Unilin Beheer et. al. v. NSL Trading et. al.

7/27/2019 Unilin Beheer et. al. v. NSL Trading et. al.

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1COMPLAINT

Plaintiffs allege the following:

NATURE OF THE ACTION

1. This is an action for patent infringement arising under the Patent Lawsof the United States, 35 U.S.C. 1, et seq.

THE PARTIES

2. Plaintiff Unilin Beheer B.V. is a company organized under the laws ofthe Netherlands with its principal place of business at 1 Beneluxstraat, 5061KD

Oisterwijk, The Netherlands.

3. Plaintiff Flooring Industries, Ltd. Sarl is the exclusive licensee to thepatents-at-issue in this matter and has its principal place of business at 10b Rue des

Mrovingiens, Zone Industrielle Bourmicht, Bertrange 8070, Luxembourg.

4. Upon information and belief, Defendant NSL Trading Corp. is aCalifornia corporation with its principal place of business at 2240 E. Winston Rd.,

Anaheim CA, 92806.

5. Plaintiffs are informed and believe and thereon allege that DefendantHui Chen is an individual who resides in Los Angeles County, California.

6. Plaintiffs are informed and believe and thereon allege that DefendantJing Nie is an individual who resides in Los Angeles County, California.

7. Upon information and belief, Defendant Chase Wood & Cabinets, Inc.is a California corporation with its principal place of business at 2240 E. Winston

Rd., Anaheim CA, 92806.

8.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Granada Wood & Cabinets,Inc. is a California corporation doing business as Granada Cabinetry with its

principal place of business at 2150 E. Winston Rd., Anaheim CA, 92806.

9. Upon information and belief, Defendant Granada Kitchen & FloorLLC is a California limited liability company with its principal place of business at

1400 E. Cerritos Avenue, Anaheim CA, 92805.


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2COMPLAINT

10. Plaintiffs are informed and believe and thereon allege that DefendantTao Zhang is an individual who resides in Los Angeles County, California.

11. Plaintiffs are informed and believe that Defendants Chen, Nie, andZhang, in conjunction with DOES 1-25, jointly own, manage, and/or control NSL

Trading Corp., Chase Wood & Cabinets, Inc., Granada Wood & Cabinets, Inc.doing business as Granada Cabinetry, and Granada Kitchen & Floor LLC.

Defendants Chen, Nie, Zhang, and DOES 1-25 import, distribute and sell products

that infringe Plaintiffs patents through their alter-egos such as entities NSL

Trading Corp., Chase Wood & Cabinets, Inc., Granada Wood & Cabinets, Inc.

doing business as Granada Cabinetry, and Granada Kitchen & Floor LLC, and

DOES 1-25. Defendants continue to sell such products through different fictitious

entities to mask their respective involvement in the improper importation,

distribution and sale of products that infringe Plaintiffs patents.

12. Plaintiffs are informed and believe and thereon allege that some ofDefendants and DOES 1 through 25, inclusive, are importers, vendors and

distributors of products that infringe Plaintiffs patents as described below. The

true names, whether corporate, individual or otherwise, and capacities of

defendants sued herein as DOES 1 through 25 are presently unknown to Plaintiffs

at this time, and therefore, Plaintiffs sues said defendants by such fictitious names.

Plaintiffs will seek leave to amend this complaint to allege their true names and

capacities when the same have been ascertained. Plaintiffs are informed and

believe, and based thereon allege, that each of defendants designated as a DOE is

responsible in some manner for the events alleged herein and the damages caused

thereby. The named Defendants, and DOES 1-25 may be collectively referred toas Defendants.

13. Plaintiffs are informed and believe and thereupon allege that at alltimes relevant hereto each of Defendants acted in concert with each other, was the

agent, affiliate, officer, director, manager, principal, alter-ego, co-conspirator, aider

and abettor, and/or employee of the remaining defendants and was at all times


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3COMPLAINT

acting within the scope of such agency, affiliation, alter-ego relationship and/or

employment; and actively participated in or subsequently ratified and adopted, or

both, each and all of the acts or conducts alleged, with full knowledge of all the

facts and circumstances, including without limitation to full knowledge of each and

every wrongful conducts and Plaintiffs damages caused therefrom.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

14. This is an action for patent infringement arising under the Patent Lawsof the United States, Title 35 of the United States Code.

15. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1331and 1338.

16. Upon information and belief, Defendants regularly conduct businessin this judicial district and have committed acts of patent infringement in this

judicial district including, inter alia, importing, selling and offering to sell

infringing products and services in this judicial district.

17. Upon information and belief, Defendants have ongoing andsystematic contacts with this judicial district and the United States. In particular,

Defendants principal places of business are located in this judicial district.

18. Venue is proper in this judicial district under 28 U.S.C. 139l(c) and1400(b).

JOINDER

19. Defendants are properly joined under 35 U.S.C. 299(a)(1) because aright to relief is asserted against the parties jointly, severally and in the alternativewith respect to the same transactions, occurrences, or series of transactions or

occurrences relating to the using, importing into the United States, offering for

sale, and/or selling the same accused products. Specifically, as alleged in detail

below, Defendants are alleged to infringe Unilins patents with respect to the same

connectable laminate flooring system.


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4COMPLAINT

20. Defendants are properly joined under 35 U.S.C. 299(a)(2).Questions of fact will arise that are common to all defendants, including for

example, whether Defendants products have features that meet the features of one

or more claims of Unilins Patents, and what reasonable royalty will be adequate to

compensate the owner of the Asserted Patents for its infringement.21. Defendants use, sell, offer for sale and/or import products that infringe

on Unilins patents.

22. At least one right to relief is asserted against these parties jointly,severally, or in the alternative with respect to or arising out of the same transaction,

occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences relating to the using, importing

into the United States, offering for sale, and/or selling of the same accused product

and/or process.

FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF

INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 6,874,292

23. The allegations set forth in the foregoing paragraphs are incorporatedinto this First Claim for Relief.

24. On April 5, 2005, U.S. Patent No. 6,874,292 (the 292 patent),entitled Floor Panel With Edge Connectors was duly and legally issued by the

United States Patent and Trademark Office. A true and correct copy of the 292

Patent is attached as Exhibit A to this Complaint.

25.

Plaintiffs are the assignee and owner of the right, title and interest inand to the 292 Patent, including the right to assert all causes of action arising

under said patent and the right to any remedies for infringement of it.

26. In violation of 35 U.S.C. 271, Defendants have directly infringedand continue to directly infringe, literally and/or under the doctrine of equivalents,

the 292 Patent by importing, using, selling and/or offering for sale in the United


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5COMPLAINT

States, including in this Judicial District, products capable of providing features

claimed in the 292 Patent (the 292 Accused Products and Services), without the

authority of Plaintiffs.

27. Plaintiffs provided actual notice to Defendant NSL Trading of itsinfringement of the 292 Patent in multiple letters, the earliest dated June 2012.

28. Defendants have had actual knowledge of the 292 Patent and theirinfringement of that patent since at least the date that the letters were received by

Defendants and/or their related entities.

29. Upon information and belief, Defendants have committed andcontinue to commit acts of contributory infringement of the 292 patent under 35

U.S.C. 27l(c) by selling, offering to sell, and/or importing products including the

292 Accused Products and Services for the 292 Patent, knowingly or willfully

blind to the fact that these products and service constitute a material part of the

invention, were especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of

the 292 Patent, and have no substantial non-infringing uses.

30. Upon information and belief, since at least the date they received thenotice letter from Plaintiffs, notifying Defendants that their products infringed the

292 Patent, Defendants have induced and continue to induce others to infringe the

292 Patent under 35 U.S.C. 271(b) by, among other things, and with specific

intent, actively and knowingly aiding and abetting others to infringe, including, but

not limited to, Defendants customers whose use of the 292 Accused Services and

Products constitutes direct infringement of the 292 Patent. In particular,

Defendants acted with specific intent to make others, such as its customers,

infringe by advertising and selling the products and by providing writteninstructions instructing customers on how to assemble and use the products. On

information and belief, Defendants engaged in such actions with specific intent to

cause infringement or with willful blindness to the resulting infringement because

Defendants have had actual knowledge of the 292 Patent and that its acts were

inducing its customers to infringe the 292 Patent.


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6COMPLAINT

31. Plaintiffs have been harmed by Defendants infringing activities.32. Plaintiffs provided notice of infringement of the 292 Patent to

Defendants, but Defendants thereafter continued to infringe the patent. On

information and belief, Defendants infringement has been and continues to be

willful.

SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF


33. The allegations set forth in the foregoing paragraphs are incorporatedinto this Second Claim for Relief.

34. On August 16, 2005, U.S. Patent No. 6,928,779 (the 779 patent),entitled Floor Panel With Edge Connectors was duly and legally issued by the

United States Patent and Trademark Office. A true and correct copy of the 779

Patent is attached as Exhibit B to this Complaint.

35. Plaintiffs are the assignee and owner of the right, title and interest inand to the 779 Patent, including the right to assert all causes of action arising


36. In violation of 35 U.S.C. 271, Defendants have directly infringedand continue to directly infringe, literally and /or under the doctrine of equivalents,

the 779 Patent by importing, using, selling and/or offering for sale in the United

States, including in this Judicial District, products capable of providing features

claimed in the 779 Patent (the 779 Accused Products and Services), without the

authority of Plaintiffs.

37.

Plaintiffs provided actual notice to Defendant NSL Trading Corp. ofits infringement of the 779 Patent in multiple letters, the earliest dated June 2012.




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7COMPLAINT



779 Accused Products and Services for the 779 Patent, knowing or willfully blind

to the fact that these products and service constitute a material part of theinvention, were especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of







Products constitutes direct infringement of the 779 Patent. In particular,

Defendants acted with specific intent to make others, such as its customers,

infringe by advertising and selling the products and by providing written

instructions instructing customers on how to assemble and use the products. On






Defendants, but Defendants thereafter continued to infringe the patent. Oninformation and belief, Defendants infringement has been and continues to be

willful.

THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF



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8COMPLAINT

43. The allegations set forth in the foregoing paragraphs are incorporatedinto this Third Claim for Relief.

44. On December 10, 2002, U.S. Patent No. 6,490,836 (the 836patent), entitled Floor Panel With Edge Connectors was duly and legally issued

by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A true and correct copy of the836 Patent is attached as Exhibit C to this Complaint.

45. Plaintiffs are the assignee and owner of the right, title and interest inand to the 836 Patent, including the right to assert all causes of action arising


46. In violation of 35 U.S.C. 271, Defendants have directly infringedand continue to directly infringe, literally and /or under the doctrine of equivalents,

the 836 Patent by importing, making, using, selling and/or offering for sale in the

United States, including in this Judicial District, products capable of providing

features claimed in the 836 Patent (the 836 Accused Products and Services),

without the authority of Plaintiff.

47. Plaintiffs provided actual notice to Defendant NSL Trading Corp. ofits infringement of the 836 Patent in multiple letters, the earliest dated June 2012.





836 Accused Products and Services for the 836 Patent, knowing or willfully blindto the fact that these products and service constitute a material part of the

invention, were especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of




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9COMPLAINT





Products constitutes direct infringement of the 836 Patent. In particular,Defendants acted with specific intent to make others, such as its customers,

infringe by advertising and selling the products and by providing written

instructions instructing customers on how to assemble and use the products. On






Defendants, but Defendants thereafter continued to infringe the patent. On

information and belief, Defendants infringement has been and continues to be

willful.

