Vertically assembled floor covering element

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor covering element, such as a tile or plank, comprising four sides having hermaphroditic assembly means (2) for assembly with other complementary and adjacent floor covering elements (1); According to the invention, the element (1) comprises: - two opposing male corners (3) having male assembly means capable of engaging simultaneously with complementary female assembly means of a female corner (4) of two complementary adjacent elements (1); - two opposing female corners (4) having female assembly means capable of engaging simultaneously with complementary male assembly means of a male corner (3) of two complementary adjacent elements (1); and the male corners (3) are in the form of a combination of male dovetails of two adjacent sides, connected to each other by an inclined portion, for example at 45°, with respect to one side.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of floor coverings, and more particularly concerns an element, such as a tile or a plank, for the creation of a floor covering with vertical assembly, in free or glued installation. Previous art

[0002] It is known from prior art, an element, such as a slab or a blade, for the making of a vertically assembled floor covering, in free or glued installation, which has four sides having hermaphroditic assembly means for assembly with other complementary and adjacent floor covering elements.

[0003] This type of element has the disadvantage of only being able to create straight installations with junctions of four elements, with straight edges, meaning that it is not possible to offset the elements between them.

[0004] Therefore, when a row of laid elements encounters an obstacle, it is generally necessary to cut the element, at the risk of not being able to fully reuse the remaining offcut on another row.

[0005] To remedy this problem, only a staggered joint installation allows for the systematic reuse of offcuts, i.e., an installation with elements of random lengths installed on the same row without being cut, which results in irregular joints.

[0006] FR3010105 is known to offer a shift: half a step the male assembly means of two opposite sides; of a non-zero value and different from half a step or a step, or a multiple thereof, the male assembly means of two adjacent sides; said pitch corresponding to the distance between the crest of two adjacent male assembly means on the same side of the cladding element, such that the male assembly means on one side of an element are not susceptible to fit together with the female assembly means only on one side of an adjacent element, without there being any offset between the edges of the two adjacent elements.

[0007] This particular arrangement of the male and female assembly means on the different sides of the element implies that their installation can only be done in one direction.

[0008] However, the shape of the corners of the element described in this document does not allow for staggered joint installation.

[0009] Document EP2894276 describes a system allowing for staggered or straight joint installation. It is possible to offset a row by half the width of the element relative to the previous one.

[0010] However, the installation of this type of element is limited to two possibilities, straight installation or offset by half a width.

[0011] Furthermore, in this document, the configuration of the male / female assembly means in the form of dovetails leads to a fragility of said assembly means, in particular due to the constriction between the corner (junction of the 4 elements) and the first dovetail. Description of the invention

[0012] One of the aims of the invention is therefore to provide a flooring element, such as a tile or plank, with vertical assembly allowing for several types of staggered joint installation. In this installation method, a row can consist of elements of different lengths. Each row can also have identical widths (English bond) or different widths (French bond).

[0013] Another objective of the invention is to provide such an element in which the tensile strength of the assembly elements in the direction of the element's plane is increased. By increased strength, it is understood, for example, that a disengagement force of the assembly means, averaged over 200 mm of an edge without taking corners into account, must be greater than 1000 N.

[0014] For this purpose, a floor covering element, such as a slab or a plank, has been developed, comprising four sides with hermaphroditic assembly means, i.e. alternating male / female, for assembly with other complementary and adjacent floor covering elements.

[0015] According to the invention, the element comprises: two opposite male corners comprising male assembly means capable of engaging simultaneously with complementary female assembly means of a female corner of two complementary adjacent elements; two opposite female corners comprising female assembly means capable of engaging simultaneously with complementary male assembly means of a male corner of two complementary adjacent elements; two parallel sides comprising, among the hermaphroditic assembly means, at least two intermediate assembly means, each of which is capable of engaging simultaneously with male assembly means of a male corner of a complementary adjacent element and female assembly means of a female corner of a complementary adjacent element, the intermediate assembly means being regularly distributed along the length of said sides.

