Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
FLOORING PANEL
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2009/082099
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention provides a flooring panel that secures the fitting of a flooring panel in horizontal and vertical directions and allows a short side to be easily fitted during construction, and a method of constructing the flooring panel. In a square or rectangular flooring panel (100), a tongue portion (112) is formed at one (110) of a pair of end portions (110 and120), which faces each other, of the flooring panel (100) in a width direction; a groove portion (122), which has the shape corresponding to the tongue portion (112) is formed at the other (120) of the end portions in the width direction; the entrance size s of the groove portion (122) is formed to be smaller than the width w of the tongue portion (112); a tongue portion (132), which protrudes so as to be inclined downward, is formed at one (130) of a pair of longitudinal end portions (130 and 140) of the flooring panel (100); and a groove portion (142), which has the shape corresponding to the tongue portion (132), is formed at the other (140) of the longitudinal end portions (130 and 140).

Inventors:
OH KWANG SEOK (KR)
Application Number:
PCT/KR2008/007214
Publication Date:
July 02, 2009
Filing Date:
December 05, 2008
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
OH KWANG SEOK (KR)
International Classes:
E04F15/04; E04F15/02
Domestic Patent References:
WO2006125306A12006-11-30
WO2007091614A12007-08-16
Foreign References:
EP1722042A12006-11-15
US20020069611A12002-06-13
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
IAM PATENT FIRM (249-2 Seohyeon-dongBundang-gu,Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 463-824, KR)
Download PDF:
Claims:

Claims

[1] A square or rectangular flooring panel 100, wherein a tongue portion 112 is formed at one 110 of a pair of end portions 110 and 120, which feces each other, of the flooring panel 100 in a width direction, a groove portion 122, which has the shape corresponding to the tongue portion

112, is formed at the other 120 of the end portions in the width direction, the entrance size s of the groove portion 122 is formed to be smaller than the width w of the tongue portion 112, a tongue portion 132, which protrudes so as to be inclined downward, is formed at one 130 of a pair of longitudinal end portions 130 and 140 of the flooring panel 100, and a groove portion 142, which has the shape corresponding to the tongue portion

132, is formed at the other 140 of the longitudinal end portions 130 and 140.

[2] The flooring panel according to claim 1, wherein an upper end portion of the tongue portion 112 includes an upper supporting portion 111 that extends from the rear portion of the tongue portion

112 to the lower portion thereof, and an upper end portion of the groove portion 122 includes an upper supporting portion 121 that protrudes forward as compared to the groove portion 122 and restricts the vertical movement of the tongue portion 112.

[3] The flooring panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a lower front end portion of the groove portion 122 includes a locking portion 123 that protrudes upward so as to have a height larger than the height of the groove portion 122, and a lower rear end portion of the tongue portion 112 includes a locking groove 113 that has the shape corresponding to the locking portion so as to receive the locking portion 123.

[4] The flooring panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tongue portion 112 includes a protrusion 112a that protrudes to the outside of the flooring panel 100, and the groove portion 122 includes a receiving groove 122a that has the shape corresponding to the protrusion so as to receive the protrusion 112a.

[5] The flooring panel according to claim 4, a lower protrusion 112b, which protrudes downward, is farther formed below the

I O

p ppriioυυtuuruuusssiiioυυnnn 1 ± n1JL2Zzλ.aa,,, a aaniiiiduu a lower receiving groove 122b, which has the shape corresponding to the lower protrusion so as to receive the lower protrusion 112b, is formed below the receiving groove 122a.

[6] The flooring panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tongue portion 112 includes a horizontal portion 112c that protrudes to the outside of the flooring panel 100, and a curved portion 112d that is connected to the horizontal portion 112c, and the groove portion 122 includes a receiving groove 122c that has a shape for receiving the tongue portion 112.

[7] The flooring panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an upper end portion of the tongue portion 132 includes an upper obstructing portion 131 that extends from the rear portion of the tongue portion 132 to the lower portion thereof, and an upper end portion of the groove portion 142 includes an upper obstructing portion 141 that protrudes forward as compared to the groove portion 142 and extends downward.

[8] The flooring panel according to claim 7, wherein edge-removed portions 131a and 141a are formed at an upper edge of the upper obstructing portion 131 of the tongue portion 132 and an upper edge of the groove portion 142.

[9] The flooring panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a lower front end portion of the groove portion 142 includes a locking portion 143 that protrudes upward so as to have a height larger than the height of the groove portion 142, and a lower rear end portion of the tongue portion 132 includes a locking groove 133 that has the shape corresponding to the locking portion so as to receive the locking portion 143.

[10] The flooring panel according to claim 9, wherein the height h of the locking portion 143 is equal to or smaller than the half of the thickness t of the flooring panel 100.

[11] The flooring panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flooring panel 100 is made of any one of wood, plywood, PB, MDF, HDF, and the mixture thereof.

[12] The flooring panel according to claim 11 ,

wherein an ornament layer 101 or protective layer 102 is formed on one or both of upper and lower surfaces of the flooring panel 100, or the ornament layer 101 is formed on one or both cf upper and lower surfaces of the flooring panel 100 and the protective layer 102 is formed on the ornament layer 101.

[13] The flooring panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tongue portion 132 includes a first slope portion 132a that extends downward at a predetermined angle θl, a bottom portion 132b that is connected to the first slope portion 132a, and a second slope portion 132c that is connected to the bottom portion 132b and extends upward at a predetermined angle θ2, the groove portion 142 includes a first slope portion 142a that extends downward at a predetermined angle θl, a bottom portion 142b that is connected to the first slope portion 142a, and a second slope portion 142c that is connected to the bottom portion 142b and extends upward at a predetermined angle (E, and the angles θl cf the first slope portions 132a and 142a are equal to or larger than the angles θ2 of the second slope portions 132c and 142c.

[14] The flooring panel according to claim 13, wherein the angles θl and θ2 are 60°or less.

[15] The flooring panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or both cf edge-removed portions Ilia and 121a extending in a longitudinal direction and edge-removed portions 131a and 141a extending in a width direction are formed at upper edges of the flooring panel 100.

[16] A method of constructing the flooring panel according to claim 1 or 2, the method comprising: a step slOO of obliquely inserting a tongue portion 112, which is formed at an end portion 110 of a flooring panel 100 in a width direction, into groove portions 322 and 422 that are formed at end portions 320 and 420 cf adjacent flooring panels 300 and 400 in the width direction; a step s200 of rotating the flooring panel 100 downward while the tongue portion 112 that is formed at the end portion 110 of the flooring panel 100 in the width direction is inserted into the groove portions 322 and 422 that are formed at the end portions 320 and 420 of the flooring panels 300 and 400 in the width direction, rotating a flooring panel 200 upward while a tongue portion 212 that is formed at an end portion 210 of the flooring panel 200 in a width direction is inserted into the groove portion 322 that is formed at the end portion 320 of the flooring panel 300 in the width direction, and obliquely inserting and fitting a

tongue portion 132 that is formed at a longitudinal end portion 130 of the flooring panel 100 to a groove portion 242 that is formed at a longitudinal end portion 240 of another flooring panel 200; and a step s300 of fitting the end portions 110 and 210 of the flooring panels 100 and 200 in the width direction into the flooring panels 300 and 400 by rotating the flooring panels 100 and 200, where the longitudinal end portions 130 and 240 are fitted, downward.

Description:

Description

FLOORING PANEL

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a flooring panel, and more particularly, to a flooring panel that has simple structure, is easily manufactured, and is advantageous in constructing a short side of a flooring panel. Background Art

[2] A flooring panel is used to adorn the floor of a building, and a flooring panel made of a synthetic resin has been used in the past. However, in recent years, the use of a flooring panel made of wood has been increased to satisfy the demands for the improvement of quality and ϋinctionalization of a flooring panel.

[3] There has been known the following structure where the flooring panel made of wood (which means a flooring panel made of a material, such as wood, plywood, MDF, HDF, PB, or the mixture thereof) is formed so as to have fitting structure at a long side and/or a short side of a flooring panel in order to improve constructability by facilitating the assembly between flooring panels, so that both end portions are detachably fitted and assembled.

[4] Containment fitting structure using rotation shown in Fig. 10 has been known as one of these fitting structures. In the containment fitting structure using rotation, a groove portion 11 is formed at an end portion of one flooring panel 10 and a tongue portion 21 is formed at an end' portion of another flooring panel 20.

[5] The groove portion 11 has the shape corresponding to the tongue portion 21 so as to receive the tongue portion 21 therein, and the entrance size s of the groove portion 11 is formed to be smaller than the width w of the tongue portion 21.

[6] Accordingly, the tongue portion 21 of the flooring panel 20 cannot be fitted to the groove portion 11 of the flooring panel 10 by applying a force in a horizontal direction, and the flooring panels 10 and 20 are fitted to each other by obliquely inserting an end of the tongue portion 21 into the groove portion 11 and rotating the tongue portion downward.

[7] In the containment fitting structure using rotation, it is possible to obtain an advantage of restricting the flooring panels 10 and 20 in horizontal and vertical directions.

[8] A method of assembling and constructing a flooring panel of which the long and short sides have the containment fitting structure using rotation will be described

o

below with reference to Figs. 11 to 13.

[9] First, a step slO of fitting a short side of the flooring panel 10 to a short side of the flooring panel 20 by obliquely inserting a short side 20a of a flooring panel 20 into a short side 10a of a flooring panel 10 while the short side 20a of a flooring panel 20 is spaced apart from adjacent flooring panels 30 and 40 by a predetermined gap d as shown in Fig. 11, and rotating the flooring panel 20 downward is performed.

[10] Then, a step s20 of inserting the flooring panel 20 to the long sides of the adjacent flooring panels 30 and 40 by rotating the flooring panel 20 and the flooring panel 10 of which the long side is fitted to the flooring panel 20 upward and sliding the short side of the flooring panel 20 downward toward the short sides of the adjacent flooring panels 30 and 40 as shown in Fig. 12 is performed.

[11] Finally, a step s30 of fitting the long side of the flooring panel 20 to the long sides of the flooring panels 30 and 40 by rotating the flooring panels 10 and 20 downward as shown in Fig. 13 is performed.

[12] However, in this constructing method, the short side of the flooring panel 20 should be fitted and the long side should be then fitted. Snce it is not easy to rotate the long flooring panel 20 and fit the short side in the step slO, there is difficulty in construction.

[13] Further, in the step s20, while grasping the flooring panel 10 with one hand and grasping the flooring panel 20 with the other hand, a worker should rotate the flooring panels 10 and 20 upward and slide the flooring panel 20 downward. In this case, since the groove portion 11 of the flooring panel 10 and the tongue portion 21 of the flooring panel 20 extend in a width direction of the flooring panel so as to have a wide contact area, the flooring panel 20 does not easily slide downward, which makes the construction inconvenient.

[14] In addition, after the flooring panel 20 slides downward, the adjacent flooring panels

30 and 40 and the long side should be fitted to each other. In this case, the long side of the flooring panel 20 extends over the entire length in a longitudinal direction. Accordingly, since it is not easy to fit the long side, there is a problem in that much time and eflbrt are required for construction.

[15] As a countermeasure for solving this problem, as shown in Fig. 14, a groove portion

52, which has a locking portion 51 at a front end portion thereof, is formed at one flooring panel 50, and a tongue portion 62, which has the shape corresponding to the groove portion 52 and has a protrusion 61 locked to the locking portion 51, is formed at the other flooring panel 60.

[16] In this fitting structure, it is possible to fit the short sides of the flooring panels 50 and 60 by applying a striking force to the short sides of the flooring panels 50 and 60 in a horizontal direction.

[17] However, wood, which is generally used as a material of the flooring panel, does not have sufficient elasticity. In particular, the elasticity of materials, such as MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), HDF (High Density Fiberboard), and PB (Particle Board), is fiirther insufficient. Accordingly, while the groove portion 52 is expanded and contracted, cracks are generated in the groove portion 52. Snce the tongue portion 62 of the other flooring panel 60 is not sufficiently fixed due to the cracks, the flooring panels 50 and 60 are not firmly fitted to each other and are separated from each other.

