US20090183458A1

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Info

Publication number: US20090183458A1
Application number: US12/016,777
Authority: US
Inventors: Kelly Gibson; Len Hoard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-18
Filing date: 2008-01-18
Publication date: 2009-07-23

Abstract

A panelling system preferably for floors is defined by a series of panels each formed of a plurality of tongue and groove main floor plank strips arranged side edge to side edge and cut to a common length with a tongue along one cut edge and a groove along the other. At the edges are attached edge strips formed also from the flooring planks with tongue and groove and fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation. The outwardly facing edge has a tongue or groove for mating with a groove or tongue of a next adjacent panel. The strips are fastened by pins or corrugated plates from the rear or by a bonded sheet material on the rear. The strips may include tongue and groove joints of the snap fastening type where the connection of each strip to the next in the assembled panel can be simply by way of an adhesive tape over the rear surface of the joint.

Description

This invention relates to a panelling system defined by a plurality of inter-engaging panels. The system is primarily designed for flooring but can be used for other surfaces requiring to be paneled with an attractive layer of a covering material formed in individual panels. The system is primarily designed for use with panels formed of wood but other materials can be used either to form the entire panel or a part of the panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various techniques have been proposed for the manufacture of wood panel flooring. Conventionally wood panel flooring is formed as tongue and groove planks which are arranged edge to edge so that the tongue of one projects into a groove of the next. This construction is time consuming and relatively inaccurate so that gaps can be exposed leading to an unattractive appearance.

Floor panels in rectangular shape have been proposed which generally again connect one to the next using a tongue and groove arrangement so as to provide an improved laying system. Often such panels are formed from laminated or other non-wood materials and hence are not accepted as a high quality wood product.

In published US Patent Application 2006/0076394 published Apr. 13, 2006 and in corresponding Canadian Application Serial No: 2,525,516 originally published Mar. 4, 2005 of Kelly Gibson, one of the inventors herein, is disclosed a panelling system primarily for flooring which is formed from a plurality of wood floor panel members defined by a rectangular panel formed of wood and along two opposed side edges a decorative dividing strip extending along the length of the side edge and having a top surface of the strip lying in a common plane with the upper surface of the panel with the other opposed side edges of the panel being exposed for butting directly against a next adjacent panel. The dividing strips project beyond an end of the side edge and are cut at 45 degrees to form a pointed portion having an apex at a position mid way through the thickness of the dividing strip such that four dividing strips, when the panels are laid on the floor, meet at the junction between four of the panels with the apexes in contact at a center of the rectangular area at the junction. This arrangement as disclosed was proposed for use with rectangular panels of solid wood or for deck strips and as such was not suitable for high quality interior flooring. The disclosure of this published application may be referenced for more detail of this construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the invention to provide a panelling system.

According to the invention there is provided a panelling system comprising:

a plurality of panel members for locating on a supporting surface generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;

each panel member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface and four side edges;

each panel member comprising a plurality of main strips arranged side edge to side edge with each main strip having a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove along an opposed side edge so that the main strips are connected side by side by interconnection of the tongues and the grooves;

the tongues and grooves being shaped such that:

the strips can be connected each to the next by simple sliding of the tongue into the groove with one strip pivoted about the joint in the direction such that an angle between the strips at the front surface of the panel is less than 180 degrees;

the strips can be connected each to the next with the strips co-planar by forcing of the tongue into the groove in a snap fastening action, with the snap fastening action resisting movement of the strips in a direction away from the joint when fastened;

the joint when fastened prevents pivoting movement of the strips to a position in which the angle between the strips at the front surface of the panel is greater than 180 degrees;

and a piece of a flexible sheet material adhesively attached across the joint on the rear surface of the panel.

Preferably the strips are connected each to the next, to form the panel, solely by the tongue and groove joint and the piece of material.

Preferably the piece of material comprises a tape expending longitudinally of the joint.

Preferably the tape includes fiber reinforcement.

In one arrangement the first ends of the main strips lie in a first common line and second ends of the main strips lie in a second common line; the main strips have a tongue along the first common line and a groove along the second common line; a first main strip at one side of the main strips has an exposed tongue along the first main strip for co-operating with a groove of a next adjacent panel and a second main strip at an opposed second side of the main strips has an exposed groove along the second main strip for co-operating with a tongue of a next adjacent panel; each panel member having associated therewith a first dividing strip arranged to extend along the first common line and a second dividing strip arranged to extend along the second common line; each of the dividing strips has a front surface of the dividing strip to define with the front surfaces of the main strips the front surface of the panel; each of the dividing strips has a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove along an opposed side edge; the first dividing strip has the groove thereof engaged with the tongue along the first common line; the second dividing strip has the tongue thereof engaged with the groove along the second common line; the dividing strips being fastened to the ends of the main strips by the tongue and groove joint and the piece of material.

Preferably the panel members include dividing strips connected to the main strips where the dividing strips are arranged with a portion of each of the dividing strips of each panel member projecting beyond the main strips of the respective panel member such that, when four of the panel members are assembled into the system with one of the dividing strips between the main strips of each panel member and the next so as to form a rectangular area at a junction between corners of the main strips of the four of the panels, the rectangular area defined at the junction between said four of the panels is filled by said portions of the dividing strips which are shaped to cooperate to fill the rectangular area.

Preferably each end portion of the dividing strips is shaped to form diagonal end edges at an angle to the respective side edge such that the dividing strips meet at the junction between four of the panel members with the apexes in contact at a center of the rectangular area.

Preferably one end edge of each end portion has a tongue and an opposed end edge of each end portion has a groove.

Preferably the dividing strips and the main strips are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation.

Preferably each of the main strips has the same width between side edges thereof and each dividing strip has substantially the same width as the main strips.

Preferably the end portions of the dividing strips have the end edges thereof in the front surface chamfered such that the dividing strips when butting have a chamfered groove at the front surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a panel of a flooring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of four such panels assembled to form part of the flooring system.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through a junction between two boards of the panel ofFIG. 1 showing the pin connection therebetween.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show schematically a series of steps in a method for assembly of the panel ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a more detailed view of the carousel for forming and attaching the dividing strips.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to that ofFIG. 3 through a junction between two boards of the panel ofFIG. 1 showing an alternative mode of connection therebetween.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a plurality of assembled panels of a further embodiment of flooring system according to the present invention where the individual panels are hexagonal and there is provide an edge strip on each of the six sides.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a panel of one square panel of a further embodiment of a flooring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a panel of one square panel of a yet further embodiment of a flooring system according to the present invention and there is provide an edge strip on each of the four sides.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a plurality of assembled panels of a further embodiment of flooring system according to the present invention where the individual panels are triangular and there is provide an edge strip on each of the three sides.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a plurality of assembled panels of a further embodiment of flooring system according to the present invention where the panels are rectangular and where some of the panels have the divider strips parallel to the main strips and some of the panels have the divider strips at right angles to the main strips.

