IP Library Granted Patent US 9,885,188
Granted Patent B2
US 9,885,188 · App. 15/125,993 · Granted Feb 6, 2018

Floor panel for forming a floor covering and method for manufacturing such floor panels

Inventor: Benjamin Clement (Waregem, BE)
Assignee: UNILIN, BVBA
E04F15/105B29C65/48B29C66/45B32B5/022B32B7/12B32B27/12B32B27/304B32B37/10B32B37/12B32B38/145B44C5/04B32B2250/24B32B2255/10B32B2255/26B32B2262/101B32B2307/412B32B2307/414B32B2307/554B32B2327/06B32B2419/04B32B2471/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,885,188
App. No.
15/125,993
Granted
Feb 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A floor panel for forming a floor covering may substantially consists of synthetic material. The floor panel may have a decorative upper side that is formed at least by a decorative layer. The decorative layer may be in the form of a digital print.

Claims (29)

1. A floor panel for forming a floor covering, the floor panel comprising:

a decorative upper side;

wherein the decorative upper side is formed at least by a decorative layer including a digital print;

wherein the floor panel substantially consists of synthetic material and/or filler material;

wherein the floor panel includes at least a translucent or transparent wear layer, which is provided above the digital print; and

wherein a primer or adhesion layer is provided between the digital print and the wear layer.

2. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the digital print is provided on a thermoplastic film.

3. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel is a vinyl panel.

4. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the digital print comprises digitally provided UV-based or solvent-based inks or water-based inks.

5. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the primer or adhesion layer is chosen from the series consisting of polyurethane hotmelt, polyamide hotmelt, vinyl chloride vinyl acetate (VC-VAC), heat-sensitive 2K glue and water-based primer.

6. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel substantially is composed of a thermoplastic material.

7. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel substantially is composed of polyvinyl chloride.

8. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel comprises a substrate which contains plasticizers.

9. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel comprises at least one reinforcement layer.

10. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel has a thickness of 2 millimeters through 6 millimeters.

11. The floor panel of claim 1 ,

wherein the wear layer is a transparent thermoplastic wear layer that is thinner than 0.85 millimeters.

12. A method for manufacturing a floor panel having a decorative upper side that is formed at least by a decorative layer including a digital print, the floor panel substantially consisting of synthetic material and/or filler material, the method comprising:

providing a print on a thermoplastic film using UV-based or solvent-based inks or water-based inks; and

providing a transparent or translucent wear layer on the print;

wherein a primer or adhesion layer is provided between the print and the transparent or translucent wear layer.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel is a vinyl panel.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the primer or adhesion layer is chosen from the series consisting of polyurethane hotmelt, polyamide hotmelt, vinyl chloride vinyl acetate (VC-VAC), heat-sensitive 2K glue and water-based primer.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel substantially is composed of a thermoplastic material.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel substantially is composed of polyvinyl chloride.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel comprises a substrate which contains plasticizers.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel comprises at least one reinforcement layer.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel has a thickness of 2 millimeters through 6 millimeters.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the wear layer is a transparent thermoplastic wear layer that is thinner than 0.85 millimeters.

Assignments (5)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
To: UNILIN BV
Reel/Frame 066805/0445 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056494 FRAME 0304. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 13, 2021
From: UNILIN, BV
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 057182/0617 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2021
From: UNILIN, BV
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 056494/0304 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 20, 2020
From: UNILIN, BVBA
To: UNILIN BV
Reel/Frame 054105/0963 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2016
From: CLEMENT, BENJAMIN
To: UNILIN, BVBA
Reel/Frame 039854/0753 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61955379 · Mar 19, 2014
Related Publication 20170073979A1 · Mar 16, 2017