IP Library Granted Patent US 11,499,322
Granted Patent B2
US 11,499,322 · App. 16/751,418 · Granted Nov 15, 2022

Floor panel and method for manufacturing a floor panel

Inventors: Kristof Van Vlassenrode (Deinze, BE); Nick Vanhulle (Anzegem, BE)
Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
E04F15/107B32B3/30B32B5/02B32B9/02B32B9/042B32B9/045B32B21/02B32B21/06B32B21/08B32B27/08B32B27/10B32B27/12B32B37/00B32B37/0053B32B38/06E04F15/02E04F15/105B32B37/223B32B2037/243B32B2255/10B32B2255/26B32B2255/28B32B2262/101B32B2307/408B32B2307/412B32B2307/414B32B2327/06B32B2471/00E04F2201/0161
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,499,322
App. No.
16/751,418
Granted
Nov 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Floor panel, which includes a substrate and a top layer provided above, and preferably directly above, the substrate, where the top layer includes a décor layer, a thermoplastic wear layer, and a lacquer layer provided above, and preferably directly above, the wear layer, and where the floor panel has an upper surface showing a relief, where the relief has a maximum relief depth which is larger than 100 microns, and where the wear layer and the lacquer layer are embossed in order to form the relief.

Claims (38)

1. A method for manufacturing a floor panel, wherein the floor panel has an upper surface showing a relief with a maximum relief depth which is larger than 100 microns, and wherein the method comprises the following steps:

providing a substrate;

providing a top layer above the substrate, which top layer comprises a decor layer, a thermoplastic wear layer, and a lacquer layer provided above the wear layer; and

embossing together, the wear layer and the lacquer layer in order to form the relief;

wherein above the lacquer layer an additional lacquer layer is provided;

wherein both the lacquer layer and the additional lacquer layer are cured together.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lacquer layer is provided directly above the wear layer.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lacquer layer is provided above the wear layer prior to providing this latter with any relief.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lacquer layer is provided on the wear layer by means of a roller.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the roller is a rubber roller.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wear layer is connected to a remaining or underlying part of the floor panel.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the floor panel, after the relief is formed, is immersed in a water bath.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lacquer layer is cured after it is embossed.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lacquer layer is partially cured or dried prior to being embossed.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wear layer is connected to a remaining or underlying part of the floor panel, and wherein the lacquer layer is provided above the wear layer and is partially cured or dried prior to connecting this wear layer to the remaining or underlying part of the floor panel.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the additional lacquer layer is situated directly above the embossed lacquer layer.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the additional lacquer layer is provided after the relief is formed.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the additional lacquer layer is not embossed or deformed.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum relief depth exceeds 200 microns.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lacquer layer and the additional lacquer layer are performed with the same gloss degree.

16. A method for manufacturing a floor panel, wherein the floor panel has an upper surface showing a relief, and wherein this method comprises at least the following steps:

providing a substrate;

providing a top layer above the substrate, which top layer comprises a decor layer, a thermoplastic wear layer, and a lacquer layer provided above the wear layer;

embossing together, the wear layer and the lacquer layer in order to form the relief; and

providing an additional lacquer layer above the lacquer layer after the relief has been formed;

wherein both the lacquer layer and the additional lacquer layer are cured together.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the maximum relief depth is not larger than 100 microns.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the lacquer layer is partially cured or dried prior to being embossed.

19. A method for manufacturing a floor panel, wherein the floor panel has an upper surface showing a relief, and wherein this method comprises the following steps:

providing a substrate;

providing a top layer above the substrate, which top layer comprises a decor layer, a thermoplastic wear layer, and a lacquer layer provided above the wear layer;

connecting the wear layer to a remaining or underlying part of the floor panel;

providing the lacquer layer above the wear layer prior to connecting the wear layer to the remaining or underlying part of the floor panel; and

embossing together, the wear layer and the lacquer layer in order to form the relief;

wherein above the lacquer layer an additional lacquer layer is provided;

wherein both the lacquer layer and the additional lacquer layer are cured together.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the maximum relief depth is not larger than 100 microns.

21. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the lacquer layer is partially cured or dried prior to being embossed.

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 RECEIVING PARTY DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056450 FRAME: 0245. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 13, 2021
From: IVC, BV
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 057182/0458 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2021
From: IVC, BV
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 056450/0245 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 16, 2020
From: IVC BVBA
To: IVC BV
Reel/Frame 054073/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2020
From: VAN VLASSENRODE, KRISTOF; VANHULLE, NICK
To: IVC BVBA
Reel/Frame 053190/0707 →
Priority Claims (1)
BE 2016/5732 · Oct 3, 2016 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16333364
Provisional Application 62443166 · Jan 6, 2017
Related Publication 20200232229A1 · Jul 23, 2020