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).
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Patent number: 9322184Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited, SARLInventors: Laurent Meersseman, Martin Segaert, Bernard Thiers, Benjamin Clement, Christophe Maesen
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Publication number: 20160102466Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Mark CAPPELLE
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Publication number: 20160097204Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Christian VANDEVOORDE, Bernard THIERS
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Publication number: 20160046144Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventor: Bernard THIERS
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Patent number: 9249580Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 23, 2005Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventors: Laurent Meersseman, Christian Vandevoorde, Bernard Thiers
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Patent number: 9234356Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventors: Bernard Thiers, Mark Cappelle
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Patent number: 9212494Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventors: Laurent Meersseman, Martin Segaert, Bernard Thiers, Benjamin Clement, Christophe Maesen
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Patent number: 9194133Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventor: Bernard Thiers
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Patent number: 9163414Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited, SARLInventors: Laurent Meersseman, Martin Segaert, Bernard Thiers, Benjamin Clement, Christophe Maesen
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Patent number: 9151062Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventors: Mark Cappelle, Bernard Thiers
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Publication number: 20150259927Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Mark CAPPELLE
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Patent number: 9068356Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventors: Bernard Thiers, Mark Cappelle
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Publication number: 20150167320Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2015Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventors: Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Martin SEGAERT, Bernard THIERS, Benjamin CLEMENT, Christophe MAESEN
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Publication number: 20150082732Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Mark CAPPELLE
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Patent number: 8904729Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited, SarlInventors: Bernard Thiers, Mark Cappelle
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Publication number: 20140311079Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Mark CAPPELLE
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Publication number: 20140290158Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventors: Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Martin SEGAERT, Bernard THIERS, Benjamin CLEMENT, Christophe MAESEN
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Publication number: 20140020820Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventors: Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Martin SEGAERT, Bernard THIERS, Benjamin CLEMENT, Christophe MAESEN
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Publication number: 20130305649Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARLInventor: Bernard THIERS
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Publication number: 20130295352Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventors: Bernard THIERS, Laurent MEERSSEMAN