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US 12,624,554 B2Granted
Panel
AssigneeUnilin Nordic AB
InventorCharles Edward Stevens, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel, which, at two opposite edges, includes coupling parts that allow joining by a downward movement, the coupling parts including a male part that fits in a female part, wherein the male part comprises a laterally protruding lip with at a lower side a downward facing support surface.
Claims24
A panel system comprising:
- at least a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel each having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges;
- the second pair of opposite edges comprising a first edge having a first joint profile and a second edge having a second joint profile, wherein the first and second joint profiles are in one piece from a panel material and define coupling parts allowing that the first panel and the second panel are joinable by a downward movement of the first edge of the first panel with respect to the second edge of the second panel, and wherein the coupling parts, in a coupled condition of the first and second panels, provide a locking in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of the first and second panels, as well as in a horizontal direction parallel to the plane of the first and second panels and perpendicular to the first and second edges;
- the first joint profile comprising a first laterally projecting lip with a downward projecting locking part, the downward projecting locking part defining a male part, wherein the second joint profile comprises a second laterally projecting lip with an upward projecting locking part, the upward projecting locking part defining, proximally thereof, a recess acting as a female part, wherein the first laterally projecting lip with the downward projecting locking part defines a downward directed hook, wherein the second laterally projecting lip with the upward projecting locking part defines an upward directed hook, and wherein, in the coupled condition of the first and second panels, the downward directed hook and the upward directed hook engage behind each other to prevent drifting apart of the first panel and the second panel in the horizontal direction;
- wherein the first and second joint profiles comprise vertically active locking portions, which at least define a first point of contact and a second point of contact, the first and second points of contact being located at opposite sides of the male and female parts;
- the vertically active locking portions comprising a first locking portion and a second locking portion at respective opposite sides of the male part and a third locking portion and a fourth locking portion at respective opposite sides of the female part;
- the first and third locking portions defining, in the coupled condition of the first and the second panels, the first point of contact;
- the second and fourth locking portions defining, in the coupled condition of the first and second panels, the second point of contact and each having a contact surface defining an inclined tangent line;
- the male part of the first joint profile has a distal side and a proximal side, the second locking portion being located at the distal side;
- wherein the second point of contact is closer to the plane defined by the upper surface of the first and second panels than the first point of contact, and wherein, measured according to a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the upper surface of the first and second panels, a distance between the first point of contact and the second point of contact is larger than 0.10 times the overall thickness of the first panel;
- wherein the distance between the first point of contact and the second point of contact measured parallel to the plane defined by the upper surface of the first and second panels and perpendicular to the second pair of opposite edges is smaller than 4 times a vertical distance between the first point of contact and the second point of contact;
- wherein the downward projecting locking part of the first joint profile is at least solid between the first and second points of contact;
- and
- wherein co-operation at the second point of contact occurs by two co-operating flat inclined surfaces at the second and fourth locking portions.
10 more elements
A panel system comprising:
- at least a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel each having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges;
- the second pair of opposite edges comprising a first edge having a first joint profile and a second edge having a second joint profile, wherein the first and second joint profiles are in one piece from a panel material and define coupling parts allowing that the first panel and the second panel are joinable by a downward movement of the first edge of the first panel with respect to the second edge of the second panel, and wherein the coupling parts, in a coupled condition of the first and second panels, provide a locking in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of the first and second panels, as well as in a horizontal direction parallel to the plane of the first and second panels and perpendicular to the first and second edges;
- the first joint profile comprising a first laterally projecting lip with a downward projecting locking part, the downward projecting locking part defining a male part, wherein the second joint profile comprises a second laterally projecting lip with an upward projecting locking part, the upward projecting locking part defining, proximally thereof, a recess acting as a female part, wherein the first laterally projecting lip with the downward projecting locking part defines a downward directed hook, wherein the second laterally projecting lip with the upward projecting locking part defines an upward directed hook, and wherein, in the coupled condition of the first and second panels, the downward directed hook and the upward directed hook engage behind each other to prevent drifting apart of the first panel and the second panel in the horizontal direction;
- wherein the first and second joint profiles comprise locking portions, which at least define a first point of contact and a second point of contact, the first and second points of contact being located at opposite sides of the male and female parts;
- wherein said locking portions comprise horizontal active locking portions which define a first point of contact to prevent drifting apart of the first panel and the second panel in the horizontal direction;
- the locking portions further comprising vertically active locking portions which at least define the second point of contact and counteract separation in the vertical direction of the first and second panels in the coupled condition of the first and second panels;
- the locking portions comprising a first locking portion and a second locking portion at the respective opposite sides of the male part and a third locking portion and a fourth locking portion at the respective opposite sides of the female part;
- the first and third locking portions defining, in the coupled condition of the first and the second panels, the first point of contact;
- the second and fourth locking portions defining, in the coupled condition of the first and second panels, the second point of contact and each having a contact surface defining an inclined tangent line;
- the male part of the first joint profile has a distal side and a proximal side, the second locking portion being located at the distal side;
- wherein the downward projecting locking part of the first joint profile is at least solid in between the first and second points of contact;
- wherein the co-operation at the second point of contact occurs by co-operating flat inclined surfaces at the second and fourth locking portions and wherein said flat inclined surfaces at the second and fourth locking portions are configured to counteract separation in the vertical direction of the first and second panels in the coupled condition of the first and second panels;
- wherein co-operation of the first and second joint profiles at the first point of contact occurs at least by friction;
- wherein an intermediate space is provided at least underneath the male part and above the upper side of the second laterally projecting lip, such that there is no support between a distal lower end of the male part and an upper side of the second laterally projecting lip, and wherein said intermediate space is situated more proximal than the third locking portion;
- wherein the first and second panels are laminated floor panels or engineered wood panels.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.