FIG. 13 is a plan view similar to that ofFIG. 12 wherein there is shown in addition that the pointed portions at the ends of the divider strips have the sides thereof formed with co-operating tongues and grooves.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view along the lines14-14 ofFIG. 13 showing the connection between two boards and the manufacture of the boards from an engineered two component construction.

FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the small portion of the board ofFIG. 13 showing the fastening element.

FIGS. 16,17 and18 are respectively cross-sectional views through one joint in a panel, for example as shown inFIGS. 2 or13.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made to the above published application of Gibson which shows and describes the details of the panels with the dividing strips and the interconnection between the four corners of the panels.

The arrangement described herein comprises a floor system defined by a series of panel members, four of which are shown at10 through13. Each of the panel members has atop surface16 defining a floor surface on which the user walks and providing an attractive appearance as described hereinafter. Each of the panel members includes abottom surface17 for sitting on a sub floor of a conventional nature.

Each of the panel members is formed from a plurality of side by side main strips10A to10G which are connected together side by side to form an initial panel portion which has four side edges so that for example thepanel10 has

side edges

20 and21 which form a first pair of opposed side edges and

side edges

22 and23 which form a second pair of opposed side edges.

The main strips are formed from tongue and groove boards which are commonly available and are formed from many different wood varieties. Thus each board has atongue18 on one side and agroove19 on the opposite side arranged to inter-fit to hold the boards side by side. Such boards are supplied in various lengths which can include random lengths and generally are supplied with tongue and groove ends so that the butting ands also inter-fit.

Each board conventionally has a chamferededge19A in thetop surface16 where the boards meet to form a micro-groove between the two butting chamfered edges.

In order to form these into a flooring system having an attractive appearance, each base panel formed by the side by side boards has attached two dividing strips which are attached to opposite side edges of the panel. Thus for example thepanel10 has two dividing

strips

30 and31 attached along the

side edges

20 and21. The dividing strips are formed from a board similar in appearance to the boards forming the panel but is arranged at right angles to the boards so as to provide an attractive appearance in the floor when completed and laid.

Each dividing strip has a depth equal to the thickness of the boards so that a bottom surface of the dividing strip is coincident with the plane of thebottom surface17 and similarly a top surface of the dividing strip is coincident with the plane of thetop surface16. The dividing strips are preferably formed from the same boards as the main strips10A to10G so as to have the same dimensions and the same appearance.

Thepanel12 has the dividing strips indicated at30A and31A so that thepanel13 is rotated through 180° relative to thepanel10. In this way the dividingstrip30A carried by thepanel13 engages theside edge23 of thepanel10 which is free from any dividing strips and is simply bare for butting the dividing strips30A. Similarly the dividing strips31A butts the next adjacent panel not numbered.

The panel11 is also rotated through 180° relative to thepanel10 so that itsbare edge23A butts the dividingstrip31 and itsdividing strip30A butts the edge23B of thepanel13. In this way it will be appreciated that the whole floor can be laid by rotating the panels back and forth through 180° and laying them each to the next with the side edges butting. In this way between each panel and the next adjacent panel is one dividing strip thus separating the panels by the thickness of the dividing strip while allowing the bare edge of the strip to butt against the outside surface of the dividing strip.

Each of the dividing strips extends along the full length of the respective side edge of the panel and also extends beyond the end of the side edge into a pointedportion50. Thus as shown inFIG. 2 thedividing strip30A is fastened to thepanel12 and the dividingstrip31 is fastened to thepanel10. The dividingstrip30A extends to the end corner51 of the side edge22A of thepanel13. The dividing strips30A then include the pointedportion50 which is cut to form two

side edges

52 and53 converging to an apex54. The ends52 and53 are cut at 45° relative to the sides of the dividing strip so that they are 90° to each other forming a right angle triangle converging to the apex54 which lies on a centre line55 of the dividing strips30A.

Symmetrically the dividingstrip30A includes anend portion56 also converging to an apex which touches the apex54 at the center of the rectangular area between the corners of the

panels

10,12 and the further two panels not numbered. In this way, in each of the square intersections between the edges of the panels, each panel at the intersection carries one of the dividing strips with each of the dividing strips having the pointed extension portion symmetrical to theextension portion50 andextension portion56 projecting into the center of the square area with the apexes of these pointed portions touching at the center of the square area.

The panels are fastened to thesub floor18 byscrews60 which are located in screw holes61 located at the end of the respective dividing strip spaced from the apex54. Each panel has four such screw holes61 arranged adjacent the corners of the panel and spaced inwardly from the apexes of the dividing strips of the panel. Thus at each junction between floor panels, fourscrew holes61 surround the junction and provide an attractive appearance, when those screw holes are plugged by visually distinct plugs in known manner. Thus the dividing strips coming to a junction where the junction is visually distinct together with the surrounding four holes of the screw pattern which are also visually distinct provides a visually distinct and attractive pattern across the whole extent of the floor when laid.

Each of the strips10A through10G is of an equal common width and is formed from conventional floor planking so each strip has agrove19 on one side and atongue18 on the other side of a conventional nature.

As shown inFIG. 1, some of the strips are continuous as indicated at10A and10C so as to extend from theside edge20 to theside edge21. Others of the strips are discontinuous and include ajoin35 between two

portions

36 and37 of the strip. The joint35 similarly includes a tongue andgroove arrangement38 where a tongue at the end of thestrip portion36 is joined into a groove at the end of thestrip portion37. This provides an integrated structure throughout the strip but allows lengths of strip material to be used which are not necessarily continuous along the full length of the panel.

The divider strips are formed from a material of the same width and same construction as the strips forming the panel. Thus each divider strip itself has agroove40 along one side and atongue41 along the opposite side. The divider strips are formed from a common source of the same material and generally therefore have the same width of the strips10A through10G and can be taken from the same supply. The divider strips are therefore not visually distinct from the main strips but are visibly distinguished by the right angle orientation.

