Key Designed For Four Direction Lock Patents (Class 52/591.3)
  • Patent number: 9247839
    Abstract: A modular floor tile comprising a substrate having a first land with a support surface and first and second perimeter portions each defining a second land with a surface recessed relative to the support surface, the first and second perimeter portions each defining spaced-apart T-lugs and alternating T-recesses, the T-lugs defining extending abutments and notches, whereby two tiles join together by the T-recesses of a first tile receiving respective T-lugs of a second tile, with each notch receiving a respective one of the abutments and the contacting edges thereof resist separation of adjacent joined tiles during use of the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: MMI Andersen Company, LLC
    Inventors: William Leon Tillery, Walter Robb Andersen
  • Patent number: 9032685
    Abstract: A building panel, such as a flooring panel or wall panel and a method of assembling the same into a floor, wall cladding, etc. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. In a preferred embodiment, the groove (6) and the tongue (7) are made of water resistant material and fanned with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: PERGO (EUROPE) AB
    Inventors: Goran Martensson, Magnus Kulik
  • Patent number: 8950149
    Abstract: In a concrete structure, consisting of at least two upright precast concrete elements (1, 1?), it is intended to develop the butt joints between the precast concrete elements in such a way that forces can be absorbed better in at least two directions. For this purpose, it is proposed that at least two tongue-and-groove connections (4, 9; 5, 10) are provided in the region of at least one butt joint (2, 2?) between the precast concrete elements (1, 1?), wherein one of the tongue-and-groove connections (4, 9) is arranged such that it is turned with respect to the second tongue-and-groove connection (5, 10) in a range between about 1° and about 179°, and wherein the butt joint (2, 2?) is of an offset form, and the tongue-and-groove connections (4, 9; 5, 10) are provided in the regions of the offset that run substantially parallel to the surface (3) of the precast concrete elements (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Droessler GmbH Umwelttechnik
    Inventor: Michael Stahl
  • Patent number: 8875465
    Abstract: Flooring panel or wall panel and a use thereof in a wet room. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove and tongue forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. The groove and the tongue are preferably made of water tight material and formed with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pergo (Europe) AB
    Inventor: Göran Mårtensson
  • Patent number: 8850768
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor panel comprising a carrier layer, a wear layer made of a soft/resilient material, and at least two opposite pairs of locking edges, where at least the locking edges of one pair are designed as form-fitting edges and in such a way that two floor panels can be connected by means of these formfitting edges, and where the form-fitting edges each display a horizontal locking surface which, in connected state, together counteract separation of the floor panels in a direction lying in the floor plane and perpendicular to the form-fitting edges, where each form-fitting edge displays a joint-sealing area in the area of the soft/resilient wear layer, and where the horizontal locking surfaces and the joint-sealing areas are coordinated in such a way that, in connected state of two floor panels, initial compression of the joint-sealing areas against each other can be produced and, as a result, a tightly sealed joint in the area of the soft/resilient wear layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Akzenta Paneele + Profile GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Jurgen Hannig
  • Patent number: 8661762
    Abstract: A building panel, such as a flooring panel or wall panel and a method of assembling the same into a floor, wall cladding, etc. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. In a preferred embodiment, the groove (6) and the tongue (7) are made of water resistant material and fanned with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pergo (Europe) AB
    Inventors: Goran Martensson, Magnus Kulik
  • Patent number: 8402709
    Abstract: A building panel, such as a flooring panel or wall panel and a method of assembling the same into a floor, wall cladding, etc. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. In a preferred embodiment, the groove (6) and the tongue (7) are made of water resistant material and formed with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Pergo (Europe) AB
    Inventors: Goran Martensson, Magnus Kulik
  • Patent number: 8397466
    Abstract: A grid-top floor tile for outdoor use includes a polymer tile having a grid-type top surface with multiple levels, such as a bi-level surface having an upper lattice and a lower lattice oriented generally transverse to the upper lattice. The multiple levels of the surface are preferably integrally formed with one another and provide drainage gaps therethrough. In a bi-level surface configuration, the lower lattice has a top surface below a top surface of the upper lattice, so as to draw residual moisture below the top surface of the upper lattice. The tile further includes a support structure, configured to support the tile on a support surface and provide drainage pathways beneath the top surface. The tile still further comprises various reinforcement members on each of the loop and pin connectors used to interlock the tiles when forming a flooring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Connor Sport Court International, LLC
