US6418683B1 — Flooring panel or wall panel and use thereof

Claim 1

Independent Claim 121 words

A method of forming a tight joint between similar panels, said method comprising: providing a series of panels, each panel defining a perimeter, said perimeter defining at least three sides of said panel, and at least one tongue or groove shape provided along said sides, an uneven number of protrusions being defined on at least one of an upper surface of said tongue or groove to act as a snapping web and a corresponding number of uneven depressions being defined on at least one of said upper surface of said tongue or groove, positioned so as to act as a snapping groove with said snapping web, said snapping web and snapping groove urging the panels together to form a tight joint.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 121 words

A method of forming a tight joint between similar panels, said method comprising: providing a series of panels, each panel defining a perimeter, said perimeter defining at least three sides of said panel, and at least one tongue or groove shape provided along said sides, an uneven number of protrusions being defined on at least one of an upper surface of said tongue or groove to act as a snapping web and a corresponding number of uneven depressions being defined on at least one of said upper surface of said tongue or groove, positioned so as to act as a snapping groove with said snapping web, said snapping web and snapping groove urging the panels together to form a tight joint.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the panels are quadrilateral and two sides have tongues and two sides have grooves and the panels are assembled by snapping the tongues into said grooves.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein said protrusions are on said tongue and the panels are assembled by snapping said protrusions into depressions in said groove.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein said panels may be disassembled by unlocking at least one of said panels about said joint to dismount said panels.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 3 , wherein the uneven number of protrusions are on said tongue.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising providing an uneven number of depressions in said groove so as to cooperate with each of said protrusions.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 142 words

A system for forming a wall, floor or cladding by assembling a plurality of panels into an interlocked unit, said system comprising: a plurality of panels, each of said panels defining a perimeter having at least three sides; each of said sides being provided with at least one of a tongue or groove, said panel comprising an upper surface formed of paint, a thermoplastic foil, a paper impregnated with a thermosetting or UV-curing resin, or thermosetting laminate; at least one of an upper surface of the tongue or groove being provided with an uneven number of protrusions and the other being provided with a corresponding uneven number of depressions cooperating with each said protrusion to form a snapping web and snapping groove, respectively; said snapping web and said snapping groove forcing adjacent panels towards the joint when said panels are snapped together.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 142 words

A system for forming a wall, floor or cladding by assembling a plurality of panels into an interlocked unit, said system comprising: a plurality of panels, each of said panels defining a perimeter having at least three sides; each of said sides being provided with at least one of a tongue or groove, said panel comprising an upper surface formed of paint, a thermoplastic foil, a paper impregnated with a thermosetting or UV-curing resin, or thermosetting laminate; at least one of an upper surface of the tongue or groove being provided with an uneven number of protrusions and the other being provided with a corresponding uneven number of depressions cooperating with each said protrusion to form a snapping web and snapping groove, respectively; said snapping web and said snapping groove forcing adjacent panels towards the joint when said panels are snapped together.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the panels comprises a nose extending outwardly along an upper surface of the perimeter.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 11 words

The system of claim 7 , wherein the panels are quadrilateral.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 7 , wherein the joints formed in said interlocked unit are water resistant.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 7 , wherein the panels are formed of an upper surface adhered to a base layer and the base layer is treated so as to increase its water resistance properties.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 7 , wherein the base layer is formed of a compressed cellulosic impregnated or coated with a wax, an oil, or a resin.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 112 words

A building panel, said panel having a perimeter defining quadrilateral, said sides being provided with at least one of a tongue or a groove, said panel comprising an upper surface formed of a paint, a thermoplastic foil, a paper impregnated with a thermosetting or UV-curing resin or thermosetting laminate; at least one of an upper surface of said tongue or groove being provided with an uneven number of protrusions and the other being provided with a corresponding uneven number of depressions cooperating with each said protrusion to form a snapping web and snapping groove, respectively; said snapping web and snapping groove forcing adjacent panels towards the joint where panels are snapped together.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 112 words

A building panel, said panel having a perimeter defining quadrilateral, said sides being provided with at least one of a tongue or a groove, said panel comprising an upper surface formed of a paint, a thermoplastic foil, a paper impregnated with a thermosetting or UV-curing resin or thermosetting laminate; at least one of an upper surface of said tongue or groove being provided with an uneven number of protrusions and the other being provided with a corresponding uneven number of depressions cooperating with each said protrusion to form a snapping web and snapping groove, respectively; said snapping web and snapping groove forcing adjacent panels towards the joint where panels are snapped together.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The building panel of claim 13 , wherein there are at least three protrusions, two of which are diametrically opposed.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The building panel of claim 13 , wherein the tongue on which the protrusions are located has a truncated lower surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein said uneven number is one.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 13 words

The building panel of claim 13 , wherein said uneven number is one.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

The building panel of claim 13 , wherein none of said protrusions are diametrically opposed.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 7 , wherein said uneven number is one.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-07-15	2006-01-14	2006-07-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-07-15	2010-01-14	2010-07-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-07-15	2014-01-14	2014-07-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Flooring panel or wall panel and use thereof

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