[0016] In this way, each of the intermediate assembly methods allows the installation of a new row of elements to begin, offset from the previous row.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment, the male and female assembly means of the four corners are oriented so as to form between them, in the case of an assembly between four adjacent elements, a right angle junction, offset by an angle less than 45° and greater than 20° with respect to an axis parallel to one side.

[0018] This feature significantly minimizes the distance between the corner and the first male hermaphrodite assembly points, without weakening the corner itself, and allows for elements that assemble regardless of their orientation. The sides exhibit rotational symmetry. This characteristic also increases the tensile strength of the assembly elements along the plane of the element.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment, the intermediate assembly means have a male form corresponding to the shape of a male half-corner, followed by a female form complementary to the shape of the male half-corner.

[0020] Preferably, the element according to the invention is made from plasticized PVC and has a thickness of between 4 and 10 mm, for example 6 mm.

[0021] Furthermore, hermaphroditic joining tools advantageously have a length between 8 and 20 mm, and preferably between 8 and 15 mm, to minimize waste during cutting. The greater the length, the larger the resulting waste.

[0022] In order to maximize the useful surface area of ​​the assembly means and to maximize tensile strength by limiting the constriction at the base of the assembly means, the hermaphroditic assembly means are preferably defined with a pitch between 15 and 40 mm, and preferably between 18 and 30 mm.

[0023] The larger the pitch, the longer the joining means must be to distribute the stresses over larger contact surfaces. The smaller the pitch, the shorter the joining means must be to avoid weakening them.

[0024] The means of hermaphroditic assembly and the male and female means of the corners are for example in the form of dovetails.

[0025] Advantageously, and according to another feature taken in isolation from the features at the basis of the invention, or in combination with the preceding features, the male corners are for example in the form of a combination of male dovetails on two adjacent sides, connected to each other by a portion inclined at 45° with respect to one side.

[0026] This solution is advantageous both in combination with the aforementioned features and on its own, as it eliminates the right angles that are difficult to achieve with a die. Depending on the wear of the cutting tool, right-angle joints are not always perfect; they are either too wide or too tight. This solution eliminates this problem. Furthermore, it reduces the distance between the joint point of adjacent elements and an external angle of the first dovetail joint, thus optimizing the overall tensile strength.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the element comprises three layers of plasticized and filled PVC, for example 2 mm thick each, and two reinforcing frames, such as glass or polyester sails or grids, positioned between the PVC layers.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment, the element comprises a surface layer totally covering the hermaphroditic joining means and corners on two adjacent sides, and totally uncovering the hermaphroditic joining means and corners on two opposite adjacent sides.

[0029] This allows for a straight boundary between two adjacent elements, thus contributing to the improvement of aesthetics.

[0030] Furthermore, since the visible gap between two adjacent elements no longer follows a sinusoidal but rather a rectilinear pattern, this limits the accumulation of dirt between them. In particular, the gap between two adjacent elements located at a male joining point is shallower and therefore accumulates less dirt, thus facilitating cleaning.

[0031] In order to further reduce the accumulation of dirt between two adjacent elements, the surface layer covers the assembly means by extending beyond said assembly means by a distance, and uncovers the assembly means by being set back from said assembly means by the same distance.

[0032] Thus, the visible gap between two adjacent elements has a reduced depth, specifically equal to the thickness of the surface layer. This reduces the accumulation of dirt and also facilitates cleaning, for example by vacuuming. Brief description of the drawings

