text:
Floorboards (1, 1′) are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system consisting of a separately machined locking strip (6) which is mechanically joined with the floorboard (1), the locking strip (6) being designed for mechanical fixing to the floorboard (1) by means of a joint, which is operable by snapping-in and/or inward angling, and the locking strip (6) being designed to connect the floorboard (1) with the essentially identical floorboard (1′) by at least inward angling.
Moreover, a locking strip, a strip blank, a set of parts for making a floorboard and methods for manufacturing a floorboard and a locking strip, respectively, are shown.
1. A floorboard comprising:
an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, the lower side configured to face a subfloor;
connecting means integrated with the floorboard and adapted to connect a first edge of the floorboard with a second edge of an essentially identical floorboard,
wherein upper joint edges of said floorboard and said essentially identical floorboard in a connected state define a vertical plane,
said connecting means being adapted to connect said floorboard with said essentially identical floorboard in at least a horizontal direction perpendicular to said vertical plane,
said connecting means comprising a locking strip which projects from said vertical plane and carries a locking element which is adapted to cooperate, in said connected state, with a downward open locking groove of said essentially identical floorboard,
said locking strip is a separate part which is mechanically fixed to the floorboard in said horizontal direction and a vertical direction,
wherein said locking strip is mechanically fixed to the floorboard at a joint by snapping-in or inward angling,
said locking strip comprising a strip tongue,
said locking strip adapted for connecting the floorboard with the essentially identical floorboard by at least inward angling, such that when the second edge is pressed against an upper part of the first edge and is then angled down, the locking element can enter the locking groove,
wherein the joint comprises a strip groove adapted to receive the strip tongue and wherein the strip groove is a sideward open groove having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface,
the strip groove adapted for retaining the strip tongue in the strip groove when the strip groove is arranged in connection to the strip tongue,
the locking strip is mechanically fixed to the floorboard by way of said strip tongue being mechanically fixed within the strip groove forming a joint which is only operable by snapping in and/or inward angling and
wherein the locking strip extends horizontally beyond the outer parts of the strip groove.
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a tongue groove for connecting the floorboard to said essentially identical floorboard in the vertical direction perpendicular to a principal plane of the floorboard,
wherein the tongue groove is adapted for receiving a tongue arranged on said essentially identical floorboard,
wherein at least one surface of said tongue groove is said locking strip.
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a locking surface arranged in said strip groove and adapted to cooperate with a locking surface arranged on said locking strip.
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This application is a continuation of application No. 10/509,885, filed Jun. 29, 2005, which is a National Stage of Application No. PCT/SE03/00514, filed Mar. 31, 2003, which claims the benefit of Swedish Application No. 0201009-8, filed on Apr. 3, 2002, and Swedish Application No. 0300271-4, filed on Jan. 31, 2003.
The invention generally relates to the field of mechanical locking systems for floorboards. The invention relates to floorboards provided with such locking systems; elements for such locking systems; and methods for making floorboards with such locking systems. The invention is particularly suited for use in mechanical locking systems of the type described and shown, for example, in WO9426999, WO9966151, WO9966152, SE 0100100-7 and SE 0100101-5 (owned by Välinge Aluminium AB) but is also usable in optional mechanical locking systems which can be used to join floors.
More specifically, the invention relates above all to floors of the type having a core and a decorative surface layer on the upper side of the core.
The present invention is particularly suitable for use in floating floors, which are formed of floorboards which are joined mechanically with a locking system integrated with the floorboard, i.e. mounted at the factory, are made up of one or more upper layers of veneer, decorative laminate or decorative plastic material, an intermediate core of wood-fibre-based material or plastic material and preferably a lower balancing layer on the rear side of the core, and are manufactured by sawing large floor elements into floor panels. The following description of prior-art technique, problems of known systems and objects and features of the invention will therefore, as a non-restrictive example, be aimed above all at this field of application and in particular laminate flooring formed as rectangular floorboards intended to be mechanically joined on both long sides and short sides. However, it should be emphasised that the invention can be used in any floorboards with any locking systems, where the floorboards can be joined using a mechanical locking system in the horizontal and vertical directions. The invention can thus also be applicable to, for instance, homogeneous wooden floors, parquet floors with a core of wood or wood-fibre-based material and the like which are made as separate floor panels, floors with a printed and preferably also varnished surface and the like. The invention can also be used for joining, for instance, of wall panels.
Laminate flooring usually consists of a core of a 6-11 mm fibreboard, a 0.2-0.8 mm thick upper decorative surface layer of laminate and a 0.1-0.6 mm thick lower balancing layer of laminate, plastic, paper or like material. The surface layer provides appearance and durability to the floorboards. The core provides stability, and the balancing layer keeps the board plane when the relative humidity (RH) varies during the year. The floorboards are laid floating, i.e. without gluing, on an existing subfloor. Traditional hard floorboards in floating flooring of this type are usually joined by means of glued tongue-and-groove joints (i.e. joints involving a tongue on one floorboard and a tongue groove on an adjoining floorboard) on long side and short side. When laying the floor, the boards are brought together horizontally, whereby a projecting tongue along the joint edge of one board is introduced into a tongue groove along the joint edge of an adjoining board. The same method is used on the long side as well as on the short side.
In addition to such traditional floors, which are joined by means of glued tongue-and-groove joints, floorboards have recently been developed which do not require the use of glue and instead are joined mechanically by means of so-called mechanical locking systems. These systems comprise locking means which lock the boards horizontally and vertically. The mechanical locking systems are usually formed by machining of the core of the board. Alternatively, parts of the locking system can be formed of a separate material, for instance aluminium, which is integrated with the floorboard, i.e. joined with the floorboard even in connection with the manufacture thereof.
The main advantages of floating floors with mechanical locking systems are that they can easily and quickly be laid by various combinations of inward angling, snapping-in and insertion. They can also easily be taken up again and used once more at a different location. A further advantage of the mechanical locking systems is that the edge portions of the floorboards can be made of materials which need not have good gluing properties. The most common core material is a fibreboard with high density and good stability usually called HDF—High Density Fibreboard. Sometimes also MDF—Medium Density Fibreboard—is used as core.
Laminate flooring and also many other floorings with a surface layer of plastic, wood, veneer, cork and the like are made by the surface layer and the balancing layer being applied to a core material. This application may take place by gluing a previously manufactured decorative layer, for instance when the fibreboard is provided with a decorative high pressure laminate which is made in a separate operation where a plurality of impregnated sheets of paper are compressed under high pressure and at a high temperature. The currently most common method when making laminate flooring, however, is direct laminating which is based on a more modern principle where both manufacture of the decorative laminate layer and the fastening to the fibreboard take place in one and the same manufacturing step. Impregnated sheets of paper are applied directly to the board and pressed together under pressure and heat without any gluing.
In addition to these two methods, a number of other methods are used to provide the core with a surface layer. A decorative pattern can be printed on the surface of the core, which is then, for example, coated with a wear layer. The core can also be provided with a surface layer of wood, veneer, decorative paper or plastic sheeting, and these materials can then be coated with a wear layer. The core can also be provided with a soft wear layer, for instance needle felt. Such a floor has good acoustic properties.
As a rule, the above methods result in a floor element in the form of a large board which is then sawn into, for instance, some ten floor panels, which are then machined to floorboards. The above methods can in some cases result in completed floor panels and sawing is then not necessary before the machining to completed floorboards is carried out. Manufacture of individual floor panels usually takes place when the panels have a surface layer of wood or veneer.
In all cases, the above floor panels are individually machined along their edges to floorboards. The machining of the edges is carried out in advanced milling machines where the floor panel is exactly positioned between one or more chains and bands mounted, so that the floor panel can be moved at high speed and with great accuracy past a number of milling motors, which are provided with diamond cutting tools or metal cutting tools, which machine the edge of the floor panel. By using several milling motors operating at different angles, advanced joint geometries can be formed at speeds exceeding 100 m/min and with an accuracy of ±0.02 mm.
