Indian Patents. 270176:A MECHANICAL LOCKING SYSTEM FOR FLOOR PANELS PROVIDED WITH SLIDING LOCK, AN INSTALLATION METHOD AND A PRODUCTION METHOD THEREFORE

Title of Invention	A MECHANICAL LOCKING SYSTEM FOR FLOOR PANELS PROVIDED WITH SLIDING LOCK, AN INSTALLATION METHOD AND A PRODUCTION METHOD THEREFORE
Abstract	Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system consisting of small local protrusions which prevent displacement along the joint when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and locked vertically and horizontally.

Full Text	A mechanical locking system for floor panels provided with sliding lock, an installation method and a production method therefore. TECHNICAL FIELD The invention generally relates to the field of mechanical locking systems for floor panels and building panels. The invention comprises floorboards, locking systems, installation methods and production methods. FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is particularly suitable for use in floating floors, which are formed of floor panels which are joined mechanically with a locking system integrated with the floor panel, i.e. mounted at the factory, are made up of one or more upper layers of veneer, decorative laminate or decorative plastic material, an intermediate core of wood-fibre-based material or plastic material and preferably a lower balancing layer on the rear side of the core. The following description of prior-art technique, problems of known systems and objects and features of the invention will therefore, as a non-restrictive example, be aimed above all at this field of application and in particular at laminate flooring formed as rectangular floor panels with long and shorts edges intended to be mechanically joined to each other on both long and short edges. The long and short edges are mainly used to simplify the description of the invention. The panels could be square. It should be emphasised that the invention can be used in any floor panel and it could be combined with all types of known locking system, where the floor panels are intended to be joined using a mechanical locking system connecting the panels in the horizontal and vertical directions on at least two adjacent sides. The invention can thus also be applicable to, for instance, solid wooden floors, parquet floors with a core of wood or wood-fibre-based material and a surface of wood or wood veneer and the like, floors with a printed and preferably also varnished surface, floors with a surface layer of plastic or cork, linoleum, rubber. Even floors with hard surfaces such as stone, tile and similar materials are included and floorings with soft wear layer, for instance needle felt glued to a board. The invention can also be used for joining building panels which preferably contain a board material for instance wall panels, ceilings, furniture components and similar. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Laminate flooring usually consists of a core of a 6-12 mm fibre board, a 0.2-0.8 mm thick upper decorative surface layer of laminate and a 0.1-0.6 mm thick lower balancing layer of laminate, plastic, paper or like material. A laminate surface consists of melamine impregnated paper. The most common core material is fibreboard with high density and good stability usually called HDF - High Density Fibreboard. Sometimes also MDF - Medium Density Fibreboard - is used as core. Traditional laminate floor panels of this type have been joined by means of glued tongue-and-groove joints. In addition to such traditional floors, floor panels have been developed which do not require the use of glue and instead are joined mechanically by means of so-called mechanical locking systems. These systems comprise locking means, which lock the panels horizontally and vertically. The mechanical locking systems are usually formed by machining of the core of the panel. Alternatively, parts of the locking system can be formed of a separate material, for instance aluminium or HDF, which is integrated with the floor panel, i.e. joined with the floor panel in connection with the manufacture thereof. The main advantages of floating floors with mechanical locking systems are that they are easy to install. They can also easily be taken up again and used once more at a different location. DEFINITION OF SOME TERMS In the following text, the visible surface of the installed floor panel is called "front side", while the opposite side of the floor panel, facing the sub floor, is called "rear side". The edge between the front and rear side is called ^^joint edge". By "horizontal plane" is meant a plane, which extends parallel to the outer part of the surface layer. Immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of two joined floor panels together define a "vertical plane" perpendicular to the horizontal plane. By "vertical locking" is meant locking parallel to the vertical plane in Dl direction. By ''horizontal locking" is meant locking parallel to the horizontal plane in D2 direction. By "first horizontal locking" is meant a horizontal locking perpendicular to the joint edges in D2 direction. By "second horizontal locking is meant a horizontal locking in the horizontal direction along the joint which prevents two panels to slide parallel to each other when they are laying in the same plane and locked both vertically and in the first horizontal direction. By "locking systems" are meant co acting connecting elements, which connect the floor panels vertically and/or horizontally in the first horizontal direction D2. By "mechanical locking system" is meant that joining can take place without glue. Mechanical locking systems can in many cases also be joined by gluing. By "integrated with" means formed in one piece with the panel or factory connected to the panel. RELATED ART AND PROBLEMS THEREOF For mechanical joining of long edges as well as short edges in the vertical and in the first horizontal direction (direction Dl, D2) several methods could be used. One of the most used methods is the angle-snap method. The long edges are installed by angling. The panel is than displaced in locked position along the long side. The short edges are locked by horizontal snapping. The vertical connection is generally a tongue and a groove. During the horizontal displacement, a strip with a locking element is bent and when the edges are in contact, the strip springs back and a locking element enters a locking groove and locks the panels horizontally. Such a snap connection is complicated since a hammer and a tapping block may need to be used to overcome the friction between the long edges and to bend the strip during the snapping action. The friction on the long side could be reduced and the panels could be displaced without tools. The snapping resistance is however considerable especially in locking systems made in one piece with the core. Wood based materials are generally difficult to bend. Cracks in the panel may occur during snapping. It would be an advantage if the panels could be installed by angling of long edges but without a snap action to lock the short edges. Such a locking could be accomplished with a locking system that locks the long edges in such a way that also displacement along the joint is counteracted. It is known from Wilson US 2,430,200 that several projections and recesses could be used to prevent displacement along the joint. Such projections and recesses are difficult to produce, the panels can only be locked in well-defined positions against adjacent long edges and they cannot be displaced against each other in angled position against each other when top edges are in contact- Terbrack US 4,426, 820 describes a locking system with a tight fit in a panel made of plastic material. The tight fit prevents displacement along the joint. A system with tight fit does not give a safe and reliable locking over time especially if the locking system is made of wood fibre based material, which swells and shrink when the humidity varies over time. Wernersson WO2004/083557 discloses a rectangular floor panel with vertical and horizontal mechanical locking system at the long and short edges, joined by angling and a vertical folding respectively. In order to increase the strength of locking at the short edges of the panels, and reduce the load at the mechanical lock at the short edges, a friction enhancing means are provided in the mechanical locking system at the long edges. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS THEREOF A first overall objective of the present invention is to provide a locking system for primarily rectangular floor panels with long and short edges installed in parallel rows, which allows that the short edge could be locked to each other horizontally by the locking system on the long edges. The costs and functions should be favourable compared to known technology. An essential part of the overall objective is to improve the function and costs of those parts of the locking system that locks in the horizontal direction along the joint when panels are installed on a sub floor. More specifically the object is to provide a second horizontal locking system on the long edges, hereafter referred to as "slide lock" where one or several of the following advantages are obtained. The slide lock on the long edges should be activated when a panel is brought in contact with an already installed panel and then angled down to the sub floor. The slide lock function should be reliable over time and the panels should be possible to lock and unlock in any position when two adjacent long edges are brought into contact with each other. The slide lock should be strong and prevent that short edges of two locked panels will separate when humidity is changing or when people walk on a floor. The slide lock should possible to lock with high precision and without the use of tools. The locking system and the slide lock should be designed in such a way that the material and production costs could be low. A second objective is to provide an installation method for installation of floorboards with a slide lock A third objective is to provide a production method for a slide lock system. The above objects of the invention are achieved wholly or partly by locking systems, floor panels, and installation and production methods according to the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are evident from the dependent claims and from the description and drawings. According to a first aspect of the invention, a flooring system is provided comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels to be installed on a sub floor. The floor panels have long and short edges, which are connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent edges of adjacent panels. The connectable adjacent edges have a mechanical locking system comprising a tongue formed in one piece with the panel and a groove for mechanically locking together said adjacent edges at right angles to the horizontal plane of the panels, thereby forming a vertical mechanical connection between the panels. One pair of adjacent edges have a locking element at one first edge and a locking groove at an opposite second edge thereby forming a first horizontal mechanical connection locking the panels to each other in a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angle to the joint edges. Each panel is at said adjacent edges provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection locking the panels to each other along the joint edges, in a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the joint edges, when the panel are laying flat on the sub floor. The second horizontal mechanical connection comprises a plurality of small local protrusions in said mechanical locking system which prevents displacement along the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections. The short edges are provided only with a vertical locking. Although it is an advantage to integrate the slide locking system with the panel, the invention does not exclude an embodiment in which parts of the locking system are delivered as separate components to be connected to the panel by the installer prior to installation. Such separate components could be applied in the locking system in order to prevent displacement along the joint when two panels are locked by preferably angling. Displacement could also be prevented and additional strength could be accomplished with a locking system which is pre glued. It is an advantage if the short edges have a vertical locking preferably with a tongue and a groove. The short edges could however be made without vertical locking especially if the panels are narrow. In such a case long edges will also lock the short edges even in the vertical direction. The invention is especially suited for use in floor panels, which are difficult to snap for example because they have a core, which is not flexible, or strong enough to form a strong snap locking system. The invention