Panelling system formed from panels defined by tongue and groove strips

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 edge strips formed also from the flooring planks with tongue and groove and fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation. The outwardly facing edge of each edge has a tongue or groove for mating with a groove or tongue of a next adjacent panel. The strips are fastened by pins from the rear or by a bonded sheet material on the rear.

1 . A panelling system comprising:
 a plurality of panel members for locating on a supporting surface generally edge to edge in an array to 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 a plurality of 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 along an opposed side edge; 
 so that the main strips are connected side by side by interconnection of the tongues and the grooves; 
 wherein the main strips have along a first end of the main strips a tongue and have along a second end of the main strips a groove; 
 a first edge strip extending along the first ends of the main strips across at least some of the main strips; 
 a second edge strip extending along the second ends of the main strips across at least some of the main strips; 
 wherein each of the edge strips has a front surface of the dividing strip lying in a common plane with the front surfaces of the main strips to define the front surface of the panel; 
 wherein each of the edge strips has a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove along an opposed side edge; 
 wherein the first edge strip has the groove thereof engaged with the tongue along the first ends of the main strips; 
 wherein the second edge strip has the tongue thereof engaged with the groove along the second ends of the main strips; 
 and wherein the edge 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 edge strip has substantially the same width as the main strips. 
   
   
       4 . The panelling system according to  claim 2  wherein a longitudinal line along the main strips lies at an angle less than 90 degrees to a longitudinal line along an edge strip connected to ends of the main strips. 
   
   
       5 . A panelling system comprising:
 a plurality of panel members for locating on a 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 a plurality of side edges;   the panel members being of polygonal shape in plan view such that the panels can be arranged in an edge to edge array covering the supporting surface;   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 to form a center panel portion by interconnection of the tongues and the grooves; 
 the center panel portion being polygonal in plan view having a number of sides; 
 each of the sides having either a tongue or a groove therealong; 
 a plurality of edge strips equal in number to the number of sides; 
 wherein each of the edge strips has a front surface of the dividing strip lying in a common plane with the front surfaces of the main strips to define the front surface of the panel; 
 wherein each of the edge strips has a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove along an opposed side edge; 
 wherein the edge strips are each arranged in engagement with a respective side of the center panel portion with the tongue or groove thereof engaged with the groove or tongue of the respective side; 
 wherein the edge strips present outwardly of the panel either a tongue or a groove for engaging a groove or a tongue of an edge strip of a next adjacent panel; 
 and wherein the edge strips and the main strips are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation. 
   
   
   
       6 . The panelling system according to  claim 5  wherein each of the main strips has the same width between the side edges. 
   
   
       7 . The panelling system according to  claim 6  wherein each edge strip has substantially the same width as the main strips. 
   
   
       8 . The panelling system according to  claim 5  wherein a longitudinal line along the main strips lies at an angle less than 90 degrees to a longitudinal line along an edge strip connected to ends of the main strips. 
   
   
       9 . The panelling system according to  claim 5  wherein the main strips define an area which is square with four sides each receiving a respective edge strip. 
   
   
       10 . The panelling system according to  claim 5  wherein the main strips define an area which is triangular with three sides each receiving a respective edge strip. 
   
   
       11 . The panelling system according to  claim 5  wherein the main strips define an area which is hexagonal with six sides each receiving a respective edge strip. 
   
   
       12 . The panelling system according to  claim 5  wherein the edge strips have ends butting at a line extending outwardly from an apex of the center panel portion. 
   
   
       13 . The panelling system according to  claim 5  wherein the line extending outwardly from the apex intersects a center of the panel so that the edge strips are symmetrical. 
   
   
       14 . The panelling system according to  claim 5  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. 
   
   
       15 . The panelling system according to  claim 14  wherein each pin is inclined at an angle to a plane containing the butting edge so as to pass through the plane. 
   
   
       16 . The panelling system according to  claim 14  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. 
   
   
       17 . The panelling system according to  claim 14  wherein each pin is inserted such that it is countersunk from the rear surface.