JURY DEMAND

53. Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Plaintiffsdemand a trial by jury on all issues triable as such.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

54.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request that this Court enterjudgment in their favor and against Defendants as follows:

a. An adjudication that Defendants have infringed the 292, 779, and836 patents;

b. A permanent injunction against continued patent infringement bythe Defendants pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Section 283 or failing that an


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10COMPLAINT

ongoing royalty to compensate Plaintiffs for any sales made post-

judgment;

c. An award of damages to be paid by Defendants adequate tocompensate Plaintiffs for Defendants past infringement of the

292, 779, and 836 patents and any continuing or futureinfringement through the date such judgment is entered, including

interest, costs, expenses and an accounting of all infringing acts

including, but not limited to, those acts not presented at trial;

d. A declaration that this case is exceptional under 35 U.S.C. 285,and an award of Plaintiffs reasonable attorneys fees; and

e. An award of treble damages under 35 U.S.C. 284.

Dated: March 21, 2014 LEE TRAN & LIANG LLP

Enoch H. LiangAttorneys for Plaintiffs Unilin Beheer B.V.and Flooring Industries, LTD Sarl


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EXHIBIT A


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( 1 2 ) United S t a t e s PatentUS006874292B2

( 1 0 ) P a t e n t N 0 . : US 6 , 8 7 4 , 2 9 2 B 2Moriau e t a l . ( 4 5 ) D a t e o f P a t e n t : A p r . 5 , 2 0 0 5

( 5 4 ) FLOOR PANELS WITH EDGE 1 , 9 8 8 , 2 0 1 A 1 / 1 9 3 5 H a l lCONNECTORS 2 , 2 7 6 , 0 7 1 A 3 / 1 9 4 2 S c u l l2 , 4 3 0 , 2 0 0 A 1 1 / 1 9 4 4 W i l s o n

( 7 5 ) I n v e n t o r s : S t e f a n Simon G u s t a a f M 0 r i a u , G e n t 2 7 4 0 7 1 6 7 A 4 / 1 9 5 6 R f w l e y( B E ) ; M a r k G a s t o n M a u r i t s C a p p e l l e , 2 1 6 1 V ? ? ? J r S t a d e n ( B E ) ; B e r n a r d P a u l J o s e p h 3 3 1 0 9 1 9 A 3 / 1 9 6 7 B 3 ; 2 ; a 1Thiers, OostroZebeke (BE) ( C o n t i n u e d )( 7 3 ) A s s i g n e e : U n i l i n B e h e e r B V , B e s l o t e nv e n n o o t s c h a p , l j s s e l ( N L ) FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

AU A 3 0 9 8 / 8 3 1 0 / 1 9 8 3( * ) N o t i c e : S u b j e c t t o a n y d i s c l a i m e r , t h e t e r m o f t h i s BE 4 1 7 5 2 6 9 / 1 9 3 6p a t e n t i s e x t e n d e d o r a d j u s t e d u n d e r 35 BE 5 5 7 8 4 4 5 / 1 9 5 7U . S . C . 1 5 4 ( b ) b y 0 d a y s . CA 9 9 1 3 7 3 6 / 1 9 7 6

CH 200949 1 1 / 1 9 3 8( 2 1 ) A p p l . N o . : 1 0 / 2 6 6 , 6 6 7 ( C o n t i n u e d )

( 6 5 ) P r i o r P u b l i c a t i o n D a t a A b g u s t a f f K a h r O p p o s i t i o n A g a i n s t U n i l i n E u r o p e a n P a t e n tUS 2 0 0 3 / 0 0 2 4 2 0 1 A1 F e b . 6 , 2 0 0 3 N O - EP 0 843 763 ( J u n 2 9 , 2 0 0 1 )A k Z e n t a B r i e f ( A r g u m e n t s ) i n S u p p o r t o f I n t e r v e n t i o n i nR e l a t e d US, A p p l i c a t i o n D a t a O p p o s i t i o n A g a i n s t U n i l i n E u r o p e a n P a t e n t A p p l i c a t i o n N o .

002015 5 4 ( I n c l u d i n g P a r t i a l T r a n s l a t i o n o f Document E2( 6 3 ) C o n t i n u a t i o n o f a p p l i c a t i o n N o . 0 9 / 4 7 1 , 0 1 4 , ? l e d o n D e c . C i t e d T h e r e i n ) ( O c t . 1 0 , 2 0 0 1 ) .

2 3 , 1 9 9 9 , now P a t . No. 6 , 4 9 0 , 8 3 6 , which i s a c o n t i n u a t i o no f a p p l i c a t i o n N o . 0 8 / 8 7 2 , 0 4 4 , ? l e d o n J u n . 1 0 , 1 9 9 7 , now ( C o n t i n u e d )P a t . N o . 6 , 0 0 6 , 4 8 6 .

. . . . . PrimaryExaminerCarl D. Friedman( 3 0 ) F o r e l g n A p p h c a t l o n Prmnty D a t a A s s i s t a n t E x a m i n e r Y v o n n e M. H o r t o nJ u n . 1 1 , 1 9 9 6 ( B E ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9600527 ( 7 4 ) A t t o r n e y , A g e n t , or F i r m B a c o n & Thomas, PLLCA .15 1997 BE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9700344p r ( ) ( 5 7 ) ABSTRACT

(51) Int. Cl.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E04B 2/08 _ _ _ _( 5 2 ) us L 5 2 / 5 9 0 2 . 5 2 / 5 8 6 1 . 5 2 / 5 8 9 1 . F l o o r c o v e r i n g , i n c l u d i n g h a r d ? o o r p a n e l s W h l C h , a t l e a s t a t 5 2 / 5 9 2 1 . 52/5923 t h e e d g e s o f t W o o p p o s i t e s i d e s , a r e p r o v i d e d W i t h c o u p l i n g( 5 8 ) F i e l d o f S e a r c h 5 2 / 5 8 6 1 5 8 9 1 p a r t s , c o o p e r a t i n g W h i c h e a c h o t h e r , s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n t h e5 2 / 5 9 2 ' 1 5 9 2 ' 3 f o r m o f a t o n g u e a n d a g r o o v e , W h e r e i n t h e c o u p l i n g p a r t s

a r e provided With integrated mechanical locking elements( 5 6 ) R e f e r e n c e s C i te d W h i c h p r e v e n t t h e d r i f t i n g a p a r t o f t W o c o u p l e d ? o o r p a n e l si n a d i r e c t i o n ( R ) p e r pe n d i c u l a r t o t h e r e l a t e d e d g e s a n dU S . PATENT DOCUMENTS p a r a l l e l t o t h e u n d e r s i d e o f t h e c o u p l e d ? o o r p a n e l s , a n d

7 5 3 7 7 9 1 A 3 / 1 9 0 4 F u l g h u m p r o v i d e a s n a p - a c t i o n c o u p l i n g .1 , 1 2 4 , 2 2 8 A 1 / 1 9 1 5 H o u s t o n1 , 9 8 6 , 7 3 9 A 1 / 1 9 3 5 M i t t e 6 C l a i m s , 1 0 Drawing S h e e t s

2l 5 4 5 a / ll / I

\ N2 _7 0 ' K7 L9 \\ Q


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US 6 , 8 7 4 , 2 9 2 B2P a g e 2

U . S . PATENT DOCUMENTS GB 2256023 1 1 / 1 9 9 2J P 5 4 - 6 5 5 2 8 5 / 1 9 7 9

3 , 3 8 7 , 4 2 2 A 6 / 1 9 6 8 WanZer J P 5 7 _ 1 1 9 0 5 6 7 / 1 9 8 23 , 5 2 6 , 4 2 0 A 9 / 1 9 7 0 B r a n c a l e o n e J P 3469967 7 / 1 9 9 13 , 5 3 8 , 6 6 5 A 1 1 / 1 9 7 0 G a l l J P 5 _ 1 4 8 9 8 4 6 / 1 9 9 33 , 6 9 4 , 9 8 3 A 1 0 / 1 9 7 2 C o u q u e t J P 6 _ 1 4 6 5 5 3 5 / 1 9 9 43 , 7 3 1 , 4 4 5 A 5 / 1 9 7 3 Hoffmann e t a l . J P @2006 7 / 1 9 9 43 , 7 5 9 , 0 0 7 A 9 / 1 9 7 3 T h i e l e J P 656310 8 / 1 9 9 43 , 8 5 9 , 0 0 0 A 1 / 1 9 7 5 W e b s t e r J P 6320510 1 1 / 1 9 9 44 , 1 6 4 , 8 3 2 A 8 / 1 9 7 9 Van Z a n d t J P 7 _ 0 7 6 9 2 3 3 / 1 9 9 54 , 1 6 9 , 6 8 8 A 1 0 / 1 9 7 9 T o s h i o J P 07180333 7 / 1 9 9 54,426,820 A * 1/1984 Terbrack e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 /594 JP 7_300979 11/19954 , 5 0 1 , 1 0 2 A 2 / 1 9 8 5 Knowles J P 7310426 1 1 / 1 9 9 54 , 6 4 1 , 4 6 9 A 2 / 1 9 8 7 Wood J P 8 _ 1 0 9 7 3 4 4 / 1 9 9 64 , 7 3 8 , 0 7 1 A 4 / 1 9 8 8 E Z a r d J P 8 _ 2 7 0 1 9 3 1 1 / 1 9 9 64 , 7 6 9 , 9 6 3 A 9 / 1 9 8 8 Meyerson NL 7 6 0 1 7 7 3 8 / 1 9 7 64 , 8 1 9 , 9 3 2 A 4 / 1 9 8 9 T r o t t e r SE 372051 1 2 / 1 9 7 45 , 0 2 9 , 4 2 5 A 7 / 1 9 9 1 B o g a t a j SE 4 5 0 1 4 1 5 / 1 9 8 75 , 1 7 9 , 8 1 2 A 1 / 1 9 9 3 H i l l SE 501014 1 0 / 1 9 9 45 , 2 1 6 , 8 6 1 A 6 / 1 9 9 3 M e y e r s o n SE 5 0 2 9 9 4 3 / 1 9 9 65 , 2 9 5 , 3 4 1 A 3 / 1 9 9 4 K a j i w a ra W0 WO 4 / 0 2 1 5 5 6 / 1 9 8 45 , 3 4 9 , 7 9 6 A 9 / 1 9 9 4 M e y e r s o n W0 WO 3 / 1 3 2 8 0 7 / 1 9 9 35 , 5 0 2 , 9 3 9 A 4 / 1 9 9 6 Zadok e t a l . W0 W0 4 / 0 1 6 2 5 3 1 / 1 9 9 45 , 6 3 0 , 3 0 4 A 5 / 1 9 9 7 A u s t i n W0 WO 4 / 0 1 6 8 8 1 / 1 9 9 45,706,621 A * 1/1998 Pervan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52/403.1 W0 WO 4/26999 11/19945 , 7 6 8 , 8 5 0 A 6 / 1 9 9 8 Chen W0 WO 6 / 2 3 9 4 2 8 / 1 9 9 65 , 7 9 7 , 1 7 5 A 8 / 1 9 9 8 S c h n e i d e r W0 WO 6 / 2 7 7 1 9 9 / 1 9 9 65 , 7 9 7 , 2 3 7 A 8 / 1 9 9 8 F i n k e l l , J r . W0 WO 6 / 2 7 7 2 1 9 / 1 9 9 65 , 8 6 0 , 2 6 7 A 1 / 1 9 9 9 P e r v a n6 , 0 2 3 , 9 0 7 A 2 / 2 0 0 0 P e r v a n OTHER PUBLICATIONS6,029,416 A * 2 /2 0 0 0 Andersson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2 / 5 9 2 .16 , 1 8 2 , 4 1 0 B1 * 2/2001 Pervan ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - ~ - 5 2 / 4 0 3 ~ 1 EFP Floor Products Opposition Against Unilin European6 , 5 8 8 , 1 6 6 B2 * 7 / 2 0 0 3 M a r t e n s s o n e t a l . . . 5 2 / 5 7 8 P a t e n t NO_ EP 0 843 763 (Oct 2 7 , 2 0 0 0 ) '

