Patent Description:
A conventional furniture product is provided with a mechanical locking system as shown, for example, in <CIT> or in <CIT>. The furniture product comprises a first panel connected perpendicularly to a second panel by a mechanical locking system comprising a flexible tongue in an insertion groove.

An objective of some embodiments of the present invention to provide an improvement over the above described technique and known art. A specific objective is to improve the method for assembling a furniture product.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a furniture product with increased strength and stability.

At least some of these and other objectives and advantages that will be apparent from the present disclosure have been achieved by an assembled product as defined in claim <NUM>, comprising at least three elements arranged in three different planes, a first element is connected essentially perpendicular to a second element, and a third element is connected essentially perpendicular to the second element. The assembled product comprises one or more locking devices, each comprising a flexible tongue arranged in an insertion groove at one of the at least three elements, said flexible tongue cooperates with a tongue groove, at an adjacent one of the at least three elements, for locking the one element and the adjacent element together. The second edge of the second element is connected to a second edge of the third element by a first of said locking devices.

The elements may be panels, such as plastic panels or wood fibre based boards, such as HDF boards, particleboard or solid wood board. The panels may be provided with a decorative layer.

The assembled product may be a furniture component or a furniture product, such as a drawer, a cupboard, bookshelves, a wardrobe closet, a kitchen fixture, or a box for storing or transporting items.

The three planes are essentially perpendicular to each other.

A first edge of the third element may be connected to a first edge of the first element by a second of said locking devices. The first element and the second element may be a first board and a second board, respectively, of a frame, and the third element may be the back piece of a bookshelf or a wardrobe closet. The third element, such as a back piece, connected by the first and the second of said locking devices, may increase the strength of the assembled product. The angle between first and the second element may be guided by the angle between the first and the second edge of the third element. A bookshelf or a wardrobe closet with perpendicular corners may be obtained easily by the embodiments described herein. The first edge of the third element may be connected slideable along the first edge of the first element in order to simplify assembling and disassembling.

A first edge of a sixth element may be connected essentially perpendicular to the first element, between the second and fourth elements. The sixth element may be essentially parallel to the second and fourth elements. The first edge of the sixth element may be connected by a seventh of said locking devices. The flexible tongue of the seventh of said locking devices is preferably arranged in an insertion groove at the first edge of the sixth element. The sixth element may be a fixed shelf of the assembled product, such as a bookshelf.

According to the invention, a fourth element is connected essentially perpendicular to the first element, wherein a third edge of the third element is connected to a second edge of the fourth element by a third of said locking devices.

The second and the fourth elements may be arranged essentially parallel and the third element may be connected slideable to the second and the fourth elements in order to facilitate disassembling.

A fourth edge of the third element may be arranged in a groove at a second edge of a fifth element. The fifth element may be connected essentially perpendicular to the second and fourth elements.

The assembled product may be a semi product for a drawer, without the fifth element that may be a front panel. The first, second and fourth elements may be boards of the frame and the third element may be the bottom board. The front panel may be connected essentially perpendicular to the second and fourth elements in the same factory as the semi product. Alternatively, the front panel may be connected essentially perpendicular to the second and fourth elements in another factory or by a carpenter at a construction site.

A first edge of the fifth element may be connected to a third edge of the second element by a fourth one of said locking devices, and a third edge of the fifth element may be connected to a third edge of the fourth element by a fifth one of said locking devices.

A first edge of the first element may be connected to a first edge of the second element by a sixth one of said locking devices.

A first edge of a forth element may be connected to a third edge of the first elements by a seventh one of said locking devices.

The insertion groove, in at least one of said locking devices, may extend along essentially the entire length of the edge of one of the at least three elements.

The tongue groove, in at least one of said locking devices, may extend along essentially the entire length of the edge of the adjacent one of the at least three elements.

A tongue groove and an insertion groove that extend along essentially the entire width (i.e., edge) of the one element and the adjacent element, respectively, may facilitate the production of the tongue groove and the insertion groove. The tongue groove and the insertion groove may be produce by displacing the element and the adjacent element, respectively, pass a fixed milling head.

The flexible tongue, in at least one of said locking devices, may be displaceable in the insertion groove during locking and un-locking of the locking device.

The locking devices may comprise an edge section groove at one of the elements or at the adjacent one of the elements. An edge section of the other of the one element or the adjacent element may cooperate with said edge groove for locking the one element and the adjacent element together. The flexible tongue and the tongue groove cooperate for locking the one element and the adjacent element together in a first direction and the edge section and the edge section groove cooperate for locking the one element and the adjacent element together in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction.

The edge section of the elements may be provided with a calibrating groove.

The third element may be provided with a dismantling groove or recess at one or more of said locking devices. The dismantling groove or recess is preferably adapted for insertion of a dismantling tool. The dismantling tool may be inserted into the dismantling groove or recess to un-lock the locking device.

Any of the first, the second, the fourth or the fifth element may also be provided with a dismantling groove at any of the locking devices, and said dismantling groove or recess is preferably adapted for insertion of a dismantling tool. The dismantling tool may be inserted into the dismantling groove or recess to un-lock the locking device.

A second aspect which is not part of the invention is an assembled product, such as a furniture product, comprising at least two elements arranged as discussed herein. A first element is connected essentially perpendicular to an adjacent second element, with a main surface of the first element perpendicular to a main surface of the adjacent second element, by a locking device. The locking device includes a flexible tongue arranged in an insertion groove at one of the first and second elements. The flexible tongue cooperates with a tongue groove, at the other of the first and second elements for locking the first and second elements together. The first element or the adjacent second element is provided with a dismantling groove or recess for un-locking the locking device. Said dismantling groove or recess is preferably adapted for insertion of a dismantling tool.

The locking devices may comprise an edge section groove at the first element or at the adjacent second element. An edge section of the other of the first element or the adjacent second element may cooperate with said edge groove for locking the first element and the adjacent second element together. The flexible tongue and the tongue groove cooperate for locking the first element and the adjacent second element together in a first direction and the edge section and the edge section groove cooperate for locking the first element and the adjacent second element together in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. The dismantling groove or recess is preferably arranged at the edge section. The dismantling groove or recess may be covered by a covering plate.

Embodiments of the present invention will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings.

An embodiment of a locking device for locking an element <NUM> to an adjacent element <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The element <NUM> and the adjacent element <NUM> may be boards of a furniture product that are connected perpendicular to each other, i.e., with a main surface of the element <NUM> perpendicular to a main surface of the adjacent element <NUM>. An edge section <NUM> of the element <NUM> is arranged in an edge section groove <NUM> of the adjacent element <NUM> for locking the element <NUM> and the adjacent element <NUM> together in a first direction. The embodiment in <FIG> comprises a flexible tongue <NUM> arranged in an insertion groove <NUM> in the edge section groove <NUM> and a tongue groove <NUM> at the edge section <NUM>. The embodiment in <FIG> comprises a flexible tongue <NUM> arranged in an insertion groove <NUM> at the edge section <NUM> and a tongue groove <NUM> in the edge section groove <NUM>. The flexible tongue <NUM> and the tongue groove <NUM> cooperate for locking the element <NUM> and the adjacent element <NUM> together in a second direction, which is essentially perpendicular to the first direction. The flexible tongue <NUM> is, during assembling of the element <NUM> and the adjacent element <NUM>, pushed into the insertion groove <NUM> when the edge section <NUM> is inserted into the edge section groove <NUM>. The flexible tongue <NUM> springs back and into the tongue groove <NUM> when the element <NUM> and the adjacent element <NUM> have reached a connected state.

