Patents by Inventor Michael Gründel

Michael Gründel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Surface covering comprising laminate panels and an extraneous locking element
    Patent number: 9080329
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface covering (100) comprising panels (200) and at least one extraneous locking element (300). The panels (200) are provided with respective longitudinal and transverse coupling means (400, 500) which are adapted to connect similar panels (200) at corresponding adjacent edges (211, 211?, 213, 213?). The transverse coupling means (500) are adapted to form a channel (501) in coupled condition which is adapted to receive the extraneous locking element (300). When inserted into the channel (501) formed by the transverse coupling means (500) of panels (200) in a first row (206), the extraneous locking element is adapted to extend at least partially into the groove (430) of an adjacent parallel panel in the second row (207), such that a lower surface (305) of the extraneous locking element (300) is in contact with a lower lip contact portion (433), and the upper surface (307) of the extraneous locking element (300) is in contact with an upper lip contact portion (437).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kronoplus Technical AG
    Inventors: Dieter Döhring, Michael Gründel
  • SURFACE COVERING COMPRISING LAMINATE PANELS AND AN EXTRANEOUS LOCKING ELEMENT
    Publication number: 20130283719
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface covering (100) comprising panels (200) and at least one extraneous locking element (300). The panels (200) are provided with respective longitudinal and transverse coupling means (400, 500) which are adapted to connect similar panels (200) at corresponding adjacent edges (211, 211?, 213, 213?). The transverse coupling means (500) are adapted to form a channel (501) in coupled condition which is adapted to receive the extraneous locking element (300). When inserted into the channel (501) formed by the transverse coupling means (500) of panels (200) in a first row (206), the extraneous locking element is adapted to extend at least partially into the groove (430) of an adjacent parallel panel in the second row (207), such that a lower surface (305) of the extraneous locking element (300) is in contact with a lower lip contact portion (433), and the upper surface (307) of the extraneous locking element (300) is in contact with an upper lip contact portion (437).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Dieter Döhring, Michael Gründel