Thin PVC cladding sheet

Abstract

TITLE: Thin PVC cladding board. Board having two pairs of sides with complementary profiles. The second pair has one side with a recessed receiving profile and the other side, a raised hooking profile (12) to assemble to the receiving side by tilting the board. The receiving side has a cavity the top of which forms a locking support. The hooking side has a projection (122) to the joining plane (PJ) with an entry ramp (125) homologous to the ramp (115) of the receiving profile (11), and a bearing surface (124) to come onto and against the clamping strip (114) of the receiving profile at the end of hooking engagement, and a locking tab (126) at the front under its bearing surface (127) protruding from the joining plane (PJ) containing the bearing surface (127); its end has a bearing surface (126a) to come at the end of the hooking movement against the locking support (116).The inclination of the bearing surface (126) is substantially the same as the inclination of the locking support (116) on the receiving side. Figure 2A.

Description

Title of the invention: Thin sheet of PVC coating FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a thin PVC coating sheet having two pairs of sides, each pair consisting of complementary profiles that can be assembled. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] There are many forms of embodiment of thick cladding boards comprising pairs of sides with complementary profiles for installation by interlocking and tilting one raised side into a recessed side of a board already installed while the hooking side of the second pair of sides hooks into a recessed side, corresponding to an adjoining board already installed in this installation line being carried out.

[0003] But, the profiles on the attachment side have raised, elastic, added or shaped parts that can only be made with thick blades, with a thickness of about 8 to 12 millimeters.

[0004] Such a technique is not applicable to thin PVC blades because they incorporate elastic or retractable fastening elements made separately and integrated into the sides of the blades.

[0005] PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention aims to develop thin PVC cladding strips, having pairs of profiles on the long sides and opposite short sides allowing installation by tilting and hooking without requiring the raised edges to be equipped with elements attached to the sides of the strip to allow this hooking.

[0007] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a thin PVC cladding sheet having two pairs of sides, each pair consisting of complementary profiles that can be assembled. The first pair has one side with a recessed receiving profile and one side with a raised profile and a nose for assembly by engaging and tilting into the side with the recessed profile. The second pair has one side with a recessed receiving profile and the other side with a raised hooking profile for assembly to the receiving side by tilting the sheet around the engagement side of the first pair. Both sides of each pair have, in their upper part near the top of the sheet, a high support in the plane of junction of the two sheets, joining the top of the sheet. The sheet is characterized in that the receiving side has: a cavity under the bearing surface and an underside with an extension provided of a ramp and a clamping band following the cavity and ending with a head, the cavity has a top forming, at its entrance, a locking support at the junction with the upper support, the hooking side has, a bottom with a recess to cap the advance and the head on the receiving side, as well as an advance up to the junction plane with an entry ramp homologous to the ramp of the receiving profile and a bearing surface to come on and against the clamping band of the receiving profile at the end of hooking engagement, and a locking tongue at the front under its bearing surface protruding from the junction plane containing the bearing surface, the tongue having, at its end, a bearing surface to come at the end of the hooking movement against the locking support, the inclination of the bearing surface of the locking tongue being substantially the same as the inclination of the locking support.

[0009] The thin PVC cladding strip according to the invention, which would not allow for the use of elastic, attached clips within its very reduced thickness, would not provide any guarantee of secure attachment through elastic deformation. This difficulty is overcome by means of an effective locking mechanism, unexpected for such thin strips. The locking of the sides other than those of the assembled pair by engagement and tilting is crucial, as it must prevent these sides from lifting over time due to material deformation or under the effect of varying loads applied to the top of the strips.

[0010] This locking mechanism has the important function of ensuring continuity of level between two sides of contiguous blades thus assembled.

[0011] The installation of blades according to the invention does not present any particular difficulties because the passage of the locking tongue on the bearing surface of the adjoining blade is absorbed by the elastic deformations and the slight movements of the blades.

[0012] These movements and the elastic return they generate cause the locking tab to lock against the bearing surface in the cavity after passing over the rounded junction between the bearing surface and the cavity's locking support. Furthermore, the return forces generated by the locking tab's engagement along the entire length of the side in the cavity ensure that the two joined blades remain in a contiguous position on both sides.

[0013] As, on the other hand, in this locking position, the locking tab is not deformed, but is practically in its natural resting shape, it allows the clamping forces to which this tab is subjected to be well transmitted by the wedge effect of the engagement of this hooking side in the cavity: in the upper part by the support of the tab against the locking support and in the lower part by the support of the clamping band against the bearing surface of the receiving side.

[0014] According to an advantageous feature, the locking support of the cavity on the receiving side joins the bearing surface in the junction plane by a rounded junction. The rounded junction promotes the engagement of the locking tab in the cavity against the locking support.

[0015] According to another advantageous feature, the outer surface of the locking tongue is a ramp connecting the end of the tongue to the bearing surface, this ramp being raised relative to the joining plane. This ramp, which forms part of and extends the locking tongue, protects it during the tilting movement when the end of the tongue is in contact with the bearing surface on the receiving side of the joined blade. This ramp creates the separation between the two sides of the two blades to be joined. Furthermore, it gives the locking tongue a trapezoidal shape that widens from its end.

[0016] According to another advantageous feature, along its entire length extending beyond the joining plane, the locking tab is separated by a recess forming the inner side of the locking tab, perpendicular to the surface of the tab's end. This recess is important for giving the locking tab its final shape, which, by definition, extends along the entire length of the blade side. Advantageously, the recess has a curved bottom that avoids any sharp angles between the sides machined by the tool in the material of that side at the blade straddling the joining plane. This rounded bottom of the recess prevents any point of breakage that could weaken the locking tab.

[0017] According to another advantageous feature, the tongue clearance is separated from the upper support by a notch forming a sharp edge with the end of the surface of the upper support.

[0018] According to another advantageous feature, the surface of the end of the locking tongue is inclined at an angle between 22° and 28° and preferably it is equal to 25°.

[0019] The invention also makes it possible to produce a thin sheet of PVC cladding compatible with a break using parallel slats or a break mixing parallel and perpendicular slats. This possibility arises from the fact that, according to one feature, the receiving side of the first pair of sides is the same as the receiving side of the second pair of sides, the other side of which has an engagement and tilting side with a raised, nose-shaped portion which, by definition, has a shape complementary to that of the receiving side.

[0020] This also facilitates machining in that the shape of the receiving side of the first pair is the same as that of the receiving side of the second pair.

[0021] The invention also relates to a method for machining the blade, and in particular, the profile of the receiving end of a thin PVC blade. This method is characterized by the following successive machining steps:

[0022] - a machining step of the upper support recessed from the initial, unmachined side Cl of the blade,

[0023] - a machining step of the cavity with the locking support and the rounded joint joining the upper support, and

[0024] - a machining step of the clamping band.

[0025] The blade machining process also makes it possible to produce the hook side by the following successive machining steps:

[0026] - a machining step of the upper support in the recessed joint plane relative to the unmachined side of the blade,

[0027] - a machining step of the notch at the end of the upper support forming an edge clear and the bearing surface of the future tongue as well as the ramp forming the outer face of the future tongue and,

[0028] - a machining step to achieve the clearance of the tongue and the finishing of its support surface.

[0029] These machining operations on the two paired sides of a blade are carried out in parallel, that is to say simultaneously during the movement of the blade through successive machining stations. Brief description of the drawings

[0030] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment of a thin sheet of PVC coating shown at various greatly enlarged scales in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0031] [Fig. 1] Cross-sectional view of the thin section according to the invention showing its gripping profile and its receiving profile,

[0032] [Fig.2A] View of the geometry of the attachment profile,

[0033] [Fig.2B] Diagram of the assembly geometry of the hooking side to the recessed side of a blade already installed,

[0034] [Fig.2C] End of the snap-fit ​​assembly operation,

[0035] [Fig.2D] Diagram of the machining detail of the upper support,

[0036] [Fig.2E] Detailed diagram of the ramp machining,

[0037] [Fig.2F] Diagram of the detailed machining of the tongue clearance,

[0038] [Fig.2G] first stage of the hooking movement,

[0039] [Fig.2H] second stage of the hooking movement,

[0040] [Fig.21] end of the pose

[0041] [Fig.3A] First machining step of the hollow side 11,

[0042] [Fig.3AA] Profile 1 IA after the machining step of [Fig.3A],

[0043] [Fig.3B] Second machining step of the recessed side,

[0044] [Fig.3BB] profile 11B of side 11 after machining of the [Fig.3B],

[0045] [Fig.3C] Third machining step of the hollow side 11,

[0046] [Fig.3CC] profile 11C after machining of the [Fig.3C],

[0047] [Fig.3D] fourth machining step 11D of the hollow side 11,

[0048] [Fig.3DD] profile 11D of side 11 after machining of the [Fig.3D],

[0049] [Fig.4A] first machining step of the hooking side 12,

[0050] [Fig.4AA] profile 12A of side 12 after machining of [Fig.4A],

[0051] [Fig.4B] second machining step of the attachment side 12,

[0052] [Fig.4BB] profile 12B of side 12 machining of the [Fig.4B],

[0053] [Fig.4C] third machining step of the hooking side 12,

[0054] [Fig.4CC] profile 12C of side 12 after machining of [Fig.4C],

[0055] [Fig.4D] fourth machining step of the hooking side 12,

[0056] [Fig.4DD] profile 12D of side 12 after machining of [Fig.4D],

[0057] [Fig.4E] fifth machining step of the hooking side 12,

[0058] [Fig.5A] engagement by tilting of the first pair of sides

[0059] [Fig.5B] end of the tilting of [Fig.5B]

[0060] [Fig. 6A] Diagram of the arrangement of blades having pairs of sides according to the invention

[0061] [Fig.6B] another blade laying scheme having pairs of sides according to the invention.

[0062] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT METHODS OF THE INVENTION

[0063] Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a cladding board 1, generally rectangular, for installation by interlocking-tilting and hooking; for this, the board has two pairs of sides with complementary profiles, the first pair having a receiving side with a recessed profile and its other side with a raised profile, in the shape of a nose; the latter engages in the recessed profile, corresponding to a line of boards already laid and tilted to be placed in the laying plane while the raised hooking profile of one side of the second pair of sides engages and hooks into the corresponding recessed profile of the board already laid in this line being laid; this board which has just been laid by tilting and hooking is also assembled in the laying plane to the sides with a recessed profile of the line already laid and to the receiving side of the board laid previously and already assembled to the line being laid.

[0064] The two posing methods will be detailed later with reference to Figures 6A, 6B.

[0065] Generally the first pair of sides is that of the large sides and the second pair of sides is that of the small sides of the blade.

[0066] The profiles of the receiving side 11 and the hooking side 12 will be described below; they are made like those of the first pair of sides, by machining the sides of the initially rectangular section of the PVC blade; this section is delimited in [Fig.1] by the contour lines Cl, C2.

[0067] The receiving side 11 consists of a high bearing surface 117 in the junction plane PJ continuing with a fillet 118 connected above 13 of the blade 1 and a locking support 116 joining a cavity 112 forming a clearance then an extension 111 beyond the junction plane PJ and provided on its top, with a surface forming a clamping band 114. The extension 111 terminates with a head 113 in relief relative to the clamping band 114 by joining it by a ramped inclined surface 115. In the example profile of this receiving side 11, the cavity 112 which could have any shape and stop beyond the locking support 116 and before the clamping band 114 has a shape complementary to that of the raised profile of the engagement-tilting side of the first pair of sides.

[0068] Thus, the receiving side 11 can not only receive and hook the corresponding hooking side 12 of another blade 1, but also the nose of the engagement-tilting side of the first pair of sides of a blade as will be described with the help of Figures 5A, 5B.

[0069] The attachment side 12 consists of a top 13 joining a surface forming an upper support 127 by a fillet 128. Under the upper support surface 127, towards the underside 14, the side has a tab 126 projecting from the junction plane PJ; it is separated from the edge of the blade by a clearance 1261 surmounted by a notch 1271 at the base of the upper support 127. The locking tab 126 forms a ramp 1262 projecting from the junction plane PJ and descending to a corresponding support surface 124 of the clamping band 114 on the receiving side 11, to bear against this band 114 at the end of the blade 1's tilting motion. The support surface 124 is positioned in the recessed shape of the clamping band 114.

[0070] The recess 121 formed by the side 12 with respect to the plane of the underside 14 of the blade 1 rises beyond the surface 124 by an inlet ramp 125, homologous to the ramp 115 on the receiving side 11.

[0071] The remaining volume of the recess 121 is used to cover the head 113 without contact on the receiving side 11. The underside 14 of the blade 1 ends with a truncated edge 119, 129 both on the receiving side 11 and on the hooking side 12.

[0072] The shapes of the profile of the hooking side 12 and the receiving side 11 for the cooperation of the locking tab 126 will be described in more detail with the help of figures 2A-C and 4A-C.

[0073] According to [Fig.2A], the raised profile of the side 12 fits into the initial contour of the blade 1 with machining of the side 12 delimited by the top 13, the bottom 14 and the edges Cl, C2 of the blade.

[0074] The machined blade thus has two sides 11, 12 with a respective junction plane PJ recessed relative to the plane of the edges Cl, C2.

[0075] In the case of the hooking side 12, the junction plane PJ passing through the upper support 127 is set back by the distance Ax but the tongue 26 remains in projection from this plane PJ both in the rest position without stress applied to the tongue 126 and in the locking position in support against the locking support 116 on the receiving side 12 of the adjacent blade.

[0076] The slope of the surface of the locking support 116 has a direction Do making, with the vertical (junction plane PJ) an angle [3>90°, so that this direction Do and that of the clamping band 114 make an angle less than 90° to have a wedge effect when the tongue 126 will be in contact with the surface 116 and the support surface 124 will be applied against the clamping band 114 ([Fig.2C]).

[0077] For this tight support of the hooking side 12 in the receiving side 11, the tongue 126 has an end 126a, flat and of the same inclination [3 ; the tongue 126 has this inclination to properly transmit the forces once in place against the support 116 after its passage from the rounded junction 1161 downstream of the upper support 117.

[0078] This geometry of the tongue 126 shown in [Fig.2A] shows the axis D2 of the clearance 1261 which separates the tongue 126 from the remainder of the side 12 of the blade.

[0079] The axis D2 of the clearance 1261 is perpendicular to the surface 126a oriented in the direction Do; it is inclined with respect to the plane PJ by the angle a=[3-n / 2.

[0080] This direction is also that of the inner side of the tongue 126 while its outer side formed by the ramp 1262 is less inclined with respect to the junction plane PJ which is also the plane of the upper support 127 against which the ramp 1262 slides, being more or less in support depending on the degree of deformation of the tongue 126 during the downward tilting movement of the blade.

[0081] It should also be emphasized that this direction or inclination of the locking support 116 which is part of the cavity 112 is the inclination of the contact surface of the nose 136 on one raised side of the other pair of sides if this blade is to allow a tiling combining a laying of parallel blades and perpendicular blades (figures 6A, 6B).

[0082] The production of the tongue 126 and its environment on the hooking side 12 requires particularly precise machining, all the more so as the dimensions of the profile shapes must be related to the thickness of the blade, which is between 4 mm and 6 mm.

[0083] The machining steps are schematically shown in figures 2D-2F in which the junction plane PJ has been drawn, which is the reference plane for the assembly of the blades.

[0084] After machining the chamfer 118, not shown, the upper support 127 is first exposed and beyond downwards ([Fig.2D]).

[0085] Then, using the same tool, the flat top 126a of the future tongue 126 is produced by extending it through the plane of the upper support 127 to obtain a clean edge 1271a finishing the upper support 127. This machining simultaneously produces the outer surface of the tongue 126 which is the ramp 1262 and goes up to the bearing surface 124 ([Fig.2E]) and the truncated edge 129 as well as part of the recess 121 as will be described and shown in [Fig.4C].

[0086] The last step consists of releasing the tab 126 with a tool aligned on the axis D2 of the clearance 1261 to be made ([Fig.2F]).

[0087] The outer surface of the tongue 26, which is also the ramp 1262, being more inclined (angle y) than the inner side of the tongue 126, which is that of the clearance 1261, the tongue will thus have a trapezoidal section which is advantageous from a mechanical point of view.

[0088] This gives us a tongue 126 having, in particular, a precise bearing surface 126a, with sharp edges and an orientation adapted to the direction of the forces to be received in the locking position.

[0089] The hooking of the side 12 of a blade L' to be placed in the receiving side 11 of a blade already placed (L) will be schematically shown by figures 2G-2I.

[0090] The movement of the hooking side 12 of a blade (L') during installation, i.e. during tilting by the raised profile side (nose) of the first pair of sides of this blade (L') around a tilting axis parallel to the direction XX (parallel to the plane of [Fig.2A]) is done by a downward movement of the raised profile in the direction ZZ.

[0091] It should be remembered that the contact between the parts of side 12 of the blade to be laid (L') is not the same over the entire length of side 11 of the blade (L) due to the inclination of the blade (L').

