FR2823517A1 - MULTILAYER FLOOR COVERING, TO BE FLOATED - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a decorative floating floor covering, comprising a first hard rigid layer (2,) having a visible upper face, and at least one second underlying layer (3,) mechanically strong, rigid, of support of the first layer.The (some at least) of the second underlying layer (s) (3,) present (s) structural discontinuities (5,), defining cavities that reduce the sound of the coating.

Description

the user. The invention relates to decorative wall coverings.

  (in particular floors) to lay floating, that is to say not integral with the slab or

  the structure to be clad in the building that we want to equip.

  In particular, the invention relates to a coating consisting of an element, or a set of elements: - of a "real parquet" whose surface layer is (essentially) made of wood and is in the form of one or more planks (s) (also called planks, friezes, slats, ...), - or a "similiparquet" (also called "faux parquet" or o "laminate", that is to say a coating with the appearance of a parquet but containing much less wood than a "real parquet"), both the parquet and

  the similiparquet being floating.

  In the area of these coatings, two installation techniques are preferred: - floating poses,

- poses glued.

  As we have understood, the invention relates to the field of floating poses in which typically a underlay (felt, carpet, ...)

  or a foam sheet is interposed between the covering and the floor.

  In the other technique, the covering is fixed (typically glued) to the ground on a slab (often a thin slab covered with a fluid coating

forming a bonding bed).

  Under these conditions, an object of the invention is to reduce the

  the sound of a decorative floor covering, to be laid floating.

  The object is in particular to reduce the noise caused, in the room where the coating is located, by an impact on the coating (impacts

of steps, for example).

  One solution proposed by the invention consists in that the covering comprises structural discontinuities creating cavities which

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  reduce the sound of the coating and which do not open onto its face ...

superior, vsble.

  Typically, the coating comprises: - a first hard rigid layer, having a visible upper face, - and at least a second underlying layer, mechanically

  resistant, rigid, supporting the first layer.

  In this case, it is advised that the (at least some) second (s) layer (s) present (s) said structural discontinuities reducing the sound of the coating, the discontinuities being interrupted before reaching the visible upper face of the first layer (and in particular, before reaching this first layer if it is thin, or in this first layer, if it is thick and preferably, then going

  as close as possible to the surface, without weakening it).

  Thus we will disturb the waves emitted in the coating upon impact, the "cavities" defined by the discontinuities consisting of air pockets, or zones of change of medium (material / gas) in the

  horizontal circulation of sound waves.

  The discontinuities will typically present themselves as openings creating a series of interfaces with air or with another medium if the air gives way to such a medium, for example an elatomic material, these openings however interrupting before reaching the upper side of the

  first layer (which can therefore be continuous).

  A complementary object of the invention being to define conditions favorable to the realization of these "structural discontinuities", with an optimized result, it is advised that: - the covering consists of one or more boards or panels joined together of a parquet of wood, or of a faux parquet, to lay floating, - said discontinuities extend individually, for at least some of them, over at least most of the height of the

second layer.

  In addition, the discontinuities will preferably be thin, with parallel faces and elongated in a direction.

  substantially parallel to the visible upper face of the upper layer.

  Thus, notches, preferably vertical, made for example with a saw in said "second layer", will easily create one of the discontinuities sought. Typically, the height thus provided will be

  between 3 mm and 30 mm (preferably 5 mm to 25 mm).

  Such thickness and elongation characteristics eliminate the solution consisting in using an expanded or alveolar structure to create these "air pockets" of change of medium disturbing the waves emitted.

upon impact.

  This creates disruptive air knives that are easy to produce, in particular by various mechanical means well mastered by the manufacturers of coatings, or by spacing between two blocks of

  adjacent material constituting the coating.

  Moreover, as well as another characteristic of the invention, it is advisable to create the discontinuities, namely that the second layer comprises a succession of mechanically resistant battens or battens placed next to each other, at least two adjacent battens or battens. among these being separated by a so-called discontinuity which then appears as an intermediate space between these two battens or

adjacent battens.

