Patent US20030154681A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US20030154681A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panel, particularly a flooring panel
Assignee: EFP Floor Products Fussboeden GmbH
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Filing: 2002-07-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2022-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A panel, particularly a floor-covering panel, is provided that has separate horizontal and vertical locking structures. The panel has a first side edge and a second side edge. The first side edge has a groove and a locking lip, and the second side edge has a tongue and a locking tongue. The first side edge of one panel interlocks with the second side edge of another panel without adhesives or fasteners such that the tongue and groove form a joint that provides a vertical interconnection lock and the locking lip and locking tongue form a joint that provides a horizontal interconnection lock. Advantageously, one or more first side edge surfaces opposite surfaces of the second edge locking tongue have a space between them. The separate horizontal and vertical locking structures reduces, if not prevents, damage to the locking structures during joining of panels.
Inventors
- 👤 Stefan Pletzer
- 👤 Jurgen Weber
- 👤 Johann Heitzinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:02
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; E04F15/04; E04F2201/00; E04F2201/01; E04F2201/0107; E04F2201/0115; E04F2201/02; E04F2201/023; E04F2201/025; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/70; Y10T403/7045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
470 words
1 . A panel for use as a surface covering, said panel comprising: a top ( 8 ); a bottom ( 32 ); a first side edge ( 4 ) between said panel top ( 8 ) and said panel bottom ( 32 ), said first side edge ( 4 ) comprising; a surface ( 10 ) extending substantially perpendicular from said panel top ( 8 ) along said first side edge ( 4 ), a first lip ( 16 ) extending along said first side edge, said surface ( 10 ) forming a part of said first lip ( 16 ), said first lip ( 16 ) having a bottom ( 20 ), a second lip ( 18 ) extending along said first side edge ( 4 ), said second lip ( 18 ) having a top ( 22 ) and a bottom ( 23 ), said first and second lips ( 16 , 18 ) forming a first groove ( 14 ) extending along said first side edge ( 4 ), and a third lip ( 30 ), said second and third lips ( 18 , 30 ) forming a second groove, said third lip ( 30 ) comprising an inclined surface inside said second groove, said incline with respect to said panel bottom ( 32 ); and a second side edge ( 6 ) between said panel top ( 8 ) and said panel bottom ( 32 ), said second side edge ( 6 ) interlockable with said first side edge ( 4 ) of another said panel, said second side edge ( 6 ) comprising: a surface ( 12 ) extending substantially perpendicular from said panel top ( 8 ) along said second side edge ( 6 ), a first tongue ( 24 ) extending along said second side edge ( 6 ), said first tongue having a top ( 26 ) and a bottom ( 28 ), a second tongue ( 40 ) extending along said second side edge ( 6 ), said second tongue comprising a top ( 46 ) and an inclined surface, said incline with respect to said panel bottom ( 32 ); wherein, said first side edge ( 4 ) of one said panel and said second side edge ( 6 ) of another said panel interlock such that: said first side edge surface ( 10 ) abuts said second side edge surface ( 12 ); said first lip bottom ( 20 ) abuts said first tongue top ( 26 ); said second lip top ( 22 ) abuts said first tongue bottom ( 28 ); said third lip inclined surface abuts said second tongue inclined surface; and said second lip bottom ( 23 ) and said second tongue top ( 46 ) have a space ( 48 ) between them.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
470 words
1 . A panel for use as a surface covering, said panel comprising: a top ( 8 ); a bottom ( 32 ); a first side edge ( 4 ) between said panel top ( 8 ) and said panel bottom ( 32 ), said first side edge ( 4 ) comprising; a surface ( 10 ) extending substantially perpendicular from said panel top ( 8 ) along said first side edge ( 4 ), a first lip ( 16 ) extending along said first side edge, said surface ( 10 ) forming a part of said first lip ( 16 ), said first lip ( 16 ) having a bottom ( 20 ), a second lip ( 18 ) extending along said first side edge ( 4 ), said second lip ( 18 ) having a top ( 22 ) and a bottom ( 23 ), said first and second lips ( 16 , 18 ) forming a first groove ( 14 ) extending along said first side edge ( 4 ), and a third lip ( 30 ), said second and third lips ( 18 , 30 ) forming a second groove, said third lip ( 30 ) comprising an inclined surface inside said second groove, said incline with respect to said panel bottom ( 32 ); and a second side edge ( 6 ) between said panel top ( 8 ) and said panel bottom ( 32 ), said second side edge ( 6 ) interlockable with said first side edge ( 4 ) of another said panel, said second side edge ( 6 ) comprising: a surface ( 12 ) extending substantially perpendicular from said panel top ( 