Panel with a fastening device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9850667-B2
Application number	US-201615243219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2016
Priority date	Aug 24, 2015
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a set comprising a supporting structure, first and second panels and a fastening device for securing the first and second panels to the supporting structure. The fastening device comprises a top portion, having top and bottom surfaces, first and second edge portions, and first and second legs protruding downwardly from the bottom surface. The first and second panels respectively comprise opposite first and second edge grooves into which the first and second edge portions are configured to be respectively inserted. The first and second legs are flexible and bendable towards each other, and respectively comprise first and second locking elements. An upper surface of the supporting structure comprises an insertion groove comprising a first undercut groove and an opposite second undercut groove. The first and second locking elements are respectively configured to be snapped into the first and second undercut grooves to a locked position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A set comprising a supporting structure, a first panel, a second panel and a fastening device for securing the first and second panels to the supporting structure, wherein the fastening device comprises a top portion, having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first edge portion and a second edge portion, a first leg and a second leg protruding downwardly from the bottom surface, wherein the first panel comprises a first edge groove, and the second panel comprises an opposite second edge groove, the first edge portion being configured to be inserted into the first edge groove, and the second edge portion being configured to be inserted into the second edge groove, wherein:
the first leg and the second leg are flexible and bendable towards each other;
the first leg comprises a first locking element and the second leg comprises a second locking element;
an upper surface of the supporting structure comprises an insertion groove comprising a first undercut groove and an opposite second undercut groove; and
the first locking element is configured to be snapped into the first undercut groove and the second locking element is configured to be snapped into the second undercut groove to a locked position,
wherein the fastening device and the supporting structure are configured such that, when the first and second legs are being inserted into the insertion groove, contact between the first and second locking elements and corresponding walls of the insertion groove causes the first and second legs to bend towards each other, and wherein the first and second legs unbend in a direction away from each other at the locked position.

2. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the first locking element and/or the second locking element comprises a bevelled edge configured to cooperate with a groove edge of the insertion groove during an insertion of the first leg and the second leg into the insertion groove.

3. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the top surface comprises a top groove for receiving an outer edge of the second panel when the second panel is in angled position.

4. The set as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the top groove of the top surface has a curved surface.

5. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the top portion comprises a friction connection configured to cooperate with the first edge groove and/or the second edge groove and to restrain the fastening device from falling out during an assembling of the set.

6. The set as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the friction connection includes protruding parts.

7. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fastening device comprises a polymer material.

8. The set as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the polymer material includes polyamide or polypropylene.

9. The set as claimed claim 1 , wherein the first locking element and the second locking element each comprise an upper locking surface, wherein the locking surface of the first locking element is configured to cooperate with an upper surface of the first undercut groove and the locking surface of the second locking element is configured to cooperate with an upper surface of the second undercut groove.

10. The set as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the locking surface of the first and second locking elements each comprise a rounded or bevelled surface to enable an angled position of the fastening device.

11. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the first locking element and a lower surface of the second locking element each comprise a bevelled edge or rounded edge which is configured to interact with the supporting structure during an assembling.

12. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first leg comprises a first outer surface and the second leg comprises a second outer surface, and wherein a distance between the first outer surface and the second outer surface is the same as a width of an opening of the insertion groove.

13. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first leg comprises a first outer surface and the second leg comprises a second outer surface, wherein the first outer surface and/or the second outer surface comprise(s) a protruding element for a vertical positioning of the fastening device.

14. The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure includes a joist.

Assignees

• Vaelinge Innovation Ab
• Valinge Innovation Ab

Inventors

• Engstrom Nils-Erik

Classifications

• E04F2015/02094

  Engaging side grooves running along the whole length of the flooring elements · CPC title

• E04B9/26

  by means of snap action of elastically deformable elements {held against the underside of the supporting construction} · CPC title

• E04F13/0826 Primary

  engaging side grooves running along the whole length of the covering elements · CPC title

• E04F15/02183

  for outdoor use, e.g. in decks, patios, terraces, verandas or the like · CPC title

• E04F15/02044

  Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer (E04F15/02133, E04F15/0215 take precedence) · CPC title