IP Library Granted Patent US 8,857,127
Granted Patent B2
US 8,857,127 · App. 14/177,937 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Floor covering

Inventor: Ulrich Windmöller (Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock, DE)
Assignee: Ulrich Windmöller Consulting GmbH
E04F15/02172E04F15/02038E04F15/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,857,127
App. No.
14/177,937
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Floor covering ( 10 ) including panels ( 12,14; 112 ) having a core ( 24 ) of a plastic material and at least one cover layer ( 28,30 ) covering the upper side of the core, the panels being provided with complementary and mutually engaging locking profiles ( 20,22; 120 ) at their connected lateral edges ( 16,18 ). For forming a groove between two connected panels ( 12,14; 112 ) at least one of these panels is provided with a milled-out portion ( 60,160 ) at the upper side of its lateral edge, with the cover layer ( 28,30 ) excavated completely over the width of the milled-out portion ( 60,160 ) so that the bottom ( 62,162 ) of the milled-out portion ( 60,160 ) is formed by the material of the core.

Claims (12)

1. Floor covering comprising panels, each panel comprising:

a core of polyvinylchloride (PVC), said core comprising filling materials,

a glass fiber mat provided in an upper portion of a center of the core and extending horizontally through the core,

two cover layers on an upper side of the core, comprised of:

an upper wear layer made of a wear resistant transparent plastic material, and

a décor layer beneath the wear layer formed by a printed décor film,

complementary and mutually engaging locking profiles at connected lateral edges thereof,

the lateral edge of one of said locking profiles including a lower protrusion that comprises a trough-shaped receiving portion on an upper side thereof, said receiving portion having a generally trapezoid shaped cross-section and being delimited towards an end of the protrusion by an elevated portion, and above the receiving portion, an upper lateral edge portion being generally vertical and comprising a flexible detent that is angled relative to vertical,

the lateral edge of the other locking profile being provided with a protrusion facing in a downward direction at the lateral edge thereof adapted to be received within the receiving portion of the one said locking profile by being depressed in a vertical direction into the receiving portion, the other said locking profile including a depression shaped complementary to said angled flexible detent for engagement therewith,

wherein at least one of said panels includes a milled-out portion at an upper side of a lateral edge thereof, with the cover layers thereat being excavated completely over a width of the milled-out portion so that a bottom of the milled-out portion is formed by the material of the core, such that a groove with a rectangular cross section and approximately vertical sidewalls is formed between the two said connected panels, being delimited laterally by the sidewalls of upper edges of the said connected panels.

2. Floor covering according to claim 1 , wherein the groove has sidewalls with upper edges and bevels provided at the upper edges.

3. Floor covering according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the groove is sealed by a seal covering.

Assignments (7)
MERGER Recorded Mar 28, 2024
From: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LTD. SARL
To: UNILIN BV
Reel/Frame 066937/0459 →
ASSIGNEE CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Oct 27, 2021
From: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED SARL
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED SARL
Reel/Frame 059629/0073 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: U. WINDMÖLLER CONSULTING GMBH AND CO. KG; KOWON R&C CORPORATION
To: I4F LICENSING N.V.; FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED SARL; VÄLINGE INNOVATION AB
Reel/Frame 056561/0054 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 11, 2018
From: U. WINDMÖLLER CONSULTING GMBH
To: U. WINDMÖLLER CONSULTING GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 045059/0657 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR, ASSIGNEE, EXECUTION DATE AND SUPPORTING ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 036264 FRAME 0832. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 25, 2017
From: U. WINDMÖLLER CONSULTING GMBH
To: U. WINDMÖLLER CONSULTING GMBH; KOWON R&C CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043674/0118 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2017
From: KO, DONG-HWAN
To: KOWON R&C CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042320/0628 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2015
From: ULRICH WINDMÖLLER CONSULTING GMBH
To: KOWON R&C CORPORATION; ULRICH WINDMÖLLER CONSULTING GMBH
Reel/Frame 036264/0832 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 11008659 · Oct 28, 2011 · regional
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13659446 · Oct 24, 2012
Related Publication 20140157695A1 · Jun 12, 2014