Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Skirting board, floor covering system and method for
manufacturing a skirting board.
S This invention relates to a skirting board, a floor
covering system, in particular a floor covering system
applying such skirting board, and a method for
manufacturing such skirting board.
It is known that a floor covering can be formed by means
of floor panels which are laid on a subfloor and
preferably are mutually joined either by means of a
glued-together tongue and groove coupling, or by means of
coupling parts effecting an interlocking of the floor
panels. Examples of mechanically locking coupling parts,
which are integrated in the floor panels, are known,
amongst others, from the international patent
applications WO 97/47834, WO 01/98603 and WO 01/96688.
Such floor panels may be of various construction, whereby
mostly, use is made of a substrate or core, on top of
which a top layer, whether or not formed of several
layers, is provided. The core mostly consists of a plate
of a wood-based material, for example, fibreboard or
2S chipboard, more particularly MDF (Medium Density
Fibreboard) or HDF (High Density Fibreboard), although
the use of other materials for the core, for example,
synthetic material, so-called compact laminate and the
like, is not excluded. The top layer may be realized on
the basis of synthetic material or another material, for
example, veneer, a wood layer with a thickness of several
millimetres, cork, linoleum, stone or the like.
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In case the top layer consists of veneer or a wood layer
with a thickness of several millimetres, a skirting board
pertaining to the flooring can simply be realized from
solid wood of the same kind of wood as the veneer of the
top layer.
In the case that the top layer of the floor panels is
realized on the. basis of synthetic material, for example,
is formed of one or more pressed and cured resin-
impregnated carrier sheets, amongst which a printed decor
layer, which are provided on a core layer, more
particularly DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate) or HPL (High
Pressure Laminate), the problem arises that it is rather
difficult to realize a skirting board that is optimally
matched to the flooring, and such in a industrially and
economically responsible manner.
Up to now, in combination with such floor panels skirting .
boards are applied that are covered by a printed film,
'20 whereby said film is glued. onto the.,.actual skirting
board. Those known skirting boards show,the disadvantage
that the print of the film of the skirting board is never
optimally matched to. the print of the decor layer of .the
floor panels, in view of the fact that usually, one
starts from different manufacturing and printing
techniques and furthermore such film and decorative layer
also are realized at different manufacturers'. Besides,
developing a new adapted print for the film of the
skirting boards for each newly developed pattern for the
decor layer is expensive. Another disadvantage of such
film-covered skirting boards consists in that, due to the
nature of the film material, namely, simply printed paper
or synthetic material, they never show one and the same.
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appearance as the surface of the floor panels that is
obtained by means of a pressing and curing procedure.
Also, such film does not allow to realize well-defined
S effects on the surface, which indeed are possible when
manufacturing the floor panels, such as providing
impressions, ' whether or not in register with the
underlying printed pattern, providing impressions which
are filled with a colour component or another component,
finishing the surface, for example, glossing it, and so
on.
Another important disadvantage of such film-covered
skirting board consists in that it is impossible to
realize skirting boards whereby the front side and the
upper side adjoin each other at an angle, because, when
applying a covering film, always a certain rounding
radius must be provided.
20. From the patent documents FR 2.192.895 and FR 1.530.769,
it is also known to provide covered plates with an edge
covering. The manufacturing of such plates, however, is
situated in another technical field than the production
of skirting boards, resulting in that the skilled person
will not see. an evident solution for constructing
skirting boards in the aforementioned documents.
The present invention aims at a skirting board which is
constructed such that a solution for one or more of the
aforementioned disadvantages is provided.
According to a first aspect, the invention thus relates
to a skirting board with the characteristic that it
consists of at least two structural parts, a first part
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forming at least a portion of the front side, and a
second part forming at least a portion of the upper side
of the skirting board, respectively, whereby both parts
are formed from a laminate material formed by means of
pressing power, with a core and, provided thereupon, a
top layer on the basis of synthetic material. As the
skirting board according to the invention is composed of
two parts each consisting of a laminate material, the
realization of the skirting board of the invention is no
longer restricted by the limitations of the use of a
covering film, and all effects can be created that are
possible with the floor panels, too. Also, it is possible
to realize skirting boards with a front side and an upper
side mutually adjoining at an angle, without having to
take a rounding radius into account. Also, the skirting
board according to the invention has a surface quality
entirely corresponding to that of the floor panels.
It is noted that by structural parts, it is meant that
these parts have a core or substrate, on top of which a
top layer is provided, contrary to, for example, thin
laminate ribbons which sometimes are used for covering
the lateral edge of a laminate board. Basically, such
laminate ribbons might also be used for covering the
upper side of a skirting board, however, it is known from
practice that the use of such laminate ribbons in general
has the disadvantage that they can loosen very easily and
that the connection with the front side is not always
perfect.
Preferably, said two parts are formed of a plate-shaped
material, with the advantage that this material can be
manufactured in one and the same production process or a
similar production process as the basic board from which
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floor panels are formed. Thereby, the basic material of
the skirting boards can be manufactured, for example,
with the same presses as those applied for manufacturing
the floor panels, without the necessity of taking
5 particular measures when pressing.
Preferably, said two parts are manufactured of a similar
or one and the same laminate material and are provided
with one and the same pattern, such that, consequently,
the appearance of the front and upper sides completely
match each other. More particularly, it is preferred that
said two parts originate from one and the same laminate
plate, such that possible minor differences that, for
which reasons whatever, might occur in the production of
subsequent laminate plates, never result in differences
between the front and upper sides of~.one and the same
skirting board.
In the most preferred form of embodiment, said two parts
adjoin each other at least at the height of the outer
side of the skirting board, and they show patterns at
their visible sides which fade into each other, whereby,
for example, in the case of a wood motive, it is obtained
that the grain of the wood at the upper side fades into
the grain of the wood at the front side, which creates an
appearance as if the skirting board consisted of solid
wood. --
In the first place, the invention is useful with
classical laminate of the type whereby the top layer of
said two parts is formed of one or more pressed, resin-
immersed layers, amongst which a so-called decor layer
that is printed either with a uniform print or with a
well-defined pattern imitating, for example, wood,
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ceramics, stone or the like. More particularly, it is
preferred that said laminate material of at least one of
said two parts, and preferably of both parts, consists of
so-called DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate) or so-called HPL
(High Pressure Laminate) that is attached to a substrate
or core.
The' aforementioned two parts can be attached to each
other directly or indirectly, for example, by means of
glue or in any other manner.
As aforementioned, the skirting board according to the
invention can be realized without a rounding between the
front and upper sides, whereas the decorative top layers
still adjoin each other. Therefore, according to a
preferred form of embodiment, said two parts with their
outer sides will adjoin each other at an angle.
According to an important preferred form of embodiment,
said two parts extend with their top layer at an angle of
90 degrees in respect to each other, whereby thus a
skirting board with a rectangular outer side is obtained.
Preferably, said two parts at least partially adjoin each
other with a mitre joint, whereby this ,mitre joint
preferably extends at least up to the outer side of the
skirting board. Hereby, at least in those embodiments in
which said parts are situated directly against each
other, an adjoining of the top layers in the external
angle of the skirting board without visible seams is
obtained. Hereby, the mitre preferably extends according
to an angle coinciding or approximately coinciding with
the bisecting line of the external angle of the skirting
board. However, other possibilities are not. excluded.
