Panel with flowthrough prevention against penetration of liquid

Abstract

Disclosed is a panel (10) for covering a surface of a room, having a panel element (12), which extends in a longitudinal direction (14) and a transverse direction, for transferring use loads introduced from a top side (18) of the panel element (12) to a bottom side (20) of the panel element (12) facing the surface of the room, wherein the top side (18) is spaced from the bottom side (20) in a thickness direction (16), and having a locking hook (24), projecting from the panel element (12) in the longitudinal direction (14), for latching into a receiving groove (44) of another panel (10), wherein an end face reference plane (40) of an end face (30) of the panel element (12) extending away from the locking hook (24) is inclined relative to the thickness direction (16), thereby forming an obtuse angle with the locking hook (24). The obtuse angle between the locking hook (24) and the end face reference plane (40) allows for a seep-resistant and fracture-proof (10) panel.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a panel with high resistance to the penetration of liquid to an underside of the panel, which can cover a surface of a room with the help of further such panels, in particular to improve the optical appearance of the room and / or to cover the surface of the room with a material layer better suited for the intended function.

[0002] From WO 2006 / 133690 A1, a panel is known which can be locked at its end face to a correspondingly shaped further panel via a locking hook that snaps into a receiving groove of the further panel, wherein in a thickness area outside the locking hook a joint plane is formed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the panel and perpendicular to the transverse direction of the panel, from which two receiving pockets of different depths extend perpendicularly in the longitudinal direction of the panel to receive corresponding projecting locking lugs of the further panel and two locking lugs of different heights project to engage in corresponding receiving pockets of the further panel.

[0003] WO 2004 / 081316 A1 discloses a panel with a locking hook engaging in a receiving groove, in which the end faces facing each other in the area of ​​the receiving groove and the locking hook are chamfered.

[0004] From DE 20 2019 101 807 U1 a panel with an overlapping joint covering a joint to an adjacent panel is known.

[0005] There is a constant need to design the connection between panels to be as leak-proof and break-resistant as possible.

[0006] The object of the invention is to demonstrate measures that enable a walk-through-proof and / or break-resistant panel.

[0007] The problem is solved by a panel having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0008] The disclosure relates to a panel for covering a surface of a room, comprising a panel body extending in a longitudinal and a transverse direction for transferring service loads introduced at a top of the panel body to a bottom of the panel body facing the surface of the room, wherein the top is spaced apart from the bottom in a thickness direction, and a locking hook projecting longitudinally from the panel body for locking into a receiving groove of another panel, wherein a frontal ground plane of an end face of the panel body extending away from the locking hook is inclined in the thickness direction at an obtuse angle to the locking hook.

[0009] The panel can have a panel body based on a cuboid as its basic shape, whose longitudinal extent is generally significantly greater than its transverse extent, while the thickness of the panel body is generally less than its transverse extent. The panel body can have a tongue-and-groove joint on one long side, extending continuously along the length and projecting transversely, and a tongue-and-groove joint on the other side, allowing essentially identical panels to be joined together along their long sides via a tongue-and-groove connection.Furthermore, the locking hook can protrude longitudinally from the short side of the panel body running in the transverse direction, while a spring element can protrude from the other short side of the panel body, defining a receiving groove. This allows essentially identical panels to be interlocked at their short sides via a tongue-and-groove connection. During installation, one panel can rest flat on a surface defining a working plane, such as a floor, a side wall, or the ceiling of a room. The second panel can, if necessary, be positioned at a slight angle of approximately 30°, for example, at the long side of an already installed panel running alongside it, and then pivoted onto the surface. This creates the tongue-and-groove connection between the locking hook of the first panel and the receiving groove of the second panel.

[0010] The locking hook typically rests on a surface defined by the room's surface and is supported by that surface. However, it has been observed that the locking hook is prone to breakage at the transition to the panel body. It is assumed that, due to the slightly angled orientation of the second panel relative to the surface during the manufacturing of the tongue-and-groove connection, the locking hook can lift slightly from the surface, at least at the point where it engages last, at the end of the second panel's pivoting movement. This allows the locking hook to bend elastically relative to the panel body, and excessive bending can lead to damage in the transition area between the locking hook and the panel body.However, since the locking hook forms an obtuse angle, rather than a right angle, with the end face on the short side of the panel body, stress concentration effects at the transition of the locking hook, which is particularly integral with the panel body, can be at least reduced. This, in turn, increases the flexibility and elasticity of the connection between the locking hook and the panel body, so that the locking hook, compared to one projecting at a right angle from the panel body, can be bent to a greater extent around a bending axis running essentially in the transverse direction without breaking or sustaining other damage. The end face can be inclined relative to a plane spanned by the thickness direction and the transverse direction, and in particular, can be tilted at least partially relative to this plane around a tilting axis running in the transverse direction.Instead of achieving improved fracture resistance by increasing the stability or hardness of the fracture-prone areas, improved fracture resistance is achieved by increasing elasticity in the fracture-prone area. This utilizes the fact that the locking hook, when installed, can be clamped between the surface of the room to be covered and the adjacent panel, so that increased flexibility does not adversely affect its functionality. The obtuse angle between the locking hook and the end face of the panel body improves the locking hook's fracture resistance under bending stress, thus enabling a fracture-resistant panel connection.

[0011] Since the end face can be inclined relative to a plane defined by the thickness direction and the transverse direction, the path a liquid would have to travel from the top of the panel body to the locking hook and to the underside of the panel body can be lengthened compared to an end face lying in the plane defined by the thickness direction and the transverse direction. This reduces the risk of liquid reaching the underside of the panel body, remaining there, and promoting mold growth.Due to the longer path the liquid has to travel to the locking hook, a larger volume of liquid, particularly through capillary action, can be retained in the joint between panels that are interlocked at their ends. This allows the liquid to evaporate later and escape from the joint without being trapped at the underside of the panel. Chamfering the end face prevents or at least reduces the liquid from penetrating to the underside of the panel, thus improving the panel's resistance to liquid penetration compared to a panel without chamfering. The obtuse angle between the locking hook and the end face ensures a panel that is both leak-proof and break-resistant.

[0012] If the end face of the panel body is designed as a flat surface on its short side, it coincides with the base plane of the end face. However, it is possible to design the end face of the panel body differently from a flat surface, so that the base plane of the end face corresponds to the plane of the panel body on its short side if the intentionally designed irregularities of the end face are disregarded. For example, the end face of the panel body can initially be designed flat and only in a later forming step be intentionally made uneven, so that the base plane of the end face would correspond to the end face before the forming step. In particular, if the end face is only uneven in certain areas, the remaining flat surfaces, at least near the locking hook, correspond to the respective surfaces of the base plane of the end face.Any edge smoothing provided by chamfers in the transition area between the end face and the top surface of the panel body is disregarded when determining the orientation of the end face's base plane. If the entire end face of the panel body is uneven, the end face's base plane can be defined by a center line of the panel body's transverse section, from which the protrusions and depressions of the uneven end face extend, provided that the sum of the transverse cross-sectional areas of the protrusions equals the sum of the transverse cross-sectional areas of the depressions.

[0013] The panel body can have a core based on a wood-based material, which may be provided with a decorative layer, particularly on the upper surface facing away from the substrate. The decorative layer may be made of a material that is harder and / or more resistant than the core and / or may be provided with a protective layer, preferably one that is substantially transparent and / or translucent. This allows the decorative layer to withstand mechanical stresses as well as other stresses, such as those caused by moisture and / or cleaning agents, while the core, which is softer than the decorative layer, can dampen vibrations, especially structure-borne noise. The underside of the panel body can rest directly on the surface of the room to be covered.Alternatively, the panel body can be indirectly supported on the room surface, for example, by an anti-slip and / or anti-squeak film placed between the underside of the panel body and the room surface. Particularly when the panel is to be used to cover a room's ceiling, it can be attached using spacers. The locking hook can extend from the panel body with a longitudinal rib, at the free end of which a material thickening is formed that can engage in the receiving groove of the other panel in a form-fitting manner. During the creation of the tongue-and-groove connection with the other panel, the material thickening can be guided past the spring body.In this process, the thickened material of the locking hook can slide along the material of the spring body, allowing the thickened material of the locking hook to snap into the receiving groove of the subsequent panel when the designated end position for the tongue-and-groove connection is reached. Specifically, the panel and the subsequent panel are designed to be essentially identical, so that the explanations for the panel also apply to the subsequent panel and vice versa, with the locking hook located on one short side and the receiving groove on the other.

