A method for laying and mechanically joining building panels

Claim 1

A method for laying and mechanically joining rectangular building panels (1, 2) in parallel rows, especially floor panels, said panels (1, 2) being provided with means for mechanically locking together their long edges as well as their short edges in a first direction (D1) at right angles to the principal plane of the panels (1, 2), characterised in that each panel (1, 2), at a rear side thereof, being provided with (i) a locking strip (6, 6') at one long edge (3) and at one short edge (3'), each locking strip (6, 6') being either a separate element connected to the panel or an extension of a lower part of the joint edge (3, 3') and extending throughout substantially the entire length of the corresponding edge (3, 3') and being provided with a locking element (8) projecting from the strip (6, 6'), and (ii) a locking groove (14, 14') at an opposite long edge (4) and at an opposite short edge (4') for receiving a locking element (8) of an adjacent panel, each locking groove (14, 14') extending parallel to and spaced from the corresponding edge (4, 4') and being open at a rear side of the panel; and in that said method includes the following two main locking steps S1 and S2 for laying a new panel: S1: mechanically connecting a long edge (4 or 3) of the new panel to a long edge (3 or 4) of a previously laid first panel in a first row in such a way that the new panel and the first panel, as a result of said first main locking step S1, are mechanically locked to each other in said first direction (D1) as well as in a second direction (D2) parallel to said principal plane and at right angles to the locked long edges (3, 4), wherein said first main locking step S1 to this end includes either : the substep of placing the new panel in a second row adjacent to said first row with the long edge (4) of the new panel provided with a locking groove (14) being placed upon and in contact with a locking strip (6) at the adjacent long edge (3) of the first panel, while holding the new panel at an angle relative to a principal plane of the first panel and at a distance from its final longitudinal position relative to a previously laid second panel in said second row, and the substep of subsequently angling down the new panel so as to accommodate the locking element (8) of said strip (6) of the first panel in said locking groove (14) of the new panel, or the substep of placing the new panel in a second row adjacent to said first row with the locking strip (6) being provided at a long edge (3) of the new panel being inserted under the adjacent long edge (4) of the first panel being provided with a locking groove (14), while holding the new panel at an angle relative to a principal plane of the first panel and at a distance from its final longitudinal position relative to a previously laid second panel in said second row, and the substep of subsequently angling down the new panel so as to accommodate the locking element (8) of said strip (6) of the new panel in said locking groove (14) of the first panel, and S2 mechanically connecting a short edge of the new panel to a short edge of said previously laid second panel in the second row in such a way that the new panel and the second panel, as a result of said second main locking step S2, are mechanically locked to each other at said short edges (3', 4') in said first direction (D1) as well as in a third direction (D3) parallel to said principal plane and at right angles to the short edges (3', 4'), wherein said second main locking step S2 is performed by a linear displacement of the new panel in its longitudinal direction relative to the first panel towards said final longitudinal position until the locking element (8) of the strip (6') at one (4') of the short edges is received in the locking groove (14') at the other one (4') of the short edges, whereby the new panel, in its final laid position, is mechanically connected in two direction (D1, D2) at its long edge to the first panel and in two direction (D1, D3) at its short edge to the second panel.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein said substep of angling down the new panel is performed while holding an upper corner part of the long edge of the new panel in contact with an upper corner part of the long edge of the first panel.

Claim 7

A method according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the new panel, after having been laid and mechanically joined to the first and to the second panel, can be taken up by angling the new panel and the second panel together upwards in relation to the first panel and subsequently loosening the new panel from the second panel by angling and/or linear displacing the new panel in relation to the second panel.