U.S. patent application number 14/146997 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-29 for floor panel assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to SPANOLUX N.V.-DIV. BALTERIO. The applicant listed for this patent is Spanolux N.V.-DIV. Balterio. Invention is credited to Jan Eddy De Rick, BRUNO PAUL LOUIS VERMEULEN.
Application Number | 20140144096 14/146997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43302293 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140144096 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VERMEULEN; BRUNO PAUL LOUIS ;
et al. |
May 29, 2014 |
FLOOR PANEL ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A floor panel assembly includes adjacent floor panels connected
together along edges thereof with a locking element extending
between the edges. The locking element has a first locking surface;
a locking portion at one end; a control portion near another end;
and a connecting portion connecting the locking portion to the
control portion. The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in
a channel of one of the panels and pushed towards a first end of
the channel when the locking element is moved or deformed from a
first position to a second position by the control portion, the
front position being when the panels are disconnected and movable
relative to each other and the second position being when the
panels are fixedly connected to each other.
Inventors: |
VERMEULEN; BRUNO PAUL LOUIS;
(Aldeneik-Maaseik, BE) ; De Rick; Jan Eddy;
(Geraardsbergen, BE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Spanolux N.V.-DIV. Balterio |
Sint-Baafs-Vijve |
|
BE |
|
|
Assignee: |
SPANOLUX N.V.-DIV. BALTERIO
Sint-Baafs-Vijve
BE
|
Family ID: |
43302293 |
Appl. No.: |
14/146997 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13640814 |
Oct 12, 2012 |
|
|
|
PCT/EP2010/054992 |
Apr 15, 2010 |
|
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14146997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/582.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 2201/0547 20130101;
Y10T 403/602 20150115; E04F 2201/0176 20130101; E04F 15/02033
20130101; E04F 2201/0115 20130101; E04F 2201/0138 20130101; E04F
15/04 20130101; E04F 2201/0153 20130101; E04F 15/02 20130101; E04F
2201/0146 20130101; E04F 15/02038 20130101; E04F 2201/0535
20130101; F16B 5/0056 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/582.2 |
International
Class: |
E04F 15/02 20060101
E04F015/02 |
Claims
1. Building panels provided with a locking system for vertical
locking of a first building panel and a second building panel by a
vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels
comprising: a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of
the first building panel, and a strip protruding below the tongue
groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first
building panel; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open
displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel, the
displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge
of the second panel and a tongue locking surface located at an
upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface
cooperating for vertical locking with a groove locking surface of
the tongue groove; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part
spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second
panel; the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface
configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip,
such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue
groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing
surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a
locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical
direction.
2. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
displaceable tongue is asymmetric and comprises a protrusion and
the second panel comprises a cavity for housing the protrusion.
3. The building panels as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
protrusion comprises a part that is flexible.
4. The building panels as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strip
comprises a locking element configured to cooperate with a
downwardly open locking groove formed on the second panel, for
locking of the first and the second building panels in a horizontal
direction.
5. The building panels as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tongue
pressing surface is provided on the protrusion and the strip
pressing surface is provided on the locking element.
6. The building panels as claimed in claim 5, wherein the strip
pressing surface is provided at an inclined surface of the locking
element directed towards the first edge.
7. The building panels as claimed in claim 4, wherein the strip
pressing surface is provided at an upper part of the locking
element.
8. The building panels as claimed in claim 4, wherein cavity
extends from the displacement groove to the locking groove.
9. The building panels as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
displacement groove extends vertically above the locking
groove.
10. The building panels as claimed in claim 4, wherein an upper
part of the locking element is located vertically below the tongue
locking surface of the displaceable tongue.
11. The building panels as claimed in claim 4, wherein an upper
part of the locking groove is located vertically below the tongue
locking surface of the displaceable tongue.
12. The building panels as claimed in claim 4, wherein an upper
most part of the locking element is located in a lower half of an
intermediate core of the first building panel.
13. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue
pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are inclined
relative to a horizontal plane with an angle of about 25 to 75
degrees.
14. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
and the second building panels are locked vertically by a first and
a second pair of cooperating surfaces, the first pair comprises the
tongue locking surface and the groove locking surface, the second
pair comprises an upper part of the strip and a lower part of the
edge of the second panel.
15. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein said groove
locking surface and said tongue locking surface are inclined
relative to a horizontal plane.
16. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groove
locking surface and the tongue locking surface are inclined
relative to a horizontal plane with an angle of about 10 to about
60 degrees.
17. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
displaceable tongue comprises at least two protrusions extending
from the main body, wherein each protrusion comprises said tongue
pressing surface at an outer part of the protrusion, wherein each
tongue pressing surface is configured to be in contact during
locking with a locking element provided on the strip.
18. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the building
panels are floor panels.
19. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper
and outer part of the displaceable tongue in an unlocked position
is located in the displacement groove.
20. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue
pressing surface is located vertically below the tongue locking
surface.
21. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
displaceable tongue during locking is gradually inserted into the
tongue groove from one part of the tongue, which is adjacent to an
installed long edge of an adjacent panel, to another part of the
tongue part, which is adjacent to a free long edge of the first
panel.
22. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strip
comprises a locking element configured to cooperate with a
downwardly open locking groove formed on the second panel, for
locking of the first and the second building panels in a horizontal
direction.
23. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
displaceable tongue is an injection-moulded tongue.
24. Building panels provided with a locking system for vertical
locking of a first building panel and a second building panel by a
vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels
comprising: a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of
the first building panel, and a strip protruding below the tongue
groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first
building panel; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open
displacement groove at an edge of the second building panel, the
displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge
of the second panel and a tongue locking surface located at an
upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface
contacting a groove locking surface of the tongue groove for
vertical locking; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part
spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second
panel; the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface
configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip,
such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue
groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing
surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a
locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical
direction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
13/640,814 filed Oct. 12, 2012, published as U.S. 2013/0025231A1 on
Jan. 31, 2013, which is a Section 371 National Stage Application of
International Application PCT/EP2010/054992 filed Apr. 15, 2010 and
published as WO/2011/127981 A1 in English, all of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The discussion below is merely provided for general
background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in
determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0003] Aspects of the invention relate to a floor panel assembly
comprising sheet-shaped floor panels, which floor panels are
provided with edges, a lower side and an upper side. The floor
panels are intended to be joined by means of joining members.
Particularly, each floor panel is provided on at least a first edge
with a first joining member and, on an opposite second edge, with a
second joining member. The first and second joining members are
adapted to be joined by a movement of two panels with their first
and second panel edges towards to each other such that in the
joined position the panels meet each other near their upper side
along a seam. The first and second joining members locking the
panels at the adjacent edges at least in a direction perpendicular
to the upper side and in a direction parallel to the upper side but
perpendicular to the adjacent first and second edges in their
joined position. The first and second joining members are provided
with at least one locking element which is deformable and/or
movable, during said joining, from a first position allowing the
first and second joining members to be joined, to a second position
in which it locks the first and second joining members to each
other. The locking element is provided on one of the first and
second joining members and comprises a first locking surface
adapted to co-operate with a second locking surface on the other of
said first and second joining members.
SUMMARY
[0004] This Summary and the Abstract herein are provided to
introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are
further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary
and the Abstract are not intended to identify key features or
essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor are they
intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the
claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited
to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the
Background.
[0005] An aspect of the invention is a locking element that has a
locking portion on one end bearing said first locking surface and a
control portion near the other end as well as a connecting portion
between them. The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in a
channel having two open ends, and is pushed at least partly out of
a first end of the channel when the locking element is moved and/or
deformed from the first to the second position by means of the
control portion extending from an opposite end of the channel for
cooperation with the other of said first and second joining
members.