[0033] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description given below, which is by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: [ Fig.1 ] is a schematic, top-view representation of a slab-type element according to the invention. Fig. 2 ] is a view similar to that of the figure 1 , in detail on one side and one corner of the element. Fig.3 ] is a view of a straight-edged junction between four elements according to the invention [ Fig. 4 ] illustrates the junction between three elements according to the invention, with staggered edges. Fig. 5] illustrates a junction between four elements according to the invention, only two elements being shown. Fig. 6 ] illustrates a junction between four elements according to the invention, only three elements being shown. Fig. 7 ] illustrates a top view of an element according to the invention, with a surface layer masking the assembly means on the two adjacent sides. Fig. 8 ] illustrates the junction between five elements of the figure 7 . [ Fig. 9 ] illustrates a male wedge with an axis delimiting the half-wedge. Fig. 10 ] represents the male half-corner. Fig. 11 ] represents intermediate assembly methods. Fig. 12 ] illustrates an alternative connection between four elements according to the invention. Fig. 13 ] illustrates an alternative junction between four elements according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0034] With reference to figures 1 to 11, the invention relates to a floor covering element (1), such as a tile or plank, intended to be assembled with other adjacent elements (1), in glued or loose-lay installation, according to a vertical assembly.

[0035] Element (1) according to the invention allows for any type of installation, such as, for example, a straight-edged installation, see figures 3 , 5 and 6 , or a pose with staggered edges, see figure 4 And 8 .

[0036] The invention allows in particular several types of staggered joint installation, for example an English staggered joint installation or for example a French staggered joint installation.

[0037] For this purpose, the element (1) comprises, in a known manner, four sides having hermaphroditic assembly means (2), i.e. alternating male / female and for example of the dovetail type for assembly with other complementary and adjacent floor covering elements (1).

[0038] According to the invention, the element (1) comprises two opposite male corners (3) having male assembly means and two opposite female corners (4) having female assembly means.

[0039] The male corners (3) are capable of engaging simultaneously with the complementary female assembly means of the female corners (4) of two adjacent complementary elements (1), see figure 3 and, reciprocally, the female assembly means of the female corners (4) are able to engage simultaneously with the complementary male assembly means of the male corners (3) of two complementary adjacent elements (1).

[0040] In this way, it is possible to create a straight-edged assembly of four elements (1), as illustrated figure 3 .

[0041] Furthermore, element (1) according to the invention also allows for staggered edge mounting. To this end, at least two parallel sides, and preferably all four sides, comprise, among the hermaphroditic assembly means (2), at least two intermediate assembly means (5), and for example three or four regularly distributed along the lengths of said sides, each of which is capable of engaging simultaneously with the male assembly means of a male corner (3) of a complementary adjacent element (1) and with the female assembly means of a female corner (3) of a complementary adjacent element (1), as illustrated. figure 4 And 8 .

[0042] For example, the intermediate assembly means (5) have a male form (5a) corresponding to a male half-corner form (3a), followed by a female form (5b) complementary to the male half-corner form (3a).

[0043] More specifically, the figure 9illustrates a male corner (3) shown with an axis delimiting the half-corner (3a). The shape of the male half-corner (3a) with respect to the side where the intermediate assembly means (5) are located is illustrated in the Figure 10 . There figure 11 illustrates the intermediate assembly means (5), and it is clear that they consist of a male form (5a), see left part, corresponding to the form of the male half-corner (3a), and a female form (5b), see right part, corresponding to the form of the male half-corner (3a) rotated by 180°.

[0044] In particular, in the illustrated example, the male corners (3) are in the form of a combination of two male dovetails from two adjacent sides, connected to each other by a portion (6) inclined at 45° to one side of the element (1). The female corners (4) have a complementary shape.

[0045] In order to reduce the distance between a male corner (3) and the first male dovetail on the adjacent side, without weakening said corner, the male and female joining means of the four corners are oriented so as to form between them, in the case of a straight-edged joint between four adjacent elements (1) ( figure 5 ), a right-angle joint offset by an angle (A) less than 45° and greater than 20° with respect to an axis parallel (X) to one side. In this way, the constriction "h", i.e. the reduced width dimension of the male dovetail shape is increased, while decreasing the distance, here to 1.38h, between the first male dovetail and the junction point (P) between the elements (1).