[0014] The leakage resistance of the panel can be measured by filling a container open at both ends with a liquid, particularly water, of a predefined volume, resulting in a defined liquid level and consequently a defined hydrostatic pressure. The liquid-filled container is placed centrally on the top surfaces of two interlocked panels. The liquid level remaining in the container after a predefined time is a measure of the leakage resistance against liquid penetrating the joint formed between the interlocked panels.

[0015] In particular, it is intended that the obtuse angle between the locking hook and the end face is constant in the transverse direction or changes with a constant slope. If the obtuse angle formed between the locking hook and the end face is essentially the same in every cross-sectional plane along the transverse direction, the panel can be manufactured particularly simply and cost-effectively. Alternatively, it is also possible for the end face to be additionally chamfered about an axis running in the thickness direction. This further increases the path length for penetrating liquid, thus further improving the reliability of the flow. Furthermore, it is possible to adapt the transverse flexibility of the locking hook to the forces occurring during engagement with the next panel.It can be taken into account that the further panel can be pivoted from an angled position onto the surface of the ground to establish the tongue-and-groove connection between the locking hook and the receiving groove, so that changing load profiles on the locking hook can result during the pivoting movement in the transverse direction. For example, the obtuse angle between the locking hook and the end face can be smaller at the beginning of the pivoting movement of the further profile, especially on the side facing the long side with the tongue-and-groove joint, than at the end of the pivoting movement of the further profile, especially on the side facing the long side with the tongue-and-groove joint.This allows the locking hook to be less flexible and more brittle at the beginning of the pivoting movement of the subsequent panel, which creates the tongue-and-groove connection. This facilitates the insertion of the locking hook, which is already wedged between the surface of the space and the subsequent panel, into the receiving groove. Towards the end of the pivoting movement, the flexibility of the locking hook increases, although this also increases the risk of the locking hook lifting off the surface of the space. To create a continuously changing obtuse angle in the transverse direction between the locking hook and the end face, the end face can be rotated about an axis running in the thickness direction compared to an orientation where the obtuse angle remains constant in the transverse direction.Preferably, the upper surface of the panel body features an edge extending essentially only in the transverse direction, while in a transition area to the locking hook, the front surface is beveled in the transverse direction. Although the front surface can be tilted around two axes to form a right-angled arrangement, on the upper surface facing the interior of the room to be clad, only joints of several interconnected, identically shaped panels are visible, if at all, running at right angles to each other, thus avoiding any visual impairment of the laying pattern by beveled visible edges.Alternatively, the end face of the panel body can be deliberately angled to the longitudinal direction by means of a correspondingly angled course of the end face plane, for example in order to form visible edges parallel and / or perpendicular to the slope when cladding a side wall of a room adjoining a slope.

[0016] Preferably, a bearing surface of the locking hook facing the adjacent panel transitions into the end face via a rounded section. A sharp-edged transition between the locking hook and the end face of the panel body is avoided, thereby at least reducing stress concentration effects. The obtuse angle exceeding 90° between the locking hook and the end face is maintained by ensuring that the rounded section extends over an angle of less than π / 2 between the bearing surface and the end face, thus forming a correspondingly shallower transition. The rounded section can be part of a circular arc, with a surface normal of an associated imaginary circle pointing substantially or at least to a large extent in the transverse direction. However, it is also possible for the rounded section to be part of an arc of an ellipse or to be irregularly rounded.

[0017] Preferably, the rounded section forms part of a receiving pocket extending from the front surface to accommodate a projecting locking lug of the adjacent panel. The receiving pocket can extend proximally from the front surface, i.e., towards the center of gravity of the panel body, while the locking lug projects distally from the front surface, i.e., away from the center of gravity of the panel body. The receiving pocket and / or the locking lug can be formed from the core of the respective panel body. In particular, the receiving pocket is bounded by wood and / or the locking lug is formed by wood.The locking lug and the receiving pocket are made of a relatively soft material, especially compared to a decorative layer of the panel body. This allows the locking lug to be pressed into the receiving pocket during the creation of the tongue-and-groove connection between the locking hook and the receiving groove. It is intentionally permitted that the locking lug and / or the receiving pocket deform elastically and / or plastically to ensure that the locking lug engages in the receiving pocket in its designated final position. Specifically, the locking lug is pressed against the receiving pocket, and elastic and / or plastic deformation of the locking lug and / or the receiving pocket may be permitted in this pressed-in state. The path of any liquid penetration is further increased by the locking lug engaging in the receiving pocket, thus further improving the reliability of the fluid flow.The locking lug inserted into the receiving pocket can, together with the receiving pocket, form at least one labyrinth seal, thereby preventing the ingress of liquid and / or moisture into any gap remaining between the interlocked panels. The interlocking of the panels can thus be essentially watertight. A suitable embodiment of the receiving pocket and the locking lug is described in WO 2006 / 133690 A1, the relevant content of which is hereby incorporated by reference as part of the invention. A center line of a cross-sectional plane of the receiving pocket and / or the locking lug, viewed in the transverse direction, can be oriented perpendicular to the orientation of the chamfered end face or substantially in the longitudinal direction of the panel body.The curve formed between the locking hook and the end face can extend proximally beyond the level of the end face's base plane, simultaneously forming an edge for the receiving pocket. This allows the receiving pocket to connect directly to the locking hook. This makes it possible to incorporate a particularly large number of receiving pockets and / or locking lugs along the remaining height of the end face in the thickness direction, thereby improving the sealing effect. At the same time, the extended curve enhances the flexibility and breaking strength of the locking hook, resulting in a panel with both good sealing performance and high breaking strength.