[18] In addition, if the striking force applied to the flooring panel 60 is increased, there is a problem in that the upper end portions of the flooring panels 50 and 60 protrude. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[19] An object of the present invention is to provide a flooring panel that secures the fitting of a flooring panel in horizontal and vertical directions and allows a short side to be easily fitted during construction, and a method of constructing the flooring panel. Technical Solution

[20] A flooring panel according to the present invention is a square or rectangular flooring panel 100. A tongue portion 112 is formed at one 110 of a pair of end portions 110 and 120, which feces each other, of the flooring panel 100 in a width direction; a groove portion 122, which has the shape corresponding to the tongue portion 112, is formed at the other 120 of the end portions in the width direction; the entrance size s of the groove portion 122 is formed to be smaller than the width w of the tongue portion 112; a tongue portion 132, which protrudes so as to be inclined downward, is formed at one 130 of a pair of longitudinal end portions 130 and 140 of the flooring panel 100, and a groove portion 142, which has the shape corresponding to the tongue portion 132, is formed at the other 140 of the longitudinal end portions 130 and 140.

[21] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, an upper end portion of the tongue portion 112 may include an upper supporting portion 111 that extends from the rear portion of the tongue portion 112 to the lower portion thereof, and an upper end portion of the groove portion 122 may include an upper supporting portion 121 that protrudes forward as compared to the groove portion 122 and restricts the vertical movement of the tongue portion 112.

[22] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, a lower front end portion of the groove portion 122 may include a locking portion 123 that protrudes upward so as to have a height larger than the height of the groove portion 122, and a lower rear end portion of the tongue portion 112 may include a locking groove 113 that has the shape corresponding to the locking portion so as to receive the locking portion 123.

[23] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, the tongue portion 112 may include a protrusion 112a that protrudes to the outside of the flooring panel 100, and the groove portion 122 may include a receiving groove 122a that has the shape corresponding to the protrusion so as to receive the protrusion 112a.

[24] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, a lower protrusion 112b, which protrudes downward, may be firmer formed below the protrusion 112a, and a lower receiving groove 122b, which has the shape corresponding to the lower protrusion so as to receive the lower protrusion 112b, may be formed below the receiving groove 122a.

[25] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, the tongue portion 112 may include a horizontal portion 112c that protrudes to the outside of the flooring panel 100, and a curved portion 112d that is connected to the horizontal portion 112c. Further, the groove portion 122 may include a receiving groove 122c that has a shape for receiving the tongue portion 112.

[26] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, an upper end portion of the tongue portion 132 may include an upper obstructing portion 131 that extends from the rear portion of the tongue portion 132 to the lower portion thereof, and an upper end portion of the groove portion 142 may include an upper obstructing portion 141 that protrudes forward as compared to the groove portion 142 and extends downward.

[27] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, edge-removed portions 131a and 141a may be formed at an upper edge of the upper obstructing portion 131 of the tongue portion 132 and an upper edge of the groove portion 142.

[28] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, a lower front end portion of the groove portion 142 may include a locking portion 143 that protrudes upward so as to have a height larger than the height of the groove portion 142, and a lower rear end portion of the tongue portion 132 may include a locking groove 133 that has the shape corresponding to the locking portion so as to receive the locking portion 143.

[29] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, the height h of the locking portion 143 may be equal to or smaller than the half of the thickness t of the flooring panel 100.

[30] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, the flooring panel 100 may be made of any one of wood, plywood, PB, MDF, HDF, and the mixture thereof.

[31] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, an ornament layer 101 or protective layer 102 may be formed on one or both of upper and lower surfaces of the flooring panel 100, or the ornament layer 101 may be formed on one or both of upper and lower surfaces of the flooring panel 100 and the protective layer 102 may be formed on the ornament layer 101.

[32] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, the tongue portion 132 may include a first slope portion 132a that extends downward at a predetermined angle θl, a bottom portion 132b that is connected to the first slope portion 132a, and a second slope portion 132c that is connected to the bottom portion 132b and extends upward at a predetermined angle θ2. The groove portion 142 may include a first slope portion 142a that extends downward at a predetermined angle θl, a bottom portion 142b that is connected to the first slope portion 142a, and a second slope portion 142c that is connected to the bottom portion 142b and extends upward at a predetermined angle ffi. The angles θl of the first slope portions 132a and 142a may be equal to or larger than the angles θ2 of the second slope portions 132c and 142c.

[33] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, the angles θl and θ2 may be

60°or less.

[34] In the flooring panel according to the present invention, one or both of edge-removed portions Ilia and 121a extending in a longitudinal direction and edge-removed portions 131a and 141a extending in a width direction may be formed at upper edges of the flooring panel 100.

[35] A method of constructing the flooring panel according to the present invention includes a step si 00 of obliquely inserting a tongue portion 112, which is formed at an end portion 110 of a flooring panel 100 in a width direction, into groove portions 322 and 422 that are formed at end portions 320 and 420 of adjacent flooring panels 300 and 400 in the width direction; a step s200 of rotating the flooring panel 100 downward while the tongue portion 112 that is formed at the end portion 110 of the flooring panel 100 in the width direction is inserted into the groove portions 322 and 422 that are formed at the end portions 320 and 420 of the flooring panels 300 and 400 in the width direction, rotating a flooring panel 200 upward while a tongue portion 212 that is formed at an end portion 210 of the flooring panel 200 in a width direction is inserted into the groove portion 322 that is formed at the end portion 320 of the flooring panel 300 in the width direction, and obliquely inserting and fitting a tongue

portion 132 that is formed at a longitudinal end portion 130 of the flooring panel 100 to a groove portion 242 that is formed at a longitudinal end portion 240 of another flooring panel 200; and a step s300 of fitting the end portions 110 and 210 of the flooring panels 100 and 200 in the width direction into the flooring panels 300 and 400 by rotating the flooring panels 100 and 200, where the longitudinal end portions 130 and 240 are fitted, downward. Advantageous Effects

[36] In the present invention, while the long side of a flooring panel having a large length is inserted into the adjacent flooring panels, a short side having a small length is fitted to other flooring panels during the construction of the flooring panel. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that a short side is easily fitted during the construction of the flooring panel.

[37] If a short side is easily fitted as described above and an external force is applied to the short side, the fitting structure of a long side as well as the slope fitting structure of a short side acts, so that it is possible to obtain an effect of securing sufficient restriction of a short side of the flooring panel in vertical and horizontal directions.

[38] Further, since the structure of a short side is simple, it is possible to easily manufacture a flooring panel. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[39] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a flooring panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[40] Flooring panels 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 according to the present invention have a square or rectangular shape, and are made of a material, such as wood, plywood, PB, MDF, HDF, or the mixture thereof. Meanwhile, an ornament layer 101 may be formed of shaped paper and pattern wood on upper and/or lower surfaces of the flooring panels 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600, in order to form a specific pattern or shape. A protective layer 102 made of a resin may be formed on the ornament layer 101.

[41] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of short sides of the flooring panel according to the embodiment of the present invention, taken along line A-A.

[42] A pair of long sides 110 and 120, which feces each other, of each of the flooring panels 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 has containment fitting structure using rotation.

[43] One long side 110 of each of the flooring panels 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 includes an upper supporting portion 111 that extends from an upper side toward a lower side so as to form a surface, and an edge-removed portion Ilia that is formed at an upper edge of the upper supporting portion 111 so as to extend in a width direction.

[44] A tongue portion 112, which includes a protrusion 112a and a lower protrusion 112b, is provided below the upper supporting portion 111. The protrusion protrudes outward in a width direction of the flooring panel 110 so as to have a rectangular cross section, and the lower protrusion protrudes downward from the lower portion of the protrusion 112a.

[45] Further, the long side 110 includes a locking groove 113. The locking groove includes a slope portion 113a that is formed to be inclined upward from the rear portion of the lower protrusion 112b, a horizontal portion 113b that is formed to extend from the slope portion 113a in a horizontal direction, and a vertical portion 113c that extends downward from the horizontal portion 113b in a vertical direction.

[46] The protrusion 112a or the lower protrusion 112b has a rectangular cross section in this embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As long as the protrusion protrudes and is formed to be fitted into a receiving groove that receives the protrusion, the protrusion may have any shape.

[47] The other long side 120 of each of flooring panels 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 includes an upper supporting portion 121 that is formed at the upper portion of the long side and extends downward so as to form a surface, and an edge-removed portion 121a that is formed at an upper edge of the upper supporting portion 121 so as to extend in a width direction.

[48] Further, a groove portion 122, which includes a receiving groove 122a and a lower receiving groove 122b, is formed below the upper supporting portion 121. The receiving groove is positioned at an inner portion as compared to the upper supporting portion 121 and receives the protrusion 112a of the tongue portion 112. The lower receiving groove is positioned below the receiving groove 122a and receives the lower protrusion 112b of the tongue portion 112. Meanwhile, a locking portion 123 is formed at a lower front end portion of the groove portion 122. The locking portion includes a slope portion 123 a that is formed to be inclined upward from a lower surface of the lower receiving groove 122b, a horizontal portion 123b that is formed to extend from the slope portion 123a in a horizontal direction, and a vertical portion 123c that extends downward from the horizontal portion 123b in a vertical direction. The locking portion is received in the locking groove 113.

[49] Fig. 3 is a view showing that the short sides of the flooring panels according to the embodiment of the present invention are fitted to each other.

[50] The short sides of the flooring panel 100, which is formed as described above, are fitted to each other as follows:

[51] The long side 110 of the flooring panel 100 is obliquely inserted into a groove portion 122 of another flooring panel 200 and this is then rotated downward, so that the protrusion 112a is inserted into the receiving groove 122a and the lower protrusion 112b is inserted into the lower receiving groove 122b. Accordingly, the flooring panels 100 and 200 are fitted to each other.

[52] In the above-mentioned containment fitting structure, the tongue portion 112 of one flooring panel 100 is inserted into the groove portion 122 that has an entrance size s smaller than the width w of the tongue portion, and rotated. Accordingly, since the flooring panels are fitted to each other, the vertical movement of the flooring panels is restricted by the upper supporting portion 121 and the horizontal movement of the flooring panels is restricted by the locking portion 123.

[53] Therefore, even though an external force, such as a horizontal force or a vertical force, is applied to the flooring panels 100 and 200, the vertical and horizontal movements of the flooring panels are sufficiently restricted. Unless the flooring panels are rotated, the fitting between the flooring panels is not released.

[54] Further, a line is formed between the edge-removed portions Ilia and 121a of the flooring panels 100 and 200 that are fitted to each other, so that the flooring panels look like floorboards. The edge-removed portions Ilia and 121a may be coated with color paint so as to look colorful, or may be coated with a protective agent so that the surfaces exposed to the outside by the edge removal can be protected.

[55] Fig. 4 is a view showing another example of the long side of the flooring panel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[56] In this embodiment, each of the tongue portion 112 and the groove portion 122 has had a rectangular cross section as an embodiment of the containment fitting structure using rotation. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[57] That is, as long as the entrance size s of the groove portion of the flooring panel is formed to be smaller than the width w of the tongue portion of another flooring panel that is fitted to the groove portion, the tongue portion is obliquely inserted into the groove portion and is than rotated so that the flooring panels are fitted to each other and the vertical and horizontal separation of the flooring panels is restricted, any structure may be applied.

[58] For example, as shown in Fig. 4, a tongue portion 112, which has a curved lower surface, of the flooring panel 100 may be fitted to a groove portion 122, which has the shape corresponding to the tongue portion 112, of the flooring panel 200.

[59] Even though each of the tongue portion 112 and the groove portion 122 has the curved lower surface as described above, this structure corresponds to the structure where the width w of the tongue portion 112 of the flooring panel 100 is formed to be larger than the entrance size s of the groove portion 122 of another flooring panel 200 to be fitted to the tongue portion, and the tongue portion is fitted to the groove portion 122 of the flooring panel 200 by the rotation of the tongue portion 112 of the flooring panel 100. Accordingly, this structure is included in the containment fitting structure of the present invention.

[60] Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the short sides of the flooring panel according to the embodiment of the present invention, taken along line B-B; and Fig. 5B is a view showing that upper obstructing portions are not formed in the flooring panel shown in Fig. 5A.

[61] The short side 130 of the flooring panel 100 includes an upper obstructing portion

131 that is formed to extend from an upper side toward a lower side, and an edge- removed portion 131a is formed at an upper edge of the upper obstructing portion 131. A tongue portion 132 is formed below the upper obstructing portion 131. The tongue portion 132 includes a first slope portion 132a that is formed to be inclined downward with respect to a horizontal plane of the flooring panel 100 at a predetermined angle θl, a bottom portion 132b that is connected to the first slope portion 132a, and a second slope portion 132c that is formed to be inclined upward from the bottom portion 132b at a predetermined angle ffi. A locking groove 133, which includes a horizontal upper portion 133a and a side portion 133b, is formed in the tongue portion 132. The horizontal upper portion is connected to the second slope portion 132c, and the side portion is formed perpendicular to the upper portion 133a.

[62] The other short side 140 of the flooring panel 100 includes an upper obstructing portion 141 that is formed at an upper portion thereof and extends downward so as to form a surface, and an edge-removed portion 141a is formed at an upper edge of the upper obstructing portion 141.

[63] Further, a groove portion 142 is formed below the upper obstructing portion 141. The groove portion 142 includes a first slope portion 142a that is formed to be inclined downward with respect to a horizontal plane of the flooring panel 100 at a predetermined angle θl, a bottom portion 142b that is connected to the first slope portion

142a, and a second slope portion 142c that is formed to be inclined upward from the bottom portion 142b at a predetermined angle ffi.

[64] Further, a locking portion 143, which includes an upper portion 143 a and a vertical portion 143b, is formed at the short side 140 of the flooring panel 100. The upper portion is formed at the lower portion of a front end portion of the groove portion 142 so as to be horizontal with respect to the second slope portion 142c, and the vertical portion is formed perpendicular to the upper portion 143a.

[65] It is preferable for easy fitting that the height h of the locking portion 143 be equal to or smaller than the half of the thickness t of the flooring panel 100.

[66] Each of the first slope portion 132a of the tongue portion 132 of the short side 130 and the first slope portion 142a of the groove portion 142 of the short side 140 is formed to have a predetermined angle θl with respect to the horizontal bottom of the flooring panel. Further, each of the second slope portion 132c of the tongue portion 132 and the second slope portion 142c of the groove portion 142 is also formed to have a predetermined angle ffi with respect to the horizontal bottom of the flooring panel.

[67] It is advantageous for easy fitting that each of the angles θ 1 and GE is 60 or less. If the angle θl is equal to or larger than the angle ffi, it is possible to easily insert the tongue portion 132 into the groove portion 142 without interference.

[68] The flooring panel according to this embodiment includes the upper obstructing portions 131 and 141 that are formed to extend downward. The reason for this is to prevent the following drawbacks. That is, since the end of the groove portion is formed to be sharp if the upper obstructing portion 141 is not formed at the upper portion of the groove portion 142, the groove portion collides with the end of the tongue portion 132 during the insertion of the tongue portion 132, so that the end of the groove portion 142 is damaged or the tongue portion 132 is not easily inserted into the groove portion 142.

[69] However, the upper obstructing portions 131 and 141 are not essential components to be necessarily provided in this embodiment. Accordingly, in another embodiment, the upper obstructing portions 131 and 141 may not be formed as shown in Fig. 5B.

[70] Meanwhile, like the case of the edge-removed portions Ilia and 121a of the long sides 110 and 120, a line is formed between the edge-removed portions 131a and 141a of the short sides 130 and 140 of the flooring panel 100 after the construction of the flooring panels, so that the flooring panels look like floorboards.

[71] Fig. 6 is a view showing that the short sides of the flooring panels according to the embodiment of the present invention are fitted to each other.

^

[72] Only if the tongue portion 132 of the flooring panel 100 is moved downward while being pushed against the groove portion 142 of another flooring panel 200 in a horizontal direction, the flooring panels 100 and 200 are easily fitted to each other.

[73] In this fitting structure, the flooring panels are easily fitted to each other but the tongue portion 132 and the groove portion 142 are formed to have the same size. For this reason, if an external force, such as a horizontal force or a vertical force, is applied to the flooring panels 100 and 200, the fitting structure cannot sufficiently restrict the separation of the flooring panels.