In the alternative divider strips of a different width may be used and the divider strips may be of a different wood variety thus providing a visually distinct pattern. Yet further the strips may be stained or coloured to a different colour to provide a visually distinct arrangement as preferred by the user of the panels.

Most examples will have a divider strip that will be of the same width and the same variety so that the whole panel can be formed from a common supply of the wood strip materials.

Use of wood is not essential in this construction but is obviously preferred to provide a high quality finished wooden floor product as opposed to laminate materials or other materials which are considered to be of less quality.

The ends of themain strips10 through10gare cut to form agroove43 at theedge20 to receive thetongue41 and symmetrically these strips are cut to form atongue44 at theedge21 to corporate with thegrove40 of thedivider strip31.

A fastener arrangement for connecting each strip to the next adjacent strip is shown inFIG. 3. Thus a series of fastener pins150 is provided and these fastener pins are engaged into the tongue and groove joint between each main strip and the next adjacent main strip and between at least some of the ends of the main strip and the respective divider strip.

Eachpin150 is of a type which has no head at arear end151 for theforward end152 maybe pointed or may simply be straight to form a straight pin that can be simply driven into the wood at the joint using conventional driving tools. Such pins are previously known and the tools for driving them are commercially available.

With this arrangement, however, thepin150 is driven through thebottom surface17 and the pin is selected to have a length so that therear end151 is recessed from thesurface17 after the application is complete. Thus therear end151 is recessed below an adjacent portion of thesurface17 so if it is not proud of that surface then you've the possibility of snagging or catching or damaging any materials.

Theleading end152 is arranged by selecting a length of the pin so that theleading end152 engages into the adjacent board to a position beyond thetongue18.

The pin is driven at an angle to thesurface17 and therefore at an angle to thesurface16 so the pin passes through a plane P which joins the ends of the two strips indicated at10A and10B. Thus at the junction fastened by thepin150, is one example of a series of such fastened joints throughout the structure of the panel. The strip10A has atongue18 which is received within agroove19 of the strip10B. Thepin150 has itsrear end151 in the strip10B in the area underneath thegroove19 and passes from that area into thetongue18, extending through the tongue and into the upper part of the strip10A above the upper surface of thetongue18. In this way the pin provides an effective fastening arrangement but the pin is wholly contained within the structure of the strips with neither the front end nor the trailing end exposed beyond the

surfaces

16 and17. The angle of the pin relative to thesurface17 is preferably of the order of 45 to 60 degrees and more preferably 54 degrees. The fact that the pin extends through thetongue18 while the tongue is housed or contained in the groove inhibits or prevents any splitting of the tongue during the pinning action.

Thus each strip is fastened to the next adjacent strip by a series of such pins, the number of which can be selected depending upon structural strength required. In addition there is a connection between the ends of some of the strips10A through10G and thedivider strip31 which extends similarly through thetongue44 at thegrove40. The number of such fastening pins can be selected again according to structural strength required so that only some of the ends of the strips are fastened or all of the ends or the strips are fastened as required.

Symmetrically further fasteners are inserted through the junction between thetongue41 and thegroove43 between thedivider strip30 and theends20 of the main strips.

In this way the panel when completed is fixed in place and integrated by the fasteners so that the structure is prevented from twisting by side to side movement of the divider strips. It is preferred that the connection of the panel is effected without the use of glue so as to avoid the necessity for application of glue during the manufacturing process. However glue or other additional fastening methods may be used if required.

Turning now to the method of manufacture shown inFIGS. 4,5 and6, there are shown a serious of manufacturing stations through which the materials pass to complete assembly of the structure as describe above.

Thus the manufacturing process includes afirst assembly station60, asecond convergence station61, afastening station62, a cuttingstation63, a tongue andgroove station64, acarousel65, and afinal assembly station66.

In theassembly station60, a number of channels67 are formed each containing a respective one of the strips10A through10G. Thus eachchannel67A through67G contains a respective one of the strips which are fed forwardly in a continuous manner to theconvergence station61. The strips are introduced into the channel67 so that they are in continuous manner including the connection lines or joints35. Either automatically or manually at the assembly station, the strips are assembled so that thejoint lines35 are offset in a longitudinal direction from each channel relative to the next adjacent channel so that in this way no junction lines are arranged so that they are aligned or closely adjacent between side by side channels. This can be done in practice by providing the channels of sufficient length that a skilled operator can select the strips of different lengths and locate them so that thejoint lines35 are longitudinally offset. If the strips are of all identical length, this can be simply done by selecting the position of the ends of the strips in a staggered manner at the outset and the strips will remain in the staggered manner throughout the assembly provided the strips are carefully butted end to end and are all of a common length. In the alternative strips of different lengths can be selected and the operator arranged to select required lengths to ensure the required staggering of the butt joints.

Of course each strip in each channel has the groove and tongue arranged so that the strips can be brought together and interconnected in the proper tongue and grove arrangement side by side.

From theassembly station60 the channels are arranged to feed the strips forwardly while at the same time converging those strips to bring them together using a series of convergingrollers68. The strips are thus brought to a position immediately side by side and brought to a position where the strips are compressed between a convergingroller69 on one side and a compressingroller70 on the other side. In the arrangement shown, the convergingroller69 carries atongue69A which runs in thegroove19 on the right hand side of the assembled strips. In the convergence station there are series ofsuch guide rollers69 indicated that69B and69C and these are arranged at a specific fixed location to provided a datum line which accurately locates the position of the edge of the outside strip10G and itsgrove19.

On the opposite side of the datum line defined by theguide rollers69, there is provided acutting wheel72 downstream of thecompression roller70. Thecutting wheel72 is located at a fixed determined distance from theguide rollers69 to provide a cutting action on the edge of the strip10A remote from the strip10G.

The distance of thecutting wheel72 from the datum line is accurately fixed and is slightly less than the minimum width of the converged strips10A through10G, bearing in mind that such strips when manufactured commonly have a significant manufacturing tolerance.

Thecutting wheel72 is arranged to cut afresh tongue18 and associated

shoulders

18A and18B above and below thetongue18. Thus instead of relying on the position of the tongue of the strip10A, a fresh tongue and associated shoulders is cut so that the width of the converged strips is accurately equal to the distance between the cutting wheel and the guide rollers regardless of any variations or tolerance in the widths of the strips as supplied.

In this way the completed panel has a width between the

sides

22 and23 which is accurately cut and is exactly equal for each subsequent panel that is manufactured. In addition the amount of compression between the strips is accurately maintained so that the strips are held at this fixed spacing while substantially ensuring that any warping or bending of the strips is removed by sufficient transverse compression across the panel.

