Embodiments of the present invention relates to panels that may be arranged perpendicular to each other and locked together with a mechanical locking device. The panels may be assembled and locked together to obtain a furniture product, such as a bookshelf, a cupboard, a wardrobe, a box, a drawer or a furniture component. The locking device may comprise a flexible tongue.
A furniture product provided with a mechanical locking device is known in the art, as evidenced by WO2015/038059. The furniture comprises a first panel connected perpendicular to a second panel by a mechanical locking device comprising a flexible tongue in an insertion groove.
One object of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide an improvement over the above described technique and the known art. A specific objective is to improve assembling of panels, such as furniture panels, locked together by a mechanical locking device and/or to increase the strength of the mechanical locking device. The panels may be la part of a furniture product, such as a furniture component, a drawer, a cupboard, a bookshelf, a wardrobe, a kitchen fixture, or a box.
At least some of these and other objects and advantages that will be apparent from the description have been achieved by a first aspect of the invention that includes a set of panels comprising a first panel with a first main plane and a second panel with a second main plane. The first and the second panel are provided with a mechanical locking device for locking a first edge of the first panel to a second edge of the second panel at a junction plane. The first main plane is essentially perpendicular to the second main plane and the junction plane is extending between the first main plane and the second main plane. The first edge comprises an edge tongue that extends from the junction plane. The second edge comprises an edge groove at the junction plane. The edge tongue is configured to cooperate with the edge groove for locking together the first and the second edges in a first direction which is perpendicular to the first main plane. The edge tongue comprises a tongue groove. The edge groove comprises a flexible tongue arranged in an insertion groove. Said flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove for locking together the first and the second edges in a second direction which is perpendicular to the second main plane. The mechanical locking device comprises a first space, between the edge tongue and the edge groove, at an opening of the edge groove and at the junction plane, in a locked position of the first and the second edge. The first space may have the advantage that a loading of a part of the second edge at the opening of the edge groove is avoided. This part of the second edge may be a weak part, since little material is available to absorb a load.
The angle between the junction plane and the first main plane may be in a range of about 30° to about 60°, for example about 45°.
The edge tongue may extend, from the junction plane, essentially in the second direction, and preferably with a longitudinal direction along the first edge.
A first side of the edge tongue may comprise, at the junction plane, a first locking surface. The edge groove, at the junction plane, may comprise a second locking surface. The first locking surface and the second locking surface may be essentially parallel and may be configured to cooperate for locking in the first direction. The first locking surface and the second locking surface are preferably extending essentially in the second direction.
The edge tongue, at a second side, which is opposite the first side, may comprise a third locking surface and the edge groove may comprise a fourth locking surface. The third locking surface and the fourth locking surface may be essentially parallel and may be configured to cooperate, at a distance from the junction plane, for locking in the first direction. The third locking surface and the fourth locking surface are preferably extending essentially in the second direction.
The third locking surface and the fourth locking surface may cooperate at an area, extending in the second direction, over a first distance. The third locking surface and the fourth locking surface may be displaced from the junction plane by a second distance. The first distance may be within the range of about 20% to about 200% of the second distance, preferably within the range of about 50% to about 150% of the second distance. The first distance may be essentially the same as the second distance.
The first side of the edge tongue, at a distance from the junction plane, may comprise a fifth locking surface and the edge groove may comprise a sixth locking surface at a distance from the junction plane. The fifth locking surface and the sixth locking surface may be essentially parallel and may be configured to cooperate for locking in the first direction. The fifth locking surface and the sixth locking surface are preferably extending essentially in the second direction.
The mechanical locking device may comprise a first contact surface at the first edge and a second contact surface at the second edge. The first and the second contact surface may be at an outer corner, in a locked position of the first and the second panel, and may be in the junction plane. The first and the second contact surface may be configured to cooperate.
The mechanical locking device may comprise a second space extending in the junction plane from the first and the second contact surfaces and to an opening of the edge groove.