Definition of Some Terms
In the following text, the visible surface of the installed floorboard is called "front side", while the opposite side of the floorboard, facing the subfloor, is called "rear side". The sheet-shaped starting material that is used is called "core". When the core is coated with a surface layer closest to the front side and preferably also a balancing layer closest to the rear side, it forms a semimanufacture which is called "floor panel" or "floor element" in the case where the semimanufacture, in a subsequent operation, is divided into a plurality of floor panels mentioned above. When the floor panels are machined along their edges so as to obtain their final shape with the locking system, they are called "floorboards". By "surface layer" are meant all layers applied to the core closest to the front side and covering preferably the entire front side of the floorboard. By "decorative surface layer" is meant a layer which is mainly intended to give the floor its decorative appearance. "Wear layer" relates to a layer which is mainly adapted to improve the durability of the front side. In laminate flooring, this layer usually consists of a transparent sheet of paper with an admixture of aluminium oxide which is impregnated with melamine resin. By "reinforcing layer" is meant a layer which is mainly intended to improve the capability of the surface layer of resisting impact and pressure and, in some cases, compensating for the irregularities of the core so that these will not be visible at the surface. In high pressure laminates, this reinforcing layer usually consists of brown kraft paper which is impregnated with phenol resin. By "horizontal plane" is meant a plane which extends parallel to the outer part of the surface layer. Immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two neighbouring joint edges of two joined floorboards together define a "vertical plane" perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
The outer parts of the floorboard at the edge of the floorboard between the front side and the rear side are called "joint edge". As a rule, the joint edge has several "joint surfaces" which can be vertical, horizontal, angled, rounded, bevelled etc. These joint surfaces exist on different materials, for instance laminate, fibreboard, wood, plastic, metal (especially aluminium) or sealing material. By "joint edge portion" are meant the joint edge of the floorboard and part of the floorboard portions closest to the joint edge.
By "joint" or "locking system" are meant coacting connecting means which connect the floorboards vertically and/or horizontally. By "mechanical locking system" is meant that joining can take place without glue. Mechanical locking systems can in many cases also be joined by gluing.
By "wood-based materials" are meant materials which essentially consist of combinations of wood and/or wood fibres. Examples of such materials are homogeneous wood, wood slats, particle board, plywood, HDF, MDF, compact laminate and like materials. Wood-based materials containing wood fibres can be bound by a binder of the type thermosetting plastic or the like, for instance melamine, phenol or urea. These materials are characterised by good formability by cutting and by exhibiting relatively little thermal expansion. Wood-based material does not include materials containing wood or wood fibres in small amounts only. Nor are wood fibre-reinforced thermoplastics regarded as "wood-based".
By "strip blank" are meant two or more locking strips which are made by forming a common starting material but which are still in one piece. Examples of such strip blanks will be described in more detail below.
By "fixing" is meant in connection with the locking strip according to the invention that the locking strip should at least be sufficiently attached to the floorboard so as not to incidentally fall off during handling of the floorboard at the factory, during transport and/or in installation. The term "fix" thus does not exclude that the locking strip can be detachable. Nor does the term "fix" exclude that the locking strip, after, for instance at the factory or before installation, being arranged in the joint edge of the floorboard, may be somewhat displaced from its intended position, relative to the floorboard, for instance owing to the fact that the joining of floorboard and locking strip has not been completely performed. Moreover, the term "fix" does not exclude that the locking strip, also when fixed to the floorboard, can be displaceable parallel to the joint edge of the floorboard. By "mechanically fixed" is meant that the fixing is essentially due to shape.
By "snapping" is meant connection which during a first stage occurs by a connecting part being bent or compressed, and during a second stage wholly or partly springing back or expanding.
By "angling" is meant connection that occurs by a turning motion, during which an angular change occurs between two parts that are being connected, or disconnected. When angling relates to connection of two floorboards, the angular motion can take place with the upper parts of joint edges at least partly being in contact with each other, during at least part of the motion.
The above techniques can be used to manufacture laminate floorings which are highly natural copies of wooden flooring, stones, tiles and the like and which are very easy to install using mechanical locking systems. Length and width of the floorboards are as a rule 1.2*0.2 m. Recently also laminate floorings in other formats are being marketed. The techniques used to manufacture such floorboards with mechanical locking systems, however, are still relatively expensive since the machining of the joint portions for the purpose of forming the mechanical locking system causes considerable amounts of wasted material, in particular when the width of the floorboards is reduced so that the length of the joint portions per square meter of floor surface increases. It should be possible to manufacture new formats and to increase the market for these types of flooring significantly if the mechanical locking systems could be made in a simpler and less expensive manner and with improved function.
Prior-Art Technique and Problems Thereof
With a view to facilitating the understanding and the description of the present invention as well as the knowledge of the problems behind the invention, both the basic construction and the function of floorboards according to WO 9426999 as well as the manufacturing principles for manufacturing laminate flooring and mechanical locking systems in general will now be described with reference to
Both the joint edge portions 4 a, 4 b of the long sides and the joint edge portions 5 a, 5 b of the short sides can be joined mechanically without glue in a direction D2 in
In the shown embodiment which is an example of floorboards according to WO 9426999 (
The present invention is mainly usable for improving floorboards where the strip 6 or at least part thereof is formed in one piece with the core, and the invention solves special problems that exist in such floorboards and the manufacture thereof. The core of the floorboard need not be, but is preferably, made of a uniform material. The strip 6 is always integrated with the board 1, i.e. it should be formed on the board or be factory mounted.
A similar, although shorter strip 6′ is arranged along one short side 5 a of the board 1. The part of the strip 6 projecting past the vertical plane VP is formed with a locking element 8 which extends along the entire strip 6. The locking element 8 has in the lower part an operative locking surface 10 facing the vertical plane VP and having a height of e.g. 0.5 mm. During laying, this locking surface 10 coacts with a locking groove 14 which is formed in the underside 3 of the joint edge portion 4 b on the opposite long side of an adjoining board 1′. The strip 6′ along one short side is provided with a corresponding locking element 8′, and the joint edge portion 5 b of the opposite short side has a corresponding locking groove 14′. The edge of the locking grooves 14, 14′ facing away from the vertical plane VP forms an operative locking surface 10′ for coaction with the operative locking surface 10 of the locking element.
For mechanical joining of long sides as well as short sides also in the vertical direction (direction D1 in
When a new board 1′ and a previously installed board 1 are to be joined along their long side edge portions 4 a, 4 b according to
In the joined position according to
By repeating the operations illustrated in
The locking system enables displacement along the joint edge in the locked position after an optional side has been joined. Therefore laying can take place in many different ways which are all variants of the three basic methods
The most common and safest laying method is that the long side is first angled downwards and locked against another floorboard. Subsequently, a displacement in the locked position takes place towards the short side of a third floorboard so that the snapping-in of the short side can take place. Laying can also be made by one side, long side or short side, being snapped together with another board. Then a displacement in the locked position takes place until the other side snaps together with a third board. These two methods require snapping-in of at least one side. However, laying can also take place without snap action. The third alternative is that the short side of a first board is angled inwards first towards the short side of a second board, which is already joined on its long side with a third board. After this joining-together, usually the first and the second board are slightly angled upwards. The first board is displaced in the upwardly angled position along its short side until the upper joint edges of the first and the third board are in contact with each other, after which the two boards are jointly angled downwards.
The above-described floorboard and its locking system have become very successful on the market. A number of variants of this locking system are available on the market, above all in connection with laminate floors but also thin wooden floors with a surface of veneer and parquet floors.
Taking-up can be carried out in various ways. All methods require, however, that the long sides can be angled upwards. Then the short sides can be angled upwards or be pulled out along the joint edge. One exception involves small floorboards with a size corresponding to a parquet block which is laid, for instance, in herringbone pattern. These small floorboards can be detached by being pulled out along the long side so that the short sides snap out. The possibility of angling mainly long sides is very important for a well-functioning locking system. Taking-up is usually carried out starting in the first or last row of the installed floor.
After lamination, the floor element is sawn into floor panels. When the mechanical locking system is made in one piece with the core of the floorboard, the joint edges are formed in the subsequent machining to mechanical locking systems of different kinds which all lock the floorboards in the horizontal D2 and vertical D1 directions.
These systems and the manufacturing methods suffer from a number of drawbacks which are above all related to cost and function.
The aluminium oxide and also the reinforcing layers which give the laminate floor its high wearing strength and impact resistance cause great wear on the tools the teeth of which consist of diamond. Frequent and expensive regrinding must be made particularly of the tool parts that remove the surface layer.
Machining of the joint edges causes expensive waste when core material and surface material are removed to form the parts of the locking system.
To be able to form a mechanical locking system with projecting parts, the width of the floorboard must usually be increased and the decoration paper must also in many cases be adjusted as to width. This may result in production problems and considerable investments especially when manufacturing parquet flooring.
A mechanical locking system has a more complicated geometry than a traditional locking system which is joined by gluing. The number of milling motors must usually be increased, which requires that new and more advanced milling machines be provided.
To satisfy the requirements as to strength, flexibility in connection with snapping-in and low friction in connection with displacement in the locked position, the core must be of high quality. Such quality requirements, which are necessary for the locking system, are not always necessary for the other properties of the floor, such as stability and impact strength. Owing to the locking system, the core of the entire floorboard must thus be of unnecessarily high quality, which increases the manufacturing cost.
To counteract these problems, different methods have been used. The most important method is to limit the extent of the projecting parts past the upper joint edge. This usually causes poorer strength and difficulties in laying or detaching the floorboards.
Another method is to manufacture parts of the locking system of another material, such as aluminium sheet or aluminium sections. These methods may result in great strength and good function but are as a rule significantly more expensive. In some cases, they may result in a somewhat lower cost than a machined embodiment, but this implies that floorboards are expensive to manufacture and that the waste is very costly, as may be the case when the floorboards are made of, for example, high quality high pressure laminate. In less expensive floorboards of low pressure laminate, the cost of these locking systems of metal is higher than in the case where the locking system is machined from the core of the board. The investment in special equipment, which is necessary to form and attach the aluminium strip to the joint edge of the floorboard, may be considerable.
It is also known that separate materials can be glued as an edge portion and formed by machining in connection with further machining of the joint edges. Gluing is difficult and machining cannot be simplified.
Floorboards can also be joined by means of separate loose clamps of metal which in connection with laying are joined with the floorboard. This results in laborious laying and the manufacturing costs is high. Clamps are usually placed under the floorboard and fixed to the rear side of the floorboard. They are not convenient for use in thin flooring. Examples of such clamps are described in DE 42 15 273 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,932. Fixing devices of metal are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,688, U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,341, DE 33 43 601 and JP 614,553. EP 1 146 182 discloses sections of thermoplastic which can be snapped into the joint portion and which lock the floorboards with a snap function. All these alternatives have a poor function and are more expensive in manufacture and use than prior-art machined locking systems. WO 96/27721 discloses separate joint parts which are fixed to the floorboard by gluing. This is an expensive and complicated method.
WO 00/20705 discloses joining of floorboards by means of a non-integrated section of extruded thermoplastic. The section has a symmetrical cross-section and all shown sections allow only joining of floorboards by means of different snap joints. Such loose sections make laying of the floorboards more complicated and time-consuming.
An object of the present invention is to eliminate or significantly reduce one or more of the problems occurring in connection with manufacture of floorboards with mechanical locking systems. This is applicable in particular to such floorboards with mechanical locking systems as are made in one piece with the core of the floorboard. A further object of the invention is to provide a rational and cost-efficient manufacturing method for manufacturing elements which are later to constitute parts of the mechanical locking system of the floorboards. A third object is to provide a rational method for joining of these elements with the joint portion of the floorboard to form an integrated mechanical locking system which locks vertically and horizontally. A fourth object is to provide a locking system which allows laying and taking-up of floorboards which are positioned between the first laid and the last laid rows in an already joined floor.
A fifth object is to provide a joint system and floorboards which can be laid by a vertical motion parallel to the vertical plane.
The invention is based on a first knowledge that parts of the mechanical locking system should be made of a separate locking strip which may have other properties than the floorboard core, which does not contain expensive surface layers that are difficult to machine and which can be made of a board material thinner than the core of the floorboard. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of wasted material and the locking system can be given better properties specially adjusted to function and strength requirements on long side and short side.
The invention is based on a second knowledge that the separate locking strip should preferably be made of a sheet-shaped material which by mechanical machining can be given its final shape in a cost-efficient manner and with great accuracy.
The locking strip should, but does not have to, already be integrated with the floorboard in connection with manufacture. This facilitates laying. The invention is based on a third knowledge that it should be possible to integrate the locking strip with the joint edge portion of the floorboard in a rational manner with great accuracy and strength, preferably by mechanical joining where a preferred alternative may involve snapping-in into the core of the floorboard essentially parallel to the horizontal plane of the floorboard. Snapping-in, which can also be combined with an angular motion, should preferably be effected by a change in shape of a tongue groove in the joint edge portion of the floorboard. The mechanical joining between the floorboard and the separate locking strip should preferably enable a relative movement between the floorboard and the separate locking strip along the joint edge. In this way, it may be possible to eliminate tensions, in the cases where the floorboard and the locking strip move differently owing to the moisture and heat movements of different materials. The mechanical joining gives great degrees of freedom when selecting materials since the gluing problems do not exist.
The locking strip can, of course, also be supplied as a separate unit and can then be joined with the floorboard in connection with laying. Joining in connection with laying can be facilitated if the strips are supplied as a strip blank consisting of several locking strips or in special cassettes. The strips can then be joined by means of special tools where the floorboard, for instance, is pressed against the tool so that joining by inward angling and/or snapping-in of the locking strip can take place. Such loose locking strips are advantageous, especially in the case where they are manufactured by machining a wood-based board material, for instance HDF. Such locking strips will be dimensionally stable and can be manufactured at a cost which is considerably less than that of extruded metal or plastic sections. Their strength is very high and they can easily be sawn in connection with laying of the floor. In connection with these operations, the locking strips of a strip blank can also be separated from each other.
The invention is based on a fourth knowledge that machining of the edges of the floorboards can be made in a simpler and quicker manner with fewer and simpler tools which are both less expensive to buy and less expensive to grind, and that more advanced joint geometries can be provided if the manufacture of the locking system is made by machining a separate locking strip which can be formed of a sheet-shaped material with good machining properties. This separate locking strip can, after machining, be integrated with the floorboard in a rational manner.
The invention is based on a fifth knowledge that the flexibility of the locking strip in connection with snapping-in of the floorboards against each other can be improved by the locking strip being made of a material which has better flexibility than the core of the floorboard and by the separate locking strip being able to move in the snap joint.
Finally, the invention is based on the knowledge that several locking strips should be made in the same milling operation and that they should be made in such manner that they can be joined with each other to form a strip blank. In this way, the locking strips can be made, handled, separated and integrated with the floorboard in a rational and cost-efficient manner and with great accuracy.
The above objects of the invention are achieved wholly or partly by a floorboard, a locking strip, a strip blank, a set of parts and methods according to the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are evident from the dependent claims and from the description and drawings. According to a first aspect of the invention, a floorboard is provided, comprising connecting means, integrated with the floorboard, for connecting the floorboard with an essentially identical floorboard, so that upper joint edges of said floorboard and said essentially identical floorboard in the connected state define a vertical plane. The connecting means are designed to connect said floorboard with said essentially identical floorboard in at least a horizontal direction, perpendicular to said vertical plane. The connecting means comprises a locking strip projecting from said vertical plane and carrying a locking element, which is designed to cooperate, in said connected state, with a downwards open locking groove of said essentially identical floorboard. The locking strip consists of a separate part which is arranged on the floorboard. The locking strip is mechanically fixed to the floorboard in said horizontal and vertical directions. The floorboard is distinguished by the locking strip being mechanically fixed to the floorboard by means of a joint which is operable by snapping-in and/or inward angling, and the locking strip being designed for connection of the floorboard with the essentially identical floorboard by at least inward angling.
