Patent ID: 7121058

Claim:
A substantially planar floor element having at least a first edge and a second edge, a lower side and an upper decorative layer, said first edge comprising an undercut and an upper cheek surface at least partially defining a tongue, said second edge comprising at least one snapping hook and a lower cheek surface, wherein a radially projected length (L) of the undercut is less than or equal to a horizontal rotated radially projected height (H) of the upper cheek surface such that when said first edge is mated to a corresponding second edge on an adjacent floor element through substantially vertical motion, said undercut on said floor element unites with the snapping hook on the adjacent floor element and said upper cheek surface unites with the lower cheek surface of the adjacent floor element to prohibit at least vertical separation of the floor element and the adjacent floor element, wherein the size and shape of each of said undercut, upper cheek surface, at least one snapping hook and lower cheek surface requires mating by only vertical motion.