# US 2015/0089896 A2 · Mechanical locking system for floor panels

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- Number: US 2015/0089896 A2
- Document ID: US20150089896A2
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A2
- Application number: 14/152,402
- Filed: 2014-01-10
- Published: 2015-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-19
- Assignees: Valinge Flooring Technology AB
- Applicants: Valinge Flooring Technology AB
- Inventors: DARKO PERVAN; TONY PERVAN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150089896A2

## CPC

- E04F 15/02038: {characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements}
- E04F 15/02: Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements (of webs E04F15/16)
- E04F 2201/0138: by moving the sheets, plates or panels perpendicular to the main plane
- E04F 2201/0547: adapted to be moved perpendicular to the joint edge
- E04F 2201/0582: of fibres or chips, e.g. bonded with synthetic resins
- E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B)

## Abstract

Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a vertical locking system on short edges comprising a displaceable tongue that is displaced in one direction into a tongue groove during vertical displacement of two panels.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-28. (canceled)

### Claim 29

Building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels comprising:
a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of the first building panel, and a strip protruding below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first building panel;
the strip comprising a locking element with a locking surface configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove formed on the second building panel, for locking of the first and the second building panels in a horizontal direction;
a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open displacement groove, the sidewardly open displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel, the displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge of the second building panel and a tongue locking surface located at an upper and outer part of the main body of the tongue, the tongue locking surface configured to cooperate with a groove locking surface of the tongue groove for vertical locking;
the displaceable tongue comprises a protrusion spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second building panel;
the protrusion comprises a tongue pressing surface configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the locking surface of the locking element, the displaceable tongue and locking element being configured such that when the locking element is fully inserted into the downwardly open locking groove the tongue pressing surface is vertically displaced the strip pressing surface and the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue groove to obtain a locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical direction;
wherein the tongue pressing surface is provided on the protrusion and the strip pressing surface is provided on the locking surface of the locking element.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The building panels as claimed in claim 29, wherein said displaceable tongue is asymmetric and the second panel comprises a cavity for housing the protrusion.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The building panels as claimed in claim 30, wherein the protrusion comprises a part that is flexible.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The building panels as claimed in claim 30, wherein the cavity is larger than the protrusion such that there is a space of at least about 1-3 mm between the protrusion and a boundary of the cavity when the protrusion is housed in the cavity.

### Claim 33 (depends on 29)

The building panels as claimed in claim 29, wherein the sidewardly open displacement groove extends vertically above a top of the locking groove.

### Claim 34 (depends on 29)

The building panels as claimed in claim 29, wherein the strip pressing surface is provided at an inclined surface of the locking element directed towards the tongue groove.

### Claim 35 (depends on 29)

The building panels as claimed in claim 29, wherein the strip pressing surface is provided at an upper part of the locking element.

### Claim 36 (depends on 30)

The building panels as claimed in claim 30, wherein the cavity extends from the displacement groove to the locking groove.

### Claim 37 (depends on 29)

The building panels as claimed in claim 29, wherein an upper part of the locking element is located vertically below the tongue locking surface of the displaceable tongue when the first and the second building panels are locked in a vertical direction.