Abstract:
The Magnetic Interlocking Portable floor may implement an interlocking tongue-and-groove method for holding panels together. The tongues may have a trapezoidal wedge shape for aligning the panels. The Magnetic Interlocking Portable Floor may implement magnets to assist the connection and alignment of the panels. Further, the magnets may hold the panels together. The use of magnets may prevent the panels from separating at the seams. The panels may include a base, such as hardwood plywood. Further, the panels may include any type of surface for dancing, such as hardwood or laminate.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Under provisions of 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the Applicant claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/001,987, filed May 22, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0002]    The present application is further a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/718,664. filed on May 21, 2015. The present application has been filed to clarify concepts originally disclosed in the original application. The present application incorporates the original application in its entirety. 
         [0003]    It is intended that each of the referenced applications may be applicable to the concepts and embodiments disclosed herein, even if such concepts and embodiments are disclosed in the referenced applications with different limitations and configurations and described using different examples and terminology. 
     
    
     FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    The invention generally relates to the field of portable floor panels with fixed magnetic and mechanical locking tongue and groove systems comprising of tongues, grooves, magnets and magnetic catches. The invention provides a new improved locking system and methods to install and remove portable floor panels from any location. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    In some situations, a venue may want to have a removable floor. For example, portable floors are commonly used for events like parties and weddings or conferences where there is no permanent dance floor available. Thus, the conventional strategy is to use removable panels, often with interlocking grooves. This often causes problems because the conventional strategy takes costly time and effort in aligning and securing the panels, and the grooves may separate if they are not secured properly. In addition to time costs, misaligned panels may cause a safety hazard. 
       BRIEF OVERVIEW 
       [0006]    This brief overview is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This brief overview is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this brief overview intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter&#39;s scope. 
         [0007]    The Magnetic Interlocking Portable floor may implement an interlocking tongue-and-groove method for holding panels together. The tongues may have a trapezoidal wedge shape for aligning the panels. The Magnetic Interlocking Portable Floor may implement magnets to assist the connection and alignment of the panels. Further, the magnets may hold the panels together. The use of magnets may prevent the panels from separating at the seams. The panels may include a base, such as hardwood plywood. Further, the panels may include any type of surface for dancing, such as hardwood or laminate. 
         [0008]    The present inventions aim at portable floor panels with mechanical locking systems utilizing cam locks or spring clips and a tongue and groove system to connect panels together or portable floor panels with magnetic mechanical locking systems using a unidirectional connection method. The aim of the invention is to simplify installation or removal by allowing the floor panels to be installed or removed from any horizontal direction with no moving parts. 
         [0009]    The invention provides for a new embodiment of tongue and groove magnetic/mechanical locking system according to different aspect offering respective advantages. The useful area for the invention is portable floor panels of different shapes and materials. 
         [0010]    The invention comprises a magnetic mechanical locking system comprising fixed magnets, fixed tongues, a fixed spacer and fixed corner locks embodied in extruded channels that also act as a groove at a first edge of a first floor panel and fixed magnetic catches, fixed corner locks embodied in extruded channels that also act as a groove at a cooperating edge of a second floor panel for connecting the edges in a vertical direction while aligning panels in a horizontal direction. The panels have two similarly configured sides on two edges and two similarly configured sides on two other edges. The arrangement of the edges allow for the panels to be connected in a continuous manner until the desired floor size is accomplished. The specific placement of the tongues in the extrusion allows for the panels to be aligned edge to edge squared or staggered in an alternating horizontal arrangement. 
         [0011]    The invention offers the advantage that the panels will be connected at the edges by the affixed magnets embodied in the extrusion attracting the affixed metal wedges embodied in an adjacent panel when the panels are slid horizontally towards each other. In reverse, the panels can be separated horizontally by pulling them laterally away from each other. The specific shape of the tongues and the specific shape of the metal wedges allow for the panels to be connected and disconnected quickly and easily from any horizontal direction. 
         [0012]    In particular, yet not restrictive manner, the invention concerns a magnetic mechanical locking system for square floor panels with equal sides. It should be emphasized the equal sides are only used to simplify the description. The panels could also be rectangular. More particularly the invention relates mainly to the type of magnetic mechanical locking systems, which allow the panels to be connected in a unidirectional manner by rotating them together and apart. 
         [0013]    Both the foregoing brief overview and the following detailed description provide examples and are explanatory only. Accordingly, the foregoing brief overview and the following detailed description should not be considered to be restrictive. Further, features or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, embodiments may be directed to various feature combinations and sub-combinations described in the detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure. The drawings contain representations of various trademarks and copyrights owned by the Applicants. In addition, the drawings may contain other marks owned by third parties and are being used for illustrative purposes only. All rights to various trademarks and copyrights represented herein, except those belonging to their respective owners, are vested in and the property of the Applicants. The Applicants retain and reserve all rights in their trademarks and copyrights included herein, and grant permission to reproduce the material only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent and for no other purpose. 