is also suitable for wide floor panels, for example with a width larger than 20 cm, where the high snapping resistance is a major disadvantage during installation, in panels where parts of the locking system on the long edge is made of a material with high friction, such as wood and in locking systems which are produced with tight fit or without play or even with pretension. Especially panels -with such pretension where the locking strip is bent in locked position and presses the panels together are very difficult to displace and snap. A locking system that avoids snapping will decrease the installation time of such panels considerably. However, a tight fit and pretension in the locked position could improve the strength of the slide lock. An alternative to small protrusions, in some applications, is to use a high friction material in the locking system together with a tight fit between as many adjacent surfaces in the locking system as possible and even a wood based material might be used if normal shrinking and swelling is reduced. The invention is also suited to lock parallel rows to each other such that the rows maintain their position after installation. This could be an advantage in floor which are installed in advanced patterns such as tiles or stone reproductions where grout lines or other decorative effect must be aligned accurately or in any other installation where it is an advantage if the floor panels can not slide after installation. According to a second aspect of the invention a production method is provided to make a mechanical locking system between two edges of a first and second panel containing a wood fibre based core. According to the invention the locking system is formed at least partly in the core and comprises protrusions formed in the wood based core. The protrusions are at least partly formed by embossing. According to a third aspect of the invention an installation method to install a floor is provided, comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels laying in parallel rows on a sub floor with long and short edges which are connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent long edges and one pair of adjacent short edges. The panels have a mechanical locking system comprising a tongue formed in one piece with the panels and groove for mechanically locking together said adjacent long and short edges at right angles to the horizontal plane of the panels, thereby forming a vertical mechanical connection between the panels. The panels have also a locking element at one first long edge and a locking groove at an opposite second long edge, which form a first horizontal mechanical connection locking the long edges of the panels to each other in a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges. Each panel is at said adjacent long edges provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection locking the panels to each other along the joined long edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor. The second horizontal mechanical connection comprises small local protrusions in said mechanical locking system on the long edges which prevents displacement along the joint when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections. The method comprises five steps: a) As a first step a first panel is installed on a sub floor in a first row b) As a second step a second panel in a second row is brought in contact with its long edge against the long edge of the first panel and held at an angle against the sub floor. c) As a third step a new panel in a second row is brought at an angle with its long edge in contact with the long edge of the first panel and its short edge in contact with the short edge of the second panel. d) As a fourth step the new panel is displaced against the second panel in the angled position and the tongue is inserted into the groove until the top edges at the short edges are in contact with each other. e) As a final fifth step the second and new panels are angled down to the sub floor. This angling locks the long edges of the second and new panels to the first panel in a vertical direction and in a first horizontal direction perpendicular to the joined long edges and in a second horizontal direction along the long edges. The locking in the second horizontal direction prevents separations between the short edges of the second and the new panel. According zo fourth aspect, the invention provide for a of a pair of floor panels, for providing a floating floor by joining the panels at the long edges with a horizontal and vertical mechanical locking system with embossed small local protrusions, preferably in a wood based material. The protrusions prevent displacement along the joint edges of the panels when the panels are laying flat on a sub floor and are locked with the horizontal and vertical mechanical locking system. The locking system locks the floor panels to each other by angling. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figs la-d illustrate two embodiments of the invention Figs 2a-d illustrate locking of the slide lock with angling Figs 3 illustrate a floorboard with a slide lock on long side. Figs 4a-b illustrate a production method to form a slide lock. Figs 5a-e illustrate embodiments of the invention. Figs 6a-i illustrate an installation method according to an embodiment of the invention. Figs 7a-i illustrate floor panels, which could be installed in a herringbone pattern and in parallel rows according to an embodiment of the invention. Figs 8a-8d illustrate embodiments according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION To facilitate understanding, several locking systems in the figures are shown schematically. It should be emphasised that improved or different functions can be achieved using combinations of the preferred embodiments. The inventor has tested all known and especially all commercially used locking systems on the market in all type of floor panels, especially laminate and wood floorings and the conclusion is that at least all these known locking systems which have one or more locking elements cooperating with locking grooves could be adjusted to a system with a slide lock which prevents displacement along the adjacent edges. The locking systems described by the drawings could all be locked with angling. The principles of the invention could however also be used in snap systems or in systems, which are locked with a vertical folding. The slide lock prevents sliding along the joint after snapping or folding. The invention does not exclude floor panels with a slide lock on for example a long and/or a short side and floor panels with a angling, snapping or vertical folding lock on short side which locks horizontally and where the slide lock on the long side for example gives additional strength to the short side locking. The most preferable embodiments are however based on floorboards with a surface layer of laminate or wood, a core of HDF or wood and a locking system on the long edge with a strip extending beyond the upper edge which allows locking by angling combined with a tongue and groove joint on the short edges which preferably only locks horizontally. In one preferred embodiment the groove on the short side has a lower lip, which extends beyond the upper lip. The described embodiments are therefore as non-restrictive examples based on such floor panels. All embodiments could be used separately or in combinations. Angles, dimensions, rounded parts, spaces between surfaces etc are only examples and could be adjusted within the basic principles of the invention. A first preferred embodiment of a floor panel 1, 1' provided with a slide lock system according to the invention is now described with reference to Figs la-Id. Fig. la illustrates schematically a cross-section of a joint preferably between a long side joint edge of a panel 1 and an opposite long side joint edge of a second panel 1'. The front sides of the panels are essentially positioned in a common horizontal plane HP, and the upper parts of the joint edges abut against each other in a vertical plane VP. The mechanical locking system provides locking of the panels relative to each other in the vertical direction D1 as well as the horizontal direction D2. To provide joining of the two joint edges in the Dl and D2 directions, the edges of the floor panel 1 have in a manner known per se a locking strip 6 with a locking element 8, and a groove 9 made in one piece with the panel in one joint edge and a tongue 10 made in one piece with the panel at an opposite edge of a similar panel 1'• The tongue 10 and the groove 9 provide the vertical locking D1. The mechanical locking system according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a second horizontal locking 16, 17 formed as small local protrusions on the upper part of the strip 6 and on the lower part of the panel 1' in the edge portion between the tongue 10 and the locking groove 14. When the panels 1, 1' are locked together in an common plane and are laying flat on the sub floor as shown in figure la, the small local protrusions 16,17 are pressed to each other such that they grip against each other and prevent sliding and small displacement along the joint in a horizontal direction D3. This embodiment shows the first principle of the invention where the local protrusions are formed in the panel material. As a non restrictive example it could be mentioned that the upper 17 and lower 16 protrusions could be very small for example only 0,1 -0,2 mm high and the horizontal distance between the protrusions along the joint could be for example 0,1 -0,5 mm. The distance between the upper protrusions could be slightly different then the distance between the lower protrusions. In locked position some protrusions will grip behind each other and some will press against each other but over the length of the floorboards there will be enough resistance to prevent sliding. The friction and the locking will be sufficient even in small cut off pieces at the end of the installed rows. Figure lb shows an embodiment where small local protrusions 16 are formed on the upper part of the strip 8 adj acent to the locking element 8. The protrusions have a length direction, which is essentially perpendicular to the edge of the floorboard. Dl show the locking in the vertical direction, D2 in the first horizontal direction and D3 in the second horizontal direction along the joint edge. Figure Ic shows that similar protrusions could be formed on the lower side of the adjacent panel 1' in a portion located between the locking groove 14 and the tongue 10. The protrusions on one edge could be different to the protrusions on the other adj acent edge. This is shown in figure Id where the length direction of the protrusions has a different angle than the protrusions on the strip 6 in figure lb. When two such panels are connected the protrusions will always overlap each other and prevent displacement in all locked position - A strong locking could be accomplished with very small protrusions. The protrusions in this embodiment which is based on the principle that the protrusions 16,17 are formed in one piece with the panel material could for example have a length of 2-5 mm, a height of 0, 1 - 0,5 miri and a width of 0,1 - 0,5 mm. Other shapes are of course possible for example round or square shaped protrusions arranged as shown in figure 5a. Figures 2a - 2c show locking of a slide lock system. In this preferred embodiment the panels 1, 1' are possible to displace even when the locking element 8 is partly in the locking groove. This is an advantage when connecting the short edges with a tongue and a groove Figure 2b show that the local protrusions are in contact with each other when the adjacent panels 1, 1' are held at a small locking angle A for example of about 3 degrees against the sub floor. Lower locking angles are possible but could cause problems when the panels are installed on an uneven sub floor. Most preferable locking angles are 3-10 degrees but of course locking systems with other locking angles smaller or larger could be designed. Figure 2c shows the slide lock in locked position. Figure 2d show a testing method to test the sliding strength F of a slide lock. Test show that even small protrusions could prevent displacement of the short edges 5a and 5b of two panels. A slide lock could prevent displacement of the short edges when a pulling force F equal to 1000 N is applied to the panels with a slide lock length L of 200 mm on both long edges. This corresponds to a sliding strength of 5000 N per 1000 mm of slide lock length. This means that even small pieces with a length of 100 mm could be locked with a locking force of 500 N and this is in most application sufficient. A slide lock could be designed with a sliding strength of more than 10.000 N per 1000 mm joint length. Even sliding strengths of 20.000 N or more could be reached and this is considerably more than the strength of traditional mechanical locking systems. Such systems are generally produced with a horizontal locking strength of 2000 - 5000 N per 1000 mm joint length. A preferable embodiment is locking systems where the slide strength of the slide lock in the second horizontal direction exceed the locking strength of the mechanical locking system in the first horizontal direction. A high sliding strength is an important feature in a floating floor where small pieces often are installed as end pieces against the walls. In some applications a sliding strength of at least 50% of the horizontal locking strength is sufficient. In other applications, especially in public places 150% is required. Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a floor panel with long 4a, 4b and short 5a, 5b edges. The long edges have a slide lock (C,D) with upper 17 and lower 16 protrusions over substantially the whole length of the long edges. The short edges have only a vertical locking system (A,B) with a tongue 10 and a groove 9. The lower lip 6 is a strip and extends beyond the upper lip 7. Figure 4a shows a production method to form small local protrusions in a wood based material. The protrusions are at lest partly formed by embossing. This could be done with a press or with any other appropriate method where a tool is pressed against the wood fibres. Another alternative is to cut, brush or to scrape parts of the locking system to form small local protrusions. The most preferable method is a wheel 30, which is, rolled against the wood fibres with a pressure such that small local protrusions 16 are formed by embossing comprising compression of wood fibres. Such an embossing could be made continuous in the same machining line where the other parts of the locking system are formed by milling tools. In some materials, e.g. HDF and MDF, the result is improved by heating of the wheel or press tool to 100-200 degrees. The surface structure of milled or cut parts consisting of wood fibres is different to the structure obtained by embossing. Cutting or milling gives loose fibres, which are cut, while embossing mainly bends and deforms the fibres, which after embossing, to a larger extent, are aligned with the surface of the embossed parts. This difference could be seen in a microscope. In order to strengthen the protrusions and/or enhance the friction, the method may also optionally comprise treating of the embossed surface by a binder, e.g. wax, oil, paraffines, varnish, resins, melamine, phenol, polyurethane or similar. It is also possible to apply a separate material in the locking system, such as synthetic rubber or thermoplastic material, and this material could be formed as local protrusions by pressure and/or heat as described above. Figure 4b shows that the local protrusions could be formed between the tongue 10 and the groove 9, at the upper part 21 of the tongue, at the tip 20 of the tongue and at the lower outer part 19 of the tongue. They could also be formed between the upper part 18 of the strip and the adjacent edge portion and/or between the locking element 8 and the locking groove 14 at the locking surfaces 22, at the upper part 23 of the locking element and at the outer distal part 24 of the locking element. The local protrusions could be formed on only one edge portion or preferably on both edge portions and all these locations could be used separately or in combinations. Compression of wood fibres with a wheel could also be used to form parts of the locking system such as the locking grove 14 or the locking element 8 or any other parts. This production method makes it possible to compress fibres and to form parts with smooth surfaces, improved production tolerances and increased density. Figure 5a shows another embodiment according to a second principle- The protrusions 16 could be applied as individual parts of a separate material such as rubber, polymer materials or hard sharp particles or grains, which are applied into the locking system with a binder. Suitable materials are grains similar to those generally used in sandpaper, metal grains, especially aluminium particles. This embodiment could be combined with the first principle where protrusions formed in one piece with the panel material cooperates with a separate material which is applied into the locking system and which also could have cooperating protrusions. Figure 5b shows an embodiment where a rubber strip is applied into the locking system. Separate high friction material could create a strong slide lock even without any protrusions but protrusions in the panel and/or in the separate material gives a stronger and more safe slide lock. Figure 5c show that an embossed aluminium extrusion or wire 15 could be applied into the locking system. Figure 5d and 5e shows preferable location of the separate friction material 16^17, 17'. The following basic principles to make a slide lock have now been described: Local protrusions are formed in one piece with the panel material preferably on both adjacent edges and they cooperate with each other in locked position. A separate material softer than the panel material is applied in the locking system and this material could preferably cooperate with the protrusions, which are formed in one piece with the panel. A separate material harder than the material of the panel is applied in the locking system. Parts of this harder material, which preferably has sharp protrusions or grains, are in locked position pressed into the panel material. Separate soft and flexible friction material are applied into the locking system with or without protrusions. All these principles could be used separately or in combinations and several principles could be used in the same locking system. For example a soft material could be applied on both edges and local protrusions could also be formed on both edges and both local protrusions could cooperate with both soft materials. Figures 6a-6i shows a method to install a floor of rectangular floor panels in parallel rows with a slide lock. The floor panels have long 4a, 4b and short 5a, 5b edges. The panels have a mechanical locking system comprising a tongue 10 formed in one piece with the panels and groove 9 for mechanically locking together adjacent long and short edges vertically in Dl direction. The panels have also a locking element 8 at one first long edge and a locking groove 14 at an opposite second long edge which form a first horizontal mechanical connection locking the long edges of the panels to each other in a D2 direction parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges. Each panel is at the adjacent long edges provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection locking the panels to each other along the joined long edges in the D3 direction when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor. The second horizontal mechanical connection comprises small local protrusions 16, 17 in the mechanical locking system on the long edges which prevents displacement along the joint when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked in Dl and D2 directions. The method comprise five steps: a) As a first step a first panel Fl 1 is installed on a sub floor in a first row Rl b) As a second step a second panel Fl 2 in a second row R2 is brought in contact with its long edge 4a against the long edge 4b of the first panel Fl 1 and held at an angle A against the sub floor. c) As a third step a new panel Fl 3 in a second row R2 is brought at an angle A with its long edge 4a in contact with the long edge 4b of the first panel Fl 1 and its short edge 5a in contact with the short edge 5b of the second panel FL 2. In this preferred embodiment the tongue 10 is angled on the strip 6, which is an extension of the lower lip of the grove 9. These 3 steps are shown in figures 6a, 6b and 6c. d) As a fourth step the new panel Fl 3 is displaced against the second panel Fl 2 in the angled position and the tongue 10 is inserted into the groove 9 until the top edges at the short edges 5a, 5b are in contact with each other. This is shown in figures 6d-6f. e) As a final fifth step the second panel Fl 2 and new panel Fl 3 are angled down to the sub floor. This angling locks the long edges 4a, 4b of the second Fl 2 and new Fl 3 panels to the first panel Fl 1 in a vertical direction Dl and in a first horizontal direction D2 perpendicular to the joined long edges and in a second horizontal direction D3 along the long edges. The locking in the second horizontal direction D3 prevents separations between the short edges 5a, 5b of the second Fl 2 and the new panel Fl 3. This is shown in figures 6g-bi. It is not necessary that the second and the new panels are held in the same angle since some twisting of the panels may occur or may even be applied to the panels. The installation method and the locking system according to the embodiments of the invention makes it possible to install floor panels in a simple way without tools and without any snap action on the short side. The locking system could be designed in such a way that the upper part of the locking element keeps the floorboards in an angled position until they are pressed down to the sub floor. If the short edge does not have a tongue, installation could be made by just angling the floorboard to the sub floor. Even the traditional installation with angling the new panel Fl 3 to the sub floor and thereafter displacing the new panel towards the second panel Fl 2 could be used- The disadvantage is that a hammer and a tapping block must be used to overcome the resistance of the slide lock. This could be done without damaging the slide lock or substantially decreasing the sliding strength since the panels will be pushed upwards into a small angle by the small local protrusions. Figures 7a - 7i show preferred embodiments of floorboards which are only A panels and which could be installed in a herringbone pattern and in parallel rows. Figures 7a - 7d show a locking system where the horizontal locking in D2 direction is obtained by a strip 6, a locking element 8 and a locking groove 14. In figures 7e -7h the horizontal locking D2 is obtained by a tongue lock where a locking element 41 on the upper part of the tongue locks against another locking element 42 in the upper part of the groove 9. The figures show long edges 4a, 4b short edges 5a, 5b and long edges 4a or 4b locked against the short edges 5a, 5b. The advantage of such a locking system is that a herringbone pattern could be created with only one type of A panels. The locking elements 41, 42, 8 and the locking groove 14 locks both short edges 5a, 5b of one panel to both long edges 4a, 4b of a similar panel. The disadvantage is that such panels cannot be installed in parallel rows since the short edges cannot be locked horizontally. This is shown in figures 7c and 7g. This problem could be solved however with a slide loc 16 on the long edges. The invention comprises one type of panels which could be installed in parallel rows and in a herringbone pattern and which at the long edges have a slide lock according to the described embodiments above. Figure 7i show a strong locking system with a slide lock and with a locking element 8 and a locking groove 14 and with locking elements 41,42 in the upper part of the tongue 10 and the groove 9, The locking element 42 in the locking groove could be formed with a scraping tool. Figure 8a shows a floor panel with a surface layer 31, a core 30 and a balancing layer 32. Part of the balancing layer has been removed under the strip 6 to prevent backwards bending of the strip in dry or humid environment. Such bending could reduce the strength of the slide lock especially in laminate floors installed in dry environment. Figure Bb shows an embodiment with a separate wood based strip 6, which has a flexible friction material 16. Figure Be and 8d shows a separate strip of aluminium. Small local protrusions 16, 16' are formed on the upper and lower parts of the strip 6. These protrusions prevent sliding between the strip and the two adjacent edges 4a and 4b. The small local protrusions 16, 16' could for example be rolled formed or pressed with a press tool. This could be done before, during or after forming of the strip 6. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention include the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. CLAIMS 1. A flooring system, comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels (1, 1') adapted to be installed on a sub floor, said floor panels having long (4ar 4b) and short edges (5a, 5b) which are connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent long and short edges of adjacent panels having a mechanical locking system on long and short edges comprising a tongue (10) formed in one piece with the panels and a groove (9) for mechanically locking together said adjacent edges at right angles (Dl) to the horizontal plane of the panels, thereby forming a vertical mechanical connections between the panels, and a locking element (8) at one first long edge and a locking groove (14) at an opposite second long edge thereby forming a first horizontal mechanical connection between adjacent long edges for locking the panels to each other in a direction {D2) parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges, characterised in that each panel at said adjacent long edges being provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection for locking the panels to each other along the joint long edges, in a direction (D3) parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the joint edges, when the panel are laying flat on the sub floor, that said second horizontal mechanical connection comprises a plurality of small local protrusions (16, l7) in said mechanical locking system which prevents displacement along the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections that the mechanical locking system at the short edges are provided only with a vertical locking comprising said tongue (9) and groove (10) for a mechanical locking solely in the vertical direction that the groove on the short edge of the floor panels comprises a lower lip (6) and an upper lip (7) and that the lower lip (6) extends beyond the upper lip (7), 2. The flooring system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the locking groove (14) is open towards the rear side, 3» The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the protrusions (16, 17) are formed on both the first and the second edge. 4. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first horizontal locking comprises a strip (6) which is an extension of the lower part of the groove and that the locking element (8) is formed on the strip, 5. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mechanical locking system at the long edges (4a, 4b) comprises a separate material, other than the material of the panel core, which is connected to the floorboard, 6. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the small local protrusions (16, 17) are formed in one piece with the panel (1, 1') 7. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that each small local protrusion (16,17) comprises an individual part of a separate material, other than the material of the panel core, which individual parts are applied in the mechanical locking system and connected to the floorboard. 8. The flooring system as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that local protrusions (16, 17) are formed in the panel such that they cooperate with the separate material when two floor panels are locked in the same plane, 9. The flooring system as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that small local protrusions (16, 17) are formed in the separate material. 10- The flooring system as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that small local protrusions (16, 17) are formed in the separate material and in the panel. 11. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the claims 5, 9 or 10 characterised in that the separate material is aluminium. 12. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims; characterised in that essentially the whole edge comprises small local protrusions (16, 17). 13. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the ) preceding claims, characterised in that there is a space between the local protrusions (16, 17) and the adjacent edge of the adjacent panel when the adjacent panels are in an angled (A) position relative each other. 5 14. The flooring system as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the adjacent panels are displaceable along the joint edges when the upper part of join edges are in contact and then said adjacent panels are in an angled position (A) relative each other- 15. The flooring system as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the panels are displaceable at an angle (A) of less than 45 degrees when the top edges are in contact with each other. 16. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the panels are displaceable when said adjacent panels are in an angled position relative each other at an angle (A) larger than 10 degrees. 17. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the panels are displaceable when said adjacent panels are in an angled position relative each other at an angle (A) larger than 3 degrees. 18. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking system is integrated with the panel 19. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plurality of small local protrusions (16, 17) in said mechanical locking system prevents displacement along the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections. 20. A method to make small local protrusions in a mechanical locking system for locking of two edges (43, 4b) of a first (1) and second panel (1') with each other, the panels comprising a wood fibre based core and the locking system is formed at least partly in the core of the panels, wherein the method comprising embossing of the small local protrusions (16, 17) in a wood based material of the lociting system. 21. The method as claimed in claim 20wherein the embossing comprises pressing and rolling by a wheel (30) against a part of the mechanical locking system, 22. The method as claimed in anyone of the claims 20-21, wherein the method comprising embossing of a wood based material which coit^rises HDF or MDF, 23. The method as claimed in anyone of the claims 20-22, characterised in that the method comprising heating of the wheel (30). 24. The method as claimed in anyone of the claims 20-23, characterised in that the method comprising treating of the embossed surfaces by a binder, 25. A method to install a floor, comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels (1, 1') laying in parallel rows (Rl, R2) on a sub floor with long (4a, 4b) and short edges (5a, 5b) which are connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent long edges (5a, 5b) and one pair of adjacent short edges (4a, 4b), said panels (1, 1^) having a mechanical locking system comprising a tongue (10) formed in one piece with the panels and a groove (9) for mechanically locking together said adjacent long (4a, 4b) and short edges (5a, 5b) at right angles (Dl) to the horizontal plane of the panels, thereby forming a vertical mechanical connection between the panels, and a locking element (8) at one first long edge and a locking groove (14) at an opposite second long edge thereby forming a first horizontal mechanical connection locking the long edges of the panels to each other in a direction (D2) parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges, each panel at said adjacent long edges being provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection (16, 17) locking the panels to each other along the joined long edges {4a, 4b> in a direction (D3) parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor, said second horizontal mechanical connection comprises small local protrusions (16, 17) in said mechanical locking system on the long edges (4a, 4b) which prevents displacement along the joint when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections, the method comprising: a) installing a first panel (Fll) on a sub floor in a first row (Rl), b) bringing a second panel (F12) in a second row (R2) into contact with its long edge against the long edge of the first panel and held at an angle (A) against the sub floor c) bringing a new panel (F13) in the second row (R2) at an angle (A) with its long edge in contact with the long edge of the first panel and its short edge in contact with the short edge of the second panel, d) locking the short edges mechanically solely in the vertical direction by displacing the new panel against the second panel in the angled position thereby bringing the tongue (10) into the groove (9) until the top edges at the short edges are in contact with each other e) angling the second and the new panels down to the sub floor thereby locking the long edges of the second and new panels to the first panel in a vertical direction and in a first horizontal direction perpendicular to the joined long edges and in a second horizontal direction along the long edges whereby the locking in the second horizontal direction prevents separations between the short edges of the second (F12) and the new panel {F13). 26. The method as claimed in claim 25, characterised in that the angle (A) is less than 45 degrees. 21. The method as claimed in claim 25 or 26, characterised in that the angle (A) is larger than 3 degrees. 28. The method as claimed in anyone of the claims 25 '27, characterised in that the angle (A) is larger than 10 degrees. 29, by angling of the new panel along the long edge adjacent the first panel, wherein the tongue of the new panel is positioned on the lower lip of the second panel when the new panel is brought into the contact with the second panel. 30, A pair of floor panels {11, 1'), with a wood fibre based core, for providing a floating floor by joining a first (1) and a second {1') of said floor panels (1, 1') with each other, each panel having two parallel long edges (4a, 4b) and two parallel short edges (5a, 5b), whereby a joint between respective joint edges of said floor panels is formed having a mechanical locking system characterised in that the n^chanical locking system at the long edges comprising a first horizontal mechanical connection, for locking by angling along the long edges of the panels, comprising a locking element (8) and a locking groove (14), for locking in a direction (D2) parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges, and a vertical connection comprising a tongue (10) and groove (9), and that the adjacent long joint edges together form a second mechanical connection comprising at least partly embossed small local protrusions (16, 17)configured to obtain a locking in a direction (D3) parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on a sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connection that the protrusions being provided on a substantially flat and horizontal surface of the locking strip and/or of the tongue panel, whereby the surface of the tongue panel is in a joined position of the i>anels positioned above the locking strip. 31. A pair of floor panels as claimed in claim 30, characterised in that the small local protrusions (16, 17) are formed in a wood fibre based material. 32- A pair of floor panels as claimed in claim 31 or 32, characterised in that essentially the whole edge comprises small local protrusions (16, 17) . 33. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-32, characterised in that the adjacent panels are displaceable along the joint edge when the upper part of join edges are in contact and when said adjacent panels are in an angled position (A) relative each other. 34- A pair of floor panels as claimed in claim 33, characterisedin that the panels are displaceable at an angle (A) of less than 45 degrees when the top edges are in contact with each other- 35- A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 33*34, characterised in that the panels are displaceable when said adjacent panels are in an angled position relative each other at an angle (A) larger than ID degrees- 36. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 33-34, characterised in that the panels are displaceable when said adjacent panels are in an angled position relative each other at an angle (A) larger than 3 degrees. 37- A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-36, characterised in that the locking system is integrated with the panel 36. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-37, characterised in that the mechanical locking system at the long edges comprises a separate material, other than the material of the panel core, which is connected to the floorboard. 39. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-38, characterised in that the small local protrusions are formed in one piece with the panel• 40. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-39, characterised in that the 41. The pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone claim 30-40, characterised in that the long edge of the first and the second panel are provided with protrusions. 42. A pair of floor panels as claimed in the claim 41, characterised in that the angle between the length direction of the protrusions (16) of the first panel (1) and its long edge differ from the angle between the length direction of the protrusions (17) of the second panel (1') and its long edge. 43. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-42, characterised in that the plurality of small local protrusions (16, 17) in said mechanical locking system prevents displacement along the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections. 44. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-43, characterised in that the small local protrusions (16, 17) and/or the core of the panels are of a HDF or MDF material-

