# US 2025/0154775 A1 · Set of building panels comprising a locking device

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- Number: US 2025/0154775 A1
- Document ID: US20250154775A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/941,341
- Filed: 2024-11-08
- Published: 2025-05-15
- Earliest claimed: 2023-11-10
- Assignees: Välinge Innovation AB
- Applicants: Välinge Innovation AB
- Inventors: Lucas LARSSON
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250154775A1

## CPC

- E04F 15/02038: {characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements}
- E04F 13/0894: {with tongue and groove connections}
- E04F 13/18: of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials (of plastic-bound fibres or chips E04F13/16 ){or with an outer layer of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials; plastic tiles (E04F13/0864 takes precedence)}
- E04F 15/105: {of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials}
- E04F 2201/0146: with snap action of the edge connectors
- E04F 2201/0161: with snap action of the edge connectors
- E04F 2201/023: with a continuous tongue or groove
- E04F 2201/042: with grooves positioned on the rear-side of the panel
- E04F 2201/043: with tongues and grooves being formed by projecting or recessed parts of the panel layers
- E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B)

## Abstract

A set of building panels including a first and second panel and a locking device for locking a first edge portion of the first panel to a second edge portion of the second panel to obtain an assembled state of the panels. A core of the first and second panels includes a polymer-based material. The locking device includes a locking element extending upwards from a lower strip provided in the first edge portion, and a locking groove arranged in the second edge portion, wherein the locking element and the locking groove are configured to cooperate for horizontal locking of the first and second edge portions. The locking device further includes a cavity arranged in the first edge portion and a displaceable protrusion arranged in the second edge portion, wherein the protrusion and the cavity are configured to cooperate for vertical locking of the first and second edge portions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A set of building panels, comprising a first panel and a second panel and a locking device for locking a first edge portion of the first panel to a second edge portion of the second panel to obtain an assembled state of the first and second panels, wherein a core of the first and second panels comprises a polymer-based material, the locking device comprising:
a locking element extending upwards from a lower strip provided in the first edge portion, and a locking groove arranged in the second edge portion, the locking groove being open downwards, wherein the locking element and the locking groove are configured to cooperate for horizontal locking of the first and second edge portions, and
a cavity arranged in the first edge portion and a displaceable protrusion arranged in the second edge portion, the cavity being open horizontally outwards with respect to the first panel, wherein the protrusion and the cavity are configured to cooperate for vertical locking of the first and second edge portions,
wherein the protrusion extends at least partially upwards and is integrally formed with the second edge portion,
wherein, in the assembled state, the protrusion extends at least partially horizontally inwardly of a vertical plane with respect to the second panel, said vertical plane extending between upper portions of the first and second edge portions, and
wherein upper portions of the first and second edge portions comprise a shelf portion and a lap portion, respectively, configured to cooperate with each other at overlapping cooperating surfaces, said cavity extending below the shelf portion,
the overlapping cooperating surface of the shelf portion being provided in an upper section of the shelf portion, and the overlapping cooperating surface of the lap portion being provided in a lower section of the lap portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The set of floor panels according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion extends, in a direction along the second edge portion, outwards of an upper portion of a fourth edge portion of the second panel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The set of building panels according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion locks against the cavity by pretension.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The set of building panels according to claim 1, wherein a tip of the protrusion is arranged at a distance from a front side of the second panel, said distance exceeding a quarter of a thickness of the second panel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The set of building panels according to claim 1, wherein upper portions of the first and second edge portions comprise joining surfaces which are inclined with respect to a normal of a main plane extending along a front side and/or a rear side of the first and/or second panel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The set of building panels according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is displaceable into a recess of the second edge portion, and wherein the protrusion contacts a base edge portion of the second edge portion along a contacting section in the assembled state.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The set of floor panels according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is displaceable into a recess of the second edge portion, said recess comprising a protuberant inner wall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The set of building panels according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is thermoformed.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The set of building panels according to claim 1, wherein the first and second edge portions are configured to be locked to each other by a relative essentially vertical displacement of the first and second panels against each other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The set of building panels according to claim 1, wherein the first and second edge portions are configured to be unlocked from each other by angling the first and second panels relative to each other.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The set of building panels according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal locking surface of the locking element is inclined against a main plane extending along a front side and/or a rear side of the first panel by a locking angle, which is less than 80°.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The set of building panels according to claim 1, wherein the core of the first and second panels comprises a thermoplastic material.

### Claim 13

A set of building panels comprising a first panel and a second panel and a locking device for locking a first edge portion of the first panel to a second edge portion of the second panel to obtain an assembled state of the first and second panels, wherein a core of the first and second panels comprises a polymer-based material, the locking device comprising:
a locking element extending upwards from a lower strip provided in the first edge portion, and a locking groove arranged in the second edge portion, the locking groove being open downwards, wherein the locking element and the locking groove are configured to cooperate for horizontal locking of the first and second edge portions, and
a cavity arranged in the first edge portion and a displaceable protrusion arranged in the second edge portion, the cavity being open horizontally outwards with respect to the first panel, wherein the protrusion and the cavity are configured to cooperate for vertical locking of the first and second edge portions,
wherein the protrusion extends at least partially upwards and is integrally formed with the second edge portion, and
wherein a length of the protrusion from its inner portion does not exceed a horizontal distance from said inner portion of the protrusion to a vertical plane extending along an uppermost portion of the second edge portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The set of floor panels according to claim 13, wherein the protrusion extends, in a direction along the second edge portion, outwards of an upper portion of a fourth edge portion of the second panel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The set of building panels according to claim 13, wherein the protrusion locks against the cavity by pretension.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The set of building panels according to claim 13, wherein a length of the protrusion is smaller than five times a minimal thickness of the protrusion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The set of building panels according to claim 13, wherein a tip of the protrusion is arranged at a distance from a front side of the second panel, said distance exceeding a quarter of a thickness of the second panel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The set of building panels according to claim 13, wherein upper portions of the first and second edge portions comprise a shelf portion and a lap portion, respectively, configured to cooperate with each other at overlapping cooperating surfaces, wherein said cavity extends below the shelf portion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The set of building panels according to claim 13, wherein the protrusion is displaceable into a recess of the second edge portion, and wherein the protrusion contacts a base edge portion of the second edge portion along a contacting section in the assembled state.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The set of floor panels according to claim 13, wherein the protrusion is displaceable into a recess of the second edge portion, said recess comprising a protuberant inner wall.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The set of building panels according to claim 13, wherein the protrusion is thermoformed.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The set of building panels according to claim 13, wherein the first and second edge portions are configured to be locked to each other by a relative essentially vertical displacement of the first and second panels against each other.

### Claim 23 (depends on 13)

The set of building panels according to claim 13, wherein the first and second edge portions are configured to be unlocked from each other by angling the first and second panels relative to each other, a horizontal locking surface of the locking element being inclined against a main plane extending along a front side and/or a rear side of the first panel by a locking angle fat, which is less than 80°.

### Claim 24 (depends on 13)

The set of building panels according to claim 13, wherein the core of the first and second panels comprises a thermoplastic material.