Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8887468B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-05-19 17:52:27
Document Index: 5636616

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'Application No. 1150400', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 1150400', 'art 4', 'art 9', 'art 10', 'arts 27', 'art 4']

US8887468B2 - Mechanical locking system for building panels - Google Patents
US8887468B2
US8887468B2 US13/464,512 US201213464512A US8887468B2 US 8887468 B2 US8887468 B2 US 8887468B2 US 201213464512 A US201213464512 A US 201213464512A US 8887468 B2 US8887468 B2 US 8887468B2
US13/464,512
US20120279161A1 (en
2012-05-04 Application filed by Valinge Flooring Tech AB filed Critical Valinge Flooring Tech AB
2012-06-13 Assigned to VALINGE FLOORING TECHNOLOGY AB reassignment VALINGE FLOORING TECHNOLOGY AB ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HAKANSSON, NICLAS, PERVAN, DARKO
2012-11-08 Publication of US20120279161A1 publication Critical patent/US20120279161A1/en
2014-11-18 Publication of US8887468B2 publication Critical patent/US8887468B2/en
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/483,444, filed on May 6, 2011 and claims the benefit of Swedish Application No. 1150400-8, filed on May 6, 2011. The entire contents of each of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/483,444 and Swedish Application No. 1150400-8 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
WO 2010/070472 describes locking systems that may be used to assemble furniture components with angling and snapping. The locking systems may be formed in one piece with the panel or, alternatively, a separate plastic tongue with an outer flexible snap tab may be used. Such locking systems do not give sufficient strength and rigidity especially when rather soft core materials, such as particleboard, are used. The locking system is complicated to produce since the flexible tongue cannot be connected to the components with a linear displacement into a groove. The outer flexible part is generally not strong enough to provide a rigid connection
The second panel may have an outer edge with a smaller thickness than the thickness of the panel body such that the panel body overlaps one or both parts of the groove opening when the second panel is inserted into the groove of the first panel
FIGS. 1 a-c illustrate a perpendicular snap action of a middle section according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 2 a-b illustrate a corner section according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 2 c-2 d illustrate corner section or middle sections according to embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 3 a-b illustrate locking of four panels and a corner section according to embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 4 a-d illustrate a bristle tongue and a bow shaped tongue according to embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 5 a-5 c illustrate embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 6 a-6 c illustrate embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 7 a-7 c illustrate embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 8 a-b illustrate an angling connection according to embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 9 a-d illustrate a partial groove and a side push tongue according to embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 10 a-10 c illustrate embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 11 a-11 d illustrate embodiments of the invention in a 3d view.
FIGS. 1 a-1 c show a connection with a perpendicular snap action according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 a shows a first 1 and a second 2 panel. The first panel 1 comprises a groove 6, formed in the panel core 7. The groove comprises a bottom 6 a and two opposite groove walls 6 b, 6 c. The groove is open towards a main plane MP of the first panel 1. An insertion groove 4 is formed in one of the groove walls 6 b. The insertion groove 4 is preferably inclined in relation to the main plane MP of the panel such that the opening of the insertion groove 4 a is closer to the main plane MP than the inner part 4 b. It is preferred that a linear extension E of the insertion groove extends at or more preferably above the opening of the groove 6. This makes it possible to form the insertion groove with large rotating tools and to insert a separate tongue 3 into the groove. The insertion groove is preferably inclined with an angle A of about 10-45 degrees. The insertion groove comprises a flexible tongue 3, which has an inner part 9 and an outer part 10 and preferably two opposite sliding surfaces 3 a and 3 b between the inner 9 and the outer 10 parts.
FIG. 1 b shows how the flexible tongue 3 with its displacement surfaces 3 a, 3 b is displaced inwardly into the insertion groove 4 when the second panel 2 is inserted into the groove 6 perpendicularly to the first panel 1.
FIG. 1 c shows how the flexible tongue 3 is displaced in the insertion groove outwardly into the tongue groove 5 such that the second panel is connected perpendicular and parallel to the first panel with preferably a snap action. The flexible tongue and the tongue groove lock the panels perpendicularly to the main plane MP of the first panel 1. The groove 6 and the edge 16 of the second panel lock the panels parallel to the main plane MP of the first panel 1. The flexible tongue 3 may be locked with pre tension into the tongue groove 5.
FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show another preferred embodiment of the invention where the edge 15, of the first panel comprises a locking element 12 and the edge 16 of the second panel comprises a locking groove 14. The locking element and the locking groove locks the panels parallel to the main plane of the first panel. This embodiment may be used to connect corner sections. A tongue 3 a and a tongue groove 5 a may also be located and formed on the outer part of the locking element 12 and/or in a groove wall of the locking groove 14 as shown in FIG. 2 b. There may be a space between the outer part of the locking element 12 and the locking groove, or a play or a tight fit. The insertion groove 4 may be formed in the second panel and the tongue groove 5 in the first panel. The insertion groove and/or the locking surfaces between the flexible tongue and the tongue groove may be inclined or essentially parallel to the main plane MP of the first panel.
FIG. 2 c shows an alternative embodiment, which may be used to connect corner sections or middle sections. The edge 15, of the first panel 1, comprises a locking element 12 that in locked position forms an outer free end of the panel. The flexible tongue 3 is displaced inwardly into the insertion groove 4 when the second panel 2 is inserted into the groove 6 perpendicularly to the first panel 1. The inclination of the insertion groove 4 facilitates the insertion of the flexible tongue 3 into the insertion groove 4 during production and locking may be accomplished with lower resistance since the flexible tongue 3 slides inwardly and downwardly during locking. The insertion groove is preferably inclined such that an extension E of its lower part is located at or above the upper part of the locking element 12.
FIG. 2 d shows that the second panel 2 may have an outer edge 26 with a smaller thickness than the panel body 2 such that the panel body 2 overlaps one 27 or both parts 27, 28 of the groove opening when the second panel 2 is inserted into the groove 6 of the first panel 1. The first and/or the second panel may comprise separate materials 24, 25 that form an edge or a groove portion of the first or the second panels. A particle board panel may for example be reinforced with solid wood, plywood, HDF and similar wood based materials that are glued or mechanically connected to the panel in order to form at least a part of the locking system. Separate materials may be covered with for example a foil, paper or paint.
FIG. 3 b shows a corner section where the adjacent panel edges 17, 18 are inclined, preferably inwardly and preferably with an angle of about 45 degrees against the main plane of the panels.
FIGS. 4 a-4 c show a known flexible bristle tongue 3, which is used to connect floor panels. Such a tongue may be used to connect panels according to embodiments of the invention. The tongue comprises flexible protrusions 7 that bend in the length direction of the tongue and that displace the tongue in the insertion groove during the snap action. FIG. 4 a shows the tongue in the outer position prior to locking, FIG. 4 b shows the tongue 3 in the inner position during locking, and FIG. 4 c shows the tongue 3 in the outer and locked position.
FIG. 4 d shows a flexible bow shaped tongue 3 that bends in the length direction.
All known flexible tongues that are used to lock floor panels may be used in embodiments of this invention. Tongues that bend in the length direction are preferred, for example, bristle tongues and bow shaped tongues, as shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 d, since such tongues have the advantage that flexibility may be combined with a rigid and strong outer part that creates a strong locking even in rather soft core materials such as particle boards that are generally used as a core in furniture components. It is an advantage if the tongue creates a pre tension against the tongue groove in locked position. This gives a stronger locking and eliminates production tolerances especially if the locking surface of the tongue/tongue groove is inclined against the main plane of the first panel. The tongue is preferably formed of an injection moulded plastic material preferably reinforced with glass fibres.
FIG. 5 a shows an embodiment with two tongues 3 a, 3 b. The edge of the second panel 2 may comprise a separate material 25.
FIG. 5 b shows a tongue 3 that comprise an outer part 4 with a snap tab that during snapping is displaced at least partly into an inclined insertion groove 4. The locking system comprises a stabilizing tongue 11 that may be formed in one piece with the core or inserted as a separate element.
FIG. 5 c shows a tongue 3 comprising a snap tab 10 that during snapping is displaced outside the insertion groove 4
FIG. 6 a shows a tongue that comprises an inner and outer flexible part. FIG. 6 b shows an embodiment with a turning and snapping tongue 3 comprising a pressing arm 21 that turns and snaps the tongue 3 into a tongue groove.