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In a particular form of embodiment, the top layer of at
least one of said parts, however, preferably of both
parts, is provided with impressions, more particularly
impressions imitating a relief, for example, of a natural
material, such as wood pores, unevenness of a stone
surface or the like. Hereby, these impressions possibly
may correspond to the pattern, more particularly the
printed pattern, of the top layer, which often is called
reregistered embossment". This latter is particularly
useful when imitating wood, because in this manner a very
realistic imitation can be obtained.
According to another particular form of embodiment, use
is made of a laminate material, whereby in said
impressions, or at least in a part thereof, a component
is provided in the form of a colouring product and/or an
active component. By means of such colouring product,
special effects can be realized that also are applied for
floor panels, such as, for example, imitating lime-washed
wood. By using an active.component, other effects can be
created. By an active component, amongst others, anti-
bacterial, mildewproofing, fluorescent, antistatic, sound
dampening and other components are to be understood.
According to another particular form of embodiment, parts
are used whereby the top layer comprises a decor layer,
whereby above the decor layer, whether or not directly
thereupon, at least one coloured overlay is present,
which also allows to realize particular effects, as this
is the case with floor panels.
So, for example, a very realistic imitation of coloured,
and more particularly lime-washed wood, also called
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"ceruse", can be obtained by forming the, parts of a
material having a top layer with a decor layer
representing a wood pattern, whereby this top layer is
provided with impressions in which a colouring component
is applied, and moreover by applying a coloured overlay.
The impressions, filled with the colouring component,
imitate the colour remaining in the pores of a coloured
real wooden floor, whereas the coloured overlay imitates
the thin tinge of colour remaining on the smooth wood
surface when colouring real wood.
In respect to said impressions, the use of components in
these impressions, the use of coloured overlays, as well
as performing special finishing operations, such as the
glossing of the surface of the top layer, reference is
made to the patent applications WO 01/96689, BE 2003/0339
and BE 2003/0585, whereby the information which is given
in these patent applications, although described for
floor panels, should be considered incorporated by
reference in the present application, however, as being
applied to said skirting board.
According to a particular possibility, at the height of
the corner edge formed by said two parts, a material part
is removed, preferably in the form of a bevelled edge,
whereby then a decorative layer is applied on the
obtained surface, for example, in the form of a lacquer,
varnish, impregnating agent, whether or not coloured,
transfer print or other print.
It is clear that the core of said parts preferably
consists of the same material as the core material
applied when manufacturing floor panels. In the most
preferred form of embodiment thus MDF or HDF are used.
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MDF and HDF also show the advantage of being materials
that are easy to machine, which is important when forming
said two parts.
In principle, said core may consist of any material.
Other examples thus are particle board, extruded wood,
extruded paper pulp or other board materials, whether or
not on the basis of wood. In the case of extruded wood or
paper pulp, it is not excluded to start from basic parts,
which already are extruded in the shape of the final
skirting board, or more or less in the shape thereof, and
are laminated afterwards in order to arrive at the two
structural parts.
IS In the case that a hydrophilic material, as, for example,
MDF/HDF is used, the bottom side of the skirting board
possibly can be treated with a hydrophobic material, a
sealing material, or the like.
Preferably, said two parts respectively consist of a
larger standing part forming the front side of the
skirting board and a smaller top part provided on top of
the standing part and forming the upper side of the
skirting board.
For practical reasons, it is preferred that said two
parts are formed of plate-shaped material and that the
sides of those parts facing each other are realized by
means of a machining operation, i.e. a material-cutting
operation. In fact, board-shaped material, which has been
obtained by means of processing by a press, is subjected
to relatively large thickness tolerances. However, by
attaching the two parts against each other exclusively
with sides obtained by means of a machining operation,
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which operation can be realized with very small tolerance
deviations, the influence of thickness tolerances of the
original board-shaped material is avoided.
In an important preferred form of embodiment, the two
parts are formed of a board-shaped material which,
opposed to the top layer, also comprises a backing layer,
whereby the part forming the lateral edge of the skirting
board still comprises this backing Layer, whereas the
backing layer at the part forming the upper side of the
skirting board has been removed.
Preferably, the components of the skirting board, and
more particularly said two parts, have matching forms,
for example, in the shape of a male and a female part,
which, when joining these parts, effect an automatic
mutual positioning. So, for example, the sides of the
mutually adjoining parts can be realized with an internal
angle, external angle, respectively, fitting into each
other. When pressing the parts against each other, they
consequently automatically are put in a correct mutual
position, which excludes an imprecise adjoining of the
top layers at the external corner of the skirting board.
Although the skirting board according to the invention
preferably consists of only two parts, it is not excluded-
to compose it of more parts. Hereby, it is also possible
to use a common support or connecting structure to which
said two or more parts are attached. The same support or
connecting structure then is preferably used for
attaching the skirting board assembly at the wall,
possibly by cooperation with other attachment
accessories.
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It is clear that the components of the skirting board,.
and more particularly said two parts, do not necessarily
have to be attached to each other by means of a glue
connection, but that any kind of connection can be
S applied for this purpose. According to a particular form
of embodiment, thus two or more of the components, and
more particularly said two parts, can be interconnected
by means of profiled areas engaging each other, which
preferably provide for a snap connection, whereby the use
of glue or separate elements, such as staples, nails,
screws or the like can be excluded.
It is clear that the skirting board can show a globally
straight .shape as well as any other shape. So, for
1S example, it may be realized with a functional profiled
rear side, as, for example, a rear side with a re-
entering part in order to limit the contact with the wall
or floor, a rear side that is intended to cooperate with
one or more attachment accessories, such as attachment
clips, a rear side that is provided with one or more
recesses, for example, for accommodating cables, and. so
on. The recesses may be either continuous or
discontinuous in the longitudinal direction. Preferably,
the removed material of the profiled part at the rear
2S side of the skirting board provides for a sufficient
flexibility of the skirting board. This flexibility also
allows for a proper adjoining of the skirting board in
the longitudinal direction against an uneven or not
straight wall. The space created in the rear side of the
skirting board can be used when packaging the latter for
accommodating the necessary attachment accessories
therein.
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The invention is not restricted to skirting boards with a
classical appearance, in other words, skirting boards
having a uniform appearance or continuous pattern
continuing over their length. So, for example, the top
layer of said two parts can be realized with a printed
tile pattern with joints extending over the front side
and upper side of the respective skirting board. Hereby,
possibly at the height of the imitated joints, a relief
difference may be present, which is preferably formed by
an impression, removal of material or a recess. The
relief difference whether or not can be combined with a
difference in the surface structure. Possibly, only a
difference in the surface structure can be applied for
imitating the joint.
IS
Another problem arising with traditional skirting boards
that conventionally.have a length of two or more meters,
is that the application thereof may lead to certain
disadvantages. So, for example, skirting boards of such
classical length may easily be damaged during transport.
Also, they are difficult to transport together with
traditional laminated floor panels, as their length is
considerably larger than the length of such floor panels.
When continuous skirting boards are realized with a
repeated tile pattern, which skirting boards are intended
for being used with tile-shaped laminated floor panels,
also the disadvantage is created that it is difficult to
create a skirting board in which the distance between the
successive imitated joints corresponds to the distance
between the imitated joints of the floor panels, in
particular when one would start from a basic plate with
one and the same tile pattern for forming the skirting
board and forming the floor panels in accordance with the
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first aspect of the invention. As, when manufacturing the
tile-shaped laminated floor panels, at the height of each
joint a portion is sawn off and milled off, whereas this
is not the case when manufacturing a continuous skirting
board of the same material, it is clear that the distance
differs between the joints of the skirting board and the
joints of the floor panels. Thus, it is not possible to
provide such skirting board having joints imitated
thereupon in accordance with the joints of the floor
panels along an installed floor.