    Inventors: Mark L. Jenkins, Jeremiah Shapiro, Cheryl Forster
  • Patent number: 8276342
    Abstract: Flooring panel or wall panel and a use thereof in a wet room. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. The groove (6) and the tongue (7) are preferably made of water tight material and formed with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Pergo (Europe) AB
    Inventor: Göran Mårtensson
  • Patent number: 8191328
    Abstract: A hardwood floor with a flexible locking mechanism is disclosed. The floor board has a male locking apparatus on one end and a female locking apparatus on the opposite end. Two adjacent floor boards are engaged by sliding the male locking apparatus of one floor board into the female locking apparatus of an adjacent floor board. The female locking apparatus includes a flexible lower lip that moves downward when the male locking apparatus engages the female locking apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: David C. Liu
  • Patent number: 8069631
    Abstract: A flooring includes rectangular floorboards with long sides and short sides, the floorboards being joined in a herringbone pattern, long side to long side and long side to short side, wherein the floorboards have a surface layer of laminate, and the long sides of the floorboards have pairs of opposing mechanical connectors which at least allow locking-together both horizontally and vertically by inward angling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Valinge Innovation AB
    Inventors: Darko Pervan, Tony Pervan
  • Patent number: 7980040
    Abstract: Attachment devices are described for attaching and locating overlapped anchor sheets while allowing for some relative movement as to expansion and contraction. Generally, the devices are a male/female connection on corresponding sheets and expansion openings or apertures surrounding either the male or female part to provide for areas of flexibility to provide for possible movement of either the male or female part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Tac-Fast Georgia L.L.C.
    Inventors: Joseph Rocco Pacione, John Anthony Pacione, Franz Rittmannsberger, Hubert Schreimeier
  • Patent number: 7856784
    Abstract: Flooring panel or wall panel and a use thereof in a wet room. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. The groove (6) and the tongue (7) are preferably made of water tight material and formed with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Pergo AG
    Inventor: Goram Martensson
  • Patent number: 7827754
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7810297
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: UNILIN BEHEER B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7797890
    Abstract: An interlocking tile system comprises tiles that has a body, interlocking cap structure with a first surface and a second surface; a first curved portion connecting the first surface with a radius of R1 to the second engaging surface with a radius of R2, wherein R1>R2; and a stem supporting the cap structure. The cap is a mushroom-like shape. Such configuration of the connector aids in installation by lessening instances of binding and align and guide the caps into their corresponding receiving areas. The tiles are preferably square, and are connected along all four sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: The Parallax Group International, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Thrush, John Grimm
  • Patent number: 7788871
    Abstract: A flooring includes rectangular floorboards with long sides and short sides, the floorboards being joined in a herringbone pattern, long side to long side and long side to short side, wherein the floorboards have a surface layer of laminate, and the long sides of the floorboards have pairs of opposing mechanical connectors which at least allow locking-together both horizontally and vertically by inward angling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Valinge Innovation AB
    Inventors: Darko Pervan, Tony Pervan
  • Patent number: 7779602
    Abstract: A floor structure unit, comprising: a tray, a flooring material, a rubber grommet, and a rubber matrix is provided. The tray includes an upper and lower horizontal surface, at least one retaining wall, a first and a second set of contrapositive interlocking members. The flooring material is disposed on the tray upper horizontal surface such that the first set of interlocking members is substantially flush with the flooring material and the second set of interlocking members extends beyond the flooring material. The rubber matrix is disposed in the tray lower horizontal surface, and the rubber grommet is disposed about the perimeter of the at least one retaining wall. The rubber grommet and the rubber matrix are a unitary piece. Methods of manufacture and use thereof are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: CoMc, LLC
    Inventor: Alan B. Collison
  • Patent number: 7735288
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., Besloten Vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7669377
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7631470
    Abstract: In a heliport of the present invention, a plurality of long deck materials are arranged and joined to form a planar member having an approximately plane structure. The planar member is placed on a structure such as a space framework that can float on water, or on another floating structure. The planar member can serve as a top surface of a heliport surface or as a foundation for the heliport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Aero Facility Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motomi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7610731
