Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element

• US 9,347,470 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited Sarl (Mohawk Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Unilin Bvba (Mohawk Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Maertens, Luc, Cappelle, Mark, Vanhastel, Luc, Deman, Luc, Van Hooydonck, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): FORD, GISELE D
• Application Number:
  US14/324,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20140348580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 525/881, 524/59, 525/921, 525/78, 525/822
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2230/0081 Mortise and tenon type joints with some general male and female joints
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2230/0096 Assembling sheet parts by male and female parts formed in the sheet thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/042 Panels connected without frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/201 Edge features
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/206 with laminates comprising planar, continuous or separate layers
• CPC Class Codes: B27M 3/0026 characterised by oblong elements connected laterally B27M3/006 takes precedence; making fencing or the like comprising bars connected by wires B21F29/02; cane or similar material joined by strand or wire twisting B27J1/006
• CPC Class Codes: B27M 3/18 of furniture or of doors B27D5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 21/02 the layer being formed of fibres, chips, or particles , e.g. MDF, HDF, OSB, chipboard, particle board, hardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 21/04 comprising wood as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/042; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/042; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/10; next to a metal layer B32B15/10; next to a glass layer B32B17/062; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/042; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/044
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2471/00 Floor coverings B32B2419/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/06 for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support , or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/08 composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements, E04F13/072 takes precedence; borders, skirtings E04F19/02; of webs or fabrics E04F13/002; fixing strips E04F19/06; separate provisional spacers between adjacent tiles E04F21/0092; implements or means for setting tiles E04F21/18
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/0894 with tongue and groove connections
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/10 of wood or with an outer layer of wood E04F13/0864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02 Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements of webs E04F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02038 characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/045 Layered panels only of wood
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0115 with snap action of the edge connectors
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0153 by rotating the sheets, plates or panels around an axis which is parallel to the abutting edges, possibly combined with a sliding movement
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/041 Tongues or grooves with slits or cuts for expansion or flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0523 : Separate tongues; Interlocking keys, e.g. joining mouldings of circular, square or rectangular shape
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/125 : using mortise and tenon joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/26 : using snap-action elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/46 : Non-metal corner connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2012/463 : for wooden members without additional elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2012/466 : using mortise and tenon joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0056 : by moving the sheets, plates or panels or the interlocking key perpendicular to the main plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 : Lugged member, rotary engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 : Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/19 : Sheets or webs edge spliced or joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 : including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24488 : Differential nonuniformity at margin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 : including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31591 : Next to cellulosic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31982 : Wood or paper

Abstract

Composed element including at least two panel-shaped elements, which each have an edge zone in which coupling means are present in the form of a profiled part respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the respective edge zone, as well as each including an end face extending transversely to the respective edge zone, wherein said profiled parts allow coupling the panel-shaped elements together in an interlocking manner, wherein at least one of the panel-shaped elements includes an arrangement which hides from view at least a portion of the profiled part formed at the pertaining edge zone at the location of the end face.

Claims

1. A composed element, in the form of a furniture element, which comprises at least two panel-shaped elements, including a first panel-shaped element and a second panel-shaped element that are configured to be connected to each other such that in a connected state, the first panel-shaped element is oriented at a different angle with respect to the second panel-shaped element, the first panel-shaped element being non-parallel to the second panel-shaped element,

wherein said panel-shaped elements in the connected state are connected by means of coupling parts comprising a groove and an edge portion, the groove being provided at the first panel-shaped element and the edge portion being provided at the second panel-shaped element, the edge portion being configured such that it can be inserted along an insertion direction into the groove to form a tongue and groove connection,

said coupling parts being additionally provided with locking elements configured to lock said edge portion in said groove, the locking elements including an insertion piece and a locking part, the insertion piece being provided in addition to said groove and said edge portion;

and

wherein the insertion piece includes a laterally movable locking portion, and the insertion piece is at least partially inserted into a recess of one of the first panel-shaped element or the second panel-shaped element prior to connecting the panel-shaped elements, and the locking part is formed at the other one of the first panel-shaped element or the second panel-shaped element, and

wherein, in the connected state, the laterally movable locking portion cooperates with the locking part formed at the other one of the first panel-shaped element or the second panel-shaped element by the laterally movable locking portion locking said edge portion in said groove with a movement of the laterally movable locking portion, said movement of the laterally movable locking portion being in a direction non-parallel to the insertion direction of the edge portion into the groove.

2. The composed element of claim 1, wherein said insertion piece, prior to connecting the panel-shaped elements, is provided in an edge of one of the first panel-shaped element or the second panel-shaped element.

3. The composed element of claim 2, wherein the insertion piece includes a strip which includes the laterally movable locking portion that is configured to cooperate with the locking part formed at the other one of the first panel-shaped element or the second panel-shaped element.

4. The composed element of claim 3, wherein the laterally movable locking portion is pivotable.

5. The composed element of claim 3, wherein said strip shows one or more of the following characteristics:

the strip, viewed in cross-section, is made of at least a first material and a second material, the first material having different material characteristics than the second material;

the strip consists of synthetic material;

the strip is formed by coextrusion;

the strip consists of the laterally movable locking portion, an attachment portion and a hinge portion of a more supple material situated between the laterally movable locking portion and the attachment portion.

6. The composed element of claim 4, wherein said strip shows one or more of the following characteristics:

the strip, viewed in cross-section, is made of at least a first material and a second material, the first material having different material characteristics than the second material;

the strip consists of synthetic material;

the strip is formed by coextrusion;

the strip consists of the laterally movable locking portion, an attachment portion and a hinge portion of a more supple material situated between the laterally movable locking portion and the attachment portion.

7. The composed element of claim 3, wherein the laterally movable locking portion is elastically urged towards a locking position.

8. The composed element of claim 1, wherein the first and second panel-shaped elements provide for a corner connection.

9. The composed element of claim 1, wherein the insertion piece is mounted in the groove prior to connecting the panel-shaped elements.

10. The composed element of claim 9, wherein the panel shaped elements provide for a corner connection with an outer corner and an inner corner, and the insertion piece is mounted in a side of the groove that is closest to the inner corner.

11. The composed element of claim 1, wherein said insertion piece is provided at the edge portion prior to connecting the panel-shaped elements.

12. The composed element of claim 1, wherein the groove is provided in a flat side of the first panel-shaped element, and the edge portion is provided at a distal end of the second panel-shaped element.

13. The composed element of claim 1, wherein, in the connected state, the coupling parts is unlockable.

14. The composed element of claim 13, wherein a recess is provided in a longitudinal direction of a profile of the coupling parts, the recess allowing insertion of a pin into the recess to push the laterally movable locking portion into an unlocked position.

15. The composed element of claim 1, wherein said groove mainly narrows in an inward direction of the groove.

16. The composed element of claim 1, wherein said insertion piece is attached in a seat.

17. The composed element of claim 1, wherein the composed element is at least partially composed of a set of panel-shaped elements which completely surround a space, said space being surrounded by four such panel-shaped elements, wherein the panel-shaped elements can be joined into each other laterally by the coupling parts.

18. The composed element of claim 1, wherein the composed element is configured to be included in one of the following pieces of furniture or form a part thereof:

a cupboard, wherein the panel-shaped elements form at least a vertical and a horizontal wall;

a piece of bathroom furniture or a kitchen cupboard;

or

flat-pack furniture.

19. The composed element of claim 1, wherein the insertion piece is mounted in a side of the groove prior to connecting the panel-shaped elements.

20. The composed element of claim 1, wherein the insertion piece is mounted in a side of the edge portion prior to connecting the panel-shaped elements.