  This typically applies to "real parquet".

  In the particular case of a laminate, we will rather choose to create cutouts (at least) in the underlying wood / resin layer which typically extends immediately below the decorative sheet of paper or wood veneer that we can see from above, under the top layer

of transparent resin.

  In the first case which uses battens or tasscaux, by crossing the wood grain in the first layer (direction of elongation of the parquet boards) and the direction of elongation of the discontinuities, we limit the

risk of mechanical distortion.

  However, it may be mechanically useful for the second layer to be doubled, immediately beneath it, by a counterbalancing layer for the mechanical strength of the coating, the counterbalancing layer then closing the discontinuities at their lower end. A bringing together of these discontinuities makes it possible to go up in the frequency range of the sound waves propagating following an impact

  (this also applies to a false parquet).

  To absorb the highest sound frequencies produced, and to reduce the transmission of noise in the vicinity, it is further advised that the covering comprises a third layer of acutely absorbent material extending under the second layer (s) ( s) o

discontinuities are formed.

  Advantageously, this third layer will have a thickness of between approximately 0.4 mm and 15 mm and will be made either of a cellular or expanded material, flexible and / or viscoelastic, or of a complex comprising a first cellular sub-layer and a second

  denser and more viscoplastic underlay than the first underlay.

  It will be noted that the term "flexible" applied to the constitution of the cellular or expanded layer is to be considered as opposed to a foam

  rigid, such as polyurethane or polystyrene.

  Moreover, to reinforce the sound absorption of the coating, the discontinuities (or more exactly the cavities which these will have created) could be, at least for some, filled at least in parffe by an acous-absorbent material different from the material of

  constitution of the second layer.

  Another aspect of the invention relates to the way of creating discontinuities. A first solution relates in particular to "real parquet" (wood) in which typically a second layer containing wood

  extends under the top layer of wood.

  In parffculier in this case, we advise: - to make up the second layer, to have side by side, o substantially parallel, between them, a succession of battens or battens while maintaining a spacing space between at least some of them , these spacing spaces defining at least some of the disconffnuities, - then, subsequently, to link the first and the

second layers.

  A second soluffon can be suitable for "real parquet"

  than laminates, or even other synthetic coatings.

  In this case, we recommend, after having made the first and second layers and having connected at least these two layers, to mechanically cut the disconnections in the second layer, starting from the underside of the latter opposite to the visible upper side of

the first layer.

  These two soluffons have the advantages of being simple to implement, economically profitable and effective in terms of effects.

  products vis-à-vis the sound of the coating.

  An even more detailed description of the invention is presented.

  below, with reference to the drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view in section and in section of an element of real parquet to be laid floating, here comprising four joined strips, - Figure 2 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the parquet of Figure 1, - Figure 3 is another alternative embodiment of this parquet, Figure 4 is a detail view IV of Figure 1, - Figure 5 is a view to more small scale of a set of parquet slats according to the invention, - and Figure 6 is another embodiment showing, in section, a

false parquet (or laminate).

  In FIGS. 1 to 4, it is assumed that it is an element 1 of floating parquet "in real wood" comprising a first upper layer 2 rigid, hard, and a second support layer, 3, which supports the layer 2,

immediately under it.

  Layer 2, commonly called "wear layer", can be covered with a film 20 of wax, oil or varnish (Figure 2), to further improve its appearance and / or for its protection. It will nevertheless be considered that the layer 2 has a solid or continuous upper face 2a, and visible (since this face will in practice be detectable through the

layer of wax or varnish).

  Layer 2 can be made of wood or at least contains wood (other hard materials, in particular synthetic materials such as a resin, are however conceivable in the case of "false parquet"), likewise for the

layer 3.