The first and the second contact surfaces may be configured to cooperate over a first width, in a direction from an inner corner to the outer corner of the first and the second panel, said first width may be in the range of about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 30%, or about 5% to about 20% of an edge width of a first and/or second edge surface.
A first edge surface and/or a second edge surface may comprise a recess extending from the first contact surface and the second contact surface, respectively, to the edge tongue and the edge groove, respectively.
The mechanical locking device may comprise a third contact surface at the first edge and a fourth contact surface at the second edge. The third and the fourth contact surface may be at an inner corner in a locked position of the first and the second panel. The third and the fourth contact surface may be in the junction planer and are preferably configured to cooperate.
The third and the fourth contact areas may be cooperating over a second width, in a direction from an inner corner to the outer corner of the first and the second panel. Said second width may be in the range of about 2% to about 20%, about 2% to about 10%, or about 2% to about 5% of an edge width of the first and/or second edge surface.
The first panel may comprise an inner half and an outer half in a direction of the thickness of the first panel. The entire edge tongue is preferably at the inner half of the first panel.
The insertion groove may be parallel to the second main plane or at an acute angle to the second main plane, such that a bottom of the insertion groove is at a greater distance from an inner face of the second panel than an opening of the insertion groove to the edge groove.
The insertion groove may extend along essentially the entire length of the edge groove. The edge groove may extend along essentially the entire length of the second edge. The flexible tongue may be displaceable in the insertion groove.
A core material of the first and the second panel may comprise a wood fibre based board, such as a HDF, MDF, plywood, solid wood or particleboard, or a reinforced plastic board or a wood fibre composite board. The core may be provided with a decorative layer.
The locking device may comprise a bevel or rounding at an opening of the tongue groove. This may facilitate disassembling as the bevel or the rounding may prevent that the flexible tongue got stuck during the disassembling.
The locking device is preferably configured such that the flexible tongue moves out of the tongue groove when a tool is inserted into the tongue groove and pushed back into the insertion groove.
The first panel and the second panel are preferably configured to be assembled by displacing the first panel relative the second panel in the second direction, wherein the first panel is perpendicular to the second panel. The edge tongue is inserted into the edge groove, wherein the flexible tongue is pushed back into the insertion groove and springs back into the tongue groove to obtain a locked position.
The flexible tongue may be according to the flexible tongue described and shown in
The set of panels may be furniture panels.
A second aspect of the invention includes an assembled furniture product comprising a corner of a frame comprising the set of panels as described above.
Embodiments of the present invention will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:
The first panel 2 has a first thickness 65 and the second panel 4 has a second thickness 64. The first and the second thickness may be essentially the same. The first panel 2 comprises an inner half 66, at a first side of a central plane 68 of the first panel, and an outer half 67, at second side of the central plane 68 of the first panel, in a direction of the thickness of the first panel. The entire edge tongue 22 is preferably at the inner half of the first panel. This may have the effect that more material is obtained between the edge groove 21 and an outer corner, in a locked position of the first and the second panel, which may increase the strength of the mechanical locking device. The first panel comprises an inner face 60 and an outer face 61. The second panel comprises an inner face 62 and an outer face 63.