[74] For example, if a horizontal force F is applied in a direction where the flooring panel

100 is tensioned, the horizontal force F is applied as a component force Fl perpendicular to a slope and a component force F2 parallel to a slope. The magnitude of the parallel component force F2 is slightly decreased as compared to the magnitude of the horizontal force F, but the parallel component force is still applied as a slope directional force that separates the flooring panel 100. Accordingly, the separation of the flooring panel 100 is not sufficiently restricted.

[75] Next, a method of constructing a flooring panel according to the present invention will be described with reference to drawings.

[76] Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a step of inserting the long side in a method of constructing a flooring panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[77] A step s 100 of obliquely inserting the tongue portion 112, which is formed at the long side 110 of the flooring panel 100, into the groove portions 122 that are formed at the adjacent flooring panels 300 and 400 is performed.

[78] In this case, the position of the flooring panel 100 in a width direction may be a position where the flooring panel partially covers two flooring panels 300 and 400 adjacent to each other in the width direction.

[79] Meanwhile, the short side 130 of the flooring panel 100 is disposed so that the tongue portion 132 is positioned on the groove portion 142 of the short side 140 of another flooring panel 200 to be fitted.

[80] Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a step s200 of inserting and fitting the short side in the method of constructing a flooring panel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[81] Then, the flooring panel 100 is grasped by one hand, and the long side 110 fitted to the adjacent flooring panels 300 and 400 is rotated downward.

[82] At the same time, while another flooring panel 200 is grasped by the other hand and is rotated upward about the long side 110 that is fitted to the adjacent flooring panel

300, the another flooring panel is slightly lifted and is inclined with respect to a floor. In this state, while the tongue portion 132 of the flooring panel 100 is placed on the upper portion of the groove portion 142 of the flooring panel 200, the tongue portion 132 is obliquely inserted into the groove portion 142.

[83] If the tongue portion 132 of the flooring panel 100 is obliquely inserted into the groove portion 142 of the flooring panel 200 while the downward rotation of the flooring panel 100 and the upward rotation of the flooring panel 200 are performed at the same time as described above, the tongue portion 132 and the groove portion 142 are fitted to each other and the flooring panels 100 and 200 become horizontal.

[84] In the present invention, while the long side 110 of the flooring panel 100 having a long fitting length is inserted into and glided by the long sides of the adjacent flooring panels 300 and 400, the short sides are fitted to each other. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce troublesomeness of construction that is caused by fitting a short side and then fitting a long side like in the related art, and time and effort required for construction.

[85] In addition, only if the flooring panels 100 and 200 are slightly rotated in opposite directions so as to be fitted to each other, the short side is easily fitted. Accordingly, the slide between the short sides, which is required for fitting the flooring panel in the related art, is not required, and there is no problem in that slide is not performed well due to a frictional force.

[86] Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a step s300 of fitting the long side in the method of constructing a flooring panel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[87] Finally, the flooring panels 100 and 200 of which the short sides are fitted are rotated downward at the same time, and a flooring panel 500 is fitted to the long sides of the flooring panels 100 and 200, so that the flooring panels 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 are completely fitted and the construction is finished.

[88] Flooring panels 500 and 600 may be constructed so as to be fitted to the flooring panel 100 in the width direction of the flooring panel 100 in the same manner.

[89] Accordingly, the vertical and horizontal separation of the long side of the flooring panel 100 is sufficiently restricted by the containment fitting structure using rotation.

[90] Meanwhile, the short side of the flooring panel 100 is also restricted to some extent due to its shape, and is restricted by the long side fitting structure between the flooring panel and the adjacent flooring panels 300, 400, 500, and 600, so that the separation is prevented. Therefore, the flooring panel 100 is doubly restricted.

[91] These embodiments exemplify the scope and spirit of the present invention, and do not limit the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, all changes and modi-

fications within scope and spirit cf the present invention are intended to be embraced by the claims.

Industrial Applicability

[92] The present invention provides a flooring panel that secures the fitting of a flooring panel in horizontal and vertical directions and allows a short side to be easily fitted during construction, so that it is advantageous in manufacture and construction.