2002/0020127 A1 * 2/2002 Theirs et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52/403.1 . . . . .2003/0033777 A1 * 2/2003 T h e i r s e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52/390 Hm1teX_Werke OPPOSmOn o Umhn Europe a n Patent NO

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS211877562 3771212275

1 534 8027102476153427822386007402354250299226160772917025304178132463763343601860400435122043544845421527342425300248127

0 667 936424057

129304325682952630149267517426914912697275112791512377441275511143042321178132243381

1 0 / 1 9 4 04 / 1 9 7 53 / 1 9 6 64 / 1 9 7 01 / 1 9 7 1

1 1 / 1 9 7 12 / 1 9 7 45 / 1 9 7 47 / 1 9 7 6

1 0 / 1 9 7 71 1 / 1 9 8 06 / 1 9 8 26 / 1 9 8 46 / 1 9 8 56 / 1 9 8 6

1 0 / 1 9 8 66 / 1 9 8 7

1 1 / 1 9 9 36 / 1 9 9 4

1 2 / 1 9 8 77 / 2 0 0 02 / 1 9 3 5

1 1 / 1 9 6 21 / 1 9 8 6

1 0 / 1 9 8 91 0 / 1 9 9 21 1 / 1 9 9 34 / 1 9 9 49 / 1 9 6 86 / 1 9 7 15 / 1 9 7 23 / 1 9 7 6

1 0 / 1 9 8 31 0 / 1 9 9 1

EP 0 8 4 3 7 6 3 ( J u l . 4 , 2 0 0 1 ) .K r o n o s p a n A c t i o n t o N u l l i f y U n i l i n German U t i l i t y ModelP a t e n t N o . 297 24 428 U 1 , i n c l u d i n g C i t e d Documents E2( W i t h P a r t i a l T r a n s l a t i o n ) ; E 3 ; E 5 a n d E 6 ( W i t h T r a n s l a t i o n )( A u g . 9 , 2 0 0 1 ) .K r o n o s p a n O p p o s i t i o n A g a i n s t U n i l i n E u r o p e a n P a t e n t N o .EP 0 8 4 3 7 6 3 ( J u l . 1 4 , 2 0 0 1 ) .K r o n o t e x A r g u m e n t s i n A p p e a l f r o m D e c i s i o n o f GermanyP a t e n t C o u r t U p h o l d i n g V a l i d i t y o f U n i l i n German U t i l i t yModel P a t e n t N o . DEUM 9 7 1 0 1 7 5 ( J u l . 1 7 , 2 0 0 0 ) .K r o n o t e x Arguments ? l e d b e f o r e F e d e r a l P a t e n t C o u r t i nAppeal f r o m A d v e r s e D e c i s i o n o f German P a t e n t O f f i c eU p h o l d i n g V a l i d i t y o n U n i l i n German U t i l i t y Model P a t e n tN o . DEUM 9 7 1 0 1 7 5 ( J u l . 2 4 , 2 0 0 1 ) .K r o n o t e x O p p o s i t i o n A g a i n s t U n i l i n A u s t r a l i a n P a t e n tA p p l i c a t i o n N o . 7 1 3 , 6 2 8 AUB ( 3 2 5 6 9 / 9 7 ) ( S e p . 1 , 2 0 0 0 ) .K r o n o t e x O p p o s i t i o n A g a i n s t U n i l i n E u r o p e a n P a t e n t N o .EP 0 8 4 3 7 6 3 ( J u n . 2 9, 2 0 0 1 ) .O b s e r v a t i o n s b y T h i r d P a r t y ( K a n d l ) R e g a r d i n g P a t e n t a b i li t y o f U n i l i n E u r o p e a n P a t e n t A p p l i c a t i o n N o . 0 0 2 0 1 5 5 4( i n c l u d i n g P a r t i a l T r a n s l a t i o n o f Document E2 C i t e dT h e r e i n ) ( O c t . 1 0 , 2 0 0 1 ) .O b s e r v a t i o n s o f M. K a n d l s u b m i t t e d i n E u r o p e a n p a t e n ta p p l i c a t i o n N o . 002015 5 4 o f U n i l i n B e h e e r , O c t . 1 8 , 2 0 0 1 .O b s e r v a t i o n s o f M. K a n d l s u b m i t t e d i n E u r o p e a n p a t e n ta p p l i c a t i o n N o . 002015154 o f U n i l i n B e h e e r , D e c . 1 8 ,2 0 0 1 .O b s e r v a t i o n s o f M. K a n d l s u b m i t t e d i n E u r o p e a n p a t e n ta p p l i c a t i o n N o . 002015154 o f U n i l i n B e h e e r , J a n . 1 4 , 2 0 0 2 .O b s e r v a t i o n s o f M. K a n d l s u b m i t t e d i n E u r o p e a n p a t e n ta p p l i c a t i o n N o . 002015154 o f U n i l i n B e h e e r , J a n . 2 4 , 2 0 0 2 .


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S e l b s t T e p p i c h b o d e n , P VC u n d P a r k e t t v e r l e g e n , 1 9 8 5C o m p a c t V e r l a g M i in c h e n .V a l i n g e Aluminum O b s e r v a t i o n s R e g a r d i n g U n i l i n E u r op e a n P a t e n t N o . EP 0 8 3 7 6 3 ( N o v . 1 9 , 1 9 9 8 ) .V a l i n g e Aluminum O p p o s i t i o n A g a i n s t U n i l i n A u s t r a l i aP a t e n t A p p l i c a t i o n N o . 7 1 3 6 2 8 (AUB 3 2 5 6 0 / 9 7 ) ( J u n . 6 ,2 0 0 0 ) .V a l i n g e Aluminum O p p o s i t i o n A g a i n s t U n i l i n NeW Z e a l a n dP a t e n t 3 , 2 9 , 5 8 1 ( J u n . 2 0 0 1 ) .V a l i n g e A l u m i n u m O p p o s i t i o n A g a i n s t U n i l i n E u r o p e a nP a t e n t N o . EP 0 843 763 W i t h C o p i e s o f C i t e d Documents( A u g . 6 , 2 0 0 1 ) .W e b s t e r s D i c t i o n a r y , d e ? n i t i o n o f s c a r f , p . 8 6 2 , 1 9 9 2 ,PAMCO u b l . Comp. I n c .J u d g m e n t o f r i t i s h P a t e n t s C o u n t y C o u r t i n P a t e n t I n f r i n g ement A c t i o n PAT N o s . 02010 a n d 02014 i n v o l v i n g B r i t i s hP a t e n t N o . EP (UK) 1 0 2 4 0 3 4 o f U n i l i n B e h e e r , S e p . 2 5 ,2 0 0 3 .

T r a n s c r i p t o f P r o c e e d i n g s D a y 5 , C o u n t y C o u r t o f P a t e n tI n f r i n g e m e n t A c t i o n PAT N o s . 02010 a n d 02014 i n v o l v i n gB r i t i s h P a t e n t N o . EP (UK) 1 024 034 o f U n i l i n B e h e e r , J u l .1 8 , 2 0 0 3 .E x p e r t R e p o r t o f D r . Hugh D a v i d M a n s ? e l d W i l l i a m s i nB r i t i s h P a t e n t s County C o u r t c a s e s PAT 02010 a n d 0 2 0 1 4 ,s i g n e d J u l . 7 , 2 0 0 3 .E x p e r t R e p o r t o f M a r k A n t h o n y I r l e , s i g n e d J u l . 7 , 2 0 0 3 ,W i t h B u n d l e 8A ( E x h i b i t s t o r e p o r t ) .N o t i ? c a t i o n f r o m German PTO r e g a r d i n g u t i l i t y m o d e lr e v o c a t i o n p r o c e e d i n g s a g a i n s t U n i l i n B e h e e r B . V . u t i l i t ym o d e l N o . 2 9 7 2 4 4 2 8 ( A p r . 7 , 2 0 0 3 ) . ( W i th t r a n s l a t i o n ) . D e c i s i o n o f O p p o s i t i o n D i v i s i o n o f E u r o p e a n P a t e n t O f ? c er e g a r d i n g EP 1 024 234 o f U n i l i n B e h e e r N . V . , m a i l e d J u l .1 8 , 2 0 0 4 . .* c i t e d by examiner


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FLOOR PANELS WITH EDGECONNECTORS

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t i o n S e r . N o . 0 9 / 4 7 1 , 0 1 4 , ? l e d D e c . 2 3 , 1 9 9 9 , now US. P a t .N o . 6 , 4 9 0 , 8 3 6 ; Which i s a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f a p p l i c a t io n S e r .N o . 0 8 / 8 7 2 , 0 4 4 ? l e d J u n . 1 0 , 1 9 9 7 , now US. P a t . N o .6 , 0 0 6 , 4 8 6 .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1 . F i e l d o f t h e I n v e n t i o nT h i s i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o a ?oor c o v e r i n g made o f h a r d? o o r p a n e l s .2 . R e l a t e d T e c h n o l o g yI n t h e ? r s t i n s t a n c e , t h e i n v e n t i o n i s i n t e n d e d f o r s o - c a l l e d

l a m i n a t e d ? o o r s , b u t g e n e r a l l y i t c a n a l s o b e a p p l i e d f o ro t h e r k i n d s o f ? o o r c o v e r i n g , c o n s i s t i n g o f h a r d ? o o r p a n e l s ,such a s v e n e e r p a r q u e t , p r e f a b r i c a t e d p a r q u e t , o r o t h e r ?oorp a n e l s W h i c h c a n b e compared t o l a m i n a t e d ? o o r i n g .

I t i s knoWn t h a t s u c h ? o o r p a n e l s c a n b e a p p l i e d i n v a r i o u sWays.

A c c o r d i n g t o a ? r s t p o s s i b i l i t y , t h e ? o o r p a n e l s a r ea t t a c h e d a t t h e u n d e r l y i n g ? o o r , e i t h e r b y g l u e i n g o r b yn a i l i n g them o n . T h i s t e c h n i q u e h a s a d i s a d v a n t a g e t h a t i sr a t h e r c o m p l i c a t e d a n d t h a t s u b s e q u e n t c h a n g e s c a n o n l y b emade b y b r e a k i n g o u t t h e ? o o r p a n e l s .

A c c o r d i n g t o a s e c o n d p o s s i b i l i t y , t h e ? o o r p a n e l s a r ei n s t a l l e d l o o s e l y o n t o t h e s u b ? o o r i n g , W h e r e b y t h e ? o o rp a n e l s m u t u a l l y match n t o e a c h o t h e r by means o f a t o n g u ea n d g r o o v e c o u p l i n g , W h e r e b y m o s t l y t h e y a r e g l u e dt o g e t h e r i n t h e t o n g u e a n d g r o o v e , t o o . The ? o o r o b t a i n e d i nt h i s manner, a l s o c a l l e d a ? o a t i n g p a r q u e t ? o o r i n g , h a s a s a na d v a n t a g e t h a t i t i s e a s y t o i n s t a l l a n d t h a t t h e c o m p l e t e ? o o rs u r f a c e can m o v e Which o f t e n i s convenient i n o r d e r t or e c e i v e p o s s i b l e e x p a n s i o n a n d s h r i n k a g e p h e n o m e n a .A d i s a d v a n t a g e W i t h a ? o o r c o v e r i n g o f t h e a b o v em e n t i o n e d t y p e , a b o v e a l l , i f t h e ? o o r p a n e l s a r e i n s t a l l e d

l o o s e l y o n t o t h e s u b ? o o r i n g , c o n s i s t s i n t h a t d u r i n g t h ee x p a n s i o n o f t h e ? o o r a n d i t s s u b s e q u e n t s h r i n k a g e , t h e ? o o rp a n e l s themselves can d r i f t a p a r t , a s a r e s u l t o f Whichu n d e s i r e d g a p s c a n b e f o r m e d , f o r e x a m p l e , i f t h e g l u ec o n n e c t i o n b r e a k s .

I n o r d e r t o r e m e d y t h i s d i s a d v a n t ag e , t e c h n i q u e s h a v ea l r e a d y b e e n t h r o u g h o f W h e r e b y c o n n e c t i o n e l e m e n t s madeo f m e t a l a r e p r o v i d e d b e t W e e n t h e s i n g l e ? o o r p a n e l s i no r d e r t o k e e p t h e m t o g e t h e r . S u c h c o n n e c t i o n e l e m e n t s ,h o W e v e r , a r e r a t h e r e x p e n s i v e t o make a n d , f u r t h e r m o r e ,t h e i r p r o v i s i o n o r t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n t h e r e o f i s a t i m ec o n s u m i n g o c c u p a t i o n .

Examples o f embodiments Which a p p l y s u c h m e t a l c o nn e c t i o n e l e m e n t s a r e d e s c r i b e d , among o t h e r s , i n t h e documents WO 4/26999 a n d WO 3 / 1 3 2 8 0 .

F u r t h e r m o r e , c o u p l i n g s a r e knoWn W h i c h a l l o W c o u p l i n gp a r t s t o s n a p ? t i n t o e a c h o t h e r , e . g . , from t h e documentsWO 4 / 1 6 2 8 , WO 6 / 2 7 7 1 9 a n d WO 6 / 2 7 7 2 1 . Thes n a p p i n g - t o g e t h e r e f f e c t o b t a i n e d W i t h t h e s e f o r m s o fe m b o d i m e n t , h o W e v e r , d o e s n o t g u a r a n t e e a 1 0 0 - p e r c e n to p t i m u m c o u n t e r a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f g a p sb e t W e e n t h e ? o o r p a n e l s , more p a r t i c u l a r l y , b e c a u s e i n f a c tW e l l - d e ? n e d p l a y s h a v e t o b e p r o v i d e d in o r d e r t o b e s u r et h a t t h e s n a p p i n g - t o g e t h e r i s p o s s i b l e .

From GB 4 2 4 . 0 5 7 , a c o u p l i n g f o r p a r q u e t r y p a r t s i sknoWn W h i c h , i n c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e n a t u r e o f t h e c o u p l i n g ,o n l y i s a p p r o p r i a t e f o r m a s s i v e Wooden p a r q u e t r y .

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f r o m t h e d o c u m e n t s GB . 1 1 7 . 8 1 3 , GB , 2 5 6 . 0 2 3 a n d DE3 . 5 4 4 . 8 4 5 . T h e s e c o u p l i n g s , h o W e v e r , a r e n o t a p p r o p r i a t ef o r c o n n e c t i n g ? o o r p a n e l s .

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe i n v e n t i o n a i m s a t a n improved ? o o r c o v e r i n g o f t h e

a f o r e m e n t i o n e d t y p e , t h e ? o o r p a n e l s o f Which c a n b ec o u p l e d t o e a c h o t h e r in a n optimum manner a n d / o r t h e ?oorp a n e l s o f Which can be manufactured i n a smooth manner,and Whereby p r e f e r a b l y one o r more o f t h e aforementionedd i s a d v a n t a g e s a r e e x c l u d e d .

The i n v e n t i o n a l s o a i m s a t a ?oor c o v e r i n g Which h a s t h ea d v a n t a g e t h a t n o m i s t a k e s d u r i n g i n s t a l l i n g , s u c h a s g a p sand s u c h , c a n be c r e a t e d .

F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e i n v e n t i o n a l s o a i m s a t a ? o o r c o v e r i n gW h e r e b y t h e s u b s e q u e n t d e v e l o p m e n t o f g a p s i s e x c l u d e d o ra t l e a s t c o u n t e r a c t e d i n a n optimum m a n n e r , Whereby a l s ot h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e p e n e t r a t i o n o f d i r t a n d h u m i d i t y i sm i n i m a l i Z e d .

To t h i s a i m , t h e i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o a ?oor c o v e r i n g ,c o n s i s t i n g o f h a r d ? o o r p a n e l s W h i c h , a t l e a s t a t t h e e d g e s o ft h e t W o o p p o s i t e s i d e s , a r e p r o v i d e d W i t h c o u p l i n g p a r t s ,c o o p e r a t i n g Which e a c h o t h e r , s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n t h e f o r m o f at o n g u e a n d a g r o o v e , Wherein t h e c o u p l i n g p a r t s a r e p r ov i d e d W i t h i n t e g r a t e d m e c h a n i c a l l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s W h i c hp r e v e n t t h e d r i f t i n g a p a r t o f t W o c o u p l e d ? o o r p a n e l s i n t o ad i r e c t i o n p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e r e l a t e d e d g e s a n d p a r a l l e l t ot h e u n d e r s i d e o f t h e c o u p l e d ? o o r p a n e l s . H e r e b y , t h e s ec o u p l i n g p a r t s a r e o p t i m a l i Z e d i n s u c h a manner t h a t t h e ya l l o W t h a t a n y f o r m o f p l a y i s c o u n t e r a c t e d a n d p r e f e r a b l y i se x c l u d e d .

By n t e g r a t e d m e c h a n i c a l l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s i s u n d e r s t o o dt h a t t h e s e f o r m a ?xed p a r t o f t h e ? o o r p a n e l s , e i t h e r byb e i n g c o n n e c t e d i n a ?xed manner t o t h e ?oor p a n e l s , o r byb e i n g f o r m e d i n o n e p i e c e t h e r e W i t h .

I n a ? r s t i m p o r t a n t p r e f e r r e d f o r m o f e m b o d i m e n t , t h ec o u p l i n g p a r t s a r e p r o v i d e d W i t h l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s W h i c h , i nt h e engaged p o s i t i o n o f tWo o r more o f s u c h ? o o r p a n e l s ,e x e r t a t e n s i o n f o r c e upon each o t h e r Which f o r c e t h e ?oorp a n e l s t o W a r d s e a c h o t h e r . As a r e s u l t o f t h i s t h a t n o t o n l yt h e f o r m a t i o n o f g a p s c o u n t e r a c t e d d u r i n g i n s t a l l a t i o n , b u ta l s o in a l a t e r s t a g e t h e development o f g a p s , from a n yc a u s e s W h a t s o e v e r , i s c o u n t e r a c t e d .

A c c o r d i n g t o a n o t h e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e i n t e n t i o n , t h ec o u p l i n g p a r t s , h e r e b y a r e formed i n o n e p i e c e W i t h t h e c o r eo f t h e ? o o r p a n e l s .

A c c o r d i n g t o a s e c o n d i m p o r t a n t p r e f e r r e d e m b o d i m e n t ,t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d o p t i m a l i Z a t i o n i s a c h i e v e d i n t h a t t h e? o o r c o v e r i n g p a n e l p o s s e s s e s t h e f o l l o W i n g c o m b i n a t i o n o fc h a r a c t e r i s t i c s : t h e c o u p l i n g p a r t s a n d l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s a r eformed i n o n e p i e c e W i t h t h e c o r e o f t h e ?oor p a n e l s ; t h ec o u p l i n g p a r t s h a v e s u c h a s h a p e t h a t t W o s u b s e q u e n t ? o o rp a n e l s c a n b e e n g a g e d i n t o e a c h o t h e r e x c l u s i v e l y b ys n a p p i n g t o g e t h e r a n d / o r t u r n i n g , W h e r e b y e a c h s u b s e q u e n t? o o r p a n e l c a n b e i n s e r t e d l a t e r a l l y i n t o t h e p r e v i o u s ; t h ec o u p l i n g p a r t s a r e i n t e r l o c k e d f r e e f r o m p l a y i n a l l d i r e c t i o n si n a p l a n e e x t e n d i n g p e r pe n d i c u l a r t o t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e de d g e s ; t h e p o s s i b l e d i f f e r e n c e b e t W e e n t h e u p p e r a n d l o W e rl i p o f t h e l i p s W h i c h b o r d e r t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d g r o o v e s ,m e a s u r e d i n t h e p l a n e o f t h e ? o o r p a n e l a n d p e r p e n d i c u l a rt o t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l d i r e c t i o n o f t h e g r o o v e , i s s m a l l e r t h a no n e t i m e t h e t o t a l o f t h e t h i c k n e s s o f t h e p a n e l ; t h e t o t a lt h i c k n e s s o f e a c h r e l a t e d ? o o r p a n e l i s l a r g e r t h a n o r e q u a lt o 5 m m ; a n d t h a t t h e b a s i c m a t e r i a l o f t h e ? o o r p a n e l s , o fWhich t h e aforementioned c o r e and l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s a r e


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US 6 , 8 7 4 , 2 9 2 B23

f o r m e d , c o n s i s t s o f a g r o u n d p r o d u c t W h i c h , by means o f ab i n d i n g a g e n t o r by means o f m e l t i n g t o g e t h e r , i s made n t oa u n i t a r y c o m p o s i t e , a n d / o r o f a p r o d u c t on t h e b a s i s o fs y n t h e t i c m a t e r i a l a n d / o r o f a c h i p b o a r d W i t h ? n e c h i p s .

Due t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e c o u p l i n g p a r t s p r o v i d e f o r a ni n t e r l o c k i n g f r e e from p l a y , a s W e l l a s due t o t h e f a c t t h a tt h e s e c o u p l i n g p a r t s a r e m a n u f a c t u r e d i n o n e p i e c e , from t h eb a s i c m a t e r i a l o f t h e ? o o r p a n e l s , a p e r f e c t c o n n e c t i o nb e t W e e n a d j a c e n t ? o o r p a n e l s c a n a l W a y s b e g u a r a n t e e d ,e v e n W i t h r e p e a t e d e X p a n s i o n a n d s h r i n ka g e o f t h e ? o o rs u r f a c e .

This combination o f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s can be combined o rn o t W i t h t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t h a t t h e l o c k i n ge l e m e n t s e X e r t a t e n s i o n f o r c e upon e a c h o t h e r When p a n e l sa r e j o i n e d t o g e t h e r .

A c c o r d i n g t o a t h i r d i m p o r t a n t p r e f e r r e d e m b o d i m e n t , t h ec h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f Which may r may o t be combined Witht h e c h a r a c t e r i s ti c s o f t h e embodiments d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , t h e? o o r c o v e r i n g i s c h a r a c t e r i Z e d i n t h a t t h e l o W e r l i p W h i c hl i m i t s o r de?nes t h e loWer s i d e o f t h e g r o o v e , e X t e n d sb e y o n d t h e u p p e r l i p i n t h e p l a n e o f t h e p a n e l ; t h e l o c k i n gelements a r e formed a t l e a s t o f a c o n t a c t p o r t i o n Whichi n W a r d l y s l o p e s d o W n W a r d ; a n d t h a t t h i s p o r t i o n , a t l e a s tp a r t i a l l y , i s l o c a t e d i n t h e p o r t i o n o f t h e l o W e r l i p W h i c he X t e n d s b e y o n d t h e u p p e r l i p . T h e a d v a n t a g e s o f t h e s ef e a t u r e s W il l a p p e a r f r o m t h e f u r t h e r d e s c r i p t i o n .

A c c o r d i n g t o a p r e f e r r e d f o r m o f e m b o d i m e n t , t h e ? o o rp a n e l s a r e c o n ? g u r e d a s e l o n g a t e d pa n e l s a n d t h e c o u p l i n gp a r t s d e s c r i b e d a b o v e a r e a p p l i e d a l o n g t h e l o n g i t u d i n a ls i d e s o f t h e s e p a n e l s .

