Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F15/00—Flooring
  • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
  • E04F15/02005—Construction of joints, e.g. dividing strips
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F15/00—Flooring
  • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
  • E04F15/04—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements only of wood or with a top layer of wood, e.g. with wooden or metal connecting members
  • E04F15/041—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements only of wood or with a top layer of wood, e.g. with wooden or metal connecting members with a top layer of wood in combination with a lower layer of other material
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F15/00—Flooring
  • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
  • E04F15/02038—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
  • E04B1/38—Connections for building structures in general
  • E04B1/61—Connections for building structures in general of slab-shaped building elements with each other
  • E04B1/6108—Connections for building structures in general of slab-shaped building elements with each other the frontal surfaces of the slabs connected together
  • E04B1/612—Connections for building structures in general of slab-shaped building elements with each other the frontal surfaces of the slabs connected together by means between frontal surfaces
  • E04B1/6145—Connections for building structures in general of slab-shaped building elements with each other the frontal surfaces of the slabs connected together by means between frontal surfaces with recesses in both frontal surfaces co-operating with an additional connecting element
  • E04B1/615—Connections for building structures in general of slab-shaped building elements with each other the frontal surfaces of the slabs connected together by means between frontal surfaces with recesses in both frontal surfaces co-operating with an additional connecting element the connection made by expansion
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
  • E04F2201/01—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship
  • E04F2201/0107—Joining sheets, plates or panels with edges in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates or panels substantially in their own plane, perpendicular to the abutting edges
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
  • E04F2201/04—Other details of tongues or grooves
  • E04F2201/044—Other details of tongues or grooves with tongues or grooves comprising elements which are not manufactured in one piece with the sheets, plates or panels but which are permanently fixedly connected to the sheets, plates or panels, e.g. at the factory
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
  • E04F2201/05—Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins, keys or strips
  • E04F2201/0505—Pegs or pins
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F2201/00—Joining sheets or plates or panels
  • E04F2201/05—Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins, keys or strips
  • E04F2201/0511—Strips or bars, e.g. nailing strips

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a joining system comprising a locking device and a first element and a second element to be joined by the locking device.
• the locking device comprises a first end section, a centre section, and a second end section.
• the first and second end sections extend in opposite directions from the centre section. At least one surface of each of the first and second end sections are provided with at least one barb, angled in a direction towards the centre section.
• WO 2008/148198 discloses a fastener having two end portions each to be fitted into grooves in boards used for decking.
• the fastener is provided with barbs and the grooves are provided with recesses, such that the fastener can lock two adjacent boards to each other.
• the centre section of the fastener maintains a predetermined spacing between the boards, as is conventional for decking. Additional fastening means are used for attaching the boards to the foundation, by screwing a screw through a hole in the fastener and into the foundation.
• a joining system comprising a locking device and a first element and a second element to be joined by the locking device, the locking device comprising a first end section, a centre section, and a second end section, the first and second end sections extending in opposite directions from the centre section, at least one surface of each of the first and second end sections being provided with at least one barb, the barb being angled in a direction towards the centre section, the first and second elements each being provided with a groove, the locking device being completely enclosed by the grooves when the first and second elements are joined by the locking device.
• the use of such a joining system facilitates easy, reliable, and invisible joining of elements such as floor boards.
• the floor boards can be laid in abutment to each other, which is normal procedure when laying floors (as opposed to when laying decking). Also, the joining system provides an exact and accurate assembly of the floor boards as seen in a direction
• the groove may comprise at least one surface provided with at least one angled recess adapted for locking engagement with the barbs.
• angled recesses are necessary when the joining system is used in harder materials where the barbs themselves are not sufficiently strong in order to form a locking engagement with the elements.
• the locking device substantially has a shape of a right parallelepiped, which is an easy shape to manufacture.
• the groove may be contained within a separate strip provided in a slot in the element. This embodiment facilitates using the joining system also for elements which are made of materials which are not sufficiently strong or durable to engage with the locking device directly.
• the strip is made of plastic, metal, wood, or wood based material.
• the centre section may comprise a protrusion which extends in a direction perpendicular to the surface. Such a protrusion facilitates the steering of the locking device such that it automatically is placed in the correct position in relation to the surrounding elements.
• the protrusion may be shaped as a ridge, the ridge comprising two straight surface portions extending at an angle away from the surface of the centre section and towards each other such that they have a common peak at the very centre of the locking device.
• a shape is especially well-suited for such steering of the placement of the locking device.
• a plurality of locking devices is arranged spaced apart from one another along a ribbon. This facilitates simple insertion of the locking devices into the groove of the element at a correct distance from each other.
• the first and second elements may be floor boards.
• the groove is provided along a peripheral edge of the floor boards. In a further embodiment, the slot is provided along a peripheral edge of the floor boards.
• the configuration of the peripheral edges may be substantially the same for the floor boards, which facilitates laying any kind of desired pattern of floor boards since any edge of each floor board may be joined to any other edge of the adjacent floor boards.
• This is especially an advantage when using laminate floor boards, since the floor boards may be rotated 180° during laying such that the upper surface, i.e. the side having a pre-printed laminate pattern, of the floor board still is directed upwards but the pre-printed laminate pattern is rotated in relation to the initial position of the floor boards.
• the groove and/or slot may be provided along all peripheral edges of the floor boards.
• a method of joining a first and a second element using a locking device comprising the steps of fitting a first end section of the locking device into a groove in the first element, and fitting a second end section of the locking device into a groove in the second element, where after the locking device is in locking engagement with the grooves such that the first and second elements are completely enclosed by the grooves.
• these objects are achieved by a floor comprising such a joining system.
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a locking device according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of first and second elements according to the present invention.
• Figure 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of the joining system according to the present invention.
• Figure 1 shows a joining system comprising a locking device 1 and first and second elements 2, 3 to be joined by the locking device 1.
• the locking device 1 has a first end section 4, a centre section 5, and a second end section 6, where the first and second end sections 4, 6 extend in opposite directions from the centre section 5.
• the locking device 1 has substantially the shape of a right parallelepiped. I.e., the locking device 1 is shaped as a right-angled block having six sides. Two first opposing sides have a mutually identical shape while the adjacent two, second opposing sides also have a mutually identical shape. The shape of the second opposing sides could be identical to that of the first opposing sides. However, it could also be different in terms of dimensions. The remaining two third opposing sides of the block can also be described as the short ends of the block.
• the block preferably has an elongated shape.
• the shape of the locking device 1 need not be that of a right parallelepiped.
• the locking device 1 could e.g. be tapered in the direction towards each short side such that the centre section 5 of the locking device is thicker than its short ends, i.e. the far end of each end section 4, 6, in a direction which is perpendicular to the above mentioned first opposing sides.
• the locking device could, as mentioned above, be tapered in the direction towards each short side, but in a direction which is perpendicular to the third opposing sides.
• the locking device could also be substantially cylindrical, circular, cubical, or have any other shape which is found to be suitable.
• the first and second elements 2, 3 are preferably floor boards, but could nevertheless be any other kind of objects such as parts for furniture, hanging systems, or any other objects which need to be securely and easily joined to each other.
• the first and second elements 2, 3 are defined as floor boards in the embodiments below.
• first and second elements 2, 3 are floor boards
• first opposing sides of the block are parallel with the upper surface of the floor boards, i.e. the surface intended for standing on when the floor has been laid.
• second and third opposing sides are perpendicular to both each other and the first opposing sides.
• a floor board configuration is a conventional three layered board, but could however also be a two layered board, a solid single layer board, or any other suitably configured type of board.
• the floor board 2, 3 is preferably a wooden floor board.
• the floor boards 2, 3 are substantially identically configured, i.e. not only their general appearance, such as being e.g. rectangular, square, or triangular in shape, but also the peripheral edges are substantially identical for all floor boards.
• the system can be used not only for all edges 15 of a floor board, such that the board has identical peripheral edges 15, but also for just one edge 15 of a floor board while the remaining edges of the floor board have a different configuration.
• the locking device 1 is provided with at least one barb 8 on at least one side (i.e. surface) 7 of the first and second end sections 4, 6.
• both above mentioned first opposing sides of the first end section are each provided with a number of barbs 8.
• the second end section 6 has the same configuration of barbs 8 as that described for the first end section 4, only reverse as regards the direction of the barbs 8 as described further below.
• the second end section 6 could also have a configuration completely different from that of the first end section 4.
• the barbs 8 are preferably angled in a direction towards the centre section 5 of the locking device 1 , i.e. the barbs 8 on the first end section 4 are angled in a direction towards the centre section 5 and the second end section 6, and the reverse.
• the barbs 8 together form a saw-toothed shape, when seen from the side of the locking device 1 , i.e. from a direction perpendicular to the above mentioned second opposing sides of the block.
• the first and second elements, i.e. the floor boards 2, 3 are each provided with a groove 9.
• the groove 9 itself may, when the groove 9 is provided in a softer material such as chipboard, have smooth surfaces.
• the barbs 8 of the locking device 1 dig into the softer chipboard material, hence causing a locking engagement with the chipboard.
• the groove 9 may also, as shown in figure 2, comprise at least one surface 10 provided with at least one angled recess 14 adapted for locking engagement with the barbs 8 on at least one side of the first opposing sides of the locking device 1 .