FIG. 6 c shows schematically that the insertion groove 4 may be formed in the second panel 2.
FIGS. 7 a-7 c show alternative positions of the flexible tongues. FIG. 7 a shows that the second panel may be somewhat inclined for example 45-89 degrees against main plane of the first panel. FIG. 7 b shows two tongues 3 a,3 b attached to a middle section of a first panel 1 and FIG. 7 c shows a corner section.
FIGS. 8 a and 8 b shows that two panels may be angled together according to the generally known principles used in locking systems for flooring. Such angling connection may be combined with all snapping embodiments described above. FIG. 8 a shows an angling connection of a corner section and FIG. 8 b shows an angling connection of a middle section. The second panel 2 that is angled during connection comprises a tongue 30 and a locking groove 31 that cooperates during locking with a tongue groove 32 and a locking element 33 formed in the first panel.
FIGS. 9 b-9 d show that the so-called side push locking systems may also be used to connect furniture components. Such a tongue 3 that is displaced width a side pressure P along the insertion groove 4 and perpendicularly to the insertion groove into the tongue groove may be used in all embodiments shown above. The perpendicular displacement may be accomplished with wedges 23 or with a fixation groove, which have a depth that varies along the groove. The tongue 3 and the tongue groove may also comprise overlapping protrusion and a locking may be accomplished with a displacement along the insertion groove without any perpendicular displacement into the tongue groove. Such embodiments allow locking with a rigid tongue and no flexible parts are needed.
FIGS. 10 a-10 c show an embodiment of the invention further comprising a plug 21 of e.g. plastic, wood or metal at of the panels 1, 2 inserted into a hole, preferably at the edge of the other panel, The plug and the hole increases the strength of the connection and may be used to position the panels.
FIG. 11 a-11 b show the embodiment in FIG. 10 a-c in a 3d view at two different angles and FIG. 11 c-11 d a cross section in a 3d view at two different angles.
1. A set of panels comprising a first and a second panel, an edge of the second panel is essentially perpendicularly insertable into a groove of the first panel to obtain a mechanical connection between the first and the second panel, the second panel being displaceable essentially perpendicularly to the first panel, wherein:
the edge comprises a separate and flexible tongue and the groove comprises a tongue groove, or the edge comprises a tongue groove and the groove comprises a separate and flexible tongue;
the edge of the second panel is configured to cooperate with the groove of the first panel for connecting the panels to each other in a second direction, which is parallel to a main plane of the first panel;
the length direction of the separate and flexible tongue extends parallel with at least one of the edge and the groove;
2. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separate and flexible tongue has two opposite displacement surfaces located between the inner and the outer parts, each of the two opposite displacement surfaces of the separate and flexible tongue is displaceable against an upper and a lower wall respectively of the insertion groove during locking, inwardly towards the bottom of the insertion groove and outwardly into the tongue groove.
3. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the the insertion groove is inclined upwards with the opening closer to the main plane of the first panel than an inner part of the insertion groove.
4. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insertion groove is inclined such that an extension of a lower part of the insertion groove is located at or above an upper part of the opening of the groove.
5. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second panel comprises an outer edge with a smaller thickness than a panel body of the second panel such that the panel body overlaps at least one part of an opening of the groove when the second panel is inserted into the groove of the first panel.
6. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner part of the separate and flexible tongue comprises one or several flexible protrusions extending in the length direction of the separate and flexible tongue.
13. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separate and flexible tongue is locked with pre tension against the tongue groove.
14. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separate and flexible tongue includes resilient parts that are formed of an injection moulded plastic material.
15. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second panel comprise separate materials that form an edge or a groove portion.
US13/464,512 2011-05-06 2012-05-04 Mechanical locking system for building panels Active US8887468B2 (en)
US20120279161A1 US20120279161A1 (en) 2012-11-08
US8887468B2 true US8887468B2 (en) 2014-11-18
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KR20180113546A (en) 2016-02-09 2018-10-16 뵈린게 이노베이션 에이비이 Three panels - a set of shape elements
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Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HAKANSSON, NICLAS;PERVAN, DARKO;REEL/FRAME:028369/0165