TREA

Mechanical locking of floor panels with a glued tongue

Follow

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 8959866
  • Patent Number
    8,959,866
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, October 1, 2013
    11 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 24, 2015
    9 years ago
Information
Abstract
A tongue with edge sections that are used to glue the tongue into a groove of panel. A tongue for connection of a building panel, said tongue is of an elongated shape and made of molded plastic, the tongue including at least two protrusions at a first long edge of the tongue, wherein the protrusions are bendable in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the tongue and extending essentially in the parallel plane and, wherein the tongue has a second long edge, which is essentially straight over substantially the whole length of the tongue and the tongue includes a gluing part configured to be glued into a groove at an edge of the building panel.
Description
AREA OF INVENTION

The invention generally relates to the field of floor panels with mechanical locking systems with a flexible and displaceable tongue. The invention also relates to a partly bendable tongue for a building panel with such a mechanical locking system.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In particular, yet not restrictive manner, the invention concerns a tongue for a floor panel and a set of floor panels mechanically joined to preferably a floating floor. However, the invention is applicable to building panels in general as well. More particularly invention relates to the type of mechanically locking system that comprises a flexible or partly flexible tongue and/or displaceable tongue, in order to facilitate the installation of building panels.


A floor panel of this type is presented in WO 2006/043893, which discloses a floor panel with a locking system comprising a locking element cooperating with a locking groove, for horizontal locking, and a flexible tongue cooperating with a tongue groove, for locking in a vertical direction. The flexible tongue, which may be made of plastic, bends in the horizontal plane and is displaced in a groove during connection of two floor panels. The flexible tongue allows the floor panels to be installed by vertical folding or solely by vertical movement.


The flexible tongues are generally connected into a groove with friction connections. One disadvantage with such connection is that the tongue may fall out from the groove when floor panels swell or shrink or when the groove is not made with sufficient tolerances.


It is known that the tongue may be glued into the groove. The problem is that it is difficult to glue plastic to wood and that part of the glue also glues the tongue in such a way that it cannot be displaced during the connection of the floor panels. The present invention provides a simple way to glue a flexible and displaceable tongue into a groove.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of present invention is to provide a tongue that is easy to glue in a groove. Useful areas for the invention are floor panels, preferably to be installed floating, of any shape and material e.g. laminate, wood, HDF, veneer or stone. However, the invention is applicable to building panels in general.


The tongue may be used in any mechanical locking system that facilitates the assembling of building panels. The tongue may be used in the mechanical locking system for vertical locking of two adjacent floor panels. The locking system may further comprise additional elements for horizontal locking of the adjacent floor panels.


A first aspect of the invention is a tongue for connection of a building panel, said tongue is of an elongated shape and made of moulded plastic. The tongue comprises protrusions, preferably bow shaped, at a first long edge of the tongue. The protrusions are bendable in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the tongue and extending essentially in the parallel plane. The tongue has a second long edge, which is essentially straight over substantially the whole length of the tongue. The tongue comprises a gluing part configured to be glued into a groove at an edge of the building panel.


The gluing part may be an edge section, which is spaced in the length direction of the tongue from the protrusions.


The edge section may comprise a glue pocket.


The edge section may comprise a flexible link that connects the edge section to the main tongue body.


The tongue may be provided with said edge sections at each edge of the tongue.


The advantage is that the edge sections are spaced from the main tongue body that is displaced during locking. The risk that glue will be applied in the part of the groove where the tongue has to be displaceable is eliminated.


The edge section may be provided with a breaking part, configured to be broken when the tongue is inserted into the groove.


The edge section may be provided with an outer protruding stop part, which overlaps an inner stop part, which protrudes from the edge of the tongue, wherein said inner and outer stop part cooperates to limit the displacement of the tongue in the groove.


The edge section may be provided with a protruding friction connection, configured to hold the tongue in the correct position until the glue is cured.


The gluing part may be a gluing strip extending in the longitudinal direction of the tongue, preferably along substantially the whole length of the tongue, and wherein the gluing strip is attached to the outer end of some of the protrusions.


The advantage with such a gluing strip is that the tongue is attached steady to the groove of the building panel and with an improved position tolerance. It is also easier to provide the glue along the bottom of the groove, which is made possible by this embodiment.


The outer end of the protrusions, at a first edge of the tongue, may be free and not attached to the gluing strip.


The outer end of the protrusions, at a second edge of the tongue, may be attached to the gluing strip.


The outer end of the protrusions may be provided with a thinner section for facilitating the bending of the protrusion.


The outer end of the gluing strip may be provided with a bow shaped part for facilitating the insertion of the tongue into the groove.


There may be an angle between the protrusions and the longitudinal direction of the tongue.


A second aspect of the invention is a building panel provided with a tongue, according to the first aspect, in a sidewardly open groove at edge of the panel.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will in the following be described in connection to exemplary embodiments and in greater detail with reference to the appended exemplary drawings, wherein:



FIG. 1 illustrates a known locking system comprising a displaceable tongue;



FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the tongue according to the invention;



FIGS. 3
a and 3b shows an edge section of the first embodiment of the tongue



FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the tongue;



FIG. 5 shows first edge section of the second embodiment;



FIG. 6 shows second edge section of the second embodiment;



FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the tongue;



FIG. 8 shows first edge section of the third embodiment; and



FIG. 9 shows second edge section of the third embodiment.





DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION


FIG. 1 shows a vertical locking of two panels where a flexible and displaceable tongue 1 is displaced in a fixing groove 2.



FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a flexible tongue 1, made of moulded plastic material, which comprises two edge sections 3, which are intended to be used to glue the tongue into a groove 2.


The tongue is of an elongated shape and comprising in this preferred embodiment at least two protrusions 6 at a first long edge L1.


The protrusions are bendable in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the tongue and extending essentially in the parallel plane.


The tongue has a second long edge L2, which is essentially straight over substantially the whole length of the tongue.


The edge section 3 comprises a glue pocket 4 where glue is applied, preferably by an inserting equipment, which also positions the tongue into a groove of a panel. Friction connections 7 may be used to hold the tongue in the groove until the glue cures.



FIG. 3
a shows the edge section from above. FIG. 3b shows a cross section of the edge section. A glue pocket 4 is preferably formed as a local cavity.


The edge section is connected to the main tongue body with a flexible link 5 that allow the tongue to move in the groove 2 and in relation to the edge section 3 that is glued into a groove 2. A wide variety of glues may be used, preferably hot melt based glues.



FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a flexible tongue 1, made of moulded plastic material, which is provided with a gluing strip 8 configured to be used to glue the tongue into a groove 2. Parts 11, 12 formed by moulding inlets from a moulding tool are shown at the first 9 and the second edge 10 of the tongue 1. These parts are used to facilitate the insertion of the tongue into a groove 2 of a building panel, preferably a floor panel.


The tongue is of an elongated shape and comprising in the second embodiment at least two protrusions 6 at a first long edge L1.


The protrusions are bendable in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the tongue and extending essentially in the parallel plane.


The tongue has a second long edge L2, which is essentially straight over substantially the whole length of the tongue.



FIG. 5 shows the first edge 9 of second embodiment of the tongue. The outer ends 17 of the protrusions 6 at the first edge are free from the gluing strip 8 to facilitate a movement of the second long edge L2 along the groove 2 of the building panel. The outer part of the gluing strip is bow shaped 16 to facilitate insertion of the tongue into the groove 2 of the building panel.



FIG. 6 shows the second edge 10 of second embodiment of the tongue 1. The outer ends 18 of the protrusions 6 at the second edge are attached to the gluing strip 8. The outer part 16 of the gluing strip is bow shaped to facilitate insertion of the tongue into the groove 2 of the building panel.


The outer ends of the protrusions are provided with a thinner section 15 to improve the bending of the tongue.


The gluing strip is provided with a protrusion 13, which makes it easier to remove the tongue from the moulding tool. The tongue body is provided with an aperture 14 adapted to the size of the gluing strip protrusion 13, which make it possible to push the second long edge L2 of the tongue 1 further into the groove 2 of the building panel.



FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of a flexible tongue 1, made of moulded plastic material, which is provided with an edge sections 3 configured to be used to glue the tongue into a groove 2. The tongue has a second long edge L2, which is essentially straight over substantially the whole length of the tongue. The tongue is of an elongated shape and comprising in the second embodiment at least two protrusions 6 at a first long edge L1.


Parts 11, 12 formed by moulding inlets from a moulding tool are shown at the first 9 and the second edge 10 of the tongue 1. These parts are used to facilitate the insertion of the tongue into a groove 2 of a building panel, preferably a floor panel.


The protrusions are bendable in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the tongue and extending essentially in the parallel plane.



FIG. 8 shows the first edge 9 of the third embodiment of the tongue.



FIG. 9 shows the second edge 10 of the third embodiment of the tongue 1.


The third embodiment of the tongue is provided with said edge sections 3 on each edge of the tongue. Said edge section is provided with a protruding friction connection, configured to hold the tongue in the correct position until the glue is cured. A flexible link 5 connects the edge section 3 to the main tongue body.


The edge sections are each provided with an outer protruding stop part 22, which overlap an inner stop part 21, which protrudes from each edge 9, 10 of the tongue, wherein said inner and outer stop part cooperates to limit the displacement of the tongue 1 in the groove 2.


The edge sections are further provided with a breaking part 20, configured to be broken when the tongue 1 is inserted into the groove 2.


Glue may be used that glues to a wood based material and cures such that a part of the glue will form a small protrusion in the glue pocket and will connect the tongue mechanically even if the glue as such cannot glue the plastic material that is used to form the tongue.


The principles shown above may be used to connect all types of tongues that are intended to be displaceable in a groove. Even tongues that are not flexible and displaceable may be connected according to the described principles.

Claims
  • 1. A tongue for connection of a building panel, said tongue is of an elongated shape and made of moulded plastic, the tongue comprising at least two protrusions located at different positions along a first long edge of the tongue, wherein the protrusions are bendable in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the tongue and extend essentially in the parallel plane,wherein the tongue has a second long edge, which is essentially straight over substantially the whole length of the tongue,the tongue further comprising a gluing part configured to be glued into a groove at an edge of the building panel,wherein the gluing part comprises a gluing strip extending in the longitudinal direction of the tongue, and wherein the gluing strip is attached to outer ends of at least some of the protrusions so that there is a gap between the gluing strip and each of the protrusions in a direction extending from the first long edge to the second long edge.
  • 2. The tongue as claimed in claim 1, where the gluing strip extends along substantially the whole length of the tongue.
  • 3. The tongue as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer end of a first protrusion, at a first edge of the tongue, is free and not attached to the gluing strip.
  • 4. The tongue as claimed in claim 3, wherein an outer end of a second protrusion, at a second edge of the tongue, is attached to the gluing strip.
  • 5. The tongue as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outer ends of the protrusions are provided with a section that is thinner than the remaining part of the protrusions for facilitating the bending of the protrusions.
  • 6. The tongue as claimed in claim 1, wherein a protrusion is provided with a protruding friction connection, configured to hold the tongue in the correct position until the glue is cured.
  • 7. The tongue as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue further comprises an edge section at a longitudinal edge of the tongue, wherein said edge section is provided with a protruding friction connection, configured to hold the tongue in the correct position until the glue is cured.
  • 8. The tongue as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tongue is provided with said edge sections on each longitudinal edge of the tongue.
  • 9. The tongue as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer end of the gluing strip is provided with a bow shaped part for facilitating the insertion of the tongue into the groove.
  • 10. The tongue as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusions are bow shaped.
  • 11. The tongue as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is an angle between the protrusions and the longitudinal direction of the tongue.
  • 12. A building panel provided with a tongue, according to claim 1, wherein said tongue is displaceable in a groove at an edge of the building panel, while also being fixed by glue in the groove.
  • 13. The tongue as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gluing strip is attached to only the tip of at least some of the protrusions.
Priority Claims (3)
Number Date Country Kind
1150635 Jul 2011 SE national
1150775 Aug 2011 SE national
1150777 Aug 2011 SE national
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/540,107, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/504,576, filed on 5 Jul. 2011, Swedish Application No. 1150635-9, filed on 5 Jul. 2011, Swedish Application No. 1150775-3, filed on 26 Aug. 2011, and Swedish Application No. 1150777-9, filed on 29 Aug. 2011. The entire contents of each of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/540,107, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/504,576, Swedish Application No. 1150635-9, Swedish Application No. 1150775-3, and Swedish Application No. 1150777-9 are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

US Referenced Citations (381)
Number Name Date Kind
87853 Kappes Mar 1869 A
108068 Utley Oct 1870 A
124228 Stuart Mar 1872 A
213740 Conner Apr 1879 A
274354 McCarthy et al. Mar 1883 A
316176 Ransom Apr 1885 A
634581 Miller Oct 1899 A
861911 Stewart Jul 1907 A
1194636 Joy Aug 1916 A
1723306 Sipe Aug 1929 A
1743492 Sipe Jan 1930 A
1809393 Rockwell Jun 1931 A
1902716 Newton Mar 1933 A
2026511 Storm Dec 1935 A
2204675 Grunert Jun 1940 A
2266464 Kraft Dec 1941 A
2277758 Hawkins Mar 1942 A
2430200 Wilson Nov 1947 A
2497837 Nelson Feb 1950 A
2596280 Nystrom May 1952 A
2732706 Friedman Jan 1956 A
2740167 Rowley Apr 1956 A
2858584 Gaines Nov 1958 A
2863185 Riedi Dec 1958 A
2865058 Andersson Dec 1958 A
2872712 Brown et al. Feb 1959 A
2889016 Warren Jun 1959 A
3023681 Worson Mar 1962 A
3077703 Bergstrom Feb 1963 A
3099110 Spaight Jul 1963 A
3147522 Schumm Sep 1964 A
3271787 Clary Sep 1966 A
3325585 Brenneman Jun 1967 A
3331180 Vissing et al. Jul 1967 A
3378958 Parks et al. Apr 1968 A
3396640 Fujihara Aug 1968 A
3512324 Reed May 1970 A
3517927 Kennel Jun 1970 A
3526071 Watanabe Sep 1970 A
3535844 Glaros Oct 1970 A
3572224 Perry Mar 1971 A
3579941 Tibbals May 1971 A
3720027 Christensen Mar 1973 A
3722379 Koester Mar 1973 A
3742669 Mansfeld Jul 1973 A
3760547 Brenneman Sep 1973 A
3760548 Sauer et al. Sep 1973 A
3778954 Meserole Dec 1973 A
3849235 Gwynne Nov 1974 A
3919820 Green Nov 1975 A
3950915 Cole Apr 1976 A
3994609 Puccio Nov 1976 A
4007994 Brown Feb 1977 A
4030852 Hein Jun 1977 A
4037377 Howell et al. Jul 1977 A
4041665 de Munck Aug 1977 A
4064571 Phipps Dec 1977 A
4080086 Watson Mar 1978 A
4082129 Morelock Apr 1978 A
4100710 Kowallik Jul 1978 A
4107892 Bellem Aug 1978 A
4113399 Hansen, Sr. et al. Sep 1978 A
4169688 Toshio Oct 1979 A
4196554 Anderson Apr 1980 A
4227430 Jansson et al. Oct 1980 A
4299070 Oltmanns Nov 1981 A
4304083 Anderson Dec 1981 A
4426820 Terbrack Jan 1984 A
4447172 Galbreath May 1984 A
4599841 Haid Jul 1986 A
4648165 Whitehorne Mar 1987 A
5007222 Raymond Apr 1991 A
5071282 Brown Dec 1991 A
5148850 Urbanick Sep 1992 A
5173012 Ortwein et al. Dec 1992 A
5182892 Chase Feb 1993 A
5247773 Weir Sep 1993 A
5272850 Mysliwiec et al. Dec 1993 A
5344700 McGath et al. Sep 1994 A
5348778 Knipp et al. Sep 1994 A
5373674 Winter, IV Dec 1994 A
5465546 Buse Nov 1995 A
5485702 Sholton Jan 1996 A
5502939 Zadok et al. Apr 1996 A
5548937 Shimonohara Aug 1996 A
5598682 Haughian Feb 1997 A
5618602 Nelson Apr 1997 A
5634309 Polen Jun 1997 A
5658086 Brokaw et al. Aug 1997 A
5671575 Wu Sep 1997 A
5694730 Del Rincon et al. Dec 1997 A
5755068 Ormiston May 1998 A
5899038 Stroppiana May 1999 A
5950389 Porter Sep 1999 A
5970675 Schray Oct 1999 A
6006486 Moriau Dec 1999 A
6029416 Andersson Feb 2000 A
6052960 Yonemura Apr 2000 A
6065262 Motta May 2000 A
6173548 Hamar et al. Jan 2001 B1
6182410 Pervan Feb 2001 B1
6216409 Roy et al. Apr 2001 B1
6314701 Meyerson Nov 2001 B1
6345481 Nelson Feb 2002 B1
6363677 Chen et al. Apr 2002 B1
6385936 Schneider May 2002 B1
6418683 Martensson et al. Jul 2002 B1
6446413 Gruber Sep 2002 B1
6449918 Nelson Sep 2002 B1
6490836 Moriau et al. Dec 2002 B1
6505452 Hannig et al. Jan 2003 B1
6553724 Bigler Apr 2003 B1
6591568 Pålsson Jul 2003 B1
6601359 Olofsson Aug 2003 B2
6617009 Chen et al. Sep 2003 B1
6647689 Pletzer Nov 2003 B2
6647690 Martensson Nov 2003 B1
6651400 Murphy Nov 2003 B1
6670019 Andersson Dec 2003 B2
6685391 Gideon Feb 2004 B1
6763643 Martensson Jul 2004 B1
6766622 Thiers Jul 2004 B1
6769219 Schwitte et al. Aug 2004 B2
6769835 Stridsman Aug 2004 B2
6804926 Eisermann Oct 2004 B1
6808777 Andersson et al. Oct 2004 B2
6854235 Martensson Feb 2005 B2
6862857 Tychsen Mar 2005 B2
6865855 Knauseder Mar 2005 B2
6874291 Weber Apr 2005 B1
6880307 Schwitte et al. Apr 2005 B2
6948716 Drouin Sep 2005 B2
7021019 Knauseder Apr 2006 B2
7040068 Moriau et al. May 2006 B2
7051486 Pervan May 2006 B2
7108031 Secrest Sep 2006 B1
7121058 Pålsson Oct 2006 B2
7137229 Pervan Nov 2006 B2
7152383 Wilkinson et al. Dec 2006 B1
7188456 Knauseder Mar 2007 B2
7219392 Mullet et al. May 2007 B2
7251916 Konzelmann et al. Aug 2007 B2
7257926 Kirby Aug 2007 B1
7337588 Moebus Mar 2008 B1
7377081 Ruhdorfer May 2008 B2
7451578 Hannig Nov 2008 B2
7454875 Pervan et al. Nov 2008 B2
7516588 Pervan Apr 2009 B2
7517427 Sjoberg et al. Apr 2009 B2
7533500 Morton et al. May 2009 B2
7556849 Thompson et al. Jul 2009 B2