Downstream of thecutting wheel72 is provided aguide roller73 which is arranged opposite to arespective guide roller69C. Theguide roller73 preferably contains a groove for receiving thetongue18 recently cut by thecutting wheel72. Thus the strips are maintained by these guide rollers and by

further guide rollers

69D and73A arranged downstream of the

guide rollers

73 and69C. These rollers are located at thefastening station62 so that as the assembled panel formed by the individual strips is moved into thefastening station62 it is maintained at the required fixed spacing and under the required compression.

At thefastening station62 is provided a series of pin inserting tools indicated at62A through to62F. These fastening tools are arranged at positions bridging the junctions between the strips so as to be operable to insert thepins150 at the required position and at the required angle.

The pin inserters62A through62F are controlled by acontrol unit62G. The control unit receives inputs from a series ofdetectors75A through75G which are arranged each in a respective one of the channels for detecting the forwarding action of the respective strips. Each detector75 is arranged to detect the presence of ajunction line35. Thus thepin inserting devices62A through62F are controlled so that they are operated at a time to ensure that a pin is inserted at a position spaced from ajunction line35 on either side of the pin. The controlled unit is arranged to determine a predetermined distance on either side of ajunction line35 within which a fastener pin is not permitted to be inserted. The control unit is arranged to determine the positions of insertion of pins based upon the presence of thejunction line35 to ensure that sufficient pins are inserted in the junction between each strip and the next adjacent strip while ensuring that the pins are inserted at a position spaced from the junction lines.

Downstream from the fastening station is provided a clamping assembly generally indicated at76. This includes a pair of clamping

members

77 and78 each on a respected side of the assembled fastened panel and which includesclamping engagements79 which engage onto the

sides

22 and23 of the assembled panel formed by the strips10A through10G. Thus after the panel is released from the clamping rollers, is engaged by clamping members which are intended to hold that structure while it is moved at right angles to the forming line into the

further stations

64 and66. After the fastened panel formed by the panel is moved to up to a required location and engaged by the clamping

members

77 and78, this position is detected by asensor80 which therefore locates theedge20 of the panel. At this position a cuttingdevice81 is operated which moves across the panel to provide a cutting action to define theside edge21. The cutting device includes aconventional blade82 carried on atrack83 with the distance between the cutting blade and thesensor80 being accurately determined to ensure an accurate spacing between the

sides

20 and21 of the panel when cut.

As shown inFIG. 5, the panel so formed and fastened with the accurate spacing between the

sides

20 and21 and the accurate spacing between the tongue at theside23 and thegroove19 at theside22 is carried in the gripping

members

77 and78 on a suitable transport track (not shown), the formed panel defined by the main strips10A through10G is moved into the tongue andgroove station64.

At the tongue andgroove station64, the panel supported in the clamping

members

78 and79 is moved along the track past a set of

guide rollers

85 and86 which control the position of the

edges

20 and21 accurately in a predetermined spaced position. The

guide rollers

85 and86 include a

second set

85A and86A downstream thereof so that the panel is maintained accurately positioned and accurately square. Atongue cutter wheel87 is provided on theside edge21 and agroove cutter wheel88 is provided on theside edge20. These cutter wheels rotate relative to the panel as it is moved past the cutter wheels to effect a cutter action to form at the side edges20 and21 the respected tongue and groove previously described.

After the formation of the tongue and groove, the completed panel formed by the main strips is moved into thefinal assembly station66 at thecarousel65.

Thecarousel65 is shown in more detail inFIG. 6 and comprises a series of stations arranged around the carousel which rotates around acentral support88. Thus the carousel defines afirst station65A at which tongue and groove strip from asupply65B is cut to a required length by acutting device65C. At asecond station65D; the cut length of the strip is cut to define the pointedportion50 at the front end. At athird station65E, the cut strip is passed through a cutting station to effect cutting of the pointedsection50A at the rear end of the strip. The cutting stations are of course arranged so that the length of the dividing strip now formed from the supply of the board is accurately to the required length between the points of the pointed portions and the pointed portions have the accurate 90 degree angle. At thenext station65F the formed dividing strip is passed through a set of cutting members which form the chamferededge19A on the pointed

portions

50 and50A. At afurther station65G, the dividing strip is drilled to form theholes61 at the base of the pointed

portions

50 and50A.

At afinal station65H, the completed dividing strip is moved into position onto the edge of the panel so that the groove in the dividing strip engages onto the tongue of the side edge on one side of the panel and on the other side the tongue of the dividing strip is engaged onto the groove at the side of the panel.

The carousel is of a conventional nature and uses conventional cutting, routing and drilling tools to effect the above cutting actions. The selection of the necessary tools is within the skill of a person skilled in this art so that description of the necessary tools is not required here. Carousels of this type are commonly available providing a series of stations. Of course the first carousel is arranged on one side and the second carousel is arranged on the second side of the panel moved along the track as carried by the clamping

members

78 and79.

At thefinal assembly station66 including the two

carousels

65 and65X, there are provided additional

pin driving members

62X,62Y and62Z for driving pins as previously described into the junction between the dividing strip and the ends of selected ones of the main strips.

After thefinal assembly station66, the completed panel assembled by the pins is moved to a stacking station (not shown) where it is released from the clamping

members

78 and79 for stacking onto a pile of finished such panels for transportation to a remote location for installation.

InFIG. 7 is shown an alternative arrangement for fastening the strips of the panel member together and this comprises asheet90 of a fabric or similar flexible material which can be applied onto the whole of the rear surface of the panel member so as to cover all of the joints with the sheet being bonded to therear surface17 by a layer of an adhesive91. While it is preferred that a common sheet covers all of the joints so that its dimension is substantially equal to the rear of the panel, it will be appreciated that separate strips can be applied along each joint or separate strips may cover some of the joints. Thus a single piece many be applied over the main strips when assembled and converged at the fastening station and separate pieces applied over the joints of the divider strips in the final assembly station. The fabric pieces can be unrolled from a supply of the required width and cut to length. The strips preferably carry the adhesive from the supply or the adhesive may be applied separately. The adhesive may be a hot melt which is activated by a heated plate or roller brought up onto the rear surface of the assembled panel which presses the fabric into engagement with the rear surface and activates the adhesive.

