Symmetric tongue and T-cross

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12320374-B2
Application number	US-202418441480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2024
Priority date	Apr 18, 2018
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

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 for a furniture product 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 first panel surface is perpendicular to the second panel surface in a locked position of the first panel and the second panel, 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 at the first edge surface 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,
the first locking surface and the second locking surface are positioned on the flexible tongue on both sides of the flexible tongue,
the flexible tongue comprises a guiding surface positioned between the first and second locking surfaces,
the first locking surface and the second locking surface are converging towards each other, and
the guiding surface is configured to cooperate with the edge tongue during a displacement of the first panel relative to the second panel.

2. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first locking surface and the second locking surface are flat, spaced from one another, and symmetrically positioned on the flexible tongue.

3. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first locking surface and the second locking surface are converging towards the guiding surface.

4. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a core of the first panel and/or of the second panel is/are a wood-based core.

5. The set as claimed in claim 1 , 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.

6. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the guiding surface has a curved shape.

7. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the guiding surface has a shape of a circular segment.

8. The set as claimed in claim 6 , 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.

9. The set as claimed in claim 6 , 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 a range of about 0.2×T to 1.2×T.

10. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the guiding surface is configured to cooperate with a curved shape surface of a disassembling tool.

11. The set as claimed in claim 1 , 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.

12. The set as claimed in claim 6 , 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.

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

14. The set as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the wood-based core comprises a MDF, HDF, OSB, plywood or particleboard.

15. The set as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the wood-based core is of solid wood.

Assignees

• Vaelinge Innovation Ab

Inventors

• Derelöv Peter

Classifications

• E04F15/04

  only of wood {or with a top layer of wood}, e.g. with wooden {or metal} connecting members (rollable parquet E04F15/16) · CPC title

• E04F15/105

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

• E04F15/102

  of fibrous or chipped materials, e.g. bonded with synthetic resins · CPC title

• A47B2230/0081

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

• A61M5/1413

  Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements · CPC title