The floorboard according to the invention allows, owing to the locking strip being a separate part, minimising of the wasted material that relates to removal of such material as constitutes the core of the floorboard. Moreover, quick mounting of the locking strip on the floorboard is enabled while at the same time a floorboard is obtained, which can be laid by inward angling. This is particularly advantageous in connecting the long side of the floorboard with the long side or short side of an essentially identical floorboard.
The invention is especially suited for use in floorboards whose locking system comprises a separate locking strip which is machined from a sheet-shaped material, preferably containing wood fibres, for instance particle board, MDF, HDF, compact laminate, plywood and the like. Such board materials can be machined rationally and with great accuracy and dimensional stability. HDF with high density, for instance about 900 kg/m3 or higher, and compact laminate consisting of wood fibres and thermosetting plastics, such as melamine, urea or phenol, are very suitable as semimanufactures for manufacturing strip blanks. The above-mentioned board materials can also by, for instance, impregnation with suitable chemicals in connection with the manufacture of the board material or alternatively before or after machining, when they have been formed to strip blanks or locking strips. They can be given improved properties, for instance regarding strength, flexibility, moisture resistance, friction and the like. The locking strips can also be coloured for decoration. Different colours can be used for different types of floors. The board material may also consist of different plastic materials which by machining are formed to locking strips. Special board materials can be made by gluing or lamination of, for instance, different layers of wood fibreboards and plastic material. Such composite materials can be adjusted so as to give, in connection with the machining of the locking strips, improved properties in, for instance, joint surfaces which are subjected to great loads or which should have good flexibility or low friction. It is also possible to form locking strips as sections by extrusion of thermoplastic, composite sections or metal, for instance aluminium.
The locking strips may consist of the same material as the core of the floorboard, or of the same type of material as the core, but of a different quality, or of a material quite different from that of the core.
The locking strips can also be formed so that part thereof is visible from the surface and constitutes a decorative portion.
The locking strips can also have sealing means preventing penetration of moisture into the core of the floorboard or through the locking system. They can also be provided with compressible flexible layers of e.g. rubber material.
The locking strips can be positioned on long side and short side or only on one side. The other side may consist of some other traditional or mechanical locking system. The locking systems can be mirror-inverted and they can allow locking of long side against short side.
The locking strips on long side and short side can be made of the same material and have the same geometry, but they may also consist of different materials and/or have different geometries. They can be particularly adjusted to different requirements as to function, strength and cost that are placed on the locking systems on the different sides. The long side contains, for example, more joint material than the short side and is usually laid by laying. At the short side the strength requirements are greater and joining often takes place by snapping-in which requires flexible and strong joint materials.
As mentioned above, inward angling of mainly long sides is advantageous. A joint system that allows inward angling and upward angling usually requires a wide locking strip that causes much waste. Thus the invention is particularly suited for joint systems which can be angled about upper joint edges. The invention is also especially suited for e.g. short sides, for which the strength requirements are high and which have locking systems intended to be joined by at least snapping-in. Strong and flexible materials may be used. Various combinations of materials may be used on long sides and short sides. For instance, the short sides may have a strip of HDF with high density, of compact laminate or plywood while the long sides may have a strip of HDF with lower density. Long and short sides may thus have different locking systems, locking strips of different materials and joint systems which on one side can be made in one piece with the core and which on the other side may consist of a separate material according to the invention.
The shape of the floorboard can be rectangular or square. The invention is particularly suited for narrow floorboards or floorboards having the shape of e.g. parquet blocks. Floors with such floorboards contain many joints and separate joint parts then yield great savings. The invention is also particularly suited for thick laminate flooring, for instance 10-12 mm, where the cost of waste is high and about 15 mm parquet flooring with a core of wooden slats, where it is difficult to form a locking system by machining wood material along and transversely of the direction of the fibres. A separate locking strip can give considerable advantages as to cost and a better function.
It is also not necessary for the locking strip to be located along the entire joint edge. The long side or the short side can, for instance, have joint portions that do not contain separate joint parts. In this manner, additional cost savings can be achieved, especially in the cases where the separate locking strip is of high quality, for instance compact laminate.
The separate locking strip may constitute part of the horizontal and vertical joint, but it may also constitute merely part of the horizontal or the vertical joint.
The various aspects of the invention below can be used separately or in an optional combination. Thus, a number of combinations of different locking systems, materials, manufacturing methods and formats can be provided. It should be particularly pointed out that the mechanical joining between the floorboard and the locking separate strip may also consist of a glue joint which improves joining. The mechanical joining can then, for instance, be used to position the joint part and/or to hold it in the correct position until the glue cures.
Thus, according to one embodiment, a floorboard with the above joint system is provided, characterised by the combination that
According to further aspects of the invention, a locking strip, a strip blank and a set of parts are provided, which are intended to form a floorboard according to the first aspect. The invention also comprises methods for manufacturing floorboards and locking strips according to the other aspects of the invention.
Thus, in one embodiment a strip blank is provided, which is intended as semimanufacture for making floorboards with a mechanical locking system which locks the floorboards vertically and horizontally. The strip blank consists of a sheet-shaped blank intended for machining, characterized in that the strip blank consists of at least two locking strips which constitute the horizontal joint in the locking system.
Moreover there is provided a method of providing rectangular floorboards, which have machined joint portions, with a mechanical locking system which locks the floorboards horizontally and vertically on at least two opposite sides, said locking system consisting of at least one separate locking strip, characterised in that the locking strip is made by machining of a sheet-shaped material, the locking strip is joined with the joint portion mechanically in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction perpendicular to the principal plane, and the mechanical joining takes place by snapping-in relative to the joint edge.
Moreover a floorboard with a vertical joint in the form of a tongue and a groove is provided, the tongue being made of a separate material and being flexible so that at least one of the sides of the floorboard can be joined by a vertical motion parallel to the vertical plane.
Furthermore, floorboards are provided, which can be taken up and laid once again in an installed floor, which floorboards are joined with other floorboards in the portions of the floor which are located between the outer portions of the floor.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which by way of example illustrate embodiments of the invention.
A first preferred embodiment of a floorboard 1, 1′ provided with a mechanical locking system according to the invention will now be described with reference to
The upper sides of the boards are essentially positioned in a common horizontal plane HP, and the upper parts of the joint edge portions 4 a, 4 b abut against each other in a vertical plane VP. The mechanical locking system provides locking of the boards relative to each other in the vertical direction D1 as well as the horizontal direction D2.
To provide joining of the two joint edge portions in the D1 and D2 directions, the edges of the floorboard have in a manner known per se a tongue groove 23 in one edge portion 4 a of the floorboard and a tongue 22 formed in the other joint edge portion 4 b and projecting past the vertical plane VP.
In this embodiment, the board 1 has a body or core 30 of wood-fibre-based material.
The mechanical locking system according to the invention comprises a separate strip 6 which has a projecting portion P2 projecting past the vertical plane and having a locking element. The separate strip also has an inner part P1 which is positioned inside the vertical plane VP and is mechanically joined with the floorboard 1. The locking element 8 coacts in prior-art manner with a locking groove 14 in the other joint edge portion and locks the floorboards relative to each other in the horizontal direction D2.
The floorboard 1 further has a strip groove 36 in one joint edge portion 4 a of the floorboard and a strip tongue 38 in the inner part P1 of the separate strip 6.
The strip groove 36 is defined by upper and lower lips 20, 21 and has the form of an undercut groove 43 with an opening between the two lips 20, 21.
The different parts of the strip groove 36 are best seen in
The shape of the strip tongue is also best seen in
The strip tongue 38 of the separate strip 6 has a strip locking element 39 which coacts with the undercut groove 43 and locks the strip onto the joint edge portion 4 a of the floorboard 1 in the horizontal direction D2. The strip tongue 38 is joined with the strip groove by means of a mechanical snap joint. The strip locking element 39 has a strip locking surface 60 facing the vertical plane VP, an upper strip surface 61 and an inner upper guiding part 62 which in this embodiment is inclined. The strip tongue also has an upper engaging or supporting surface 63, which in this case extends all the way to an inclined upper strip tongue part 64 at the tip of the tongue. The strip tongue further has a lower guiding part 65 which in this embodiment passes into a lower engaging or supporting surface 66. The supporting surface passes into a lower positioning surface 67 facing the vertical plane VP. The upper and lower engaging surfaces 45, 63 and 46, 66 lock the strip in the vertical direction D1. The strip 6 is in this embodiment made of a board material containing wood fibres, for instance HDF.