[0018] In particular, the end face has at least three receiving pockets extending from the base plane of the end face, each for receiving a projecting locking lug of the subsequent panel, wherein the end face specifically has at least two locking lugs projecting from the base plane for engaging in a corresponding receiving pocket of the subsequent panel. Due to the angled orientation of the base plane of the end face, the total surface area of ​​the end face can be increased for a given panel thickness. This makes it possible to increase the number of receiving pockets and / or locking lugs. For example, three receiving pockets with two locking lugs positioned between them are provided on the end face of the panel body with the locking hook.

[0019] Preferably, the end face has receiving pockets extending from the base plane of the end face, arranged alternately in the thickness direction, to receive a projecting locking lug of the subsequent panel, and locking lugs projecting from the base plane of the end face to engage in a corresponding receiving pocket of the subsequent panel. In at least one cross-sectional plane, the receiving pockets transition directly into the locking lugs, particularly via an inflection point of a cross-sectional profile of the end face lying in the base plane of the end face. In a cross-sectional plane viewed in the transverse direction, the receiving pockets and the locking lugs can oscillate around the base plane of the end face as a center line, preferably with the same amplitude. In particular, no plateau lying in the base plane of the end face is provided between the receiving pocket and the locking lug following in the thickness direction, so that the receiving pocket transitions into the locking lug essentially without a step.The orientation of the end face can be determined by the inflection points of the end face's profile, which lie on an imaginary straight line in the section plane viewed in the transverse direction. These inflection points occur in the seamless transition between the receiving pocket and the locking lug. The corrugated profile of the end face, which is provided along its entire length by the locking hook and an edge-smoothing chamfer, allows for the creation of a large number of receiving pockets and locking lugs, thereby achieving and / or improving a watertight and / or leak-proof seal on the panel ends.

[0020] Particularly preferred for the obtuse angle α is 90° < α ≤ 115°, more preferably 91° ≤ α ≤ 105°, preferably 92° ≤ α ≤ 100°, and most preferably α = 95° ± 2°. Such a chamfer of the end face can result in sufficient flexibility of the locking hook and is also easy to manufacture.

[0021] In particular, a spring body projecting longitudinally from the panel body is provided for receiving, especially without play, a locking hook of another panel, which can be engaged in a receiving groove formed by the spring body and / or the panel body. The spring body's end face, pointing away from the panel body, is inclined at an acute angle to the thickness direction with a contact surface of the spring body facing the locking hook. The spring body and the end face can be configured to correspond to the locking hook and the end face. This allows identically configured panels to be engaged longitudinally one behind the other.The embodiment of the panel on the short side with the spring body, corresponding to the embodiment of the panel on the short side with the locking hook described above, represents an independent alternative based on the same inventive concept.