           [0015]    Furthermore, the drawings may contain text or captions that may explain certain embodiments of the present disclosure. This text is included for illustrative, non-limiting, explanatory purposes of certain embodiments detailed in the present disclosure. In the drawings: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the invention with its referenced sides; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the invented panels with referenced sides, part locations and how they fit together; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the invented panels set together with a squared alignment; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4A-B  shows the A,B and C,D referenced panel edges and their embodiments; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 5A-D  shows the extruded channels for side A&amp;B and C&amp;D with their respective parts; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 6A-C  shows the profile of the extruded channels and how they align vertically with and without their parts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art that the present disclosure has broad utility and application. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects of the disclosure and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects of the display and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0023]    Accordingly, while embodiments are described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present disclosure, and are made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded in any claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself. 
         [0024]    Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps of various processes or methods that are described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carried out in various different sequences and orders while still falling within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent protection is to be defined by the issued claim(s) rather than the description set forth herein. 
         [0025]    Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which an ordinary artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein—as understood by the ordinary artisan based on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the ordinary artisan should prevail. 
         [0026]    Regarding applicability of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6, no claim element is intended to be read in accordance with this statutory provision unless the explicit phrase “means for” or “step for” is actually used in such claim element, whereupon this statutory provision is intended to apply in the interpretation of such claim element. 
         [0027]    Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.” 
         [0028]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. The present disclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headers are used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon the subjected matter disclosed under the header. 
         [0029]    The present disclosure includes many aspects and features. Moreover, while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in, the context of flooring, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to use only in this context. For example, the interlocking mechanism may be used for the combination of any other panel type. 
         [0030]    In the following text, the visible surface of the portable floor panel is called the “panel surface”, while the opposite side of the floor panel, facing the facility floor, is called “panel back”. The edge between the panel surface and back is called “panel edge”. If not defined otherwise, upper and lower mean towards the panel surface and panel back, respectively. Inner and outer means towards or away from the center of the panel. By “horizontal plane” is meant a plane, which extends parallel to the outer part of the surface layer. Immediate juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of two joined floor panels together define a “vertical plane” perpendicular to the horizontal plane. By “horizontally” is meant parallel with the horizontal plane and by “vertically” parallel to the vertical plane. 
         [0031]    By “joint” or “locking System” are meant co acting connecting means, which connect the floor panels vertically and/or horizontally. By “magnetic mechanical locking system” is meant that joining can take place without glue or any other mechanical means. By “integrated with” means formed in one piece with the panel or factory connected to the panel. By “separate” parts, components element and similar is meant that they are produced separately and not in one piece with the core or the main body of the panel. Separate parts are generally factory connected and integrated with the panel but they could be supplied as lose parts, which are intended to be used during installation of panels. 
         [0032]    By “tongue” is generally meant a part in an edge section that extends beyond the upper and lower edge and cooperates with a groove in an adjacent edge such that the edges are locked vertically. A tongue is made of a separate material embodied in a extruded channel which is connected to the panel utilizing compression rivets. 
         [0033]    By “groove” is generally meant the opening in an extruded channel that cooperates with a tongue or magnetic catch in an adjacent edge such that the edges are locked vertically. 
         [0034]    By “metal wedge” is meant a ferrous metal part in an edge section that extends beyond the upper and lower edge and cooperates with a groove in an adjacent edge which holds embodied magnets that attract panels toward each other in a horizontal direction. 
         [0035]    By “magnets” is meant any magnetic material that can be embodied in the extruded channel to attract the magnetic catch which is mechanically connected to an adjacent panels extruded channel in a horizontal direction. 
         [0036]    By “spacer” is meant a material non-metallic and non-magnetic used to create the desired spacing in an extruded channel between the embodied tongues. 
         [0037]    By “corner locks” is meant a part in an edge section mechanically attached using rivets. The corner locks restrains the embodied tongues, magnets and spacer in their extruded channel. In addition the corner locks reinforce and connect the ends of the extruded channels together locking the corners in a horizontal and vertical direction. 
         [0038]    By “extruded channel” is meant a channel produced using the extrusion method. The extruded channel is used to embody the tongues, magnets, spacer, magnetic catches and corner locks. The extruded channel also acts as the groove cooperating with the tongue and magnetic catch of adjacent panels locking panels in a vertical direction. 
         [0039]    The invented panel ( FIG. 1 ) is a magnetic mechanical locking dance floor panel that uses inter-locking tongues ( 20 ), Metal Wedges ( 30 ) and a groove to interlock one panel to another. Each panel uses magnets ( 21 ) to attract the adjacent panels together creating a tight bond. 
