Cladding element, particularly for wood-block flooring

Abstract

A cladding element, particularly usable for wood-block flooring, for pre-finished hardwood floors and for floors made of laminate of different thicknesses, which is flat and advantageously rectangular and has two first contiguous lateral edges having a first snap-action interconnection element which interacts with a complementarily shaped second interconnection element formed on two second contiguous lateral edges.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cladding element, particularly for wood-block flooring, having a rectangular flat shape, comprising two first contiguous lateral edges; two second continuous lateral edges; first snap-action interconnection means provided at said first contiguous lateral edges and second interconnection means formed on said two second contiguous lateral edges, said second interconnection means being shaped complementarily to said first snap-action interconnection means to interact therewith for mutual interconnection.  
     
     
         2 . The cladding element of  claim 1 , wherein interconnection between a first edge of said two first lateral edges of a first cladding element and a second edge of said two second lateral edges of a second cladding element allows a slight oscillation along an interconnection axis.  
     
     
         3 . The cladding element of  claim 2 , wherein said first snap-acting interconnection means is constituted by a tongue which protrudes along each edge of said two first lateral edges and has a triangular lateral profile, with a circular protrusion being formed proximate to a free vertex thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The cladding element of  claim 3 , wherein said second interconnection means is constituted by a groove formed at each one of said two second lateral edges.  
     
     
         5 . The cladding element of  claim 4 , wherein said groove is shaped complementarily to said tongue comprising two converging oblique surfaces connected to lateral surfaces of a cylindrical cavity adapted to accommodate said protrusion.  
     
     
         6 . The cladding element of  claim 5 , wherein said groove further comprises a slot provided adjacent to said cylindrical cavity and connected thereto, said adjacent slot being preferably rectangular and adapted to ensure greater resistance to cracking along a horizontal plane that passes through said groove.  
     
     
         7 . The cladding element of  claim 6 , wherein said groove is slightly larger than said tongue, so as to form a gap between said first and second cladding elements.  
     
     
         8 . The cladding element of  claim 7 , wherein said gap, which is directed toward the lower faces of said first and second cladding elements, is adapted to facilitate uncoupling thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A method for mutually assembling a first cladding element and a second cladding element for covering a floor, comprising the steps of: 
 arranging said first and second cladding elements on the floor so that a first lateral edge provided with a tongue of said first cladding element is arranged at a groove of a respective second lateral edge of said second cladding element;    interconnecting said first and second cladding elements by inserting a cylindrical protrusion formed at the free end of said tongue in a complementarily shaped cylindrical cavity formed in said groove.    
     
     
         10 . The assembly method of  claim 9 , wherein the interconnecting step between said first and second cladding elements is carried out by way of a forcing action which is performed by acting on a separate second lateral edge of said first cladding element being parallel and opposite with respect to said first lateral edge.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly method of  claim 10 , wherein said forcing action step is performed by using a tool, such as a mallet, which is struck against said second lateral edge of said first cladding element.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly method of  claim 11 , wherein said interconnecting step is carried out by partial deformation of said second lateral edge, which widens temporarily when said protrusion passes within said groove.  
     
     
         13 . A method for disassembling a first cladding element from a second cladding element for covering a floor, which are assembled as set forth in  claim 9 , comprising the step of lifting of said second lateral edge of said first cladding element so as to turn said first cladding element about said protrusion of said tongue.