[0022] The invention relates to a panel for covering a surface of a room, comprising a panel body extending in a longitudinal and a transverse direction for transferring service loads introduced at a top of the panel body to a bottom of the panel body facing the surface of the room, wherein the top is spaced apart from the bottom in a thickness direction, and a spring body projecting longitudinally from the panel body for receiving, in particular without play, a locking hook of a further panel which can be engaged in a receiving groove formed with the aid of the spring body and / or the panel body, wherein a spring end face of a spring end face of the spring body, pointing away from the panel body, is inclined in the thickness direction at an acute angle to a contact surface of the spring body pointing towards the locking hook.The panel can be designed and further developed in the area of ​​the spring body as described above, whereby, in particular, the area of ​​the spring body can be designed correspondingly to the panel described above in the area of ​​the locking hook. The above descriptions of the panel in the area of ​​the locking hook can apply analogously to the design of the panel in the area of ​​the spring body. Due to the acute angle between the spring body and the spring end face of the panel body, the breaking strength of the spring body and / or the locking hook interacting with the spring body is improved under bending stress, thus enabling a panel to be connected in a break-resistant manner. In addition, the path length for penetrating liquid is further increased, which further improves the flow resistance.The acute angle between the spring body and the spring's end face of the panel body ensures a reliable and break-resistant panel. The contact surface can rest against a rib of the locking hook that connects a material thickening of the locking hook to the panel body, or be spaced from the rib with the smallest possible air gap. The material thickening of the locking hook can slide along the contact surface of the spring body to snap into the receiving groove. The receiving groove is defined by a material taper of the spring body and a portion of the panel body's end face, from which the spring body projects distally in the longitudinal direction.The spring end face plane can be inclined relative to a plane spanned by the thickness direction and the transverse direction, and in particular, can be tilted at least partially about a tilting axis extending in the transverse direction relative to this plane. It is particularly intended that the acute angle between the spring body and the spring end face plane is constant in the transverse direction or changes with a constant slope. The following explanations apply to all of the above independent inventions jointly.

[0023] Preferably, the contact surface of the spring element transitions into the spring end face via a counter-curve. A sharp-edged transition between the spring element and the end face of the panel body is avoided, thereby at least reducing notch effects. Here, acute angles of less than 90° between the contact surface of the spring element and the base plane of the spring end face are maintained by ensuring that the counter-curve also extends over an angular range of less than π / 2 between the contact surface of the spring element and the base plane of the spring end face, thus forming a correspondingly flatter transition. The counter-curve can be part of a circular arc, wherein a surface normal of an associated imaginary circle points substantially or at least to a large extent in the transverse direction. However, it is also possible for the counter-curve to be part of an arc of an ellipse or to be irregularly rounded.In particular, the counter-rounding can fit snugly against the rounding formed between the locking hook and the end face of another panel, preferably with a clearance fit.

[0024] Preferably, the counter-radius forms part of a locking lug projecting from the spring's base plane, engaging in a corresponding receiving pocket of the adjacent panel. A center line of a cross-sectional plane of the receiving pocket and / or locking lug, viewed in the transverse direction, can be oriented perpendicular to the orientation of the beveled spring's base plane or essentially in the longitudinal direction of the panel body. The counter-radius formed between the spring body and the end face can extend distally beyond the level of the spring's base plane and simultaneously form an edge of the locking lug. This allows the locking lug to connect directly to the contact surface of the spring body. This makes it possible to provide a particularly large number of receiving pockets and / or locking lugs on the remaining height of the end face in the thickness direction, thereby improving the sealing effect.

[0025] In particular, the spring end face has at least three locking lugs projecting from the base plane of the spring end face for engaging in corresponding receiving pockets of the other panel, wherein, in particular, at least two receiving pockets projecting from the base plane of the spring end face are each designed to receive one of the locking lugs of the other panel. The angled orientation of the base plane of the spring end face allows the total surface area of ​​the end face to be increased for a given panel body thickness. This makes it possible to increase the number of receiving pockets and / or locking lugs. For example, three locking lugs with two receiving pockets between them are provided on the end face of the panel body with the spring body.

[0026] Preferably, the spring end face has receiving pockets extending from the base plane of the spring end face, arranged alternately in the thickness direction, for receiving a projecting locking lug of the further panel, and locking lugs projecting from the base plane of the spring end face for engaging a corresponding receiving pocket of the further panel, wherein in at least one cross-sectional plane in the transverse direction, the receiving pockets transition directly into the locking lugs, in particular only via an inflection point of a cross-sectional profile of the spring end face lying in the base plane of the spring end face. In a cross-sectional plane viewed in the transverse direction, the receiving pockets and the locking lugs can oscillate around the base plane of the spring end face as a center line, preferably with the same amplitude.In particular, no plateau lying in the spring end plane is provided between the receiving pocket and the subsequent locking lug in the thickness direction, so that the receiving pocket transitions into the locking lug essentially without a step. The orientation of the spring end plane can be determined by the inflection points of the spring end face's profile in the cross-sectional plane, which lie on an imaginary straight line. These inflection points occur in the seamless transition between the receiving pocket and the locking lug. The corrugated profile of the spring end face, which extends over its entire length from the contact surface and includes an edge-smoothing chamfer, allows for the formation of a particularly large number of receiving pockets and locking lugs, thereby achieving and / or improving a watertight and / or leak-proof seal at the panel ends.