7568322 Pervan Aug 2009 B2
7584583 Bergelin et al. Sep 2009 B2
7614197 Nelson Nov 2009 B2
7617651 Grafenauer Nov 2009 B2
7621092 Groeke et al. Nov 2009 B2
7634884 Pervan Dec 2009 B2
7637068 Pervan Dec 2009 B2
7654055 Ricker Feb 2010 B2
7677005 Pervan Mar 2010 B2
7716889 Pervan May 2010 B2
7721503 Pervan et al. May 2010 B2
7726088 Muehlebach Jun 2010 B2
7757452 Pervan Jul 2010 B2
7802411 Pervan Sep 2010 B2
7806624 McLean et al. Oct 2010 B2
7841144 Pervan et al. Nov 2010 B2
7841145 Pervan et al. Nov 2010 B2
7841150 Pervan Nov 2010 B2
7856789 Eisermann Dec 2010 B2
7861482 Pervan et al. Jan 2011 B2
7866110 Pervan Jan 2011 B2
7908815 Pervan et al. Mar 2011 B2
7930862 Bergelin et al. Apr 2011 B2
7980039 Groeke et al. Jul 2011 B2
7980041 Pervan Jul 2011 B2
8033074 Pervan Oct 2011 B2
8042311 Pervan Oct 2011 B2
8061104 Pervan Nov 2011 B2
8079196 Pervan Dec 2011 B2
8112967 Pervan et al. Feb 2012 B2
8171692 Pervan May 2012 B2
8181416 Pervan et al. May 2012 B2
8191334 Braun Jun 2012 B2
8234830 Pervan et al. Aug 2012 B2
8281549 Du Oct 2012 B2
8302367 Schulte Nov 2012 B2
8336272 Prager et al. Dec 2012 B2
8341914 Pervan et al. Jan 2013 B2
8341915 Pervan et al. Jan 2013 B2
8353140 Pervan et al. Jan 2013 B2
8359805 Pervan et al. Jan 2013 B2
8381477 Pervan et al. Feb 2013 B2
8387327 Pervan Mar 2013 B2
8448402 Pervan et al. May 2013 B2
8499521 Pervan et al. Aug 2013 B2
8505257 Boo et al. Aug 2013 B2
8511031 Bergelin et al. Aug 2013 B2
8528289 Pervan et al. Sep 2013 B2
8544230 Pervan Oct 2013 B2
8544234 Pervan et al. Oct 2013 B2
8572922 Pervan Nov 2013 B2
8578675 Palsson et al. Nov 2013 B2
8596013 Boo Dec 2013 B2
8615952 Engström Dec 2013 B2
8627862 Pervan et al. Jan 2014 B2
8631623 Engström Jan 2014 B2
8640424 Pervan et al. Feb 2014 B2
8650826 Pervan et al. Feb 2014 B2
8677714 Pervan Mar 2014 B2
8689512 Pervan Apr 2014 B2
8707650 Pervan et al. Apr 2014 B2
8733065 Pervan May 2014 B2
8733410 Pervan May 2014 B2
8763341 Pervan Jul 2014 B2
8769905 Pervan Jul 2014 B2
8776473 Pervan et al. Jul 2014 B2
20010024707 Andersson et al. Sep 2001 A1
20020031646 Chen et al. Mar 2002 A1
20020046433 Sellman, Jr. et al. Apr 2002 A1
20020069611 Leopolder Jun 2002 A1
20020092263 Schulte Jul 2002 A1
20020100231 Miller et al. Aug 2002 A1
20020170258 Schwitte et al. Nov 2002 A1
20020170259 Ferris Nov 2002 A1
20020178674 Pervan Dec 2002 A1
20020178680 Martensson Dec 2002 A1
20030009971 Palmberg Jan 2003 A1
20030024199 Pervan et al. Feb 2003 A1
20030037504 Schwitte et al. Feb 2003 A1
20030084636 Pervan May 2003 A1
20030094230 Sjoberg May 2003 A1
20030101681 Tychsen Jun 2003 A1
20030145549 Palsson et al. Aug 2003 A1
20030154676 Schwartz Aug 2003 A1
20030180091 Stridsman Sep 2003 A1
20030188504 Ralf Oct 2003 A1
20030196405 Pervan Oct 2003 A1
20040031227 Knauseder Feb 2004 A1
20040049999 Krieger Mar 2004 A1
20040060255 Knauseder Apr 2004 A1
20040068954 Martensson Apr 2004 A1
20040107659 Glockl Jun 2004 A1
20040123548 Gimpel et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040128934 Hecht Jul 2004 A1
20040139676 Knauseder Jul 2004 A1
20040139678 Pervan Jul 2004 A1
20040159066 Thiers et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040168392 Konzelmann et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040177584 Pervan Sep 2004 A1
20040182033 Wernersson Sep 2004 A1
20040182036 Sjoberg et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040200175 Weber Oct 2004 A1
20040211143 Hannig Oct 2004 A1
20040244325 Nelson Dec 2004 A1
20040250492 Becker Dec 2004 A1
20040255541 Thiers Dec 2004 A1
20040261348 Vulin Dec 2004 A1
20050003132 Blix et al. Jan 2005 A1
20050028474 Kim Feb 2005 A1
20050050827 Schitter Mar 2005 A1
20050138881 Pervan Jun 2005 A1
20050160694 Pervan Jul 2005 A1
20050166514 Pervan Aug 2005 A1
20050205161 Lewark Sep 2005 A1
20050210810 Pervan Sep 2005 A1
20050235593 Hecht Oct 2005 A1
20060053724 Braun et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060070333 Pervan Apr 2006 A1
20060099386 Smith May 2006 A1
20060101769 Pervan et al. May 2006 A1
20060156670 Knauseder Jul 2006 A1
20060236642 Pervan Oct 2006 A1
20060260254 Pervan Nov 2006 A1
20070006543 Engstrom Jan 2007 A1
20070011981 Eisermann Jan 2007 A1
20070028547 Grafenauer et al. Feb 2007 A1
20070065293 Hannig Mar 2007 A1
20070108679 Grothaus May 2007 A1
20070151189 Yang et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070175143 Pervan et al. Aug 2007 A1