The element <NUM> may be a back piece of a bookshelf or a wardrobe closet, and the adjacent element <NUM> may be a board of the frame of the bookshelf of wardrobe closet. The element <NUM> may also be a bottom of a drawer and the adjacent element <NUM> may be a board of the frame of the drawer. Furthermore the element <NUM> and the adjacent element <NUM> may be a first and a second board respectively of a frame of a bookshelf, a wardrobe closet or a drawer. The back piece and the bottom may be a HDF board or a particleboard with a thickness of about <NUM>-<NUM>. A back piece with a thickness less than <NUM> may be too weak to stabilize the assembled product. A back piece is for a great numbers of furniture products the largest element and a thickness over <NUM> may render the back piece cumbersome to assemble. Further embodiments may comprise one or more of the locking devices described above. The embodiments in <FIG> include a calibrating groove <NUM> at one side of the edge section <NUM>. However, the edge section <NUM> may include a second calibrating groove at the opposing side of the edge section (see, e.g., <FIG>).

<FIG> shows a furniture product, such as a bookshelf, comprising eight of the locking devices, arranged with a side of the frame facing downwards. The furniture product comprises a first element <NUM>, e.g., a side of the bookshelf, connected at a first edge to a first edge of a second element <NUM>, e.g., the top of the bookshelf, by one of the locking devices. A first edge of a third element <NUM>, e.g., a rectangular back piece of the bookshelf, is connected to a second edge of the second element <NUM> by another of the locking devices. A second edge of the third element <NUM> is connected to second edge of the first element <NUM> by another of said locking devices. A first edge of a fourth element <NUM>, e.g., a bottom of the bookshelf, is connected to a third edge of the first element <NUM> by another of said locking devices. An edge section <NUM> of a third edge of the third element <NUM> may be arranged in an edge section groove <NUM> at a second edge of the fourth element <NUM>. A first edge of a fifth element <NUM>, e.g., an opposite side of the bookshelf, is connected to a third edge of the fourth element <NUM>, by another of said locking devices, and a third edge of the fifth element <NUM> is connected to a third edge of the second element <NUM>, by another of said locking devices. An edge section <NUM> of a fourth edge of the third element <NUM> may be arranged in an edge section groove <NUM> at a second edge of the fifth element <NUM>. The locking device at the first edge and the second edge, respectively, of the third element <NUM> may each comprise two or more flexible tongues <NUM>. A sixth element <NUM>, e.g., a shelf of the bookshelf, which is arranged parallel to the first element <NUM> and the fourth element <NUM>, is connected, by another of the locking devices, at a first edge to the first element <NUM>. A third edge of the sixth element <NUM> is connected, by another of the locking devices, to the fifth element <NUM>. The flexible tongue <NUM> of the locking device at the first edge and third edge, respectively, of the sixth element <NUM> is preferably arranged at the edge section <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a cross section CS 2B of the first element <NUM>, the third element <NUM> and the fifth element <NUM>. This figure shows that an edge section <NUM> of the fourth edge of the third element <NUM> may be arranged in the edge section groove <NUM> at the second edge of the fifth element <NUM>. The third element <NUM> may comprise two or more boards 4a-4d locked by a mechanical locking system. A second edge of the sixth element <NUM> may be provided with another of the locking devices (not shown) for connecting adjacent edges of adjacent boards. <FIG> shows an embodiment of the mechanical locking system of the boards 4a-4d. The mechanical locking system comprises a tongue <NUM> at a first edge of a first board that cooperates with a tongue groove <NUM> at a second edge of a second board for locking the first and the second boards in a first direction. Furthermore, the locking system comprises a protruding strip <NUM> with a locking element <NUM> at the second edge. The locking element <NUM> cooperates with a locking groove <NUM> at the first edge for locking the first and the second boards in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The boards and the locking system are preferably arranged in the assembled product, with the locking strip <NUM> facing the direction that is to be loaded. The locking system may remain locked if arranged in this way.