Several variants may exist. A strip blank can be manufactured in conventional planers. Special machines can be used consisting of e.g. an upper and a lower shaft with tools operating vertically. The floorboard is advanced by means of rolls which press the floorboard against vertical and lateral abutments and against the rotating tools.
An important feature according to the present invention thus is that the separate strip is made by mechanical machining of a sheet-shaped material.
It is obvious that a large number of variants of preferred embodiments are conceivable. First, the different embodiments and descriptions can be combined wholly or partly. The inventor has also tested a number of alternatives where geometries and surfaces with different angles, radii, vertical and horizontal extents and the like have been manufactured. Bevelling and rounding-off can result in a relatively similar function. A plurality of other joint surfaces can be used as positioning surfaces. The thickness of the strip may be varied and it is possible to machine materials and make strips of board materials that are thinner than 2 mm. A large number of known board materials, which can be machined and are normally used in the floor, building and furniture industries, have been tested and found usable in various applications of the invention. Since the strip is integrated mechanically, there are no limitations in connection with the attachment to the joint edge as may be the case when materials must be joined with each other by means of gluing.
Most prior-art locking systems can, as exemplified in
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subset: commoncrawl


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Dr. K. David Harrison, Associate Professor and Chair of Linguistics at Swarthmore College, will screen the Emmy nominated documentary film The Linguists at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, October 26 in UALR's newly renovated Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall. The film screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film's star. This event is sponsored by the Donaghey Scholars Program and the UALR Alumni Association. To attend, RSVP at ualr.edu/alumni
Dr. Harrison will also lecture on Endangered Languages on October 27 at 2:00 PM in Dickinson 100. The first 20 UALR students who can present an ID card will receive a copy of Harrison's book, When Languages Die. This event is sponsored by the Donaghey Scholars Program, English Department, Anthropology Club, Philosophy Department, Rhetoric and Writing Department, Sociology and Anthropology Department, and the Donaghey Scholars Student Committee.
Both events are free and open to the public.


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FDIC: Insurance Fund Could Be Insolvent This Year
March 4, 2009
Tweet The chairwomen of the FDIC, Sheila Bair, has said that the FDIC fund could be insolvent this year unless additional funds are raised. As a result, the FDIC approved emergency fees to be funded by member banks to help rebuild the fund. The fund dropped to $18.9B in the fourth quarter, a drop of […]Read More >>
30% of iStar Financial's Loans are Non-Performing
February 28, 2009
Tweet iStar Financial (SFI: N/A N/A), a commercial mortgage REIT that had been an active player of the past few years, is in dire straits with an some 23-30% of its loan portfolio not performing. The company acquired the assets of Fremont Investment & Loan, a notorious lender on highly speculative condo and housing projects. […]Read More >>
Moody's Estimates Losses on 2006 Sub-Prime MBS Debt (Residential) At 28-32 Percent
February 26, 2009
Tweet Moody's has said it intends on reviewing all 2005, 2006, and 2007 sub-prime mortgage bonds, covering some $680B in original loan balances. The projected losses across sub-prime debt issued in 2006 are estimated to be 28-32%. In 2006, spreads over benchmark rates were roughly 200 basis points for sub-prime (BBB-) debt. By the end […]Read More >>
Commercial Real Estate Delinquency Rate Doubles
February 24, 2009
Tweet Commercial Real Estate delinquency rates have increased dramatically year-over-year. The latest numbers from the Federal Reserve for Q4 2008 put the current delinquency rate on commercial real estate loans at 5.36% across all banks, and 5.27% at the largest 100 banks. 5.27% is nearly double the 2.65% recorded in Q4 2007, and a 10% […]Read More >>
Mezz Debt Loses Its Luster
February 18, 2009
Tweet The WSJ has an article focused on the demise of Mezzanine debt in today's market and the losses being incurred by many investors in such debt. Mezzanine debt was often used as part of an investor's capital stack over the past few years to leverage up acquisitions to amplify their potential returns. Unfortunately, as values […]Read More >>
Larkspur Landing Financing Revealed
February 15, 2009
Tweet RetailTraffic is featuring an article called "On Barren Ground" discussing the continued freeze of debt markets. Most of the article comes as no surprise, but the article does reveal the nature of the debt that was applied to J.S. Rosenfield's acquisition of Larkspur Landing last month. According to the article, The financing was arranged through […]Read More >>
Grubb & Ellis President on Fox News Discussing a Commercial Real Estate Bailout
December 30, 2008
Tweet David Arena, president of Grubb & Ellis was on Fox News discussing a bailout for commercial real estate. According to Arena, their is refinancing risk on every piece of commercial real estate out there, and at least $150B of refinancing expected next year alone.Read More >>
The Tale of Washington Mutual: Suprised?
December 27, 2008
Tweet "It was the Wild West," said Steven M. Knobel, a founder of an appraisal company, Mitchell, Maxwell & Jackson, that did business with WaMu until 2007. "If you were alive, they would give you a loan. Actually, I think if you were dead, they would still give you a loan." The NYT is featuring […]Read More >>
Now Commercial Real Estate Developers Want A Bailout
December 22, 2008
Tweet According to an article in the WSJ this morning, developers are going to Capitol Hill with hat in hand looking for a bailout. Being in the CRE industry, I have to say this is getting out of hand. The blowup of the housing market and the ripple effect have caused the government to step […]Read More >>
SF Chronicle Article Today On San Francisco Office Space Market
October 3, 2008
Tweet The SF Chronicle today is featuring an article discussing the trouble San Francisco office market is facing as a result of all that is going on in the equity and debt markets. There are two key takeaways in this article. The first is that we could see a 900 basis point increase in the office vacancy […]Read More >>


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new Thermomix magazine from guess who?!
Check this value-packed digital magazine for Thermomix enthusiasts! (Apple & Android.) Each issue is filled with fresh recipe ideas and tips for new users — from the popular, passionate Thermomixin' peeps at…
Check this value-packed digital magazine for Thermomix enthusiasts! (Apple & Android.) Each issue is filled with fresh recipe ideas and tips for new users — from the popular, passionate Thermomixin' peeps at…
There are so many new Thermomix pages on facebook these days but its easy to follow them all with just two clicks and The Thermomix List.
Come on, let's spoon! The new Thermomix cookbook by Tenina features seductive soups and comforting extras. Download this gorgeous Souperbowl ebook and you'll be mixing in minutes!
Watch and cook-along with new Thermomix owner Bec (and family) in Melbourne learning to use her super kitchen machine while preparing healthy Thermomix recipes and and allergy-friendly foods. Plenty of healthy tips and smiles!
Chunky flavour-filled scones make any day taste like a special occasion. Bake this easy feel-good recipe on a regular week-day morning and share the extras at work or school!
Helpful tips from one of Australia's premier Thermomix consultants — Jo Whitton of Quirky cooking. Thanks to Louise D'Allura for this: a must-see video for new Thermomix owners.
This super easy gazpacho has a smoked tea twist that makes it an unconventional winner. Everything else remains the same — well, almost everything…
Try this special ruby topping and watch any dish turn into a festive one. Simple to make from three basic ingredients. (No molasses needed!) Great on pancakes, parfaits, ice cream and…
Cook along with Thermomix ambassador Julie Goodwin (MasterChef winner 2009) and fill your house with heady aromas of this Spanish inspired Chicken Chorizo stew.
Helpful video from Thermomix Australia clearly demonstrates how easy it is to make Thermomix mayonnaise from scratch. If you haven't tried it yet, this will do the trick!
Easy bialys recipe lets you decide if these versatile buns are indeed better than traditionally boiled bagels. Onions, cheese and poppy seeds make it …
Creamy white chocolate fudge with pistachios, Craisins, and Baileys. This easy Thermomix recipe is not too sweet and perfect for festive occasions. Important notes added for 2013!
