Patents by Inventor Bernard Thiers

Bernard Thiers has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9322184
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing floor panels that have at least a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, the top layer including a thermoplastic layer that is translucent or transparent, the method may involve providing the top layer, including the thermoplastic layer, on the substrate. The method may also involve heating at least the thermoplastic layer, and structuring the thermoplastic layer using a mechanical press element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited, SARL
    Inventors: Laurent Meersseman, Martin Segaert, Bernard Thiers, Benjamin Clement, Christophe Maesen
  • Publication number: 20160102466
    Abstract: Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Mark CAPPELLE
  • Publication number: 20160097204
    Abstract: Floor panel, more particularly a laminate floor panel, which, at least at two opposite edges (2-3-4-5), is provided with coupling parts (6-7-8-9), whereby this floor panel (1), at its decorative side, forms an imitation of wood, from which, by means of a tool, wood portions have been removed from the surface, more particularly forms an imitation of so-called scraped wood, and whereby this floor panel (1) comprises a decor (10) representing a wood pattern (18), a top layer (11) on the basis of synthetic material (12), and an underlying substrate (13), whether or not composed of several layers or parts, characterized in that the floor panel (1), in the surface over which the decor (10) extends, is provided with embossed portions (19 and/or 20) continuing up into the aforementioned substrate (13), whereby these embossed portions (19 and/or 20) are at least applied in order to imitate the aforementioned removed wood portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Christian VANDEVOORDE, Bernard THIERS
  • Publication number: 20160046144
    Abstract: A floor covering is composed of a plurality of hard floor panels wherein the floor panels show a common general decor and may differ from each other in respect to their appearance and/or on their own have zones of a differing appearance. The floor panels, at least at two opposite sides or edges thereof, are provided with coupling parts allowing that two of such floor panels can cooperate with each other at these sides. At least some of the floor panels possess at least one chamfer, such as a beveled edge or the like, wherein the surfaces of these chamfers are provided, at least partially, with a separately applied decorative covering including at least a decorative layer. The appearance of the decorative covering is realized in a manner varying in function of differences occurring in the decor of the floor covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventor: Bernard THIERS
  • Patent number: 9249580
    Abstract: Floor panel, more particularly a laminate floor panel, which, at least at two opposite edges (2-3-4-5), is provided with coupling parts (6-7-8-9), whereby this floor panel (1), at its decorative side, forms an imitation of wood, from which, by means of a tool, wood portions have been removed from the surface, more particularly forms an imitation of so-called scraped wood, and whereby this floor panel (1) comprises a decor (10) representing a wood pattern (18), a top layer (11) on the basis of synthetic material (12), and an underlying substrate (13), whether or not composed of several layers or parts, characterized in that the floor panel (1), in the surface over which the decor (10) extends, is provided with embossed portions (19 and/or 20) continuing up into the aforementioned substrate (13), whereby these embossed portions (19 and/or 20) are at least applied in order to imitate the aforementioned removed wood portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Laurent Meersseman, Christian Vandevoorde, Bernard Thiers
  • Patent number: 9234356
    Abstract: Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Bernard Thiers, Mark Cappelle
  • Patent number: 9212494
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing floor panels that have at least a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, the top layer including a thermoplastic layer that is translucent or transparent, the method may involve providing the top layer, including the thermoplastic layer, on the substrate. The method may also involve heating at least the thermoplastic layer, and structuring the thermoplastic layer using a mechanical press element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Laurent Meersseman, Martin Segaert, Bernard Thiers, Benjamin Clement, Christophe Maesen
  • Patent number: 9194133
    Abstract: A floor covering is composed of a plurality of hard floor panels wherein the floor panels show a common general decor and may differ from each other in respect to their appearance and/or on their own have zones of a differing appearance. The floor panels, at least at two opposite sides or edges thereof, are provided with coupling parts allowing that two of such floor panels can cooperate with each other at these sides. At least some of the floor panels possess at least one chamfer, such as a beveled edge or the like, wherein the surfaces of these chamfers are provided, at least partially, with a separately applied decorative covering including at least a decorative layer. The appearance of the decorative covering is realized in a manner varying in function of differences occurring in the decor of the floor covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventor: Bernard Thiers
