Panelling system

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 has a tongue or groove for mating with a groove or tongue of a next adjacent panel. The strips are fastened by pins or corrugated plates from the rear or by a bonded sheet material on the rear. The strips may include tongue and groove joints of the snap fastening type where the connection of each strip to the next in the assembled panel can be simply by way of an adhesive tape over the rear surface of the joint.

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 strips arranged side edge to side edge with each strip having a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove along an opposed side edge so that the strips are connected side by side by interconnection of the tongues and the grooves;   wherein the tongue and the corresponding groove along the side edges of the dividing strips and on the rectangular main portion are shaped in transverse cross-section such that each tongue and cooperating groove can be connected together to form a joint by sliding of the tongue into the groove with the dividing strip pivoted about the joint in the direction such that an angle between the dividing strip and the rectangular main portion at the front surface of the rectangular main portion is less than 180 degrees and such that the cooperating shapes of the tongue and groove in transverse cross-section act in a coplanar position of the dividing strip and rectangular main portion to resist movement of the tongue and groove in a direction away from the joint;   wherein the joint when fastened prevents pivoting movement of the strips to a position in which the angle between the strips at the front surface of the panel member is greater than 180 degrees;   and a piece of a flexible sheet material adhesively attached across the joint on the rear surface of the panel member.   
   
   
       2 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein the strips are connected each to the next, to form the panel member, solely by the tongue and groove joint and the piece of material. 
   
   
       3 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein the piece of material comprises a tape expending longitudinally of the joint. 
   
   
       4 . The panelling system according to  claim 1  wherein the piece of material includes fiber reinforcement. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A floor panelling system comprising:
 a plurality of flooring members for locating on a supporting surface generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;   each flooring member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the floor panelling system and a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface;   the flooring members including:   a rectangular main portion having a first pair of opposed parallel sides and a second pair of opposed parallel sides at right angles to the first pair, wherein the rectangular main portion has a tongue along a first of the first pair of opposed parallel sides and a groove along a second of the first pair of parallel sides, and wherein the rectangular main portion has a tongue along a first of the second pair of opposed parallel sides and a groove along a second of the second pair of parallel sides;   a first dividing strip arranged to extend along of the first of the first pair of opposed parallel sides;   and a second dividing strip arranged to extend along of the second of the first pair of opposed parallel sides;   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 of the first of the first pair of parallel side edges;   wherein the second dividing strip has the tongue thereof engaged with the groove of the second of the first pair of parallel side edges;   wherein the tongue and the corresponding groove along the side edges of the dividing strips and on the rectangular main portion are shaped in transverse cross-section such that each tongue and cooperating groove can be connected together to form a joint by sliding of the tongue into the groove with the dividing strip pivoted about the joint in the direction such that an angle between the dividing strip and the rectangular main portion at the front surface of the rectangular main portion is less than 180 degrees and such that the cooperating shapes of the tongue and groove in transverse cross-section act in a coplanar position of the dividing strip and rectangular main portion to resist movement of the tongue and groove in a direction away from the joint;   wherein the first and second dividing strips are arranged with a portion at each end of each of the dividing strips projecting beyond the rectangular main portion;   wherein each end portion is shaped to form two diagonal end edges each at an angle to a respective side edge of the respective dividing strip with the first and second diagonal end edges converging to an apex such that, when the end portions of four such dividing strips are located at a junction therebetween, the apexes and the diagonal end edges meet;   wherein the diagonal end edges of the end portions of the four dividing strips at the junction are connected each to the next adjacent by a tongue and groove connection along the diagonal end edges;   wherein the flooring members, when arranged in position on the supporting surface, are arranged to float on the supporting surface substantially without fastening thereto;   wherein the flooring members are formed from a lower layer defining the transverse cross-sectional shape of the tongue and groove and an upper layer different from the lower layer and fastened to the lower layer which forms a flooring facing layer.   
   
   
       13 . The panelling system according to  claim 12  wherein the dividing strips and the rectangular main portion are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation. 
   
   
       14 . The panelling system according to  claim 12  wherein the end portions of the dividing strips have the diagonal end edges thereof in the front surface chamfered such that the dividing strips when butting have a chamfered groove at the front surface. 
   
   
       15 . The panelling system according to  claim 12  wherein the tongue and the corresponding groove are shaped in transverse cross-section such that they can be connected, with the dividing strip and rectangular main portion co-planar, by forcing of the tongue into the groove in a snap fastening action, with the snap fastening action acting to provide said resistance to movement in a direction away from the joint. 
   
   
       16 . The panelling system according to  claim 12  wherein one of the two diagonal end edges of each end portion has a tongue therealong and the other of the two diagonal end edges of each end portion has a groove therealong. 
   
   
       17 . The panelling system according to  claim 12  wherein the joint when fastened prevents pivoting movement of the tongue and groove to a position in which the angle between the dividing strip and the rectangular main portion at the front surface of the panel is greater than 180 degrees and there is provided a piece of a flexible sheet material adhesively attached across the joint on the rear surface of the panel. 
   
   
       18 . A floor panelling system comprising:
 a plurality of flooring members for locating on a supporting surface generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;   each flooring member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the floor panelling system and a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface;   the flooring members including:   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 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 and a second main strip at an opposed second side of the main strips has an exposed groove along the second main strip;   the main strips thus defining a rectangular main portion having a first pair of opposed parallel sides and a second pair of opposed parallel sides at right angles to the first pair, wherein the rectangular main portion has a tongue along a first of the first pair of opposed parallel sides and a groove along a second of the first pair of parallel sides, and wherein the rectangular main portion has a tongue along a first of the second pair of opposed parallel sides and a groove along a second of the second pair of parallel sides;   a first dividing strip arranged to extend along of the first of the first pair of opposed parallel sides;   and a second dividing strip arranged to extend along of the second of the first pair of opposed parallel sides;   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 of the first of the first pair of parallel side edges;   wherein the second dividing strip has the tongue thereof engaged with the groove of the second of the first pair of parallel side edges;   wherein the tongue and the corresponding groove of the dividing strips and of the main strips are shaped in transverse cross-section such that each tongue and cooperating groove can be connected together to form a joint of two joined strips by sliding of the tongue into the groove with one strip pivoted about the joint in the direction such that an angle between the joined strips at the front surface is less than 180 degrees and such that the cooperating shapes of the tongue and groove in transverse cross-section act in a coplanar position of the joined strips to resist movement of the tongue and groove in a direction away from the joint;   wherein the first and second dividing strips are arranged with a portion at each end of each of the dividing strips projecting beyond the rectangular main portion;   wherein each end portion is shaped to form two diagonal end edges each at an angle to a respective side edge of the respective dividing strip with the first and second diagonal end edges converging to an apex such that, when the end portions of four such dividing strips are located at a junction therebetween, the apexes and the diagonal end edges meet;   wherein the diagonal end edges of the end portions of the four dividing strips at the junction are connected each to the next adjacent by a tongue and groove connection along the diagonal end edges;   wherein the flooring members, when arranged in position on the supporting surface, are arranged to float on the supporting surface substantially without fastening thereto;   wherein the flooring members are formed from a lower layer defining the transverse cross-sectional shape of the tongue and groove and an upper layer different from the lower layer and fastened to the lower layer which forms a flooring facing layer.   
   
   
       19 . The panelling system according to  claim 18  wherein each of the main strips has the same width between side edges thereof and each dividing strip has substantially the same width as the main strips. 
   
   
       20 . The panelling system according to  claim 18  wherein the main strips are parallel to the dividing strips. 
   
   
       21 . The panelling system according to  claim 18  wherein the main strips are at right angles to the dividing strips. 
   
   
       22 . The panelling system according to  claim 18  wherein some of the main strips are parallel to the dividing strips and some of the main strips are at right angles to the dividing strips. 
   
   
       23 . The panelling system according to  claim 18  wherein the dividing strips and the main strips are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation. 
   
   
       24 . The panelling system according to  claim 18  wherein the end portions of the dividing strips have the diagonal end edges thereof in the front surface chamfered such that the dividing strips when butting have a chamfered groove at the front surface. 
   
   
       25 . The panelling system according to  claim 18  wherein the tongue and the corresponding groove are shaped in transverse cross-section such that they can be connected, with the joined strips co-planar, by forcing of the tongue into the groove in a snap fastening action, with the snap fastening action acting to provide said resistance to movement in a direction away from the joint. 
   
   
       26 . The panelling system according to  claim 18  wherein one of the two diagonal end edges of each end portion has a tongue therealong and the other of the two diagonal end edges of each end portion has a groove therealong. 
   
   
       27 . The panelling system according to  claim 18  wherein the joint when fastened prevents pivoting movement of the tongue and groove to a position in which the angle between the dividing strip and the rectangular main portion at the front surface of the panel is greater than 180 degrees and there is provided a piece of a flexible sheet material adhesively attached across the joint on the rear surface of the panel.