Turning now toFIGS. 8 through 11, there is shown an alternative arrangement where the finished panel is a polygon which therefore has a plurality of sides converging to an apex where each side is arranged to co-operate with a side of next adjacent panel without any intervening divider strips of the type described above.

Thus inFIG. 8 thepanels80 are hexagonal with acentral panel section81 which is hexagonal and with anedge strip82 at each side edge of the center section. Thus when a panel butts with another panel there are two butting edge strips side by side as indicated at82A and82B, as opposed to the single divider strip of the above described arrangements. Each edge strip butts at its end with its next adjacent strip at abutt line83 which is diagonal along aline84 extending from a center of thepanel81 as indicated at85. The butt line may include tongue and groove interconnection or may be merely a flat butt.

The center panel is formed from side by side tongue and groove main strips as previously described. In view of the hexagon shape, when arranged in a symmetrical manner, four of the edge strips extend in a direction at an angle of 120 degrees to the longitudinal direction of the main strips and two of the edge strips are parallel to the main strips. As an alternative, it will be appreciated that, in another symmetrical arrangement, the main strips may be arranged at right angles to those shown or may be at another angle intermediate the angle of the two symmetrical arrangements.

InFIG. 9, thepanel90 is square with two edge strips91 parallel to themain strips93 and two edge strips92 at right angles to the main strips93. Again when a panel butts with another panel there are two butting edge strips side by side. Each edge strip may butt at its end with its next adjacent strip at a butt line which is diagonal, similar to the arrangement ofFIG. 8 andFIG. 10, but in the example shown the edge strips92 extend across the full width of the panel. The butt line may include tongue and groove interconnection or may be merely a flat butt. In the arrangement shown, the ends of the edge strips92 include tongue and groove connections.

InFIG. 10, the panel95 is also square with fouredge strips96 at an angle of 45 degrees to the main strips97. Again when a panel butts with another panel there are two butting edge strips side by side. Each edge strip butts at its end with its next adjacent strip at a butt line which is diagonal, similar to the arrangement ofFIG. 8. The butt line may include tongue and groove interconnection or may be merely a flat butt.

InFIG. 11, thepanels99 form an equilateral triangular shape with threeedge strips100 two of which101 and102 lie at an angle of 60 degrees to themain strips100 and one of which103 is at right angles to the strips. Again, when a panel butts with another panel there are two butting edge strips side by side. Each edge strip butts at its end with its next adjacent strip at a butt line which is diagonal passing through a center of the triangle, similar to the arrangement ofFIG. 8. The butt line may include tongue and groove interconnection or may be merely a flat butt.

In each case the edge strips present outwardly of the panel either a tongue or a groove for engaging a groove or a tongue of an edge strip of a next adjacent panel;

In each case the edge strips and the main strips are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation.

As shown, each of the main strips has the same width between the side edges with each edge strip having substantially the same width as the main strips.

The dividing strips and the main strips are fastened together by the pin arrangement described above or by the adhesive sheet method described above.

Turning now to the embodiments shown inFIGS. 12,13,14 and15 these use the constructions and principles described before so that only the important differences will be described herein after.

Firstly, the construction shown inFIG. 14 uses a panelling material formed of abase layer110 and a covering or face layer111. This can be of the type known as “engineered flooring” where the base layer is commonly a plywood layer and the covering layer is a facing layer of a hard wood. Such materials are well known and widely used for high cost flooring where the facing layer forms the actual floor layer and the support orbase layer110 acts as a support to provide structural support both during laying and during operation of the floor. Plywood is a convenient base material since it is resistant to changes in dimension caused by moisture content, since it is flexible, since it is formed of a soft wood material and hence it can be attached to anunderlying support surface112 by a layer ofadhesive113. As the underlying base layer has the above features it can be considerably thinner than conventional flooring with the covering or face layer being merely sufficient to provide the attractive upper layer with no requirement form structural strength. The structural stability of the product allows the bonding by adhesive of the flooring directly to a concrete base using an adhesive without the change in dimension acting to crack the adhesive.

Such materials are commercially available for example from BOA-Franc of Quebec Canada and due to the above characteristics can be manufactured very accurately with dimensional accuracy in the range 0.001 inch.

Further details of such material are available to the person skilled in this art from the actual products manufactured and sold by this company under the trademarks “Mirage” flooring.

The flooring is generally wider than conventional hard wood flooring having a width of the order of 3 to 5 inches and is thinner than conventional hard wood flooring having a total thickness of the order of ⅜ to ½ inches which is formed by plywood base of the order of ¼ to ⅜ inches and a covering layer of the order of 1/16 to 5/32 inches.

The layer111 is chamfered at the edges as indicated at114 to form agroove115 between side by side boards or strips of the material.

Secondly the boards are fastened each to the next from the rear using corrugated joiningplate members116 where each plate member bridges abutting line117 between the

strip members

118 and119 so as to have a part of its length in onestrip member118 and a part of its length in a nextadjacent strip member119. Each plate member is engaged or punched into the strip members through therear surface120 thereof such that a height121 of the plate member extends into the thickness of the strip members. Each joining plate member is shaped with a series ofcorrugations122 spaced along its length with each corrugation extending through the height of the plate member from thebottom edge123 at therear surface120 to the top edge124.

This type of joining plate member is known and is conventionally formed from steel or other metal so as to have sufficient stiffness to undergo the insertion forces. However in this case the plate is formed of a plastics material of a type selected so that the material can be cut by a cutting blade when the strip members are cut. In this way when cutting a panel to size there is no risk that the plate will be broken or ripped out to form flying debris of a dangerous nature. Also the person cutting can cut the panel to size without worrying about hitting a plate.

The height of the plate members is such that the plate members extend from therear surface120 into the base layer and do not reach the covering layer111. Thus the plate is wholly within the plywood section and can be punched into the plywood without danger of splitting the wood due to the transverse strength available in plywood.

Such corrugated fasteners are available from many different manufacturers and are supplied in a row of fasteners connected together for supply to a fastening gun which drives the fastener into the material to be fastened by a bar which extends along a center line of the corrugations and forces the fastener forwardly into the material in a direction parallel to its height. The fasteners are typically formed of steel and are used in fastening wood furniture products at miter joints and the like. The fastener is corrugated on each side of a mid line part way along the length of the fastener. At the mid line the fastener is tapered slightly so that the corrugations move closer together as the fastener enters the material thus tending to draw the two parts together at the butt line.