  • Patent number: 9163414
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing floor panels that have at least a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, the top layer including a thermoplastic layer that is translucent or transparent, the method may involve providing the top layer, including the thermoplastic layer, on the substrate. The method may also involve heating at least the thermoplastic layer, and structuring the thermoplastic layer using a mechanical press element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited, SARL
    Inventors: Laurent Meersseman, Martin Segaert, Bernard Thiers, Benjamin Clement, Christophe Maesen
  • Patent number: 9151062
    Abstract: Floor panel comprising coupling parts enabling two floor panels to adopt two or more different mutually locked positions (P1-P2) when coupled, wherein the two or more mutual positions (P1-P2) differ from each other in that they, at the coupled sides, define two or more different distances (S) between the upper side edges of the floor panels, and adapter elements are provided with the coupling parts, so that the use or non-use of these adapter elements enables setting the mutually locked position (P1-P2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Mark Cappelle, Bernard Thiers
  • Publication number: 20150259927
    Abstract: Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Mark CAPPELLE
  • Patent number: 9068356
    Abstract: Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Bernard Thiers, Mark Cappelle
  • Publication number: 20150167320
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing floor panels that have at least a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, the top layer including a thermoplastic layer that is translucent or transparent, the method may involve providing the top layer, including the thermoplastic layer, on the substrate. The method may also involve heating at least the thermoplastic layer, and structuring the thermoplastic layer using a mechanical press element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Martin SEGAERT, Bernard THIERS, Benjamin CLEMENT, Christophe MAESEN
  • Publication number: 20150082732
    Abstract: Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Mark CAPPELLE
  • Patent number: 8904729
    Abstract: Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited, Sarl
    Inventors: Bernard Thiers, Mark Cappelle
  • Publication number: 20140311079
    Abstract: Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Mark CAPPELLE
  • Publication number: 20140290158
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing floor panels that have at least a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, the top layer including a thermoplastic layer that is translucent or transparent, the method may involve providing the top layer, including the thermoplastic layer, on the substrate. The method may also involve heating at least the thermoplastic layer, and structuring the thermoplastic layer using a mechanical press element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Martin SEGAERT, Bernard THIERS, Benjamin CLEMENT, Christophe MAESEN
  • Publication number: 20140020820
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing floor panels that have at least a substrate and a top layer provided on the substrate, the top layer including a thermoplastic layer that is translucent or transparent, the method may involve providing the top layer, including the thermoplastic layer, on the substrate. The method may also involve heating at least the thermoplastic layer, and structuring the thermoplastic layer using a mechanical press element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventors: Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Martin SEGAERT, Bernard THIERS, Benjamin CLEMENT, Christophe MAESEN
  • Publication number: 20130305649
    Abstract: A floor covering is composed of a plurality of hard floor panels wherein the floor panels show a common general decor and may differ from each other in respect to their appearance and/or on their own have zones of a differing appearance. The floor panels, at least at two opposite sides or edges thereof, are provided with coupling parts allowing that two of such floor panels can cooperate with each other at these sides. At least some of the floor panels possess at least one chamfer, such as a beveled edge or the like, wherein the surfaces of these chamfers are provided, at least partially, with a separately applied decorative covering including at least a decorative layer. The appearance of the decorative covering is realized in a manner varying in function of differences occurring in the decor of the floor covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
    Inventor: Bernard THIERS
  • Publication number: 20130295352
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing a laminate product comprising at least a laminate layer with a decor sheet, wherein, for forming the laminate layer, at least a decor sheet is formed by providing in a decor application process a decor in the form of a motif on a decor carrier, wherein this decor carrier consists of a continuous material web, wherein the decor is applied by means of one or more digital printers and wherein the global decor during the processing of the material web is controlled in a varying manner, by means of controlling the one or more printers, as a function of varying external data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Laurent MEERSSEMAN