[0027] Particularly preferred is an acute angle β between the spring end face and the thickness direction of 65° ≤ β < 90°, more preferably 75° ≤ β ≤ 89°, preferably 80° ≤ β ≤ 88°, and most preferably β = 85° ± 2°. Such a chamfer of the spring end face can result in sufficient flexibility of the locking hook of the other panel and is still easy to manufacture. In particular, the angle α and the angle β add up to 180°, so that α + β = 180°.

[0028] In particular, the receiving groove has a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface, which extends substantially parallel to the first clamping surface, for clamping the locking hook without play. The first clamping surface is connected to the second clamping surface via an arcuate surface, which extends at a distance from the locking hook. A thickened section of the locking hook can be inserted into the receiving groove with an interference fit between the clamping surfaces. The arcuate surface allows sufficient clearance between the thickened section of the locking hook and a tapered section of the spring body. At the same time, the tapered section of the spring body allows for elastic bending, enabling the locking hook to snap into and lock into the receiving groove, similar to a clip connection.The arc-shaped profile of the arc surface, which transitions seamlessly into the clamping surfaces, reduces stress concentration effects and ensures sufficient breaking strength for the spring element when the locking hook engages with the receiving groove. This improves the panel's breaking strength.

[0029] According to the invention, the spring end face has an overlap projection extending from the base plane of the spring end face to cover a gap that forms between the spring end face and the end face of the interlocked further panel and extends between the overlap projection and the locking hook of the further panel. When the panel is interlocked at one end face with the corresponding end face of a substantially identically shaped panel, a gap can form between the respective end faces, i.e., the spring end face of one panel and the end face of the further panel. This gap can be covered by the overlap projection, thus improving the visual appearance. A dark or shadowy-looking edge between the interlocked panels can thereby be avoided or at least made less pronounced.Additionally, the overlapping approach can form a further obstacle in the form of a labyrinth seal, which can further improve the resistance to liquid penetrating the joint and the underside of the panel.

[0030] According to the invention, the panel body comprises a core and a decorative layer forming the top surface and connected to the core. The core and the decorative layer are made of different materials, with the overlap joint being formed entirely of the decorative layer. The surface of the overlap joint facing away from the underside of the panel body can thus be formed of the decorative layer, continuing the visual appearance of the decorative layer across the joint. This makes it possible, for example, to manufacture the core from a particularly durable material without restricting the material selection for the core due to requirements regarding its visual effect. If there is a color change between the core and the decorative layer, this can be covered and concealed by the overlap joint, so that the color change is no longer visible.A change in the visual appearance between the decorative layer with the overlapping joint and the decorative layer of the other panel can be essentially avoided or significantly reduced compared to a change in the visual appearance between the decorative layer and the core.

[0031] In particular, the overlapping section is designed such that, when the panel is locked into place, it is pressed against the other panel with a clamping force. Similar to a flexible spring, the protruding overlapping section can be slightly bent when the panel is locked into place, allowing it to be pressed against the other panel, especially against the decorative layer and / or the end face, with a clamping force resulting from the elastic bending. This avoids or at least reduces the gap between the overlapping section and the other panel, resulting in a good, and in particular virtually seamless, visual appearance.

[0032] Preferably, the overlapping section is designed such that, when the panel is locked to the other panel, it forms a lip seal. The lip seal formed between the overlapping section and the other panel can be either contacting or non-contacting. The overlapping section can extend over the entire transverse length of the panel or slightly less. Preferably, the overlapping section can rest against the other panel over its entire transverse length, particularly along a substantially linear path, thereby forming a contacting lip seal. The sealing effect of the lip seal can be dimensioned such that liquids, especially water, are retained or their passage is at least significantly delayed. This further improves leakage resistance.

[0033] The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. The drawings show: Fig. 1 : a schematic side view of the end face of a panel, Fig. 2 : a schematic side view of an opposite end face of the panel made of Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 : a schematic side view of two interlocked panels, Fig. 4 : a schematic side view of the end faces of panels that still need to be locked together in a further embodiment, Fig. 5 : a schematic side view of the panels made of Fig. 4 in the locked position, Fig. 6 : a schematic detail view of a panel made of Fig. 4 and Fig. 7 : a schematic detail view of the panels made of Fig. 5 .