[0006] In this manner, the locking element is guided in a reliable
manner and has a control portion on one side of the channel and the
locking surface on the other. The channel may be formed by a hole,
groove, slit or the like.
[0007] An end of the control portion is movable and is guided by a
wall of the joining member during movement of the control portion
from the curved to the more straight shape. In this way the
movement of the end of the control portion will mainly control the
movement of the locking element.
[0008] In a further alternative, the control portion of the locking
element has a control surface that is inclined with respect to the
direction of movement of the locking portion and with respect to
the direction of movement of the panel edges, such that it can
co-operate with a control surface of the other of said first and
second joining members to move the locking portion of the locking
element from the first to the second position. All kinds of other
shapes and guiding ways can be used to cause the movement of the
locking element.
[0009] In a particular embodiment, the first and second joining
members are configured as a male and female joining member, the
locking element being attached to the male joining member, although
it is also conceivable to attach the locking element to the female
joining member. If the edges of the panels are moved with respect
to each other in a vertical sense, the female joining member will
normally be on the lower edge and the male joining member will be
on the upper edge.
[0010] In a further development, the male joining member is
provided with a protrusion extending away from the upper side of
the panel, the channel extending through said protrusion,
particularly substantially parallel to the upper side of the
respective panel.
[0011] The female joining member may then comprise a control
portion for cooperation with the control portion of the locking
element to move the locking element when the panel edges move
towards each other.
[0012] Also, the female joining member may comprise a lip
protruding substantially parallel to and from the lower side of the
panel at the first edge, said lip having a depression to
accommodate the protrusion of the male joining member, said
depression having an upright projection near the free end of the
lip forming the control portion of the female joining member.
[0013] The locking portion of the locking element may extend a part
of the length of the respective panel edge and may be accommodated
in a groove extending preferably along the length of the panel
edge, the locking element being further provided with a plurality
of connection and control portions accommodated in a plurality of
channels.
[0014] In this manner, the groove can easily be made, for example
by grinding the whole edge of the panel, while the locking portion
may be of a shorter length allowing easy engagement of the locking
surfaces, also if the panel edges are not moved towards each other
in a parallel fashion.
[0015] It is very convenient if the connecting portion includes a
spring-like part to absorb the movement of the control portion and
to transfer it to the locking portion as soon as the first and
second locking surfaces are allowed to engage.
[0016] This enables the control portion of the locking element to
be actuated before the locking surfaces can enter into engagement
with each other. The movement of the panel edges is accumulated as
spring energy which is release at a desired time. As a result it is
not required to allow the locking surfaces to engage gradually in
synchronisation with the movement of the panel edges, although this
is also encompassed by the invention. The locking surfaces may now
engage instantaneous under influence of the spring force on the
locking portion.
[0017] Nonetheless, the first and second locking surfaces may be
inclined to facilitate their engagement.
[0018] An aspect of the invention also includes a floor panel for
use in the above-described floor panel assembly, as well as a
locking element for use in such floor panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Further details and advantages of aspects of the invention
follow from the below description of the invention with reference
to the drawings showing embodiments of the invention by way of
example only.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of panels of a
panel assembly in a stage of laying the panels.
[0021] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view according to the
line II-II in FIG. 1 showing partly two panels with their third and
fourth edges on the long sides of the panels.
[0022] FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c are views showing an
embodiment of the invention.
[0023] FIGS. 5a and 5b are views corresponding to those of FIG. 3,
but showing another embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c are views corresponding to those of FIGS.
4a, 4b, 4c, but showing the embodiment of FIGS. 5a and 5b.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] The drawings and in first instance FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof,
show a number of panels of an embodiment of the panel assembly. In
particular, FIG. 1 shows a first panel 1, a second panel 2, a third
panel 3 and a fourth panel 4. These panels are substantially
rectangular and may both be square or elongated. The four panels
shown are elongated having a first edge 5 and an opposite second
edge 6 that are the short edges, and a third edge 7 and an opposite
fourth edge 8 that form the long edges.
[0026] In principle the panel assembly is intended to form a floor
covering, but the panels may also be used as wall panels, ceiling
panels or panels for covering other surfaces. These surfaces may be
indoor or outdoor surfaces.
[0027] In a particular embodiment, the panels may be constructed as
laminate panels for forming a laminate flooring which is well known
in the art. These panels are used to imitate planks or tiles of
natural material, such as wood, stone or any other material.
Generally these laminate panels comprise a core of relatively cheap
material, in particular a wood based material such as material
including wood particles or fibres such as MDF/HDF, a wood plastic
composite (WPC), other composites including plastics, or plastics.
The core of these panels may be covered by a decorative layer
formed for example from transfer foil or a laminate of paper layers
immersed with resin. The decor may also be formed in a different
way, for example by printing directly and/or digitally on the core,
or by finishing the core by embossing, chafing or the like. An
upper surface 9 on the upper side of the panels is formed thereby.
A lower surface 10 on the lower side of the panels may be formed by
another layer, for example a water-proof coating or sheet. However,
the invention is also applicable for panels made of wood, plastic
or other material with or without separate upper and/or lower
layers.
[0028] The edges 5-8 of each panel 1-4 are provided with joining
members to join the panels to each other to obtain a floor covering
in which the panels are coupled to each other substantially without
the formation of a gap. For this purpose, the first edge 5 of each
panel is provided with a first or male vertical joining member 11,
the second edge 6 with a second or female vertical joining member
12, whereas the third edge 7 is provided with a first or male
horizontal joining member 13 and the fourth edge 8 with a second or
female horizontal joining member 14.
[0029] The third and fourth edges 7, 8 with the first and second
joining members 13, 14 are shown in FIG. 2 and may be configured in
a well known manner. These joining members 13, 14 are such that
they allow a joining of the third and fourth edges 7, 8 of two
panels by bringing the male joining member 13 in contact with the
female joining member 14 of a panel or of two panels which are
already installed on the surface. In FIG. 1, panel 1 is brought in
engagement with panels 3 and 4. The first male joining member 13 is
brought in engagement with the second female joining member 14
while the panel 1 is held in a relatively inclined position, where
after panel 1 with the male joining member 13 is rotated with
respect to the other panels 3 and 4 so as to bring the upper
surfaces 9 of the panels substantially in alignment with each
other. This method is also known as the "angling in" joining
method. In principle, it would also be possible to angle in a
female joining member onto a male joining member of a panel already
installed.
[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the joining members
comprise locking element(s) which prevent the panels from drifting
apart in a direction parallel to their surfaces 9, 10 and
perpendicularly to their edges 7, 8. These locking element(s) are
configured such that they exert a force urging the panels towards
each other (i.e. perpendicular to their edges) while the panels are
in their joined condition. This force counteracts the formation of
gaps between the panels, in particular at the position near the
upper surface 9 where the panels meet each other. This position may
be exactly at the upper surface, but in case the upper edges of the
panels are machined for example to form a V-groove (see FIGS.
4a-4c), U-groove or other lowered area between the panels, the
panel edges will meet at a distance from the upper surface 9.
[0031] FIG. 2 also shows that the first male joining member 13
includes locking portion herein a tongue 15, while the second
female joining member 14 includes a groove 16 which is able to
receive at least a portion of the tongue 15 therein so as to lock
the panels with respect to each other in a direction
perpendicularly to surfaces 9, 10, i.e. in a vertical direction.
The shape of the tongue and groove 15, 16 may have all kinds of
configurations and orientations as long as they include surfaces
that restrict movements in a direction perpendicularly to the
surfaces 9, 10.
[0032] The horizontal lock of the panels away from each other is
accomplished by means of a lip 17 below the groove 16 projecting
from the panel 2 and carrying near its free edge an upper
protrusion 18 engaging into a lower groove 19 positioned behind the
tongue 15 of the panel 3.
[0033] It is shown in the drawings that the first joining member 11
of the first panel 1 is provided with a separate locking element 20
which is connected to the first joining member 11, and has
sufficient freedom of movement to move or deform in order to
cooperate with the second joining member 11 in order to couple the
joining members 11, 12 to each other such that it locks the first
and second joining members 11, 12 to each other in both a direction
perpendicular to the upper surface 9 and in a direction parallel to
the upper sur-surface 9 but perpendicular to the adjacent first and
second edges 5, 6 in their joined position. For this purpose, the
locking element 20 is in a first position, allowing first and
second joining members 11, 12 to be joined (FIG. 4a), to a second
position in which it locks the first and second joining members 11,
12 to each other (FIGS. 4c).
[0034] In the embodiment shown, the locking element 20--when viewed
in a direction parallel to the respective edge 5--is provided with
a locking portion 33 on one of its ends, a control portion 36 on
its other end and with a connecting portion 35 in between. The
locking element 20, and in particular the locking portion 33
thereof, may extend along the whole length of the first edge 5, but
preferably there are provided a plurality of short locking elements
20 distributed along the length of the edge 5, or even only one
short locking element 20 substantially in the middle of the second
edge 6. The length and placement of the locking element 20 depends
on various factors, in particular the length of the edges 5, 6, the
material of the panels and the particular use of the panel
assembly. The use of one or more narrow locking elements 20
facilitate a connection between two panel edges when the edges are
moved towards each other in a non-parallel orientation, for
example, if one panel is folded down as is disclosed here. Also the
locking effect is better when there is a high local load because if
one locking element is disengaged due to the high local load, the
other locking elements will remain locked and keep the edges
together.
[0035] The operation of the joining members 11, 12 is illustrated
with reference to FIGS. 4a- 4c. The function of the locking element
20 is described with reference to one control and connecting
portion 36, 35, but it should be kept in mind that this embodiment
has two control and connecting portions 36, 35, while even a larger
number is conceivable.
[0036] The second or female joining member 12 comprises a groove 21
extending at a distance below the upper side of the panel 2 and
parallel to the respective panel edge 6. The panel portion below
the groove 21 is extended into a protruding lip 22 including in its
upper surface a depression 23 adjacent to groove 21. In the
embodiment shown, the depression 23 has a flat bottom parallel to
the edge 6. On its free end the lip is provided with an upper
projection 24 having an upright wall 25 bordering the depression 23
and an upper surface 26. On the free end of the lip 22 remains a
free space 27 to the first edge 5 of the other panel in order to
ensure that the seam between vertical wall surfaces 28, 29 near the
upper surface 9 of the panels 1, 2 can be closed.
[0037] The first or male vertical joining member 11 comprises a
downward protrusion 30 having in this case a substantially flat
lower surface extending parallel to the first edge 5. The shape and
dimension of this downward protrusion 30 is such that it will fit
into the depression 23 of the female joining member 12 when the
first and second joining members 11 and 12 are in their coupled
condition. The lower surface of the protrusion 30 forms the lowest
point of the first joining member 11 where the distance from the
upper surface 9 of the panel is at a maximum. On the lower side of
the first edge 5 is a recess 31 which is sufficiently large to take
up the upward projection 24 on the lip 22 of the female joining
member 12 and allow it to activate and lock the locking element 20
at the first joining member 11 in the coupled condition of the
joining members 11, 12.
[0038] The protrusion 30 has on its side adjacent the vertical wall
surface 28 and at a distance from the lower surface of the
protrusion 30 a groove 32 preferably extending the whole length of
the edge 5 and adapted to slidingly accommodate a locking portion
33 of the locking element 20. Furthermore, the protrusion 30
comprises at least one, here two channels 34 extending
substantially perpendicularly to the groove 32 and connecting the
groove 32 with the recess 31 of the first joining member 11. The
channels 34, which are here formed as holes with two open ends, are
adapted to guide a connecting portion 35 of each locking element 20
which can thus transfer a movement of a control portion 36 of the
locking element 20 to the locking portion 33 thereof. The height of
the channel 34 may be greater than that of the groove 32 so that
the channel 34 also extends in the portion of the protrusion 30
below the groove 32, having there the form of an upwardly open
groove.
[0039] As is clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4a-4c, the locking
portion 33 of the locking element 20 is here in the form of a
tongue 33. The tongue 33 is sized to be fully accommodated in the
groove 32 in the first joining member 11 when it is in its first
position, and to engage into the groove 21 of the second joining
member 12 when it is in its second, locking position. For this
locking function the tongue 33 is provided on its upper surface
with a locking surface 37 co-operating with a locking surface 38 at
the upper wall of the groove 21 in the second joining member 12.
The locking surfaces 37 and 38 are inclined with respect to the
upper surface 9 and the vertical wall surface 29. The angle may
vary with respect to the upper surface 9 of the panel, but
generally the locking surfaces 37 and 38 will be parallel to each
other when engaged. The inclination of the locking surfaces allow
them to gradually engage when the joining members 11, 12 are being
coupled to each other.
[0040] In the embodiment illustrated, the control portion 36 of the
locking element 20 has a control surface 46 that is inclined with
respect to the direction of movement of the tongue 33 and with
respect to the direction of movement of the panel edges 5, 6 during
joining, such that it can co-operate with an also inclined control
surface 47 of the female joining member 12 (in this case it is
formed by a part of the upright wall 25) to move the tongue 33 of
the locking element 20 from the first to the second position. A
spring 41 of the connecting portion 35 takes up the displacement
before it is transferred to the tongue 33 as soon as it has arrived
in front of the groove 21. Of course it would be sufficient if only
one of the surfaces 46, 47 is inclined to be able to move the
tongue 33.
[0041] In another embodiment of FIGS. 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b, the
control portion 36 has another configuration such that it has a
flexible portion 44 extending along a curved guide 44 in the recess
31 so that the free end of the control portion 36 is at an angle to
the tongue 33 and groove 32 and has at least a component
perpendicular to the upper surface 9 of the respective panel, and
in this embodiment is perpendicular to the upper surface 9. A
lowered portion 45 of the upper surface 26 of the projection 24 of
the second joining member 12 can come into engagement with the free
end of the control portion 36 and can move it upwardly with respect
to the first panel 1. As a result, the curved guide 44 of the first
joining member 11 transfers the vertical movement of the free end
of the control portion 36 into a horizontal movement of the
opposite end of the control portion adjacent to the connecting
portion 35. This horizontal movement or movement parallel to the
upper surface 9 of the panel 1 moves the tongue 33 directly or
through the spring action of the connecting portion 35 into the
groove 21 of the second joining member 12.
[0042] It is noted that aspects of the various embodiments as shown
and described may be used in different combinations. The invention
is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawing and
described above, which may be varied in different ways within the
scope of the invention. For example, it would be possible to
provide the locking element in the second or female joining member.
This would be more or less the upside down version of the
embodiments shown in the drawings. The locking element may also be
substantially rigid, while other parts of the panels may be
deformable or the locking element and the joining members may have
a shape allowing a gradual movement of the locking element. For
example an upper entry wall of the groove on the other panel
receiving the tongue may be inclined to directly take up the tongue
as soon as it is moved by the control portion. Furthermore, it is
conceivable to use the invention with panels that have vertical
joining members on all four sides and that can thus be laid by
moving the panels vertically with respect to one, two or more
panels already installed. Although the locking element has been
described before as an element that is separate from the panels, it
could be integrated in one of the panels, especially if the panels
are made from plastic material. It is also possible that each of
the first and second joining members has its own locking element
co-operating with the other one. The tongue of the locking elements
may be more or less pin shaped such that the tongue and the control
element have substantially the same width and thus each tongue has
only a single control element. The panels may have a different
configuration than substantially rectangular, in particular
triangular or hexagonal. The panel edges should be configured such
that adjacent panel edges have matching joining member.
* * * * *