  The layer 2 illustrated is a continuously full layer, that is to say without internal vacuum (it is not cellular or alveolar), likewise for

  its upper face 2a and its lower face 2b.

  If layer 2 contains wood, the immediately underlying layer 3 can then consist of a succession of battens, battens,, arranged parallel to each other, with a spacing of between two adjacent battens. Not all cleats are necessarily

discarded two by two.

  The spacing d between the cleats concerned is less than the width of these cleats, which width (as, moreover, the spacing d)

  is preferably constant in the direction of the height of the layer.

  Each spacing, maintained over the entire length of the battens, creates an air space over the entire height h of the layer 3 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 3). The direction 5a of elongation of the emerging discontinuities 5 thus created is. in FIG. 5, both perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the wooden panels forming the layer 2, and parallel to the visible upper surface 2a of this layer. However, the discontinuities 5 could extend in other directions, in particular several crossed direcffons to then define a sort of grid. They are preferably distributed in a homogeneous manner. Their individual volume is at

  less than 10 mm3 and preferably greater than 100 mm3, approximately.

  Since the air spaces created by the discontinuities 5 extend here over the entire height h, they then open onto the respectively upper, 3a, and lower, 3b, faces of this layer and are therefore closed at their upper end by the continuous bottom face 2b of layer 2 (face

non visible).

  In the example of Figure 1, immediately below the support layer 3, extends another layer 7 of acoustically absorbent material

  : el a s tom eric material (el as to m ere) o u m o u s s ab s orb ante in particular.

  For the mechanical strength of the assembly, the foam will preferably be reinforced with rigid fibers. One can also imagine a non-woven veil of polyester or glass lined with an expanded layer or in a viscoelastic material

(Elastomer).

  In FIG. 4, we see the rigid, hard support layer 3, with just below, a first sublayer of cellular material (such as cork), or expanded, 7a, and a second denser sublayer 7b. and more viscoplastic than the first (for example, in cork with a

loaded polyolefin).

  Whether multilayer or monolayer, layer 7 closes

  the lower end of the discontinuities 5, in FIG. 1.

  Typically, the thickness of layer 7 is between 0.5

mm and 20 mm.

  In FIG. 2, an intermediate counterbalancing layer 9, for the mechanical stabilization of the assembly, is interposed between the layers 3 and 7. The thickness of the layer 9 is typically between 0.5 mm and 8 mm. It is then this layer 9 which closes the lower end of the discontinuities 5. It can be made of wood or another lo material capable of mechanically stabilizing the buckling and the like.

deformations of the assembly 1.

  Advantageously, this layer will appear in the manner of a

  continuous solid plate (rigid wooden plate, in particular).

  The spacings d corresponding to the width of the air spaces 5, can be between 0.05 mm and 30 mm, their length L, between 2 cm and 3 m (or more) depending on the direction of the air spaces created and corresponding widths and lengths of the slats. Their height may be between 2 mm and 25 mm. In practice, the average spacing d will preferably be comprised in 1/2 and 1 / 300th of the distance between two consecutive air spaces. Good efficiency has been obtained with the following dimensions: -d = 1.5 mm to 5 mm, - h = 5 mm to 20 mm (here corresponding to the height of the discontinuities), - L = 30 mm to 500 mm (width of the slat or the set of slats constituting the set 1: 35 mm to 500 mm, in the hypothesis of a "panel"),

- = 10mm to 60mm.

  In FIG. 3, the discontinuities 5 are filled with an acoustically absorbent material 50, such as an expanded or cellular material

(for example, cork).

  Filling may be only partial.

  Once the cleats 30 are made, they are removed two by two individually or in series, and, after having interposed them between the upper layer 2 (also called wear layer in a parquet) and the lower layer 7 or 9, all together, by pressure bonding, as

  known per se in the technique of manufacturing multilayer parquet.

  lo Element 1 can consist of one or more slats (also

  called planks, friezes, panels, boards, panels, ...) of parquet.

