Panelling system formed from rectangular panels

Abstract

A panelling system preferably for floors is defined by a series of panels each formed of a plurality of tongue and groove main floor plank strips arranged side edge to side edge and cut to a common length with a tongue along one cut edge and a groove along the other. At the edges are attached first and second dividing strips formed also from the flooring planks fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation. Each divider strip includes a ninety degree point extending beyond the sides of the main strips to meet with the points of other strips to fill the spaces between the panels. The strips are fastened by pins from the rear or by a bonded sheet material on the rear. A method for assembly includes re-cutting the tongue or groove along one edge after compression of the main strips together to ensure accuracy.

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 front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface and four side edges;   each panel member comprising:
 a plurality of main strips arranged side edge to side edge; 
 each main strip having a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove an opposed side edge; 
 so that the main strips are connected side by side by interconnection of the tongues and the grooves; 
 wherein first ends of the main strips lie in a first common line and second ends of the main strips lie in a second common line; 
 wherein the main strips have a tongue along the first common line and a groove along the second common line; 
 and wherein a first main strip at one side of the main strips has an exposed tongue along the first main strip for cooperating with a groove of a next adjacent panel and a second main strip at an opposed second side of the main strips has an exposed groove along the second main strip for cooperating with a tongue of a next adjacent panel; 
 a first dividing strip extending along the first common line; 
 a second dividing strip extending along the second common line; 
 wherein each of the dividing strips has a front surface of the dividing strip lying in a common plane with the front surfaces of the strips to define the front surface of the panel; 
 wherein each of the dividing strips has a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove along an opposed side edge; 
 wherein the first dividing strip has the groove thereof engaged with the tongue along the first common line; 
 wherein the second dividing strip has the tongue thereof engaged with the groove along the second common line; 
 and wherein the dividing strips and the main strips are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation. 
   
   
   
       2 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the main strips has the same width between the side edges. 
   
   
       3 . The panelling system according to  claim 2  wherein each dividing strip has substantially the same width as the main strips. 
   
   
       4 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein the dividing strips of the panel members are arranged with a portion of at least one of the dividing strips of each panel member projecting beyond the main strips of the respective panel member such that, when four of the panel members are assembled into the system with the main strips of one panel member at right angles to the main strips of each next adjacent panel and with one of the dividing strips between the main strips of each panel member and the next so as to form a rectangular area at a junction between corners of the main strips of the four of the panels; the rectangular area defined at the junction between said four of the panels is filled by said portion of said at least one dividing strip. 
   
   
       5 . The panelling system according to  claim 4  wherein each of the dividing strips has an end portion which projects beyond the end of the respective main strips and the end portions are shaped to cooperate to fill the rectangular area. 
   
   
       6 . The panelling system according to  claim 5  wherein each end portion is shaped to form diagonal end edges at an angle to the respective side edge. 
   
   
       7 . The panelling system according to  claim 6  wherein the end portions of the dividing strips meet at the junction between four of the panel members with the apexes in contact at a center of the rectangular area. 
   
   
       8 . The panelling system according to  claim 4  wherein the end portions of the dividing strips have the end edges thereof in the front surface chamfered such that the dividing strips when butting have a chamfered groove at the front surface. 
   
   
       9 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein each dividing strip has holes adjacent the ends thereof drilled into the upper surface by which the panel member can be screwed to the supporting surface by a screw. 
   
   
       10 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein the main strips define an area which is square. 
   
   
       11 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein the dividing strips and the main strips are fastened together by a plurality of pins each inserted at a buffing edge between one strip and a next adjacent strip through the rear surface at a groove on one side of the butting edge and extending into a tongue in the groove with a front end of the pin terminating at a position spaced from the front surface. 
   
   
       12 . The panelling system according to  claim 11  wherein each pin is inclined at an angle to a plane containing the butting edge so as to pass through the plane. 
   
   
       13 . The panelling system according to  claim 11  wherein each main strip is fastened to each next adjacent strip by a plurality of the pins at spaced positions along the main strips and each dividing strip is fastened to the main strips by a plurality of the pins at spaced positions along the dividing strip. 
   
   
       14 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein each pin is inserted such that it is countersunk from the rear surface. 
   
   
       15 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the main strips is formed from two strip portions butted end to end and wherein the ends are connected by a tongue and groove connection. 
   
   
       16 . 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 front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface and four side edges;   each panel member comprising a plurality of strips arranged side edge to side edge;   each strip having a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove an opposed side edge;   so that the main strips are connected side by side by interconnection of the tongues and the grooves,   wherein the strips are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation;   and wherein the dividing strips and the main strips are fastened together by a plurality of pins each inserted at a butting edge between one strip and a next adjacent strip through the rear surface at a groove on one side of the butting edge and extending into a tongue in the groove with a front end of the pin terminating at a position spaced from the front surface.   
   
   
       17 . The panelling system according to  claim 16  wherein each pin is inclined at an angle to a plane containing the butting edge so as to pass through the plane. 
   
   
       18 . The panelling system according to  claim 16  wherein each main strip is fastened to each next adjacent strip by a plurality of the pins at spaced positions along the main strips and each dividing strip is fastened to the main strips by a plurality of the pins at spaced positions along the dividing strip. 
   
   
       19 . The panelling system according to  claim 16  wherein each pin is inserted such that it is countersunk from the rear surface. 
   
   
       20 . 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 front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface and four side edges;   each panel member comprising a plurality of strips arranged side edge to side edge;   each strip having a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove an opposed side edge;   so that the main strips are connected side by side by interconnection of the tongues and the grooves;   wherein the strips are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation;   and wherein the dividing strips and the main strips are fastened together to form the panel member by at least one piece of a flexible sheet material bonded to the rear surface.   
   
   
       21 . The panelling system according to  claim 20  wherein substantially the whole of the rear surface of the panel member is covered by the flexible sheet material.