A c c o r d i n g t o a p a r t i c u l a r f o r m o f e m b o d i m e n t , c o u p l i n gp a r t s a r e p r o v i d e d a t t h e o t h e r tWo s i d e s , t o o , e i t h e r o fa n o t h e r c o n s t r u c t i o n t h a n d e s c r i b e d above o r n o t .

I n t h e most p r e f e r r e d f o r m o f e m b o d i m e n t , f o r t h e b a s i cm a t e r i a l u s e s h a l l b e ma d e o f t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d p r o d u c t ,W h i c h , a s s a i d , i s g r o u n d a n d , b y means o f a b i n d i n g a g e n t ,made i n t o a u n i t a r y c o m p o s i t e m a t e r i a l . More p a r t i c u l a r l y ,f o r t h e c o r e u s e s h a l l be m ade o f ?nely-ground W o o d Whichp r e f e r a b l y i s g l u e d , m o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y , m o i s t u r e r e s i s t a n tg l u e d . S t i l l more p a r t ic u l a r l y , f o r t h e c o r e u s e s h a l l be m adeo f s o - c a l l e d HDF o a r d ( H i g h D e n s i t y F i b r e b o a r d ) o r MDFb o a r d (Medium D e n s i t y F i b r e b o a r d ) W h i c h i s h i g h l y comp r e s s e d g r o u n d Wood a r t i c l e s ( ? b e r s ) a n d b i n d e r m a t e r i a l .H e r e i n a f t e r , t h e Wood component o f t h e c o r e m a t e ri a l s h a l lbe r e f e r r e d t o a s Wood p r o d u c t .

The f a c t t h a t t h e i n v e n t i o n i s a p p l i e d t o ? o o r p a n e l s t h eb a s i c m a t e r i a l o f Which c o n s i s t s o f t h e m a t e r i a l d e s c r i b e da b o v e , o f f e r s t h e a d v a n t a g e t h a t W i t h t h e p r o c e s s i n g o f t h i sm a t e r i a l , v e r y smooth s u r f a c e s a r e o b t a i n e d Whereby v e r yp r e c i s e c o u p l i n g s c a n b e r e a l i Z e d , W h i c h , i n ? r s t i n s t a n c e , i si m p o r t a n t i n t h e c a s e o f a s n a p - t o g e t h e r c o n n e c t i o n a n d / o rt u r n i n g c o n n e c t i o n f r e e f r o m p l a y . A l s o , v e r y s p e c i a l f o r m so f c o u p l i n g p a r t s c a n b e m a n u f a c t u r e d i n a v e r y s i m p l emanner because t h e aforem entioned kinds of a t e r i a l can bep r o c e s s e d p a r t i c u l a r l y e a s y .

The s u r f a c e s o b t a i n e d W i t h HDF n d MDF l s o h a v e t h ea d v a n t a g e t h a t t h e ? o o r p a n e l s m u t u a l l y c a n b e s h i f t e dr e a d i l y a l o n g s i d e e a c h o t h e r i n i n t e rl o c k e d c o n d i t i o n , e v e nWhen e n g a g e d W i t h a t e n s i o n i n g f o r c e .

The a p p l i c a n t s a l s o d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e dm a t e r i a l s i n p a r t i c u l a r HDF n d MDF, shoW i d e a l f e a t u r e si n o r d e r to r e a l i Z e a c o n n e c t i o n , such a s mentioned a b o v e , a st h e s e m a t e r i a l shoW t h e r i g h t f e a t u r e s i n r e s p e c t t o e l a s t i cdeformation i n o r d e r t o , on t h e one h a n d , r e a l i Z e a snapt o g e t h e r e f f e c t , a n d , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , r e c e i v e e X p a n s i o na n d s h r i n k a g e f o r c e s i n a n e l a s t i c m a n n e r , Whereby i t i s

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4a v o i d e d t h a t t h e ?oor p a n e l s c o m e unlocked o r a r e damagedi n an i r r e p a r a b l e manner.

I n t h e c a s e t h a t f o r t h e c o r e use s m a d e of a m a t e r i a l basedon s y n t h e t i c m a t e r i a l , t o t h i s end s o l i d s y n t h e t i c m a t e r i a l c a nbe used a s Well a s a miXture o f s y n t h e t i c m a t e r ia l s , event u a l l y c o m p o s e d o f r e c y c l e d m a t e r i a l s .

T h e ? o o r c o v e r i n g p r e f e r a b l y i s f o r m e d b y j o i n i n g t h e? o o r p a n e l s i n t o e a c h o t h e r f r e e o f g l u e . H e r e b y , t h e c o nn e c t i o n s a r e o f such n a t u r e t h a t t h e ?oor p a n e l s can bed i s a s s e m b l e d W i t h o u t b e i n g d a m a g e d , s u c h t h a t , f o re X a m p l e , When moving from one r e s i d e n c e o r l o c a t i o n t oa n o t h e r , t h e y c a n b e t a k e n a l o n g i n o r d e r t o b e p l a c e d doWna g a i n . I t i s , h o W e v e r , c l e a r t h a t a g l u e i n g b e t W e e n t o n g u e a n dgroove i s n o t e x c l u d e d .

The i n v e n t i o n , o f c o u r s e , a l s o r e l a t e s t o ? o o r p a n e l s Whicha l l o W t h e r e a l i Z a t i o n o f t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d ? o o r c o v e r i n g .

The i n v e n t i o n a l s o r e l a t e s t o a method f o r t h e manufact u r i n g o f t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d ? o o r p a n e l s W i t h W h i c h t h ea d v a n t a g e t h a t t h e t o n g u e s a n d / o r g r o o v e s , i n c l u d i n g t h ec o r r e s p o n d i n g l o c k i n g m e a n s , c a n b e p r o v i d e d a t t h e ? o o rp a n e l s a t h i g h p r o d u c t i o n s p e e d s W i t h o u t p r o b l e m s . M o r ep a r t i c u l a r l y , i t a i m s a t a method Which a l l o W s t h a t t h e r a t h e rc o m p l i c a t e d f o r m s o f t h e t o n g u e a n d t h e g r o o v e o f t h ea f o r e m e n t i o n e d ? o o r p a n e l s c a n b e f o r m e d c o m p l e t e l y b ymeans o f m i l l i n g c u t t e r s , t h e d i a m e t e r o f Which c a n bec h o s e n i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e f o r m t o b e r e a l i Z e d , s u c h t h a t t h eu s e o f s m a l l m i l l i n g c u t t e r s , f o r e X a m p l e ? n g e r c u t t e r s , W i t hd i a m e t e r s s m a l l e r t h a n t h e d e p t h o f t h e t o n g u e o r g r o o v e c a nb e e X c l u d e d .

I n a c c o r d a n c e W i t h t h i s method t h e t o n g u e a n d / o r g r o o v ei s formed by means o f a m i l l i n g p r o c e s s u s i n g a t l e a s t tWos e q u e n t i a l m i l l i n g c y c l e s o r p a s s e s b y m e a n s o f m i l l i n gc u t t e r s Which a r e p o s i t i o n e d a t d i f f e r e n t a n g l e s i n r e s p e c t t ot h e r e l a t e d ? o o r p a n e l . D u r i n g e a c h o f t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e dm i l l i n g c y c l e s , p r e f e r a b l y s u b s t a n t i a l l y t h e ? n a l f o r m o f o n e? a n k , e i t h e r o f t h e t o n g u e o r o f t h e g r o o v e , i s f o r m e d .

F o r t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d t W o m i l l i n g c y c l e s , t h u s , m i l l i n gc u t t e r s a r e used Which eXtend o u t s i d e t h e g r o o v e , r e s p e ct i v e l y t h e t o n g u e . More p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e d i a m e t e r s o f t h e s em i l l i n g c u t t e r s s h a l l a t l e a s t be 5 t i m e s and even b e t t e r 20t i m e s l a r g e r t h a n t h e t h i c k n e s s o f t h e ? o o r p a n e l s .

The u s e o f m i l l i n g c u t t e r s h a v i n g t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e dd i a m e t e r s h a s a s a n a d v a n t a g e t h a t t h e normal p r o d u c t i o ns p e e d s c a n b e m a i n t a i n e d Which a r e a l s o a p p l i e d d u r i n gm i l l i n g o f a c l a s s i c a l s t r a i g h t t o n g u e a n d g r o o v e . T h e r e i sa l s o t h e a d v a n t a g e o b t a i n e d t h a t t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f s u c hm i l l i n g c u t t e r s i n d u c e o n l y minor o r no a d d i t i o n a l c o s t sb e c a u s e s u c h m i l l i n g c u t t e r s c a n b e p l a c e d d i r e c t l y upon amotor s h a f t a n d / o r t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l machines can be u s e d .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSWith t h e i n t e n t i o n o f b e t t e r s h o W i n g t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s

a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n v e n t i o n , i n t h e f o l l o W i n g , a s a n e X a m p l eW i t h o u t a n y l i m i t a t i v e c h a r a c t e r , s e v e r a l p r e f e r r e d f o r m s o fembodiment a r e d e s c r i b e d , W i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e accompan y i n g d r a W i n g s , W h e r e i n :

F I G . 1 r e p r e s e n t s a ?oor p a n e l o f a ? o o r c o v e r i n g a c c o r di n g t o t h e i n v e n t i o n ;

F I G . 2 , on a l a r g e r s c a l e , r e p r e s e n t s a c r o s s - s e c t i o na c c o r d i n g t o l i n e I I I I i n F I G . 1 ;

F I G S . 3 a n d 4 r e p r e s e n t hoW tWo ? o o r p a n e l s W i t hc o u p l i n g p a r t s a c c o r d i n g t o F I G . 2 m a t c h i n t o e a c h o t h e r ;

F I G . 5 , on a l a r g e r s c a l e , r e p r e s e n t s a c r o s s - s e c t i o na c c o r d i n g t o l i n e VV n F I G . 1 ;

F I G S . 6 a n d 7 r e p r e s e n t hoW tWo ? o o r p a n e l s W i t hc o u p l i n g p a r t s a c c o r d i n g t o F I G . 5 m a t c h i n t o e a c h o t h e r ;


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FIGS. 8 t o 1 1 r e p r e s e n t a number o f v a r i a n t s o f c o u p l i n gp a r t s o f ? o o r p a n e l s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n v e n t i o n ;F I G . 1 2 s c h e m a t i c a l l y r e p r e s e n t s hoW t h e ? o o r p a r t s c a n

b e p r o v i d e d W i t h c o u p l i n g p a r t s ;F I G . 1 3 r e p r e s e n t s a c r o s s - s e c t i o n a c c o r d i n g t o l i n e

XIIIXIII i n F I G . 1 2 ;FIGS. 14 t o 2 1 , on a l a r g e r s c a l e a n d in c r o s s - s e c t i o n ,r e p r e s e n t t h e p e n e t r a t i o n o f t h e m i l l i n g c u t t e r s Which a r e

i n d i c a t e d in FIG. 12 W i t h a r r o W s F14 t o F 2 1 ;F I G . 22 r e p r e s e n t s a ? o o r p a n e l a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n v e nt i o n ;F I G . 2 3 , o n a l a r g e r s c a l e , r e p r e s e n t s t h e c o u p l i n g o f tWo

? o o r p a n e l s o f F I G . 2 2 ;FIGS. 24 a n d 25 r e p r e s e n t tWo manners o f c o u p l i n g ?oor

p a n e l s a c c o r d i n g t o F I G . 2 2 t o e a c h o t h e r .DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o a ?oor c o v e r i n g Which i s c o mp o s e d o f h a r d ? o o r p a n e l s 1 , f o r e x a m p l e , su c h a s al a m i n a t e d p a n e l a s shoWn i n F I G . 1 .

