Info re patents and technology related to floating floors with Vinyl surfaces.

Viken, Sweden - January 23, 2010

Välinge invented and patented floating floorboards with vinyl surfaces already in 2001.

Välinge is pleased that several producers have finally launched floating floorboards with mechanical locking systems and with vinyl surfaces glued to a HDF core according to the basic technology that Välinge has been teaching and promoting for several years since 2003 when it was officially published.

Such floorboards, developed by Välinge 9 years ago, offer several advantages over the traditional Vinyl surfaces that generally are supplied in rolls.

Generally no costly and complicated improvements of the sub floor are needed and the floor panels can easily be installed mechanically with combinations of angling and snapping but preferably with the new Välinge Side push fold down technology that is very suitable for tile shaped panels.

Floor panels with Vinyl surfaces have generally better sound and moisture properties than laminate and very attractive designs could be provided.

Present Välinge licensees are welcome to contact Välinge for demonstrations of this new flooring category that could replace traditional Vinyl surfaces in many applications. A wide range of floor panels with Vinyl surfaces installed in advanced patterns are available at the new R&D centre in Viken.

The floating Vinyl floor belongs to the Välinge "Roll to Panel" technology where several other similar concepts have been developed for example linoleum and carpet surfaces glued to a HDF core.

Välinge has and will apply for many applications related to Vinyl flooring.

Välinge PCT Application WO 03/012224, Priority July 2001

''"Fig. 12a(b) shows an embodiment according to the invention where the core 30 has been coated with three different surface layers having different functions.

The surface of the floor panel 1, 1’ comprises a transparent, hard and durable wear layer 34 of plastic material, an intermediate decorative layer 35 of plastic film and a reinforcement layer 36 which is made of an elastic material and which can be both moisture-proof and sound-absorbing.

The decorative layer 35 of plastic film can be replaced with decorative patterns, which are printed directly on the underside of the transparent wear layer 34 or on the upper side of the elastic reinforcement layer 36.

This embodiment could also be produced without a seal and may then constitute a floating floor panel with a wood based core such as HDF/MDF, a resilient surface and a mechanical locking system for locking the floor panels horizontally and vertically at its long and short sides through angling and/or snapping."

Further improvements related to edge sealing and decorative groves were made in 2006 as described in WO 2007/081267.

Välinge is in general prepared to extend the present license contracts to other surfaces than wood and laminate and to provide start up support to its present licensees on favorable terms. Välinge is also prepared to grant licenses to new licensees provided that they are not involved in patent disputes with Välinge.

For further information, please contact:


Per Nygren
Director Marketing & Sales
Mobile: +46 706 23 87 29
e-mail:

or

Ola Engstrand
Patent Manager
Mobile: +46 706 238 999
e-mail: