Panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016115695-A1
Application number	US-201414894072-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 14, 2014
Priority date	May 30, 2013
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A panel includes a horizontally and vertically active locking system allowing two floor panels to be connected to each other at the sides thereof by providing one of these floor panels via a downward movement toward the other panel. The vertically active locking system comprises a locking element in the form of an insert, and the locking element comprises at least a blocking body. The blocking body is substantially or entirely made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

First claim

1 - 9 . (canceled)

10 . A panel, comprising on at least two opposite sides coupling parts with which two of such panels can be brought in a coupled condition; wherein these coupling parts form a horizontally active locking system and a vertically active locking system; wherein the horizontally active locking system comprises a male part and a female part, which allow that two of such panels can be connected to each other at said sides by providing one of these panels with the pertaining male part via a downward movement in the female part of the other panel; wherein the vertically active locking system comprises a locking element which, in the form of an insert, is provided in one of the respective sides; wherein this locking element comprises at least a blocking body; wherein the locking element consists of a strip which is attached in a recess in the panel, wherein said blocking body is substantially or entirely made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

11 . The panel of claim 10 , wherein said blocking body on one extremity forms a stop-forming locking portion which can cooperate with a locking portion of a similar coupled panel.

12 . The panel of claim 10 , wherein the locking element comprises an attachment portion which retains the strip in the recess.

13 . The panel of claim 10 , wherein said blocking body relates to a pivotable blocking body.

14 . The panel of claim 10 , wherein the locking element comprises an attachment portion and a bending zone and wherein said bending zone relates to an elastic bending zone forming a connection between the attachment portion and the blocking body.

15 . The panel of claim 14 , wherein the locking element consists of a coextruded synthetic material strip with, seen in cross-section, a plurality of zones of synthetic material with different features, namely, on the one hand, at least a first zone formed by said blocking body and, on the other hand, at least a second zone formed by said bending zone.

16 . The panel of claim 10 , wherein said locking element is provided as an insert in a recess in said male part and wherein said blocking body relates to an upwardly directed blocking body.

17 . The panel of claim 10 , wherein the panel has a thickness of 15 millimeters or less.

18 . The panel of claim 10 , wherein the panel substantially is composed of a core material and a decorative top layer.

Assignees

• Flooring Ind Ltd Sarl

Inventors

• Devos Pieter

Classifications

• E04F15/02038 Primary

  characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements · CPC title

• E04F2201/0552

  adapted to be rotated around an axis parallel to the joint edge · CPC title

• E04F2201/0146

  with snap action of the edge connectors · CPC title

• E04F15/10

  of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite {tiles}, hardboard {, or with a top layer of other materials} · CPC title

• E04F15/102

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