20070175156 Pervan et al. Aug 2007 A1
20070193178 Groeke et al. Aug 2007 A1
20070209736 Deringor et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070214741 Llorens Miravet Sep 2007 A1
20080000185 Duernberger Jan 2008 A1
20080000186 Pervan et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080000187 Pervan et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080005989 Pervan et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080010931 Pervan et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080010937 Pervan et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080028707 Pervan Feb 2008 A1
20080034708 Pervan Feb 2008 A1
20080041008 Pervan Feb 2008 A1
20080066415 Pervan Mar 2008 A1
20080104921 Pervan et al. May 2008 A1
20080110125 Pervan May 2008 A1
20080134607 Pervan et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080134613 Pervan Jun 2008 A1
20080134614 Pervan Jun 2008 A1
20080155930 Pervan et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080172971 Pervan Jul 2008 A1
20080216434 Pervan Sep 2008 A1
20080216920 Pervan Sep 2008 A1
20080236088 Hannig et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080263975 Mead Oct 2008 A1
20080295432 Pervan et al. Dec 2008 A1
20090019806 Muehlebach Jan 2009 A1
20090100782 Groeke et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090133353 Pervan et al. May 2009 A1
20090151290 Liu Jun 2009 A1
20090155612 Pervan et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090173032 Prager et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090193741 Capelle Aug 2009 A1
20090193748 Boo et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090193753 Schitter Aug 2009 A1
20090308014 Muehlebach Dec 2009 A1
20100043333 Hannig et al. Feb 2010 A1
20100083603 Goodwin Apr 2010 A1
20100173122 Susnjara Jul 2010 A1
20100281803 Cappelle Nov 2010 A1
20100293879 Pervan et al. Nov 2010 A1
20100300029 Braun et al. Dec 2010 A1
20100300030 Pervan et al. Dec 2010 A1
20100300031 Pervan et al. Dec 2010 A1
20100319290 Pervan Dec 2010 A1
20100319291 Pervan et al. Dec 2010 A1
20110016815 Yang Jan 2011 A1
20110030303 Pervan et al. Feb 2011 A1
20110041996 Pervan Feb 2011 A1
20110047922 Fleming, III Mar 2011 A1
20110088344 Pervan et al. Apr 2011 A1
20110088345 Pervan Apr 2011 A1
20110131916 Chen Jun 2011 A1
20110154763 Bergelin et al. Jun 2011 A1
20110167750 Pervan Jul 2011 A1
20110167751 Engstrom Jul 2011 A1
20110197535 Baker et al. Aug 2011 A1
20110225922 Pervan et al. Sep 2011 A1
20110252733 Pervan Oct 2011 A1
20110271632 Cappelle et al. Nov 2011 A1
20110283650 Pervan et al. Nov 2011 A1
20120017533 Pervan et al. Jan 2012 A1
20120031029 Pervan et al. Feb 2012 A1
20120036804 Pervan Feb 2012 A1
20120096801 Cappelle Apr 2012 A1
20120124932 Schulte et al. May 2012 A1
20120151865 Pervan et al. Jun 2012 A1
20120174515 Pervan Jul 2012 A1
20120174520 Pervan Jul 2012 A1
20120174521 Schulte et al. Jul 2012 A1
20120192521 Schulte Aug 2012 A1
20120279161 Håkansson et al. Nov 2012 A1
20130008117 Pervan Jan 2013 A1
20130014463 Pervan Jan 2013 A1
20130019555 Pervan Jan 2013 A1
20130036695 Durnberger Feb 2013 A1
20130042562 Pervan Feb 2013 A1
20130042563 Pervan Feb 2013 A1
20130042564 Pervan Feb 2013 A1
20130042565 Pervan Feb 2013 A1
20130047536 Pervan Feb 2013 A1
20130081349 Pervan et al. Apr 2013 A1
20130111845 Pervan May 2013 A1
20130145708 Pervan Jun 2013 A1
20130160390 Stockl Jun 2013 A1
20130160391 Pervan et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130232905 Pervan Sep 2013 A2
20130239508 Darko et al. Sep 2013 A1
20130263454 Boo et al. Oct 2013 A1
20130263547 Boo Oct 2013 A1
20130318906 Pervan et al. Dec 2013 A1
20140007539 Pervan et al. Jan 2014 A1
20140020324 Pervan Jan 2014 A1
20140053497 Pervan et al. Feb 2014 A1
20140069043 Pervan Mar 2014 A1
20140090335 Pervan et al. Apr 2014 A1
20140109501 Darko Apr 2014 A1
20140109506 Pervan et al. Apr 2014 A1
20140123586 Pervan et al. May 2014 A1
20140190112 Pervan Jul 2014 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (119)
Number Date Country
2456513 Feb 2003 CA
201588375 Sep 2010 CN
39 32 980 Nov 1991 DE
299 22 649 Apr 2000 DE
200 01 788 Jun 2000 DE
199 40 837 Nov 2000 DE
199 58 225 Jun 2001 DE
202 05 774 Aug 2002 DE
203 20 799 Apr 2005 DE
10 2004 055 951 Jul 2005 DE
10 2004 001 363 Aug 2005 DE
10 2004 054 368 May 2006 DE
