A recessed-key panel interlocking device comprising:
- a planar first panel comprising opposing inner and outer surfaces, and a plurality of alternating first gaps and first fingers disposed along a first side edge of the first panel, the first gaps comprising open grooves recessed into the first side edge extending through the inner and outer surfaces and defining the first fingers therebetween;
- a plurality of aligned first key slots formed in the outer surfaces of the plurality of first fingers, the first key slots laterally traversing the first fingers and longitudinally extending parallel to the first side edge;
- a planar second panel comprising opposing inner and outer surfaces, and a plurality of alternating second gaps and second fingers disposed along a second side edge of the second panel, the second gaps comprising open grooves recessed into the second side edge extending through the inner and outer surfaces and defining the second fingers therebetween;
- a plurality of aligned second key slots formed in the outer surfaces of the plurality of second fingers, the second key slots laterally traversing the second fingers and longitudinally extending parallel to the second side edge;
- wherein the first side edge of the first panel is interlocked with the second side edge of the second panel such that each of the first fingers is positioned within a corresponding one of the second gaps and each of the second fingers is positioned within a corresponding one of the first gaps, wherein the inner surface of each first finger abuts a bottom surface of the corresponding second gap and the inner surface of each second finger abuts a bottom surface of the corresponding first gap, and wherein terminal edges of the first fingers extend beyond the outer surface of the second panel and terminal edges of the second fingers extend beyond the outer surface of the first panel;
- wherein the first panel is interlocked with the second panel such that the outer surface of the first panel is perpendicular to the outer surface of the second panel, and the plurality of first key slots and the plurality of second key slots are linearly aligned to form a channel having a square cross-section, the channel longitudinally extending parallel to and along the entire length of the first and second side edges of the panels;
- an elongated cylindrical key threaded through the channel formed by the first key slots and the second key slots, the key being pressed against a surface of each of the first and second key slots to interlock the first panel to the second panel along an interlocking region of the panels;
- and
- an elongated joint cover mounted around the interlocking region of the first and second panels, the joint cover comprising a pair perpendicular longitudinally-extending channels for slidably receiving and matingly engaging the terminal edges of the first fingers and the second fingers, the joint cover engaging the outer surfaces of the first and second panels and extending along the entire length of the first and second side edges of the panels.