However these have not been used in flooring and have not been manufactured from materials other than metal. Typically the joining plates when formed from a suitable plastics composite material, that is a polymer composite, will have a thickness of the body of the material of order of 0.015 to 0.025 inches and a corrugation height across the thickness of the fastener of the order of 0.1 to 0.2 inches. Typical fasteners will have a height of the order of 0.25 inches so that it extends only into the plywood base and a length of the order of 1.0 inch. A strip of the fasteners is manufactured by injection moulding with connecting pieces between each fastener and the next which can be broken by the driving tool as each fastener is driven forwards. The leading edge can be chamfered for easier penetration but this is not essential. The corrugations are tapered together at the center so that there is a tendency to draw together the two strips as the fastener enters. A company Utility Composites Inc in Round Rock Tex. manufacture nails in a suitable composite plastics material which can be used to manufacture the corrugated fasteners to be used in the present arrangements.

As the plywood can be manufactured to high accuracy and maintains that dimension despite changes in moisture, the panels can be manufactured without the necessity for re-cutting the tongue or groove along the edge after the required number of strips is assembled side by side. The corrugations engage into the fibers of the plywood to provide high strength in a direction tending to resist separation of the strips.

The joining plates are used to connect the main strips of the panels and the divider strips of the panels to the main strips. Sufficient numbers of plates can be used to ensure a structurally stable product.

The panels are formed from the material described to form a construction of the same general type as described in shown inFIG. 1. One key difference being that the use of adhesive to fasten the panel to the sub-floor avoids the necessity for through holes for screws. These panels as shown inFIG. 1 have the divider strips30 and31 at right angles to the main strips10A to10G. Such panels can be used in an array as previously described where the main strips of each panel are at right angles to the main strips of the next adjacent panel.

Turning now toFIG. 12, there is shown a flooring pattern formed from two separate types of panels where one of the types is as shown inFIG. 1 where the divider strips are at right angles to the main strips and a second of the types is where the divider strips are parallel to the main strips. As shown inFIG. 12 this forms a pattern where all the main strips are oriented in a common direction and the divider strips form a series of rows across the main strips. It will be appreciated that the combination of such panels can be used to create many different panelling effects.

As shown inFIG. 12, there is therefore provided a panelling system defined by a plurality offirst panel members130 and a plurality ofsecond panel members131. As previously described, the first and second panel members are arranged for locating on a supportingsurface112 generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface. Each panel member has afront surface133 for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system and arear surface123 for engaging the supporting surface. Each panel member is formed from a plurality ofmain strips135 arranged side edge to side edge to form arectangular panel body136 having four sides including a first pair ofparallel sides137,138 parallel to the main strips and a second pair of

parallel sides

139,140 at right angles to the main strips.

In thefirst panels130, the dividing strips143 and144 are parallel to themain strips135 and connected to thefirst sides137,138.

In thesecond panels131, the dividing strips141 and142 are at right angles to themain strips135 and connected to the

second sides

139,140.

The dividing strips and the main strips are fastened together using the joiningplates116 to form a common panel member for transportation and installation.

In each of thefirst panel members130, the main strips are parallel to the dividing strips and each dividing

strip

143,144 extends along a respective one of the first pair ofparallel sides137,138 so as to define a first inner side edge145 engaging thepanel body136 and a second exposedouter edge146.

In each of thefirst panel members130, the dividing strips143,144 include afirst dividing strip143 having a tongue along theouter edge146 thereof and asecond dividing strip144 having a groove along theouter edge146 thereof.

In each of thefirst panel members130, a first one140 of the second parallel sides has a tongue therealong and a second one139 of the second parallel sides has a corresponding groove therealong.

In each of thesecond panel members131, themain strips135 are at right angles to the dividing strips141,142.

In each of thesecond panel members131, each dividing

strip

141,142 extends along a respective one of the second pair of

parallel sides

139,140 so as to define a firstinner side edge147 engaging thepanel body136 and a second exposedouter edge148.

In each of thesecond panel members131, the dividing strips141,142 include afirst dividing strip141 having a tongue along theouter edge148 thereof and asecond dividing strip142 having a groove along theouter edge148 thereof.

In each of thesecond panel members131, a first one138 of the first parallel sides has a tongue therealong and a second one137 of the first parallel sides has a corresponding groove therealong.

The first and

second panel members

130 and131 are arranged such that theouter edge146 of thefirst dividing strip143 of thefirst panel members130 with the tongue therealong is arranged for co-operating engagement with the second one137 of the firstparallel sides137,138 of a respective one of thesecond panel members131 with the groove therealong.

The first and

second panel members

130 and131 are arranged such that theouter edge146 of thesecond dividing strip144 of thefirst panel members130 with the groove therealong is arranged for co-operating engagement with the first one138 of the firstparallel sides137,138 of a respective one of thesecond panel members131 with the tongue therealong.

The first and

second panel members

130 and131 are arranged such that theouter edge148 of thefirst dividing strip141 of thesecond panel members131 with the tongue therealong is arranged for co-operating engagement with the second one139 of the second

parallel sides

139,140 of a respective one of thefirst panel members130 with the groove therealong.

The first and

second panel members

130 and131 are arranged such that theouter edge148 of thesecond dividing strip142 of thesecond panel members131 with the groove therealong is arranged for co-operating engagement with the first one140 of the second

parallel sides

139,140 of a respective one of thefirst panel members130 with the tongue therealong.

In all the panels each of the main strips preferably has the same width between side edges thereof and each dividing strip has substantially the same width as the main strips.

In all of the panels, the dividing strips include the pointedportions50 as previously described projecting beyond an edge of the panel body. Thus the dividing strips of the panel members are arranged with theportions50 of the dividing strips of each panel member projecting beyond the main strips of the respective panel member such that, when four of the panel members are assembled into the system with the main strips of one panel member at right angles to the main strips of each next adjacent panel and with one of the dividing strips between the main strips of each panel member and the next so as to form a rectangular area at a junction between corners of the main strips of the four of the panels; the rectangular area defined at the junction between said four of the panels is filled by said portion of said at least one dividing strip.

While it is preferred that the main strips are fastened to one another by tongue and groove connection and also the dividing strips are fastened to the edge of the main panel body also by tongue and groove connection, any one or all of these connections may be formed by simple butt joints due to the strength and effectiveness of the plate type fasteners.

In addition, as the appearance of the panels is generally formed by the covering or facing layers and thechamfered grooves115 therebetween, the main body portion can be formed using a back plate of the plywood which is square with the strips applied directly to the upper surface thereof. The dividing strips can then be fastened to the sides of the square main panel to simulate the flooring boards without actually forming such boards.

InFIG. 13 is shown the same construction as inFIG. 12 with the difference that thepoints50 are modified to include on one side edge agroove151 and on the other side edge atongue152. Inspection of the drawing will show the pattern of the tongues and grooves which allow the sides of thepoints50 to meet at theapexes54 with the grooves and tongues intermeshing in the same plane approximately midway between the front and rear surfaces of the panels as the tongues and grooves along the side edges of the panels and dividing strips.

Turning now toFIGS. 16,17 and18, there is shown a further embodiment using panels formed in the manner known as laminated flooring. Such flooring is commonly formed from a base or core layer of MDF which is a fabricated wood product using wood or fiber particles bound in a resin material. The details of such materials are well known in the industry and hence will not be recounted here. On top and on the bottom of such a core layer is provided a covering material layer. In the laminated product this is commonly a plastics layer of vinyl or the like which provides a base for resting on a support surface and provides a top appearance layer which has the appearance required such as a wood grain appearance. The appearance layer is commonly a paper product on which the appearance is printed and is covered by the hard plastics layer to protect it from damage. Thus the MDF provides the structure and the plastics and appearance layers provide the wear coats.

Similar products are manufactures using cork veneers on top and bottom of an MDF core. These products simulate cork flooring and again use the MDF core layer as the structure of the product.

Such MDF material is strong and dimensionally stable so that it can provide suitable joints and can be held together as a floor structure without structural or dimensional changes due to moisture and humidity differences. Both of these types of flooring therefore can be formed as “floating” floors where the complete floor covering acts as a single layer floating on the support surface or substrate without the necessity to attach the floating floor to the substrate by adhesive or other means. Thus installation is simplified and replacement is possible of pieces or the whole floor.

The floating floor system has become important in recent years based ion the development of joints which snap or lock into place. One example which is widely used is known as the “Uniclic” system and is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,486 (Moriau) issued Dec. 28, 1999 and many other related patents. The disclosure of this document can be referred to for further details of this type of joint and is incorporated herein by reference.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are taken from this patent andFIG. 18 includes also the assembled joint part of which is taken from the same patent.

The joint used in these figures can be used in any of the above described panelling systems. While the joint is best used in a laminated type product using MDF as the core layer, the same joint can also be used in other materials and in wholly wood products such as hard wood flooring.

It will be appreciated that where the term “tongue and groove” is used in this document to refer to such joints, the term can include conventional tongues and simple grooves where there is no interlocking effect and more complex tongue and groove joints where a snap lock effect is obtained tending to hold the boards connected edge to edge.

Thus in the above figures two of the boards indicated at160 and161 are connected together at a joint162 using the tongue and groove arrangement from the above patent or using a similar interlocking system.

In the above patent and as used herein, there is atongue164 on the board161 and agroove163 on theboard160 which are shaped in general such that:

a) the strips can be connected as shown inFIG. 16 each to the next by simple sliding of thetongue164 into thegroove163 with one strip or board161 pivoted about the joint162 in the direction as shown at165 such that an angle A is formed between the strips with the strip161 pivoted upwardly away from thesupport surface166. This provides an angle between the strips at thefront surface168 of the panel which is less than 180 degrees. The strip161 can then be bent downwardly to the coplanar position to snap the strips into the locked position by therib170 on the strip161 slipping over the rib173 into the groove172 on thestrip160.

b) The strips can be connected each to the next with the strips co-planar as shown inFIG. 17 by forcing of thetongue164 into the groove in a snap fastening action along theline169. The snap fastening action is caused by the necessary distortion of the edge of thestrip160 at the rib173 at the groove to allow therib170 to snap over into its groove171. The movement along thecoplanar line169 is guided by the support surface on which both strips are placed and by the nose175 of thetongue164 sliding over thesurface176 of the groove.

c) As shown inFIG. 18, the snap fastening action resists movement of the strips in adirection177 away from the joint when fastened. Also the joint when fastened prevents pivoting movement of the strips in adirection178 to a position in which the angle between the strips at the front surface of the panel is greater than 180 degrees. This is resisted by the top surface of thetongue164 pressing against thesurface176 of the groove.

However pivoting movement back to the position shown inFIG. 16 is possible with only little force. Hence a piece or strip of aflexible sheet material180 is attached by an adhesive layer across the joint on therear surface182 of the strips.

Thus the panels previously shown and described are manufactured to form the completed panel formed by the main strips and the dividing strips by assembling the strips edge to edge using the snap lock connections primarily by the pivoting technique shown inFIG. 16. When the strips are assembled, the panel is held in place as a stable accurate structure using the adhesive tapes on the joints at the rear surface. The use of the adhesive tape merely on the rear surface is sufficient to hold the strips in place because the snap lock prevents movement in thedirection177 and prevents pivotal movement in thedirection178 so that the tape as only to hold the strips against movement in the direction184.

When the panels including the dividing strips and the main strips are assembled and taped, the panels are stable and can be shipped in assembled condition to the place of installation. When being installed, the panels are located side by side and where possible the pivoting connection technique is used. However it will be appreciated that some joints are not linear so that the pivoting technique cannot be used. In these cases the coplanar snap technique ofFIG. 17 is used. When completed the floor is a floating floor arrangement with the connections holding the panels together without the need for adhesive or for connection to the sub-floor.

The piece ofmaterial180 can comprise a tape expending longitudinally of the joint or can be pieces of tape across the joint or can be formed by a whole layer covering the whole of the rear surface of the panel.

In order that the tape does not stretch and holds the panel stable, the tape includesfiber reinforcement185 preferably of a bidirectional nature.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A panelling system comprising:

each panel member comprising a plurality of strips arranged side edge to side edge with each strip having a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove along an opposed side edge so that the strips are connected side by side by interconnection of the tongues and the grooves;

wherein the tongue and the corresponding groove along the side edges of the dividing strips and on the rectangular main portion are shaped in transverse cross-section such that each tongue and cooperating groove can be connected together to form a joint by sliding of the tongue into the groove with the dividing strip pivoted about the joint in the direction such that an angle between the dividing strip and the rectangular main portion at the front surface of the rectangular main portion is less than 180 degrees and such that the cooperating shapes of the tongue and groove in transverse cross-section act in a coplanar position of the dividing strip and rectangular main portion to resist movement of the tongue and groove in a direction away from the joint;

wherein the joint when fastened prevents pivoting movement of the strips to a position in which the angle between the strips at the front surface of the panel member is greater than 180 degrees;

and a piece of a flexible sheet material adhesively attached across the joint on the rear surface of the panel member.

