Interconnectable panel system and method of panel interconnection

An interconnectable panel system comprising:

• a first panel having a lateral edge, the lateral edge having:
• a first contact surface located on an upper end of the first lateral edge,
• a groove,
• an upper lip that upwardly bounds the groove,
• a lower lip that downwardly bounds the groove, the distal end of the lower lip protruding beyond the distal end of the upper lip, the distal end of the lower lip having a projection that protrudes upward,
• a first fitting surface located on the upper lip,
• a second fitting surface located on the lower lip away from the distal end of the lower lip, and
• a second contact surface located on the lower lip at the distal end of the lower lip, the second contact surface bounding a side of the projection;
• and
• a second panel having a lateral edge, the second panel lateral edge having:
• a third contact surface located on an upper end of the second panel lateral edge,
• a tongue extending from the second panel lateral edge,
• a third fitting surface located on the top of the tongue,
• a fourth fitting surface located on the underside of the tongue at the distal end of the tongue, and
• a fourth contact surface located on the underside of the tongue away from the distal end of the tongue,
• the tongue having a depression on its underside between the fourth fitting surface and the fourth contact surface;
• wherein:
• the first and second panels are interconnectable along their respective lateral edges such that when connected the first contact surface and the third contact surface, the second contact surface and the fourth contact surface, the first fitting surface and the third fitting surface, and the second fitting surface and the fourth fitting surface respectively adjoin each another;
• the depression and the projection are shaped such that at least the upper end of the projection can fit in the depression;
• and
• when the projection is engaged with the depression, the distal end of the tongue is positioned on a the same side of a plane as the distal end of the lower lip, the plane being aligned with the first contact surface of the first panel.

A method of installing two interconnectable panels along respective complementary lateral edges, the method comprising:

• positioning a first panel on a surface;
• positioning a second panel on the surface a distance away from the first panel, a first lateral edge of the first panel being opposite a second lateral edge of the second panel;
• moving the second panel toward the first panel to a position in which a projection on the first lateral edge engages a depression on a tongue of the second lateral edge;
• angling the second panel away from the surface while the second lateral edge remains in contact with the first lateral edge;
• moving the second panel toward the first lateral edge while angling until the upper corners of the first and second lateral edges contact one another;
• and
• pivoting the second panel toward the surface until the second panel is flush with the first panel.

A method of installing interconnectable panels, each panel having first and second complementary lateral edges and third and fourth complementary lateral edges, the method comprising:

• connecting a first lateral edge of a first panel to a second lateral edge of a second panel;
• angularly placing a fourth lateral edge of a third panel against a third lateral edge of the second panel such that a depression on a tongue of a second lateral edge of the third panel is positioned above a projection of the first lateral edge of the first panel;
• pivoting the third panel to connect the fourth lateral edge of the third panel to the third lateral edge of the second panel, the depression of the third panel engaging the projection of the first panel;
• positioning the third and second panels together at an angle with respect to the first panel while the second lateral edge of the third panel remains in contact with the first lateral edge of the first panel;
• moving the third panel toward the first lateral edge of the first panel while at the positioned angle until the upper corners of the first lateral edge of the first panel and the second lateral edge of the third panel contact one another, the third lateral edge of the second panel and the fourth lateral edge of the third panel remaining connected to one another;
• and
• pivoting the third and second panels together until flush with the first panel.