Adhesive decorative floor covering system

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adhesive decorative floor covering system. The present invention also relates to an adhesive floor covering implemented by a plurality of tiles of the adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention. Additionally, the present invention relates to a tile for use in the adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an adhesive decorative floor covering system. The present invention also relates to an adhesive flooring material implemented by interlocking a plurality of tiles of the adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention. The present invention also relates to an adhesive tile for use in the adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention. Background Technology

[0002] Developed in the 1970s, LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) and LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) were created as a means to enhance the realism of sheet vinyl, which is essentially composed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). As adhesive flooring emerged as an affordable alternative to HDF / MDF laminates, hardwood, and carpets, its popularity increased exponentially in the 2000s. Around this time, so-called "peel and stick" versions of adhesive tiles were released as supply options for DIY consumers. Because this type of flooring is physically attached to the underlying floor using adhesive or tape, adhesive flooring is considered a permanent type of flooring. Adhesive flooring can generally withstand impacts, scratches, and spills. Additionally, because adhesive flooring is physically attached to the floor underneath, it remains firmly fixed in place. For this reason, applications of adhesive flooring are generally attractive for use in spaces with high traffic and frequent movement. Although adhesive flooring has been very popular for decades, it also has various disadvantages. The first major drawback of known adhesive flooring is that installation is not easy due to the adhesive required for this type of flooring, which often necessitates a professional installing it correctly. Excessive amounts of adhesive can easily stain, for example, the surface of the tiles, which is clearly undesirable. Additionally, it has been found that properly aligning the tiles during installation is not easy. Another disadvantage of known adhesive flooring is that the adhesive used degrades over time, making the connection between the tiles and the subfloor less secure, and potentially causing the tiles to undesirably detach from the subfloor. The problem to be solved

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved adhesive decorative floor covering system to overcome at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages. means of solving the problem

[0004] To this end, the present invention provides an adhesive decorative floor covering system according to the preamble thereof, comprising a plurality of mutually lockable, decorative, preferably flexible floor tiles, wherein each floor tile preferably has a thickness of less than 4.7 mm, more preferably less than 4 mm, wherein each floor tile comprises at least one, preferably flexible, substrate layer made of at least partially polyvinyl chloride (PVC), wherein each floor tile is rectangular, elongated rectangular, or square and thus comprises a first pair of opposing edges and a second pair of opposing edges; wherein the first pair of opposing edges comprises a mechanical coupling portion capable of mechanically coupling a plurality of such tiles to each other, wherein the said coupling portion forms a first locking system perpendicular to each edge and affects the locking of mutually coupled tiles in the plane of the tile, as well as a second locking system that affects the locking of mutually coupled tiles perpendicular to the plane of the tile, wherein these coupling portions are substantially implemented from the said substrate layer; The coupling portion in the first pair of opposing edges described above is configured so that two of these tiles can be coupled to each other at these edges by rotational movement and / or vertical movement, wherein the second pair of opposing edges preferably has no mechanical coupling portion.

[0005] The adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention is configured to be adhered or attached to the subfloor, wherein the tile is provided with so-called angling-down couplings on two opposing tile edges, typically the longer tile edge, which significantly facilitates the installation process. First, the couplings allow for easier alignment of the tiles during installation, and second, they generally prevent excess liquid adhesive applied to the underside of the tile to be installed and the topside of the subfloor from flowing between the coordinating couplings of adjacent tiles during the angling-down of the tile to be installed, thereby significantly reducing the risk of contamination of the top surface of the tile. Since this adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention is relatively easy to install, professional installers are no longer required, and DIY users can implement the installation. Additionally, the installed adhesive floor covering will be more durable than conventional adhesive floor coverings due to the interconnection between the couplings of adjacent tiles, preferably implemented by snapping or clicking to achieve the desired locking effect in horizontal and vertical directions. In the manner in which the tile is adhered to the subfloor, even if the adhesive deteriorates, the tile remains fixed in place through the coordination between the couplings of adjacent tiles.

[0006] The adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention incorporates the traditional adhesive flooring principle of attaching floor tiles to the underlying floor using an adhesive, but also applies coupling parts or coupling profiles that are generally used only in floating flooring systems. The combination of the two embodiments leads to a new hybrid type of flooring. The adhesive floor covering system can also implement alternative coverings such as wall coverings, ceiling coverings, or furniture coverings. The floor covering system according to the present invention can be used indoors or outdoors. Preferably, the floor covering system is a waterproof floor covering system. Since the substrate layer is made of PVC, which is generally referred to as vinyl, the tiles of the floor covering system may also be referred to as high-grade vinyl tiles (LVT) or high-grade vinyl boards (LVP). Instead of PVC, other polymers, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyester, polyurethane, or other thermoplastic or thermosetting materials may be used for the substrate layer. Additionally, alternative materials such as wood, composite materials, and / or minerals, such as magnesium oxide, may be used as the substrate forming the substrate layer to be used for the tiles of the system according to the present invention. The tiles of the floor covering system according to the present invention can also be considered as planks, slabs, or panels.

[0007] As described above, the first pair of coupling portions of opposing edges are preferably designed to snap or click together during mutual coupling. This results in a click-type lock between the tiles. Preferably, at least one coupling portion of the first pair of coupling portions of opposing edges is designed to undergo elastic deformation during mutual coupling. In particular, if the coupling portion is shaped so that the elastic portion of at least one coupling portion deforms first and subsequently returns at least partially to its initial shape during the coupling of two tiles, such elastic deformation enables the implementation of a click-type lock mechanism. It is preferable that the coupling portions be configured to coordinate in a shape-matched manner with respect to each other. It is preferable that the coupling portions be complementary to each other. However, this does not exclude the existence of a space (gap) between the coupled coupling portions of adjacent tiles.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the first pair of coupling portions of opposing edges comprises a lateral projection (tongue) extending in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the tile on the first edge, a front portion of the bottom of the aforementioned lateral projection that is at least partially rounded or flat, and a rear portion of the bottom of the aforementioned projection configured as a bearing area, wherein the rear portion of the bottom is located closer to the level of the upper surface of the tile than the lowest portion of the front portion of the bottom, and the first pair of coupling portions of opposing edges comprises a recess for receiving at least a portion of an additional lateral projection of the tile on the second edge of the opposing edge, wherein the recess is defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, wherein the lower lip is provided with an upwardly protruding shoulder for supporting the bearing area of ​​the lateral projection, and the lateral projection is designed to be locked by an introduction movement into the recess of the additional lateral projection of the tile and an angling down (rotation) movement about an axis parallel to the first edge, and as a result, the upper end of the lateral projection is upper The bearing area of ​​the lateral protrusion engages with the lip and is supported by / or faces the shoulder of the lower lip, so that adjacent tiles at the first and second edges engage. Preferably, the lateral protrusion is configured to be introduced into the recess in a shape-fit manner. It may be considered that the external dimensions of the lateral protrusion exceed the dimensions of the recess. This generally leads to active clamping, also known as pretension between coupling parts in a coupled state. However, it may also be considered that the lateral protrusion is fitted into the recess in a shape-fit manner to form coupling between coupling parts without the presence of pretension in a coupled state. In the coupled state of the coupling parts, the lateral protrusion and the recess preferably surround a plurality of gaps.These gaps may exist to compensate for or absorb expansion of the coupling part and / or may be used as adhesive chambers through which adhesive can flow during installation to further strengthen the connection between adjacent tiles.

[0009] Preferably, the lower surface of the bearing area, which is supported by and / or configured to face the shoulder of the lower lip, slopes upward toward the lower front area of ​​the lateral protrusion. This leads to the thinnest part of the lateral protrusion between the front and rear areas of the lateral protrusion. This thinnest part is generally the weakest part most susceptible to (elastic) deformation; by positioning this weakest part close to the front area of ​​the lateral protrusion, the deformation zone is not only predefined but also positioned so that the material of the lateral protrusion deforms as little as possible during installation, which reduces material stress accumulated during installation and improves the lifespan of the tile. It is preferable that the upper surface of the shoulder of the lower lip slopes upward toward the upper lip. This orientation of the upper surface of the shoulder is generally advantageous for creating a desired space between the shoulder and the bearing area, which can act as an upper adhesive chamber configured to accommodate adhesive during installation, thereby further strengthening the connection between the tiles.

[0010] Here, it is preferable that the distance between the upper surface of the tile and the lower surface of the bearing area, which is configured to be supported by and / or facing the shoulder of the lower lip, is smaller than the distance between the upper surface of the tile and the shoulder of the lower lip. Preferably, the entire space between the shoulder and the bearing area is configured to be filled with adhesive during installation and is filled with adhesive when coupled.

