Patent ID: 7654055

Claim:
A panel locking system for mechanical joining of a plurality of panels, each panel comprising: first and second outer surfaces and first and second side edges adjacent to the outer surfaces; the first side edge being provided with a first locking member spaced between the outer surfaces, the first locking member having first and second spaced apart arm portions, at least the first arm portion being flexible and including an outward facing first latching member; the second side edge being provided with a second locking member spaced between the outer surfaces, the second locking member defining a channel recessed within the second side edge and having a second latching member positioned and adapted to engage the first latching member; and at least one locking member being provided with a positioning member, whereby inserting the first locking member on a first panel of the plurality into a second locking member on a second panel of the plurality to join the first panel to the second panel permits the positioning member to deflect the first arm portion so as to securely engage the first latching member with the second latching member, the channel of the second locking member being sized to receive the arm portions of the first locking member without the arm portions contacting the channel absent deflection of one of the arm portions and the channel being in registry with the arm portions such that at least one of the outer surfaces of the first panel is substantially coplanar with an outer surface of the second panel when the panels are joined.