    Abstract: A floor structure unit, comprising: a tray, a flooring material, a rubber grommet, and a rubber matrix is provided. The tray includes an upper and lower horizontal surface, at least one retaining wall, a first and a second set of contrapositive interlocking members. The flooring material is disposed on the tray upper horizontal surface such that the first set of interlocking members is substantially flush with the flooring material and the second set of interlocking members extends beyond the flooring material. The rubber matrix is disposed in the tray lower horizontal surface, and the rubber grommet is disposed about the perimeter of the at least one retaining wall. The rubber grommet and the rubber matrix are a unitary piece. Methods of manufacture and use thereof are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: CoMc, LLC
    Inventor: Alan B. Collison
  • Patent number: 7591116
    Abstract: Floor covering, of the type consisting of oblong, and more particularly rectangular, strip-shaped hard floor panels (2) with a layered structure, which extend in parallel rows, characterized in that it comprises floor panels (2) of at least two different lengths (L1-L2-L3), whereby these different lengths (L1-L2-L3) are realized at the manufacturer's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Flooring Industries Ltd Sarl
    Inventors: Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers, Lode Hubert Lieven De Boe, Luc Dirk Daniël Vanhastel
  • Patent number: 7568322
    Abstract: A system for forming a flooring includes rectangular floorboards (1, 1?) including first and second types of floorboards (A, B), on which first and second locking devices are arranged in pairs on opposing short edges (5a, 5b) and long edges (4a, 4b), respectively, and on which the locking device of the first type of floorboard (A) along one pair of opposing joint edges is mirror inverted relative to the corresponding locking device along the same pair of opposing joint edges of the second type of floorboard (B). The system includes a third type of floorboard (C), which is so designed that a first one (5b) of its two short edges presents the first locking device (12) and both its long edges (4a, 4b) and its other short edge (5a) presents the second locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Valinge Aluminium AB
    Inventor: Darko Pervan
  • Patent number: 7497058
    Abstract: Flooring panel or wall panel and a use thereof in a wet room. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. The groove (6) and the tongue (7) are preferably made of water tight material and formed with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pergo (Europe) AB
    Inventor: Göran Mårtensson
  • Publication number: 20080209840
    Abstract: A polymeric interlocking tile for an adhesive-free assemblage with adjacent tiles having substantially similar, but inverted, edge interlocks thereon. The interlocks on each edge of a tile include a row of first and second sets of male-female types of alternating interlocks. The first interlock set includes a male lug projection having sidewalls forming one sidewall of a channel of U-shaped cross-section. The channel forms a female interlock cavity for the first set. The second interlock set is contiguous to the first set and includes a male projecting rib having two parallel sidewalls, one sidewall faces the edge and forms an opposite sidewall of the channel and an opposite, inwardly facing sidewall forms an enclosure for a second female cavity of the next set. At the opposite ends of each interlock row, the U-shaped channel sidewalls are wider to facilitate an initial interlock meshing between contiguous tiles of the assemblage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: John P. Vanderhoef
  • Patent number: 7409801
    Abstract: A foam block concrete form including a pair of opposing foam panels spaced parallel from each other, a plurality of ties positioned transverse to and between the pair of opposed panels for holding the panels in spaced apart parallel relationship to each other, a single row of alternating teeth and sockets positioned and located along opposing horizontal longitudinal edges of each panel to enable the panels to be removably engaged with either opposed horizontal longitudinal edge of an adjacent vertically positioned panel having a substantially identical array of teeth and sockets formed along its opposed horizontal longitudinal edges, and a substantially flat planar surface located adjacent the single row of alternating teeth and sockets thereby providing a mechanism for facilitating the removal of water and other debris which may accumulate within the sockets or spaces formed between the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: TriTex ICF Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry E. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7162846
    Abstract: A joint structure for a liquid or semi-liquid sealant is provided to facilitate the sealing engagement of plural structural members without having sealant protruding from the joint in a visible area. The joint structure comprises a first structural member having a channel with a first wall, a second wall generally opposite the first wall and a third wall connecting the first and second walls. The third wall is disposed at an acute angle to the first wall and at an obtuse angle to the second wall. A second structural member has a tongue portion for matably engaging the channel of the first structural member. The tongue portion has a first wall, a second wall generally opposite the first wall, and a third wall connecting the first and second walls. The third wall is disposed at an obtuse angle to the first wall and at an acute angle to the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Adam Joe Shuttleworth, Robert Eugene Lorentzen
