Patents by Inventor Jan De Rick

Jan De Rick 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).

  • Publication number: 20250237067
    Abstract: A panel has at least one first pair of opposite edges with coupling parts that allow two such panels to be couplable together. The coupling parts include a horizontally acting locking system that in a coupled state of two such panels achieves locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges. The horizontally acting locking system includes a projecting lip with an upward directed locking element on the underside of the panel. The upward directed locking element abuts against the proximally located upper side of the aforementioned projecting lip at least by means of a concave surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2025
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Jan DE RICK, Bryan ROLLIER, Hannes MEERSCHMAN
  • Patent number: 12331529
    Abstract: A floor, wall or ceiling panel comprises a core and a decorative top layer provided on the core. The core comprises a magnesium oxide-based board material, and wherein the aforementioned panel, on at least two opposite edges, is provided with coupling means allowing that two of such panels can be interlocked at the respective edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: UNILIN, BV
    Inventor: Jan De Rick
  • Patent number: 12320130
    Abstract: Floor panels have coupling parts in the form of a tongue and groove with locking surfaces. In a coupled state of two such panels, an open space is present, viewed vertically, between the tongue and the lower lip, and viewed horizontally, between the contact zone and the contact between the horizontally active locking surfaces. The underside of the tongue in the open space comprises a first face. The top side of the lower lip in the open space comprises a second face parallel to the first face. In the coupled state of two such panels, at least one face is perpendicular to the panel and intersects both the first face of the first coupled panel and the second plane of the panel coupled to the first panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventor: Jan De Rick
  • Patent number: 12291876
    Abstract: The floor or wall panel has a substrate and a top layer applied thereon. The substrate consists mainly of a mineral material. The panel is provided, on at least two opposite edges, with coupling means that allow two such panels to be coupled together at the respective edges, wherein in the coupled state there is locking in the vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the coupled panels and in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and in the plane of the coupled panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: UNILIN, BV
    Inventors: Jan De Rick, Benjamin Clement, José Meirlaen, Marijn Seynaeve
  • Publication number: 20250116119
    Abstract: A panel includes a substrate and a top layer. The top layer has a decor layer and a wear layer. The decor layer includes a printed film. The panel is provided with a first pair of opposite edges, having coupling parts in the form of a tongue and a groove with locking parts. The male edge defines a recess for providing a simulation of grout in coupled condition of the panels. The female edge defines a distal portion which overlaps in coupled condition at least partly the recess at the male edge. The male edge and the distal portion each form a bevel. These bevels extend with an angle with the surface of the panel between 15° and 45° through the printed film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Jan DE RICK, Bryan ROLLIER
  • Publication number: 20250067059
    Abstract: A floor panel for forming a floor covering, such that the floor covering includes floor panels, which, on at least one pair of edges, are provided with coupling parts. The coupling parts are substantially manufactured from the material of the floor panel. The coupling parts are configured such that two floor panels, at the pair of edges, can be installed and locked to each other by a downward movement and/or by using a fold-down principle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventor: Jan DE RICK
  • Publication number: 20250041891
    Abstract: One or more belts or bands are provided for feeding rectangular decorative panels through an apparatus. During the feed-through operation, a first edge and a parallel second edge of the decorative panels are kept parallel to the feed-through direction through the apparatus. The apparatus includes a wall for guiding the first edge of the panels; while the apparatus has a member which by exerting pressure on the second edge of the panels can press the first edge of these panels against the wall. The apparatus includes a device for applying a coating or an impregnating agent to at least a part of the second edge and/or of the first edge while the first edge is being pressed over at least a part of its length against the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventor: Jan DE RICK
  • Publication number: 20250043576
    Abstract: A panel has at least one first pair of opposite edges with coupling parts that allow two such panels to be couplable together. The coupling parts include a horizontally acting locking system that in a coupled state of two such panels achieves locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges. The horizontally acting locking system includes a projecting lip with an upward directed locking element on the underside of the panel. The upward directed locking element abuts against the proximally located upper side of the aforementioned projecting lip at least by means of a concave surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Jan DE RICK, Bryan ROLLIER, Hannes MEERSCHMAN
  • Patent number: 12203274
    Abstract: A floor panel for forming a floor covering, such that the floor covering includes floor panels, which, on at least one pair of edges, are provided with coupling parts. The coupling parts are substantially manufactured from the material of the floor panel. The coupling parts are configured such that two floor panels, at the pair of edges, can be installed and locked to each other by a downward movement and/or by using a fold-down principle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventor: Jan De Rick
  • Publication number: 20250012085
    Abstract: A first and a second pair of opposite edges with coupling parts, are arranged to provide locking in both the vertical and the horizontal direction. The panels may be coupled at least on one pair of edges by means of a downward motion. One edge comprises an upward-directed lower hook-shaped portion, including a lip with an upward-directed locking element that defines a female part proximally thereto; the opposite edge includes a downward-directed upper hook-shaped portion, which has a lip with a downward-directed locking element that defines a male part. In the coupled state, the distance between the underside of the downward directed locking element of the panel and the upper side of the lip of the lower hook-shaped portion of the panel coupled thereto is everywhere at least 0.05 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventor: Jan DE RICK
  • Publication number: 20250012091
    Abstract: A panel, which is rectangular and has long and short edges, includes a coupling part on each long edge and on each short edge, which allows coupling of the panel to another such panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventor: Jan DE RICK
  • Publication number: 20250012088
    Abstract: A floor panel contains opposite edges that contain coupling parts to link two floor panels. These coupling parts contain locking planes: first and second locking planes on the first edge with an enclosed angle between 90° and 175°; and third and fourth locking planes on the second edge with an enclosed angle between 90° and 175°. The first locking plane is closer to the top of the floor panel than the second locking plane. The angle with the surface of the floor panel of the first locking plane is smaller than the second locking plane. The angle with the floor plane surfaces of the third locking plane is smaller than that of the fourth locking plane. The second locking plane is provided for interaction with the fourth locking plane of a coupled panel. The first locking plane is provided for interaction with the third locking plane of a coupled panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventor: Jan DE RICK
  • Publication number: 20250012098
    Abstract: A floor panel includes a core and decorative layer applied thereon, such that the material of the aforementioned core has a density of more than 1000 kg/m3, preferably more than 1300 kg/m3, and has a thickness of 6 millimeters or more. The core has internal spaces and/or that the core has spaces on its bottom side. A method for manufacturing such floor panels is provided according to the aforementioned floor panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Benny SCHACHT, Jan DE RICK
  • Publication number: 20250003224
    Abstract: A wall or ceiling panel, which, on one side edge, comprises a male coupling part and, on an opposite side edge, comprises a female coupling part. The male coupling part comprises a tongue and the female coupling part comprises a groove. The groove is bordered by a front lip and a rear lip, with the characteristic that the panel forms a ceiling-high wall panel and/or has a length of at least 2400 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventor: Jan DE RICK
  • Publication number: 20240408786
    Abstract: A method includes the milling of coupling parts on a pair of opposite edges of a decorative panel. These coupling parts are configured for coupling said panels on their opposite edges. The coupling parts may comprise locking parts for locking the coupled panels. The opposite edges comprise sealing faces, which in the coupled state are in contact or abut closely to each other. In a first milling operation, material is milled away to form a rough shape of the coupling part. In a second milling operation, the sealing face acquires its final form and dimension, wherein in the second milling operation, everywhere perpendicular to the final first sealing face, at most 0.3 mm of material is milled away.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventor: Jan DE RICK
  • Publication number: 20240408856
    Abstract: A panel including a primary and a secondary substrate layer, an intermediate layer, and a top layer. The intermediate layer is located between the primary and secondary substrate layers. The top layer is applied on the secondary substrate layer. The intermediate layer has at least one of the following properties: the intermediate layer has a Shore A hardness that is 10 units lower than the Shore A hardness of the primary and/or secondary substrate layer; the intermediate layer has an elastic modulus that is at least 10.0% lower than the elastic modulus of the primary and/or secondary substrate layer; the intermediate layer includes a material with a substantially open cell structure; or the intermediate layer includes a foamed thermoplastic material or a foamed thermosetting material. Methods are provided for manufacturing the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Kristof VAN VLASSENRODE, Jan DE RICK
  • Patent number: 12134900
    Abstract: A floor panel includes a core and decorative layer applied thereon, such that the material of the aforementioned core has a density of more than 1000 kg/m3, preferably more than 1300 kg/m3, and has a thickness of 6 millimeters or more. The core has internal spaces and/or that the core has spaces on its bottom side. A method for manufacturing such floor panels is provided according to the aforementioned floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventors: Benny Schacht, Jan De Rick
  • Patent number: 12129660
    Abstract: A panel, which is rectangular and has long and short edges, includes a coupling part on each long edge and on each short edge, which allows coupling of the panel to another such panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventor: Jan De Rick
  • Patent number: 12129657
    Abstract: A wall or ceiling panel, which, on one side edge, comprises a male coupling part and, on an opposite side edge, comprises a female coupling part. The male coupling part comprises a tongue and the female coupling part comprises a groove. The groove is bordered by a front lip and a rear lip, with the characteristic that the panel forms a ceiling-high wall panel and/or has a length of at least 2400 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: UNILIN, BV
    Inventor: Jan De Rick
  • Patent number: 12123203
    Abstract: A floor panel contains opposite edges that contain coupling parts to link two floor panels. These coupling parts contain locking planes: first and second locking planes on the first edge with an enclosed angle between 90° and 175°; and third and fourth locking planes on the second edge with an enclosed angle between 90° and 175°. The first locking plane is closer to the top of the floor panel than the second locking plane. The angle with the surface of the floor panel of the first locking plane is smaller than the second locking plane. The angle with the floor plane surfaces of the third locking plane is smaller than that of the fourth locking plane. The second locking plane is provided for interaction with the fourth locking plane of a coupled panel. The first locking plane is provided for interaction with the third locking plane of a coupled panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: UNILIN, BV
    Inventor: Jan De Rick