Full Text

A mechanical locking system for floor panels provided with sliding lock, an installation method and a production method
therefore.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention generally relates to the field of mechanical locking systems for floor panels and building panels. The invention comprises floorboards, locking systems, installation methods and production methods.
FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is particularly suitable for use in floating floors, which are formed of floor panels which are joined mechanically with a locking system integrated with the floor panel, i.e. mounted at the factory, are made up of one or more upper layers of veneer, decorative laminate or decorative plastic material, an intermediate core of wood-fibre-based material or plastic material and preferably a lower balancing layer on the rear side of the core. The following description of prior-art technique, problems of known systems and objects and features of the invention will therefore, as a non-restrictive example, be aimed above all at this field of application and in particular at laminate flooring formed as rectangular floor panels with long and shorts edges intended to be mechanically joined to each other on both long and short edges. The long and short edges are mainly used to simplify the description of the invention. The panels could be square. It should be emphasised that the invention can be used in any floor panel and it could be combined with all types of known locking system, where the floor panels are intended to be joined using a mechanical locking system connecting the panels in the horizontal and vertical directions on at least two adjacent sides. The invention can thus also be applicable to, for instance, solid wooden floors, parquet floors with a core of wood or wood-fibre-based material

and a surface of wood or wood veneer and the like, floors with a printed and preferably also varnished surface, floors with a surface layer of plastic or cork, linoleum, rubber. Even floors with hard surfaces such as stone, tile and similar materials are included and floorings with soft wear layer, for instance needle felt glued to a board. The invention can also be used for joining building panels which preferably contain a board material for instance wall panels, ceilings, furniture components and similar.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Laminate flooring usually consists of a core of a 6-12 mm fibre board, a 0.2-0.8 mm thick upper decorative surface layer of laminate and a 0.1-0.6 mm thick lower balancing layer of laminate, plastic, paper or like material. A laminate surface consists of melamine impregnated paper. The most common core material is fibreboard with high density and good stability usually called HDF - High Density Fibreboard. Sometimes also MDF - Medium Density Fibreboard - is used as core.
Traditional laminate floor panels of this type have been joined by means of glued tongue-and-groove joints. In addition to such traditional floors, floor panels have been developed which do not require the use of glue and instead are joined mechanically by means of so-called mechanical locking systems. These systems comprise locking means, which lock the panels horizontally and vertically. The mechanical locking systems are usually formed by machining of the core of the panel. Alternatively, parts of the locking system can be formed of a separate material, for instance aluminium or HDF, which is integrated with the floor panel, i.e. joined with the floor panel in connection with the manufacture thereof.

The main advantages of floating floors with mechanical locking systems are that they are easy to install. They can also easily be taken up again and used once more at a different location.
DEFINITION OF SOME TERMS
In the following text, the visible surface of the installed floor panel is called "front side", while the opposite side of the floor panel, facing the sub floor, is called "rear side". The edge between the front and rear side is called ^^joint edge". By "horizontal plane" is meant a plane, which extends parallel to the outer part of the surface layer. Immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of two joined floor panels together define a "vertical plane" perpendicular to the horizontal plane. By "vertical locking" is meant locking parallel to the vertical plane in Dl direction. By ''horizontal locking" is meant locking parallel to the horizontal plane in D2 direction. By "first horizontal locking" is meant a horizontal locking perpendicular to the joint edges in D2 direction. By "second horizontal locking is meant a horizontal locking in the horizontal direction along the joint which prevents two panels to slide parallel to each other when they are laying in the same plane and locked both vertically and in the first horizontal direction.
By "locking systems" are meant co acting connecting elements, which connect the floor panels vertically and/or horizontally in the first horizontal direction D2. By "mechanical locking system" is meant that joining can take place without glue. Mechanical locking systems can in many cases also be joined by gluing. By "integrated with" means formed in one piece with the panel or factory connected to the panel.

RELATED ART AND PROBLEMS THEREOF
For mechanical joining of long edges as well as short edges in the vertical and in the first horizontal direction (direction Dl, D2) several methods could be used. One of the most used methods is the angle-snap method. The long edges are installed by angling. The panel is than displaced in locked position along the long side. The short edges are locked by horizontal snapping. The vertical connection is generally a tongue and a groove. During the horizontal displacement, a strip with a locking element is bent and when the edges are in contact, the strip springs back and a locking element enters a locking groove and locks the panels horizontally. Such a snap connection is complicated since a hammer and a tapping block may need to be used to overcome the friction between the long edges and to bend the strip during the snapping action. The friction on the long side could be reduced and the panels could be displaced without tools. The snapping resistance is however considerable especially in locking systems made in one piece with the core. Wood based materials are generally difficult to bend. Cracks in the panel may occur during snapping. It would be an advantage if the panels could be installed by angling of long edges but without a snap action to lock the short edges. Such a locking could be accomplished with a locking system that locks the long edges in such a way that also displacement along the joint is counteracted.
It is known from Wilson US 2,430,200 that several projections and recesses could be used to prevent displacement along the joint. Such projections and recesses are difficult to produce, the panels can only be locked in well-defined positions against adjacent long edges and they cannot be displaced against each other in angled position against each other when top edges are in contact- Terbrack US 4,426, 820 describes a locking system with a tight fit in a panel made of plastic

material. The tight fit prevents displacement along the joint. A system with tight fit does not give a safe and reliable locking over time especially if the locking system is made of wood fibre based material, which swells and shrink when the humidity varies over time. Wernersson WO2004/083557 discloses a rectangular floor panel with vertical and horizontal mechanical locking system at the long and short edges, joined by angling and a vertical folding respectively. In order to increase the strength of locking at the short edges of the panels, and reduce the load at the mechanical lock at the short edges, a friction enhancing means are provided in the mechanical locking system at the long edges.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS THEREOF
A first overall objective of the present invention is to provide a locking system for primarily rectangular floor panels with long and short edges installed in parallel rows, which allows that the short edge could be locked to each other horizontally by the locking system on the long edges. The costs and functions should be favourable compared to known technology. An essential part of the overall objective is to improve the function and costs of those parts of the locking system that locks in the horizontal direction along the joint when panels are installed on a sub floor.
More specifically the object is to provide a second horizontal locking system on the long edges, hereafter referred to as "slide lock" where one or several of the following advantages are obtained.
The slide lock on the long edges should be activated when a panel is brought in contact with an already installed panel and then angled down to the sub floor.
The slide lock function should be reliable over time and the panels should be possible to lock and unlock in any position when two adjacent long edges are brought into contact with each other.

The slide lock should be strong and prevent that short edges of two locked panels will separate when humidity is changing or when people walk on a floor.
The slide lock should possible to lock with high precision and without the use of tools.
The locking system and the slide lock should be designed in such a way that the material and production costs could be low.
A second objective is to provide an installation method for installation of floorboards with a slide lock
A third objective is to provide a production method for a slide lock system.
The above objects of the invention are achieved wholly or partly by locking systems, floor panels, and installation and production methods according to the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are evident from the dependent claims and from the description and drawings.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a flooring system is provided comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels to be installed on a sub floor. The floor panels have long and short edges, which are connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent edges of adjacent panels. The connectable adjacent edges have a mechanical locking system comprising a tongue formed in one piece with the panel and a groove for mechanically locking together said adjacent edges at right angles to the horizontal plane of the panels, thereby forming a vertical mechanical connection between the panels. One pair of adjacent edges have a locking element at one first edge and a locking groove at an opposite second edge thereby forming a first horizontal mechanical connection locking the panels to each other in a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angle to the joint edges. Each panel is at said adjacent

edges provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection locking the panels to each other along the joint edges, in a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the joint edges, when the panel are laying flat on the sub floor. The second horizontal mechanical connection comprises a plurality of small local protrusions in said mechanical locking system which prevents displacement along the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections. The short edges are provided only with a vertical locking.
Although it is an advantage to integrate the slide locking system with the panel, the invention does not exclude an embodiment in which parts of the locking system are delivered as separate components to be connected to the panel by the installer prior to installation. Such separate components could be applied in the locking system in order to prevent displacement along the joint when two panels are locked by preferably angling. Displacement could also be prevented and additional strength could be accomplished with a locking system which is pre glued.
It is an advantage if the short edges have a vertical locking preferably with a tongue and a groove. The short edges could however be made without vertical locking especially if the panels are narrow. In such a case long edges will also lock the short edges even in the vertical direction.
The invention is especially suited for use in floor panels, which are difficult to snap for example because they have a core, which is not flexible, or strong enough to form a strong snap locking system. The invention is also suitable for wide floor panels, for example with a

width larger than 20 cm, where the high snapping resistance is a major disadvantage during installation, in panels where parts of the locking system on the long edge is made of a material with high friction, such as wood and in locking systems which are produced with tight fit or without play or even with pretension. Especially panels -with such pretension where the locking strip is bent in locked position and presses the panels together are very difficult to displace and snap. A locking system that avoids snapping will decrease the installation time of such panels considerably. However, a tight fit and pretension in the locked position could improve the strength of the slide lock. An alternative to small protrusions, in some applications, is to use a high friction material in the locking system together with a tight fit between as many adjacent surfaces in the locking system as possible and even a wood based material might be used if normal shrinking and swelling is reduced.
The invention is also suited to lock parallel rows to each other such that the rows maintain their position after installation. This could be an advantage in floor which are installed in advanced patterns such as tiles or stone reproductions where grout lines or other decorative effect must be aligned accurately or in any other installation where it is an advantage if the floor panels can not slide after installation.
According to a second aspect of the invention a production method is provided to make a mechanical locking system between two edges of a first and second panel containing a wood fibre based core. According to the invention the locking system is formed at least partly in the core and comprises protrusions formed in the wood based core. The protrusions are at least partly formed by embossing.

