US6182410B1 — System for joining building boards

Claim 1

Independent Claim 347 words

An edge lock for use in a flooring system having a plurality of floor panels, the edge lock for mechanically and releasably locking together adjacent edges of pairs of adjacent floor panels during assembly of the flooring system and when said adjacent floor panels are laying flat on a subfloor with upper corner portions of said adjacent edges being mutually spaced apart, said edge lock comprising: locking means for forming a first mechanical connection for locking said adjacent edges to each other in a vertical direction, and for forming a second mechanical connection for locking said adjacent edges to each other in a horizontal direction at right angles to said edges, said locking means including: (i) a locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from a first one of the adjacent edges of one of the adjacent floor panels and being open at a rear side of said one adjacent floor panel, and (ii) a flexible and resilient locking strip integrated with another of the adjacent floor panels, said locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of an edge of the another adjacent floor panel, said locking strip being provided with a locking element projecting from the locking strip, said locking means being constructed so as to operate as a one-way snap lock in said horizontal direction during the assembly of said flooring system when displacing said adjacent edges towards each other by resiliently urging the flexible locking strip downwards until the upper corner portions of said adjacent edges have been brought into complete engagement with each other and the locking element thereby snaps into the locking groove to prevent drifting apart of said adjacent edges, and said locking means also being constructed so as to enable said adjacent panels, while they are mechanically connected to each other by said first and second mechanical connections, to be turned in relation to each other about said upper corner portions of their locked-together edges in an angular direction so as to move the locking element out of the locking groove in order to unlock said one-way snap lock.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 347 words

An edge lock for use in a flooring system having a plurality of floor panels, the edge lock for mechanically and releasably locking together adjacent edges of pairs of adjacent floor panels during assembly of the flooring system and when said adjacent floor panels are laying flat on a subfloor with upper corner portions of said adjacent edges being mutually spaced apart, said edge lock comprising: locking means for forming a first mechanical connection for locking said adjacent edges to each other in a vertical direction, and for forming a second mechanical connection for locking said adjacent edges to each other in a horizontal direction at right angles to said edges, said locking means including: (i) a locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from a first one of the adjacent edges of one of the adjacent floor panels and being open at a rear side of said one adjacent floor panel, and (ii) a flexible and resilient locking strip integrated with another of the adjacent floor panels, said locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of an edge of the another adjacent floor panel, said locking strip being provided with a locking element projecting from the locking strip, said locking means being constructed so as to operate as a one-way snap lock in said horizontal direction during the assembly of said flooring system when displacing said adjacent edges towards each other by resiliently urging the flexible locking strip downwards until the upper corner portions of said adjacent edges have been brought into complete engagement with each other and the locking element thereby snaps into the locking groove to prevent drifting apart of said adjacent edges, and said locking means also being constructed so as to enable said adjacent panels, while they are mechanically connected to each other by said first and second mechanical connections, to be turned in relation to each other about said upper corner portions of their locked-together edges in an angular direction so as to move the locking element out of the locking groove in order to unlock said one-way snap lock.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first mechanical connection is a tongue-and-groove connection, including a tongue and a tongue groove for receiving said tongue.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said tongue groove is limited upwardly by an upper lip which is formed in one piece with its corresponding panel and wherein said tongue is made in one piece with its corresponding panel.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said tongue groove is limited downwardly by a lower lip which is formed in one piece with its corresponding panel and which defines said locking strip.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a thickness of said locking strip varies in its width direction.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

The edge lock as claimed claim 2 , wherein said adjacent edges being provided with co-operating lower and upper bevels, said lower bevel being formed at a tip of an upper lip which limits said tongue groove upwardly, and said upper bevel being formed in a tip of said tongue.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 38 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a tip of said tongue presents a lower surface portion which is nonparallel to an adjacent surface portion of the tongue groove located underneath said lower surface portion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said locking strip is integrally formed with said another panel, i.e., made in one piece therewith.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 8 , wherein a thickness of said locking strip varies in its width direction.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said locking strip is made of a material different from that of said another floor panel and is fixedly mounted on said another panel at the factory.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said adjacent edges being provided with co-operating lower and upper bevels.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking element consists of a locking edge extending continuously along the locking strip.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 314 words

A short-edge lock for use in a flooring system having a plurality of rectangular floor panels arranged in parallel panel rows, the short-edge lock for mechanically and releasably locking together adjacent short edges of pairs of adjacent floor panels in a new row during assembly of the flooring system when said adjacent floor panels are already mechanically joined to a common long edge of a floor panel in an adjacent panel row and are laying flat on a subfloor with upper corner portions of said adjacent short edges being mutually spaced apart, said short-edge lock comprising: locking means for forming a first mechanical connection for locking said adjacent short edges to each other in a vertical direction, and for forming a second mechanical connection for locking said adjacent short edges to each other in a horizontal direction at right angles to said short edges, said locking means including: (i) a locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from a first one of the adjacent short edges of one of the adjacent floor panels and being open at the rear side of said one adjacent floor panel, and (ii) a flexible and resilient locking strip integrated with another of the adjacent floor panels, said locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of a short edge of the another adjacent floor panel, said locking strip being provided with a locking element projecting from the locking strip, said locking means being constructed so as to operate as a one-way snap lock in said horizontal direction during the assembly of said flooring system when displacing said adjacent short edges towards each other by resiliently urging the flexible locking strip downwards until upper corner portions of said adjacent short edges have been brought into complete engagement with each other and the locking element thereby snaps into the locking groove for preventing drifting apart of said adjacent short edges.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 314 words

A short-edge lock for use in a flooring system having a plurality of rectangular floor panels arranged in parallel panel rows, the short-edge lock for mechanically and releasably locking together adjacent short edges of pairs of adjacent floor panels in a new row during assembly of the flooring system when said adjacent floor panels are already mechanically joined to a common long edge of a floor panel in an adjacent panel row and are laying flat on a subfloor with upper corner portions of said adjacent short edges being mutually spaced apart, said short-edge lock comprising: locking means for forming a first mechanical connection for locking said adjacent short edges to each other in a vertical direction, and for forming a second mechanical connection for locking said adjacent short edges to each other in a horizontal direction at right angles to said short edges, said locking means including: (i) a locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from a first one of the adjacent short edges of one of the adjacent floor panels and being open at the rear side of said one adjacent floor panel, and (ii) a flexible and resilient locking strip integrated with another of the adjacent floor panels, said locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of a short edge of the another adjacent floor panel, said locking strip being provided with a locking element projecting from the locking strip, said locking means being constructed so as to operate as a one-way snap lock in said horizontal direction during the assembly of said flooring system when displacing said adjacent short edges towards each other by resiliently urging the flexible locking strip downwards until upper corner portions of said adjacent short edges have been brought into complete engagement with each other and the locking element thereby snaps into the locking groove for preventing drifting apart of said adjacent short edges.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 79 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said locking means being constructed so as to enable said adjacent panels, while they are mechanically connected to each other by said first and second mechanical connections, to be turned in relation to each other about said upper corner portions of their locked-together short edges in an angular direction so as to move the locking element out of the locking groove in order to unlock said one-way snap lock.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said first mechanical connection is a tongue-and-groove connection, including a tongue and a tongue groove for receiving said tongue.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said tongue groove is limited upwardly by an upper lip which is formed in one piece with its corresponding panel and wherein said tongue is made in one piece with its corresponding panel.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said tongue groove is limited downwardly by a lower lip which is formed in one piece with its corresponding panel and which defines said locking strip.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 17 , wherein a thickness of said locking strip varies in its width direction.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

The short-edge lock as claimed claim 15 , wherein said adjacent short edges being provided with co-operating lower and upper bevels, said lower bevel being formed at a tip of an upper lip which limits said tongue groove upwardly, and said upper bevel being formed in a tip of said tongue.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 38 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 15 , wherein a tip of said tongue presents a lower surface portion which is nonparallel to an adjacent surface portion of the tongue groove located underneath said lower surface portion.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said locking strip is integrally formed with said another panel, i.e., made in one piece therewith.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 21 , wherein a thickness of said locking strip varies in its width direction.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 38 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said locking strip is made of a material different from that of said another floor panel and is fixedly mounted on said another floor panel at the factory.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said adjacent short edges being provided with co-operating lower and upper bevels.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 24 words

The short-edge lock as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the locking element consists of a locking edge extending continuously along the locking strip.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 326 words

An edge lock for use in a flooring system having a plurality of floor panels arranged in parallel panel rows and having pairs of opposite first edges and pairs of opposite second edges, the edge lock for mechanically and releasably locking together adjacent first edges of pairs of adjacent floor panels in a new row during assembly of the flooring system when said adjacent floor panels are already mechanically joined to a common second edge of a floor panel in an adjacent panel row and are laying flat on a subfloor with upper corner portions of said adjacent first edges being mutually spaced apart, said edge lock comprising: locking means for forming a first mechanical connection for locking said adjacent first edges to each other in a vertical direction, and for forming a second mechanical connection for locking said adjacent short edges to each other in a horizontal direction at right angles to said first edges, said locking means including: (i) a locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from a first one of the adjacent first edges of one of the adjacent floor panels and being open at the rear side of said one adjacent floor panel, and (ii) a flexible and resilient locking strip integrated with another of the adjacent floor panels, said locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of a first edge of the another adjacent floor panel, said locking strip being provided with a locking element projecting from the locking strip, said locking means being constructed so as to operate as a one-way snap lock in said horizontal direction during the assembly of said flooring system when displacing said adjacent first edges towards each other by resiliently urging the flexible locking strip downwards until upper corner portions of said adjacent first edges have been brought into complete engagement with each other and the locking element thereby snaps into the locking groove for preventing drifting apart of said adjacent first edges.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 326 words

An edge lock for use in a flooring system having a plurality of floor panels arranged in parallel panel rows and having pairs of opposite first edges and pairs of opposite second edges, the edge lock for mechanically and releasably locking together adjacent first edges of pairs of adjacent floor panels in a new row during assembly of the flooring system when said adjacent floor panels are already mechanically joined to a common second edge of a floor panel in an adjacent panel row and are laying flat on a subfloor with upper corner portions of said adjacent first edges being mutually spaced apart, said edge lock comprising: locking means for forming a first mechanical connection for locking said adjacent first edges to each other in a vertical direction, and for forming a second mechanical connection for locking said adjacent short edges to each other in a horizontal direction at right angles to said first edges, said locking means including: (i) a locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from a first one of the adjacent first edges of one of the adjacent floor panels and being open at the rear side of said one adjacent floor panel, and (ii) a flexible and resilient locking strip integrated with another of the adjacent floor panels, said locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of a first edge of the another adjacent floor panel, said locking strip being provided with a locking element projecting from the locking strip, said locking means being constructed so as to operate as a one-way snap lock in said horizontal direction during the assembly of said flooring system when displacing said adjacent first edges towards each other by resiliently urging the flexible locking strip downwards until upper corner portions of said adjacent first edges have been brought into complete engagement with each other and the locking element thereby snaps into the locking groove for preventing drifting apart of said adjacent first edges.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 79 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 26 , wherein said locking means being constructed so as to enable said adjacent panels, while they are mechanically connected to each other by said first and second mechanical connections, to be turned in relation to each other about said upper corner portions of their locked-together first edges in an angular direction so as to move the locking element out of the locking groove in order to unlock said one-way snap lock.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 29 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 26 , wherein said first mechanical connection is a tongue-and-groove connection, including a tongue and a tongue groove for receiving said tongue.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 43 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said tongue groove is limited upwardly by an upper lip which is formed in one piece with its corresponding panel and wherein said tongue is made in one piece with its corresponding panel.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 36 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said tongue groove is limited downwardly by a lower lip which is formed in one piece with its corresponding panel and which defines said locking strip.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 21 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 30 , wherein a thickness of said locking strip varies in its width direction.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 51 words

The edge lock as claimed claim 28 , wherein said adjacent first edges being provided with co-operating lower and upper bevels, said lower bevel being formed at a tip of an upper lip which limits said tongue groove upwardly, and said upper bevel being formed in a tip of said tongue.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 38 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 28 , wherein a tip of said tongue presents a lower surface portion which is nonparallel to an adjacent surface portion of the tongue groove located underneath said lower surface portion.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 26 , wherein said locking strip is integrally formed with said another panel, i.e., made in one piece therewith.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 21 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 34 , wherein a thickness of said locking strip varies in its width direction.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 46 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 26 , wherein said flexible and resilient locking strip integrated with said another floor panel is made of a material different from that of said another floor panel and is fixedly mounted on said another panel at the factory.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 21 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 26 , wherein said adjacent edges being provided with co-operating lower and upper bevels.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 24 words

The edge lock as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the locking element consists of a locking edge extending continuously along the locking strip.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 400 words

A flooring system comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels which are mechanically connectable to each other in parallel rows along adjacent long edges and short edges, respectively, of the panels, said floor panels being provided with means for mechanically locking together their long edges as well as their short edges in a first direction at right angles to a principal plane of the panels, thereby forming first mechanical connections between the panels, each panel, at a rear side thereof, being provided: (i) with a locking strip at one long edge and at one short edge, each locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of the corresponding edge of the panel and being provided with a projecting locking element, and (ii) with a locking groove at an opposite long edge and at an opposite short edge, each locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from the corresponding edge and being open at the rear side of the panel, said locking strips and locking grooves forming second mechanical connections locking the panels to each other in a second direction parallel to the principal plane and at right angles to the joint edges such that a locking strip of a first one of two joined panels projects on the rear side of the second panel with its locking element received in the locking groove of the second panel, the first and the second mechanical connections are so constructed as to allow mutual displacement of the panels in the direction of the long edges, the second mechanical connection along the long edges is so constructed as to allow the locking element to leave the locking groove if the panel associated with the locking groove is turned about its long edge angularly away from the strip, and each locking strip at the short edges is flexible and resilient such that two of the floor panels, having already been mechanically joined to a common long edge of a third of the floor panels, can be mechanically joined together at their adjacent short edges by displacing said two panels horizontally towards each other, while resiliently urging the flexible strip at one of said short edges downwards, until said adjacent short edges of the two panels have been brought into complete engagement with each other horizontally and the locking element at said one short edge thereby snaps into the locking groove at the adjacent short edge.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 400 words