<FIG> shows a cross section CS 2C of the second and third elements <NUM>, <NUM>. The third element <NUM> is, in this embodiment, provided with a dismantling groove <NUM> adapted for insertion of a dismantling tool (not shown), which pushes the flexible tongue <NUM> into the insertion groove <NUM>, which facilitates dismantling of the second and third elements <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a furniture product, such as a bookshelf, comprising eight of the locking devices, arranged with a side of the frame facing downwards. The furniture product comprises a first element <NUM>, e.g., a side of the bookshelf, connected at a first edge to a first edge of a second element <NUM>, e.g., the top of the bookshelf, by one of the locking devices. A first edge of a third element <NUM>, e.g., a rectangular back piece of the bookshelf, is connected to a second edge of the second element <NUM> by another of the locking devices. An edge section <NUM> of a second edge of the third element <NUM> may be inserted into an edge section groove <NUM> of a second edge of the first element <NUM>. A first edge of a fourth element <NUM>, e.g., a bottom of the bookshelf, is connected to a third edge of the first element <NUM> by another of said locking devices. A third edge of the third element <NUM> is connected to a second edge of the fourth element <NUM> by another of said locking devices. A first edge of a fifth element <NUM>, e.g., a side of the bookshelf, is connected to a third edge of the fourth element <NUM>, by another of said locking devices, and a third edge of the fifth element <NUM> is connected to a third edge of the second element <NUM> by another of said locking devices. An edge section <NUM> of a fourth edge of the third element <NUM> may be arranged in an edge section groove <NUM> at a second edge of the fifth element <NUM>. The locking device at the first and the third edges, respectively, of the third element <NUM> may each comprise two or more flexible tongues <NUM>. A sixth element <NUM>, e.g., a shelf of the bookshelf, which is arranged parallel to the first and the fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, is connected by another of the locking devices at a first edge to the first to the first element <NUM>, and a third edge of the sixth element <NUM> is connected, by another of the locking devices, to the fifth element <NUM>. The flexible tongue <NUM> of the locking device at the first and third edges, respectively, of the sixth element <NUM> is preferably arranged at the edge section <NUM>. The third element <NUM> is preferably connected slideable at the first and the third edges in order to facilitate disassembling.

<FIG> shows a cross section CS 3B of the first element <NUM>, the third element <NUM> and the fifth element <NUM>. The third element <NUM> may comprise two or more boards 4a and 4b locked by the mechanical locking system described above.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of a method for assembling the product described in <FIG>. The first element <NUM>, second element 2and sixth element <NUM> are preferably connected to each other before the third element <NUM> is connected to the product. The third element <NUM> may be displaced in a diagonal direction <NUM> such that the first edge and the second edge of the third element <NUM> is connected at the same time to the second edge of the first element <NUM> and to the second edge of the second element <NUM>. An alternative is to displace the third element <NUM> in a first direction <NUM> perpendicular to the first element <NUM> and subsequently displace the third element <NUM> in a second direction <NUM> perpendicular to the second element <NUM>. The first edge of the third element <NUM> is in this embodiment connected displaceable at the first edge. Another alternative is to displace the third element <NUM> in the second direction <NUM> perpendicular to the second element <NUM> and subsequently displace the third element <NUM> in the first direction <NUM> perpendicular to the first element <NUM>. The second edge of the third element <NUM> is in this embodiment connected displaceable at the second edge. Further, the connected first element <NUM>, second element <NUM> and sixth element <NUM> can together be displaced diagonally opposite to the direction <NUM> such that the second edge of the first element <NUM> and the second edge of the second element <NUM> are connected at the same time to the first edge and the second edge of the third element <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a furniture product, such as a drawer, comprising six of the locking devices, arranged with a side of the frame facing downwards. The furniture product comprises a first element <NUM>, e.g., an inner side of the drawer, connected at a first edge to a first edge of a second element <NUM>, e.g., a side of the drawer, by one of the locking devices. A first edge of a third element <NUM>, e.g., a rectangular bottom of the drawer, is connected to a second edge of the second element <NUM> by another of the locking devices. An edge section <NUM> of a second edge of the third element <NUM> may be inserted into an edge section groove <NUM> of a second edge of the first element <NUM>. A first edge of a fourth element <NUM>, e.g., a side of the drawer, is connected to a third edge of the first element <NUM> by another of said locking devices. A third edge of the third element <NUM> is connected to a second edge of the fourth element <NUM> by another of said locking devices. A first edge of a fifth element <NUM>, e.g., a front panel of the drawer, is subsequently connected to a third edge of the fourth element <NUM> by another of said locking devices, and a third edge of the fifth element <NUM> is connected to a third edge of the second element <NUM> by another of said locking devices. The fifth element <NUM> may be connected in the same factory in which the first through fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are connected, or alternatively in another factory or by a carpenter at a construction site. An edge section <NUM> of a fourth edge of the third element <NUM> may be arranged in an edge section groove <NUM> at a second edge of the fifth element <NUM>. The locking device at the first edge and the third edge, respectively, of the third element <NUM> may each comprise two or more flexible tongues <NUM>. The third element <NUM> is preferably connected slideable at the first edge and the third edge in order to facilitate disassembling.