No fuss no muss, straight-forward video with a recipe for Thermomix Cheese Scones. So easy that beginners and new owners can cook along and eat the warm rewards in less than 30 minutes!
Authentic artisanal bagels are extremely rewarding and easy to make. Even beginner cooks can feel like a pro with Thermomix. (The hardest thing is deciding what to put on top.)
Basic techniques for making soups from Thermomix Australia. Short video offers a straightforward introduction for new owners of the super kitchen machine.
Cook along to make easy, perfect Thermomix Risotto with Don Genova. Step-by-step video instructions and great explanations of how the super kitchen machine helps make successful Asparagus Risotto every time.
Meet Thermovixens Megs and Cass in a helpful tutorial demonstration for how to make butter at home with Thermomix. Helpful tips on storing and making healthy, spreadable butter.
from Thermomixing friends at Cookipedia, here's a handy guide to basic techniques and timing tips for Varoma steaming, cooking rice & pasta, and grinding. (Nifty newbie's "cheat sheet")
Cooking with Thermomix doesn't get any easier than this. It's a one ingredient (plus water) Thermomix recipe for a tasty and versatile jam you can use all day long and tweak to your heart's content. Ginger lovers unite!
What's quick 'n simple and green as green can be? It's Mara's Thermomix "easy peasy" soup. An elegant recipe that can be dressed up as little or as much as you like — this one is always a hit!
Don't let the simplicity of this recipe fool you. Basic balsamic vinegar reduction is as easy as it is versatile — all the more reason to put on the creative pants and warm up the Thermomix! How do Thermomix fans use this intense, edgy ingredient?


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Characters in Context (CiC): Literary Circle
Is an informal, inter-departmental literary circle for faculty and students. Organized by graduate students in the Department of Germanic Studies, CiC will host lectures and poetry readings intended to contribute to and enrich the university's cultural program. Presentations will (as a general rule) be held in English, in order to include and attract participants from a variety of disciplines. The focus of the Circle is primarily literary, but presentations on other cultural topics are equally welcome. Sessions often lead to a Happy Hour at the Cactus Café. All interested are cordially invited to participate in meetings. Feel free to spread the word.
CiC presents its Fall, 2000, lecture series:
Friday, 10/20/00 at 3:00 p.m.:
Marike Janzen: "Between the Pedagogical and the Performative: Identity Formation, Public Narratives, and Social Criticism in Anna Seghers' Überfahrt"
Friday, 10/27/00 at 3:00 p.m.:
Michael Connor: "Anton Reiser: A Middle-Class Sisyphus"
Tuesday, 10/31 (time TBA):
Halloween Poetry Reading
All events will take place in the Conference Room (4.104) of E.P. Schoch.
For questions or comments, please contact Nike Arnold (email@example.com) or Agnieszka Nance (firstname.lastname@example.com).
GOETHE'S 250th BIRTHDAY
1st Lecture: WO EREIGNEN SICH DIE FARBEN?
- Goethe's "Theory of Colour" -
(in German)
Lars Gustafsson, Jamail Distinguished Professor in the Plan II Honors Program
February 26 (Fr), 4:30, Reading Gallery (EPS 4.102B)
2nd Lecture: MEASURING THE ETERNAL FEMININE
- Some Thoughts on Meter & Gender Politics in Goethe's Verse -
(in English)
Hubert Heinen, Germanic Studies
March 10 (Wed), 4:30, Conference Room (EPS 4.104)
3rd Lecture: FAUSTS WEG VON WORT ZU TAT
- Goethes Drama im Lichte seiner Naturphilosophie -
(in German)
Erol Boran, Germanic Studies
March 31 (Wed), 4:30, Conference Room (EPS 4.104)
Special!!! GOETHE PARTY
- Poetic, Dramatic, and Musical Works by Goethe -
April 9 (Fr), 8:00 pm, LOCATION TBA
4th Lecture: "...EIN UNGEHEURER KONFEKTAUFSATZ"
- Goethe's Willkuerkritik in seinem Roman "Die Wahlverwandtschaften" -
(in German)
Yvonne Wuebben, Germanic Studies
April 16 (Fr), 4:30, Conference Room (EPS 4.104)
5th Lecture: GOETHE'S "NOTEN UND ABHANDLUNGEN ZU BESSEREM VERSTAENDNIS DES
- A Critique of Goethe's Image of Arabic Culture -
(in English)
Nina Berman, Professor of Germanic Studies
May 5 (Wed), 4:30, Conference Room (EPS 4.104)


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The pundit class can go back and forth over whether the NAACP tea party resolution backfired or didn't, but thanks to one Mark Williams, this fight is over. We can now declare a winner.
Give Ben Jealous credit. He cracked the code to finishing off whatever credibility the non-Fox News media was still imparting to the tea partiers, and it turns out to be as simple as "condition" … "response." Jealous' big win in a minute. But first, a bit of background.
Over the past year, the "tea party movement" has gone from media darling to freak show, as polls revealed that it wasn't the third party novelty Politico and Chuck Todd kept telling us it was, but instead, are just a bunch of angry Republicans. I was one of the many media types who wrote about, made contact with, and tried to understand the tea parties, and I what I came away with is that they generally fall into five groups, which sometimes intersect:
1) Older, well off white guys who think poor people and illegal immigrants are trying to use the recession as an excuse to steal from them. (See Rick Santelli and the guy who threw money at that Parkinson's patient.) This group is only sort of racist (they mostly hate Mexicans) but their common denominators are that they want their taxes cut, and they think everyone who isn't rich is lazy. Group 1 are definitely Republicans.
2) Bush bitter-ender, religious wingnuts. Some in this group are a little conflicted about George W. Bush because many of them have been hurt by the recession. But they're still seething over the way they feel Dubya was mistreated, made fun of, and disrespected by the "liberal elite," because they interpret disrespect for Bush (and now for Sarah Palin) as disrespect for them and for their deeply held Christian values. As payback, they want Barack Obama to suffer, to be humliated and disrespected, and to fail in the same way George did. Palin not becoming vice president upped their disappointment and rage even more. This group will tell pollsters they're "independent" and "mad at both parties," but really they're Republicans. There are some loonies in this group, who think they're in group 3) because they watch and listen to Glenn Beck, but really, they're just nuts. It's here that you'll also find most of the sign misspellers, birthers, Black teabaggers and a good many wacky elected officials who are pimping the "movement" for personal fame. (See Michelle Bachman, Sharron Angle, and Palin herself.)
3) Paulite Libertarians. This group thinks they're more sophisticated than 2) because they've read Ayn Rand. They don't hate anybody, but they'd really like to get rid of Social Security, Medicare, and virtually all business regulation and taxes, so they're allies of Group 1). Many of them supported Ron Paul for president, and they're the one group who sometimes really aren't Republicans, and who could be a threat to the party if they vote their own way. They are kind of the stepchild in the "movement" because they're not warmongers, don't much care for George Bush, and aren't all hopped up on gays and Jesus, but they come together with 1) and 2) on illegal immigration. (See Alex Jones, Rand Paul…) Traveling with Group 3) are some wacky conspiracy theorists and gun nuts who think the black helicopters are coming and that the Federal Reserve is a One World Government Satan.
4) Republican party and corporate operatives who are milking 1) for fundraising, and using 2) and 3) to elect more Republicans and build astroturf "grassroots" support for insurance companies, oil and gas companies, big banks and corporate America in general, to further enrich and empower themselves, their clients and their friends. (See Dick Armey, Newt Gingrich, Fox News…) This group also includes various grifters who are milking 2) and 3) like proverbial lady cows, for serious profit (see Glenn Beck)…
and last, but not least:
5) Flat-out racists. (See Rush Limbaugh)
By proving himself to be firmly in Group 5, while playing the media's designated tea party spokesman, Mark Williams handed Jealous and the NAACP an easy win. Even people like me, who initially wondered why the organization would bother with a resolution against a sputtering, dying news story, completely got where Ben Jealous was coming from after seeing (and reading) Williams in action.
And by crafting a resolution that in the end is apparently not a condemnation of the tea parties as a whole, but rather a call for them to join all Americans in condemning racism, (the equivalent of asking all Americans to declare their affection for puppies) the NAACP set a really rather brilliant trap for most incendiary members of the tea party claque. People like Williams (who after all is a right wing talk talk jock, basically a guy who makes his living being an ass) couldn't help themselves.
Had the tea party reaction been calm and intelligent; had they stuck to the plan of shoving Black tea types in front of every available camera (they had to spread the three of them pretty thin…) and made the crazy uncles and aunties stay in the attic, the go-along, get-along media would have happily done the "on the one hand, on the other hand" stories they wanted to do in the first place.
Instead, by obsessing over irrelevancies like the New Black Panther Party (which made it look like they were fishing for Black groups to condemn, just because they're black)… having surrogates deny there's any racism at tea party protests when their own leadership has in past instances taken steps to bar racist signs from their rallies (implying the signs have been there before…) and when the evidence is all over the Internet and the teevee… and firing off a demonstrably racist, but mostly just stupid, "letter to Lincoln from the colored people," the tea party dropped the ball, and then Williams blew up the ball. After a couple of days of Mr. "Obama is an Indonesian welfare thug" and the NAACP are "colored" slave traders, who can argue with what Jealous wrote on Friday (emphasis added):
Instead of joining us to repudiate racism, Tea Party leaders have attempted a tit for tat and demanded that we condemn the New Black Panther Party for reported hate speech. It is a false argument. Of course we condemn hate speech from anyone and any organization, including the New Black Panther Party. But that party is a mere flea compared to the influence and size of the Tea Party. And the New Black Panther Party is not a member of the NAACP. What we are asking the Tea Party to eschew is not the racism of some outside organization, but the bigotry within.
After my speech, I was approached by a man named Chris, who asked that his last name not be used. He's a member of both the Tea Party and the NAACP. He thanked me for denouncing the racist elements of a party to which he is loyal. He explained that he felt increasingly uncomfortable within the Tea Party. We want Chris to live in a world where he can feel comfortable in both organizations.
Over 2000 delegates voted. The resolution was proposed by our Missouri State Conference, from the home state of the Council of Conservative Citizens, widely recognized as the linear descendant of the White Citizens Council. Their fealty to racism is not obscured.
Like Stormfront.org, a website founded by former KKK leader Don Black, the Council celebrates its allegiance to and influence in the Tea Party. The avowed racist David Duke notes that thousands of Tea Party activists have urged him to run for president. When the Tea Party marches by, Duke thinks it's his fiesta.
Our members know too well the pain and the potential danger of white supremacist groups. Since our resolution was publicized, a number of our branches and our corporate offices are reporting violent threats.
We have all seen the blatantly racist signs portraying President Obama as a monkey. We have seen the press conference with the civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis describing how he was spit on and called the N-word, or Rep. Barney Frank being called a vicious slur for gay men.
Dick Armey and other Tea Party leaders have not only refused to disavow the racism — they have denied it.
With increased influence comes increased responsibility. It is long past time for Dick Armey and the Tea Party leadership to take a stance. Instead, they remain silent while many of the group's leaders are attacking the NAACP, calling a historically multiracial, anti-racist organization "racist." We are receiving death threats and other threats of violence for asking them to rout the violent, racist factions in their midst.
Let's see … death threats, racist and homophobic insults, tea party leaders and supporters behaving exactly like the racist cretins many people think they are, and an inability to mount a simple self-defense without getting ugly, angry and offensive …
Game… set … match.
The media will now internalize the tea party movement as seen through the lens of Mark Williams.
The Tea Party Express is discredited if they keep him on as their spokesman (ditto CNN if they keep booking him, although what booker could resist. He's an inflammatory soundbite machine…)
Williams looks both arrogant and punked for backing down, but not graciously. (Don't hold your breath waiting for Jealous to call you, man…) and he's busted himself down to the status of Dale, the "N-word" sign guy. (Also meant satirically, according to Dale.)
Meanwhile, the creaky NAACP suddenly looks relevant, and Ben Jealous is on the booking lists at all the TV and cable networks. The organization's October rally will now attract more media attention and a rainbow of Americans who are sick of the nasty, spitting, hyper-partisan hot mess that the tea party movement has become. In contrast, the Mark Williams/Glenn Beck tea party movement's next act is to feed Beck's God complex by publicly worshiping him on the anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech.
You can bet the Beckians are going to round up every living tea party minority and paste them to the television cameras, in a mad scramble to make a 97 percent white "movement" look invitingly diverse. If they do, they'll turn off legions of tea partiers who will be outraged that Group 4) is giving in to the "thuggery" of political correctness and scrubbing them like they're doing poor Sharron Angle.
It's all worked out really, really well … for the NAACP.
Next time, just to top themselves, the tea parties should put David Duke on CNN.
Related reading: Media Matters on the right's "frenzy of race-baiting."
UPDATE: Do take a minute to read this piece on age, race and the tea party movement by Matt Bai in the New York Times. It really gets to what I think is the heart of the matter, and I think it adds a sixth group, who might be called "late middle-aged tea party sympathizers":
According to Pew, there is nearly a 20-point spread between Mr. Obama's approval ratings among voters younger than 30 and those older than 65. Among independent voters older than 50, Mr. Obama gets passing marks from only 35 percent, while about half of those voters 49 and younger say they approve of his performance in office.
These numbers probably do reflect some profound racial differences among the generations, but they are more indicative of how young and old Americans approach the issues of the day, generally. Older Americans now — no longer the New Deal generation, but the generation that remembers Vietnam, gas lines and court-ordered busing — are less enamored of expansive government than their parents were. They fear changes to their entitlement programs, even as they denounce the explosion in federal spending. They are less optimistic about the high-tech economy, more fearful of the impact of immigration and free trade.
And the country they "want back," is not the one they grew up in and that fed their resentments, but what they fancy was the more blissful, simpler "Mayberry" America their parents had. You know, the one from their imagination…


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2015 JV Roster 2015 Gateway Soccer Classic
2015 C Team Roster 2015 C Team Schedule
Game Stats Definitions
Min = Minutes Played G = Goals Scored A = Assists Recorded SH = Shots SOG = Shots on Goal
Season Stats Definistions
GP = Games Played GS = Games Started Min = Minutes Played G = Goals A = Assists Pts = Points SOG = Shots on Goal Min/G = Minutes per game
PK = Penalty Kick PKG = Penalty Kick Goal GWG = Game Winning Goal CK = Corner Kick Taken Off = Offsides YC = Yellow Card RC = Red Card
GA = Goals Against SV = Saves SO = Shutout
2014 Varsity Game Recaps
Click on Game title to see game stats
After the Galesburg game, the Blue Devils were looking for a consistent 80 minute effort against a quality opponent. They got just that against cross town rival QND. QHS controlled the game from start to finish and received a goal from Devin Watson in each half to earn the win. The Senior Class went 6-0-2 against QND in their career. The shutout with the 11th on the season for the QHS defense. It was also a special night as the Blue Devils raised money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. This was the 4th year in a row QHS has raised money for a charity.
With a chance to wrap up a share of the WB6 title, the Blue Devils had to win and hope Moline could upset UTHS. After an early Blake Wingerter goal, the Blue Devils looked lethargic and just went through the motions. After a spirited half time talk, QHS came out much more focused and it showed. Devin Watson, Hunter Hoschar, and Riley Roth all scored second half goals and Hunter added two assists to seal the win. To make things better, Moline beat UTHS 3-0 to guarantee the Blue Devils a share of the WB6. It was the 24th title in 29 years for the Blue Devils.
In the 3rd place match, QHS took on New Mexico power Sandia Prep. The Red Devils have won 4 straight state titles and are always considered one of the elite programs in the nation. The Blue Devils controlled the majority of the first half but could only capitalize on one Hunter Hoschar goal. The second half saw QHS play in a defensive shell, but the defense stood tall to earn their 9th shutout.
