Välinge first to Patent LVT and floors with Vinyl Surfaces
Viken, Sweden - January 25, 2011
Välinge Invented vinyl surfaces with mechanical locking systems already in 2001.
Such floorboards, developed by Välinge 9 years ago, offer several advantages over traditional Vinyl surfaces that generally are supplied in rolls.
Välinge PCT Application WO 03/012224 with priority July 2001 comprises a very detailed description related to such floors. Specific patent applications based on the original PCT application have recently been filed in Europe and in the USA.
Välinge is convinced that it will be able to get a strong and broad patent protection since its priority is five years earlier than other similar patents. The patent application says:
''The present invention is particularly suited for use for floating floors, which are joined mechanically and are made up of one or more preferably moisture proof upper layers of a decorative plastic material, a core of HDF or plastic material and preferably a lower balancing layer on the rear side of the core.
Fig. 12a 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.
The floor panel has a mechanical locking system for locking the floor panels horizontally and vertically at its long and short sides through angling and/or snapping''.
" We are pleased that we are once again the first to develop a new flooring technology that has the potential to capture substantial market shares. We have tried to market this new technology for many years without much success. The recent trends shown at Dometex are very encouraging" says Darko Pervan, Välinge CEO.
"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 favourable terms. Välinge is also prepared to grant licenses to new licensees provided that they are not involved in patent disputes with Välinge" says Per Josefsson, manager Basic Locking Systems
For further information, please contact:
Per Josefsson
Manager Basic Locking Systems
Phone: +46 (0)42 238775
e-mail:
Ola Engstrand
Patent Manager
Mobile: +46 706 238 999
e-mail: