Patent Application
20200087926
This application claims the benefit and priority of European patent application number 1815174.0, filed on Sep. 16, 2018. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a panel comprising a swellable sealing lip as well as an arrangement of panels comprising a swellable sealing lip, a method for producing a panel comprising a swellable sealing lip and the use of a swellable material for sealing panels.
Panels with retaining profiles are known per se and can be used in particular as decorated wall or floor panels, wherein the term wall panel also means panels which are suitable as a ceiling or door lining. They usually consist of a carrier or core of a solid material, such as a wood material, plastic or composite material which is provided on at least one side with a decorative layer and a covering layer and optionally with further layers, such as a wearing layer disposed between the decorative and the covering layer. The decorative layer is usually a printed paper impregnated with a resin. The covering layer and the remaining layers are usually made of resin, too.
Such known panels in a manner known per se include retaining profiles at the panel edges. The retaining profiles hold the panels together in the laid state by means of a form-fit connection. To this end, different retaining profiles are known. Simple tongue-and-groove joints comprise a simple groove and a complementary tongue that act perpendicular to the panel plane. More complex retaining profiles are known in particular for panels for glueless laying. In this case, the complementary retaining profiles of two panels to be joined are designed so that the form-fit connection by means of hooks and undercuts also prevents the panels from being pulled apart. The panels can therefore be laid floating, i.e. they do not need to be glued to the floor, and they also do not have to be glued to each other. As a result, the laying of such panels is particularly simple and quick and the laid floor can also be adapted to a certain degree to unevenesses of the floor and also respond to temperature fluctuations due to the flexibility of the connections.
However, a problem with such laid panels is that the joints are prone to liquid ingress. Here, liquids can even flow through the joint beneath the panels, where they can no longer be reached and removed without first removing the panels. This can, for example, cause a damage to the floor beneath the panels. In addition, for example, mould dangerous to health can form between the bottom side of the panel and the underground. This can remain undetected and its removal can be very expensive.
Thus, there is a need to protect the joints of laid panels against ingress and in particular penetration of liquids. It is known that the joints can be glued during laying. However, this has the disadvantage that the laying of the panels is associated with a considerable increased expense. In addition, this limits the flexibility of the panel connections. It is also known to treat the laid panels with a sealing. However, this has the disadvantage that the sealing can only prevent to a limited extent the ingress of liquids into the joints and that the durability of the sealing is much shorter than the lifetime of the laid panels and therefore often has to be reapplied.
The moisture protection of such panels may therefore still offer room for improvement. Potential for improvement may result, in particular, in the durability of the moisture protection and in the simplicity of use of a moisture protection.
It is therefore the object of the present disclosure to provide improved means for protection against the penetration of moisture or liquids through panel joints.
This object is described by panels and further by an arrangement of such panels and a method for producing such panels. Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are provided in the dependent claims, in the description or in the figures, wherein further features described or shown in the dependent claims or in the description or in the figures, individually or in any combination, may constitute a subject matter of the disclosure, inasfar the opposite is not clearly obvious from the context.
The disclosure proposes a panel comprising a swellable sealing lip.
The panel comprises a panel top side and a panel bottom side and at least four panel edges which are mutually facing each other in pairs and comprise complementary retaining profiles which are provided at the mutually facing panel edges in pairs, wherein the retaining profiles are configured so that at one retaining profile of a panel further panels with a complementary retaining profile can be mounted, wherein at least one retaining profile comprises a swellable sealing lip at least partially along its longitudinal axis.
It could be shown in a surprising manner that such panels can be easily laid without additional expense and at the same time have an improved protection against ingress and penetration of liquids at the joints.
The term “panel” in the sense of the disclosure means in particular wall, ceiling, door or floor panels. These can have a decoration applied to a carrier plate and replicating a decorative template. Decorative panels are used in a variety of ways, both in the field of interior design of rooms as well as decorative cladding of buildings, for example in exhibition stand construction. One of the most common fields of application of decorative panels is their use as a floor covering. The decorative panels often have a decoration that is intended to replicate a natural material.
In the sense of the disclosure, the term “swellable” is to be understood as the property of a material to swell or to increase its volume by absorption of gas or liquid. The increase in volume may be, for example, a doubling or a tenfold increase in volume.
The term “sealing lip” is to be understood as an elongated device which is able to hydraulically seal two surfaces abutting each other.
In the sense of the disclosure, the term “panel edge” is to be understood as the surface which connects the panel top side to the panel bottom side.
The term “retaining profile” is to be understood as the geometric configuration of the panel edge. In this case, the term also means multi-part retaining profiles.