Even if one would start for the skirting board from a
basic plate with a separate decor layer, whereby the
joints are represented closer to each other, the
disadvantage remains that it is impossible to guarantee a
perfect conformity between the joints on the skirting
boards and the joints at the tile-shaped floor panels. In
fact, such printed decor layer is subjected to extension
and shrinkage,. which renders it difficult to guarantee a
fixed distance between the joints on the skirting board.
In order to remedy one or more of said disadvantages,
according to a second aspect the present invention
provides a skirting board, more particularly a skirting
board with a laminated surface on one or more sides,
which is characterized in that it is composed of short
pieces, more particularly shorter than the aforementioned
length of two meters, which can be mounted successively
in longitudinal direction. It is clear that thereby
industrially produced lengths of skirting boards are
concerned.
According to a first possibility of this second aspect,
one will work with pieces, the length of which is almost
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equal, equal to or shorter than the length of the floor
panels with which the skirting board is intended to be
applied. In this manner, rather short pieces are
obtained, which, on the one hand, will less easily become
damaged and, on the other hand, can be easily transported
together with boxes of packaged floor tiles, either by
sending them along therewith separately, whether or not
- in their own box, or by packaging them together with
floor panels in on and the same box.
According to another possibility of the second aspect of
the invention, the pieces are realized with such a length
that they precisely correspond to the length of a tile-
shaped floor panel, whereby then a joint is imitated at
the extremities of each piece, with the result that a
skirting board can be realized of such pieces whereby the
joints can precisely correspond to the joints of the
tile-shaped floor panels. In fact, said pieces can be
manufactured with small length tolerances, like the tile-
shaped floor panels, so that differences will hardly
occur.
Also, i~t is not excluded to realize the length of the
pieces with a multiple of the length of a tile.
It is clear that the present invention also relates to
the pieces themselves of which such skirting board is
composed.
According to a particular form of embodiment, the
successive pieces can be provided with coupling means for
coupling them, whether directly or not, to each other.
Hereby, those may be coupling means on the extremities
that engage each other and effect a mechanical locking,
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and/or coupling means with which each piece can be
provided on a common underlying support structure, for
example, a strip of MDF/HDF, synthetic material, metal or
the like, or common attachment clips, whereby this
5 support structure then, for example, first is attached to
the wall.
The coupling means on the extremities may have different
forms and consist, for example, of a tongue and groove,
IO whether or not combined with locking means that also
effect an interlocking in the longitudinal direction of
the skirting board pieces.
According to another particular form of embodiment, the
IS successive pieces are provided with positioning means,
which are realized such that the successive pieces, due
to their placement, automatically are aligned in mutual
respect, or at least are aligned at least partially in
mutual respect. The positioning means, for example, can
realize a proper alignment of the upper sides and/or
front sides of two skirting boards that are mounted
against each other. According to a preferred form of
embodiment, the successive pieces of the skirting board
are provided with coupling means as well as positioning
means, which, whether or not, are formed by means of the
same parts.
According to a particular form of embodiment, the pieces
of skirting board comprise, at their extremities,
coupling means extending both parallel to the front side
and parallel to the upper side, in such a manner that a
locking in three directions is obtained, namely the two
directions in the plane of the front side and the
direction perpendicular to this front side.
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Said imitation of a joint at the height of the
extremities of said pieces of the .skirting board can be
realized in different ways. Preferably, this is performed
S according to one of the following possibilities:
- by means of a print;
- by means of an impression;
- by means of a print combined with an impression;
- by means of a removed material portion along the
edge of the joint;
- by means of a removed material portion in the shape
of an inclination or so-called bevel, upon which,
whether or not, a separate decorative layer is
provided;
- by means of a difference in surface structure
between the joint and the tile pattern.
It is noted that the invention also relates to a skirting
board whereby one or more characteristics of said first
aspect are combined with one or more characteristics of
said second aspect of the invention.
The present invention also relates to a floor covering
system consisting of floor panels and skirting boards,
whereby the floor panels are formed by laminated panels
with a core and a top layer based on synthetic material,
more particularly resin, pressed thereupon, preferably so-
called DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate), with the
characteristic that hereby skirting boards according to the
first aspect of the invention are applied and that the top
layers of the skirting boards and the floor panels are
matched to each other.
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Preferably, these top layers are matched to each other in
that they show one or more of the following features:
- the skirting boards and the floor panels have been
realized by a similar manufacturing process;
- both top layers consist of so-called DPL (Direct
Pressure Laminate);
- the top layers are formed by means of identical
decor layers, more particular identical paper
~ layers printed with a pattern and impregnated with
resin;
the top layers are finished in a similar manner,
more particular, both are provided with one or more
of the following finishes:
- impressions in the surface;
- impressions in the surface, which are in register
with the pattern of a decor layer applied in the
top layer;
- impressions in the surface, in which a component
is provided, either a colour component or an
active component;
- a finishing treatment of the surface, whereby the
feature thereof is altered, such as, amongst
others, a glossed surface.
Further, the invention also relates to a method for
manufacturing skirting boards according to said first
aspect, whereby this method is characterized in, that, by
means of pressing power, a laminate material, with a core
and a pressed-thereupon top layer on the basis of
synthetic material, is formed; that from this laminate
material, the aforementioned two parts are formed by
means of one or more machining operations; and that said
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two parts are connected to each other directly or
indirectly.
Preferably, hereby strips are formed of the laminate
S material; these strips are joined with a mitre joint and
attached to each other; and subsequently portions are
removed from the joined strips, more particularly, are
sawn off, in order to obtain a skirting board. As the
assembly takes place by means of larger strips, after
which then a portion of one or both strips is sawn off,
the strips can be properly clamped when assembling them.
According to a particular technique, said strips are
assembled in a tubular shape, such that by sawing this
tubular arrangement in a suitable manner, several
skirting boards are obtained at a time. Such tubular
structure offers the advantage that the different strips
can easily be assembled until they are adhered to each
other. It is noted that such tubular structure
preferably, however, not necessarily, is realized with a
square or rectangular shape.
According to another technique of the invention, one
starts from a lath or strip, which preferably is sawn off
a plate, whereby both longitudinal edges are provided
with a profile, after which this lath is cut in
longitudinal direction, for example, sawn, and the two
obtained parts that formerly were situated at the
longitudinal edges are assembled such that a skirting
board in accordance with the invention is obtained.
According to a particular characteristic of the
invention, the basic plates for forming said parts of the
skirting board and the floor panels are realized by means
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of a similar manufacturing process, with the only
essential difference that, for forming the parts of the
skirting board, one starts from a plate-shaped material
having a thicker core than the plate-shaped material used
for forming the floor panels.
According to a preferred method, one starts from pieces
of laminate material having coupling means at two
opposite sides, such that, after assembling the two
parts, also coupling means at the extremities of the
skirting board are created.
More particularly, in case that the skirting board shows
a tile pattern and the skirting board is intended for
being used with a floor covering of the type consisting
of separate floor panels, which in their turn each
represent a tile, with or without imitation of a.joint, a
method is recommended whereby the structural parts of the
skirting board are manufactured from panels of the
respective floor covering. Such method provides for that
the dimensions of the skirting board are identical to the
dimensions of the floor, such that the possible imitation
of a joint on the skirting board perfectly coincides with
the same imitation on the floor covering. This method
also provides for that the skirting board, at its
extremities, will be provided with the same coupling
means as the floor covering.
Although the use of a thin ribbon-shaped part at the
upper side of the skirting board instead of a structural
part, as aforementioned, leads to certain disadvantages,
it is noted that the use of such ribbon-shaped part still
can offer particular advantages when thinking about
applying certain finishing treatments. Such finishing
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treatments might also be performed on a film, more
particularly a thin laminate film, before and/or after
such film has been cut to ribbons or strips, after which
the obtained ribbons or strips are attached to the upper
5 side of the skirting board. Hereby, not only the
advantage is created that a laminated surface is obtained
at the front side as well as at the upper side, but that
similar treatments and, thus, effects can be created at
those surfaces, which also can be optimally matched to
10 the floor panels.
Also, it is not excluded to provide the front side of the
skirting board with such film, or the upper side as well
as the front side.
According to a third aspect, the invention thus also
relates to a skirting board, characterized in that it has
a laminated surface both at the front side and the upper
side, which surface is obtained by means of a press
operation, whereby at .least one surface is formed by a
previously formed laminate film, whereby both laminated
surfaces have been subjected to one and the same or a
similar finishing treatment.
The finishing treatments are, for example, one or more ~of
the treatments described above, such as providing
impressions that follow the pattern, filling the
impressions with a component, glossing the panels and the
like.
When the laminate film is combined with a classical
laminate, for example, when the body of the skirting
board and the front face are formed by a core with a top
layer pressed thereupon, for example, of the DPL type,
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21
and the upper side consists of a subsequently adhered
laminate film, preferably use is made of one and the same
decor layer. Preferably, the laminate and the decor layer
are realized in one and the same press, in the case of
impressions even with one and the same press platen.
According to its fourt h aspect, the present invention
relates to a skirting board, with as a characteristic
that it consists at least of a first part forming at
least a portion of the front side of the skirting board,
and a second part forming at least a portion of the upper
side of the skirting board, whereby both parts are formed
of the same piece of laminate material, with a core and a
top layer of the DPL type, and whereby the second part
consists of a part obtained in that a material portion is
removed from the material of the core of the laminate
material, whereby the first part and the second part have
been brought together by turning them towards each other
around a folding or breaking line.
The folding or breaking line preferably is determined by
a locally weakened zone, although this does not
. necessarily have to be so. In the case of a locally
weakened zone, the latter preferably is located at the
rear side of the top layer, although the use of such
weakened zone at the front side is not excluded.
Such skirting board has the advantage that the front side
and the upper side of the skirting board may show
continuous patterns. Moreover, the skirting. board may be
assorted with the floor covering, as it possibly may be
manufactured of the same laminate material as the floor
covering itself.
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Another advantage with a skirting board according to the
fourth aspect of the invention consists in that, due to
the fact that for, the top layer, DPL is applied, which
latter, as known, is thin and brittle, a very fine fold
S or break can be obtained when turning the first and
second parts towards each other.
In a preferred form of embodiment, the skirting board has
the characteristic that said two parts are folded and/or
broken in respect to each other around a folding or
breaking line, which originally had been present as a
weakened material zone partially realized up into the top
layer. In the combined condition of said two parts, the
realization of such weakened material zone up into the
top layer results in that the quality of the edge where
both parts adjoin each other is better than might be
expected.
It is noted that the application of such weakened
material zone partially extending up into the top layer
also is useful when composing skirting boards with other
kinds of top layers than DPL in the aforementioned
manner, for example, also in the case of laminate
materials with a top layer formed by HPL (High Pressure
Laminate). The application of such weakened material zone
extending partially up into the top layer, with any form
of laminate, more particularly synthetic material
laminate, thus can be seen as a particular additional
aspect of the .invention.
Further, the invention also relates to a method for
manufacturing skirting boards according to said fourth
aspect. To this aim, the invention relates to a method
with as a characteristic that, by means of pressing
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power, a laminate material with a core and a pressed-
thereupon top layer of the so-called DPL type is formed;
that, for forming the skirting boards, one starts from
laths or strips of said laminate material, whereby at
least at one longitudinal edge of these laths, a material
part is removed, such that said first and second parts
are formed, whereby both parts remain connected at least
by a portion of the top layer, and possibly by a weakened
core portion below the top layer; and that said parts are
turned towards each other and are joined and attached to
each other.
Preferably, at least one of said parts is structural.
Then, the second part consists at least of a portion of
1$ the top layer, whether or not provided with a portion of
the core below the top layer.
Preferably, the two parts are gradually forced towards
each other in a continuous process, whereby the second
part, by means of a torsion movement, gradually is pushed
into the direction of the first part, preferably by means
of a sliding block or other guide means extending at
least over a considerable length, for example, over 1 m
or more. This gradual turning has the advantage that a
high-quality edge between the two parts is obtained in a
very repeatable manner. The process results in a rather
straight break line of the DPL.
If desired, a post-treatment can be performed at the
obtained edge after joining said two parts, at the height
of the exterior side of the skirting board, where said
tw,o parts adjoin each other. This post-treatment may
consist of colouring the edge with a colour, whether or
not matching the top.layer of both parts, removing an
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amount of material, or the like. Also, the post-
treatment may consist of a sanding treatment or the
removal of a larger material portion, for example, in
order to form a bevel, after which, whether or not, a
decorative layer can be provided on the treated surface,
for example, in the form of a lacquer, varnish,
impregnating agent, whether or not coloured, transfer
print or other print.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, it relates
to a skirting board with as a characteristic that this
skirting board has a laminated surface both at the frpnt
side and the upper side, whereby at the edge between the
upper side and the front side, an amount of material has
been removed, preferably in the form of a bevel, and
whereby the obtained surface is provided with a
decorative layer. According to this aspect, by a
laminated surface each form of laminate can be
understood. A general advantage thereof is that a proper
edge finish can be obtained and in particular the
occurrence of problems as a result of a difficult mutual
adjoining of the laminated surfaces is excluded.
The decorative layer can be of any kind and may consist,
for example, of a lacquer, a print, such as a transfer
print, an impregnation, and so on.
It is noted that the surface for providing the decorative
layer possibly can be subjected to a smoothing treatment,
for example, by contacting the surface with a pressing-on
element, such as a sliding block, pressure roller, or the
like. More particularly, hereby use shall be made of a
pressing-on element that is brought to a high
temperature. This is particularly advantageous when
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applying MDF or HDF, as possibly protruding wood fibres
then are flattened and are consolidated with the surface.
Also, then possibly a kind of sealing can be created at
the surface by the heating of the binding agent present
5 in the MDF or HDF. In this manner, a very smooth surface
is obtained, as a result of which also a smooth lacquer
layer, transfer print or the like can be realized.
The technique, mentioned in the preceding paragraph, of
10 smoothening also can be applied in general with laminated
floor panels for treating a bevel or the like at such
panels, for example, in order to subsequently provide a
decorative layer on the treated surface. Here, too, this
technique is particularly useful for floor panels whereby
15 the aforementioned surface of the bevel or the like
extends through MDF or HDF.
According to a sixth aspect, the invention relates to
another particular form of embodiment of a floor panel.
20 The characteristics and advantages hereof will become
clear from the detailed description.
