IP Library Granted Patent US 11,565,501
Granted Patent B2
US 11,565,501 · App. 16/972,063 · Granted Jan 31, 2023

Floor panel and method for manufacturing a floor panel

Inventor: Kristof Van Vlassenrode (Deinze, BE)
Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
B32B7/023B32B3/06B32B3/263B32B5/022B32B5/18B32B5/245B32B27/12B32B27/304E04F15/02038E04F15/107B32B2255/10B32B2262/101B32B2266/0235B32B2307/4026B32B2307/412B32B2307/414B32B2471/00E04F2201/0153E04F2201/023E04F2201/042E04F2201/043
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,565,501
App. No.
16/972,063
Granted
Jan 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A floor panel including at least one substrate and a top layer, where the substrate includes at least one first layer of a first thermoplastic material and a second layer of a second thermoplastic material. The second layer is adjacent to a first side of the first layer and the second layer provides the floor panel with its underside. The first layer is characterized by a first colour with saturation value S1 in the HSL colour space and the second layer is characterized by a second colour with saturation value S2 in the HSL colour space, where S1 is less than S2.

Claims (29)

1. A floor panel comprising at least one substrate and a top layer, said substrate comprising at least one first layer of a first thermoplastic material and a second layer of a second thermoplastic material,

wherein the second layer is adjacent to a first side of the first layer and the second layer provides the floor panel an underside,

wherein the first layer is defined by has a first colour with saturation value S1 in the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) colour space and the second layer is defined by a second colour with saturation value S2 in the HSL colour space, wherein S1 is less than S2.

2. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the absolute value of S1-S2 is greater than or equal to 15.

3. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein S1 is greater than or equal to 15.

4. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the first colour has a luminance value L1 in the HSL colour space and L1 is less than or equal to 85.

5. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the second layer has a luminance value L2 in the HSL colour space and L2 is less than or equal to 85.

6. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein a hue of the first colour is defined by an angle H1 in the HSL colour space and a hue of the second colour is defined by an angle H2 in the HSL colour space and where the smaller angle between H1 and H2 is greater than or equal to 25°.

7. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material of the first layer is PVC (polyvinylchloride), and wherein the thermoplastic material of the second layer is PVC.

8. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein at least one reinforcing element is provided at least in one of the first and second layer, or between the first and second layer.

9. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate of the panel comprises one or more further layers of thermoplastic material, located on a second side of the first layer in the floor panel, wherein each of the one or more further layers of thermoplastic material is defined individually by a saturation value Sx.

10. The floor panel according to claim 9 , wherein for each of the one or more layers of thermoplastic material, the colour has of a saturation value Sx that is less than S2.

11. The floor panel according to claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more further layers of thermoplastic material is characterized individually by a hue with an angle Hx, wherein a smaller angle between H2 and each of the Hx is greater than or equal to 25°.

12. The floor panel according to claim 11 , wherein the top layer of the panel further comprises a transparent or translucent wearing layer applied on the decorating layer.

13. The floor panel according to claim 12 , wherein the top layer of the panel is provided with a relief on an uppermost surface.

14. The floor panel according to claim 9 , wherein one of the one or more layers of thermoplastic material, the colour has of a saturation value Sx that is equal to S1.

15. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the top layer of the panel comprises a decorating layer, said decorating layer being located between the layers of thermoplastic material and an upper surface of the floor panel, wherein the decorating layer comprises a printed pattern.

16. The floor panel according to claim 15 , wherein the decoration comprises a thermoplastic film, including PVC film, wherein the film is provided with a decorative print.

17. The floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the floor panel is provided on at least two opposite edges with coupling means that allow two such floor panels to be coupled together, wherein locking is brought about on said at least two opposite edges at least in a vertical direction perpendicular to the surface of the panels, wherein at least one of the said at least two opposite edges is provided with a groove, which is located entirely above the second layer.

18. The floor panel according to claim 17 , wherein the floor panel is provided on two edges adjacent to one another with a groove, which is located above the second layer.

19. A method for making a floor panel, said method comprising the steps:

making a floor panel according to claim 1 , comprising at least providing edges of the panel by cutting the edge or milling coupling means on at least one of the edges;

by means of an optical detector, detecting the second layer by detection that is substantially vertical to an upper surface of the panel;

generating a signal as the optical detector detects the second layer.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the detector is a camera.

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the camera is a line camera.

22. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the camera is a colour camera.

23. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the signal is supplied to a process control system.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the process control system will link the signal to an error message, wherein the process control system will generate an output signal linked to the error message.

Assignments (4)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: VAN VLASSENRODE, KRISTOF
To: IVC, BV
Reel/Frame 054760/0906 →
Priority Claims (1)
BE 2018/5376 · Jun 6, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210114344A1 · Apr 22, 2021
Cited By (2)
US 12,365,161 US 12,523,047