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment, illustrated in the figure 6The junction between four adjacent straight-edged elements (1) does not form a right angle, but rather a portion inclined at 45°. The distance between the junction point (P) between the elements and the first male dovetail joint is reduced to 1.08h. This wedge shape limits the point of contact between the elements and provides a keying effect without weakening the corners.

[0047] Element (1) according to the invention can be made of any suitable, well-known material. Preferably, it is single- or multi-layered, made from plasticized PVC, possibly even filled, or from a composite material, for example, wood-based and polymer-based, or other composition, and has, for example, a thickness of between 4 and 10 mm, for example 6 mm. The assembly means have a length, i.e., a distance between the bottom of the female form and the crest of the male form, of between 8 and 20 mm, for example, for a pitch of the assembly means of between 15 and 40 millimeters. This makes it possible to obtain a zipper effect with a smaller pitch than is known in the prior art.

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment, the element (1) comprises three layers of plasticized and filled PVC, for example 2 mm thick each, and reinforcing structures, such as glass or polyester veils or grids, positioned between the PVC layers.

[0049] Tests were carried out by the applicant for comparison between a product No. 1, not covered by the invention, and examples 1 to 8 covered by the invention. The tested elements (1) all comprise three layers of plasticized and filled PVC, each 2 mm thick, and glass grids between the layers for a total thickness of 6 mm.

[0050] The pitch and length values ​​of the assembly means vary between each example; corners are not taken into account in the measurements.

[0051] The Applicant carried out tests to measure the disengagement force for 20 assembly means, and then calculated the average disengagement force of the assembly means, averaged over 200 mm.

[0052] The results are compiled in the table below: [Table 1] Disengagement force for 20 dovetails (N) Notion (mm) Length (mm) Average disengagement force over 200mm (N) Product 1 3868 63,75 12,5 607 Example 1 4956 40 15 1239 Example 2 4220 30 12,5 1407 Example 3 3390 22 10 1541 Example 4 3560 22 10 1618 Example 5 3580 20 10 1790 Example 6 3130 18 9 1739

[0053] It is observed that examples 1 to 8, whose ranges of pitch and length of the hermaphroditic assembly means (2) are covered by the invention, make it possible to obtain a disengagement force of the assembly means, averaged over 200 mm, greater than 1000 N, which corresponds to the tensile strength considered satisfactory.

[0054] Finally, and with reference to figures 7 and 8, the element (1) according to the invention may also include a surface layer (7) totally covering the assembly means on two adjacent sides, and totally uncovering the assembly means on two opposite adjacent sides, so as to have a boundary between two adjacent elements (1) which is straight to improve the overall aesthetics and reduce the accumulation of dirt.

[0055] On the other hand, and with reference to figures 6 , 12 And 13According to another feature taken in isolation from the features underlying the invention, or in combination with the preceding features, the male corners (3) are, for example, in the form of a combination of male dovetails on two adjacent sides, connected by an inclined portion, for example at 45°, with respect to one side. At the junction points J and J' between three adjacent slabs, each slab corner has an angle other than 90°, preferably greater than 90°. More preferably, each slab corner has an angle of 120° at points J and J'. According to an illustrated example figure 12At the junction points J and J' between three adjacent slabs, each slab has an angle other than 90° and equal to 107°, 120° and 133° respectively. According to this alternative, it is possible that the intermediate assembly means (5) are adapted to be able to engage simultaneously with male assembly means of a male corner (3) of a complementary adjacent element (1) and with female assembly means of a female corner (4) of a complementary adjacent element (1).