  FIG. 5 shows the result obtained in the form of a group 10 of slats (three slats) having periodically elongated discontinuities

  forming air gaps across their width.

  In FIG. 6, it is a laminate 20 (also called "false parquet") successively comprising, from top to bottom, an upper layer 21 of resin (typically melamine), a decorative layer sheet 23 (paper, plating of wood, ..., typically 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm thick) and a support and structuring layer 25, typically made of particles or wood fibers bonded by a synthetic resin (such as a

  "High Density Fiber" HDF layer; high density fiber).

  All or part of the thickness of the layer 25 is interspersed with a series of notches 27 "wave breakers" in the manner of the preceding discontinuities.

  The dimensions can moreover be comparable.

  These notches (or slits) can be provided by a cutting means such as a saw, once the product is finished, therefore after manufacture of the

  laminated panel 20, which is of course to be laid "floating".

  The respective thicknesses of layers 21 and 25 are typically each between 0.1 mm and 5 mm (preferably between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm). An acoustically absorbent layer 29 corresponding to layer 7 already presented can double by below layer 25 and close

  thus the lower end of the notches 27.

  Finally, it will be understood from the above, that two types of products are particularly concerned by the invention: a) - a real floating parquet comprising: o. a rigid, hard and full upper layer 2, containing wood (typically comprising one or more slats disposed laterally edge to edge), having an upper face of visible or continuous appearance, 2a, this upper layer (typically of a thickness of between 1.5 mm and 10 mm) which can be covered with a protective layer, such as varnish, oil or wax, 20, a second underlying layer, 3, for supporting the upper layer, located immediately below it, this second layer which is made of a rigid material containing wood (including agglomerated particles) having a series of through slots at least on one side (which therefore extend over at least part of the height h of layer 3), these slots being elongated, preferably mutually parallel and extending in an elongation direction substantially parallel to the upper surface 2a of said upper layer 2, the slots having in in addition to a thickness d advantageously between 0.05 mm and 30 mm (preferably 1.5 mm to 5 mm), with a spacing between two consecutive slits, preferably between 1 cm and 30 cm, advantageously, a solid layer 9 counterweight, hard, containing wood (including agglomerated particles), and then extending immediately under the second layer 3, for the mechanical strength of the parquet as a whole, and especially of the upper layer 2 (thickness included between 0.1 mm and 5 mm), and / or a soundproofing layer made of an acoustically absorbent material, located either directly under the counterbalancing layer 9, or directly under the second layer 3 (it being specified that, apart from this layer d 'soundproofing, 7, which can be reported, the other layers are linked together at the time of manufacture of the parquet, typically by pressure bonding); b) - a false parquet (which is therefore also called "laminate") comprising: a rigid, hard and full upper layer, made of resin, 21, having a visible upper face, visible, continuous, 21a, as well as 'a lower face 21b, also continuous; an intermediate decorative sheet 23 (paper, wood, etc.) giving the product its visible appearance through the transparent upper layer 21, a second underlying layer 25, rigid, for supporting the upper layer 21 and located immediately under the layer 23 , this second layer of rigid material containing wood (particles or fibers) bound by a synthetic resin and having a series of slots (or grooves) "wave breakers", opening out at least on one side (at their upper end and / or lower), elongated, mutually parallel and extending in an elongation direction substantially parallel to the upper face 21a of the upper layer, these slots having a width d and having between them an identical spacing in the case of "real parquet" "(with between 1 cm and 30 cm,> d, and 0.05 mm <d <30 mm and / or d between 1/2 and 1 / 300th of the average spacing d), and possibly, a layer additional soundproofing sation 29 which can be identical to layer 7 presented for "real parquet", that is to say containing an expanded material and / or a visco-elastic material (elastomer), it being however specified that said soundproofing layer 29 is then located immediately under the layer of

support and structuring 25.