[0011] Preferably, the lower lip has a first end surface, more preferably a substantially vertical first end surface. Preferably, the bearing area is connected to a second end surface of the tile, particularly of the substrate layer, more preferably a substantially vertical second end surface of the tile. The second end surface is located below the bearing area (at a lower level). Preferably, in a coupling state of adjacent tiles, the first end surface faces the second end surface so that the first end surface and the second end surface surround each other the lower adhesive chamber. This lower adhesive chamber is preferably connected to the aforementioned upper adhesive chamber (if applicable) and is configured to receive liquid adhesive during installation to further strengthen the connection between the tiles. Preferably, the connection between the lower and upper adhesive chambers is filled with liquid adhesive during installation so that the adhesive layer extends from the upper adhesive chamber to the lower adhesive chamber and to the bottom of the tile(s).

[0012] Preferably, in a coupled state of adjacent tiles, the first end surface and the second end surface face the second end surface so that the first end surface and the second end surface surround each other the lower adhesive chamber, and the first end surface and the second end surface are spaced apart from each other, preferably at least 0.2 mm apart so that sufficient adhesive can enter between them.

[0013] It is advantageous to provide at least one adhesive collecting cavity, in particular at least one adhesive collecting groove, on the first end surface and / or the second end surface. These adhesive collecting groove(s) preferably extend in a direction parallel to the coupling portion and the corresponding tile edge. The application of one or more such adhesive collecting cavities increases the contact surface between the adhesive and the tile(s), thereby strengthening the connection between the adhesive and the tile(s).

[0014] Preferably, the lower adhesive chamber is positioned at a distance from the bottom of the tile so that the vertical distance extends from the bottom of the tile to the lower adhesive chamber, thereby preventing the adhesive from accumulating on the bottom of the tile.

[0015] The coupling portion in the first pair of opposing edges described above may be configured so that two of these tiles can also be joined to each other at these edges by a vertical movement referred to as a drop-down movement or downward movement. To this end, the first pair of coupling portions of opposing edges preferably comprises: (i) at the first edge, a single upward protrusion, at least one upward flank spaced a certain distance from the upward protrusion, and a single upward groove formed between the upward protrusion and the upward flank (wherein at least a portion of the side portion of the upward protrusion facing the upward flank is inclined and extends in a direction toward the normal of the upper surface of the core (or away from it), and wherein at least a portion of the side portion of the upward protrusion facing away from the upward flank optionally includes a first locking element), and (ii) at the second edge, a single downward protrusion, at least one downward flank spaced a certain distance from the downward protrusion, and a single downward groove formed between the downward protrusion and the downward flank (wherein at least a portion of the side portion of the downward protrusion facing the downward flank is inclined and extends in a direction toward the normal of the lower surface of the core (or away from it), and wherein the downward flank optionally includes a second locking element configured to coordinate with the first locking element of the first edge of another tile). Preferably, by deformation of the first edge and / or the second edge, the downward protrusion of the first edge of the tile to be coupled during coupling will be forced into the upward groove of the first edge of the aforementioned other tile, and the upward protrusion of the aforementioned other tile will be forced into the downward groove of the tile, which leads to the locking of adjacent tiles at the third and fourth edges in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The first locking element may optionally additionally be provided on the upward flank, and the second locking element may optionally additionally be provided on the side of the downward protrusion extending away from the downward flank.

[0016] Preferably, no coupling portion is provided on the second pair of opposing edges, and these edges may be cut in a straight, preferably vertical manner, thereby defining the third end surface and the fourth end surface, respectively. The second pair of opposing edges is generally formed by the short edge of the tile. Generally, the third end surface and the fourth surface face each other in the coupled relative of adjacent tiles. Preferably, in the coupled state of adjacent tiles, the upper sections of the third end surface and the fourth end surface interlock with each other and, preferably, are joined in a seamless manner. In a preferred embodiment, the upper sections of the third end surface and the fourth end surface interlock or contact each other over at least half the thickness of the tile. This forms a relatively large contact area where the tiles contact each other in the coupled state.

[0017] Preferably, at least a portion of the bottom sections of the third end surface and the fourth end surface surrounds the lateral adhesive chambers. These adhesive chambers are configured to receive adhesive during installation, which also reinforces the connection between the tiles at the second pair of opposing edges. Here, the third end surface and / or the fourth end surface may have at least one adhesive collection cavity, specifically at least one adhesive collection groove. The adhesive collection cavity, or adhesive collection groove, preferably extends from the bottom of the tile toward the middle or center of the tile, but does not extend beyond half the thickness of the tile. Thus, the adhesive collected in the collection cavity or groove is prevented from being forced further upward toward the upper surface of the tile.

[0018] Preferably, the second pair of edges, or the lateral adhesive chambers in the adhesive collection cavity or groove, include concave portions in the second pair of edges, or in both the third and fourth edges. Preferably, the concave portions extend horizontally and face each other, and preferably, the concave portions are symmetrical. Once filled with adhesive and cured, the adhesive penetrates the second pair of edges at least partially in the horizontal direction. Although this is not considered a mechanical coupling portion that is part of the second pair of edges, the adhesive in the concave portions prevents vertical displacement of the coupled tiles to some extent, thereby improving the stability of the tiles.

[0019] Since the second pair of opposing edges lacks mechanical coupling parts, it is suitable for mechanically joining the tiles to only two tiles. The second pair of edges may each have a longitudinal groove extending in a direction parallel to the corresponding edge. The grooves of adjacent edges may be interconnected and aligned to form a circumferential groove together. The circumferential groove is intended to accommodate adhesive while bonding the tiles to the bottom floor, for example, to reinforce the connection between the tile and the bottom floor and to reinforce the connection between the tile (1) and the adjacent tile. The grooves of the third edge and the fourth edge preferably face each other and together form an additional (small) adhesive chamber. An adhesive inlet may be created in the bottom portion between the tiles to allow the adhesive to flow into this adhesive chamber during installation. This adhesive inlet may be formed by cutting the bottom portions of the third edge and the fourth edge. The upper sections of the outer surfaces of the third edge and the fourth edge are preferably positioned facing each other. The aforementioned additional adhesive chamber formed between the grooves contributes to the additional stabilization of the floor covering material when the adhesive solidifies.

[0020] Despite the fact that it is preferable for the second pair of opposing edges not to have any mechanical coupling parts, it may also be considered that the second pair of opposing edges includes mechanical coupling parts that enable a plurality of such tiles to be mechanically coupled to each other. These coupling parts may be configured to form a first locking system that affects the locking of mutually coupled tiles perpendicular to the plane of the tile and each edge, and to form a second locking system that affects the locking of mutually coupled tiles perpendicular to the plane of the tile, wherein these coupling parts are substantially implemented from the aforementioned substrate layer. The coupling parts in the second pair of opposing edges described above may be configured so that two of these tiles can be coupled to each other at these edges by rotational movement and / or vertical movement. In this case, for example, a locking between tiles occurs during the angling down of the tile coupled to the second edge of the already installed tile at the first edge, and the fourth edge of the aforementioned tile coupled thereto makes a scissor movement toward the third edge of another already installed tile.Here, the third edge may be considered to comprise a single upward protrusion, at least one upward flank located at a certain distance from the upward protrusion, and a single upward groove formed between the upward protrusion and the upward flank (wherein at least a portion of the side portion of the upward protrusion facing the upward flank is inclined and extends in a direction toward the normal of the upper surface of the core, and wherein at least a portion of the side portion of the upward protrusion facing away from the upward flank may include a first locking element), and the fourth edge may be considered to comprise a single downward protrusion, at least one downward flank located at a certain distance from the downward protrusion, and a single downward groove formed between the downward protrusion and the downward flank (wherein at least a portion of the side portion of the downward protrusion facing the downward flank is inclined and extends in a direction toward the normal of the lower surface of the core, and wherein the downward flank may include a second locking element configured to cooperate with the first locking element of the third edge of another tile). Preferably, by deformation of the third edge and / or the fourth edge, the downward protrusion of the fourth edge of the tile to be coupled during coupling will be forced into the upward groove of the third edge of the aforementioned other tile, and the upward protrusion of the aforementioned other tile will be forced into the downward groove of the tile, which leads to the locking of adjacent tiles at the third and fourth edges in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0021] A tile of a floor covering system according to the present invention generally comprises at least one balancing layer attached directly or indirectly to the lower surface of a base layer. This balancing layer is intended to keep the tile as flat as possible. The balancing layer is generally formed from a PVC-based film. The balancing layer may act as an acoustic damping layer. Preferably, each tile comprises at least one decorative layer attached directly or indirectly to the upper surface of a base layer. The decorative layer may be a printed layer and / or may be covered by at least one protective (top) layer covering the aforementioned decorative layer. The presence of the printed layer and / or protective layer can prevent the tile from being damaged by environmental factors such as scratches and / or UV / moisture and / or abrasion. The printed layer may be formed from a film to which a decorative print is applied, wherein the film is attached to an intermediate layer, such as a primer layer located between the base layer and / or the decorative layer. The printed layer may also be formed by at least one ink layer applied directly to the upper surface of the base layer, or on a primer layer applied to the base layer. Each tile may include at least one wear layer attached directly or indirectly to the upper surface of the decorative layer. Each tile may include at least one lacquer layer attached directly or indirectly to the upper surface of the decorative layer, preferably the upper surface of the wear layer.