[0056] This solution is advantageous in combination with the aforementioned characteristics, but also in isolation, because it does not present right angles which are difficult to achieve by die cutting.The invention then consists of a floor covering element, such as a tile or a plank, comprising four sides having hermaphroditic assembly means (2) for assembly with other complementary and adjacent floor covering elements (1), also comprising two opposite male corners (3) having male assembly means capable of engaging simultaneously with complementary female assembly means of a female corner (4) of two complementary adjacent elements (1), and comprising two opposite female corners (4) having female assembly means capable of engaging simultaneously with complementary male assembly means of a male corner (3) of two complementary adjacent elements (1), the male corners (3) being made in the form of a combination of male dovetails of two adjacent sides, the male corners (3) and female corners (4), not having any angle equal to 90°.

[0057] Depending on the wear of the cutting tool, right-angle joints are not always perfect; they are either too wide or too tight. This solution eliminates this defect. Furthermore, it reduces the distance between the joint point of adjacent elements and an external angle of the first dovetail joint, thus optimizing the overall tensile strength.

[0058] In an alternative embodiment, again according to another feature taken in isolation from the features underlying the invention, or in combination with the preceding features, the inclined portion of the male corners formed as a combination of male dovetails on two adjacent sides, located between the junction points J and J', is non-linear. Preferably, this portion is arched as illustrated. figure 12 , or wavy as illustrated figure 13This alternative allows for a keying effect between the slabs to constrain their assembly in a single direction. According to this alternative, it is possible for the intermediate assembly means (5) to be adapted to be able to engage simultaneously with male assembly means of a male corner (3) of an adjacent complementary element (1) and with female assembly means of a female corner (4) of an adjacent complementary element (1).

[0059] It follows from the above that the invention does indeed provide an element (1) for the production of a floor covering, with vertical assembly, allowing several types of installation with lost joints, while benefiting from optimal tensile strength of the assembly means in the direction of the plane of the element (1).

Claims

1. Floor covering element, such as a tile or plank, comprising four sides having hermaphroditic assembly means (2) for assembly with other complementary and adjacent floor covering elements (1); characterized in that the element (1) comprises: - two opposite male corners (3) having male assembly means capable of engaging simultaneously with complementary female assembly means of a female corner (4) of two complementary adjacent elements (1); - two opposite female corners (4) having female assembly means capable of engaging simultaneously with complementary male assembly means of a male corner (3) of two complementary adjacent elements (1); and in that the male corners (3) are in the form of a combination of male dovetails from two adjacent sides, connected together by an inclined portion, for example at 45°, with respect to one side.

2. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that , at points J and / or J' intended to achieve the junction between three adjacent elements (1), the corner of the element (1) has an angle other than 90°, preferably greater than 90°, more preferably an angle of 120°.

3. Element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the male (3) and female (4) corners do not have any angle equal to 90°.

4. Element according to claim 2, characterized in that the inclined portion of the male corners, located between the junction points J and J', is non-linear, preferably, this portion is arched.

5. Element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatit comprises two parallel sides comprising, among the hermaphroditic assembly means (2), at least two intermediate assembly means (5) each of which is capable of engaging simultaneously with male assembly means of a male corner (3) of a complementary adjacent element (1) and with female assembly means of a female corner (4) of a complementary adjacent element (1), the intermediate assembly means (5) being regularly distributed over the length of said sides.

6. Element according to claim 5, characterized in that the intermediate assembly means (5) have a male form (5a) corresponding to a form of a male half-corner (3a), followed by a female form (5b) complementary to the form of the male half-corner (3a).

7. Element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that It is made from plasticized PVC and has a thickness of between 4 and 10 mm.

8. Element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hermaphrodite assembly means (2) have a length between 8 and 20 mm.

9. Element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means of hermaphrodite assembly (2) are defined with a pitch between 15 and 40 mm.

10. Element according to claim 7, characterized in that It comprises three layers of plasticized and filled PVC, and two reinforcing frames positioned between the PVC layers.

11. Element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a surface layer (7) totally covering the hermaphrodite assembly means (2) and the corners (3,4) on two adjacent sides, and totally uncovering the hermaphrodite assembly means (2) and the corners (3,4) on two opposite adjacent sides.

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