Claims (18)

  1. A decorative floating floor covering, comprising: - a first rigid rigid layer (2, 21), having a visible upper face, - and at least one second mechanically resistant, rigid, underlying supporting layer (3, 25) of the first layer, characterized in that the (at least some of) the second underlying layer (s) (3, 25) have (s) structural discontinuities (5, 27),   defining cavities that reduce the sound of the coating.   2. Coating according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of one or more boards or panels (1, 20) of a parquet of   wood, or of a similiparquet, to pose floating.   3. Coating according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that: - the second layer o are formed the structural discontinuities (5, 27) has an upper face and a lower face, - and at least some discontinuities (5 , 27) open on .....   one to the mons of these upper and lower faces.   4. Coating according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that said discontinuities (5, 27) extend individually, for at least some of them, over at least   most of the height (h) of the second layer.   5. Coating according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the discontinuities (5, 27) are elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the visible upper face (2a) of the upper layer (2, 21).   6. Coating according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the second layer (3) comprises a succession of mechanically resistant battens or battens (30) arranged one next to the other, at least two battens or battens (30a, 30b) among this succession being disposed of adjacent by being separated by a so-called discontinuity (5) which is thus presented as an intermediate space   between two adjacent battens or battens.   7. Coating according to claim 6, characterized in that the first layer (2) is elongated in a first direction of elongation (2b), while the cleats or battens (30) are elongated in a second direction of elongation ( 30a) which crosses the first, the discontinuities (5) being elongated in this second direction o elongation (30a).   8. Coating according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that: - said covering is a laminate, - the first layer is a layer of melamine (21), - the second layer (25) comprises particles or wood fibers bound by a synthetic resin, a decorative sheet ( 23) is interposed between the first and the second layer, - and said disconffnuities (27) appear as notches extending in the second layer, but not in the first layer.   9. Coating according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that a third layer (7) of a material   acoustically absorbent extends under the second layer (s).   10. Coating according to claim 9, characterized in that the third layer (7) has a thickness of between approximately 0.5 mm and 20 mm and is made either of a cellular or expanded material, flexible and / or viscoelastic, or of a complex comprising a first under layer of expanded material and a second denser and more   viscoplastic than the first underlay. -   11. Coating according to any of the claims   previous, characterized in that the second layer (3) is doubled,. immediately below it, by a counterbalancing layer (9) for the mechanical strength of the coating, the counterbalancing layer (9) closing the discontinuities (53 at their lower end.   12. Coating according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the discontinuities (5, 27) are, at least for some, filled at least in part by an acoustically material   absorbent different from the material constituting the second layer.   0 13. Coating consisting of one or more plank (s) (11) of a parquet essentially containing wood or a similar parquet, to be laid floating, the plank (s) having an upper face (2a, 21a), the covering being characterized in that it comprises structural discontinuities (5, 27) creating cavities which reduce the sound of the   coating and which are not opening on the upper face (2a, 21a).   14. Coating according to claim 13, characterized in that the discontinuities (5, 27) are elongated in a direction substantially   parallel to the upper face (2a) of the covering.   15. Coating according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the discontinuities (5, 27) have   individually a volume of at least 10 mm3.   16. Coating according to any of the claims   above, characterized in that at least some of the discontinuities (5,   27) individually have a volume of at least 1 00 mm3, approximately.   17. Method for obtaining a decorative coating, according to one   any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that:   - To form the second layer (3), there is side by side, substantially parallel to each other, a succession of battens or battens (30) while maintaining a space (dJ separation between at least some of them, these spaces spacing defining at least some of the discontinuities (5), - and subsequently, the first and the second layers (2, 3).   18. Method for producing a decorative coating according to one   any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that after having carried out   the first and second layers (2, 3; 21, 25) and having connected at least these two layers, the discontinuities are cut mechanically (27)   in the second layer (3, 25), from the underside (25a) thereof   ci, opposite the upper face (21a) of the first layer.