[0022] The tiles of the adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention may have any thickness, generally in the range of 2 to 12 mm, but preferably less than 4.7 mm, more preferably less than 4 mm, which is more common for adhesive floor tiles, e.g., 2.5 mm (or less), 2.8 mm (or less), 3.0 mm (or less), 3.5 mm (or less), or 3.8 mm (or less). The tiles of the adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention are preferably flexible. In this regard, it is advantageous if the PVC of the substrate layer is provided with a plasticizer in an amount generally of 0 to 20 weight percent. It is also not excluded if the substrate layer is semi-rigid or rigid and / or each tile itself is semi-rigid or rigid. The substrate layer may be foamed, but it is more common to apply a solid substrate layer for the adhesive tiles. The substrate layer preferably comprises at least one inert filler, such as calcium carbonate (chalk) or talc or a mixture of various fillers, wherein the amount of filler(s) is preferably between 20 and 70 weight percent.

[0023] It may be considered that an adhesive be provided on the bottom surface (back) of each tile so that the tile can be bonded to the subfloor. This can be any suitable adhesive and / or tack (the aforementioned tack becomes adhesive when subjected to mechanical pressure). In this way, the use of a separate adhesive to attach the tile to the subfloor can be omitted. Optionally, the adhesive is covered with a cover that is initially peelable, which leads to a peel-and-stick type adhesive floor covering.

[0024] The present invention also relates to an adhesive floor covering material implemented by interlocking a plurality of tiles of an adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention.

[0025] The present invention further relates to a tile for use in an adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention.

[0026] In this specification, ordinal numbers used as "first," "second," and "third" are used for identification purposes only. "Complementary" coupling parts or coupling profiles mean that such coupling parts can cooperate with each other. However, for this purpose, the complementary coupling parts do not necessarily have to have a complementary form. In this specification, the directional expression "horizontal" should be understood as parallel to or coincident with the plane defined by the tile(s), and the directional expression "vertical" should be understood as perpendicular to the plane of the tile(s). Accordingly, a "vertical" lock means locking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the tile. A "horizontal" lock means locking in a direction perpendicular to the respective coupled edge of the two tiles, and means parallel to or coincident with the plane defined by the tile. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0027] The present invention will be described based on non-limiting and exemplary embodiments illustrated in the following drawings. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an adhesive tile of an adhesive floor covering system according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a tile according to Figure 1. Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a tile according to Figure 1. FIG. 4 illustrates an adhesive floor covering made of a plurality of mutually locked adhesive tiles according to FIG. 1. Figure 5 is a detailed view of part A of the floor covering material according to Figure 4. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along the BB line of the floor covering material according to Figure 4. FIG. 7 is a top view of an adhesive floor covering made of a plurality of mutually locked adhesive tiles according to FIG. 1 installed according to a first installation pattern. FIG. 8 is a top view of an adhesive floor covering made of a plurality of mutually locked adhesive tiles according to FIG. 1 installed according to a second installation pattern. FIG. 9 illustrates a (partial) cross-section of two identical panels according to the present invention in a coupled state. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a rectangular adhesive tile (1) of an adhesive floor covering system (2) (see FIG. 4 to 8) according to the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of the tile according to FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tile according to FIG. 1. The tile (1) can be mechanically interconnected with two similar tiles to form the aforementioned covering (2). The tile (1) includes a first pair of opposing long edges (1a, 1b) identified as a first edge (1a) and a second edge (1b), and a second pair of opposing short edges (1c, 1d) identified as a third edge (1c) and a fourth edge (1d). The first pair of opposing edges (1a, 1b) includes a complementary mechanical coupling part (3, 4) identified as a male coupling part (3), and a female coupling part (4) that allows it to be mechanically coupled with two other tiles (1). The second pair of opposing edges (1c, 1d) does not have a mechanical coupling part, so the tile (1) is suitable for being mechanically coupled with only two tiles. Each edge (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) has a longitudinal groove (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) extending in a direction parallel to the corresponding edge. The grooves (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) of adjacent edges (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) are connected to each other and together form a circumferential groove (5). The circumferential groove (5) is intended to receive adhesive while bonding the tile (1) under the lower floor (6) to reinforce the connection between the tile (1) and the lower floor (6) and between the tile (1) and adjacent tiles. The male coupling portion (3) includes a lateral projection (7) integrally connected to the central body (8) of the tile (1). A flat bottom surface (9) is provided in the front region (7a) of the lateral projection (7). The outer end (tip) of the front region (7a) of the lateral projection (7) is provided on an upper surface having an inclined locking surface (10). The rear region (7b) of the lateral projection (7) is located between the front region (7a) and the central body and connects the front region (7a) to the central body (8).The lower surface of the rear region (7b) can be identified as a bearing surface (11). This bearing surface (11) is inclined in the direction of the front region (7a) of the lateral protrusion (7). The bearing surface (11) is connected to a first end surface (12) that is substantially perpendicular to the central body (8). The female coupling portion (4) includes an upper lip (13) and a lower lip (14) that define a recess (15). Both lips (13, 14) are integrally connected to the central body (8). As shown in FIG. 1, the width of the upper lip (13) is substantially smaller than the width of the lower lip (14). The recess (15) has a shape complementary to the shape of the lateral protrusion (7). More specifically, the upper surface (16) of the rear region (14a) of the lower lip (14) has a (complementary) flat shape and is configured to cooperate with the flat bottom surface of the front region (7a) of the lateral protrusion (7), while the front region (14b) of the lower lip (14) is provided with an upwardly protruding shoulder (17) and is configured to face the bearing surface (11) of the lateral protrusion (7) of another tile at a distance from the aforementioned bearing surface (11). The space created in this way is defined as the upper adhesive chamber (21) in a coupled state. The lower surface (18) of the upper lip (13) is inclined and corresponds to the locking surface (10) of the lateral protrusion (7). The substantially vertical distal end surface (19) of the lower lip (14) is connected to the lower surface (20) of the tile (1) and, when combined with another tile, will face the end surface (12) of the central body (8) and will be positioned at a distance from the aforementioned end surface (12) of the central body (8). The space created in this way is defined as the lower adhesive chamber (22) in the coupled state, which is connected to the upper adhesive chamber (21) as visualized in more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.FIGS. 4 through 8 illustrate a floor covering system according to the present invention, more specifically, a floor covering implemented by the floor covering system described above, wherein a plurality of tiles (1) are interconnected, and the tiles (1) are bonded downward to a lower floor (6) using a solidified adhesive (23). As shown in FIG. 5, the adhesive dries (and solidifies) in upper and lower adhesive chambers (21, 22). As shown in FIG. 6, the groove (5c) of the third edge (1c) and the groove (5d) of the fourth edge (1d) face each other and together form an additional (small) adhesive chamber (24). An adhesive inlet (25) is created in the floor between the tiles (1) so that the adhesive (23) can flow into this adhesive chamber (24) during installation. This adhesive inlet (25) is actually formed by the cut portions of the floor of the third edge (1c) and the fourth edge (1d). The upper sections of the outer surfaces of the third edge (1c) and the fourth edge (1d) are generally positioned facing each other, where direct contact (uncoupled, loose) exists between these upper sections. Optionally, a thin film of adhesive may flow between these upper sections during installation. The aforementioned additional adhesive chamber (24) formed between the grooves (5c and 5d) contributes to further stabilization of the floor covering once the adhesive has solidified. As illustrated by the arrow (C) in FIG. 4, while the male coupling portion (3) of the tile (1) is inserted into the female coupling (4) of the already installed tile (1), the two tiles (1) can be mechanically connected by angling down (turning over) the tile (1) to be joined. During this angling down movement in which the coupling parts (3, 4) cooperate with each other, the tile (1) to be installed will be automatically installed and aligned in a proper manner, and the adhesive will not flow from between the coupling parts (3, 4) to the upper surface of the tile (1) (which contaminates the tile (1)).During this angling down movement, at least the coupling portions (3, 4) will be temporarily deformed to allow the lateral protrusion (7) to be inserted into the complementary recess (15). In the installed state, the coupling portions (3, 4) will normally return to their initial shape with the complementary shape of both coupling portions (3, 4). This temporary deformation of one of the coupling portions (3, 4) leads to a click-type or snap-type connection, while the male coupling portion (3) will be clicked or snapped into the female coupling portion (4). This interconnection will lead to the locking of the two tiles (1) in both the horizontal and vertical directions. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tile (1) has a layered structure, wherein the base layer (26) (core layer) is generally the thickest layer and comprises PVC, a plasticizer, and preferably at least one filler. The plasticizer generally softens the PVC to provide such flexible properties to the tile (1). A backing layer (27), also referred to as a balancing layer, is attached to the lower surface of the base layer (26) and generally functions to balance the tile (1) itself. A decorative printing layer (28), a wear layer (29), and a UV-cured lacquer layer (30) are applied continuously to the upper surface of the base layer (26). The thickness of these panels is preferably between 2.8 and 4.7 mm. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, rectangular tiles (1) can be installed in a horizontal grid, but as shown in FIG. 8, installing tiles in an offset or twisted brick pattern, for example, can also be considered.

[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates a (partial) cross-section of two identical panels (31) according to the present invention in a coupled state. In this figure, only the first pair of complementary opposing edges, particularly their complementary coupling, is illustrated. The panels (31) are generally square or rectangular (elongated rectangle), and the second pair of opposing edges therein preferably does not have any coupling portion. The thickness of the illustrated panels (31) is 4.7 mm or less, preferably within the range of 3.2 to 3.5 mm. In this cross-sectional view, not all panel layers are illustrated, but generally these panels (31) comprise a core (32) and a layer superstructure, which generally have decorative features and are attached to the top of the aforementioned core (32). The core (32) is generally PVC-based, but alternatively, a mineral-based and / or wood-based and / or polymer-based composition may be used to constitute the core (32). A backing layer attached to the bottom surface of the core (32) may also be applied. The coupling portion forms an integrated part of the aforementioned core. One of the coupling portions forming part of the panel (31) illustrated on the left includes a lower bridge (33) to which an upward protrusion (34) is connected. The upward protrusion (34) includes an inner side (34a) facing the upward flank (32a) of the first coupling portion. The inner side (34a) and the upward flank (32a) of the aforementioned upward protrusion (34) surround the upward groove. A locking element, such as a bulge (35), is provided on the outer side (34b) of the upward protrusion (34). The illustrated second coupling portion forms part of the right panel (31) and includes an upper bridge (36) to which a downward protrusion (37) is connected. The lower bridge (33) and / or the upper bridge (36) are preferably elastic (to some extent) to facilitate coupling. The downward protrusion (37) is inserted into the upward groove. The upward protrusion (34) is inserted into the downward groove surrounded by the aforementioned downward protrusion (37) and downward flank (32b).The downward flank (32b) is provided with a second locking element, such as a recess (37), configured to coordinate at a coupled position, preferably at a coupled offset position (where the panels are slightly tilted relative to each other). A gap (38) exists between the outer side (34b) of the upward protrusion (34) and the downward flank (32b), which allows adhesive to flow into the aforementioned gap (38) to increase the bond between the panel (32) and the lower bottom (not shown). Optionally, additionally, mutually coordinating locking elements (39a, 39b), for example, a bulge and a coordinating recess shown in dashed lines, are applied near the upper boundary line between the two panels (32). Various spaces exist between the panels (32) to allow for the expansion of the panels and / or to accommodate adhesive. To achieve an additional vertical locking effect (i.e., perpendicular to the plane defined by the panel (31)), a portion of the inner side (34a) of the upward protrusion (34) is inclined toward the upward flank (32), and preferably, a portion of the inner side (37a) of the downward protrusion (37) is inclined toward the downward flank (32b). As is apparent, the illustrated coupling portion is configured to be coupled by a vertical movement, also referred to as a drop-down movement or downward movement or drop-lock movement.

[0030]

[0031] The aforementioned inventive concepts are illustrated by several exemplary embodiments. It should be considered that individual inventive concepts may be applied without applying other details of the described examples. It is not necessary to describe in detail examples of all conceivable combinations of the aforementioned inventive concepts, and those skilled in the art will understand that multiple inventive concepts may be (re)combined to achieve a specific application.

[0032] ​It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the working examples illustrated and described herein, and that numerous variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

[0033] The verb "to include" and its conjugations as used in this patent specification are understood to mean not only "to include," but also the phrases "to contain," "to be substantially composed of," "to be formed of," and their conjugations.