The fifth element <NUM> (front panel) may be displaced during connection in a direction <NUM> perpendicular to the fourth edge of the third element <NUM>, and to the third edges of the second and fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>. The bottom panel of the drawer in this embodiment may be connected with the same methods as described under <FIG>.

<FIG> shows that the corner section between, for instance, the first element <NUM> and the second element <NUM> may be provide with a cover plate <NUM>, in order to hide the locking device.

<FIG> show alternative embodiments of the locking device. In these embodiments, a calibrating groove <NUM> may be provided at one or two sides of the edge section <NUM>. The tongue groove <NUM> may be symmetric at upper and lower parts of the groove such that the same dismantling tool (not shown) can be used at opposite positions of the locking device, i.e., mirror inverted locking devices. The edge section groove <NUM> may be provided with a guiding surface <NUM> that facilitates insertion of the edge section <NUM> into the edge section groove <NUM>. The edge section groove <NUM> may be provided with two opposite tongue grooves <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The two opposite tongue grooves <NUM> may be made by an end cutter, such as by a craftsman on site.

<FIG> shows that the embodiment with two opposite tongue grooves <NUM> may be provided with two flexible tongues <NUM>.

<FIG> show disassembling of the locking device by inserting a symmetric dismantling tool <NUM> into a symmetric tongue groove <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An assembled product comprising at least three elements arranged in three different planes which are essentially perpendicular to each other, including:
a first element (<NUM>) connected perpendicular to a second element (<NUM>), and
a third element (<NUM>) connected perpendicular to the second element and perpendicular to the first element (<NUM>),
wherein the assembled product comprises locking devices each comprising a flexible tongue (<NUM>) arranged in an insertion groove (<NUM>) at one of the at least three elements,
wherein said flexible tongue cooperates with a tongue groove (<NUM>), at an adjacent one of the at least three elements, for locking the one element and the adjacent element together in a first direction,
that each of said locking devices comprises an edge section groove (<NUM>) at one of the elements or at the adjacent one of the elements, wherein an edge section (<NUM>) of the other of the one element or the one adjacent element cooperates with said edge section groove for locking the one element and the one adjacent element together in a second direction which perpendicular to the first direction, and
wherein a first edge of the first element (<NUM>) is connected to a first edge of the second element (<NUM>) by a sixth one of said locking devices, characterized in
that a second edge of the second element (<NUM>) is connected to a first edge of the third element (<NUM>) by a first of said locking devices,
that optionally that a second edge of the third element (<NUM>) is connected to a second edge of the first element (<NUM>) by a second of said locking devices,
a fourth element (<NUM>) is connected perpendicular to the first element (<NUM>), and a third edge of the third element (<NUM>) is connected to a second edge of the fourth element (<NUM>) by a third of said locking devices,
that optionally a fourth edge of the third element (<NUM>) is arranged in a groove at a second edge of a fifth element (<NUM>), and the fifth element (<NUM>) is connected perpendicular to the second element (<NUM>) and to the fourth element ( <NUM>), and
that optionally a first edge of the fifth element (<NUM>) is connected to a third edge of the second element by a fourth one of said locking devices, and a third edge of the fifth element is connected to a third edge of the fourth element (<NUM>) by a fifth one of said locking devices.