[0092] By convention, Figures 2G, 2H, 21 represent a cross-section of the blades (L), (L') at the end of side 12 near the hollow side of the first pair of sides of the blade (L'). The sides 11, 12 of the blades (L) and (L') are oriented in the YY direction perpendicular to the plane of Figures 2G-2I.

[0093] Initially ([Fig.2G]), when the blade to be laid (L') is being put in place, the raised side (nose) of the first pair of sides is engaged in the cavity formed in the direction XX by the hollow sides (first pair) of the line of blades already laid.

[0094] The blade (L) already placed in the line being laid defines the junction plane PJ by its bearing surface 117 and the blade (L') is, before its tilting, positioned with its bearing surface 127 in this junction plane PJ so that the tilting movement can begin by the engagement of its entry ramp 127 and cooperate with the ramp 115 of the adjoining blade (L).

[0095] As the tilting progresses, the two sides 11, 12 and their contacts pass through positions like that shown in [Fig. 2H] to finally arrive at the position of [Fig.2I]. This variation appears differently for the part of the sides 1, 12 near the tilting axis (direction XX) i.e. near the raised side of the first pair and for the part near the recessed side (second pair).

[0096] Initially, the blade to be laid (L') is engaged by the raised side of its first pair in the alignment of the recessed sides of the first pair of blades of the line already laid.

[0097] The last blade (L) laid in the line being laid defines the junction plane PJ in which the bearing surface 127 of the blade to be laid (L') must be located so that near the raised side (nose) of the first pair, the entry ramp 125 of the blade (L') can begin its sliding on the ramp 115 of this adjacent blade already laid.

[0098] For example, since the points of contact between the sides 11,12 are different according to their distance from what can be considered the tilting axis of the blade (L'), from the beginning of the tilting, the parts located near the tilting axis are close to those shown in [Fig.2G] and the parts furthest from this tilting axis correspond to the position shown in [Fig.2H].

[0099] More particularly, the contact between the tongue 126 and the bearing surface 117 near the locking support 116 is schematically located on a line (theoretically a straight line) passing through the tilting axis itself evolving in a small area and not remaining exactly fixed.

[0100] The elastic deformation continues during this downward movement until the end of the tongue 126 reaches the rounded junction 1161 of the locking support 116 and allows the tongue to move in the direction (-X); the ramp 125 then slides in the same direction along the ramp 115.

[0101] The end of this hooking movement is shown in [Fig.21].

[0102] In this end-tilt position, the entire length of the tongue 126 is in the position of [Fig.2I].

[0103] It should be emphasized that the extremely small dimensions of the parts of the sides 11, 12 in relation to the thickness of the blade (L), (L') which is on the order of 4 to 6 mm, do not allow to represent exactly the shape of the sides 11,12 in the intermediate positions schematized in [Fig.2H].

[0104] Figures 3A-3D show the machining steps of the hollow side of a blade 1 with rotary milling-type tools successively producing the rough profiles shown in Figures 3AA-3DD.

[0105] The machining of sides 11,12 is presented schematically by its steps carried out with different tools in figures 3 and 4 showing the steps which can be carried out simultaneously and opposite each other, each time the profile roughing obtained.

[0106] The profile to be obtained for each side 11,12 is represented in thin line in the contour of the blade being machined.

[0107] Figures 3A-3D show the machining steps of the receiving side 12 of a blade 1 with rotary milling-type tools successively producing the profile roughs shown in Figures 3AA-3DD.

[0108] The machining tools on side 11 are as follows:

[0109] - a tool 011 producing the chamfer 118 (Eli roughing)

[0110] - a tool 012 providing the upper support 117 (rough El2)

[0111] - a tool 013 forming the cavity 112, the locking support 116 and the truncated edge 119 (draft E13)

[0112] - a tool 014 making the clamping band 114 and the ramp 115 (profile 11 finished).

[0113] Figures 4A-4E show the machining steps of the hooking side 12 of a blade 1 with rotary milling-type tools successively producing the rough profiles shown in figures 4AA-4EE.

