Set of panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12331526-B2
Application number	US-202318369822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2023
Priority date	Sep 30, 2016
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A set of panels including a first panel and a second panel. A first edge of the first panel and a second edge of the second are configured to be locked together and assembled by a vertical displacement of the second edge relative the first edge. The first edge includes a locking element configured to cooperate with a locking groove at the second edge for locking in a horizontal and in the vertical direction. The first edge includes a tongue configured to cooperate with a tongue groove at the second edge for locking in a vertical direction. An upper part of the first edge includes a first guiding surface, and a lower edge of the lower lip includes a second guiding surface. An upper part of the locking element includes a third guiding surface, and a lower edge of the locking groove includes a fourth guiding surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A set of panels comprising a first panel and a second panel, wherein a first edge of the first panel and a second edge of the second panel are configured to be locked together and assembled by a vertical displacement of the second edge relative the first edge,
wherein the first edge comprises a locking element configured to cooperate with a locking groove at the second edge for locking in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction,
wherein the first edge comprises a tongue configured to cooperate with a tongue groove at the second edge for locking in the vertical direction,
wherein the tongue groove has an upper lip and a lower lip,
wherein an upper part of the first edge comprises a first guiding surface and a lower edge of the lower lip comprises a second guiding surface, which are configured to cooperate during the vertical displacement,
wherein an upper part of the locking element comprises a third guiding surface and a lower edge of the locking groove comprises a fourth guiding surface, which are configured to cooperate during the vertical displacement,
wherein a tip of the tongue comprises a fifth guiding surface and a tip of a lower lip of the tongue groove comprises a sixth guiding surface, which are configured to cooperate during the vertical displacement,
wherein a first locking surface of the locking element is configured to cooperate with a second locking surface of the locking groove for locking in the horizontal direction,
wherein the first locking surface comprises a first locking angle between the first locking surface and an upper surface of the first panel,
wherein the second locking surface comprises a second locking angle between the second locking surface and an upper surface of the second panel, and
wherein the first locking angle is larger than the second locking angle.

2. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the third and the fourth guiding surfaces and the fifth and the sixth guiding surfaces, respectively, are configured to cooperate at the same time during the vertical displacement.

3. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and the second guiding surfaces are configured to cooperate before the third and the fourth guiding surfaces are configured to cooperate during the vertical displacement.

4. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fifth and the sixth guiding surfaces are essentially parallel to each other.

5. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first guiding surface is positioned above the fifth guiding surface.

6. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second guiding surface is positioned below the sixth guiding surface.

7. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an upper lip of the tongue groove is configured to overlap the first guiding surface in a locked position of the first and the second edge.

8. The set of panels as claimed in claim 7 , wherein a lower surface of the upper lip is configured to cooperate with the first guiding surface for restraining penetration of moisture and/or dirt between the first and the second edge in the locked position.

9. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first guiding surface is a bevel or a rounding of an uppermost part of the first edge.

10. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first guiding surface is adjacent to the fifth guiding surface.

11. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a locking strip protrudes from the first edge under the tongue, wherein the locking strip comprises the locking element.

12. The set of panels as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first locking surface of the locking element is configured to cooperate with the second locking surface of the locking groove for locking in the vertical direction, wherein the first locking angle between the first locking surface and the upper surface of the first panel is within the range of about 45 degrees to about 85 degrees.

13. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tip of the tongue has a blunt shape, wherein each angle between adjacent surfaces at the tip of the tongue is more than 90 degrees.

14. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tip of the lower lip of the tongue groove has a blunt shape, wherein each angle between adjacent surfaces at the tip of the lip is more than 90 degrees.

15. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tongue comprises a locking surface at a lower side, wherein a second tongue angle between the fifth guiding surface and the locking surface of the tongue is in the range of about 100 degrees to about 145 degrees.

16. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tongue groove comprises a locking surface at an upper side of the lower lip, wherein a first lip angle between the locking surface of the lower lip and the sixth guiding surface is in the range of about 100 degrees to about 145 degrees.

17. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first locking angle and the second locking angle is about 1-2 degrees.

18. The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein a locking strip protrudes from a lower groove below the tongue at the first edge,
wherein the locking strip comprises the locking element, and
wherein an entire extent of the locking strip from the lower groove to the locking element is horizontal.

Assignees

• Vaelinge Innovation Ab

Inventors

• Boo Christian

Classifications

• E04F2201/042

  with grooves positioned on the rear-side of the panel · CPC title

• E04F2201/04

  Other details of tongues or grooves · CPC title

• E04F2201/0146

  with snap action of the edge connectors · CPC title

• E04F15/105

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

• E04F15/02033

  Joints with beveled or recessed upper edges · CPC title