the vertical direction.

The part of the cross-section of the separate vertical locking element 37, which is held captive in the holding groove 38, has a holding area for this purpose, which has a spine 39 and transverse projections 40, 41 and 42 provided on one side of the spine 39, which, in the applied state, point in the direction of the underside of the panel 3 protrude and reach the opposite groove wall 43 of the retaining groove 38 . In relation to the width of the retaining groove, the captively inserted retaining area of the separate vertical locking element (37) has a certain oversize, which is why the transverse projections 40, 41 and 42 ensure the desired captive hold in the retaining groove 38 with a certain elastic deformation and pretension. Opposite the three transverse projections 40, 41 and 42 is at one end of the back 39, a neck 44 on. The spring-elastic locking tab 45 continues on this neck. The resilient locking tab 45 has a free end 46 which abuts against the groove wall 21 of the locking groove 16 of the locking hook. It is by means of this contact between the free end 46 and the groove wall 21 that the vertical locking action occurs generated. This is expediently coordinated in such a way that the free end 46 of the locking tab 45 always bears against the groove wall 21 with a residual spring-elastic tension. This concept can be designed in such a way that even with a certain amount of wear on the hook profiles, sufficient spring-elastic tension is always retained and no play can form between the locked hook profiles in the vertical direction. In the example of 4 shows the free end 46 of the resilient snap-in tab down to the underside of the panel 3.

In the area of the sealing groove 22 of the receiving hook and the sealing strip 23 of the locking hook, the design is according to FIG 4 modified and that is between the edge of the groove 24 and the downwardly open recess 25 some air or a cavity 47 is formed there. In this area of the contours, the intention is to ensure contact of the sealing strip 23 with the groove base 28 of the sealing groove. This is simplified if there is no additional contact between the edge of the groove 24 and the recess 25 by removing material at this point so that the cavity 47 can be formed.

When the hook profiles are in the assembled state, a distal side face 48 of the locking shoulder 14 is at a distance from a proximal side face 49 of the receiving recess 12. Air should also remain at this point, or a gap 50. The gap at this point also promotes a good fit of the sealing groove 22 and sealing strip 23.

For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that in another embodiment, the same separate vertical locking element 37 can be applied to the locking hook 10 in a captive manner. For this, the locking groove 16 must be changed by the vertical locking element 37 to be able to keep captive and in kinematically reversed arrangement, so that the free end 46 of the resilient locking tab 45 is directed upwards to the top side 2 of the panel.

Another embodiment according to figure 5 has, like the previous one, again broken edges in the form of chamfers F1 and F2. The bevels form a mirror image of each other and form a V-joint. A difference from the previous embodiment is the design of the locking heel 14. The underside of the locking heel 14 is shown in FIG figure 5 partially cut free, namely a proximal part of the underside is provided with a free cut 51 . This creates a gap 52 between the cutout 51 and the bottom of the receiving recess 12 when the complementary hook profiles are in the assembled state. A distal part of the underside of the locking shoulder 14 remains in contact with the bottom of the receiving recess 12. This design creates a certain flexibility of the panel underside 3 Receiving hook 9. This resilience is advantageous if a covering of panels according to the invention is to be produced on a bumpy subsoil. An upward protruding hump in the ground when it is below locked hook profiles can be somewhat compensated for by the flexibility mentioned. If the bottom side 3 of the panel pushes upwards due to a hump, only the gap 52 narrows and lifting of the top side 2 of the panel can be avoided or reduced.

A dashed line is in figure 5 illustrates an alternative design which provides that when two panel edges (7, 8) are in the locked state, that upper joint which is formed by the upper abutment surface 29 in contact with the upper abutment surface 35 is closed.

At the same time, the holding surface 11a to be attributed to the receiving hook 9 is in contact with the holding surface 14a to be attributed to the locking hook 10 . The dashed line indicates an elastic bending downwards at the receiving hook by the dimension t. The elastic bending causes a permanent pretension within the lock, namely by means of an arrangement of the holding surfaces 11a/14a such that they are inclined by an angle β with respect to the perpendicular on the panel plane. In particular, this keeps the joint mentioned between the upper abutment surface 29 and the upper counter-abutment surface 35 closed. The proposed design of the hook profiles, which generate a permanent bias within the lock and should close the upper joint can of course also as an alternative in each of the embodiments Figures 1 to 4 be provided.

