Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MECHANICAL LOCKING SYSTEM FOR FLOOR PANELS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The disclosure generally relates to the field of
mechanical locking systems for floor panels and building
panels. The disclosure shows floorboards, locking
systems, installation methods and production methods.
FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention are particularly
suitable for use in floating floors, which are formed of
floor panels which are joined mechanically with a locking
system integrated with the floor panel, i.e. mounted at
the factory, are made up of one or more upper layers of
wood or wood veneer, decorative laminate, powder based
surfaces or decorative plastic material, an intermediate
core of wood-fibre-based material or plastic material and
preferably a lower balancing layer on the rear side of
the core. Floor panels with a surface layer of cork,
linoleum, rubber or soft wear layers, for instance needle
felt glued to a board, printed and preferably also var-
nished surface and floors with hard surfaces such as
stone, tile and similar materials are included.
Embodiments of the invention may also be used for joining
building panels which preferably contain a board material
for instance wall panels, ceilings, furniture components
and similar.
The following description of known technique, problems of
known systems and objects and features of the invention
will therefore, as a non-restrictive example, be aimed
above all at this field of application and in particular
at panels formed as rectangular floor panels with long
and shorts edges intended to be mechanically joined to
each other on both long and short edges.
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The long and short edges are mainly used to simplify the
description of embodiment of the invention. The panels
may be square. Embodiments of the invention are
preferably used on the short edges. It should
be emphasised that embodiments of the invention may be
used in any floor panel and it may be combined with all
types of known locking system formed on the long edges,
where the floor panels are intended to be joined using a
mechanical locking system connecting the panels in the
horizontal and vertical directions on at least two
adjacent sides.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Laminate flooring usually comprises a core of a 6-12 mm
fibre board, a 0,2-0,8 mm thick upper decorative surface
layer of laminate and a 0,1-0,6 mm thick lower balancing
layer of laminate, plastic, paper or like material. A
laminate surface comprises of melamine-impregnated paper.
The most common core material is fibreboard with high
density and good stability usually called HDF - High
Density Fibreboard. Sometimes also MDF - Medium Density
Fibreboard - is used as core.
Traditional laminate floor panels of this type have been
joined by means of glued tongue-and-groove joints.
In addition to such traditional floors, floor panels have
been developed which do not require the use of glue and
instead are joined mechanically by means of so-called
mechanical locking systems. These systems comprise
locking means, which lock the panels horizontally and
vertically. The mechanical locking systems are usually
formed by machining of the core of the panel.
Alternatively, parts of the locking system may be form-
ed of a separate material, for instance aluminium or HDF,
which is integrated with the floor panel, i.e. joined
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with the floor panel in connection with the manufacture
thereof.
The main advantages of floating floors with mechanical
locking systems are that they are easy to install. They
may also easily be taken up again and used once more at a
different location.
DEFINITION OF SOME TERMS
In the following text, the visible surface of the
installed floor panel is called "front side", while the
opposite side of the floor panel, facing the sub floor,
is called "rear side". The edge between the front and
rear side is called "joint edge". By "horizontal plane"
is meant a plane, which extends parallel to the outer
part of the surface layer. Immediately juxtaposed upper
parts of two adjacent joint edges of two joined floor
panels together define a "vertical plane" perpendicular
to the horizontal plane. By "inner vertical tongue plane"
is meant a plane, which is parallel with a vertical plane
that intersects the outer and most inner part of the main
tongue body. By "vertical locking" is meant locking
parallel to the vertical plane. By "horizontal locking"
is meant locking parallel to the horizontal plane.
By "up" is meant towards the front side, by "down"
towards the rear side, by "inwardly" mainly horizontally
towards an inner and centre part of the panel and by
"outwardly" mainly horizontally away from the centre part
of the panel.
By "locking systems" are meant co acting connecting
elements, which connect the floor panels vertically
and/or horizontally.
RELATED ART AND PROBLEMS THEREOF
For mechanical joining of long edges as well as short
edges in the vertical and in the first horizontal
direction perpendicular to the edges several methods may
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be used. One of the most used methods is the angle-snap
method. The long edges are installed by angling. The
panel is than displaced in locked position along the long
side. The short edges are locked by horizontal snapping.
The vertical connection is generally a tongue and a
groove. During the horizontal displacement, a strip with
a locking element is bent and when the edges are in
contact, the strip springs back and a locking element
enters a locking groove and locks the panels
horizontally. Such a snap connection is complicated since
a hammer and a tapping block usually needs to be used to
overcome the friction between the long edges and to bend
the strip during the snapping action.
Similar locking systems may also be produced with a rigid
strip and they are connected with an angling-angling
method where both short and long edges are angled into a
locked position.
Recently new and very efficient locking systems have been
introduced with a separate flexible or displaceable
integrated tongue on the short edge that allows
installation with only an angling action, generally
referred to as "vertical folding". Such a system is
described in WO 03/083234 and WO 2006/043893 (Valinge
Innovation AB)
Several versions are used on the market. Figure la-lc
show a locking system comprising a displaceable tongue 30
that is displaced inwardly into a displacement groove 21
and outwardly into a tongue groove 20 when the edges of
adjacent panels 1,1' are displaced vertically against
each other. Such systems are referred to as vertical snap
systems and they provide an automatically locking during
the folding action. The displaceable tongue 30 locks the
panels vertically parallel to a vertical plane VP
perpendicular to a main horizontal plane of the panels. A
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locking strip 6 with a locking element 8 that cooperates
with a locking groove 14 in the adjacent panel 1' locks
the edges horizontally parallel to a main horizontal
plane HP.
5
Figures 2a-2e show one of the most used flexible tongues
30 the so-called bristle tongue, which is formed in one
piece. Such a displaceable tongue 30 comprises a main
tongue body 31 that is strong and rather rigid, flexible
protrusions 38 that provides the necessary flexibility
and friction connections 36 that prevents the tongue to
fall out from the displacement groove 21 during transport
and installation of the floor panels. Bristle tongues are
made of high quality plastic material reinforced with
glass fibres. The flexibility must be considerable and
allow that a flexible tongue is displaced in two
directions about 1-2 mm during locking. The tongues are
injection moulded and formed into tongue blanks 50 that
may comprise up to 32 tongues. The tongues are connected
to rails 51 which are used to feed the tongues during
production when they are separated from the tongue blank
and inserted into an edge of a panel.
Although such locking systems and one-piece bristle
tongues are very efficient and provide a strong and
reliable locking, there is still a room for improvements.
One disadvantage is that the whole tongue blank 50 is
made of a high quality plastic material that is rather
costly. Such high quality material is only needed in
those parts of the tongue that form the flexible
protrusions 36. High quality plastic material reinforced
with glass fibres is not required in the parts of the
tongue that comprises the main tongue body 31 and the
rails 51. About 60% of a tongue blank is made of a
material that is of a higher quality than required for
its specific function.
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A second disadvantage is that each tongue blank 50 must
be individually designed for a specific width of a floor
panel and this requires a wide range of expensive
injection moulding tongues for each width.
A third disadvantage is that glass fibre reinforced
plastic material is difficult to recycle and the scrap
from the rails has a very low material value.
It would be a major advantage if the tongues could be
made in a more cost efficient way regarding material
costs and different tongue lengths.
It is known from the above-mentioned publications that a
displaceable tongue may be formed from a sheet shaped
materials such as HDF. This may decrease the material
costs with about 80% compared to high cost plastic
materials. The flexibility may be obtained by a flexible
rubber strip that is inserted into an inner part of a
displacement groove or attached to an inner part of an
extruded plastic section. Such a two-piece tongue will
not provide sufficient strength and flexibility since the
compression takes place outside the displaceable tongue
between the inner part of a displacement groove and the
inner edge of the tongue body. The groove must be rather
deep and this will have a negative effect on the joint
stability. It is not shown how the flexible material
should be attached to tongues in a tongue blank and how
friction connections should be formed that allow the
tongue to slide in the groove without the risk that the
tongue will fall out from the groove after production.
The cost of the flexible material is still rather high
since the flexible part extends along the whole tongue
length.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An overall objective of embodiments of the present
invention is to provide an improved and more cost
efficient locking system for primarily rectangular floor
panels with long and short edges installed in parallel
rows, which allows that the short edges may be locked to
each other automatically with a vertical snap action
caused by a tongue that is displaced in a groove. More
specifically the objective is to provide a locking system
with a separate displaceable tongue that is formed of
different materials such that the cost and function may
be optimised.
