Laying and installation method for panels

Abstract

In a method of laying and installing rectangular panels having a first and a second parallel long side ( 701, 702 ) and having a first and a second parallel short side ( 801, 802 ), the panels are installed in parallel panel rows extending along the long sides of the panels. An alignment panel ( 1 ) is coupled to the first long side ( 701 ) of each panel of a first panel row ( 100 ) before a next panel ( 102 ) of the first panel row ( 100 ) is installed.

1 . A method of laying and installing rectangular panels having a first and a second parallel long side and having a first and a second parallel short side, the panels being installed in parallel panel rows extending along the long sides of the panels, wherein an alignment panel is coupled to the first long side of each panel of a first panel row before a next panel of the first panel row is installed. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment panels are provisional alignment panels, the method comprising removing the provisional alignment panels after at least a second panel row has been added. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the short sides of each of the provisional alignment panels remain uncoupled to the short sides of any other provisional alignment panel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) laying a first panel of the first panel row;   (b) coupling a first provisional alignment panel to the first long side of the first panel in such a manner that the first provisional alignment panel has a portion that extends beyond the first panel along its first long side;   (c) subsequently to step (b), coupling a second panel of the first panel row both to the second short side of the first panel and to the second long side of the portion of the first provisional alignment panel that extends beyond the first panel,   
       (d) subsequently to step (c), coupling a further provisional alignment panel to the first long side of a previously laid panel of the first panel row in such a manner that the further provisional alignment panel has a portion that extends beyond the previously laid panel along the first long side of the previously laid panel;
 (e) subsequently to step (d), coupling a further panel of the first panel row both to the second short side of a previously laid panel of the first panel row and to the first long side of the portion of the further provisional alignment panel that extends beyond the previously laid panel; 
 (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) until a desired length of the first panel row is achieved; 
 (g) installing at least a second panel row adjacent to the first panel row, each panel of the second panel row being coupled to the second long side of at least one of the panels of the first panel row; and 
 (h) removing the provisional alignment panels. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the panels are floor panels that are installed on a floor of a room having a front wall, the method further comprising, subsequent to step (h), the following steps:
 (i) shifting the combined first and second panel rows parallel to the floor towards the front wall; and   (j) installing one or more further panel rows.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment panels remain coupled to the first panel row, thereby forming panels of a second panel row. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first short side of each further alignment panel is coupled to the second short side of a previous alignment panel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising the following steps:
 (a) laying a first panel of the first panel row;   (b) coupling a first alignment panel to the first long side of the first panel of the first panel row in such a manner that the first alignment panel has a portion that extends beyond the first panel along the first long side of the first pane;   (c) subsequently to step (b), coupling a second panel of the first panel row to the second short side of the first panel and to the second long side of the portion of the first alignment panel that extends beyond the first panel;   (d) subsequently to step (c), coupling a further alignment panel both to the first long side of a previously laid panel of the first panel row and to the second short side of a previously laid alignment panel in such a manner that the further alignment panel has a portion that extends beyond the previously laid panel of the first panel row in a direction parallel to the first long side of the previously laid panel;   (e) subsequently to step (d), coupling a further panel of the first row both to the second short side of a previously laid panel of the first row and to the second long side of the portion of the further alignment panel that extends beyond the previously laid panel of the first row;   (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) until a desired length of the first panel row is achieved;   (g) adding a shortened final panel of the second panel row;   (h) adding further panel rows.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, between steps (a) and (b):
 (a′) coupling a shortened initial panel of a second panel row to the first long side of the first panel of the first panel row,   wherein in step (b) the first alignment panel is further coupled to the second short side of the initial panel of the second panel row.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein all panels and all alignment panels have identical coupling structures for coupling the panels and alignment panels to one another.