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US 8,769,904 B1Granted
Interlock panel, panel assembly, and method for shipping
AssigneeBarrette Outdoor Living, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey R. Brandt, Kevin T. Burt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel comprised of at least one connector that facilitates connection with an adjacent panel. An exemplary embodiment of a panel may be comprised of a female connector and a male connector such that the male connector may be inserted in a female connector of an adjacent, substantially similar panel. The female connector may include a ridge, and the male connector may include a flange. An exemplary embodiment of a panel assembly may be formed when a male connector of one panel is inserted in a female connector of another panel such that the flange of the male connector slides over the ridge of the female connector to interlock the panels.
Claims20
A panel comprising:
- a female connector comprising a first ridge;
- and
- a male connector adapted to be inserted in a female connector of an adjacent, substantially similar panel, said male connector comprising:
- a first prong comprising a first side portion having a first proximal portion and a first recessed channel relative to said first proximal portion, said first proximal portion substantially parallel to said first recessed channel;
- a second prong comprising a second side portion having a second proximal portion and a second recessed channel relative to said second proximal portion;
- and
- a first flange extending from said first side portion of said first prong;
- wherein said first proximal portion is spaced a first distance from said second proximal portion, said first recessed channel is spaced a second distance from said second recessed channel, and said first distance is greater than said second distance;
- wherein said first flange of said male connector is adapted to be pushed beyond or slid over a first ridge of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel when said male connector is inserted in said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel such that said first recessed channel of said male connector is adapted to receive said first ridge of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel;
- and
- wherein said male connector and said female connector are sufficiently flexible such that said first flange of said male connector is adapted to be pushed beyond or slid over a first ridge of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel when said male connector is inserted in said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel in an insertion direction to lock said panels together in a press fit such that said male connector is adapted to resist being withdrawn from said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel in a direction opposite said insertion direction.
8 more elements
A panel comprising:
- a female connector comprising a first ridge on a first wall and a second ridge on a second wall;
- and
- a male connector adapted to be inserted in a female connector of an adjacent, substantially similar panel, said male connector comprising:
- a first prong comprising a first side portion having a first proximal portion and a first recessed channel relative to said first proximal portion, said first proximal portion substantially parallel to said first recessed channel;
- a second prong comprising a second side portion having a second proximal portion and a second recessed channel relative to said second proximal portion, said second proximal portion substantially parallel to said second recessed channel, and said second side portion of said second prong substantially parallel to said first side portion of said first prong;
- a first flange extending from said first side portion of said first prong;
- and
- a second flange extending from said second side portion of said second prong;
- wherein said first proximal portion is spaced a first distance from said second proximal portion, said first recessed channel is spaced a second distance from said second recessed channel, and said first distance is greater than said second distance;
- and
- wherein said first flange and said second flange of said male connector are adapted to be pushed beyond or slid over a first ridge and a second ridge, respectively, of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel when said male connector is inserted in said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel such that said first recessed channel and said second recessed channel of said male connector are adapted to receive said first ridge and said second ridge, respectively, of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel.
8 more elements
A panel comprising:
- a female connector comprising:
- a first wall;
- a second wall opposite said first wall;
- a first ridge protruding from said first wall;
- and
- a second ridge protruding from said second wall;
- and
- a male connector adapted to be inserted in a female connector of an adjacent, substantially similar panel, said male connector comprising:
- a first prong comprising a first side portion having a first proximal portion and a first recessed channel relative to said first proximal portion, said first proximal portion substantially parallel to said first recessed channel;
- a second prong comprising a second side portion having a second proximal portion and a second recessed channel relative to said second proximal portion, said second proximal portion substantially parallel to said second recessed channel, and said second side portion of said second prong substantially parallel to said first side portion of said first prong;
- a first flange extending from said first side portion of said first prong;
- and
- a second flange extending from said second side portion of said second prong;
- wherein said first proximal portion is spaced a first distance from said second proximal portion, said first recessed channel is spaced a second distance from said second recessed channel, and said first distance is greater than said second distance;
- wherein said first wall of said female connector is substantially parallel to said first side portion of said male connector;
- wherein said second wall of said female connector is substantially parallel to said second side portion of said male connector;
- and
- wherein said first flange and said second flange of said male connector are adapted to be pushed beyond or slid over a first ridge and a second ridge, respectively, of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel when said male connector is inserted in said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel such that said first recessed channel and said second recessed channel of said male connector are adapted to receive said first ridge and said second ridge, respectively, of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.