Based on 6 A second pair of panel edges 60 and 61 of the panel is shown providing a positive tongue and groove connection. This pair of panel edges can be combined very well on a square panel with a first pair of edges having the complementary hook profiles according to the invention. The panel edges according to 6 do without hook profiles and cannot be locked in one joining movement in a direction perpendicular to the panel plane. Instead, one of the panel edges is provided with a tongue profile 62 and the complementary panel edge has a groove profile 63, so that a joining movement is required which includes a movement component of the panel edges in the panel plane towards one another. Preferably, that panel with tongue profile 62 is moved in a certain skew towards the groove profile 63 of a lying panel and when the tongue is inserted in the groove, the skew panel is then in the same plane of the lying panel swung down. The form-fit locking is established by the downward pivoting movement.

The second pair of edges is designed as in the patent application EP18155583.0 suggested. These panel edges in turn have means for sealing a joint, which are intended to counteract penetration of water to the underside 3 of the panel. For this purpose, the tongue profile 62 is provided with a sealing groove 64 and the complementary groove profile 63 has a distally protruding sealing web 65 which fits into the sealing groove 64 . The sealing web and sealing groove are each arranged in the material of the panel core 4 . In the present panel core 4, this is a material that can and should swell under moisture.

The tightness of the panel according to the invention can be improved if it is designed as a square panel and as a second pair of edges with the form-fitting tongue and groove profiles according to FIG EP18155583.0 is executed.

Furthermore, it has been found that the tightness of the quadrangular panel can be further improved if a defined common sealing plane 66 is provided. The pair of edges with the hook profiles should use the same sealing plane as the second pair of edges, which have the form-fitting tongue and groove profiles (62, 63) according to EP18155583.0 having.

For this purpose, it is proposed that the second pair of edges provided with the form-fitting tongue and groove profiles should be arranged in relation to the common sealing plane 66 in such a way that an upper side 67 of the sealing web 65 and an upper groove wall 68 of the sealing groove 64, which are in contact with one another as effective sealing surfaces, be arranged at the level of the common sealing plane 66 .

Regarding the pair of edges with the hook profiles, as in 7 shown, the groove base 28 of the sealing groove 22, which is in contact with the sealing strip 23, should be arranged so that the deepest point of the groove base 28 is also at the level of the common sealing plane 66, which is through the side by side shown Figures 6 and 7 is illustrated. For the rest, the blocking element is omitted in this illustration for the sake of simplicity; however, it is required for execution 7 the same blocking element 37 is provided as in figs 4 and 5 .

In this way it is achieved that sealingly contacting surfaces of both edge pairs, because they are arranged in the same sealing plane 66, do not allow any gaps in sealing to form even in the corners of the panels.

8 Fig. 13 again shows a panel 1 according to the invention, which is provided with a separate vertical locking element 69 for the purpose of vertical locking. In contrast to the statements according to 4 and 5 the vertical locking element 69 is provided with a locking tab 70 which protrudes from the retaining groove 38 when two panels are in the locked state. The vertical locking element 69 is designed to be spring-elastic on a rear area that extends into the retaining groove 38 . This spring-elastic holding area 71 is included in the holding area for the purposes of the invention because it protrudes into the holding groove 38 . However, the function of the spring-elastic holding area 71 is at least mainly to store spring energy and to transmit it as an elastic bias forward into the locking tab 70, which is in the locked state of two panels protrudes from the retaining groove 38, as in 8 to see. Of course, each embodiment of the Figures 1-7 be provided with the vertical locking element 69 proposed here with the necessary adaptations of the receiving retaining groove 38 as an expedient form-fitting contour 17.

reference list

1

panel

2

panel top

3

panel underside

4

panel core

5

locking means

6

locking means

7

panel edge

8th

panel edge

9

pick-up hook

10

locking hook

11

hook edge

11a

horizontal locking holding surface

12

recording recess

13

locking recess

14

locking heel

14a

horizontal locking holding surface

15

locking contour

16

locking groove

17

form-fitting contour

18

web

19

locking surface

20

open space

21

groove wall (locking groove)

22

sealing groove

23

sealing strip

24

groove edge

25

recess

26

proximal sidewall

27

distal sidewall

28

groove bottom

29

upper impact surface

30

tangent line

31

top (groove edge)

32

under impact surface

33

proximal groin side

34

distal inguinal side

35

upper counterattack surface

36

lower counter surface

37

separate vertical locking element

38

groove

39

the back

40

transverse projection

41

transverse projection

42

transverse projection

43

groove wall

44

throat

45

spring-elastic latch

46

free end

47

cavity

48

distal side surface

49

proximal side surface

50

gap

51

free cut

52

gap

60

panel edge

61

panel edge

62

spring profile

63

groove profile

64

seal groove

65

sealing bar

66

common sealing plane

67

top (sealing ridge)

68

upper groove wall (seal groove)

69

separate vertical locking element

70

locking tab

71

spring-elastic holding area

F1

chamfer

F2

chamfer

M

male resting contour

W

female latch contour

a

wedge angle

β

angle

Claims (14)

1. Panel (1) comprising a panel top side (2), a panel underside (3), a panel core (4) and complementary locking means (5, 6) provided in pair-wise relationship at mutually opposite panel edges (7, 8), wherein at least one pair of locking means is provided with complementary hook profiles, namely a receiving hook (9) and an arresting hook (10) opposite thereto, with the proviso that the receiving hook (9) has arranged remote from the main body a hook edge (11) and arranged closer to the main body a receiving recess (12), wherein the receiving recess (12) is open towards the panel top side (2) and wherein the arresting hook (10) is provided with an arresting recess (13) arranged closer to the main body and open towards the panel underside (3) and an arresting shoulder (14) which is arranged remote from the main body and which fits in the perpendicular joining direction into the receiving recess (12) of the receiving hook (9), wherein the arresting hook (10) has an arresting contour (15) with a vertical locking action and the receiving hook (9) has a positively locking contour (17) which for the purposes of vertical locking fits together in positively locking relationship with the arresting contour (15) of the arresting hook (10), wherein the arresting hook (10) has a horizontally locking holding surface (14a) arranged closer to the main body at its arresting shoulder (14) and the receiving hook (9) is provided with a horizontally locking holding surface (11a) arranged remote from the main body in the receiving recess (12), wherein the receiving hook (9) is provided with a sealing groove (22) open towards the panel top side (2) and wherein the arresting hook (10) has a sealing strip (23) which projects with respect to the panel underside (3) and which fits into the sealing groove (22) in the assembled state of the complementary hook profiles, characterised in that the sealing groove (22) and the sealing strip (23) are arranged in the region of the panel core (4) and the surface of the sealing groove (22) is formed from the material of the panel core (4) and/or the surface of the sealing strip (23) is formed from the material of the panel core (4), wherein the panel core has a swelling property.
2. Panel according to claim 1, characterised in that the panel core (4) is made of a material which has the property of being able to absorb moisture and in so doing increase its volume.
3. Panel according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the panel core (4) includes a wood fibre material.
4. Panel according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the sealing groove (22) is provided with mutually opposite side walls (26, 27), has a groove bottom (28) and is delimited distally by a groove edge (24) projecting in the direction of the panel top side (2), wherein the side walls (26, 27) assume relative to each other a wedge-shaped arrangement, wherein the wedge angle (α) is open towards the panel top side (2) and wherein the wedge angle (α) is in the range of 30_° to 70_°, preferably in the range of 40_° to 60_° and particularly preferably at 45_° to 55_°.
5. Panel according to claim 4 characterised in that the cross-section of the sealing groove (22) has a respective round transition between the side walls (26, 27) and the groove bottom (28).
6. Panel according to claim 5 characterised in that there is provided a round transition between the distal side wall (27) and the groove edge (24) in the cross-section thereof.
7. Panel according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the sealing strip (23) is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the sealing groove (22).
8. Panel according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that there is provided a separate vertical locking element (37) and the separate vertical locking element (37, 69) prior to locking of the panel edges (7, 8) is either integrated as a constituent part of the arresting contour (15) of the arresting hook (10) or is integrated as a constituent part of the positively locking contour (17) of the receiving hook (9).
9. Panel according to claim 8 characterised in that the arresting contour (15) of the arresting hook (10) has a holding groove (38) for the separate vertical locking element (37, 69) and the positively locking contour of the receiving hook also has a holding groove (38) for the separate vertical locking element (37, 69).
10. Panel according to claim 9 characterised in that either the holding groove (38) in the receiving hook (9) or the groove (16) in the arresting hook (10) is arranged as a holding groove in order to be able to captively hold the separate vertical locking element (37, 69) prior to locking of the panel edges (7, 8), wherein a part projecting from the holding groove (38) of the separate vertical locking element (37) is to be brought into engagement with the respective other groove during a joining operation.
11. Panel according to claim 9 or claim 10 characterised in that both the holding groove (38) in the receiving hook (9) and also the groove (16) in the arresting hook (10) is open relative to the panel core (4) in the distal direction.
12. Panel according to one of claims 9 to 11 characterised in that the separate vertical locking element (37, 69) has a holding region which is provided for captive application of the vertical locking element by means of one of the grooves and a projecting part of the vertical locking element is provided with a retaining latch (45, 70).
13. Panel according to claim 12 characterised in that the holding region and/or the retaining latch (45, 70) of the separate vertical locking element (37, 69) is of a resilient configuration for the purposes of automatic latchability of the retaining latch (45, 70) in a groove (16) during a joining operation of complementary hook profiles.
14. Panel according to one of claims 1 to 13 characterised in that at least one panel edge (7, 8) which is provided with hook profiles is provided with an edge break (F1, F2) at the panel top side (2).

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