The term “complementary retaining profile” is to be understood as a retaining profile whose geometric configuration substantially complements that of another retaining profile. That is, a retaining profile, which has recesses substantially where the other retaining profile has projections and vice versa. Thus, two complementary retaining profiles can be mounted to each other in a form-fitting manner. In this case, cavities can remain between the complementary retaining profiles. For example, one retaining profile may comprise a groove and a complementary retaining profile may comprise a projection, or one retaining profile may comprise a hook and a complementary retaining profile may comprise a corresponding undercut, or both retaining profiles may comprise hooks and undercuts.
A previously described panel thus serves in particular the protection against ingress and penetration of liquids at panel joints.
In detail, a panel according to the disclosure comprises a panel top side and a panel bottom side as well as at least four panel edges mutually facing each other in pairs. In this case, complementary retaining profiles are provided in pairs on the mutually facing panel edges, wherein the retaining profiles are designed so that further panels with complementary retaining profile can be mounted to one retaining profile of a panel. In other words, a plurality of such panels can be laid on a surface and connected to each other via the complementary retaining profiles.
The panels according to the disclosure are characterized in that at least one retaining profile comprises a swellable sealing lip along the longitudinal axis.
This advantageously ensures that the means for protection against ingress and penetration of liquids at panel joints needs not to be provided only during laying. The panels according to the disclosure can therefore be laid exactly in the same way as panels without a swellable sealing lip, but at the same time offer an improved protection against ingress and penetration of liquids at panel joints after laying. Furthermore, it is advantageously achieved that no permanent, additional stresses act on the connection of joined retaining profiles by means of the swellability of the sealing lip and an additional stress is produced only by the swelling of the sealing lip, if required. This ensures that the connections remain flexible but at the same time enable an improved protection against ingress and penetration of liquids at panel joints.
In one embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that the swellable sealing lip consists essentially of a material which is swellable by absorbing aqueous liquids.
Thus, it can be achieved that the panels have in particular an improved protection against ingress and penetration of liquids, as they occur most frequently in everyday life. Aqueous liquids can be, for example, rainwater, waste water, drinks, cleaning water, washing water, sweat or urine.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that the swellable sealing lip consists essentially of a water-insoluble polymer.
Thus, it can be achieved in particular that the swellable sealing lip remains functional even after frequent contact with aqueous liquids.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that the swellable sealing lip comprises a water-absorbing material selected from the group consisting of superabsorbents, acrylonitrile copolymers, polyacrylamide copolymers, ethylene-maleic acid anhydride copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers or combinations thereof. Likewise, in one embodiment of the disclosure, it may be provided that the swellable sealing lip comprises a water-absorbing material selected from the group consisting of crosslinked carboxy methyl celluloses, compressed celluloses, modified celluloses, cellulose ethers, bran or combinations thereof.
Thus, it can be achieved that the swellable sealing lip swells particularly well and therefore can be particularly thin, can absorb water particularly good and can easily be processed and/or mounted.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that the swellable sealing lip consists essentially of a material which forms hydrogels with water.
Thus, it can be achieved that water, which comes into contact with the sealing lip, is particularly well absorbed by the sealing lip. Furthermore, it can be achieved in an advantageous manner that the swellable sealing lip does not drip after absorbing water and thus no water soaks through the sealing lip.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that the swellable sealing lip comprises a binder.
Thus, it can be achieved that even materials which are usually brittle or are present in powder form can be processed into a sealing lip. A binder is understood as a material which can hold particles of a material together. The binder may be, for example, an elastomer which is present as a powder or as a fiber.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that the swellable sealing lip extends along the entire length of the retaining profile.
Thus, it can advantageously be achieved that the panel joint is protected over the entire length of the panel edge against ingress and penetration of liquids. In particular, it can be achieved in this way that a sealing effect occurs even when the panel is shortened during assembly.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that at least one retaining profile of each of the pairwise complementary retaining profiles comprises a swellable sealing lip.
In other words, it can be provided that at least one retaining profile of each pair of mutually facing complementary retaining profiles comprises a swellable sealing lip. This means that at least half of the retaining profiles comprise a swellable sealing lip. For a panel with four panel edges this means that it is provided that at least two non-facing retaining profiles comprise a swellable sealing lip.
As a result, it can advantageously be achieved that after laying a plurality of such panels on a surface all the panel joints comprise at least one swellable sealing lip. In this way it can be achieved that all panel joints and in particular also the points where two joints or three panels meet, are protected against ingress and penetration of liquids.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that all retaining profiles comprise a swellable sealing lip.