8 ) along said second side edge ( 6 ), a first tongue ( 24 ) extending along said second side edge ( 6 ), said first tongue having a top ( 26 ) and a bottom ( 28 ), a second tongue ( 40 ) extending along said second side edge ( 6 ), said second tongue comprising a top ( 46 ) and an inclined surface, said incline with respect to said panel bottom ( 32 ); wherein, said first side edge ( 4 ) of one said panel and said second side edge ( 6 ) of another said panel interlock such that: said first side edge surface ( 10 ) abuts said second side edge surface ( 12 ); said first lip bottom ( 20 ) abuts said first tongue top ( 26 ); said second lip top ( 22 ) abuts said first tongue bottom ( 28 ); said third lip inclined surface abuts said second tongue inclined surface; and said second lip bottom ( 23 ) and said second tongue top ( 46 ) have a space ( 48 ) between them.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
2 . The panel of claim 1 wherein: said second tongue ( 40 ) has a distal end surface ( 50 ); said second groove has a back surface ( 52 ); and said first and second side edges ( 4 , 6 ) interlock such that said distal end surface ( 50 ) and said back surface ( 52 ) have a space ( 54 ) between them.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
3 . The panel of claim 2 wherein: said first tongue ( 24 ) has a distal end surface ( 52 ); and said second tongue ( 40 ) distal end surface ( 50 ) extends beyond said first tongue distal end surface ( 52 ).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
4 . The panel of claim 3 wherein: said first side edge surface ( 10 ) has a protrusion ( 56 ) extending therefrom; said second side edge surface ( 12 ) has an indentation ( 58 ) thereon; and said first and second side edges ( 4 , 6 ) interlock such that said indentation ( 58 ) receives said protrusion ( 56 ).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
5 . The panel of claim 4 wherein said back surface ( 52 ) is beyond a plane aligned with said first side edge surface ( 10 ).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
6 . The panel of claim 5 wherein: said second tongue ( 40 ) has an enlarged distal end top portion ( 62 ); and said first and second side edges ( 4 , 6 ) interlock such that said distal end top portion ( 62 ) abuts said second lip bottom ( 23 ), there being a space between said second lip bottom ( 23 ) and the remaining top portion of said second tongue ( 40 ).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
7 . The panel of claim 1 wherein: said first tongue ( 24 ) has a distal end surface ( 52 ); and said second tongue ( 40 ) has a distal end surface ( 50 ) that extends beyond said first tongue distal end surface ( 52 ).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
8 . The panel of claim 7 wherein: said first side edge surface ( 10 ) has a protrusion ( 56 ) extending therefrom; said second side edge surface ( 12 ) has an indentation ( 58 ) thereon; and said first and second side edges ( 4 , 6 ) interlock such that said indentation ( 58 ) receives said protrusion ( 56 ).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
9 . The panel of claim 8 wherein: said second groove has a back surface ( 52 ); and said back surface ( 52 ) is beyond a plane aligned with said first side edge surface ( 10 ).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
10 . The panel of claim 9 wherein: said second tongue ( 40 ) has an enlarged distal end top portion ( 62 ); and said first and second side edges ( 4 , 6 ) interlock such that said distal end top portion ( 62 ) abuts said second lip bottom ( 23 ), there being a space between said second lip bottom ( 23 ) and the remaining top portion of said second tongue ( 40 ).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
11 . The panel of claim 1 wherein: said first side edge surface ( 10 ) has a protrusion ( 56 ) extending therefrom; said second side edge surface ( 12 ) has an indentation ( 58 ) thereon; and said first and second side edges ( 4 , 6 ) interlock such that said indentation ( 58 ) receives said protrusion ( 56 ).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
12 . The panel of claim 11 wherein: said second groove has a back surface ( 52 ); and said back surface ( 52 ) is beyond a plane aligned with said first side edge surface ( 10 ).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
13 . The panel of claim 12 wherein: said second tongue ( 40 ) has an enlarged distal end top portion ( 62 ); and said first and second side edges ( 4 , 6 ) interlock such that said distal end top portion ( 62 ) abuts said second lip bottom ( 23 ), there being a space between said second lip bottom ( 23 ) and the remaining top portion of said second tongue ( 40 ).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
14 . The panel of claim 1 wherein: said second groove has a back surface ( 52 ); and said back surface ( 52 ) is beyond a plane aligned with said first side edge surface ( 10 ).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