  • Patent number: 7131242
    Abstract: A building panel, such as a flooring panel or wall panel and a method of assembling the same into a floor, wall cladding, etc. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. In a preferred embodiment, the groove (6) and the tongue (7) are made of water resistant material and formed with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Pergo (Europe) AB
    Inventors: Goran Martensson, Magnus Kulik
  • Patent number: 7040068
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 6955020
    Abstract: A floor covering panel made of a hard laminated assembly including a wood-base core includes coupling parts formed in one piece with the core, wherein the coupling parts provide locking elements for preventing the drifting apart of coupled panels in directions perpendicular to the mutual edges along which the panels are coupled and perpendicular to the mutual edges and parallel to a plane including coupled floor panels, and further wherein the mechanical locking elements include an upper surface portion of the tongue extending toward the panel upper side and cooperating with a portion of an upper wall of the groove in which the tongue is coupled in locking relationship, and wherein a portion of the upper surface of the tongue includes the surface sloping away from the panel upper side in a distal direction of the tongue at the distal upper end area of the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer BV, Besloten Vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 6880307
    Abstract: The invention relates to a panel element for forming a floor covering, consisting of several identical interconnectable panel elements and having the following features: two first sides of each panel element, called the “longitudinal sides”, these sides having a groove and a tongue; the tongue of a panel element which is positioned at an angle with an installation level of a first, identical panel element can be introduced into the groove of the first panel element; the tongue interacts with the groove of the adjacent, identical panel element in such a way that two interconnected panel elements are protected against separating forces which are exerted along both of the axes extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal side of the panel elements; two second sides of the panel element, called the end sides, are provided with fixing means and a groove and tongue, these forming an end-side connection between two adjacent panel elements; the end-side grooves and tongue can be interconnected by means of the panel
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hulsta-Werke Huls GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Richard Schwitte, Ansgar Mensing
  • Patent number: 6880305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strip for a building board (2), exhibiting a board body (S) which is formed with a gripping stud (24). The strip (10) extends from the body (S) and from which are formed gripping elements (26, 28), which are bent round the gripping stud (24) for mechanical fastening of the strip (10) to the body (S), as well as a locking element (12) for enabling mechanical joining of the board (2) to similar boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Valinge Aluminium AB
    Inventors: Darko Pervan, Tony Pervan
  • Publication number: 20040190993
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid barrier assembly for the prevention of flow of liquid from one area to an adjacent area. The assembly comprises a plurality of barriers each having a substantially rigid container defining and enclosed chamber and a front concave wall against which, in use, liquid is intended to be incident. The front wall of at least one of the barriers has a plurality of apertures that allow the passage of liquid into and out of the chamber. Adjacent barriers are corrected to one another in a side by side relationship by an elongate dog-bone connector. Each connector has a plurality of resiliently deformable sealing members which ensure that a liquid-tight seal is retained between the barriers. Angular displacement of one barrier relative to its neighbour about the connector is permitted so that a non-linear liquid barrier assembly can be constructed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Paul Roderick Archer-Simms, Christopher John Peacock
  • Patent number: 6766622
    Abstract: Floor covering, consisting of floor panels (1) based on a fiber-like material bound by a binding agent, more particularly MDF or HDF, which, at least at their edges, are connected to each other by means of a connection, more particularly a tongue-and-groove connection (2-3) which connection consists of coupling parts which are made in one piece with the floor panels and is shaped in such a manner that the floor panels (1) are locked glue-free in the direction parallel to the plane of the floor covering and transverse to the connection, as well as in a direction perpendicular to this plane, characterized in that, at least at the location where the floor panels (1) cooperate with each other, a sliding agent (12-12A) is provided at least on one of the floor panels (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V.
    Inventor: Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 6722809
    Abstract: A joint for two flat structural members, in particular floor panels, wherein a groove and tongue joint joining two flat structural members is provided functionally separate from a twistlock locking the two flat structural members. The twistlock is formed on one of the structural members, is spaced apart from the groove and tongue joint, and engages with a correspondingly formed engaging element of the other structural member. The locking is preferably formed both at the longitudinal edges and at the front edges of a rectangular structural member, such as a floor panel. The locking allows for a joint of the floor panels to occur in flat position, i.e. without twisting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hamberger Industriewerke GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Hamberger, August Hipper
  • Patent number: 6684592
    Abstract: The disclosed invention is a portable floor comprised of interlocking floor panels which may be used for dancing, theatrical productions, musical performances, trade shows, and other settings where it is desirable to have a firm wooden floor surface. The disclosed invention enables a single person to install or disassemble the portable floor. It eliminates the need for storing any additional hardware to connect the panels to one another. No special tools are required to assemble or disassemble a floor. The floor is easy to assemble. Once the portable floor is assembled each panel is locked at two different places, thus firmly connecting the floor together. Panels may be added as desired to increase the size of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Ron Martin
  • Patent number: 6675544
    Abstract: A composite wood panel having a first and second longitudinal edge, wherein the first edge includes a groove and the second edge includes a tongue for interlocking and engaging the complementary edges of an adjacent tongue and groove wood panel. The groove has two sides and a base transverse thereto, and the tongue has two side walls and a head extending outward from the second longitudinal edge, thereby forming a juncture between the side walls of the tongue and the second longitudinal edge. A shoulder is located at the juncture between one side wall of the tongue and the second longitudinal edge. Upon assembly of two complementary wood panels as described above, a novel tongue and groove joint is formed wherein the shoulder will abut the first longitudinal edge, thus preventing the tongue from being completely introduced into the complementary groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: J.M. Huber Corporation
    Inventors: Nian-hua Ou, Jianhua Pu
  • Patent number: 6619000
    Abstract: A clamping device for combined floors includes a base member having a snapper, a first rib and a second rib extending upwardly form the base member and adapted to be received in the combined floors for connecting the combined floors. The base member has a &pgr;-shaped bracket extending from a first end of the base member and a T-shaped space defined in a second end of the base member. The &pgr;-shaped bracket is reciprocally and movably received in the T-shaped space of an adjacent base member so that the clamping device is connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Lee Chiu-Ying
  • Publication number: 20030136074
    Abstract: A combination floor structure includes multiple main boards, and multiple connecting boards. Each of the main boards is a rectangular plate, and has four corners each formed with a recessed portion which has a central position protruded with a locking lug which has a center formed with a locking recess. Each of the connecting boards has an outer periphery formed with multiple connecting recesses each of which may allow insertion of the locking lug of the main board, so as to lock and position the locking lug of the main board. Each of the connecting recesses has a center protruded with a connecting lug that may be inserted into and locked in the locking recess of the main board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Chen Chung Ku
  • Patent number: 6446405