According to a third aspect of the invention an installation method to install a floor is provided, comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels laying in parallel rows on a sub floor with long and short edges which are connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent long edges and one pair of adjacent short edges. The panels have a mechanical locking system comprising a tongue formed in one piece with the panels and groove for mechanically locking together said adjacent long and short edges at right angles to the horizontal plane of the panels, thereby forming a vertical mechanical connection between the panels. The panels have also a locking element at one first long edge and a locking groove at an opposite second long edge, which form a first horizontal mechanical connection locking the long edges of the panels to each other in a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges. Each panel is at said adjacent long edges provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection locking the panels to each other along the joined long edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor. The second horizontal mechanical connection comprises small local protrusions in said mechanical locking system on the long edges which prevents displacement along the joint when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections. The method comprises five steps:
a) As a first step a first panel is installed on a sub floor in a first row
b) As a second step a second panel in a second row is brought in contact with its long edge against the long edge of the first panel and held at an angle against the sub floor.

c) As a third step a new panel in a second row is brought at an angle with its long edge in contact with the long edge of the first panel and its short edge in contact with the short edge of the second panel.
d) As a fourth step the new panel is displaced against the second panel in the angled position and the tongue is inserted into the groove until the top edges at the short edges are in contact with each other.
e) As a final fifth step the second and new panels are angled down to the sub floor. This angling locks the long edges of the second and new panels to the first panel in a vertical direction and in a first horizontal direction perpendicular to the joined long edges and in a second horizontal direction along the long edges. The locking in the second horizontal direction prevents separations between the short edges of the second and the new panel.
According zo fourth aspect, the invention provide for a of a pair of floor panels, for providing a floating floor by joining the panels at the long edges with a horizontal and vertical mechanical locking system with embossed small local protrusions, preferably in a wood based material. The protrusions prevent displacement along the joint edges of the panels when the panels are laying flat on a sub floor and are locked with the horizontal and vertical mechanical locking system. The locking system locks the floor panels to each other by angling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figs la-d illustrate two embodiments of the invention
Figs 2a-d illustrate locking of the slide lock with
angling
Figs 3 illustrate a floorboard with a slide lock on
long side.
Figs 4a-b illustrate a production method to form a
slide lock.
Figs 5a-e illustrate embodiments of the invention.
Figs 6a-i illustrate an installation method according
to an embodiment of the invention.
Figs 7a-i illustrate floor panels, which could be
installed in a herringbone pattern and in parallel rows according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figs 8a-8d illustrate embodiments according to the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
To facilitate understanding, several locking systems in the figures are shown schematically. It should be emphasised that improved or different functions can be achieved using combinations of the preferred embodiments. The inventor has tested all known and especially all commercially used locking systems on the market in all type of floor panels, especially laminate and wood floorings and the conclusion is that at least all these known locking systems which have one or more locking elements cooperating with locking grooves could be

adjusted to a system with a slide lock which prevents displacement along the adjacent edges. The locking systems described by the drawings could all be locked with angling. The principles of the invention could however also be used in snap systems or in systems, which are locked with a vertical folding. The slide lock prevents sliding along the joint after snapping or folding.
The invention does not exclude floor panels with a slide lock on for example a long and/or a short side and floor panels with a angling, snapping or vertical folding lock on short side which locks horizontally and where the slide lock on the long side for example gives additional strength to the short side locking.
The most preferable embodiments are however based on floorboards with a surface layer of laminate or wood, a core of HDF or wood and a locking system on the long edge with a strip extending beyond the upper edge which allows locking by angling combined with a tongue and groove joint on the short edges which preferably only locks horizontally. In one preferred embodiment the groove on the short side has a lower lip, which extends beyond the upper lip. The described embodiments are therefore as non-restrictive examples based on such floor panels. All embodiments could be used separately or in combinations. Angles, dimensions, rounded parts, spaces between surfaces etc are only examples and could be adjusted within the basic principles of the invention.
A first preferred embodiment of a floor panel 1, 1' provided with a slide lock system according to the invention is now described with reference to Figs la-Id.
Fig. la illustrates schematically a cross-section of a joint preferably between a long side joint edge of a panel 1 and an opposite long side joint edge of a second panel 1'.

The front sides of the panels are essentially positioned in a common horizontal plane HP, and the upper parts of the joint edges abut against each other in a vertical plane VP. The mechanical locking system provides locking of the panels relative to each other in the vertical direction D1 as well as the horizontal direction D2.
To provide joining of the two joint edges in the Dl and D2 directions, the edges of the floor panel 1 have in a manner known per se a locking strip 6 with a locking element 8, and a groove 9 made in one piece with the panel in one joint edge and a tongue 10 made in one piece with the panel at an opposite edge of a similar panel 1'• The tongue 10 and the groove 9 provide the vertical locking D1.
The mechanical locking system according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a second horizontal locking 16, 17 formed as small local protrusions on the upper part of the strip 6 and on the lower part of the panel 1' in the edge portion between the tongue 10 and the locking groove 14. When the panels 1, 1' are locked together in an common plane and are laying flat on the sub floor as shown in figure la, the small local protrusions 16,17 are pressed to each other such that they grip against each other and prevent sliding and small displacement along the joint in a horizontal direction D3. This embodiment shows the first principle of the invention where the local protrusions are formed in the panel material. As a non restrictive example it could be mentioned that the upper 17 and lower 16 protrusions could be very small for example only 0,1 -0,2 mm high and the horizontal distance between the protrusions along the joint could be for example 0,1 -0,5 mm. The distance between the upper protrusions could be slightly different then the distance between the lower protrusions. In locked position some protrusions will

grip behind each other and some will press against each other but over the length of the floorboards there will be enough resistance to prevent sliding. The friction and the locking will be sufficient even in small cut off pieces at the end of the installed rows.
Figure lb shows an embodiment where small local protrusions 16 are formed on the upper part of the strip 8 adj acent to the locking element 8. The protrusions have a length direction, which is essentially perpendicular to the edge of the floorboard. Dl show the locking in the vertical direction, D2 in the first horizontal direction and D3 in the second horizontal direction along the joint edge. Figure Ic shows that similar protrusions could be formed on the lower side of the adjacent panel 1' in a portion located between the locking groove 14 and the tongue 10. The protrusions on one edge could be different to the protrusions on the other adj acent edge. This is shown in figure Id where the length direction of the protrusions has a different angle than the protrusions on the strip 6 in figure lb. When two such panels are connected the protrusions will always overlap each other and prevent displacement in all locked position - A strong locking could be accomplished with very small protrusions. The protrusions in this embodiment which is based on the principle that the protrusions 16,17 are formed in one piece with the panel material could for example have a length of 2-5 mm, a height of 0, 1 - 0,5 miri and a width of 0,1 - 0,5 mm. Other shapes are of course possible for example round or square shaped protrusions arranged as shown in figure 5a.
Figures 2a - 2c show locking of a slide lock system. In this preferred embodiment the panels 1, 1' are possible to displace even when the locking element 8 is partly in the locking groove. This is an advantage when connecting the short edges with a tongue and a groove

Figure 2b show that the local protrusions are in contact with each other when the adjacent panels 1, 1' are held at a small locking angle A for example of about 3 degrees against the sub floor. Lower locking angles are possible but could cause problems when the panels are installed on an uneven sub floor. Most preferable locking angles are 3-10 degrees but of course locking systems with other locking angles smaller or larger could be designed. Figure 2c shows the slide lock in locked position.
Figure 2d show a testing method to test the sliding strength F of a slide lock. Test show that even small protrusions could prevent displacement of the short edges 5a and 5b of two panels. A slide lock could prevent displacement of the short edges when a pulling force F equal to 1000 N is applied to the panels with a slide lock length L of 200 mm on both long edges. This corresponds to a sliding strength of 5000 N per 1000 mm of slide lock length. This means that even small pieces with a length of 100 mm could be locked with a locking force of 500 N and this is in most application sufficient. A slide lock could be designed with a sliding strength of more than 10.000 N per 1000 mm joint length. Even sliding strengths of 20.000 N or more could be reached and this is considerably more than the strength of traditional mechanical locking systems. Such systems are generally produced with a horizontal locking strength of 2000 - 5000 N per 1000 mm joint length. A preferable embodiment is locking systems where the slide strength of the slide lock in the second horizontal direction exceed the locking strength of the mechanical locking system in the first horizontal direction. A high sliding strength is an important feature in a floating floor where small pieces often are installed as end pieces against the walls. In some applications a sliding strength of at

least 50% of the horizontal locking strength is sufficient. In other applications, especially in public places 150% is required.
Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a floor panel with long 4a, 4b and short 5a, 5b edges. The long edges have a slide lock (C,D) with upper 17 and lower 16 protrusions over substantially the whole length of the long edges. The short edges have only a vertical locking system (A,B) with a tongue 10 and a groove 9. The lower lip 6 is a strip and extends beyond the upper lip 7.
Figure 4a shows a production method to form small local protrusions in a wood based material. The protrusions are at lest partly formed by embossing. This could be done with a press or with any other appropriate method where a tool is pressed against the wood fibres. Another alternative is to cut, brush or to scrape parts of the locking system to form small local protrusions. The most preferable method is a wheel 30, which is, rolled against the wood fibres with a pressure such that small local protrusions 16 are formed by embossing comprising compression of wood fibres. Such an embossing could be made continuous in the same machining line where the other parts of the locking system are formed by milling tools. In some materials, e.g. HDF and MDF, the result is improved by heating of the wheel or press tool to 100-200 degrees. The surface structure of milled or cut parts consisting of wood fibres is different to the structure obtained by embossing. Cutting or milling gives loose fibres, which are cut, while embossing mainly bends and deforms the fibres, which after embossing, to a larger extent, are aligned with the surface of the embossed parts. This difference could be seen in a microscope.
In order to strengthen the protrusions and/or enhance the friction, the method may also optionally