St. Thomas Aquinas, KS. 2, QHS 0
The semi finals of the Gateway saw QHS play against National power St. Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas was ranked as high as #7 in the nation earlier this season and has won 9 of the last 10 Kansas state titles and we knew it would be a tough game. The Blue Devils controlled the first half despite going into the wind. However, the second half belonged to the Saints as they scored twice to seal the victory. Aquinas would go on to win the bracket title.
The Blue Devils opened the 2014 Gateway City Soccer Classic against one of Colorado's elite teams. The game was played in a steady rain and eventually called at the 77:00 minute mark due to lightning. The Blue Devils won a coin flip to move to the winners bracket.
What a difference a week makes. The shots we had against Moline found the back of then net. The shots against UTHS didn't. Soccer is a cruel game in that the team that plays the best doesn't always win. That was the case against the Panthers. The Blue Devils controlled the play, outshot UTHS and had more corners. But in soccer, the only thing that matters is the balls that hit the back of the net and UTHS was able to get one just before half time. UTHS moved to 4-0 in the conference with Moline left to play. In order for the Blue Devils to have a chance to tie for the conference, they need Moline to beat UTHS and the Blue Devils need to win at Galesburg.
Coming off 2 straight losses at home, the last thing many wanted to see was the conference favorite and 12-1 Moline Maroons come to town. Moline is a senior laden team led by the Castillo twins who have been a thorn in the side of the Blue Devils for 4 years. On Monday at practice, the Blue Devils broke down the system and talked about Moline's system. The practice paid off as QHS exploded for 4 first half goals. Blake Wingerter put QHS on the board early in the game and Riley Roth added a goal midway through the half. When it looked like QHS would take a 2-0 lead into the break, Hunter Hoschar scored two goals in the last 45 seconds of the half to pretty much put the game away. The Blue Devils continued to play well in the second half, allowing a penalty kick goal with 10 minutes left in the game. Before the game, the Blue Devils presented a check to Moline Coach Rick Sanchez as part of our ALS challenge. Coach Sanchez's father passed away from ALS. While the two teams are conference rivals, they truly do share a bond and mutual respect for each other.
After a lack luster game vs Jefferson City, the Blue Devils were looking to right the ship. Jacksonville entered the match 8-0 and were as good as advertised. In the first minute alone, QHS had more shots on goal than the entire Jeff City game. The Crimsons took the lead midway through the first half when a flighted ball was jarred loose from Tyler Gert's hands and fell into the net. It was a tough pill to swallow as video showed Tyler was run into on the play. The Blue Devils and Crimsons battled the rest of the game which at times was very physical. The game resulted in QHS getting 4 yellow cards and a red card. Jacksonville scored a goal late to seal the victory. Jacksonville will be a tough team to beat in the Class 2 state tournament as they are big and fast. The loss left the Blue Devils searching for answers.
The day after a long bus ride to the Quad Cities, the Blue Devils finally were able to play on their home turf after a 5 game road streak. Unfortunately, the 3 overtime games and two long bus trips seemed to be too much for QHS to overcome. Jefferson City scored a goal in the second half to earn the win over a very uninspired Blue Devil team.
After a grueling emotional game on Saturday, you knew there would be a letdown. However, nobody expected this. The Blue Devil got on the board early behind a Blake Wingerter goal and led 1-0 at the half. However, Alleman came out inspired and scored to tie it and an own goal gave them a 2-1 lead. hunter Hoschar scored a direct kick only to see Alleman answer. Trainling 3-2 with just over two mintes left, Devin Watson scored on a great flighted ball from Brady Wingerter to tie it up. Brayden Nokes scored the game winning in the first minute of OT to let the Blue Devils escape with the win.
This was a game that a high school player will remember forever. Twoteams ranked in the top 16 in the nation, playing in front of a full house, and an intense student section. The boy's on the field didn't disappoint either. For the 7th time in 8 games, the Blue Devils managed to hold a team scoreless. Unfortunately, QHS couldn't score either. Per Missouri rules, no game can finish in a tie, thus the game went to PK's. Chaminade came out on the winning end 4-3. It was a game we will never forget.
For a soccer enthusiast, this was a game for the ages. The cross town rivals battled for nearly 100 minutes of scoreless soccer. Both teams had scoring chances, with the Blue Devils having a few of the better ones. With 23 seconds left in the 2nd overtime, Bradyn Nokes headed home a Seth Witte corner to send QHS to the golden goal victory. The shutout was the 6th of the season for the Blue Devils GK and defense.
The Rocks entered the game undefeated and were playing at home and looking to make a statement that they belonged among the best of the WB6. However, the Blue Devils had other ideas and it didn't take long for QHS to get on the board. A long throw from Brady Wingerter found Hunter Hoschar inside the 6 yard box. Hoschar flicked the ball on goal and into the for post side netting just 5 minutes into the game. The Blue Devils continued to pepper Rock Island throughout the rainy first half, but were unable to add to their lead. Devin Watson added to the QHS lead in the second half with a rocket from 30 yards out. As it started to rain harder, the Blue Devils increased the pressure. With 25 minutes remaining in the game, the game was stopped due to poor weather and with no relief in sight, the game was determined final. The defense recorded their 5th shutout of the season.
Making their first road trip of the season, QHS knew they would have their hands full. A poor playing surface and an Alton team that had already tied defending state champion and nationally ranked Edwardsville posed a huge challenge. The two teams battled for 100 minutes but in the end, neither team could get one past the GK. QHS outshot Alton 15-8, but only managed to put 2 shots on goal. It was the 4th shutout on the early season for QHS.
Missed opportunitites was the theme for the Blue Devils as they squandered several quality chances throughout the first half. Just before the half, QHS got on the board on a Chris Clay goal off a Riley Roth Assist. The 2nd half started promising as Riley Roth scored within the first minute of the half. Belleville East made it interesting when they scored the first goal of the season against the Blue Devils midway through the half. The game was called at the 68 minute mark due to weather.
Missouri power Rock Bridge was the final game of the Midwest Soccer Classic for the Blue Devils. Rock Bridge has made four straight appearances in the Missouri state final 4. A win and QHS would win the tournament. The first half saw both teams create chances to score, but they only close chance came off the foot of Blake Wingerter who hit the post late in the first half. As with the first game of the season, QHS got on the board early in the second half when Ben Mero scored on a header. Devin Watson and Blake Wingerter were both credited with assists on the play. QHS had several other quality chances, but the Rock Bridge GK was up to the task. Tylet Gerst came up HUGE with a save on a sure goal in the 2nd half giving the Blue Devils their third shutout in as many games and CHAMPIONSHIP of the Midwest Soccer Classic.
QHS 3, Jefferson City Helias 0
The second game of the season was circled as a revenge game for the Blue Devils. Helias beat QHS 3-0 last season and QHS was out to make ammends. Three first half goals allowed 24 Blue Devils to see action in the game. Chris Clay put QHS on the board early on a great slotted ball from Blake Wingerter. Hunter Hoschar scored the first of his two goals on an assist from Kolbe Rodemich and added a PK minutes later. Tyler Gerst and the Blue Devil defense recorded their 2nd shutout of the early season.
The Blue Devils opened the 2014 campaign with a new opponent to the schedule. After a first half of getting use to playing someone besides ourselves, QHS came out stron in the second half and scored early when Blake Wingeter found Bradyn Nokes off a corner kick. The Blue Devil defense did the rest as they limited GBN to few scoring chances. The game saw a 50 minute delay to to storms with just over 13 minutes to play. GBN pressed hard to score, but QHS was up to the task.
2014 C Team Game Recaps
Gongratulations to the C team on winning the Lincoln Fr/SO tournament. The Blue Devile defeater Chatham 31, tied Rochester 1-1 and beat Lincoln 7-0.
QHS 3, Geneseo 2
Playing their second game of the day, the Blue Devils picked up their first win of the season. Harrison Rosen, Dylan Jenkins, and Harrison Fey recorded goals for QHS.
Moline 1, QHS 0
The Blue Devils struggled to score in their first loss of the season on the road.
QHS 2, DeSmet 2
Jordan McNay scored a pair of goals to give QHS a 2-0 lead. However, DeSmet scored twice in the final 10 minutes of the game to spoil what would have been a good win over a tradition rich program from St. Louis.
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