The third locking surface 43 and the fourth locking surface 42 may cooperate, to absorb a load, at an area extending over a first distance 47 in the second direction. The third locking surface and the fourth locking surface are preferably displaced from the junction plane by a second distance 48. This may have the effect that more material is obtained, in the first direction D1, between the fourth locking surface 42 and the junction plane, which may increase the strength of the mechanical locking device. The first distance 47 may be within the range of about 20% to about 200% of the second distance 48 or within the range of about 50% to about 150% of the second distance 48. The first 47 distance is essentially the same as the second distance 48 in the embodiment shown in
The first side of the edge tongue 22, at a distance from the junction plane, may comprise a fifth locking surface 45 and the edge groove 21 may comprise a sixth locking surface 44 at a distance from the junction plane J. The fifth locking surface and the sixth locking surface are essentially parallel and are preferably configured to cooperate for locking in the first direction. The fifth locking surface and the sixth locking surface are preferably extending essentially in the second direction. The insertion groove 20 is, in the embodiment shown
The first edge surface of the first edge may comprise a recess 55, indicated by a dotted line in
The mechanical locking device may comprise a third contact surface 53 at the first edge and a fourth contact surface 54 at the second edge. The third and the fourth contact surfaces are at an inner corner, in a locked position of the first and the second panel, and in the junction plane, and are configured to cooperate. The third and the fourth contact surfaces are cooperating over a second width 72, in a direction from an inner corner to the outer corner of the first and the second panel. The second width 72 may be in the range of about 2% to about 20%, about 2% to about 10%, or about 2% to about 5% of the edge width 58 of the first and/or second edge surface.
The first panel 2 and the second panel 4 are preferably configured to be assembled by displacing the first panel 2 relative the second panel 4 in the second direction D2, wherein the first panel is perpendicular to the second panel. The edge tongue 22 is inserted into the edge groove 21, wherein the flexible tongue 30 is pushed back into the insertion groove and springs back into the tongue groove 10 to obtain a locked position. The set of panels may be furniture panels.
The insertion groove 20 may extend along essentially the entire length of the edge groove.
The edge groove 21 may extend along essentially the entire length of the second edge in a longitudinal direction of the second edge.
The flexible tongue 30 may be displaceable in the insertion groove.
The locking device is preferably configured such that the flexible tongue 30 moves out of the tongue groove 10 when a tool is inserted into the tongue groove and pushed back into the insertion groove.
The insertion groove 20 may be parallel to the second main plane or at an acute angle 75 to the second main plane, such that a bottom of the insertion groove 20 is at a greater distance from an inner face 62 of the second panel than an opening of the insertion groove to the inner face 62.
The locking device may comprise a bevel or rounding at an opening of the tongue groove 10. This may facilitate disassembling as the bevel or the rounding may prevent the flexible tongue from getting stuck during the disassembling.
The set of panels as described above may be a part of an assembled furniture product, such as a corner of a frame. The tongue groove 10 may be open at a backside of the furniture, such that a tool may be inserted into the tongue groove to push back the flexible tongue 30 into the insertion groove 20 and unlock the locking device.
A core material of the first and the second panel may comprise a wood fibre based board, such as a HDF, MDF, plywood, solid wood or particleboard, or a reinforced plastic board or a wood fibre composite board. The core may be provided with a decorative layer or layers. Parts of the locking device may be formed, preferably by mechanical cutting, such as milling, of material of the first and the second panel.
An embodiment of the flexible tongue 30, which is displaceable in an insertion groove 20, is shown in
The flexible tongue 30 may have a first displacement surface 26 and an opposite second displacement surface 27, configured to be displaced along a third displacement surface 28 and a fourth displacement locking surface 29, respectively, of the insertion groove 20.
An alternative embodiment of the flexible tongue 30, without the protruding bendable parts 24, is shown in
When the word “about” is used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical value include a tolerance of ±10% around the stated numerical value.
1. A set of panels comprising a first panel (2) with a first main plane and a second panel (4) with a second main plane, wherein the first panel and the second panel are provided with a mechanical locking device for locking a first edge of the first panel (2) to a second edge of the second panel (4) at a junction plane (J), wherein the first main plane is essentially perpendicular to the second main plane and the junction plane is extending between the first main plane and the second main plane, characterized in that:
2. The set of panels as in embodiment 1, wherein the angle (74) between the junction plane and the first main plane is about 45°. 3. The set of panels as in embodiment 1 or 2, wherein edge tongue (22) extends, from the junction plane, essentially in the second direction.
4. The set of panels as in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein a first side of the edge tongue (22) comprises, at or near the junction plane (J), a first locking surface (41), and the edge groove (21) comprises, at or near the junction plane (J), a second locking surface (40), wherein the first locking surface and the second locking surface are essentially parallel and are configured to cooperate for locking in the first direction, the first locking surface and the second locking surface are preferably extending essentially in the second direction.
5. The set of panels as in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the edge tongue (22) at a second side, which is opposite the first side, comprises a third locking surface (43) and the edge groove (21) comprises a fourth locking surface (42), wherein the third locking surface and the fourth locking surface are essentially parallel and are configured to cooperate at a distance from the junction plane for locking in the first direction, the third locking surface and the fourth locking surface preferably extend essentially in the second direction.
6. The set of panels as in embodiment 5, wherein the third locking surface (43) and the fourth locking surface (42) cooperate at an area extending over a first distance (47) in the second direction, wherein the third locking surface and the fourth locking surface are displaced from the junction plane by a second distance (48), wherein the first distance (47) is within the range of about 20% to about 200% of the second distance (48) or within the range of about 50% to about 150% of the second distance (48).
7. The set of panels as in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first side of the edge tongue (22), at a distance from the junction plane, comprises a fifth locking surface (45) and the edge groove (21) comprises a sixth locking surface (44) at a distance from the junction plane (J), wherein the fifth locking surface and the sixth locking surface are essentially parallel and are configured to cooperate for locking in the first direction, the fifth locking surface and the sixth locking surface preferably extend essentially in the second direction.
8. The set of panels as in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the mechanical locking device comprises a first contact surface (51) at the first edge and a second contact surface (52) at the second edge, the first contact surface and the second contact surface are at an outer corner, in a locked position of the first and the second panel, and in the junction plane and are configured to cooperate.
9. The set of panels as in embodiment 8, wherein the mechanical locking device comprises a second space (49) extending in the junction plane from the first and the second contact surfaces (51,52) and to an opening of the edge groove.
10. The set of panels as in embodiment 8 or 9, wherein the first and the second contact surfaces (51,52) are cooperating over a first width (71), in a direction from an inner corner to the outer corner of the first and the second panel, wherein said first width is in the range of about 5% to about 40%, about 5% to about 30%, or about 5% to about 20% of an edge width (58) of the first and/or second edge surface.
11. The set of panels as in any one of the embodiments 8-10, wherein the first edge surface and/or the second edge surface comprises a recess (50,55) extending from the first contact surface (51) and the second contact surface (52), respectively, to the edge tongue (22) and the edge groove (21), respectively.
12. The set of panels as in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the mechanical locking device comprises a third contact surface (53) at the first edge and a fourth contact surface (54) at the second edge, the third and the fourth contact surface are at an inner corner, in a locked position of the first and the second panel, and in the junction plane, and are configured to cooperate.
13. The set of panels as in embodiment 12, wherein the third and the fourth contact areas are cooperating over a second width (72), in a direction from an inner corner to the outer corner of the first and the second panel, said second width may be in the range of about 2% to about 20%, about 2% to about 10%, or about 2% to about 5% of an edge width (58) of the first and/or second edge surface.
14. The set of panels as in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first panel comprises an inner half (66) and an outer half (67) in a direction of a thickness of the first panel, wherein the entire edge tongue (22) is at the inner half of the first panel.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1650089-4 | Jan 2016 | SE | national |
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/722,096, filed on Dec. 20, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/415,356, filed on Jan. 25, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,548,397, which claims the benefit of Swedish Application No. 1650089-4, filed on Jan. 26, 2016. The entire contents of each of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/722,096, U.S. application Ser. No. 15/415,356 and Swedish Application No. 1650089-4 are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16722096 | Dec 2019 | US |
Child | 17870215 | US | |
Parent | 15415356 | Jan 2017 | US |
Child | 16722096 | US |