10 2005 024 366 Nov 2006 DE
10 2005 024 184 Nov 2007 DE
10 2006 037 614 Dec 2007 DE
10 2006 057 491 Jun 2008 DE
10 2007 018 309 Aug 2008 DE
10 2007 016 533 Oct 2008 DE
10 2007 032 885 Jan 2009 DE
10 2007 035 648 Jan 2009 DE
10 2007 049 792 Feb 2009 DE
10 2009 048 050 Jan 2011 DE
0 013 852 Aug 1980 EP
0 871 156 Oct 1998 EP
0 974 713 Jan 2000 EP
1 308 577 May 2003 EP
1 350 904 Oct 2003 EP
1 350 904 Oct 2003 EP
1 357 239 Oct 2003 EP
1 357 239 Oct 2003 EP
1 420 125 May 2004 EP
1 437 457 Jul 2004 EP
1 640 530 Mar 2006 EP
1 650 375 Apr 2006 EP
1 650 375 Sep 2006 EP
1 980 683 Oct 2008 EP
2 017 403 Jan 2009 EP
1.138.595 Jun 1957 FR
2 256 807 Aug 1975 FR
2 810 060 Dec 2001 FR
240629 Oct 1925 GB
376352 Jul 1932 GB
1171337 Nov 1969 GB
2 051 916 Jan 1981 GB
03-110258 May 1991 JP
05-018028 Jan 1993 JP
6-288017 Oct 1994 JP
6-306961 Nov 1994 JP
6-322848 Nov 1994 JP
7-300979 Nov 1995 JP
8-086080 Apr 1996 JP
WO 9426999 Nov 1994 WO
WO 9747834 Dec 1997 WO
WO 9822677 May 1998 WO
WO 0020705 Apr 2000 WO
WO 0043281 Jul 2000 WO
WO 0047841 Aug 2000 WO
WO 0055067 Sep 2000 WO
WO 0102669 Jan 2001 WO
WO 0102670 Jan 2001 WO
WO 0102671 Jan 2001 WO
WO 0102672 Jan 2001 WO
WO 0148332 Jul 2001 WO
WO 0151732 Jul 2001 WO
WO 0151733 Jul 2001 WO
WO 0166877 Sep 2001 WO
WO 0175247 Oct 2001 WO
WO 0177461 Oct 2001 WO
WO 0198604 Dec 2001 WO
WO 0248127 Jun 2002 WO
WO 03012224 Feb 2003 WO
WO 03016654 Feb 2003 WO
WO 03025307 Mar 2003 WO
WO 03074814 Sep 2003 WO
WO 03078761 Sep 2003 WO
WO 03083234 Oct 2003 WO
WO 03087497 Oct 2003 WO
WO 03089736 Oct 2003 WO
WO 2004016877 Feb 2004 WO
WO 2004020764 Mar 2004 WO
WO 2004048716 Jun 2004 WO
WO 2004050780 Jun 2004 WO
WO 2004053257 Jun 2004 WO
WO 2004053257 Jun 2004 WO
WO 2004079130 Sep 2004 WO
WO 2004083557 Sep 2004 WO
WO 2004085765 Oct 2004 WO
WO 2005003488 Jan 2005 WO
WO 2005054599 Jun 2005 WO
WO 2006043893 Apr 2006 WO
WO 2006050928 May 2006 WO
WO 2006104436 Oct 2006 WO
WO 2006123988 Nov 2006 WO
WO 2007015669 Feb 2007 WO
WO 2007079845 Jul 2007 WO
WO 2007089186 Aug 2007 WO
WO 2007118352 Oct 2007 WO
WO 2007141605 Dec 2007 WO
WO 2007142589 Dec 2007 WO
WO 2008004960 Jan 2008 WO
WO 2008004960 Jan 2008 WO
WO 2008017281 Feb 2008 WO
WO 2008017301 Feb 2008 WO
WO 2008017301 Feb 2008 WO
WO 2008060232 May 2008 WO
WO 2008068245 Jun 2008 WO
WO 2009116926 Sep 2009 WO
WO 2010006684 Jan 2010 WO
WO 2010070472 Jun 2010 WO
WO 2010070605 Jun 2010 WO
WO 2010082171 Jul 2010 WO
WO 2010087752 Aug 2010 WO
WO 2010108980 Sep 2010 WO
WO 2010136171 Dec 2010 WO
WO 2011001326 Jan 2011 WO
WO 2011012104 Feb 2011 WO
WO 2011032540 Mar 2011 WO
WO 2011127981 Oct 2011 WO
WO 2011151758 Dec 2011 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (31)
Entry
Pervan, Darko, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 14/095,052, entitled “Mechanical Locking of Floor Panels,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 3, 2013.
Pervan, Darko, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 14/138,330 entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Floor Panels,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 23, 2013.
Pervan, Darko, U.S. Appl. No. 14/138,385 entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Panels and Method of Installing Same,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 23, 2013.
Pervan, Darko, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 14/152,402 entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Floor Panels,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 10, 2014.
Pervan, Darko, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 14/206,286, entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Panels and Method of Installing Same,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 12, 2014.
Pervan, Darko, U.S. Appl. No. 14/270,711, entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Floor Panels,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on May 6, 2014.
Pervan, Darko, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 14/294,230, entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Floor Panels,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 3, 2014.
Pervan, Darko, U.S. Appl. No. 14/294,623, entitled “Mechanical Locking of Floor Panels with Vertical Folding,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 3, 2014.
Boo, Christian, U.S. Appl. No. 14/315,879, entitled “Building Panel With a Mechanical Locking System,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 26, 2014.