A flooring system comprising a plurality of rectangular floor panels which are mechanically connectable to each other in parallel rows along adjacent long edges and short edges, respectively, of the panels, said floor panels being provided with means for mechanically locking together their long edges as well as their short edges in a first direction at right angles to a principal plane of the panels, thereby forming first mechanical connections between the panels, each panel, at a rear side thereof, being provided: (i) with a locking strip at one long edge and at one short edge, each locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of the corresponding edge of the panel and being provided with a projecting locking element, and (ii) with a locking groove at an opposite long edge and at an opposite short edge, each locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from the corresponding edge and being open at the rear side of the panel, said locking strips and locking grooves forming second mechanical connections locking the panels to each other in a second direction parallel to the principal plane and at right angles to the joint edges such that a locking strip of a first one of two joined panels projects on the rear side of the second panel with its locking element received in the locking groove of the second panel, the first and the second mechanical connections are so constructed as to allow mutual displacement of the panels in the direction of the long edges, the second mechanical connection along the long edges is so constructed as to allow the locking element to leave the locking groove if the panel associated with the locking groove is turned about its long edge angularly away from the strip, and each locking strip at the short edges is flexible and resilient such that two of the floor panels, having already been mechanically joined to a common long edge of a third of the floor panels, can be mechanically joined together at their adjacent short edges by displacing said two panels horizontally towards each other, while resiliently urging the flexible strip at one of said short edges downwards, until said adjacent short edges of the two panels have been brought into complete engagement with each other horizontally and the locking element at said one short edge thereby snaps into the locking groove at the adjacent short edge.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 89 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 39 , wherein the first mechanical connection as well as the second mechanical connection along the long edges are such that they allow the locking element to enter the locking groove if the panel associated with the groove is turned about its joint edge angularly towards the strip while holding the upper part of the joint edge of the panel associated with the groove in contact with the upper part of the joint edge of the adjacent panel associated with the strip.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 90 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 39 , wherein the first mechanical connection as well as the second mechanical connection along the long edges are such that they allow the locking element to leave the locking groove if the panel associated with the groove is turned about its joint edge angularly away from the strip while holding the upper part of the joint edge of the panel associated with the groove in contact with the upper part of the joint edge of the adjacent panel associated with the strip.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 71 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 39 , wherein in order to resiliently urge the flexible strip downwards while displacing said adjacent short edges horizontally towards each other, said adjacent short edges being provided with cooperating lower and upper bevels such that the panels are forced to move vertically towards each other when their adjacent short edges are moved up to each other and the panels are pressed together horizontally.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 42 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 39 , wherein a locking surface of the locking element is extended from a front side of the strip through a height in said first direction that is less than or equal to 2 mm.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 22 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 39 , wherein the locking element comprises a locking edge extending continuously along the strip.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 29 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 39 , wherein an underlay of floor boards, foam, felt or the like, is fixed to the rear sides of the panels.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 54 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the underlay is fixed so as to cover the strip in said second direction at least up to the locking element such that a joint between the underlays of the two adjacent panels is offset in said second direction relative to the joint edges.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 54 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 39 , wherein a sealing means, such as a sealing compound, a rubber strip, or the like, is provided on a front side of the strip between the locking element and the joint edge of the panel associated with the strip to seal against the other panel.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 39 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 39 , wherein each locking strip is integrally formed in one piece with the respective panel and forming an extension of a lower part of the corresponding edge of the respective panel.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 73 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 39 , wherein the panels are constructed such that, when joined together along their long edges occupy a relative position in the second direction such that a play exists between the locking groove and a locking surface of the locking element that is facing the long edges, such that the second mechanical connection allows mutual displacement of the panels in the direction of the long edges.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 395 words

