Symmetric tongue and t-cross

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11536307-B2
Application number	US-201916386874-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2019
Priority date	Apr 18, 2018
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A set including a first panel, a second panel and a mechanical locking device for locking the first panel to the second panel, the mechanical locking device includes an insertion groove at the second edge surface, a flexible tongue positioned in the insertion groove and an edge tongue including a tongue groove, the flexible tongue includes a first locking surface and a second locking surface, the first locking surface is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for locking of the first panel to the second panel in a first direction when the flexible tongue is positioned in the insertion groove in a first orientation, the second locking surface of the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for a locking of the first panel to the second panel in a first direction when the flexible tongue is positioned in the insertion groove in a second orientation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A set comprising a first panel, a second panel and a mechanical locking device for locking the first panel to the second panel, wherein the first panel comprises a first edge surface and a first panel surface and the second panel comprises a second edge surface and a second panel surface, wherein:
the mechanical locking device comprises an insertion groove at the second edge surface, a flexible tongue positioned in the insertion groove and an edge tongue comprising a tongue groove,
the flexible tongue comprises a first locking surface and a second locking surface,
the first locking surface is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for locking of the first panel to the second panel in a first direction when the flexible tongue is positioned in the insertion groove in a first orientation,
the second locking surface of the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for a locking of the first panel to the second panel in the first direction when the flexible tongue is positioned in the insertion groove in a second orientation, and
the first locking surface and the second locking surface are flat, spaced from one another, and symmetrically positioned on the flexible tongue.

2. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an angle between the first and second locking surfaces is within the range of about 90° to about 180°.

3. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible tongue comprises a guiding surface positioned between the first and second locking surfaces, and configured to cooperate with the edge tongue during a displacement of the first panel relative to the second panel.

4. The set as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the guiding surface in a first end is connected to the first locking surface and in a second end is connected to the second locking surface.

5. The set as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the guiding surface has a curved shape.

6. The set as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the guiding surface has the shape of a circular segment.

7. The set as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the curved shape of the guiding surface has a radius between the first and second locking surfaces within the range of about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm.

8. The set as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the flexible tongue has a thickness T and wherein the curved shape of the guiding surface has a radius between the first and second locking surfaces within the range of about 0.2xT to 1.2xT.

9. The set as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the guiding surface is configured to cooperate with a curved shape surface of a disassembling tool.

10. The set as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the flexible tongue has a support surface positioned opposite to the guiding surface, wherein the support surface has a curved shape with a radius within the range of about 25 mm to about 50 mm.

11. The set as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the curved shape of the support surface has a radius that is smaller than a radius of a bottom surface of the insertion groove.

12. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first or second direction for locking of the first panel to the second panel is parallel and/or perpendicular to the second panel surface.

13. A set comprising a first panel, a second panel and a mechanical locking device for locking the first panel to the second panel, wherein the first panel comprises a first edge surface and a first panel surface and the second panel comprises a second edge surface and a second panel surface,
wherein the mechanical locking device comprises an insertion groove at the second edge surface, a flexible tongue positioned in the insertion groove and an edge tongue comprising a tongue groove,
wherein the flexible tongue comprises a first locking surface and a second locking surface,
wherein the first locking surface is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for locking of the first panel to the second panel in a first direction when the flexible tongue is positioned in the insertion groove in a first orientation,
wherein the second locking surface of the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for a locking of the first panel to the second panel in the first direction when the flexible tongue is positioned in the insertion groove in a second orientation,
wherein the edge tongue is a rod-shaped element at the first edge surface and at a third edge surface of the first panel,
wherein the mechanical locking device comprises a first element groove at the second panel surface and a second element groove at a third panel surface of the second panel,
wherein the rod-shaped element comprises the tongue groove and is configured to be inserted into the first or second element groove,
wherein the first element groove extends from the second panel surface to the insertion groove and the second element groove extends from the third panel surface to the insertion groove,
wherein the first locking surface of the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for a locking of the first panel to the second panel in a first direction which is perpendicular to the first panel surface when it is inserted into the first element groove and the first edge surface is arranged against the first panel surface, and
wherein the second locking surface of the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for locking of the first panel to the second panel in a first direction which is perpendicular to the first panel surface when it is inserted into the second element groove and the third edge surface is arranged against the third panel surface.

14. The set as claimed in claim 13 , wherein a first crosscut of the rod-shaped element, in a plane parallel to the first or second panel surface has a circular shape or a rectangular shape.

15. The set as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the mechanical locking device is configured to automatically lock the first panel to the second panel when the rod-shaped element is inserted into the first or second element groove and the first edge surface is arranged against the first panel surface and/or the third edge surface is arranged against the second panel surface.

16. The set as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the rod-shaped element has a longitudinal shape with a length direction which is parallel to the first panel surface of the first panel.

Assignees

• Vaelinge Innovation Ab
• Valinge Innovation Ab

Inventors

• Derelöv Peter

Classifications

• A47B47/0075

  Flat or flat-like panels connected without frames (for panels mainly made of wood or plastic A47B47/042) · CPC title

• E04F15/105

  of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials · CPC title

• A47B63/00

  Cabinets, racks or shelf units, specially adapted for storing books, documents, forms, or the like · CPC title

• E04F2201/0547

  adapted to be moved perpendicular to the joint edge · CPC title

• A47B2230/0081

  Mortise and tenon type joints with some general male and female joints · CPC title