With the intention of better showing the characteristics
of the invention, hereafter, as an example without any
25 limitative character, several preferred forms of
embodiment are described, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 represents in perspective view a portion of a
skirting board according to the first aspect of the
invention;
figure 2 represents a cross-section according to line
II-II in figure 1;
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figure 3, at a larger scale, represents the portion
indicated by F3 in figure 2;
figures 4 to 12 represent different variants of the
skirting board according to the invention;
figure 13, at a larger scale, represents the portion
indicated by F13 in figure 12;
figures 14 and 15 represent views analogous to that of
figure 13, for two variants;
figure 16 represents another form of embodiment of a
skirting board according to the invention, in mounted
condition;
figure 17 represents a view similar to that of figure
3, however, for a variant;
figure I8 represents a floor covering system according
to the invention;
figure 19 represents another skirting board according
to the invention;
figure 20 schematically represents a method for
manufacturing the skirting board according to the
invention;
figure 21 and 22 represent two particular techniques
that can be applied when manufacturing such skirting
board;
figure 23 represents a floor covering system with a
skirting board that is realized in accordance with the
second aspect of the invention;
_ figures 24 and 25, at a larger scale, represent cross-
sections according to lines XXIV-XXIV and XXV-XXV in
figure 23;
figures 26 and 27 represent views analogous to that of
figure 24, for two variants of the skirting board
according to the invention;
figures 28 to 30 represent another skirting board
according to the invention;
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figures 31, 32 and 33, at different scales, represent
cross-sections according to lines XXXI-XXXI, XXXII-
XXXII and XXXIII-XXXIII, respectively, in figure. 30;
figure 34 shows a possibility for realizing a skirting
board according to the invention;
figure 35 is an enlargement of the portion indicated
by F35 in figure 34;
figure 36 is .an enlargement of the portion indicated
by F36 in figure 34, for the final form of the
skirting board;
figures 37, 38 and 39 represent views similar to that
of figure 36, for different variants of the invention.
As represented in the form of embodiment of figures 1 to
3, a skirting board 1, which is realized in accordance
with the first aspect of the invention, consists of at
least two structural parts 2-3, a first part 2 forming at
least a portion of the front side 4 of the skirting board
1, and a second part 3 forming at least a portion of the
upper side 5 of the skirting board 1, respectively,
whereby both parts 2-3 are formed of a laminate material
6, which is formed by means of pressing power, with a
core 7 and a synthetic material-based top layer 8 applied
thereupon. As will become clear from the further
description, the parts 2-3 preferably are formed of a
plate-shaped laminate material 6, whereby for forming the
two parts 2-3, one preferably has started from a similar
or one and the same laminate material, which preferably
shows one and the same pattern.
The core 7 of the parts 2-3 consists, for example, of MDF
or HDF, whereas the top layer 8 preferably consists of
one or more resin-impregnated layers, which are pressed
upon the core. In figure 3, by way of example a detail is
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represented, in which the top layer 8 is composed of two
layers, a so-called decor layer 9, which preferably is
provided with a print, and a so-called overlay 10,
respectively. Said print may represent a well-defined
pattern, for example, a wood pattern, a stone pattern or
the like, or may also.consist of a monochrome print. The
resins applied with these layers preferably are melamine
resins, however, other possibilities are not excluded.
At the rear side, in this case, of part 2, a so-called
backing layer 11 may be present.
Preferably, the laminate material 6 formed by the core 7,
the top layer 8 and the possible backing layer 11, is
realized as so-called DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate).
In the embodiment of figures 1 to 3, the parts 2 and 3
are directly attached to each other by being, glued
together at their sides 12-13 directed towards each
~ other .
As clearly visible in figures 2 and 3, said two parts 2-3
adjoin each other with their outer sides 14-15 at an
angle, whereby the top layers 8 extend at an angle of 90
degrees up to the outer corner 16 of the skirting board
1.
In order to obtain that the top layers 8 neatly adjoin
each other at the location of the outer corner 16, said
parts 2 and 3 are realized such that, at least at the
height of the outer corner 16, adjoin each other in a
mitre joint.
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It is clear that the parts 2 and 3 may be realized in
different shapes. For clarity's sake, in the following a
number of variants is described with reference to figures
4 to 16.
Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the second part 3
is made triangular and fits into a triangular recess 17
in the upper side of the first part 2.
Figure 5 shows an embodiment in which the upper side 5 is
realized inclined.
Figure 6 shows an embodiment, in which the second part 3
is trapezoid and fits into a similarly formed recess 18
in the upper side of the first part 2.
It is noted that in the forms of embodiment of figures 1
to 6, the sides 12 and 13, which are turned towards each
other, have been created by a machining operation, as a
24 consequence of which the parts 2-3 can be realized very
accurately and thus fit very precisely into each other,
whereby the seam at the outer corner 16 is not or almost
not visible. However, this does not exclude other
possibilities. So, in figure 7 an example is represented,
whereby at the second part 3 still a portion of backing
layer 11 is present and thus on that location no surface,
obtained by a machining operation, is present, which, as
discussed in the preamble, in certain cases may lead to a
less precise embodiment.
Also, it is noted that, by using shapes that fit intc
each other,' as is represented, for example, in the forms
of embodiment of figures 4, 6 and 7, automatically a
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mutually correct positioning ~is obtained when assembling
the parts 2 and 3.
In figure 8, the second part 3 protrudes towards the
5 rear, such that a space or receding portion 20 is formed
at the rear side 19. of the skirting board l, whereby the
contact with the floor and/or wall is restricted when the
skirting board is installed, such that a better adjoining
can be guaranteed when the wall is irregularly formed at
10 the bottom. As represented in figure 8, also one or more
additional recesses may be formed in the rear side of the
first part 2, having the same purpose.
Figure 9 shows a variant, whereby at the location of the
15 corner edge a material portion has been removed, in this
case in the shape of a bevel 22, upon which a decorative
layer 23 is applied, for example, according to any of the
techniques mentioned in the introduction.
20 Figure 10 represents an embodiment, whereby the parts 2-3
are attached to a common support structure or connecting
structure, in this case a common basic profile 24.
Hereby, the assembly of the components possibly may or
may not be performed at the manufacturers'.
Figure 11 shows a variant, whereby an insert 25 is
provided between the parts 2-3.
In figures 12 and 13, a variant is represented, whereby
~ the parts 2 and 3, at their sides directed towards each
other, are provided with parts 12A-13A and 12B-13B that
are situated crosswise in respect to each other, such
that, during the assembly of the parts 2 and 3, more
particularly, the gluing thereof, pressing forces can be
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31
exerted in two directions by means of pressing elements
26 and 27, for example, pressing rollers. By this
technique, a mutual shifting of the parts 2 and 3 during
the pressing together can be completely excluded.
In figures 14 and 15, ,two variants are represented,
whereby one of the two parts, in this case, part 3, has a
bendable, more particularly elastically bendable, portion
28, in such a manner that, when assembling the parts 2
and 3, and by bending the part 28, a tension force is
realized, which contributes to a good closure of the
parts 2 and 3 at the location of the top layers 8. It is
clear that hereby, preferably a space is present under
the portion 28, said space allowing such pressing that
the portion 28 can bend.
In figure 15, the parts 2 and 3 are. provided with
positioning means, which in~their turn prevent a lateral
shifting of the parts 2 and 3 in mutual respect, which
positioning means in this case are formed by a tongue-
shaped part 29 at the part 3 and a groove 30 in the part
2.
In figures 14 and 15 is also shown that glue chambers 31
for providing glue and/or collecting surplus glue can be
provided at the necessary places.