comprise treating of the embossed surface by a binder, e.g. wax, oil, paraffines, varnish, resins, melamine, phenol, polyurethane or similar.
It is also possible to apply a separate material in the locking system, such as synthetic rubber or thermoplastic material, and this material could be formed as local protrusions by pressure and/or heat as described above.
Figure 4b shows that the local protrusions could be formed between the tongue 10 and the groove 9, at the upper part 21 of the tongue, at the tip 20 of the tongue and at the lower outer part 19 of the tongue. They could also be formed between the upper part 18 of the strip and the adjacent edge portion and/or between the locking element 8 and the locking groove 14 at the locking surfaces 22, at the upper part 23 of the locking element and at the outer distal part 24 of the locking element. The local protrusions could be formed on only one edge portion or preferably on both edge portions and all these locations could be used separately or in combinations.
Compression of wood fibres with a wheel could also be used to form parts of the locking system such as the locking grove 14 or the locking element 8 or any other parts. This production method makes it possible to compress fibres and to form parts with smooth surfaces, improved production tolerances and increased density.
Figure 5a shows another embodiment according to a second principle- The protrusions 16 could be applied as individual parts of a separate material such as rubber, polymer materials or hard sharp particles or grains, which are applied into the locking system with a binder. Suitable materials are grains similar to those generally used in sandpaper, metal grains, especially aluminium particles. This embodiment could be combined with the

first principle where protrusions formed in one piece with the panel material cooperates with a separate material which is applied into the locking system and which also could have cooperating protrusions.
Figure 5b shows an embodiment where a rubber strip is applied into the locking system. Separate high friction material could create a strong slide lock even without any protrusions but protrusions in the panel and/or in the separate material gives a stronger and more safe slide lock. Figure 5c show that an embossed aluminium extrusion or wire 15 could be applied into the locking system.
Figure 5d and 5e shows preferable location of the separate friction material 16^17, 17'.
The following basic principles to make a slide lock have now been described:
Local protrusions are formed in one piece with the panel material preferably on both adjacent edges and they cooperate with each other in locked position.
A separate material softer than the panel material is applied in the locking system and this material could preferably cooperate with the protrusions, which are formed in one piece with the panel.
A separate material harder than the material of the panel is applied in the locking system. Parts of this harder material, which preferably has sharp protrusions or grains, are in locked position pressed into the panel material.
Separate soft and flexible friction material are applied into the locking system with or without protrusions.
All these principles could be used separately or in combinations and several principles could be used in the same locking system. For example a soft material could be applied on both edges and local protrusions could also be

formed on both edges and both local protrusions could cooperate with both soft materials.
Figures 6a-6i shows a method to install a floor of rectangular floor panels in parallel rows with a slide lock. The floor panels have long 4a, 4b and short 5a, 5b edges. The panels have a mechanical locking system comprising a tongue 10 formed in one piece with the panels and groove 9 for mechanically locking together adjacent long and short edges vertically in Dl direction. The panels have also a locking element 8 at one first long edge and a locking groove 14 at an opposite second long edge which form a first horizontal mechanical connection locking the long edges of the panels to each other in a D2 direction parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges. Each panel is at the adjacent long edges provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection locking the panels to each other along the joined long edges in the D3 direction when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor. The second horizontal mechanical connection comprises small local protrusions 16, 17 in the mechanical locking system on the long edges which prevents displacement along the joint when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked in Dl and D2 directions. The method comprise five steps:
a) As a first step a first panel Fl 1 is installed on a sub floor in a first row Rl
b) As a second step a second panel Fl 2 in a second row R2 is brought in contact with its long edge 4a against the long edge 4b of the first panel Fl 1 and held at an angle A against the sub floor.
c) As a third step a new panel Fl 3 in a second row R2 is brought at an angle A with its long edge 4a in contact

with the long edge 4b of the first panel Fl 1 and its short edge 5a in contact with the short edge 5b of the second panel FL 2. In this preferred embodiment the tongue 10 is angled on the strip 6, which is an extension of the lower lip of the grove 9. These 3 steps are shown in figures 6a, 6b and 6c.
d) As a fourth step the new panel Fl 3 is displaced against the second panel Fl 2 in the angled position and the tongue 10 is inserted into the groove 9 until the top edges at the short edges 5a, 5b are in contact with each other. This is shown in figures 6d-6f.
e) As a final fifth step the second panel Fl 2 and new panel Fl 3 are angled down to the sub floor. This angling locks the long edges 4a, 4b of the second Fl 2 and new Fl 3 panels to the first panel Fl 1 in a vertical direction Dl and in a first horizontal direction D2 perpendicular to the joined long edges and in a second horizontal direction D3 along the long edges. The locking in the second horizontal direction D3 prevents separations between the short edges 5a, 5b of the second Fl 2 and the new panel Fl 3. This is shown in figures 6g-bi.
It is not necessary that the second and the new panels are held in the same angle since some twisting of the panels may occur or may even be applied to the panels.
The installation method and the locking system according to the embodiments of the invention makes it possible to install floor panels in a simple way without tools and without any snap action on the short side. The locking system could be designed in such a way that the upper part of the locking element keeps the floorboards in an angled position until they are pressed down to the sub floor.

If the short edge does not have a tongue, installation could be made by just angling the floorboard to the sub floor. Even the traditional installation with angling the new panel Fl 3 to the sub floor and thereafter displacing the new panel towards the second panel Fl 2 could be used- The disadvantage is that a hammer and a tapping block must be used to overcome the resistance of the slide lock. This could be done without damaging the slide lock or substantially decreasing the sliding strength since the panels will be pushed upwards into a small angle by the small local protrusions.
Figures 7a - 7i show preferred embodiments of floorboards which are only A panels and which could be installed in a herringbone pattern and in parallel rows. Figures 7a - 7d show a locking system where the horizontal locking in D2 direction is obtained by a strip 6, a locking element 8 and a locking groove 14. In figures 7e -7h the horizontal locking D2 is obtained by a tongue lock where a locking element 41 on the upper part of the tongue locks against another locking element 42 in the upper part of the groove 9. The figures show long edges 4a, 4b short edges 5a, 5b and long edges 4a or 4b locked against the short edges 5a, 5b. The advantage of such a locking system is that a herringbone pattern could be created with only one type of A panels. The locking elements 41, 42, 8 and the locking groove 14 locks both short edges 5a, 5b of one panel to both long edges 4a, 4b of a similar panel. The disadvantage is that such panels cannot be installed in parallel rows since the short edges cannot be locked horizontally. This is shown in figures 7c and 7g. This problem could be solved however with a slide loc 16 on the long edges. The invention comprises one type of panels which could be installed in parallel rows and in a herringbone pattern and which at the long edges have a slide lock according to the described embodiments above.

Figure 7i show a strong locking system with a slide lock and with a locking element 8 and a locking groove 14 and with locking elements 41,42 in the upper part of the tongue 10 and the groove 9, The locking element 42 in the locking groove could be formed with a scraping tool.
Figure 8a shows a floor panel with a surface layer 31, a core 30 and a balancing layer 32. Part of the balancing layer has been removed under the strip 6 to prevent backwards bending of the strip in dry or humid environment. Such bending could reduce the strength of the slide lock especially in laminate floors installed in dry environment.
Figure Bb shows an embodiment with a separate wood based strip 6, which has a flexible friction material 16.
Figure Be and 8d shows a separate strip of aluminium. Small local protrusions 16, 16' are formed on the upper and lower parts of the strip 6. These protrusions prevent sliding between the strip and the two adjacent edges 4a and 4b. The small local protrusions 16, 16' could for example be rolled formed or pressed with a press tool. This could be done before, during or after forming of the strip 6.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention include the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