T h e s e ? o o r p a n e l s 1 c a n b e o f v a r i o u s s h a p e , f o r e x a m p l e ,r e c t a n g u l a r o r s q u a r e , o r o f any o t h e r s h a p e .I n t h e m o s t p r e f e r r e d f o r m o f e m b o d i m e n t , t h e y s h a l l b e

manufactured i n a n e l o n g a t e d f o r m , s u c h a s shoWn in F I G .1 , f o r e x a m p l e , W i t h a l e n g t h o f 1 t o 2 m e t e r s . The t h i c k n e s s ,h o W e v e r , c a n a l s o v a r y , b u t i s p r e f e r a b l y 0 . 5 t o 1 . 5 cm, andm o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y 0 . 8 cm.

E a c h ? o o r p a n e l 1 i s , a t l e a s t a t t h e e d g e s o f t W o o p p o s i t es i d e s 2 3 , pr o v i d e d W i t h c o u p l i n g p a r t s 4 5 W h i c h p e r m i tt W o a d j a c e n t i d e n t i c a l f l o o r p a n e l s 1 t o b e c o u p l e d t o e a c ho t h e r .

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n v e n t i o n , t h e c o u p l i n g p a r t s 4 5 , a sr e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e F I G S . 2 t o 4 , a r e p r o v i d e d W i t h i n t e g r a t e dm e c h a n i c a l l o c k i n g p a r t s o r l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 6 W h i c hp r e v e n t t h e d r i f t i n g o r s l i d i n g a p a r t o f t W o c o u p l e d ? o o rp a n e l s 1 i n a d i r e c t i o n D p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e r e s p e c t i v es i d e s 23 a n d p a r a l l e l t o t h e u n d e r s i d e 7 o f t h e c o u p l e d ? o o rp a n e l s 1 ; t h e c o u p l i n g p a r t s 4 5 a n d t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 6a r e formed i n one p i e c e W i t h t h e c o r e 8 o f t h e ?oor p a n e l s1 ; t h e c o u p l i n g p a r t s 4 5 h a v e s u c h a s h a p e t h a t t W os u b s e q u e n t ? o o r p a n e l s 1 c a n b e e n g a g e d i n t o e a c h o t h e rs o l e l y b y s n a p p i n g - t o g e t h e r a n d / o r t u r n i n g a f t e r t h e c o u p l i n gp a r t s a r e p a r t i a l l y e n g a g e d , W h e r e b y e a c h s u b s e q u e n t ? o o rp a n e l 1 c a n b e l a t e r a l l y i n s e r t e d i n t o t h e p r e v i o u s ; a n d t h ec o u p l i n g p a r t s 4 5 p r e f e r a b l y a r e i n t e r l o c k e d f r e e f r o m p l a yi n a l l d i r e c t i o n s i n a p l a n e Which s l o c a t e d p e r p e n d i c u l a r t ot h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d e d g e s .

I n t h e c a s e o f ?oor p a n e l s 1 W i t h a n e l o n g a t e d s h a p e , a sr e p r e s e n t e d i n F I G . 1 , t h e r e s p e c t i v e c o u p l i n g p a r t s 4 5 a r el o c a t e d a t t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l s i d es 2 3 .

The c o u p l i n g p a r t s 45 c a n b e r e a l i Z e d i n v a r i o u s f o r m s ,a l t h o u g h t h e b a s i c f o r m s t h e r e o f W i l l a l W a y s b e f o r m e d b ya tongue 9 and a groove 1 0 .

I n t h e form o f embodiment o f FIGS. 2 t o 4 , t h e r e l a t e d? o o r p a n e l 1 i s p r o v i d e d W i t h c o u p l i n g p a r t s 4 5 a n d l o c k i n gmeans o r l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 6 Which a l l o W tWo ?oor p a n e l s1 t o b e m u t u a l l y e n g a g e d b y means o f a t u r n i n g movement,W i t h o u t t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f any s n a p - t o g e t h e r e f f e c t .

I n t h e r e p r e s e n t e d e x a m p l e , t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 6 c o n s i s to f a ? r s t l o c k i n g e l e m e n t 1 1 , formed by a p r o t r u s i o n W i t h ab e n t r o u n d s h a p e a t t h e l o W e r s i d e 1 2 o f t h e t o n g u e 9 , a n da s e c o n d l o c k i n g e l e m e n t 1 3 ( s h o W n i n F I G . 2 ) , f o r m e d b ya r e c e s s With a bent holloW o r doWnWardly concave shape i nt h e l o W e r W a l l 14 o f t h e g r o o v e 1 0 .

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6The l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 1113 e n s u r e t h a t tWo ? o o r p a n e l s

1 Which a r e coupled t o each o t h e r can n o t m o v e l a t e r al l y i nt h e h o r i Z o n t a l p l a n e W i t h r e s p e c t t o e a c h o t h e r .

I n o r d e r t o e n a b l e tWo ?oor p a n e l s 1 t o b e i n s e r t e d i n t oe a c h o t h e r by means o f a t u r n i n g movement, t h e c u r v a t u r e sp r e f e r a b l y a r e c i r c u l a r . The bottom s i d e 1 2 o f l o c k i n g meanso r l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 6 h a s a c u r v a t u r e With a r a d i u s R1, t h ec e n t e r o f W h i c h c o i n c i d e s W i t h t h e r e s p e c t i v e u p p e r e d g e 1 5o f t h e ? o o r p a n e l 1 , W h e r e a s t h e l o W e r W a l l 1 4 o f t h e l o c k i n gp a r t 5 h a s a c u r v a t u r e W i t h a r a d i u s R2 Which s e q u a l t o t h er a d i u s R 1 , b u t i t s c e n t e r c o i n c i d e s W i t h t h e r e s p e c t i v e u p p e re d g e 1 6 . R a d i i R1 a n d R2 m a y a l s o b e a p p l i e d Which a r el a r g e r o r s m a l l e r t h a n t h e d i s t a n c e t o t h e u p p e r e d g e 1 5 , 1 6r e s p e c t i v e l y , a n d / o r Which d i f f e r f r o m e a c h o t h e r i n s i Z e .

The upper s i d e 17 o f t h e t o n g u e 9 and t h e u p p e r W a l l o rs i d e 1 8 o f t h e g r o o v e 1 0 a r e p r e f e r a b l y ? a t a n d p r e f e r a b l ya r e l o c a t e d in t h e h o r i Z o n t a l p l a n e .

The i n n e r s i d e 20 o f t h e g r o o v e 10 and t h e f r o n t s i d e 1 9o f t h e t o n g u e 9 o f t h e t W o i n t e r l o c k e d ? o o r p a n e l s 1p r e f e r a b l y d o n o t ? t c l o s e l y a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r , s u c h t h a t a ni n t e r m e d i a t e s p a c e 21 i s c r e a t e d betWeen them i n t o Whichp o s s i b l e d u s t r e m a i n d e r s o r s u c h c a n b e p u s h e d aWay bymeans o f t h e t o n g u e 9 .

The t o n g u e 9 a n d t h e g r o o v e 1 0 p r e f e r a b l y h a v e s h a p e sWhich a r e complementary o e a c h o t h e r , s u c h t h a t t h e t o n g u e9 i n t h e e n g a g e d c o n d i t i o n o f t W o i d e n t i c a l ? o o r p a n e l s 1p r e c i s e l y s i t s a g a i n s t t h e u p p e r W a l l 1 8 a n d t h e l o W e r W a l l 1 4o f t h e g r o o v e 1 0 , W h e r e b y a p r e s s u r e P , e x e r t e d a g a i n s t t h eu p p e r l i p 2 2 , i s r e c e i v e d o r r e a c t e d n o t o n l y b y t h i s l i p 2 2 ,b u t by t h e c o m p l e t e s t r u c t u r e , b e c a u s e t h i s p r e s s u r e c a n b et r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h t h e t o n g u e 9 a n d t h e l o W e r l i p 2 3 t oc a u s e t h e p a n e l s t o b e u r g e d t o W a r d s e a c h o t h e r .

I t i s , h o W e v e r , c l e a r t h a t a number o f minor d e v i a t i o n s t ot h e s e complementary f o r m s c a n o c c u r W h i c h , a n y h o W , h a v eno o r almost no e f f e c t upon t h e r e c e i p t and t r a n s m i s s i o n o fp r e s s u r e f o r c e s . For example, a chamfer 24 on l i p 22 and ar e c e s s 25 can be p r o v i d e d , a s r e p r e s e n t e d i n FIGS. 2 t o 4 , a sa r e s u l t o f Which t h e s u b s e q u e n t ? o o r p a n e l s 1 c a n e a s i l y b ep u s h e d a n d g u i d e d i n t o e a c h o t h e r , s u c h t h a t n o p o s s i b l er i d g e s i n t h e s u b ? o o r i n g o r s u c h r e n d e r g o o d i n s e r t i o nd i f ? c u l t .

As r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e F I G S . 5 t o 7 , t h e ? o o r p a n e l s 1a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n v e n t i o n c a n a l s o , a l o n g t h e s i d e s 2627Which a r e a t a r i g h t a n g l e t o t h e s i d e s 2 3 , b e p r o v i d e d W i t hc o u p l i n g p a r t s 2 8 2 9 Wh i c h h a v e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 3 0 , t o o .The c o u p l i n g p a r t s 2829 a r e p r e f e r a b l y a l s o r e a l i Z e d i n t h es h a p e o f a t o n g u e 31 a n d a g r o o v e 3 2 . H e r e b y , t h e l o c k i n gelements 3 0 do n o t have t o be o f t h e same n a t u r e a s t h el o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 6 .

P r e f e r a b l y , a t t h e s i d e s 2627 l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s a r e p r ov i d e d W h i c h a l l o W f o r a n e n g a g e m e n t a n d i n t e r l o c k i n g b ymeans o f a l a t e r a l t r a n s l a t i o n move me n t i n d i r e c t i o n T n l y ,a s r e p r e s e n t e d i n F I G S . 6 a n d 7 . To t h i s a i m , t h e l o c k i n ge l e m e n t s 30 c o n s i s t o f a s n a p - t o g e t h e r c o n n e c t i o n W i t hl o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 3 3 a n d 34 W h i c h g r i p b e h i n d e a c h o t h e r .

As r e p r e s e n t e d i n F I G S . 5 t o 7 , t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t 3 3p r e f e r a b l y c o n s i s ts o f a p r o t r u s i o n o f t h e l o W e r s i d e 35 o f t h etongue 31 Which can be l o c a t e d i n a r e c e s s 3 6 i n a loWer l i p4 3 e x t e n d i n g d i s t a l l y f r o m t h e l o W e r W a l l 37 o f t h e g r o o v e3 2 . T h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t 3 4 i s f o r m e d b y t h e u p W a r d d i r e c t e dp a r t o r p r o t r u s i o n Which d e ? n e s t h e d i s t a l l y o u t e r e n d o frecess 36.

I n t h i s c a s e , t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 3334 h a v e c o n t a c ts u r f a c e s 3839 Which a r e p a r a l l e l t o e a c h o t h e r a n d p r e f e ra b l y e x t e n d in a n i n c l i n e d manner, a c c o r d i n g t o a d i r e c t i o nW h i c h s i m p l i ? e s t h e s n a p pi n g - t o g e t h e r o f t h e p a n e l s . T h e


29/92

US 6 , 8 7 4 , 2 9 2 B27

co m mon p l a n e o f t a n g e n c y L Which i s d e t e r m i n e d by t h ecommon t a n g e n t a t t h e meeting p o i n t o r a r e a o f s u r f a c e s3 8 3 9 , h e r e b y f o r m s a n a n g l e A s l o p i n g i n W a r d l y a n ddoWnWardly from a n o u t e r r e g i o n t o a n i n n e r r e g i o n r e l a t i v et o t h e u n d e r s i d e 7 , Which a n g l e i s s m a l l e r t h a n 9 0 .

