Set of panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12188239-B2
Application number	US-202217716622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2022
Priority date	Sep 24, 2019
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A set of panels including first and second panels. The first and second panels respectively include first and second edges. The first edge includes a locking strip with a locking element configured to cooperate with a locking groove at the second edge for locking the first edge to the second edge. The locking element includes a first locking surface at a first angle from a plane parallel to the first panel surface and the locking groove includes a second locking surface at a second angle from a plane parallel to the third panel surface. The first angle is different from the second angle such that the first locking surface converges towards the second locking surface at a cooperation part in a locked position. The first locking surface cooperates with the second locking surface at the cooperation part.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A set of panels comprising:
a first panel and a second panel, wherein the first panel comprises a first edge, a first panel surface and a second opposite panel surface, and wherein the second panel comprises a second edge, a third panel surface and an opposite fourth panel surface,
wherein the first edge comprises a locking strip with a locking element configured to cooperate with a locking groove at the second edge of the second panel for locking the first edge to the second edge in a first direction which is parallel to the first panel surface,
wherein the first edge is configured to be assembled to the second edge by a displacement of the second edge relative the first edge in an assembly direction, which is perpendicular to the first panel surface, to obtain a locked position of the first edge and the second edge,
wherein the locking element comprises a first locking surface at a first angle from a first plane parallel to the first panel surface and the locking groove comprises a second locking surface at a second angle from a second plane parallel to the third panel surface,
wherein the first angle is different from the second angle such that the first locking surface converges towards the second locking surface at a cooperation part in the locked position, and the first locking surface cooperates with the second locking surface at the cooperation part for the locking in the first direction,
wherein the cooperation part is positioned at a first distance from a strip surface of the locking strip, wherein an outer surface of the locking element is positioned at a second distance from the strip surface of the locking strip, and
wherein a ratio between the first distance and the second distance is in the range of about 0.03 to about 0.3.

2. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cooperation part is closer to a strip surface of the locking strip than to an outer surface of the locking element.

3. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a space between the first locking surface and the second locking surface in the locked position, wherein the space is located between the cooperation part and an outer surface of the locking element.

4. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first angle and the second angle is in the range of about 2° to about 15°.

5. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one of the first edge or the second edge comprises a tongue which is configured to cooperate with a tongue groove at the other one of the first edge or the second edge for a locking in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction.

6. The set of panels as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the tongue is a flexible tongue which is located in an insertion groove at the one of the first edge or the second edge.

7. The set of panels as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first angle is in the range of about 90° to about 145°, and wherein the second angle is in the range of about 80° to about 135°.

8. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first locking surface and the second locking surface are configured for a locking in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction.

9. The set of panels as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first angle is in the range of about 70° to about 90°, and wherein the second angle is in the range of about 75° to about 85°.

10. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the panels comprise a polymer material or a wood based material.

11. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first panel surface and the second panel surface is in the range of about 3 mm to about 15 mm.

12. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a distance between the third panel surface and the fourth panel surface is in the range of about 3 mm to about 15 mm.

13. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first panel surface and the third panel surface comprise a decorative surface.

14. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are building panels.

15. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking element comprises a first guiding surface at an outer surface and the locking groove comprises a second guiding surface at an opening of the locking groove, wherein the first guiding surface is configured to cooperate with the second guiding surface during assembling to guide the locking element into the locking groove.

16. The set of panels as claimed in claim 15 , wherein a size of the first guiding surface is greater than a size of the second guiding surface.

17. The set of panels as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the first guiding surface comprises an essentially planar surface.

18. The set of panels as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the first guiding surface comprises an essentially planar surface and the second guiding surface has a rounded shape, wherein a ratio between a length of the planar surface and a radius of the rounded shape of the second guiding surface is in the range of about 1 to about 5.

19. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second guiding surface has a rounded shape.

20. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in the locked position, the first locking surface of the locking element includes a first portion that is free of contact with the second locking surface of the locking groove, and a second portion that contacts the second locking surface at the cooperation part, the first and second portions being coplanar.

Assignees

• Vaelinge Innovation Ab

Inventors

• Nilsson Anders
• Quist Karl
• Ylikangas Roger
• Boo Fredrik

Classifications

• E04F2201/043

  with tongues and grooves being formed by projecting or recessed parts of the panel layers · CPC title

• E04F2201/0169

  by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is perpendicular to the abutting edges and parallel to the main plane, possibly combined with a sliding movement · CPC title

• E04F2201/0138

  by moving the sheets, plates or panels perpendicular to the main plane · CPC title

• E04F2201/023

  with a continuous tongue or groove · CPC title

• E04F2201/0547

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