Vertical joint system and associated surface covering system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12139918-B2
Application number	US-202318176003-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2023
Priority date	Mar 18, 2011
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

A vertical joint system for substrates is formed with joints and which engaged by relative motion in a direction perpendicular to major surfaces and of the substrate. The joints are configured to enable relative rotation of up to 3 degrees while maintaining engagement of the joints. The joints and are further configured to form two locking planes one on each of the inner and outer most sides of the joint. Engagement about the locking planes is provided by transverse outward extending surfaces. At least one surface in each pair of engaging surfaces is smoothly curved. The joints and can be further arranged to provide a third locking plane parallel to and between the locking planes. The joints are disengaged by combination of a downward rotation of one joint relative the other then application of a downward force.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vertical joint system for a substrate having an opposed major first and second surfaces, the joint system comprising:
non-symmetrical male and female joints extending along opposite sides of the substrate, the male and female joints configured to enable two substrates with like joint systems to engage each other in response to a force applied in an engagement direction which is perpendicular to the major surfaces;
the male joint comprising:
a male protrusion extending generally perpendicular from the first major surface toward the second major surface and a male recess formed inboard of the male protrusion;
a first male locking surface formed on a side of the male protrusion most distant from the male recess, and a third male locking surface being a surface common to the male protrusion and male recess;
a male planar abutment surface extending from and essentially perpendicular to the first major surface;
a rebate between the male planar abutment surface and the first male locking surface;

the female joint comprising:
a female protrusion extending generally perpendicular from the second major surface toward the first major surface and a female recess formed inboard of the female protrusion;
a first female locking surface formed on a side of the female recess most distant from the female protrusion, and a third female locking surface being a surface common to the female protrusion and female recess;
a female planar abutment surface extending from and essentially perpendicular to the first major surface; and
a shoulder between the female planar abutment surface and the first female locking surface,

wherein the locking surfaces are configured so that when a male and female joint of two substrates are engaged, the first male and first female locking surfaces engage to form a first locking plane, and the third male and third female locking surfaces engage to form a third locking plane, wherein the first locking plane inhibits separation of the engaged joints in a direction parallel to the engagement direction and the third locking plane inhibits separation of the engaged joints in a direction perpendicular to the engagement direction, and wherein the rebate is configured to rest on the shoulder when a male and female joint of two substrates are engaged.

2. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein the rebate and the shoulder are parallel to the first major surface.

3. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein the female planar abutment surface is closer to an innermost surface of the female recess than the first female locking surface is, in the horizontal direction.

4. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein when the male and female joints are engaged, the respective surfaces of the rebate and shoulder and of the male and female planar abutment surfaces are in abutment.

5. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein when the male and female joints are engaged, the respective surfaces of the male and female third locking surfaces are configured to create lateral compression forces between the male and the female planar abutment surfaces and maintaining them in contact thus preventing the creation of a gap between joined panels.

6. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein the male and female protrusions are configured to enable relative rotation of two engaged substrates by up to 3° while maintaining engagement of the two substrates.

7. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein the male and female joints are further configured to enable an adjacent engaged substrate to rotate by up to 7° to 10° downward from the first substrate without disengaging or damage.

8. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein the male and female protrusions are configured to enable relative rotation of one of the engaged substrates relative to the other by an angle of between 7° to 10° in a direction into a surface of which the substrates are laid while maintaining engagement of the two substrates.

9. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein a void is created on a side of the first locking plane by virtue of the non-symmetrical configuration of the male and female joints.

10. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein a void is created on a side of the third locking plane by virtue of the non-symmetrical configuration of the male and female joints.

11. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein the male and female protrusions and male and female recesses are configured to facilitate self-alignment of two substrates when one of the substrates is joined to another of the substrates.

12. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of solid timber, engineered timber, manufactured wood laminate, Bamboo, plastics, and vinyl.

13. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , comprising a beveled surface between the first major surface and the male planar abutment surface.

14. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , comprising a beveled surface between the first major surface and the female planar abutment surface.

15. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein the locking surfaces are configured so that when the male and female joint of two substrates are engaged, the first male and first female locking surfaces contact one another at at least one contact interface to inhibit separation of the engaged joints in the direction parallel to the engagement direction.

16. The vertical joint system according to claim 1 , wherein the first male locking surface is configured to snap over the first female locking surface during locking of the male and female joint of two substrates.

Assignees

• Vaelinge Innovation Ab

Inventors

• Kell Richard William

Classifications

• E04F15/087

  The lower layer being of organic plastic with or without reinforcements or filling materials · CPC title

• E04F15/02011

  with joint fillings integrated in the flooring elements · CPC title

• E04F13/26

  Edge engaging fastening means, e.g. clamps, clips or border profiles {(not used, see E04F13/0801)} · CPC title

• E04G23/0285

  Repairing or restoring flooring (flooring E04F15/00) · CPC title

• E04F2201/07

  with connections using a special adhesive material · CPC title