2. The panelling system according toclaim 1 wherein the strips are connected each to the next, to form the panel member, solely by the tongue and groove joint and the piece of material.

3. The panelling system according toclaim 1 wherein the piece of material comprises a tape expending longitudinally of the joint.

4. The panelling system according toclaim 1 wherein the piece of material includes fiber reinforcement.

12. A floor panelling system comprising:

a plurality of flooring members for locating on a supporting surface generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;

each flooring member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the floor panelling system and a rear surface for engaging the supporting surface;

the flooring members including:

a rectangular main portion having a first pair of opposed parallel sides and a second pair of opposed parallel sides at right angles to the first pair, wherein the rectangular main portion has a tongue along a first of the first pair of opposed parallel sides and a groove along a second of the first pair of parallel sides, and wherein the rectangular main portion has a tongue along a first of the second pair of opposed parallel sides and a groove along a second of the second pair of parallel sides;

a first dividing strip arranged to extend along of the first of the first pair of opposed parallel sides;

and a second dividing strip arranged to extend along of the second of the first pair of opposed parallel sides;

wherein each of the dividing strips has a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove along an opposed side edge;

wherein the first dividing strip has the groove thereof engaged with the tongue of the first of the first pair of parallel side edges;

wherein the second dividing strip has the tongue thereof engaged with the groove of the second of the first pair of parallel side edges;

wherein the first and second dividing strips are arranged with a portion at each end of each of the dividing strips projecting beyond the rectangular main portion;

wherein each end portion is shaped to form two diagonal end edges each at an angle to a respective side edge of the respective dividing strip with the first and second diagonal end edges converging to an apex such that, when the end portions of four such dividing strips are located at a junction therebetween, the apexes and the diagonal end edges meet;

wherein the diagonal end edges of the end portions of the four dividing strips at the junction are connected each to the next adjacent by a tongue and groove connection along the diagonal end edges;

wherein the flooring members, when arranged in position on the supporting surface, are arranged to float on the supporting surface substantially without fastening thereto;

wherein the flooring members are formed from a lower layer defining the transverse cross-sectional shape of the tongue and groove and an upper layer different from the lower layer and fastened to the lower layer which forms a flooring facing layer.

13. The panelling system according toclaim 12 wherein the dividing strips and the rectangular main portion are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation.

14. The panelling system according toclaim 12 wherein the end portions of the dividing strips have the diagonal end edges thereof in the front surface chamfered such that the dividing strips when butting have a chamfered groove at the front surface.

15. The panelling system according toclaim 12 wherein the tongue and the corresponding groove are shaped in transverse cross-section such that they can be connected, with the dividing strip and rectangular main portion co-planar, by forcing of the tongue into the groove in a snap fastening action, with the snap fastening action acting to provide said resistance to movement in a direction away from the joint.

16. The panelling system according toclaim 12 wherein one of the two diagonal end edges of each end portion has a tongue therealong and the other of the two diagonal end edges of each end portion has a groove therealong.

17. The panelling system according toclaim 12 wherein the joint when fastened prevents pivoting movement of the tongue and groove to a position in which the angle between the dividing strip and the rectangular main portion at the front surface of the panel is greater than 180 degrees and there is provided a piece of a flexible sheet material adhesively attached across the joint on the rear surface of the panel.

18. A floor panelling system comprising:

the flooring members including:

a plurality of main strips arranged side edge to side edge;

each main strip having a tongue along one side edge and a corresponding groove along an opposed side edge;

so that the main strips are connected side by side by interconnection of the tongues and the grooves;

wherein first ends of the main strips lie in a first common line and second ends of the main strips lie in a second common line;

wherein the main strips have a tongue along the first common line and a groove along the second common line;

and wherein a first main strip at one side of the main strips has an exposed tongue along the first main strip and a second main strip at an opposed second side of the main strips has an exposed groove along the second main strip;

the main strips thus defining a rectangular main portion having a first pair of opposed parallel sides and a second pair of opposed parallel sides at right angles to the first pair, wherein the rectangular main portion has a tongue along a first of the first pair of opposed parallel sides and a groove along a second of the first pair of parallel sides, and wherein the rectangular main portion has a tongue along a first of the second pair of opposed parallel sides and a groove along a second of the second pair of parallel sides;

wherein the tongue and the corresponding groove of the dividing strips and of the main strips are shaped in transverse cross-section such that each tongue and cooperating groove can be connected together to form a joint of two joined strips by sliding of the tongue into the groove with one strip pivoted about the joint in the direction such that an angle between the joined strips at the front surface is less than 180 degrees and such that the cooperating shapes of the tongue and groove in transverse cross-section act in a coplanar position of the joined strips to resist movement of the tongue and groove in a direction away from the joint;

19. The panelling system according toclaim 18 wherein each of the main strips has the same width between side edges thereof and each dividing strip has substantially the same width as the main strips.

20. The panelling system according toclaim 18 wherein the main strips are parallel to the dividing strips.

21. The panelling system according toclaim 18 wherein the main strips are at right angles to the dividing strips.

22. The panelling system according toclaim 18 wherein some of the main strips are parallel to the dividing strips and some of the main strips are at right angles to the dividing strips.

23. The panelling system according toclaim 18 wherein the dividing strips and the main strips are fastened together to form a common panel member for transportation and installation.

24. The panelling system according toclaim 18 wherein the end portions of the dividing strips have the diagonal end edges thereof in the front surface chamfered such that the dividing strips when butting have a chamfered groove at the front surface.

25. The panelling system according toclaim 18 wherein the tongue and the corresponding groove are shaped in transverse cross-section such that they can be connected, with the joined strips co-planar, by forcing of the tongue into the groove in a snap fastening action, with the snap fastening action acting to provide said resistance to movement in a direction away from the joint.

26. The panelling system according toclaim 18 wherein one of the two diagonal end edges of each end portion has a tongue therealong and the other of the two diagonal end edges of each end portion has a groove therealong.

27. The panelling system according toclaim 18 wherein the joint when fastened prevents pivoting movement of the tongue and groove to a position in which the angle between the dividing strip and the rectangular main portion at the front surface of the panel is greater than 180 degrees and there is provided a piece of a flexible sheet material adhesively attached across the joint on the rear surface of the panel.