As a result, it can advantageously be achieved that after laying a plurality of such panels on a surface all the panel joints comprise two swellable sealing lips. Thus, it can be achieved that all panel joints and in particular also the points where two joints or three panels meet, are particularly well protected against ingress and penetration of liquids.
In a further embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that the swellable sealing lip is mounted to the retaining profile in a firmly bonded, force-fitting or form-fitting way.
Thus, it can be achieved that the sealing lip does not unintentionally separate from the panel before laying. For example, it can be achieved that the sealing lip does not unintentionally detach from the panel during transport, storage or cutting of the panels.
By means of a firmly bonded connection it can in particular be achieved that the swellable sealing lip can be mounted at any position at the retaining profile. As a result, advantageously the assembly of a swellable sealing lip on filigree points of the retaining profile is possible. For a firmly bonded connection an adhesive may be provided. It can thereby be achieved that even a powdery sealing lip can be mounted to the retaining profile.
By a means of a force fitting and/or form-fitting connection it can be achieved that a sealing lip with a particularly large cross-section can be mounted to the retaining profile. As a result, a particularly large absolute change in volume can be achieved during a swelling of the sealing lip. For example, to this end a groove can be provided, into which a sealing lip can be pressed.
In one embodiment of the disclosure it may further be provided that the swellable sealing lip terminates substantially flush with the retaining profile.
As a result, it can be achieved that no additional stresses act on the connection of joined retaining profiles.
In one embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that the swellable sealing lip is arranged in the retaining profile of the panel edge such that the swellable sealing lip after assembly of another panel with a complementary retaining profile comprises a clearance fit or transition fit with respect to the complementary retaining profile of the other panel.
As a result, it can also be achieved that no additional stresses act on the connection of joined retaining profiles.
In one embodiment of the disclosure it can be provided that the swellable sealing lip is arranged in such a manner in the retaining profile of the panel edge, that the swellable sealing lip after assembly of another panel with a complementary retaining profile, after swelling rests at the complementary retaining profile of the other panel in a hydraulically sealing form.
Thus, it can be achieved that, if required, i.e. when a liquid comes into contact with the joint, the panel joint is sealed by the swelling of the sealing lip, while no additional stresses act previously on the connection of joined retaining profiles.
The disclosure further proposes an arrangement of at least two panels with a swellable sealing lip.
In detail, an arrangement of at least two panels according to the disclosure is provided. In this case, the panels have complementary retaining profiles on mutually facing panel edges and are mounted to one another by means of the complementary retaining profiles.
The arrangement is characterized in that at least one of the mutually facing complementary retaining profiles comprises a swellable sealing lip along the longitudinal axis, and the swellable sealing lip comprises a clearance or transition fit with respect to the complementary retaining profile of the other panel edge, wherein the swellable sealing lip after absorption of an aqueous liquid rests against the complementary retaining profile of the other panel edge in a hydraulically sealing form.
By means of this arrangement it can be achieved in particular that each panel joint comprises a swellable sealing lip and it can be achieved that, if required, i.e. when a liquid comes into contact with the joint, the panel joint is sealed by the swelling of the sealing lip, while no additional stresses act previously on the connection of joined retaining profiles.
With the disclosure, moreover, a method for producing a panel comprising a swellable sealing lip is proposed.
In detail, it is provided that the method comprises the steps of:
In this way it can advantageously be achieved that in the formation of the retaining profile a location for mounting the swellable sealing lip can already be provided. In addition, this also allows to adapt the swellable sealing lip to the retaining profile. The swellable sealing lip can be applied before or after the application of a decorative layer and a covering layer and optionally further layers, for example a wearing layer arranged between the decorative layer and the covering layer. The carrier can be made of a material typical for panels.
Within the scope of the disclosure it is further envisaged to use a swellable material for sealing panels.
In detail, it is envisaged that a swellable material will be used for sealing previously described panels.
By use of a swellable material it can be advantageously achieved that the panel joints are sealed by the swelling of the material only if required, i.e. when a liquid comes into contact with the joint, while no additional stresses act previously on the connection of joined retaining profiles.
The disclosure is explained below in more detail with reference to the figures. The figures show possible embodiments of the disclosure. In principle, however, combinations or modifications of the embodiments are possible within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the swellable sealing lip may have a different cross section and/or can be mounted to a different location to the retaining profile. In principle, the assembly of a swellable sealing lip to differently designed retaining profiles is possible, which are not shown below.
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| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18195174.0 | Sep 2018 | EP | regional |
