Floor panel for forming a floor covering and method for manufacturing such floor panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9885188-B2
Application number	US-201515125993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2015
Priority date	Mar 19, 2014
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

A floor panel for forming a floor covering may substantially consists of synthetic material. The floor panel may have a decorative upper side that is formed at least by a decorative layer. The decorative layer may be in the form of a digital print.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A floor panel for forming a floor covering, the floor panel comprising:
a decorative upper side;
wherein the decorative upper side is formed at least by a decorative layer including a digital print;
wherein the floor panel substantially consists of synthetic material and/or filler material;
wherein the floor panel includes at least a translucent or transparent wear layer, which is provided above the digital print; and
wherein a primer or adhesion layer is provided between the digital print and the wear layer.

2. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the digital print is provided on a thermoplastic film.

3. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel is a vinyl panel.

4. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the digital print comprises digitally provided UV-based or solvent-based inks or water-based inks.

5. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the primer or adhesion layer is chosen from the series consisting of polyurethane hotmelt, polyamide hotmelt, vinyl chloride vinyl acetate (VC-VAC), heat-sensitive 2K glue and water-based primer.

6. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel substantially is composed of a thermoplastic material.

7. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel substantially is composed of polyvinyl chloride.

8. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel comprises a substrate which contains plasticizers.

9. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel comprises at least one reinforcement layer.

10. The floor panel of claim 1 , wherein the floor panel has a thickness of 2 millimeters through 6 millimeters.

11. The floor panel of claim 1 ,
wherein the wear layer is a transparent thermoplastic wear layer that is thinner than 0.85 millimeters.

12. A method for manufacturing a floor panel having a decorative upper side that is formed at least by a decorative layer including a digital print, the floor panel substantially consisting of synthetic material and/or filler material, the method comprising:
providing a print on a thermoplastic film using UV-based or solvent-based inks or water-based inks; and
providing a transparent or translucent wear layer on the print;
wherein a primer or adhesion layer is provided between the print and the transparent or translucent wear layer.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel is a vinyl panel.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the primer or adhesion layer is chosen from the series consisting of polyurethane hotmelt, polyamide hotmelt, vinyl chloride vinyl acetate (VC-VAC), heat-sensitive 2K glue and water-based primer.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel substantially is composed of a thermoplastic material.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel substantially is composed of polyvinyl chloride.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel comprises a substrate which contains plasticizers.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel comprises at least one reinforcement layer.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floor panel has a thickness of 2 millimeters through 6 millimeters.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the wear layer is a transparent thermoplastic wear layer that is thinner than 0.85 millimeters.

Assignees

• Unilin Bvba

Inventors

• Clement Benjamin

Classifications

• B41M5/00

  Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein (by using light-sensitive materials G03; electrography, magnetography G03G {; repeatedly usable boards or tablets for writing or drawing B43L1/00}) · CPC title

• B32B7/12

  using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties · CPC title

• B32B2327/06

  PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride · CPC title

• B32B38/145

  Printing · CPC title

• B32B37/12

  characterised by using adhesives · CPC title