[0114] The machining tools on side 12 are as follows:

[0115] - a tool 021 producing the chamfer 128 (rough E21)

[0116] - a tool 022 providing the upper support 127 (rough E22)

[0117] - a tool 023 making the notch 1271, the ramp 1262 and the truncated edge 129 (draft E23)

[0118] - a tool 024 performing the clearance 1261 and the tongue 126 (rough E24)

[0119] - a tool 025 producing the entry ramp 125 (Profile 12 completed)

[0120] The machining steps on both sides 11, 12 are carried out simultaneously.

[0121] Figure 5A shows an embodiment of a blade having a second pair of sides like those described above and a first pair of sides compatible with the profile of sides 11, 12, of the second pair described above. The recessed sides 11 of the first and second pairs of sides have identical profiles allowing them to receive a raised edge for engagement and tilting, and also a side with a hooking profile, as will be developed below with reference to Figures 5A, 5B and the two tiling examples in Figures 6A, 6B.

[0122] The recessed side 11 of the first and second pairs has a profile complementary to the engagement and tilting side 32 of the first pair of sides. Conversely, this receiving profile 11 of the first pair is compatible with the hooking profile 12 of the second pair. In other words, this recessed profile 11 for the hooking profile 12 was chosen, as described for [Fig. 1], so that the blade assembly can be carried out both parallel and transversely, as shown in the description of [Fig. 6B].

[0123] The engagement-tilting side 32 consists of a high support 137 joining the top 38 by a fillet 138. Beyond the joining plane passing through the high support 137, the profile has a nose-shaped relief 136 with a smooth surface 134 which does not fit into the recess formed by the clamping strip 114 but joins an entry ramp 135 then a recess 131 open towards the underside of the blade 34 which joins a truncated edge 139. This recess 131 must freely cover, without contact, the head 131 of the profile 11.

[0124] The engagement movement of side 32 in side 11 is done by the engagement-translation movement combined with a tilting to arrive at the position shown in [Fig.5B].

[0125] The possible laying (paving) methods for the boards will be described below with reference to Figures 6A and 6B. To simplify the description, the reference numerals used to describe the boards in these figures and the laying diagrams are different from those used above:

[0126] - In the case of a first embodiment, the profile of the receiving side of the The second pair of sides is not designed to receive the profile of the raised side of the first pair, and in this case the only method of installation is that described using [Fig. A].

[0127] - Otherwise, both methods of posing figures 6A, 6B are possible.

[0128] According to Figures 6A, 6B, schematically, the coating blade (L) has a pair of large sides GC1, GC2 and a pair of small sides PCI, PC2.

[0129] The blade L is placed row by row in the XX direction ([Fig.ôA]) and also partly in the transverse direction ([Fig.ôB]).

[0130] The installation of the blades is carried out, in principle, in the same way, whether the blade to be installed is oriented in the XX direction or in the transverse YY direction. The blade to be installed LP is applied against a blade, generally two blades of a row already installed and against an adjoining blade LP-1 already installed in the row being installed.

[0131] According to the first method of installation ([Fig.ôA]), the lines Ij, lj+1 are already installed and the line lj+3 is being installed; the large side of the blade LP being installed is engaged in the free side of the blades of the installed line lj+2 to engage by tilting and hook its small side PCI into the small side PC2 of the previous blade LP-1, adjoining in this same line lj+3 being installed.

[0132] To simplify the description, the blades laid in the direction of the lines Lj bear the reference L, those being laid bear the reference LP and the one previously laid in the same line, the reference LP-1. The blades laid in the transverse direction YY bear the reference LT.

[0133] However, the line-by-line installation lj, lj+1... is not the only one envisaged, and the invention also allows for the installation of planks assembled not with their long sides against each other, but also for the installation of planks L (here designated LT) with their short side PC against a long side GC ([Fig. 2B]). These various installation methods require that the shape of the short sides PC and that of the long sides GC be compatible.

[0134] To allow some of the blades L to be positioned in the direction YY perpendicular to the direction XX, the blades L have ([Fig.1]):

[0135] - a first large side GC1 with a partially hollow profile shape PX or (receiver profile)

[0136] - a second large side GC2 with a raised profile forming a tilting profile PA homologated or compatible with the PX receiver profile

[0137] - a first small PCI side with a hollow profile of the same cross-section as the large on the GC1 side and thus homologous to the PA profile on the GC2 side,

[0138] - a second small side PC2 with a raised profile or PB attachment profile that can engage and hook during the tilting of the blade in the PX profile from a small side PCI or a large side GC1 according to the direction of laying in line XX or partly transversely in the direction YY relative to the XX lines.

[0139] According to [Fig. A], the large sides GC oriented in the direction XX are assembled to each other by the engagement of their complementary shapes by a tilting movement and the small sides PC are assembled by clipping (hooking) the small side during the tilting around the large side already engaged; this corresponds to a tilting movement in the homologous large side of the blade of the previous row, in general, the large side of the blade to be laid LP overlaps the junction of two blades of the previous row so that the junctions of the small sides of the blades of a row do not coincide with those of the previous row both for aesthetic reasons and to reinforce the junction of the small sides by the continuity of a large side which overlaps them.

[0140] This assembly of the blades L oriented in a direction XX and the blades LT oriented in the transverse direction YY is possible by the shape of the small and large sides to allow the assembly of each blade and to lock the blade in the three directions X, Y, Z of space.

[0141] The complementarity of the profiles on the GC and PC sides requires:

[0142] - a first large GC1 receiver side for the tilting (PX profile)

[0143] - a first small PCI receiver side for switching (PX profile)

[0144] - a second large complementary side GC2 engaging in the first large GC1 receiver side or a small PCI receiver side (PX receiver profile) by a tilting movement and

[0145] - a second small side with a PB hooking profile for hooking onto the other first one or second side by hooking with its raised profile PB which came into the profile PX.

[0146] Thus the receiver sides GC1, PCI have a hollow female assembly shape (receiver profile PX) and the other sides GC2, PC2 have a male assembly shape, or raised shape (profile PA or profile PB).

[0147] Since sides GC1, PCI, GC2, PC2 are not symmetrical, the decorative pattern (possibly oriented) on the top of blade L cannot be rotated by 180°. To allow such a change of orientation within a tiling, it is necessary to exchange profiles GC1, GC2 and keep the other two profiles PCI, PC2 or, which amounts to the same thing, exchange profiles PCI, PC2 and keep profiles GC1, GC2.

[0148] These two types of blades L are in a way compatible dextrorotatory and levorotatory in the same tiling.

[0149] In [Fig. 0B], the tiling is composed of LP blades oriented in the XX direction and of the same LT blades oriented in the transverse direction YY. These diversities of the laying methods (laying along the XX direction or laying along the YY direction) require that the short and long sides PC, GC be in a ratio of lengths, multiple of a common module, for example the length of the short side or a fraction of the length of the short side; the length of the long side is then a multiple.

[0150] The profiles PX, PA, PB of the assembled sides have been indicated in [Fig. B] inside the blades.

[0151] NOMENCLATURE OF PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS

[0152] 1 PVC Blade

[0153] 11 Receiver side with recessed profile

[0154] 111 Advanced

[0155] 112 Cavity

[0156] 113 Head

[0157] 114 Clamping band

[0158] 115 Ramp

[0159] 116 Locking support

[0160] 1161 Rounded junction

[0161] 117 High support

[0162] 118 Leave

[0163] 119 Truncated edge

[0164] 12 Raised hanging side

[0165] 121 Obviously

[0166] 122 Advanced with high support 127

[0167] 124 Bearing surface

[0168] 125 Entrance ramp

[0169] 126 Locking tab

[0170] 126a End of the tongue

[0171] 1261 Clearance

[0172] 1262 Ramp

[0173] 127 High support

[0174] 1271 Notch

[0175] 1271a Edge of 1' notch

[0176] 128 Leave

[0177] 129 Truncated edge

[0178] 13 Above

[0179] 14 Below

[0180] 32 Engagement and tilting side

[0181] 34 Below

[0182] 38 Above

[0183] 137 High support

[0184] 138 Leave

[0185] 136 Nose

[0186] 134 Smooth surface

[0187] 135 Entrance ramp

[0188] 131 Obviously

[0189] 139 Truncated edge

[0190] PJ Junction Plan

[0191] XX Direction of pairs of sides assembled by tilting

[0192] YY Direction of the hollow receiving and latching sides

[0193] 011-25 Tools for 1” side machining

[0194] L Blade

[0195] Cl, C2 Unmachined sides

[0196] DO Locking support tilt direction

[0197] DI Notch Direction 1271

[0198] D2 Direction of tongue release

[0199] a Inclination of the tongue

[0200] [3 Angle of the DO direction

[0201] y Ramp inclination 1262

[0202] CGI First major side

[0203] CG2 Second large side

[0204] PCI First small side

[0205] PC2 Second small side

[0206] PX Hollow profile / receiving profile

[0207] PA Relief profile / tilting profile

[0208] PB Raised hanging profile / hanging profile

[0209] XX Direction of laying blades

[0210] YY Direction of laying blades

[0211] ZZ Direction perpendicular to the installation plane

[0212] Ij Blade laying line L

[0213] PR1 Reference Plan

[0214] PR2 Reference Plan

[0215] LP-1 Blade placed

[0216] LP Blade being installed

Claims

1. Demands Thin PVC cladding sheet, having two pairs of sides, each pair consisting of complementary profiles that can be assembled, - the first pair having one side with a recessed receiving profile and one side (32) with a raised profile and a nose (136) for assembly by engagement and tilting into the side with the recessed profile, - the second pair having one side with a recessed receiving profile (11) and the other side, a raised hooking profile (12) to assemble to the receiving side (11) by tilting the blade (1), around the engagement side of the first pair, - the two sides of each pair having in their upper part, near the top (13) of the blade, a high support (117, 127) in the junction plane (PJ) of the two blades, joining the top (13) of the blade, blade characterized in that - the receiving side (11) has: * a cavity (112) under the bearing surface (117) and an underside (14), with an extension (111) provided with a ramp (115) and a clamping band (114) following the cavity (112) and ending with a head (113), * the cavity (112) has a top forming, at its entrance, a locking support (116) at the junction with the upper support (117), - the attachment side (12) has, * an underside (14) with a recess (121) to cover the extension (111) and the head (113) on the receiving side (11), as well as an extension (122) up to the junction plane (PJ) with an entry ramp (125) homologous to the ramp (115) of the receiving profile (11) and a bearing surface (124) to come onto and against the clamping strip (114) of the receiving profile at the end of the hooking engagement, and * a locking tab (126) machined at the front under its bearing surface (127) protruding from the joint plane (PJ) containing the bearing surface (127), * the outer surface of the tongue (126) being a ramp (1262) connecting the end (126a) of the tongue (126) to the bearing surface (124), this ramp (1262) being raised relative to the junction plane (PJ), * the tongue (126) having, at its end, a bearing surface (126a) to come at the end of the hooking movement against the locking support (116), - the inclination of the bearing surface (126a) of the locking tongue (126) being the same as the inclination of the locking support (116).

2. Thin PVC coating sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking support (116) of the cavity (112) on the receiving side (11) joins by a rounded junction (1161) the bearing surface (117) in the junction plane (PJ).

3. Thin PVC coating sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking tab (126) is trapezoidal in shape, enlarging from its end (126a).

4. Thin PVC coating strip according to claim 1 and 3, characterized in that along its entire length exceeding the joining plane (PJ), the locking tab (126) is separated by a clearance (1261) forming the inner side of the locking tab (126), at right angles to the surface (126a) of the end of the tab.

5. Thin PVC coating blade according to claim 4, characterized in that the clearance (1261) of the tongue (126) is separated from the top support (127) by a notch (1271) forming a sharp edge (1271a) with the end of the surface of the top support (127).

6. Thin PVC coating sheet according to claim 4, characterized in that the surface (126a) of the end of the locking tab (126) is inclined at an angle (a) between 22° and 28° and preferably it is equal to 25°.

7. Thin PVC coating blade according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving side (11) of the first pair of sides is the same as the receiving side of the second pair of sides and the other side of the first pair has an engagement and tilting side with a raised nose-shaped part (136).

8. A method for machining the profile of the receiving side (11) of a thin PVC blade according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a method characterized by the following successive machining steps: - a machining step of the upper support (117) set back from the initial, unmachined side Cl of the blade (1), - a machining step of the cavity (112) with the locking support (116) and the rounded junction (1161) joining the upper support (117), and - a machining step of the clamping band (114).

9. A machining method for the profile of the hook side (12) of a thin PVC blade according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the following successive machining steps: - a machining step of the upper support (127) in the recessed joining plane (Dx) relative to the unmachined side (C2) of the blade, - a machining step of the notch (1271) at the end of the upper support (127) forming a clean edge (1271) and the bearing surface (126a) of the future tongue (126) as well as the ramp (1262) forming the outer face of the future tongue and, - a machining step to achieve the clearance (1261) of the tongue (126) and the finishing of its bearing surface (126a).

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