    Abstract: A locking system for mechanical joining of floorboards, in which immediately juxtaposed upper parts of taco adjacent joint edges of two joined floorboards together define a joint plane perpendicular to a principal plane of the floorboards, the locking system providing a joining of the two joint edges perpendicular to the joint plane, the locking system including a locking groove which is formed in an underside of and extends in parallel with a first of the two joint edges at a distance from the joint plane and a portion projecting from a lower part of a second of the two joint edges and below the first joint edge and integrated with a body of the board, the projecting portion supporting at a distance from the joint plane a locking element cooperating with the locking groove, the projecting portion being located entirely outside the joint plane seen from a side of the second joint edge, and the projecting portion having a material composition other than that of the body of the board, tie projecting portion inc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Valinge Aluminium AB
    Inventor: Darko Pervan
  • Patent number: 6421970
    Abstract: A building panel, such as a flooring panel or wall panel and a method of assembling the same into a floor, wall cladding, etc. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. In a preferred embodiment, the groove (6) and the tongue (7) are made of water resistant material and formed with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Perstorp Flooring AB
    Inventors: Goran Martensson, Magnus Kulik
  • Patent number: 6418683
    Abstract: A building panel, such as a flooring panel or wall panel and a method of assembling the same into a floor, wall cladding, etc. The panel is provided with a locking means in the form of groove (6) and tongue (7) forming a tongue/groove joint for assembling of the panels. In a preferred embodiment, the groove (6) and the tongue (7) are made of water resistant material and formed with a snap-together joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Perstorp Flooring AB
    Inventors: Goran Martensson, Magnus Kulik
  • Patent number: 6385936
    Abstract: A floor tile, in particular a laminate panel, parquet element or such like, with an edge profile on at least two opposite edges in the form of a modified groove and tongue joint, is designed in such a way that there is a tongue 20, 30 and a groove 22, 26 on each of the said two edges. The edge profiles are contrived so that the adjacent tiles can be locked in place in relation to each other in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Tongue 20 on the first tile 10 and groove 22 in the second tile 12 rise upwards from the bottom of the tiles at an angle. Accordingly, the bottom wall of groove 26 in the first tile and the bottom outer surface of tongue 30 on the second tile 12 are also inclined at an angle, while the top surfaces of the groove and tongue are oriented horizontally or parallel to the plane of the tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: HW-Industries GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Bernd Schneider
  • Publication number: 20010039781
    Abstract: An improved waterproofing system for concrete slab of a flat roof on a building is disclosed. The invention concerns a construction method for installing on the concrete substrate a waterproofing layer comprising hollow plastic panels of designed size, different thickness, and the groove and the tongue joint, and installing a supplementary waterproofing layer using sheet membrane materials such as asphalt sheet, metal sheet and other sheets on the vertical surface, especially the parapet of roof. The invention further concerns a construction method for applying fluid-applied materials after reinforcement with fiber mesh on their joint line to connect plastic panels on substrate with sheet membrane layer on the vertical surface. The waterproofing layer of sloped step type, hollow plastic panels of different thickness permits fast drainage of stagnant water, which inhibits weather damage to the waterproofing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Sang Keun Oh, Sung Min Choi, Ki Sun Bae
  • Patent number: RE39439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for laying and mechanically joining building panels, especially thin, hard, floating floors. Adjacent joint edges (3, 4) of two panels (1, 2) engage each other to provide a first mechanical connection locking the joint edges (3, 4) in a first direction (D1) perpendicular to the principal plane of the panels. In each joint, there is further provided a strip (6) which is integrated with one joint edge (3) and which projects behind the other joint edge (4). The strip (6) has an upwardly protruding locking element (8) engaging in a locking groove (14) in the rear side (16) of the other joint edge (4) to form a second mechanical connection locking the panels (1, 2) in a second direction (D2) parallel to the principal plane of the panels and at right angles to the joint. Both the first and the second mechanical connections allow mutual displacement of joined panels (1, 2) in the direction of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Valinge Aluminium AB
    Inventor: Tony Pervan