A flooring system, comprising a plurality of floor panels which are mechanically connectable to each other in parallel rows along adjacent first edges and second edges, respectively, of the panels, said floor panels being provided with means for mechanically locking together their first edges as well as their second edges in a first direction at right angles to a principal plane of the panels, thereby forming first mechanical connections between the panels, wherein: each panel, at a rear side thereof, being provided: (i) with a locking strip at one first edge and at one second edge, each locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of the corresponding first edge of the panel and being provided with a projecting locking element, and (ii) with a locking groove at an opposite first edge and at an opposite short edge, each locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from the corresponding edge and being open at the rear side of the panel, said locking strips and locking grooves forming second mechanical connections locking the panels to each other in a second direction parallel to the principal plane and at right angles to the joint edges, such that a strip of a first one of two joined panels projects on the rear side of the second panel with its locking element received in the locking groove of the second panel, the first and the second mechanical connections are so constructed so as to allow mutual displacement of the panels in the direction of the first edges, the second mechanical connection along the first edge is so constructed as to allow the locking element to leave the locking groove if the panel associated with the locking groove is turned about its first edge angularly away from the strip, and each locking strip at the second edge is flexible and resilient such that two panels, having already been mechanically joined to a common first edge of a third panel, can be mechanically joined together at their adjacent second edge by displacing said two panels horizontally towards each other, while resiliently urging the flexible strip at one of said second edges downwards, until said adjacent second edges of the two panels have been brought into complete engagement with each other horizontally and the locking element at said one second edge thereby snaps into the locking groove at the adjacent second edge.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 395 words

A flooring system, comprising a plurality of floor panels which are mechanically connectable to each other in parallel rows along adjacent first edges and second edges, respectively, of the panels, said floor panels being provided with means for mechanically locking together their first edges as well as their second edges in a first direction at right angles to a principal plane of the panels, thereby forming first mechanical connections between the panels, wherein: each panel, at a rear side thereof, being provided: (i) with a locking strip at one first edge and at one second edge, each locking strip extending throughout substantially an entire length of the corresponding first edge of the panel and being provided with a projecting locking element, and (ii) with a locking groove at an opposite first edge and at an opposite short edge, each locking groove extending parallel to and spaced from the corresponding edge and being open at the rear side of the panel, said locking strips and locking grooves forming second mechanical connections locking the panels to each other in a second direction parallel to the principal plane and at right angles to the joint edges, such that a strip of a first one of two joined panels projects on the rear side of the second panel with its locking element received in the locking groove of the second panel, the first and the second mechanical connections are so constructed so as to allow mutual displacement of the panels in the direction of the first edges, the second mechanical connection along the first edge is so constructed as to allow the locking element to leave the locking groove if the panel associated with the locking groove is turned about its first edge angularly away from the strip, and each locking strip at the second edge is flexible and resilient such that two panels, having already been mechanically joined to a common first edge of a third panel, can be mechanically joined together at their adjacent second edge by displacing said two panels horizontally towards each other, while resiliently urging the flexible strip at one of said second edges downwards, until said adjacent second edges of the two panels have been brought into complete engagement with each other horizontally and the locking element at said one second edge thereby snaps into the locking groove at the adjacent second edge.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 29 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 50 , wherein said first mechanical connections iinclude a tongue-and-groove connection, including a tongue and a tongue groove for receiving said tongue.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 43 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 51 , wherein said tongue groove is limited upwardly by an upper lip which is formed in one piece with its corresponding panel and wherein said tongue is made in one piece with its corresponding panel.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 36 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 51 , wherein said tongue groove is limited downwardly by a lower lip which is formed in one piece with its corresponding panel and which defines said locking strip.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 21 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 53 , wherein a thickness of said locking strip varies in its width direction.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 50 words

The flooring system as claimed claim 51 , wherein said adjacent edges being provided with co-operating lower and upper bevels, said lower bevel being formed at a tip of an upper lip which limits said tongue groove upwardly, and said upper bevel being formed in a tip of said tongue.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 38 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 51 , wherein a tip of said tongue presents a lower surface portion which is nonparallel to an adjacent surface portion of the tongue groove located underneath said lower surface portion.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 26 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 50 , wherein said locking strip is integrally formed with said second panel, i.e., made in one piece therewith.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 21 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 57 , wherein a thickness of said locking strip varies in its width direction.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 36 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 50 , wherein said locking strip is made of a material different from that of said second panel and is fixedly mounted on said another panel at the factory.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 21 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 50 , wherein said adjacent edges being provided with co-operating lower and upper bevels.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 24 words

The flooring system as claimed in claim 50 , wherein the locking element consists of a locking edge extending continuously along the locking strip.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-02-06	2004-08-07	2005-02-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-02-06	2008-08-07	2009-02-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-02-06	2012-08-07	2013-02-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for joining building boards

Abstract

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Bibliographic Details

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