Back to results
US 9,790,685 B2Granted
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.
Claims49
A panel comprising:
- a female connector;
- and
- a male connector adapted to be inserted in a female connector of an adjacent, substantially similar panel to interconnect said panels, said male connector comprising:
- a first prong comprising a first side portion having a first proximal portion that is straight and extends distally away from a point of attachment to said panel and a first recessed channel having a portion that is straight and extends distally along said first prong, said first recessed channel relative to and adjoining said first proximal portion such that said first proximal portion is substantially parallel to said first recessed channel portion;
- and
- a second prong comprising a second side portion having a second proximal portion and a second recessed channel relative to and adjoining said second proximal portion;
- 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 recessed channel is configured to receive a first portion of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel and said second recessed channel is configured to receive a second portion of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel to facilitate interconnection of said panels.
6 more elements
A panel comprising:
- a female connector;
- and
- a male connector adapted to be inserted in a female connector of an adjacent, substantially similar panel to interconnect said panels, said male connector comprising:
- a first prong comprising a first side portion having a first proximal portion that is straight and extends distally away from a point of attachment to said panel and a first recessed channel having a portion that is straight and extends distally along said first prong, said first recessed channel relative to and adjoining said first proximal portion such that said first proximal portion is substantially parallel to said first recessed channel portion;
- and
- a second prong comprising a second side portion having a second proximal portion and a second recessed channel relative to and adjoining said second proximal portion, said second side portion of said second prong substantially parallel to 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;
- and
- wherein said first recessed channel is configured to receive a first portion of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel and said second recessed channel is configured to receive a second portion of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel to facilitate interconnection of said panels.
6 more elements
A panel comprising:
- a female connector;
- and
- a male connector adapted to be inserted in a female connector of an adjacent, substantially similar panel to interconnect said panels, said male connector comprising:
- a first prong comprising a first side portion having a first proximal portion that is straight and extends distally away from a point of attachment to said panel and a first recessed portion having a portion that is straight and extends distally along said first prong, said first recessed portion relative to and adjoining said first proximal portion;
- and
- a second prong comprising a second side portion having a second proximal portion that is straight and extends distally away from a point of attachment to said panel and a second recessed portion having a portion that is straight and extends distally along said second prong, said second recessed portion relative to and adjoining said second proximal portion;
- wherein said first proximal portion is spaced a first distance from said second proximal portion, said first recessed portion is spaced a second distance from said second recessed portion, and said first distance is greater than said second distance;
- wherein said first proximal portion is substantially parallel to said second proximal portion and said portion of said first recessed portion is substantially parallel to said portion of said second recessed portion;
- and
- wherein said first recessed portion is configured to receive a first portion of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel and said second recessed portion is configured to receive a second portion of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel to facilitate interconnection of said panels.
7 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 that is straight and extends distally away from a point of attachment to said panel and a first recessed portion having a portion that is straight and extends distally along said first prong, said first recessed portion relative to and adjoining said first proximal portion;
- a second prong comprising a second side portion having a second proximal portion that is straight and extends distally away from a point of attachment to said panel and a second recessed portion having a portion that is straight and extends distally along said second prong, said second recessed portion relative to and adjoining said second proximal portion;
- 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 portion is spaced a second distance from said second recessed portion, and said first distance is greater than said second distance;
- wherein said first proximal portion is substantially parallel to said second proximal portion and said portion of said first recessed portion is substantially parallel to said portion of said second recessed portion;
- wherein said first wall of said female connector is substantially parallel to said first proximal portion of said male connector;
- wherein said second wall of said female connector is substantially parallel to said second proximal 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 portion and said second recessed portion of said male connector are adapted to receive and be adjacent said first ridge and said second ridge, respectively, of said female connector of said adjacent, substantially similar panel.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.