15 . The panel of claim 14 wherein: said second tongue ( 40 ) has an enlarged distal end top portion ( 62 ); and said first and second side edges ( 4 , 6 ) interlock such that said distal end top portion ( 62 ) abuts said second lip bottom ( 23 ), there being a space between said second lip bottom ( 23 ) and the remaining top portion of said second tongue ( 40 ).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
16 . The panel of claim 1 wherein: said second tongue ( 40 ) has an enlarged distal end top portion ( 62 ); and said first and second side edges ( 4 , 6 ) interlock such that said distal end top portion ( 62 ) abuts said second lip bottom ( 23 ), there being a space between said second lip bottom ( 23 ) and the remaining top portion of said second tongue ( 40 ).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
131 words
17 . A panel for use as a surface covering, said panel comprising: a top; a bottom; a first side edge between said top and said bottom, said first side edge having vertical and horizontal locking structures; and a second side edge between said top and said bottom, said second side edge interlockable with said first side edge of another said panel, said second side edge having vertical and horizontal locking structures that respectively mate with said first side edge vertical and horizontal locking structures; wherein: said vertical and horizontal locking structures of said first and second side edges are integrally formed with said panel; and said vertical locking structures form no part of said horizontal locking structures and said horizontal locking structures form no part of said vertical locking structures.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
131 words
17 . A panel for use as a surface covering, said panel comprising: a top; a bottom; a first side edge between said top and said bottom, said first side edge having vertical and horizontal locking structures; and a second side edge between said top and said bottom, said second side edge interlockable with said first side edge of another said panel, said second side edge having vertical and horizontal locking structures that respectively mate with said first side edge vertical and horizontal locking structures; wherein: said vertical and horizontal locking structures of said first and second side edges are integrally formed with said panel; and said vertical locking structures form no part of said horizontal locking structures and said horizontal locking structures form no part of said vertical locking structures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
18 . The panel of claim 17 wherein: said first side edge has first and second lips that form a groove; and said second side edge has a tongue; wherein: said tongue and said groove form said vertical locking structures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
19 . The panel of claim 18 wherein: said first side edge has a third lip, said third lip having an inclined surface; and said second side edge has a second tongue, said second tongue having a top, a bottom, and an inclined surface on said second tongue bottom; wherein: said second tongue and said third lip form said horizontal locking structures.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
167 words
20 . A panel for use as a surface covering, said panel comprising: a top; a bottom; a first side edge between said top and said bottom, said first side edge having integral first, second, and third lips, said first and second lips forming a first groove and said second and third lips forming a second groove; and a second side edge between said top and said bottom, said second side edge interlockable with said first side edge of another said panel, said second side edge having integral first and second tongues; wherein: said first side edge of one said panel interlocks with said second side edge of another said panel such that: said first tongue and said first groove limit movement of said one panel relative to said another panel in a first direction; and said second tongue and said second groove limit movement of said one panel relative to said another panel in a second direction, said second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
167 words
20 . A panel for use as a surface covering, said panel comprising: a top; a bottom; a first side edge between said top and said bottom, said first side edge having integral first, second, and third lips, said first and second lips forming a first groove and said second and third lips forming a second groove; and a second side edge between said top and said bottom, said second side edge interlockable with said first side edge of another said panel, said second side edge having integral first and second tongues; wherein: said first side edge of one said panel interlocks with said second side edge of another said panel such that: said first tongue and said first groove limit movement of said one panel relative to said another panel in a first direction; and said second tongue and said second groove limit movement of said one panel relative to said another panel in a second direction, said second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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