Claims

Claim 1 An adhesive decorative floor covering system comprises a plurality of mutually lockable decorative and flexible floor tiles, wherein each floor tile comprises at least one flexible substrate layer made of at least partially polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and each floor tile is rectangular, elongated rectangular, or square and thus comprises a first pair of opposing edges and a second pair of opposing edges; wherein the first pair of opposing edges comprises a mechanical coupling portion capable of mechanically coupling a plurality of such tiles to each other, wherein the coupling portion forms a first locking system perpendicular to each edge and influences the locking of the mutually coupled tiles in the plane of the tiles, as well as a second locking system perpendicular to the plane of the tiles and influences the locking of the mutually coupled tiles, and wherein the coupling portion is substantially implemented from the substrate layer; The coupling portions in the first pair of opposing edges are configured so that two of these tiles can be coupled to each other at these edges by rotational movement or vertical movement, and the second pair of opposing edges has no mechanical coupling portions;A first pair of coupling portions of opposing edges comprises: a lateral projection extending in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the tile on the first edge, a front bottom portion of the lateral projection that is at least partially rounded or flat, and a rear bottom portion of the projection configured as a bearing area, wherein the rear bottom portion is located closer to the level of the upper face of the tile than the lowest part of the front bottom portion, and a first pair of coupling portions of opposing edges comprises a recess for accommodating at least a portion of an additional lateral projection of the tile on the opposing second edge, wherein the recess is defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, wherein the lower lip is provided with an upwardly protruding shoulder for supporting the bearing area of ​​the lateral projection, and the lateral projection is designed to be locked by an introduction movement into the recess of the additional lateral projection of the tile and an angling down movement about an axis parallel to the first edge, so as to be engaged with the upper end of the lateral projection and the bearing area of ​​the lateral projection is supported by the shoulder of the lower lip and face each other, so as to be first and adjacent tiles at the second edge are engaged; the lower lip has a first end surface that is substantially vertical, and the bearing area is connected to the second end surface of the tile of the substrate layer that is substantially vertical; in the coupled state of the adjacent tiles, the first end surface faces the second end surface so that the first end surface and the second end surface surround each other the lower adhesive chamber, wherein the first end surface and the second end surface are spaced apart from each other so that sufficient adhesive can enter between them; the first end surface and the second end surface are provided with at least one adhesive collecting cavity or at least one adhesive collecting groove;An adhesive decorative floor covering system, wherein a second pair of opposing edges is composed of a third edge and an opposing fourth edge, wherein the third edge has a substantially vertical third end surface and the fourth edge has a substantially vertical fourth end surface, and the upper sections of the third end surface and the fourth end surface are interlocked with each other or are in contact with each other for at least half the thickness of the tile; and the third end surface and the fourth end surface are provided with at least one adhesive collecting cavity or at least one adhesive collecting groove. Claim 2 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the first pair of coupling portions of opposing edges are designed to snap or click together during mutual coupling. Claim 3 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one coupling portion of a first pair of coupling portions of opposing edges is designed to be elastically deformed during mutual coupling. Claim 4 An adhesive decorative floor covering system in which deformation is forced during mutual coupling of coupling parts at one coupling part in paragraph 3. Claim 5 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein, in the coupling state of the coupling portion, the lateral protrusion and the concave portion surround each other a plurality of gaps. Claim 6 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the bearing area configured to be supported by and facing the shoulder of the lower lip slopes upward in the direction of the front area of ​​the bottom part of the side protrusion. Claim 7 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein, in a coupling state of adjacent tiles, the upper sections of the third end surface and the fourth end surface interlock with each other, and the third end surface faces the fourth end surface such that at least a portion of the bottom section cross-sections of the third end surface and the fourth end surface surrounds the side adhesive chamber. Claim 8 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the tile interlocks substantially smoothly with the upper surface of the other tile when mechanically coupled with each other. Claim 9 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein each tile comprises at least one decorative layer attached directly or indirectly to the upper surface of a substrate layer. Claim 10 In paragraph 9, an adhesive decorative floor covering system in which the decorative layer is a printed layer. Claim 11 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein each tile comprises at least one wear layer attached directly or indirectly to the upper surface of the decorative layer. Claim 12 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the substrate layer comprises at least one plasticizer. Claim 13 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein the substrate layer comprises at least one inert filler such as calcium carbonate. Claim 14 An adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive is provided on the bottom surface of each tile so that the tile can be adhered to the lower floor, and the adhesive is initially covered with a removable cover. Claim 15 An adhesive floor covering implemented by mutually locking a plurality of tiles of an adhesive decorative floor covering system according to claim 1. Claim 16 delete Claim 17 delete Claim 18 delete Claim 19 delete Claim 20 delete Claim 21 delete Claim 22 delete Claim 23 delete Claim 24 delete Claim 25 delete Claim 26 delete Claim 27 delete Claim 28 delete Claim 29 delete Claim 30 delete Claim 31 delete Claim 32 delete Claim 33 delete Claim 34 delete Claim 35 delete Claim 36 delete

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