US 5,618,602 A · Articles with tongue and groove joint and method of making such a joint

Abstract

Disclosed is laminate flooring and other articles with tongues and grooves for joining sections of the flooring or articles and a method of making the tongue and groove joints. The lower surfaces of the tongues and grooves are indexing surfaces for aligning the wear surfaces of the flooring sections. The tongues and grooves are made such that when the tongue is fully inserted into the groove, a continuous space is formed between the upper surface of the tongue and groove. The grooved edges are cut at an acute angle to the surface. This provides a space between the upper surfaces of the tongue and groove and between the edge surfaces above the tongues and grooves toward the wear surfaces of the flooring sections. Glue in the joint, upon curing, resists penetration of moisture and increases the strength of the joint.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An article having a planar, decorative wear surface, a grooved edge and a tongued edge,

wherein the tongue and groove have planar lower surfaces positioned the same distance from and parallel to the planar decorative surface, and
wherein the upper surfaces of the tongue and groove are parallel, planar surfaces and wherein the upper surface of the groove is closer to the planar decorative surface than the upper surface of the tongue such that upon joining two pieces of the article by positioning the lower surfaces of the tongues and grooves together and moving the tongue of one piece into the groove of another piece, liquid glue placed in the groove will be squeezed out between the upper surfaces of the tongue and groove and upwardly between the tongued and grooved edge toward the decorative surfaces of the two pieces.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Articles with tongue and groove joint and method of making such a joint

Life of this patent

Articles with tongue and groove joint and method of making such a joint

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16