         [0040]    The two panels in ( FIG. 2 ) show how the invented panels cooperate with adjacent panels tongues ( 20 ), Magnets ( 21 ), Spacer ( 22 ), corner lock ( 23 ) and metal wedges ( 25 ) to create a mechanical bond horizontally while aligning the panels for quick and easy installation. The panels in ( FIG. 3 ) connect squarely, Side A of one panel ( 1 ) to Side C of an adjacent panel ( 1 ′) and Side B of one panel ( 1 ″, 1 ′″) to side D of an adjacent panel ( 1 , 1 ′). 
         [0041]    The magnets ( 21 ), tongues ( 20 ), spacers ( 22 ) and corner locks ( 23 ) are embodied in the channel ( 10 ) extrusion ( FIG. 4 a   ). The channels that embody the magnets ( 21 ), tongues ( 20 ), spacers ( 22 ) and corner locks ( 23 ) are attached to the floor panel on the A and B sides ( FIG. 1 ). The metal wedges ( 25 ) and corner locks ( 23 ) are attached to the channel ( 15 ) extrusion ( FIG. 4 b   ). The channels that contain the two metal wedges ( 25 ) are attached to the floor panel on the C and D Sides ( FIG. 1 ). In addition to aligning the panels horizontally utilizing the tongues ( 20 ) and metal wedge ( 25 ) spacing, they also align vertically by the tongues ( 20 ) of one panels extruded channel ( 10 ) edge (Side A,B) penetrating the groove of the adjacent panels extruded channel ( 15 ) groove and the metal wedges ( 25 ) of an adjacent panel to penetrate the groove of an adjacent panels channel ( 10 ) ( FIG. 6 a - c   ). 
         [0042]    The extruded channel ( 10 ) ( FIG. 5 a   ) which is located on the A or B side of the invented panel ( FIG. 1 ) embodies the tongues ( 20 ), magnets ( 21 ), spacer ( 22 ) and corner locks ( 23 ) ( FIG. 5 b   ) such that they allow the metal wedges ( 23 ) ( FIG. 5 c   ) embodied in the extruded channel ( 15 ) ( FIG. 5 d   ) to interlock in a horizontal manner allowing the panels to be aligned squarely or staggered. 
         [0043]    Consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, magnetic interlocking portable floor panels may be provided. The panels may be used by individuals or companies to easily and safely install and remove, for example, but not limited to, a dance floor at a given venue. Embodiments of this disclosure may use magnets to hold panels together. Further, embodiments of this disclosure may implement trapezoidal tongue-and-groove interlocking edges to align panels and prevent sliding and movement. A detailed view of the trapezoidal tongue-and-groove interlocking edges of the panels is illustrated in  FIGS. 5-6 . 
         [0044]    The base may be made from a material such as, but not limited to, for example, ½ hardwood plywood.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a view of an embodiment of a panel base. A channel may be attached to each side of the base using a fastener such as a compression rivet. The channels may be comprised of two types. Each type is shown in  FIG. 5-6 . The first channel type may hold magnets, spacers and aluminum tongues. The second channel type may hold a magnetic metal, such as cold rolled steel, in a wedge or trapezoidal shape. When properly aligned, the magnets in the first channel style may line up with the magnetic metal wedge of the second channel to create the connecting force. Further, the edges of the wedge shapes of the corresponding channels will mate so that there may be no lateral (shear) movement. 
         [0045]    Two of each channel may be attached to each panel in a symmetric fashion (rotational or linear symmetry). The corners of the channels may be reinforced with aluminum. The channels may attach to the base with blind rivets. 
         [0046]    The surface of the panels may be, for example, but not limited to a typical dancing surface such as engineered hardwood or a solid colored acrylic material. It may be attached using an adhesive or other fastening method. 
         [0047]    A plurality of panels of varying sizes may be connected in a plurality of arrangements using the interlocking channels of the present disclosure. In this way, embodiments of this disclosure may be used to create, for example, a dance floor. Panels may be attached by aligning the tongue-and-groove trapezoids. The magnets may pull the panels together and hold the panels together before and during use. Tapered edge pieces, not described above, may be attached to cover the outer edges of the dance floor to prevent tripping and make the dance floor aesthetically pleasing. To remove the dance floor, the panels may be pulled apart and stored or transported. 
         [0048]    All rights including trademarks, trade dress, product configurations, and copyrights included herein are vested in and the property of the Applicant. The Applicant retains and reserves all rights in the drawings and designs included herein, and grants permission to reproduce the material only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent and for no other purpose. 
         [0049]    While the specification includes examples, the disclosure&#39;s scope is indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example for embodiments of the disclosure. 
         [0050]    Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the disclosures are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claims such additional disclosures is reserved.