Figure 16 shows that at the rear side, not only a space
20 can be provided in order to reduce the contact of the
skirting board 1 with the floor 32 or wall 33, but that
also.a profile 34 can be provided at the rear side, said
profile being intended for cooperating with attachment
accessories,' in this case an attachment clip 35 that is
attached to the wall 33.
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In general, it is clear that, as a benefit of the
invention, the top layers 8 of both parts 2-3 can be
optimally matched to each other and that it is even
possible to let the possible patterns, which are
represented on the top layers of the parts 2 and 3, fade
into each other.
Because one can start from plate-shaped material, also
the advantage is. created that all special effects, which
can be created when forming plate=shaped material, can be
integrated in a skirting board 1 in an identical manner,
with the intended particular effect both at the front
side 4 and the upper side S thereof.
In figure 17, an example of a particular effect is
represented, whereby the top layer 8 of both parts 2-3 is
provided with impressions 36 in which a component 37 is
provided, for example, a colour component, by which, for
example, as discussed in the introduction, lime-washed
wood can be imitated.
It is clear that the use of such impressions 36 does not
necessarily have to be combined with the use of a
component that must be provided therein. Also, such
impressions 36 can solely be applied for imitating a
relief, more particularly for imitating natural surfaces.
Said impressions may be in register with a pattern
represented on the decor layer. This is particularly
useful when imitating wood, however, is also not excluded
for imitating other materials.
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Also, it is possible to apply a coloured overlay, whereby
particular effects, whether or not in combination with
the use of impressions that may be coloured or not, can
be realized.
Figure 18 shows a floor covering system according to the
- invention, with floor panels 38 and a skirting board 1,
which are matched to each other in that they are
manufactured of a similar laminate material.
In figure 19, an embodiment of a skirting board 1
according to the invention is represented, whereby the
top layer 8 of the two parts 2-3 is provided with a tile
pattern with joints 39 extending over the front side 4
and upper side 5. In figure 19, those are wide joints
obtained by means of a print. At the location of these
joints, possibly an impression can be realized. Instead
of joints obtained by means of a print, according to an
alternative they can also be formed by material removal
or recesses, whereby at the location thereof possibly a
separate colouring or print is provided.
Figure 20 schematically represents a possible form of
embodiment of the method, for manufacturing the skirting
board 1. In a first step 40, a plate-shaped substrate 41,
more particularly a material for forming the core 7, for
example, an MDF or HDF plate, and a resin-impregnated
printed decor layer 9, an overlay 10 and a backing layer
11 are brought together. In a second step 42, this
assembly of layers is pressed together in a press 43 and
consolidated by means of the resin. Hereby, ,
simultaneously impressions can be formed in the upper
side, for example, by means of an intermediate plate 44
that is provided with a relief 45. In this manner, a
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34
plate of laminate material 6 is obtained. In step 46, a
lacquer 47 or the like is rolled into the impressions.
According to not-represented steps, then a forced drying
of the lacquer 47 can be provided, as well as a cleaning
in order to remove a possibly remaining tinge of lacquer.
Subsequently, the laminate material 6 is divided into
strips, more particularly sawn to laths 48. By machining
treatments, from those then the parts 2 and 3 can be
formed, for example, by means of the necessary milling
and/or planing treatments, after which those parts 2-3
are connected to each other.
It is clear that different variants to this are possible.
So, for example, it might be possible to provide the
lacquer 47 in the impressions only after the skirting
board 1 itself already has been manufactured.
It is noted that the laminate material also might be
realized in a continuous press and that the possibly
provided impressions also might be pressed into the
surface in a separate press.
In figure 21, a particular method is represented in order
to attach the parts 2 and 3 to each other. Hereby, laths
or strips 48 are connected, preferably glued, to each
other in a tubular shape and with a mitre, such as shown
centrally in the figure. The tubular structure offers the
advantage that the laths 48 can be clamped in a stable
manner during gluing. By subsequently cutting, more
particularly, sawing the tubular piece according to lines
49, four skirting boards 1 according to the invention are
obtained.
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In figure 22, a technique is represented whereby one
starts from a lath or strip 50, which preferably is sawPi
off a plate, whereby in a first step 51, a profile is
..
applied at both longitudinal edges 52-53, after which
5 this lath 50, as represented in step 54, is cut in
longitudinal direction, in this case by means of a saw
55. In this manner, two parts 2 and 3 for forming the
skirting board 1 are obtained. In the represented step
56, another portion of the part 2 is removed, for
10 example, milled away. Finally, the parts 2 and 3, as
represented in step 57, are assembled, after which, as
represented in step 58, they are attached to each other,
in this case by means of glue. This technique offers the
advantage that the edge 52 can be formed while the
15 portion 3 still is present at the lath 50, whereby a
proper clamping and/or guiding during milling is
possible. Also, both edges 52 and 53 can be formed
simultaneously by passing such lath 60 in between two
oppositely-situated milling cutters.
Figures 23 to 25 ' relate to a skirting board and a floor
covering system, whereby both the first and second
aspects of the invention are applied. To this aim, the
skirting board 1 consists of short pieces 59, which are
mounted successively one after the other, whereas each
piece 59 consists of at least two composed parts 2 and 3,
as described above.
In the example, the pieces 59 are provided with coupling
means by which they can be coupled to each other in an
indirect manner. In the represented example, these
coupling means consist of coupling parts 60 in the form
of recesses, with which the pieces 59 can be clamped onto
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a common profile 61 that, in its turn, is attached to the
wall.
According to an important, although preferred
$ characteristic of the second aspect, an imitation of a
joint 62 is present at the location of each transition
between two pieces 59. Possibly, additional joint
imitations may be present between the extremities of each
piece 59. In the represented example, the imitations o~
the joints 62 are realized by means of removed material
portions, in this case in the form of bevels 63, which
preferably are provided with a decorative layer or
coating 64, for example, by means of a lacquer, print or
impregnation.
According to another important preferred characteristic,
the pieces 59 have a length that corresponds to the
length of the floor panels 38 with which they are
intended to be used, which is particularly useful for
floor panels imitating stone tiles. In this manner, it
becomes possible to realize skirting boards 1, whereby
the joints 62 are situated precisely opposite to the
joints 65 of the tile-shaped floor panels 38, as is
illustrated in detail in figures 24 and 25.
In figures 26 and 27, two variants are represented,
whereby, instead of using indirect coupling means, use is
made of direct coupling means 66 in order to interconnect
the pieces 59, which coupling means 66 allow for a
connection between the narrow sides of the pieces 59,
more particularly between the extremities or edge areas
67 and 68.
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The coupling means 66 consist of first coupling parts 69,
substantially in the form of a tongue 70 and a groove 71,
which realize at least a well-defined locking in a
direction R1 perpendicularly to the plane of the skirting
board 1, and second coupling parts 72, which realize at
least a well-defined locking in a direction R2 according
to the length of the skirting board 1, whereby the second
coupling parts 72 at least comprise, on the one hand, a
part 73 which can be pressed down in an elastic manner,
crosswise to the plane of the skirting board 1, whether
or not perpendicularly thereto, which part 73 is situated
at one of the edge areas 67-68, preferably at the edge
area 68 at which the tongue 70 is present, and, on the
other hand, a part 74 cooperating therewith, said part 74
preferably not being able to be pressed down or being
less compressible, at the other edge area, whereby these
two coupling parts 72 are situated in a zone behind the
tip of the tongue 70, and even better entirely or almost
entirely behind the zone T taken by the actual tongue 70.
