Patent US4953527A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6601359B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flooring panel or wall panel
Assignee: Perstorp AB
•
Filing: 2001-06-12
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Granted: 2003-08-05
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Expires: 2021-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A flooring panel or wall panel ( 20 ) is provided with a tongue ( 1 ) and a groove ( 2 ) each comprising cooperating locking means in the form of ribs ( 11, 12 ) and grooves ( 9, 10 ). The locking means of the upper side and lower side of the tongue ( 1 ) and groove ( 2 ) respectively are arranged staggered in an insertion direction in which the two panels to be joined to each other are joined to configure a firm joint between two adjoining panels at which an additional surface portion ( 31; 32; 51 ) step ( 31 ) is provided at the surface area of the upper cheek ( 3 ) facing the groove ( 2 ) and/or of the lower cheek ( 5 ) of the groove which is formed as a step ( 31 ) or bevel ( 32: 51 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Ola Olofsson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:18
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; E04F13/00; E04F13/07; E04F13/08; E04F13/16; E04F15/10; E04F2201/00; E04F2201/01; E04F2201/0107; E04F2201/0115; E04F2201/02; E04F2201/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A flooring panel or wall panel having at least three side edges provided with a locking means in the form of a tongue and/or a groove, said groove comprising an upper cheek adjoiningly arranged above and at the upper side of said groove and ending at a distal edge of said upper cheek of the groove and a lower cheek adjoiningly arranged below and at the lower side of said groove and ending at a distal edge of said lower cheek of said groove, said tongue comprising an upper side and a lower side, the surface area of said upper cheek and of said lower cheek each facing said groove being provided with at least one snap-action means and said upper side and lower side of said tongue being provided with at least one complementary snap-action means, said snap-action means comprising a protuberance forming a snap-action rib and a recess forming a snap-action groove, wherein an additional surface portion is provided at the surface area of said upper cheek and/or said lower cheek facing said groove formed as a step or bevel, wherein said upper cheek is provided with a step or an inwards, inclined surface proximal with respect to a bevel at a distal edge of the upper cheek.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A flooring panel or wall panel having at least three side edges provided with a locking means in the form of a tongue and/or a groove, said groove comprising an upper cheek adjoiningly arranged above and at the upper side of said groove and ending at a distal edge of said upper cheek of the groove and a lower cheek adjoiningly arranged below and at the lower side of said groove and ending at a distal edge of said lower cheek of said groove, said tongue comprising an upper side and a lower side, the surface area of said upper cheek and of said lower cheek each facing said groove being provided with at least one snap-action means and said upper side and lower side of said tongue being provided with at least one complementary snap-action means, said snap-action means comprising a protuberance forming a snap-action rib and a recess forming a snap-action groove, wherein an additional surface portion is provided at the surface area of said upper cheek and/or said lower cheek facing said groove formed as a step or bevel, wherein said upper cheek is provided with a step or an inwards, inclined surface proximal with respect to a bevel at a distal edge of the upper cheek.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said panel has four sides, two of which comprise tongues and the other two comprise grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said snap-action means at said tongue consist of protuberances and said snap-action means cooperating therewith consist of recesses at said cheeks of said groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The panel as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said edge of said lower cheek of said groove extends distally beyond said edge of said upper cheek of said groove, said tongue being provided with a protuberance at its upper side and a protuberance at its lower side and said recess in said lower cheek of said groove is arranged at a location which is totally or substantially totally within said distal edge of said upper cheek of said groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein relative to an insertion direction in which two panels of the same kind are joined said snap-action means are staggered relative to each other and configured such that they force adjoining panels to form a tight joint when said tongues snap into place in said grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein an additional surface portion is provided only at said upper cheek of said groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein an additional surface portion is provided on both said upper cheek and said lower cheek of said groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one additional surface portion is a bevel, the inclination of which is oriented so that with increasing spacing from said distal edge of the corresponding cheek of said groove said bevel is distanced from a plane as defined by a centerplane between the upper and lower side of said panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The panel as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said inclination of said bevel(s) to said upper side surface area of said panel is in the range of 5° to 20°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said edge of said upper cheek of said groove is arranged precisely or substantially straight above said edge of said lower cheek of said groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The panel as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said recess in said lower cheek of said groove is arranged at a location which is distal within said distal edge of said upper cheek of said groove.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said lower cheek of said groove extends distally beyond said distal edge of said upper cheek of said groove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The panel as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said recess in said lower cheek of said groove is arranged at a location which is totally or at least substantially within said distal edge of said upper cheek of said groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said panel comprises a base layer of particle board, medium or high density fiber board or plastics topped by a decor finish of pain or a thermoplastics, veneer or one or more layers of paper impregnated with a thermosetting resin or laminate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The panel as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the side edges of said groove and tongue are water-tight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The panel as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said base layer is treated such that said water-tightness is enhanced.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The panel as set forth in claim 16 , wherein said complete base layer or only said side edges of said panel are impregnated or coated with a wax, an oil or a resin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said tongue and said groove as well as said snap-action means are configured integrally with said base layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , where said tongue comprises a beveled lower front surface area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said lower cheek is thinner than said upper cheek of said groove.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The panel 28 set forth in claim 20 , wherein the thickness of said lower cheek is 50% to 90%, preferably 60% to 85%, of the thickness of said upper cheek of said groove.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The panel as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the lower cheek comprises an inward inclining surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-04 | 2007-02-03 | 2007-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-04 | 2011-02-03 | 2011-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-04 | 2015-02-03 | 2015-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |