Locking system for floorboards

• US 20060117696A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valinge Innovation AB
• Original Assignee: Valinge Aluminium AB (Valinge Innovation AB)
• Inventors: Pervan, Darko
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/588.100
• 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 15/04 only of wood or with a top layer of wood, e.g. with wooden or metal connecting members rollable parquet E04F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0115 with snap action of the edge connectors
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0138 by moving the sheets, plates or panels perpendicular to the main plane
• 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 2201/023 with a continuous tongue or groove
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/026 with rabbets, e.g. being stepped
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/042 with grooves positioned on the rear-side of the panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards (1, 1′), a floorboard having such a locking system and a flooring made of such floorboards. The locking system has mechanical cooperating means (36, 38; 6, 8, 14) for vertical and horizontal joining of adjoining floorboards. The means for horizontal joining about a vertical plane (F) comprise a locking groove (14) and a locking strip (16) which is located at opposite joint edge portions (4a, 4b) of the floorboard (4). The locking strip (6) projects from the joint plane (F) and has an upwards projecting locking element (8) at its free end. The locking groove (14) is formed in the opposite joint edge portion (4a) of the floorboard at a distance from the joint plane (F). The locking groove (14) and the locking element (8) have operative locking surfaces (10, 11). The locking surfaces are essentially plane and spaced from the upper side of the projecting strip and inside the locking groove and make a locking angle (A) of at least 50° to the upper side of the board. Moreover the locking groove has a guiding part (12) for cooperation with a corresponding guiding part (6) on the locking element (8).

Claims

1. A locking system for mechanical joining of floor boards having a core and opposite first and second joint edge portions, adjoining floorboards in the mechanically joined position having their first and second joint edge portion, joined at a vertical joint plane, said locking system comprising

a) for vertical joining of the first joint edge portion of a first floorboard and the second joint edge portion, of an adjoining second floorboard, mechanical cooperating means, and

b) for horizontal joining of the first and second joint edge portions, mechanical cooperating means which comprise

a locking groove formed in the underside of said second floorboard and extending parallel with and at a distance from the vertical joint plane at said second joint edge portion and having a downward directed opening, and

a strip integrally formed with the core of said first floorboard, which strip at said first joint edge portion projects from said vertical joint plane and at a distance from the joint plane has a locking element which projects towards a plane containing the upper side of said first floorboard and which has at least one operative locking surface for coaction with said locking groove,

the locking groove, seen in the plane of the floorboards and away from the vertical joint plane, having a greater width than said locking element, wherein the combination

that said at least one operative locking surface of the locking element is essentially plane and located at the upper part of the locking element at a distance from the upper side of the projecting strip and faces the joint plane,

that the locking groove has at least one essentially plane operative locking surface which is located in the locking groove at a distance from the opening of the locking groove and which is designed to cooperate with said locking surface of the locking element in the joined position,

that the locking groove at the lower edge closest to the joint plane has an inclined or rounded guiding part which extends from the locking surface of the locking groove and to the opening of the locking groove and which is intended to guide the locking element into the locking groove by engaging a portion of the locking element which is positioned above the locking surface of the locking element or adjacent to its upper edge,

that said operative locking surfaces of the locking element and the locking groove make a locking angle of at least 50°

to the upper side of the boards.

2-71. -71. (canceled)