Panel for forming a floor covering, method for manufacturing such panels and granulate applied herewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11299893-B2
Application number	US-202016808874-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2020
Priority date	Jun 1, 2012
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

A panel for forming a floor covering, where this panel includes a substrate including at least a layer of thermoplastic material, where the panel, above the layer, comprises at least also a printed décor and a translucent or transparent wear layer. The layer also includes at least individual fibers having a length greater than 1 millimeter, where the individual fibers are loose and freely distributed within the layer of thermoplastic material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A panel for forming a floor covering, wherein the panel comprises:
a substrate including at least a layer of thermoplastic material,
wherein the panel, above said layer, comprises at least a printed decor and a translucent or transparent wear layer,
wherein said layer also comprises at least individual fibers having a length greater than 1 millimeter, said individual fibers are moisture resistant fibers, wherein said individual fibers are loose and freely distributed within said layer of thermoplastic material.

2. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said substrate has a thickness of 1.3 to 10 millimeters.

3. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said layer of thermoplastic material is situated at least halfway in the thickness of the panel.

4. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said thermoplastic material is chosen from the list consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene and polyurethane.

5. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said moisture resistant fibers are glass fibers, steel fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers or cellulose fibers being coated or treated by means of acetylation.

6. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said moisture resistant fibers on average have a diameter situated between 1 to 100 μm.

7. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said individual fibers are provided with a coating or a treatment which improves the adherence to the thermoplastic material.

8. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said layer also comprises at least a glass fiber cloth or glass fiber fleece.

9. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein this panel comprises at least two such layers on the basis of thermoplastic material.

10. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said thermoplastic material relates to soft polyvinyl chloride with a percentage of plasticizer of 12 percent by weight or more.

11. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said thermoplastic material further comprises fillers.

12. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said individual fibers on average have a diameter situated between 5 and 25 micrometers.

13. The panel according to claim 1 , wherein said individual fibers have an average length of more than 3 mm.

14. A panel for forming a floor covering, wherein the panel comprises:
a substrate including at least a layer of thermoplastic material, wherein the panel, above said layer, comprises at least a printed decor and a translucent or transparent wear layer,
wherein said layer also comprises at least individual fibers, wherein said individual fibers are loose and freely distributed within said layer of thermoplastic material, said panel being provided with coupling means, said coupling means having a thickness of at least 2.5 mm.

15. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein said coupling means having a thickness of at least 3 mm.

16. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein said panel having a thickness of less than 4 mm.

17. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein said layer also comprises at least individual fibers having a length greater than 1 millimeter, said individual fibers are moisture resistant fibers, wherein said individual fibers are loose and freely distributed within said layer of thermoplastic material.

18. The panel according to claim 17 , wherein said substrate has a thickness of 1.3 to 10 millimeters.

19. The panel according to claim 17 , wherein said layer of thermoplastic material is situated at least halfway in the thickness of the panel.

20. The panel according to claim 17 , wherein said thermoplastic material is chosen from the list consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene and polyurethane.

21. The panel according to claim 17 , wherein said moisture resistant fibers are glass fibers, steel fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers or cellulose fibers being coated or treated by means of acetylation.

22. The panel according to claim 17 , wherein said moisture resistant fibers on average have a diameter situated between 1 to 100 μm.

23. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein said individual fibers are provided with a coating or a treatment which improves the adherence to the thermoplastic material.

24. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein said layer also comprises at least a glass fiber cloth or glass fiber fleece.

25. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein the panel comprises at least two such layers on the basis of thermoplastic material.

26. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein said thermoplastic material relates to soft polyvinyl chloride with a percentage of plasticizer of 12 percent by weight or more.

27. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein said thermoplastic material further comprises fillers.

28. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein said individual fibers on average have a diameter situated between 5 and 25 micrometers.

29. The panel according to claim 14 , wherein said individual fibers have an average length of more than 3 mm.

Assignees

• Flooring Ind Ltd Sarl

Inventors

• Segaert Martin
• Naeyaert Christophe

Classifications

• B29C70/0035

  comprising two or more matrix materials · CPC title

• B32B2307/412

  Transparent · CPC title

• B29C43/48

  Endless belts · CPC title

• B32B2327/06

  PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride · CPC title

• B29L2031/732

  Floor coverings (piles carpets B29L2031/7652; for vehicles B29L2031/3017) · CPC title