Pervan, Darko, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 13/962,446, entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Floor Panels,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 8, 2013.
Pervan, Darko, U.S. Appl. No. 14/011,042 entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Floor Panels,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 27, 2013.
Pervan, Darko, U.S. Appl. No. 14/046,235 entitled “Mechanical Locking of Floor Panels with a Flexible Tongue,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 4, 2013.
Pervan, Darko, U.S. Appl. No. 14/080,105 entitled “Mechanical Locking of Floor Panels with Vertical Folding,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 14, 2013.
Nygren, Per, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 61/774,749, entitled “Building Panels Provided with a Mechanical Locking System,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 8, 2013.
International Search Report mailed Nov. 19, 2012 in PCT/SE2012/050764, Swedish Patent Office, Stockholm, Sweden, 9 pages.
Välinge Innovation AB, Technical Disclosure entitled “Mechanical locking for floor panels with a flexible bristle tongue,” IP.com No. IPCOM000145262D, Jan. 12, 2007, IP.com PriorArtDatabase, 57 pages.
Engstrand, Ola (Contact)/Välinge Innovation AB, Technical Disclosure entitled “VA-038 Mechanical Locking of Floor Panels With Vertical Folding,” IP com No. IPCOM000179246D, Feb. 10, 2009, IP.com Prior Art Database, 59 pages.
Engstrand, Ola (Contact)/Välinge Innovation AB, Technical Disclosure entitled “VA043 5G Linear Slide Tongue,” IP com No. IPCOM000179015D, Feb. 4, 2009, IP.com Prior Art Database, 126 pages.
Engstrand, Ola (Owner)/Välinge Innovation AB, Technical Disclosure entitled “VA043b PCT Mechanical Locking of Floor Panels,” IP com No. IPCOM000189420D, Nov. 9, 2009, IP.com Prior Art Database, 62 pages.
Engstrand, Ola (Contact)/Välinge Innovation AB, Technical Disclosure entitled “VA055 Mechanical locking system for floor panels,” IP com No. IPCOM000206454D, Apr. 27, 2011, IP.com Prior Art Database, 25 pages.
Engstrand, Ola (Contact)/Välinge Innovation AB, Technical Disclosure entitled “VA058 Rocker Tongue,” IP com No. IPCOM000203832D, Feb. 4, 2011, IP.com Prior Art Database, 22 pages.
Pervan, Darko (Author)Välinge Flooring Technology, Technical Disclosure entitled “VA066b Glued Tongue,” IP com No. IPCOM000210865D, Sep. 13, 2011, IP.com Prior Art Database, 19 pages.
Pervan, Darko (Inventor)Välinge Flooring Technology AB, Technical Disclosure entitled “VA067 Fold Slide Loc,” IP com No. IPCOM000208542D, Jul. 12, 2011, IP.com Prior Art Database, 37 pages.
Pervan, Darko (Author)/Välinge Flooring Technology, Technical Disclosure entitled “VA068 Press Lock VFT,” IP com No. IPCOM000208854D, Jul. 20, 2011, IP.com Prior Art Database, 25 pages.
Pervan, Darko (Author), Technical Disclosure entitled “VA069 Combi Tongue,” IP com No. IPCOM000210866D, Sep. 13, 2011, IP.com Prior Art Database, 41 pages.
Pervan, Darko (Author), Technical Disclosure entitled “VA070 Strip Part,” IP com No. IPCOM000210867D, Sep. 13, 2011, IP.com Prior Art Database, 43 pages.
Pervan, Darko (Author), Technical Disclosure entitled “VA071 Pull Lock,” IP com No. IPCOM000210868D, Sep. 13, 2011, IP.com Prior Art Database, 22 pages.
Pervan, Darko (Author), Technical Disclosure entitled “VA073a Zip Loc,” IP com No. IPCOM000210869D, Sep. 13, 2011, IP.com Prior Art Database, 36 pages.
Pervan, Darko, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 14/463,972, entitled “Mechanical Locking of Floor Panels with a Flexible Bristle Tongue,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Aug. 20, 2014.
Pervan, Darko, et al., U.S. Appl. No. 14/483,352, entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Floor Panels,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Sep. 11, 2014.
Pervan, Darko, U.S. Appl. No. 14/538,223, entitled “Mechanical Locking System for Floor Panels,” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 11, 2014.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20140033634 A1 Feb 2014 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
61504576 Jul 2011 US
Divisions (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 13540107 Jul 2012 US
Child 14042887 US