T h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 3334 p r e f e r a b l y a r e p r o v i d e d W i t hi n c l i n e d p o r t i o n s 4 0 a n d 4 1 W h i c h , When t W o ? o o r p a n e l s 1a r e e n g a g e d , c o o p e r a t e With each o t h e r i n such a manner t h a tt h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 3334 c a n e a s i l y b e p u s h e d o v e r e a c ho t h e r u n t i l t h e y g r i p b e h i n d e a c h o t h e r by means o f as n a p - t o g e t h e r e f f e c t ( F I G S . 6 a n d 7 ) .

The t h i c k n e s s W1 f t h e t o n g u e 3 1 p r e f e r a b l y i s e q u a l t ot h e W i d t h W2 o f t h e g r o o v e 3 2 , s u c h t h a t c o m p r e s s i o np r e s s u r e P a p p l i e d t o t h e u p p e r l i p 4 2 i s r e a c t e d by t h et o n g u e 3 1 W h i c h , i n i t s t u r n , t h e n i s r e a c t e d b y t h e l o W e r l i p4 3 .

Analogous t o t h e chamfer 24 and r e c e s s 2 5 , a r e c e s s 44and a chamfer 45 a r e p r o v i d e d a l s o a t t h e e d g e s 2 8 2 9 .

I t i s n o t e d t h a t s u c h a s n a p - t o g e t h e r c o u p l i n g c a n a l s o b ea p p l i e d a t t h e e d g e s 2 3 . H e r e b y , t h i s c a n b e a s n a p - t o g e t h e rc o u p l i n g a n a l o g o u s t o t h e s e o f F I G S . 5 to 7 , b u t t h i s c a n a l s ob e a s n a p - t o g e t h e r c o u p l i n g u s i n g o t h e r f o r m s o f c o u p l i n gc o n ? g u r a t i o n s , f o r e x a m pl e , s u c h a s r e p r e s e n t e d i n F I G S . 8a n d 9 . C o n t r a r y t o t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 3334 W h i c h c o n s i s to f r a t h e r l o c a l p r o t r u s i o n s , i n t h e f o r m s o f embodiment o fF I G S . 8 a n d 9 u s e i s made o f l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 4647 W h i c h ,i n c o m p a r i s o n t o t h e t o t a l W i d t h B o f t h e c o u p l i n g , e x t e n dover a r a t h e r l a r g e d i s t a n c e .

I n t h i s c a s e , t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 4647 a r e a l s o p r o v i d e da t t h e l o W e r s i d e 1 2 o f t h e t o n g u e 9 a n d t h e l o W e r W a l l 14o f t h e g r o o v e 1 0 .

A c c o r d i n g t o F I G . 8 , t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 4 6 4 7 h a v ec o n t a c t s u r f a c e s 4849 Which a r e a t a n a n g l e W i t h t h e p l a n eo f t h e ?oor p a n e l 1 . I n t h i s m a n n e r , a c o u p l i n g i s o b t a i n e dWhich i s i n t e r l o c k e d i n a p a r t i c u l a r l y ?xed manner.

As r e p r e s e n t e d i n F I G . 9 , t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 4 6 4 7p o s s i b l y can be con?gured i n such a manner t h a t s u b s t a nt i a l l y o n l y a l i n e a r c o n t a c t i s o b t a i n e d , f o r e x a m p l e , b e c a u s et h e c o n t a c t s u r f a c e s d i r e c t e d toWards each o t h e r a r e formedWith d i f f e r e n t c u r v a t u r e s .

T h e s u r f a c e s , d i r e c t e d t o W a r d s e a c h o t h e r , o f t h e l o c k i n ge l e m e n t s 4647 h e r e b y c o n s i s t o f c u r v e d s u r f a c e s . Thec o m m o n p l a n e o f t a n g e n c y L f o r m s a n a n g l e A hich i ss m a l l e r t h a n 9 0 , a n d more p r e f e r a b l y i s s m a l l e r t h a n 7 0 .

I n t h i s m a n n e r , t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t 4 6 p r e f e r a b l y h a s tWop o r t i o n s W i t h a d i f f e r e n t c u r v a t u r e , on one h a n d , a p o r t i o n 50W i t h a s t r o n g c u r v a t u r e a n d , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , a p o r t i o n 51W i t h a Weak c u r v a t u r e . The p o r t i o n 50 W i t h t h e s t r o n gc u r v a t u r e p r o v i d e s f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a ?r m c o u p l i n g . Thep o r t i o n 5 1 W i t h t h e Weak c u r v a t u r e f a c i l i t a t e s t h e c o u p l i n gp a r t s 4 5 t o b e b r o u g h t i n t o e a c h o t h e r e a s i l y . The i n t e r m ed i a t e s p a c e S forms a chambe r Which o f f e r s s p a c e f o r d u s ta n d t h e l i k e W h i c h , When e n g a g i n g t W o ? o o r p a n e s 1 ,i n e v i t a b l y i n ? l t r a t e s t h e r e .

I n t h e c a s e o f a s n a p - t o g e t h e r c o n n e c t i o n , f o r e x a m p l e , ac o n n e c t i o n s u c h a s r e p r e s e n t e d i n F I G S . 7 t o 9 , p r e f e r a b l yt h e t o n g u e 9 3 1 h a s a s h a p e t h a t t h i c k e n s f r o m b e l o W , Whicht h e n c a n c o o p e r a t e W i t h a Widened p o r t i o n in t h e groove 1 0 .

I n F I G . 1 0 , a v a r i a n t i s r e p r e s e n t e d Whereby t l e a s t a t t h el e v e l o f t h e u p p e r e d g e s 1 5 1 6 , a s e a l i n g m a t e r i a l 5 2 i sp r o v i d e d , a s a r e s u l t o f Which a W a t e r t i g h t s e a l i n g can bea s s u r e d . T h i s s e a l i n g m a t e r i a l 52 m a y c o n s i s t o f a s t r i p o rc o v e r i n g W h i c h i s p r o v i d e d p r e v i o u s l y a t t h e ? o o r p a n e l 1 ,e i t h e r a t one o r b o t h u p p e r s i d e e d g e s 1 5 1 6 .

I n F I G . 1 1 , a f u r t h e r v a r i a n t i s r e p r e s e n t e d , Whereby t h el o c k i n g e l e m e n t 6 i s f o r m e d b y a n u p W a r d d i r e c t e d p o r t i o n

10

1 5

25

35

40

45

55

6 5

853 a t t h e tongue 9 , Which a s a r e s u l t o f a t u r n i n g m o v em ento f t h e p a n e l , i s b r o u g h t b e h i n d a d o W n W a r d - d i r e c t e d p o r t i o n54 on t h e u p p e r W a l l 1 8 . More p a r t i c u l a r l y , t h i s i s o b t a i n e dby f o r m i n g t h e u p p e r s i d e 1 7 a n d t h e u p p e r W a l l 1 8 W i t h ac u r v a t u r e R 3 , t h e c e n t e r o f Which s s i t u a t e d a t t h e u p p e r s i d ee d g e s 1 5 1 6 , a n d f o r m i n g t h e l o W e r s i d e 1 2 a n d t h e l o W e rW a l l 14 W i t h a r a d i u s R4, t h e c e n t e r o f Which s a l s o s i t u a t e da t t h e u p p e r s i d e e d g e s 1 5 a n d 1 6 , r e s p e c t i v e l y . T h e s e r a d i iR3R4 can be c hosen o t h e r W i s e , t o o .

I n g e n e r a l , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n v e n t i o n , t h e d i f f e r e n c eb e t W e e n , o n o n e h a n d , t h e r a d i u s R 1 , R3 r e s p e c t i v e l y , a n d ,o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r a d i u s R 2 , R4 e s p e c t i v e l y , p r e f e r a b l ys h o u l d n o t be l a r g e r t h a n 2 mm.

I t i s a l s o p r e f e r r e d t h a t t h e c e n t e r o f t h e s e r a d i i b e s i t u a t e di n s i d e t h e c i r c l e C 1 , C2 ( s e e F I G . 2 ) r e s p e c t i v e l y , W h i c he x t e n d s W i t h a r a d i u s R5 o f 3 mm e n t e r e d a t u p p e r s i d e edge1 5 , 1 6 r e s p e c t i v e l y .

F i n a l l y i s n o t e d t h a t , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n v e n t i o n , t h e l o W e rl i p 2 3 4 3 , a s r e p r e s e n t e d i n FIGS. 2 t o 7 , c a n b e formedd i s t a l l y l o n g e r t h a n t h e u p p e r l i p 2 2 4 2 . T h i s h a s a n a d v a nt a g e t h a t t h e c o u p l i n g p a r t s 452829 c a n b e s h a p e d i n a ne a s i e r manner by means of a m i l l i n g c u t t e r o r t h e l i k e .F u r t h e r m o r e , t h i s s i m p l i ? e s t h e e n g a g e m e n t o f t W o ? o o rp a n e l s 1 , b e c a u s e e a c h s u b s e qu e n t ? o o r p a n e l 1 d u r i n gi n s t a l l a t i o n c a n b e p l a c e d upon t h e p r o t r u d i n g l o W e r l i p2343, a s a r e s u l t o f Which t h e t o n g u e 931 and t h e groove1032 a u t o m a t i c a l l y a r e p o s i t i o n e d i n f r o n t o f e a c h o t h e r .

The embodiments W h e r e i n t h e l o W e r l i p 23 i s e q u a l t o o rd i s t a l l y s h o r t e r t h a n t h e u p p e r l i p 2 2 , i n t h e i r t u r n , o f f e r t h ea d v a n t a g e t h a t n o p r o t r u d i n g l i p 2 3 r e m a i n s a t t h e e x t r e m ee d g e o f t h e ? o o r W h i c h m i g h t c a u s e p r o b l e m s i n ? n i s h i n gt h e ? o o r i n s t a l l a t i o n .

I n o r d e r t o a l l o W f o r a smooth a s s e m b l y , t o g u a r a n t e e t h en e c e s s a r y s t a b i l i t y a n d ?rmness a n d i n o r d e r t o l i m i t t h eq u a n t i t y o f m a t e r i a l t o b e c u t a W a y , t h e d i f f e r e n c e E betWeent h e d i s t a l l y o u t e r e d g e o f t h e u p p e r l i p 2 2 4 2 a n d t h e d i s t a l l yo u t e r e d g e o f t h e l o W e r l i p 2 3 4 3 , m e a s u r e d i n t h e p l a n e o ft h e ? o o r p a n e l a n d p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l d i r e ct i o n o f t h e g r o o v e 1 0 , s h o u l d p r e f e r a b l y b e k e p t s m a l l e r t h a no n e t i m e t h e t o t a l t h i c k n e s s F o f t h e ?oor p a n e l 1 . F o rs t a b i l i t y s s a k e , n o r m a l l y t h i s t o t a l t h i c k n e s s F h a l l n e v e r b el e s s t h a n 5 mm.

The s m a l l d i m e n s i o n o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e E o f f e r s t h e advant a g e t h a t t h e l o W e r l i p n e e d n o t b e s t r e n g t h e n e d by ar e i n f o r c e m e n t s t r i p o r t h e l i k e .

