Flooring element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12331530-B2
Application number	US-202017757118-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2020
Priority date	Dec 10, 2019
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

Floor element comprising a top layer ( 102 ) attached to a substrate layer ( 104 ), in which the top layer ( 102 ) is itself layered, the top layer ( 102 ) comprising: —an optional backing layer ( 122 ) made of flexible polymer, —a flexible or semi-rigid polymer layer ( 124 ), onto or into which optionally at least one reinforcing layer ( 126 ) is attached or embedded, and —a finishing layer comprising a decorative layer ( 132 ), a wearing layer ( 134 ) thereon and optionally a coating ( 136 ) thereon; the substrate layer ( 104 ) being a rigid substrate layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A floor element, wherein this floor element comprises a substrate layer and a top layer applied on top thereof, wherein said top layer and said substrate layer have an essentially matching surface area, wherein the substrate layer is based on Portland cement or on magnesium oxide cement and wherein the top layer comprises a polymer layer, a carrier layer provided with a decorative print and a wearing layer; wherein said polymer layer is located between said carrier layer provided with said decorative print and the substrate layer; wherein said polymer layer is a rigid PVC layer with a plasticizer content of less than 10 phr; and wherein the substrate layer exhibits a thickness that corresponds to at least half of the thickness of the floor element and exhibits a thickness of at least 3 millimeters, wherein a further polymer layer is applied on the side of the substrate layer that is turned away from the top layer, said further polymer layer being a rigid PVC layer with a plasticizer content of less than 10 phr, wherein said polymer layer has a thickness of at least 1 millimeter and said thickness of said polymer layer is smaller than said thickness of said substrate layer and said further polymer layer has a thickness of 2 millimeters or less, wherein said polymer layer and said further polymer layer are applied to a respective side of said substrate layer by means of an adhesive.

2. The floor element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said polymer layer exhibits a thickness of 2 millimeters or less.

3. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein said top layer further comprises a coating on an outer side of said floor element.

4. The floor element of claim 3 , wherein said coating is a UV cured layer.

5. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein a textile reinforcement layer is attached to said polymer layer.

6. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein said polymer layer further comprises fillers.

7. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein said carrier layer is a PVC film.

8. The floor element of claim 1 , wherein the wearing layer is a PVC layer having a thickness between 0.15 mm and 1 mm and wherein said wearing layer is transparent and free from fillers.

9. The floor element of claim 8 , wherein said wearing layer comprises more than 20 phr of plasticizer.

10. A floor element, wherein this floor element comprises a substrate layer and a top layer applied on top thereof,
wherein the substrate layer is based on Portland cement or on magnesium oxide cement,
wherein the substrate layer exhibits a thickness that corresponds to at least half of the thickness of the floor element and exhibits a thickness of at least 3 millimeters;
wherein said top layer comprises a polymer layer, a PVC film provided with a print and a wearing layer,
wherein a textile reinforcement layer is attached to said polymer layer,
wherein the wearing layer is a PVC layer having a thickness between 0.15 mm and 1 mm and wherein said wearing layer is transparent and free from fillers,
wherein said polymer layer is located between said PVC film and the substrate layer; wherein said polymer layer is a rigid PVC layer with a plasticizer content of less than 10 phr;
wherein a further polymer layer is applied on the side of the substrate layer that is turned away from the top layer, said further polymer layer being a rigid PVC layer with a plasticizer content of less than 10 phr;
wherein said polymer layer has a thickness of at least 1 millimeter and said thickness of said polymer layer is smaller than said thickness of said substrate layer and said further polymer layer has a thickness of 2 millimeters or less, wherein said polymer layer and said further polymer layer are applied to a respective side of said substrate layer by means of an adhesive.

11. The floor element in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said polymer layer exhibits a thickness of 2 millimeters or less.

12. The floor element of claim 10 , wherein said top layer further comprises a coating on an outer side of said floor element.

13. The floor element of claim 12 , wherein said coating is a UV cured layer.

14. The floor element of claim 10 , wherein said polymer layer further comprises fillers.

15. The floor element of claim 10 , wherein said wearing layer comprises more than 20 phr of plasticizer.

Assignees

• Flooring Ind Ltd Sarl
• Unilin Bv

Inventors

• Van Vlassenrode Kristof
• Goessens Jurgen

Classifications

• E04F15/105

  of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials · CPC title

• E04F15/0215

  specially adapted for being adhesively fixed to an underlayer; Fastening means therefor; Fixing by means of plastics materials hardening after application · CPC title

• B32B2471/00

  Floor coverings (B32B2419/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B2327/06

  PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride · CPC title

• B32B2317/16

  Wood, e.g. woodboard, fibreboard, woodchips · CPC title