COVERING MADE FROM MECHANICALLY INTERCONNECTABLE PANELS
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a covering comprising panels that can be connected to each other mechanically, and having the following characteristics:—adjacent first and second panels (1, 2) each having a groove (6, 14) on the sides (5, 21) thereof that are complementary to each other,—the grooves (6, 14) each have upper and lower groove sides (7, 8; 17, 26) having different lengths,—in one of the grooves (6, 14) a tongue (9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) is arranged that can be moved relative to the panel (1, 2) at least in parts, said tongue is suitable for engaging in the corresponding groove (6, 14) of the adjacent panel (1, 2) when the adjacent panels (1, 2) are connected,—the tongue (9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) has at least one projection (16, 33, 42, 43), which points in the direction of the area of the longer groove sides (7, 17) of the other groove (6, 14) that protrudes relative to the shorter groove sides (8, 26),—the projection (16, 33, 42, 43) is intended to be moved transversely to the laying plane ( ) of the panels (1, 2) in the event of contact with said area of the groove side (7, 17), wherein the projection (16, 33, 42, 43) is operatively connected to a locking section (13, 29, 32, 35, 41, 47) of the tongue (9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), said locking section can be moved in the direction of the groove (6, 14) of the adjacent panel (1, 2) as a result of the motion of the projection (16, 33, 42, 43),
181 Citations
35 Claims
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1-18. -18. (canceled)
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19. A covering, comprising:
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first and second panels disposed adjacent to one another and having confronting sides which complement one another, each said side having a groove, wherein the groove of one of the confronting sides and the groove of the other one of the confronting sides have upper and lower groove flanks of different lengths to define a short groove flank and a long groove flank which projects beyond the short groove flank by a protruding region; and a tongue having a locking section, a retaining section, and a connecting section which is displaceable relative to the retaining section and the locking section, said tongue being movably received in one of the grooves of one of the first and second panels for engagement in the groove of the other one of the first and second panels when the first and second panels are connected, said tongue having at least one projection which is oriented in a direction of the protruding region of the long groove flank of the other one of the grooves, said projection being configured to move transversely to a plane of installation when contacting the protruding region to thereby displace the locking section of the tongue in the direction of the groove of the other one of the first and second panels. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification