Flooring panel or wall panel and use thereof

Abstract

Flooring panels can have a variety of widths. In one embodiment, panels or boards of different widths are packaged together to give the installer a great deal of flexibility in constructing the floor in order to achieve a realistic looking surface. In another embodiment, the panels have locking joints which allow the panels to be maintained in an installed condition until a pre-applied glue is allowed to set.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A kit comprising: 
 a first laminate panel having a shape, comprising: 
 a decorative upper surface;  
 a lower surface;  
 a core disposed between the upper and lower surface, defining edges about the periphery of the panel;  
 a locking element on at least one edge;  
   a second laminate panel having a shape, comprising: 
 a decorative upper surface;  
 a lower surface;  
 a core disposed between the upper and lower surface, defining edges about the periphery of the panel;  
 a locking element on at least one edge;  
   wherein a width of the first panel differs from a width of the second panel and wherein at least one edge of at least one of the first and second panels comprises a preglue.    
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least two edges of the first panel and at least two edges of the second panel comprise locking elements.  
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein all of the edges of at least one of the first panel and the second panel comprise locking elements.  
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element of the first panel and the locking element of the second panel prevent relative horizontal and vertical movement of the panels.  
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the locking elements prevent relative horizontal movement of the panels until after the preglue has set.  
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the locking elements are horizontally joinable without the use of tools.  
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the locking element comprises at least one ridge.  
     
     
         8 . A kit comprising: 
 a first laminate panel having a shape, comprising: 
 a decorative upper surface;  
 a lower surface;  
 a core disposed between the upper and lower surface, defining edges about the periphery of the panel;  
 locking elements disposed on each one edge;  
   a second laminate panel having a shape, comprising: 
 a decorative upper surface;  
 a lower surface;  
 a core disposed between the upper and lower surface, defining edges about the periphery of the panel;  
 locking elements on at least one edge;  
   wherein a width of the first panel differs from a width of the second panel.    
     
     
         9 . A method for forming a surface comprising: 
 providing a first laminate panel having a shape, comprising: 
 a decorative upper surface;  
 a lower surface;  
 a core disposed between the upper and lower surface, defining edges about the periphery of the panel;  
 a locking element on at least one edge;  
   providing a second laminate panel having a shape, comprising: 
 a decorative upper surface;  
 a lower surface;  
 a core disposed between the upper and lower surface, defining edges about the periphery of the panel;  
 a locking element on at least one edge;  
 wherein a width of the first panel differs from a width of the second panel, joining locking elements.  
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the locking element of at least one of the first and second panel comprises a preglue and further comprising activating the preglue.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the activating step is performed prior to the joining step.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the preglue is activated by joining the locking elements.  
     
     
         13 . A method for forming a surface comprising: 
 providing a first laminate panel having a shape, comprising: 
 a decorative upper surface;  
 a lower surface;  
 a core disposed between the upper and lower surface, defining edges about the periphery of the panel;  
 a locking element on at least one edge;  
   providing a second laminate panel having a shape, comprising: 
 a decorative upper surface;  
 a lower surface;  
 a core disposed between the upper and lower surface, defining edges about the periphery of the panel;  
 a locking element on at least one edge;  
   joining the locking element of the first panel with the locking element on the second panel by relatively horizontally moving the second panel;    wherein the locking elements of at least one of the first and second panel comprises a preglue and further comprising activating the preglue.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the preglue is activated by joining the locking elements.