By "behind the tip or zone T" is meant that the coupling
parts 72, and in the first place the, locking contact
surfaces of these coupling parts, are situated more
towards the inside at those respective parts. In this
case, the zone T must be considered as the distance with
which the tongue is sitting behind the shortest groove-
bordering lip.
The part 74, which cooperates with the part 73 as a hook
shaped part, preferably is situated on a protruding lip
7 6 .
Figure 26 shows an embodiment in one piece, whereby the
part 73 that can be pressed down is formed by a portion
of an elastically bendable lip 77, whereby the impression
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thus is the consequence of bending, whereas figure 27
shows a variant in which the compressible part 73
consists of an elastically compressible material, such as
a relatively stiff rubber strip, whereby the impression
thus is the result of a material compression. It is clear
that the lip 77 also may extend in other directions. As
represented, in both cases the part 73 is situated at the
rear side of the tongue, in other words, the side which
is directed towards the wall. According to a variant, the
part 73 might also be situated at the front side.
In a laminate structure with pressed layers of resin, the
layer that is situated against the lip 76 preferably
extends up to or into the proximity of the coupling part
74 in order to thereby maximally maintain the rigidity of
the lip 76.
As schematically indicated by arrows, the coupling means
hereby preferably are realized such that the pieces 59
can be engaged into each other by shifting and/or
turning. Hereby, turning around the front edge is the
most practical technique, however, shifting may be
necessary if pieces 59 have to be installed against a
wall, at places that are difficult to reach. Hereby, the
coupling can be realized without play.
The coupling means of figures 26 and 27 allow to smoothly
shift and turn the pieces 59 into each other. In that, at
least in the represented form of embodiment, the part 73
can be pressed down almost separately from the remaining
material parts, these remaining parts. are stressed little
or not at all.
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It is noted that the coupling means described above by
means of figures 26 and 27 for connecting the pieces 59
of a skirting board can be applied, according to the
invention, in a similar manner for connecting floor
panels, more particularly laminated floor panels, whether
this takes place in combination with the application of a
skirting board according to the invention or not.
According to this sixth aspect of the invention, then the
wall in the drawings must be omitted, whereby the front
side of the pieces 59 then must be seen as the upper side
of such floor panel. Such floor panels then can be laid
in a floating manner, without connection to the subfloor.
Preferably, such floor panels are rectangular and are
provided on four sides, in other words, edges, with
coupling means realizing a vertical and horizontal
locking, whereby at.two opposite sides, coupling means as
described above are provided, whereas at the other two
sides coupling means may be provided which are realized
in another manner; preferably, however, not necessarily,
coupling means allowing exclusively a coupling by
turning-in and not by shifting. In the case of floor
panels, the coupling parts preferably are realized from
MDF, and even better, HDF, preferably in one piece out of
the substrate of the floor panel.
In front view and a rear view, respectively, figures 28
and 29 show a further variant of a piece of skirting
board 59 for realizing a skirting board 1 according to
the invention, whereas figures 30 to 33 represent how
several of such pieces 59 are mounted.
A first particularity of the form of embodiment
represented in figures 28 to 33 consists in that the
pieces 59 are provided with coupling means 66, with which
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the pieces 59, at their extremity, can be directly
coupled to each other. More particularly, the pieces 59,
at their small faces, comprise coupling means extending
parallel to the front side 4 as well as coupling means
5 extending parallel to the upper side 5, differently
designated by 66A and 66B. In the represented example,
these coupling means 66A-66B are realized in a manner
comparable to that of figure 26 and to this aim each
substantially consist of first coupling parts 69 in the
10 form of a tongue and a groove realizing at least a well-
defined locking in a direction perpendicular to the side,
the front side 4 or the upper side 5, respectively, of
the piece 59 along which the coupling means 66A-66B are
provided, and second coupling parts 72 realizing at least
15 a well-defined locking in the longitudinal direction of
the skirting board 1.
It is noted that by applying both coupling means 66A as
66B, these also function as positioning means providing
20 in that the successive pieces 59 during the mounting
thereof are automatically aligned in mutual respect both
in height and in depth. It is clear that according to
not-represented variants, also other positioning means
can be applied in order to obtain a partial or complete
25 alignment of the pieces 59 in respect to each other.
Figures 30 to 32 show that the coupling means 66A and 66B
preferably are similar and even identical to each other.
This offers the advantage that, in the case that the
30 pieces 59 are manufactured of two structural parts 2 and
3, these parts can be manufactured starting from the same
piece of material, more particular laminate material,
which prior thereto has been provided with the respective
coupling means at two opposite sides. By composing the
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parts 2 and 3 manufactured therefrom in a mitre joint,
then automatically a design is obtained as illustrated in
figures 28 to 33.
The coupling means 66A-66B represented in figures 31 and
32 are of such a type that therewith a coupling by means
of a turning movement W, as well as a shifting movement S
can be realized, whereby at least in the latter case,
then a locking by means of a so-called snap action is
taking place.
The coupling of the pieces of skirting board 59 then may
take place as illustrated in figure 31, in which the left
piece 59 already is mounted against the wall 33 and the
piece 59 shown at the right hand side in the figure first
is presented inclined with one extremity against the
already mounted piece, as illustrated in dashed line 78.
By now turning the new piece 59 to be mounted against the
wall 33 by means of the turning movement W, the coupling
means 66A, as indicated in figure 31, engage each other.
Thereby, automatically also an engagement at the coupling
means 66B is created, whereby, seen purely in the
vertical cross-section of figure 32, exclusively a
lateral shifting into each other of the respective
coupling means is taking place.
However, within the scope of the invention, it is not
excluded that the coupling means 66A and 66B differ from
each other. So, for example, may the coupling means 66A
be of the type that exclusively allows to make a
connection by means of a turning movement, whereas the
coupling means 66B may be of the type that exclusively
allows a connection by means of a shifting movement.
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A second particularity of the form of embodiment
represented in figures 28 to 33 consists in that the
successive pieces 59 are provided with attachment means,
which are constructed such that they are seated blindly
by mounting the next piece of skirting board 59. In the
represented example, these attachment means are formed by
a strip of lath 79 provided against the rear side of each
piece 59, which stroke or- lath 79 facilitates the
attachment of each respective piece 59 at the wall or at
another common support structure, possibly by means of
screws, glue, or the like. The strip of lath 79 is
provided such that it extends with one extremity beyond
the remainder of the piece of skirting board 59 an-d in
this manner forms an attachment part, more particularly
an attachment lip 80. As represented, this attachment
part preferably is situated at the extremity where the
coupling means 66A-66B show coupling parts 69 in the form
of a groove. The thickness of the strip 79 preferably is
such that the skirting board 1 in mounted position fits
in a sufficient manner with its upper side 5 against the
wall 33, as schematically represented in figure 33.
The use of the aforementioned attachment means can simply
be derived from figures 30 to 33 and substantially
consists in that each piece of skirting board 59, after
being coupled with one extremity to a preceding piece 59,
is attached at the other extremity against the wall 33,
by providing an element 81, such as a screw, nail, or the
like through the attachment lip 80 up into the wall 33.
It is clear that, when attaching a piece 59, each time
the attachment lip 80 of the preceding 59 is put out of
sight.
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It is clear that the use of a combination of, on the one
hand, mechanical coupling means allowing a locking
between the successive pieces 59 with, on the other hand,
attachment means that are provided such that they are put
S out of sight when each following piece 59 is mounted,
allows an advantageous and smooth mounting of the
skirting board, regardless of the nature of these
coupling means and attachment means.