• the surface is in abutment with, and in the same plane as, the first opposing sides of the corresponding end section when the floor boards 2, 3 are joined by the locking device 1 .
• the barbs 8 on the locking device 1 are angled as mentioned above, i.e. in the direction towards the centre section 5 of the locking device 1 and against the insertion direction for the locking device 1 into the groove 9.
• the recesses 14 in the grooves 9 of the floor boards 2, 3 are angled in a corresponding way, i.e. in a direction towards the bottom, most inner part of the groove 9 and along the insertion direction for the locking device 1 into the groove 9.
• first or second end sections 4, 6, respectively i.e. the two first opposing sides of the block and one of the third opposing sides.
• the groove 9 in the floor boards may be provided with the recesses 14 directly on the surfaces of the groove 9, i.e. by being incorporated into the components of the floor board 2, 3.
• the groove 9 may also be contained within a separate strip 1 1 provided in a slot 12 in the floor board 2, 3.
• slot refers to a milled out part of the floor board 2, 3 into which the strip 1 1 is fitted
• groove refers to a milled out part in the strip 1 1 itself, the groove 9 still comprising the above discussed recesses 14 in the same way as discussed above.
• the groove 9 and/or slot 12 may be provided by milling of e.g. the edge 15 of the floor board 2, 3, or by assembling the components of the floor board 2 ,3 such that the groove/slot 9, 12 is achieved during the assembly process, i.e. the pressing, of the floor board.
• the groove 9 and/or slot 12 may be provided along one or more, including all, peripheral edges 15 of the floor boards 2, 3.
• the locking device 1 and the strip 1 1 comprising the above mentioned groove 9, is preferably made of plastic, metal, wood, or wood based material such as plywood or fibres.
• the strip 1 1 has an inner shape which corresponds to that of the locking device 1 .
• the locking device 1 is shaped as a right
• the inside of the slot is preferably U-shaped.
• the inside of the strip 1 1 should have a
• the inside of the strip 1 1 needs to be cylindrical as well.
• the outer shape of the strip 1 1 corresponds to that of the slot 12.
• the slot 12 is U-shaped, which hence should be the case for the outer shape of the strip 1 1 as well.
• the strip 1 1 is arranged within the slot 12 in the floor board 2, 3 such that the outer sides of the strip 1 1 are in abutment with the corresponding U-shaped sides of the slot. 12
• the strip 1 1 may be fitted into the slot 12 during manufacture of the floor board 2, 3 itself, i.e. when pressing the floor board 2, 3.
• the strip 1 1 could also be inserted into a slot 12 which has been milled into the edge 15 of a finished floor board 2, 3, as mentioned above.
• the strip 1 1 is preferably glued to the floor board 2, 3, regardless of the fitting method.
• the centre section 5 of the locking device may be provided with a protrusion 13 which extends in a direction perpendicular to the surface 7 of the first and second end sections 4, 6. More exactly, in a direction perpendicular to the above mentioned first opposing sides of the block.
• the first and second elements 2, 3 are floor boards, this means in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the floor boards, i.e. the surface intended for standing on when the floor has been laid.
• the protrusion 13 is preferably shaped as a ridge.
• the ridge 13 comprises two straight surface portions extending at an angle away from the surface of the centre section 5 and towards each other such that they have a common peak at the very centre of the locking device 1 , the centre being the centre of the locking device 1 in any direction.
• the protrusion 13 has a triangular shape, when seen from side of the locking device 1 , i.e. from a direction perpendicular to the above mentioned second opposing sides of the block.
• the joining system may comprise a number of locking devices 1 arranged spaced apart from one another along a ribbon, such that a number of locking devices 1 can be easily inserted into the groove 9 of the floor boards at a correct distance from each other.
• each locking device 1 is made of a conductive material and is connected to the heating system.
• the joining system is used by fitting a first end section 4 of the locking device 1 into a groove 9 in the first element 2 and fitting a second end section 6 of the locking device 1 into a groove 9 in the second element 3. Hence, the locking device 1 is in locking engagement with the grooves 9 such that the first and second elements 2, 3 are completely enclosed by the grooves 9.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Connection Of Plates (AREA)
• Floor Finish (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=49769094

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (1)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2012
  • 2012-06-21 CA CA2876415A patent/CA2876415A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-06-21 EP EP12879348.6A patent/EP2864560A4/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-06-21 CN CN201280074034.4A patent/CN104364455A/zh active Pending
  • 2012-06-21 US US14/409,766 patent/US20150361674A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-06-21 WO PCT/SE2012/050702 patent/WO2013191607A1/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (8)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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