A c c o r d i n g t o a p a r t i c u l a r f o r m o f e m b o d i m e n t , t h e c e n t r a ll i n e M1 h r o u g h t h e t o n g u e 9 a n d t h e g r o o v e 1 0 i s s i t u a t e dl o W e r t h a n t h e c e n t e r l i n e M2 f t h e ? o o r p a n e l 1 , s u c h , t h a tt h e u p p e r l i p 2242 i s t h i c k e r t h a n t h e l o W e r l i p 2 3 4 3 . I n? r s t i n s t a n c e , t h i s i s e s s e n t i a l i n t h i s k i n d o f c o n n e c t i o n ,b e c a u s e t h e n i t i s t h e l o W e r l i p 2 3 4 3 W h i c h b e n d s , W h e r e b yt h e u p p e r s i d e o f t h e ? o o r p a n e l 1 i s k e p t f r e e o f p o s s i b l ed e f o r m a t i o n s .

As e x p l a i n e d i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n , f o r t h e c o r e 8 a m a t e r i a li s c h o s e n f r o m t h e f o l l o W i n g s e r i e s :a . a g r o u n d p r o d u c t W h i c h , by means o f a b i n d i n g a g e n t

o r by means o f m e l t i n g t o g e t h e r i s made i n t o a u n i t a r yc o m p o s i t e m a t e r i a l ;a p r o d u c t b a s e d on s y n t h e t i c m a t e r i a l ;c h i p b o a r d W i t h ? n e c h i p s .

The i n v e n t i o n shoWs i t s u s e f u l n e s s , i n ? r s t i n s t a n c e ,p r e f e r a b l y W i t h l a m i n a t e d ? o o r i n g , d u e t o t h e r e a s o n se x p l a i n e d i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n .

As r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e e x a m p l e s o f t h e F I G S . 2 t o 1 1 , s u c hl a m i n a t e d ? o o r i n g p r e f e r a b l y c o n s i s t s o f a c o r e 8 made o fMDF medium d e n s i t y ? b e r b o a r d b o a r d , HDF h i g h d e n s i t y


30/92

US 6 , 8 7 4 , 2 9 2 B29

? b e r b o a r d b o a r d o r s i m i l a r , Whereby a t l e a s t a t t h e u p p e rs i d e of t h i s core 8 one o r m o r e l a y e r s of m a t e r i a l a r ep r o v i d e d .More a r t i c u l a r l y , i t i s p r e f e r r e d t h a t t h e l a m i n a t e d ? o o ri n g i s p r o v i d e d W i t h a d e c o r a t i v e l a y e r 5 5 a n d a p r o t e c t i v et o p l a y e r 5 6 . T h e d e c o r a t i v e l a y e r 5 5 i s a l a y e r , i m p r e g n a t e dW i t h r e s i n , f o r e x a m p l e , made o f p a p e r , Which c a n b ei m p r i n t e d W i t h a v a r i e t y o f p a t t e r n s , s u c h a s a Wood p a t t e r n ,a p a t t e r n i n t h e form o f s t o n e , c o r k , o r s i m i l a r o r even Witha f a n c y p a t t e r n . T h e p r o t e c t i v e t o p l a y e r 5 6 p r e f e r a b l y a l s oc o n s i s t s o f a l a y e r s a t u r a t e d W i t h r e s i n , f o r e x a m p l e ,m e l a m i n e r e s i n , W h i c h i n t h e ? n a l p r o d u c t i s t r a n s p a r e n t .

I t i s c l e a r t h a t s t i l l o t h e r l a y e r s c a n be a p p l i e d , such a s a ni n t e r m e d i a t e l a y e r 5 7 upon Which t h e d e c o r a t i v e l a y e r 5 5 i sp r o v i d e d .

P r e f e r a b l y , a l s o a b a c k i n g l a y e r 5 8 s h a l l b e a p p l i e d a t t h eu n d e r s i d e 7 , f o r m i n g a c o u n t e r b a l a n c i n g e l e m e n t f o r t h e t o pl a y e r s a n d , t h u s , g u a r a n t e e i n g t h e s t a b i l i t y o f t h e f o r m o f t h e? o o r p a n e l 1 . T h i s b a c k i n g l a y e r 5 8 m a y c o n s i s t o f am a t e r i a l , f o r e x a m p l e p a p e r , i m p r e g n a t e d W i t h a r e s i n , f o re x a m p l e , a melamine r e s i n .As r e p re s e n te d s c h e m a t i c a l l y i n F I G . 1 2 , t h e t o n g u e 9 a n dt h e g r o o v e 1 0 , a n d p r e f e r a b l y a l s o t h e t o n g u e 3 1 a n d t h egroove 32 a r e formed by means o f a m i l l i n g p r o c e s s . I n t h ec a s e t h a t a p r o ? l e h a s t o b e a p p l i e d on l l f o u r s i d e s , t h e ?oorp a n e l s 1 p r e f e r a b l y s h a l l b e d i s p l a c e d b y means o f t W os e q u e n t i a l p e r p e n d i c u l a r m o v e m e n t s V1 a n d V 2 , W h e r e b yd u r i n g t h e ? r s t movement p r o ? l e s a t t W o o p p o s i t e e d g e s a r ep r o v i d e d , i n t h i s c a s e t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l e d g e s , b y means o fm i l l i n g d e v i c e s 5 9 6 0 , W h e r e a s d u r i n g t h e s e c o n d movement p r o ? l e s a r e p r o v i d e d a t t h e o t h e r e d g e s , i n t h i s c a s e t h es m a l l e d g e s , b y m e a n s o f m i l l i n g d e v i c e s 6 1 6 2 . D u r i n gt h e s e p r o c e s s i n g , t h e ? o o r p a n e l s 1 p r e f e r a b l y a r e p u t W i t ht h e i r d e c o r a t i v e l a y e r d i r e c t e d d o W n W a r d .

A c c o r d i n g t o a n i m p o r t a n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e i n v e n t i o n ,e a c h r e s p e c t i v e t o n g u e 931 a n d g r o o v e 1032 a r e formedby means o f a m i l l i n g p r o c e s s W i t h a t l e a s t tWo s e q u e n t i a lm i l l i n g c y c l e s o r p a s s e s by means o f m i l l i n g c u t t e r s Whicha r e p o s i t i o n e d a t d i f f e r e n t a n g l e s i n r e f e r e n c e t o t h e r e l a t e d? o o r p a n e l 1 .

T h i s i s i l l u s t r a t e d i n F I G S . 1 3 , 1 4 a n d 1 5 , W h e r e i n i t i sr e p r e s e n t e d hoW a groove 10 i s r e a l i Z e d by means o f tWom i l l i n g c y c l e s b y means o f t W o m i l l i n g c u t t e r s 6 3 a n d 6 4 .F I G S . 1 6 a n d 1 7 r e p r e s e n t hoW t h e t o n g u e 9 i s s h a p e d b ymeans o f m i l l i n g c u t t e r s 6 5 and 6 6 .

The F I G S . 1819 a n d 2021 r e p r e s e n t s i m i l a r v i e W ss h o W i n g hoW t h e g r o o v e 3 2 a n d t h e t o n g u e 3 1 a r e s h a p e d bymeans o f m i l l i n g c u t t e r s 6768 a n d 6 9 7 0 , p o s i t i o n e d a t a na n g l e .

D u r i n g e a c h o f t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d m i l l i n g p a s s e s , s u bs t a n t i a l l y t h e ? n a l s h a p e o f o n e ?ank i s f u l l y r e a l i Z e d . F o re x a m p l e , t h e m i l l i n g c u t t e r 6 3 o f F I G . 1 4 d e t e r m i n e s t h e? n a l s h a p e o f t h e l o W e r ?ank 7 1 o f t h e g r o o v e 1 0 , W h e r e a st h e m i l l i n g c u t t e r 6 4 d e t e r m i n e s t h e ? n a l s h a p e o f t h e u p p e r?ank 7 2 .As m e n t i o n e d i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n , p r e f e r a b l y m i l l i n gc u t t e r s 6 3 t o 72 s h a l l b e u s e d , h a v i n g d i a m e t e r s G hich a r ea t l e a s t 5 t i m e s , and even b e t t e r a t l e a s t 20 t i m e s l a r g e r t h a nt h e t h i c k n e s s F o f t h e ? o o r p a n e l s 1 .

A p a r t o f t h e m e n t i o n e d m i l l i n g c u t t e r s , p r e f e r a b l y s t i l lo t h e r m i l l i n g c u t t e r s a r e a p p l i e d , f o r e x a m p l e , i n o r d e r t oremove a p a r t o f t h e m a t e r i a l to be removed d u r i n g a ? r s tp r e m a c h i n i n g c y c l e .

I n t h e F I G S . 22 t o 2 5 , a p a r t i c u l a r l y p r e f e r r e d f o r m o fembodiment o f a ? o o r p a n e l 1 a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n v e n t i o n i sr e p r e s e n t e d . H e r e b y , t h e p a r t s W h i c h c o r r e s p o n d W i t h t h ep r e v i o u s embodiments a r e i n d i c a t e d W i t h c o r r e s p o n d i n gr e f e r e n c e s .

10

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40

45

55

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1 0An i m p o r t a n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c h e r e i n c o n s i s t s i n t h a t t h e

c o u p l i n g p a r t s 4 5 a r e p r o v i d e d W i t h l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s 6W h i c h , i n e n g a g e d c o n d i t i o n W i t h t h e p a n e l s i n a c o m m o np l a n e , e x e r t a t e n s i o n f o r c e upon each o t h e r , a s a r e s u l t o fWhich t h e e n g a g e d ? o o r p a n e l s 1 a r e f o r c e d t o W a r d s e a c ho t h e r i n c o m p r e s s i o n . As r e p r e s e n t e d , t h i s i s r e a l i Z e d p r e fe r a b l y b y p r o v i d i n g t h e c o u p l i n g p a r t s W i t h a n e l a s t i c a l l yy i e l d a b l e o r b e n d a b l e p o r t i o n , i n t h i s c a s e t h e l o W e r l i p 4 3 ,W h i c h , i n e n g a g e d c o n d i t i o n , i s a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y b e n t f r o ma r e l a x e d , unbent p o s i t i o n and i n t h i s Wa y c r e a t e s a t e n s i o nf o r c e W h i c h r e s u l t s i n t h e e n g a g e d ? o o r p a n e l s 1 b e i n gf o r c e d t o W a r d s e a c h o t h e r . The r e s u l t a n t b e n d i n g V , a s W e l la s t h e t e n s i o n f o r c e K , a r e i n d i c a t e d i n t h e e n l a r g e m e n t vieWo f F I G . 2 3 .

I n o r d e r t o o b t a i n t h e t e n s i o n f o r c e K r e s s i n g t o g e t h e r t h ee n g a g e d ? o o r p a n e l s 1 , t h e b e n d a b l e p o r t i o n , i n t h i s c a s e t h el i p 4 3 , p r e f e r a b l y i s p r o v i d e d , a s r e p r e s e n t e d , W i t h a ni n W a r d l y a n d doWnWardly i n c l i n e d c o n t a c t s u r f a c e 7 3 W h i c hp r e f e r a b l y can c o o p e r a t e With a c o r r e s p o n d i n g c o n t a c t s u rf a c e 74 on tongue 9 . These c o n t a c t s u r f a c e s 7374 a r es i m i l a r t o t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d c o n t a c t s u r f a c e s 3938 anda l s o s i m i l a r t o t h e i n c l i n e d p o r t i o n s o f t h e l o W e r l i p o f F I G S .2 t o 4 .I n t h e F I G S . 2 a n d 5 , t h e p o r t i o n s f o r m c o m p l e m e n t a r ym a t c h i n g s h a p e s ; i t i s , h o W e v e r , c l e a r t h a t , b y am o d i ? c a t i o n , a l s o a t e n s i o n e f f e c t s i m i l a r t o t h a t shoWn i nFIG. 23 can be r e a l i Z e d .

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