[0034] The in Fig. 1 The illustrated panel 10 can be used, in particular, to cover a surface of a room. For this purpose, the panel 10 has a cuboid-shaped panel body 12, which has long sides extending in the longitudinal direction 14 and short sides extending in the transverse direction, as well as a thickness extending in the thickness direction 16. The long sides and the short sides define a top surface 18 and a bottom surface 20 of the panel body 12, which are spaced apart from each other by the thickness of the panel body 12 and, in particular, run parallel to each other. A locking hook 22, formed integrally with the panel body 12, projects in the longitudinal direction 14 from the short side of the panel body 12, the locking hook 12 having a material thickening 26 spaced apart from the panel body 12 by a web 24.A bottom surface of the locking hook 22 pointing away from the material thickening 26 in the direction of thickness can be connected without a step to the bottom surface 20 of the panel body 12 and merge into it.

[0035] The web 28 of the locking hook 22 is adjoined by an end face 30 on the short side of the panel body 12, which in the illustrated embodiment is irregularly shaped to increase the resistance to liquid ingress. The end face 30 has receiving pockets 32 and locking lugs 34 arranged alternately in the thickness direction. In the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, three receiving pockets 32 and two locking lugs 34 are provided, which merge into one another essentially seamlessly and without an intervening plateau, resulting in a corrugated cross-sectional profile for the end face 30. The end face 30 terminates near the top surface 18 of the panel body 12 at an edge-smoothing chamfer 36 and, in the area where the locking hook 22 is attached, transitions via a radius 38 into a bearing surface 39 of the web 28. The radius 38 simultaneously forms part of the receiving pocket 32 ​​adjoining the locking hook 22.

[0036] The cross-sectional profile of the end face 30 can oscillate about a center line that defines a base plane 40 for the end face 30. If the end face 30 had no receiving pockets 32 and no locking lugs 24, the end face 30 would coincide with the base plane 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the orientation of the base plane 40 can be determined by the inflection points of the cross-sectional profile of the end face 30, which form in the transition between the successive receiving pockets 32 and locking lugs 34 and lie in the base plane 40. The base plane 40 is not oriented perpendicular to the top surface 18 and the bottom surface 20, but is slightly inclined to the thickness direction 16, so that an obtuse angle α of greater than 90° is formed between the web 28 of the locking hook 24 and the base plane 40.The obtuse angle α and the curvature 38 having an arc length of less than π / 2 reduce notch effects and increase the bending elasticity of the locking hook 24, thereby reducing the risk of mechanical damage to the locking hook 24.

[0037] As in Fig. 2 As shown, the panel 10 can be designed correspondingly on the opposite short side, so that essentially identical panels 10 can be interlocked end-to-end via a tongue-and-groove connection. A spring element 42, which can be elastically bent away from the locking hook 26 of another panel 10, can project longitudinally from the panel body 12. This spring element 42 forms a receiving groove 44 between the panel body 12 and the spring element 42, which is integrally formed with the panel body 12, for receiving the material thickening 26 of the locking hook 24. The receiving groove 44 can be limited in longitudinal direction 14 on one side by a first clamping surface 46 of the panel body 12 and on the other side by a second clamping surface 48 of the spring body 42, wherein the material thickening 26 of the locking hook 24 can be clamped in particular with a press fit between the clamping surfaces 46, 48.The clamping surfaces 46, 48 can be connected to each other via an arcuate surface 50 of the spring body 42, which extends at a distance from the material thickening 26 inserted in the receiving groove 44. The spring body 42 can have a contact surface 52 facing the bearing surface 39 of the web 28 of the locking hook 24, which can form a stop acting in the thickness direction 16 for the spring-groove connection formed by the locking hook 24 inserted into the receiving groove 42. In the fully locked state, a clearance can be provided between the contact surface 52 of the spring body 42 and the bearing surface 39 of the web 28 of the locking hook 24.

[0038] The spring body 42 has a spring end face 54 facing the end face 30 of the panel body 12, which is also irregularly shaped. The spring end face 54 has receiving pockets 32 and locking lugs 34 arranged alternately in the thickness direction, wherein in the Fig. 2 In the illustrated embodiment, two receiving pockets 32 and three locking lugs 34 are provided, which merge into one another essentially seamlessly and without an intervening plateau. The spring end face 54 also terminates near the upper surface 18 of the panel body 12 at an edge-smoothing chamfer 36 and transitions into the contact surface 52 via a counter-round 56.