.It is also clear that according to variants, also other
forms of embodiments of attachment means are possible.
So, for example, may the lip 82 represented in figure 31
be realized rather long, as a consequence of which this
lip can be used as an attachment means, on account of the
fact that then also a nail, screw or the like can be
applied therethrough.
According to a variant, also a strip 79 can be provided
against the rear side of the skirting board 1, which
strip 79 is provided with a special profile and allows to
connect the skirting board 1 with accessories provided
against a wall 33, for example, to fasten it on
attachment clips.
Figure 34 illustrates a method for manufacturing a
skirting board 1 according to the aforementioned fourth
aspect of the invention, whereby here, both a short piece
of skirting board 59, for example, with the typical
length of a floor tile, for example, less than 70 cm, or
of a typical floor panel, as a longer piece of skirting
board 1, for example, in the order of magnitude of two
meters or more, may be concerned. In this method, one
starts from laths or strips of a laminate material 6
consisting of a core 7 and a top layer 8, specifically of
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the DPL type. As can be seen in figure 34, a material
part 83 is removed in the longitudinal direction of this
lath, whereby, as represented in the enlargement of
figure 35, preferably also a weakened zone 84 is formed,
whereby material is removed, in this example partially up
into the top layer 8. Hereby, two parts are created, in
the represented example two structural parts 2 and 3,
which are only connected to each other by a portion of
the top layer 8. Then, the skirting board 1 can simply be
realized by turning the parts 2 and 3 around the thus
created folding or breaking line 85 towards each other
and joining them, whereby they are attached to each
other, for example, by means of glue, and in this manner
a condition is obtained as illustrated in figure 36.
It is underlined that the fourth aspect of the invention
is specifically connected to the use of a top layer 8 in
the form of so-called "DPL", which then, as known, is
formed of. one or a small number of resin-impregnated
carrier sheets, amongst which mostly a decor layer, which
sheets are directly pressed onto the underlying
substrate, in this case, the material of the core 7. In
figure 35, schematically a top layer 8 consisting of DPL
is represented, with only a single printed carrier sheet
87 impregnated with resin 86, said sheet then forming the
aforementioned decor layer 9. It is noted that figure 35
is highly schematised and the top layer 8 is represented
with exaggerated thickness. In reality, with DPL a layer
in the order of magnitude of 0,2 mm or smaller is
concerned. Of course, the invention according to the
fourth aspect also relates to applications in which DPL
with more than one support sheet is applied, for example,
DPL formed of the combination of a decor layer and a so-
called overlay.
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Further, it is noted that the inventors surprisingly
found out that, in case a weakened zone 84 is formed
whereby material is removed partially up into the "DPL"
5 top layer 8, the skirting board 1, after joining the two
obtained parts 2 and 3, has an edge that is of a
strikingly high quality, whereby little or no post-
treatment is necessary. With thin and brittle top layers
8, such as the one of "DPL", it was always assumed that
10 forming a weakened zone 84 extending at least partially
into the top layer 8 and/or accurately breaking and/or
accurately folding it, was impossible.
Due to the fact that a DPL top layer 8 has a very small
15 thickness, the advantage is obtained that when turning
along the folding or breaking Line 85, already a
relatively proper finished corner is obtained affording
little or no finishing treatment, which is even promoted
by using, as aforementioned, a weakened zone 84 partially
20 extending up into the top Layer 8.
The inventors also found that in case the weakened zone
84 is realized less deep and below.this weakened zone 84
a very small amount of material of the core 7 is left at
25 the place where the parts 2 and 3 must be folded and/or
broken, still a qualitatively rather good corner finish
is obtained, in particular with a core 7 of MDF or HDF.
Preferably, here an amount of material with a thickness
of less than 0,5 mm is concerned.
According to a not-represented variant of the invention,
at the location of the second part all material except
the DPL top layer 8 is removed, whereby the second part
then no longer is a structural part.
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Figure 36 represents the obtained product. As represented
in the figure, possible post-treatments of the edge may
consist of the removal of a small material portion, for
example, by means of a sanding treatment, for example, as
schematically represented, by moving along the edge with
a sanding element 88, whether or not followed by the
provision of a decorative layer 23 on the obtained
surface, as represented, for example, in~figure 37, by
means of a colouring treatment, in this case by means of
a pen 89 or the like. Of course, any other colouring
method is possible. Nothing impairs that the colouring
treatment takes place without a preceding sanding
treatment, whereby the colouring then is intended for
masking possible discolorations due to the bending and/or
breaking of the top layer 8 and/or to grinning-through of
underlying material.
Instead of moving along the edge with a sanding element
88, the edge also can be brought into contact with a
preferably heated pressing-down element, such as a
sliding block or roller, such that the possibly coarse
edge is smoothened. Of course, this may also take place
in combination with a sanding treatment.
Figure 38 shows that a material portion can be removed~on
the edge, for example, for forming a bevel, and whereby
the obtained surface is provided with a decorative layer
23.
It is noted that the technique of figure 38, according to
which a material portion is removed and a 'decorative
layer 23 is provided, also is advantageous for any other
type of skirting board l, whereby a laminated surface is
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present both at the front side 4 and the upper side 5. By
means of the aforementioned technique, in fact the
advantage is created that a proper edge.finish can be
obtained and the occurrence of problems due to a
S difficult mutual adjoining of the laminated surfaces is
excluded. According to a fifth aspect, the invention thus
in general also relates to skirting beards with a
laminated surface, with as a characteristic that a
material portion is removed at their edge and a
decorative layer 23 is provided at their surface.
For clarity's sake, figure 39 shows another possible form
of embodiment of this fifth aspect. The skirting board 1
has a laminated surface both. at - its front side 4 and at
1S its upper side 5. In this example, the laminated surface
at the front side 4 is formed by DPL or HPL, whereas the
laminated surface at the upper side 5 is formed by a
glued-on laminate ribbon 90. In that use' is made of a
bevel and a decorative layer 23, which are applied after
the application of the laminate ribbon 90, no high
precision is necessary when applying the laminate ribbon
90 itself.
In general, it is noted that the invention is intended in
2S particular for being used with skirting boards -with a
laminated surface of the type formed by thermo-hardening
laminate, for example, DPL on the basis of a thermo
hardening resin, such as thermo-hardening melamine resin.
However, this does not imply an exclusion of other
applications.
The present invention is in no way limited to the forms
of embodiment described by way of example and represented
in the figures, however, such skirting board, such floor
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covering system,, said floor panels and said methods for
manufacturing a skirting board can be realized according
to different variants, without exceeding the scope of the
invention.
So, for example, the aforementioned finishing treatments,
such as the application of a component in the
impressions, the glossing of the laminate surface, must
not necessarily take place prior to forming the parts 2
and 3 or prior to the application of the laminate film.
This may also take place after the assembly of the parts
2 and 3 or after the application of the laminate film at
the remaining parts of the skirting board.
In the previous description the term "laminate material"
always refers to board shaped material having a core and
a top layer. The core may consist of one or more parts or
layers. The term "laminate plate" refers to the basic
board before being cut into pieces. The term "laminated"
means that the related surface is provided of a laminate
of any type. The term "laminate film" refers to a thin
foil of any kind of laminate, which is produced as a
separate layer. A "laminate ribbon" is a strip-like
portion of a.laminate film.
The aforementioned "joints" should generally be
understood as being an imitation of "grouts", although
they do not always need to imitate cement.
The thickness of the laminate material 6 will generally
be 7 to 9 mm, although other possibilities are not
excluded.