CLAIMS
1. A flooring system, comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels (1, 1') adapted to be installed on a sub floor, said floor panels having long (4ar 4b) and short edges (5a, 5b) which are connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent long and short edges of adjacent panels having a mechanical locking system on long and short edges comprising a tongue (10) formed in one piece with the panels and a groove (9) for mechanically locking together said adjacent edges at right angles (Dl) to the horizontal plane of the panels, thereby forming a vertical mechanical connections between the panels, and a locking element (8) at one first long edge and a locking groove (14) at an opposite second long edge thereby forming a first horizontal mechanical connection between adjacent long edges for locking the panels to each other in a direction {D2) parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges, characterised in
that each panel at said adjacent long edges being provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection for locking the panels to each other along the joint long edges, in a direction (D3) parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the joint edges, when the panel are laying flat on the sub floor,
that said second horizontal mechanical connection comprises a plurality of small local protrusions (16, l7) in said mechanical locking system which prevents displacement along the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections
that the mechanical locking system at the short edges are provided only with a vertical locking

comprising said tongue (9) and groove (10) for a mechanical locking solely in the vertical direction
that the groove on the short edge of the floor panels comprises a lower lip (6) and an upper lip (7) and that the lower lip (6) extends beyond the upper lip (7),
2. The flooring system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the locking groove (14) is open towards the rear side,
3» The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the protrusions (16, 17) are formed on both the first and the second edge.
4. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first horizontal locking comprises a strip (6) which is an extension of the lower part of the groove and that the locking element (8) is formed on the strip,
5. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mechanical locking system at the long edges (4a, 4b) comprises a separate material, other than the material of the panel core, which is connected to the floorboard,
6. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the small local protrusions (16, 17) are formed in one piece with the panel (1, 1')
7. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the
preceding claims, characterised in that each
small local protrusion (16,17) comprises an individual
part of a separate material, other than the material of

the panel core, which individual parts are applied in the mechanical locking system and connected to the
floorboard.
8. The flooring system as claimed in claim 5,
characterised in that local protrusions (16,
17) are formed in the panel such that they cooperate with
the separate material when two floor panels are locked in
the same plane,
9. The flooring system as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that small local protrusions (16, 17) are formed in the separate material.
10- The flooring system as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that small local protrusions (16, 17) are formed in the separate material and in the panel.
11. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the claims 5, 9 or 10 characterised in that the separate material is aluminium.
12. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the
preceding claims; characterised in that
essentially the whole edge comprises small local
protrusions (16, 17).
13. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the
) preceding claims, characterised in that there
is a space between the local protrusions (16, 17) and the adjacent edge of the adjacent panel when the adjacent panels are in an angled (A) position relative each other.
5 14. The flooring system as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the adjacent panels are displaceable along the joint edges when the upper part of

join edges are in contact and then said adjacent panels are in an angled position (A) relative each other-
15. The flooring system as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the panels are displaceable at an angle (A) of less than 45 degrees when the top edges are in contact with each other.
16. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the panels are displaceable when said adjacent panels are in an angled position relative each other at an angle (A) larger than 10 degrees.
17. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the panels are displaceable when said adjacent panels are in an angled position relative each other at an angle (A) larger than 3 degrees.
18. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking system is integrated with the panel
19. The flooring system as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plurality of small local protrusions (16, 17) in said mechanical locking system prevents displacement along the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections.
20. A method to make small local protrusions in a mechanical locking system for locking of two edges (43, 4b) of a first (1) and second panel (1') with each other, the panels comprising a wood fibre based core and the locking system is formed at least partly in the core of

the panels, wherein the method comprising embossing of the small local protrusions (16, 17) in a wood based material of the lociting system.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20wherein the embossing comprises pressing and rolling by a wheel (30) against a part of the mechanical locking system,
22. The method as claimed in anyone of the claims 20-21, wherein the method comprising embossing of a wood based material which coit^rises HDF or MDF,
23. The method as claimed in anyone of the claims 20-22, characterised in that the method comprising heating of the wheel (30).
24. The method as claimed in anyone of the claims 20-23, characterised in that the method comprising treating of the embossed surfaces by a binder,
25. A method to install a floor, comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels (1, 1') laying in parallel rows (Rl, R2) on a sub floor with long (4a, 4b) and short edges (5a, 5b) which are connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent long edges (5a, 5b) and one pair of adjacent short edges (4a, 4b), said panels (1, 1^) having a mechanical locking system comprising a tongue (10) formed in one piece with the panels and a groove (9) for mechanically locking together said adjacent long (4a, 4b) and short edges (5a, 5b) at right angles (Dl) to the horizontal plane of the panels, thereby forming a vertical mechanical connection between the panels, and a locking element (8) at one first long edge and a locking groove (14) at an opposite second long edge thereby forming a first horizontal mechanical connection locking the long edges of the panels to each

other in a direction (D2) parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges, each panel at said adjacent long edges being provided with a second horizontal mechanical connection (16, 17) locking the panels to each other along the joined long edges {4a, 4b> in a direction (D3) parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor, said second horizontal mechanical connection comprises small local protrusions (16, 17) in said mechanical locking system on the long edges (4a, 4b) which prevents displacement along the joint when the panels are laying flat on the sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connections, the method comprising:
a) installing a first panel (Fll) on a sub floor in a first row (Rl),
b) bringing a second panel (F12) in a second row (R2) into contact with its long edge against the long edge of the first panel and held at an angle (A) against the sub floor
c) bringing a new panel (F13) in the second row (R2) at an angle (A) with its long edge in contact with the long edge of the first panel and its short edge in contact with the short edge of the second panel,
d) locking the short edges mechanically solely in the vertical direction by displacing the new panel against the second panel in the angled position thereby bringing the tongue (10) into the groove (9) until the top edges at the short edges are in contact with each other
e) angling the second and the new panels down to the sub floor thereby locking the long edges of the

second and new panels to the first panel in a vertical direction and in a first horizontal direction perpendicular to the joined long edges and in a second horizontal direction along the long edges whereby the locking in the second horizontal direction prevents separations between the short edges of the second (F12) and the new panel {F13).
26. The method as claimed in claim 25, characterised in that the angle (A) is less than 45 degrees.
21. The method as claimed in claim 25 or 26, characterised in that the angle (A) is larger than 3 degrees.
28. The method as claimed in anyone of the claims 25 '27, characterised in that the angle (A) is larger than 10 degrees.
29, by angling of the new panel along the long edge adjacent the first panel, wherein the tongue of the new panel is positioned on the lower lip of the second panel when the new panel is brought into the contact with the second panel.
30, A pair of floor panels {11, 1'), with a wood fibre based core, for providing a floating floor by joining a first (1) and a second {1') of said floor panels (1, 1') with each other, each panel having two parallel long

edges (4a, 4b) and two parallel short edges (5a, 5b), whereby a joint between respective joint edges of said floor panels is formed having a mechanical locking system characterised in that the n^chanical locking system at the long edges comprising a first horizontal mechanical connection, for locking by angling along the long edges of the panels, comprising a locking element (8) and a locking groove (14), for locking in a direction (D2) parallel to the horizontal plane and at right angles to the joint edges, and a vertical connection comprising a tongue (10) and groove (9), and
that the adjacent long joint edges together form a second mechanical connection comprising at least partly embossed small local protrusions (16, 17)configured to obtain a locking in a direction (D3) parallel to the horizontal plane and parallel to the joint edges when the panels are laying flat on a sub floor and are locked with the vertical and the first horizontal connection
that the protrusions being provided on a substantially flat and horizontal surface of the locking strip and/or of the tongue panel, whereby the surface of the tongue panel is in a joined position of the i>anels positioned above the locking strip.
31. A pair of floor panels as claimed in claim 30, characterised in that the small local protrusions (16, 17) are formed in a wood fibre based material.
32- A pair of floor panels as claimed in claim 31 or 32, characterised in that essentially the whole edge comprises small local protrusions (16, 17) .
33. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-32, characterised in that the adjacent panels are displaceable along the joint edge when the upper part of join edges are in contact and when

said adjacent panels are in an angled position (A) relative each other.
34- A pair of floor panels as claimed in claim 33, characterisedin that the panels are displaceable at an angle (A) of less than 45 degrees when the top edges are in contact with each other-
35- A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 33*34, characterised in that the panels are displaceable when said adjacent panels are in an angled position relative each other at an angle (A) larger than ID degrees-
36. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 33-34, characterised in that the panels are displaceable when said adjacent panels are in an angled position relative each other at an angle (A) larger than 3 degrees.
37- A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-36, characterised in that the locking system is integrated with the panel
36. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-37, characterised in that the mechanical locking system at the long edges comprises a separate material, other than the material of the panel core, which is connected to the floorboard.
39. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-38, characterised in that the small local protrusions are formed in one piece with the panel•
40. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of the claims 30-39, characterised in that the

41. The pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone
claim 30-40, characterised in that the long
edge of the first and the second panel are provided with
protrusions.
42. A pair of floor panels as claimed in the claim
41, characterised in that the angle between the
length direction of the protrusions (16) of the first
panel (1) and its long edge differ from the angle between
the length direction of the protrusions (17) of the
second panel (1') and its long edge.
43. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of
the claims 30-42, characterised in that the
plurality of small local protrusions (16, 17) in said
mechanical locking system prevents displacement along the
joint edges when the panels are laying flat on the sub
floor and are locked with the vertical and the first
horizontal connections.
44. A pair of floor panels as claimed in anyone of
the claims 30-43, characterised in that the
small local protrusions (16, 17) and/or the core of the
panels are of a HDF or MDF material-

Documents:

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Patent Number

270176

Indian Patent Application Number

5274/CHENP/2007

PG Journal Number

49/2015

Publication Date

04-Dec-2015

Grant Date

30-Nov-2015

Date of Filing

20-Nov-2007

Name of Patentee

VALINGE INNOVATION AB

Applicant Address

APELVAGEN 2 S-260 40 VIKEN

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	PERVAN, DARKO	KYRKOGRANDEN 1 S-260 40 VIKEN

PCT International Classification Number

E04F 15/02

PCT International Application Number

PCT/SE06/00595

PCT International Filing date

2006-05-19

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	10/908,658	2005-05-20	U.S.A.