[0039] Analogous to the shaping of the end face 30, the cross-sectional profile of the spring end face 54 can oscillate about a center line that defines a spring end face base plane 58 for the spring end face 54. If the spring end face 54 did not have receiving pockets 32 and no locking lugs 24, the spring end face 54 would coincide with the spring end face base plane 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the orientation of the spring end face base plane 58 can be determined by the inflection points of the cross-sectional profile of the spring end face 54 that form in the transition between the successive receiving pockets 32 and locking lugs 34 and that lie in the spring end face base plane 58. The spring end face plane 58 is not aligned perpendicular to the top surface 18 and the bottom surface 20, but is aligned at a slight angle to the thickness direction 16, so that an acute angle β of less than 90° is formed between the contact surface 52 and the spring end face plane 40.

[0040] As in Fig. 3 As shown, angles α and β add up to 180°, so that the end face 40 of one panel coincides with the spring end face 40 of the other panel 10. The respective interoperating receiving pockets 32 and locking lugs 34 of the end face 30 and the spring end face 54 can engage elastically and / or plastically deformed into one another and achieve a watertight seal.

[0041] The in Fig. 4 The panels 10 shown correspond fully to those in Fig. 3 The panels 10 shown, with the exception that the panel 10 shown on the left has a projecting overlapping extension 60 on its spring end face 54, which is in Fig. 6 is shown in detail. The overlapping section 60 can be formed, in particular, at the distal lower end of the chamfer 36. Preferably, the chamfer 36 transitions seamlessly into a surface of the overlapping section 60. As shown in Fig. 7 As shown, the overlapping section 60 can extend slightly over the further panel 10 and thereby cover a joint 62 formed between the tongue end face 54 of panel 10 and the end face 30 of the further panel 10. As shown in Fig. 7 As shown, the overlapping section 60 can be pressed against the further panel 10, in particular against the chamfer 36 of the further panel 10, and form a lip seal. The overlapping section 60 and the optionally provided chamfer 36 can, in particular, be part of a decorative layer applied to a core of the panel body 12, so that the overlapping section 60 can also conceal a color change occurring in the joint 62 between the decorative layer and the core.

Claims

1. Panel for covering a surface of a room, comprising a panel element (12) extending in a longitudinal direction (14) and a transverse direction for transferring use loads introduced at a top side (18) of the panel element (12) to a bottom side (20) of the panel element (12) facing the surface of the room, wherein the top side (18) is spaced apart from the bottom side (20) in a thickness direction (16); and a tongue body (42) projecting from the panel element (12) in the longitudinal direction (14) for receiving, in particular without play, a locking hook (24) of a further panel (10) which can be latched into a receiving groove (44) formed with the aid of the tongue body (42) and / or the panel element (12), wherein a tongue end face reference plane (58) of a tongue end face (54) of the tongue body (42) facing away from the panel element (12) extends inclined with respect to the thickness direction (16), while forming an acute angle with the contact surface (52) of the tongue body (42) facing the locking hook (24), characterized in that the tongue end face (54) comprises an overlap extension (60) projecting from the tongue end face reference plane (58) for covering a joint formed between the tongue end face (54) and the end face of the latched further panel (10) and extending between the overlap extension (60) and the locking hook (24) of the further panel (10), and that the panel element (12) comprises a core and a decorative layer forming the top side (18) and connected to the core, wherein the core and the decorative layer are made of different materials, wherein the overlap extension (60) is formed at least partially, in particular completely, from the decorative layer.

2. Panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact surface (52) of the tongue body (42) merges into the tongue end face (54) via a counter-rounding (56).

3. Panel according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the acute angle β is 65° ≤ β < 90°, in particular 75° ≤ β ≤ 89°, preferably 75° ≤ β ≤ 88° and particularly preferably β = 85° ± 2°.

4. Panel according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the overlap extension (60) is configured such that the overlap extension (60) is pressed against the further panel (10) with a pressing force in a state in which the panel (10) is latched to the further panel (10).

5. Panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the overlap extension (60) is configured such that the overlap extension (60) forms a lip seal in a state in which the panel (10) is latched to the further panel (10).

Images