Panelling system formed from rectangular panels

Abstract

A panelling system primarily for flooring is formed from a plurality of wood floor panel members defined by a rectangular panel formed of wood and along two opposed side edges a decorative dividing strip extending along the length of the side edge and having a top surface of the strip lying in a common plane with the upper surface of the panel with the other opposed side edges of the panel being exposed for butting directly against a next adjacent panel. The dividing strips project beyond an end of the side edge and are cut at 45 degrees to form a pointed portion having an apex at a position mid way through the thickness of the divider strip such that four dividing strips, when the panels are laid on the floor, meet at the junction between four of the panels with the apexes in contact at a center of the rectangular area at the junction.

1 . A panelling system comprising: 
 a plurality of panel members for locating on a supporting surface generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;    each panel member having a rectangular panel and having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface and four side edges;    two of the side edges of the panel each having fastened thereto a decorative dividing strip extending along the length of the side edge and having a front surface of the strip lying in a common plane with the front surface of the panel;    and two of the side edges of the panel being exposed for butting directly against a decorative dividing strip of a next adjacent panel member;    the panel members being arranged such that, when they are assembled into the system edge to edge with the dividing strips therebetween, a respective one of the decorative dividing strips is located between each edge of a panel and the next adjacent edge of a next adjacent panel so as to form a rectangular area at a junction between corners of four of the panels;    the dividing strips of the panels being arranged with a portion of at least one of the strips of each panel projecting beyond an end of the respective side edge of the respective panel such that the dividing strips, when the panels are arranged in the system, fill also the rectangular area defined at the junction between four of the panels.    
     
     
         2 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein the strips are fastened to the panels so as to be carried thereby during installation.  
     
     
         3 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein the strips are separate from the panels so as to be attached thereto during installation.  
     
     
         4 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein each panel is formed from an imperforate single body.  
     
     
         5 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein each panel is formed from side by side deck boards to form a deck panel with spaces between each board and the next.  
     
     
         6 . The flooring system according to  claim 5  wherein the strips are fastened to ends of the deck boards so as to extend at right angles to the deck boards along the ends thereof  
     
     
         7 . The flooring system according to  claim 6  wherein there are provided support straps attached to the panel member underneath the strips and underneath an end portion of each of the deck boards so as to provide structural support therefor.  
     
     
         8 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein the system includes separate decorative dividing strip portions separate from the panels and each arranged to be attached to an exposed side edge of a respective one of the panels to complete an exposed edge of the panel.  
     
     
         9 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein each panel has holes drilled into the upper surface by which the panel can be screwed to the supporting surface by a screw inserted into the hole and the hole plugged by a decorative plug.  
     
     
         10 . The flooring system according to  claim 9  wherein the holes are arranged closely adjacent the corners of the panel such that the holes are arranged at the corners of a rectangle surrounding the junction.  
     
     
         11 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein the dividing strips are arranged on opposed side edges.  
     
     
         12 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein more than one of the divider strips extends into the rectangular area.  
     
     
         13 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein the panels are square.  
     
     
         14 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein all the panel members are identical.  
     
     
         15 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein the divider strips have ends which project beyond the end of the respective edge and the ends are cut to form diagonal end edges at an angle to the respective side edge.  
     
     
         16 . The flooring system according to  claim 15  wherein the ends of the divider strips meet at the junction between four of the panels with the apexes in contact at a center of the rectangular area at the junction.  
     
     
         17 . The flooring system according to  claim 1  wherein the decorative strips have a height equal to the thickness of the panel.  
     
     
         18 . A panelling system comprising: 
 a plurality of panel members for locating on a supporting surface edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;    each panel member having a rectangular panel and having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface and four side edges including a first pair of opposed side edges and a second pair of opposed side edges;    each of the first pair of opposed side edges of the panel having fastened thereto a decorative dividing strip extending along the length of the side edge and having a front surface of the strip lying in a common plane with the upper surface of the panel;    and each of the second pair of opposed side edges of the panel being exposed for butting directly against a decorative dividing strip of a next adjacent panel member;    the panel members being arranged, by rotating one panel through 180 degrees relative to the next adjacent panel, such that, when they are assembled into the system edge to edge with the dividing strips carried thereby, a respective one of the decorative dividing strips is located between each edge of a panel and the next adjacent edge of a next adjacent panel so as to form a rectangular area at a junction between corners of four of the panels;    the dividing strips of each panel being arranged with a portion thereof projecting beyond an end of the respective side edge of the respective panel and cut on each side at and angle to form a pointed portion having an apex at a position mid way through the thickness of the divider strip, such that four dividing strips, when the panels are arranged in the system, meet at the junction between four of the panels with the apexes in contact at a center of the rectangular area at the junction.    
     
     
         19 . A panelling system comprising: 
 a plurality of panels for locating on a supporting surface in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;    each panel being rectangular and having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface and four side edges;    and a plurality of decorative dividing strips;    each decorative dividing strip being arranged to extend along the length of a respective one of the side edges of a respective one of the panels and to separate the side edge of the respective one of the panels from a side edge of a next adjacent panel;    each decorative dividing strip having a front surface of the decorative dividing strip arranged to lie substantially in a common plane with the front surface of the adjacent panels;    the panel members being arranged such that, when they are assembled into the system edge to edge with the dividing strips, a respective one of the decorative dividing strips is located between each edge of a panel and the next adjacent edge of a next adjacent panel;    such that four dividing strips meeting at a junction between four corners of four of the panels act to define a rectangular area at the junction;    each of the four dividing strips being arranged with a portion thereof projecting beyond an end of the respective side edge of the respective panel and cut on each side at an angle to form a pointed portion having an apex at a position mid way through the width of the divider strip, such that the four dividing strips meet at the junction between the four of the panels with the apexes in contact at a center of the rectangular area at the junction.