Another specific objective is to provide a tongue that
may be produced in different lengths without the need of
individual injection moulding tools specially designed
for each tongue length.
The above objects of embodiment of the invention may be
achieved wholly or partly by locking systems and floor
panels according to the disclosure. Embodiments of the
invention are evident from the description and drawings.
A first aspect of the invention is building panels
provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a
first and a second building panel by a vertical
displacement of the panel relative each other. A
displaceable tongue is attached into a sidewardly open
displacement groove provided at an edge of the first
panel. Said tongue cooperates with a tongue groove
provided at an adjacent edge of the second panel for
locking the edges vertically. A strip protrudes below the
displacement groove and outwardly beyond the upper part
of the edge or below the tongue groove and outwardly
beyond the upper part of the adjacent edge. The
displaceable tongue comprises a main tongue body
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extending along the edge of the first panel and a
separate flexible spring part attached to the main tongue
body. The separate spring part is located in an inner
part of the displacement groove
The tongue may comprise two or more spring parts that are
spaced from each other in the length direction of the
main tongue body.
The spring parts may be asymmetric in a direction along
the edge.
The main tongue body and the spring parts may be made of
different materials
The tongue may comprise an upwardly or downwardly open
fixing groove.
The spring parts may comprise an upwardly or downwardly
extending fixing connection part.
The spring part may during locking be displaced or
compressed horizontally beyond a vertical tongue plane
that comprises an inner part of the tongue body.
The spring part may overlap a part or the tongue body
during locking.
The spring part may be located in a vertically open
flexing cavity formed in the tongue body.
The building panels are preferably floor panels.
A second aspect of the invention is a tongue blank
comprising at least two tongues which are each designed
to be inserted into a groove of a building panel and lock
the building panel to an adjacent building panel. A part
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of the tongue is configured to be displaced during locking. The
tongues are of an elongated shape and each tongue comprises a
separate spring part connected to a main body of the tongue.
The separate spring part may be asymmetric in the length
direction of the tongue.
Each tongue may comprise two or more spring parts that are
spaced from each other in the length direction of the tongue.
In another aspect, there is provided building panels provided
with a locking system for vertical locking of a first and a
second building panel by a vertical displacement of said first
and second building panel relative each other, a displaceable
tongue is attached into a sidewardly open displacement groove
provided at an edge of the first building panel, said
displaceable tongue cooperates with a tongue groove provided at
an adjacent edge of the second building panel for locking the
edge and the adjacent edge vertically, a strip protrudes: below
the displacement groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of
the edge; or below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond the
upper part of the adjacent edge, wherein the displaceable
tongue comprises a main tongue body extending along the edge of
the first building panel and separate flexible spring parts
attached to the main tongue body, wherein the separate spring
parts are located in an inner part of the displacement groove
and spaced from each other in a length direction of the main
tongue body, and wherein said separate spring parts comprise an
upwardly or downwardly extending fixing connection part.
In another aspect, there is provided a tongue blank comprising
at least two tongues, which are each designed to be inserted
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into a groove of a building panel and lock the building panel
to an adjacent building panel, a part of each tongue is
configured to be displaced during locking wherein the tongues
are of an elongated shape, wherein each tongue comprises a
separate spring part connected to a main body of the tongue,
and wherein said separate spring parts comprise an upwardly or
downwardly extending fixing connection part.
In another aspect, there is provided building panels including
at least a first building panel and a second building panel
that are provided with a locking system for vertical locking of
the first building panel and the second building panel by a
vertical displacement of the first and second building panels
relative each other, the locking system comprising a
displaceable tongue attached into a sidewardly open
displacement groove provided at an edge of the first building
panel, said displaceable tongue cooperates with a tongue groove
provided at an adjacent edge of the second building panel for
locking the edge and the adjacent edge vertically, and the
locking system further comprising a strip that protrudes from
the edge or the adjacent edge: below the displacement groove
and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge; or below the
tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the
adjacent edge, wherein the displaceable tongue comprises a main
tongue body extending along the edge of the first building
panel and separate flexible spring parts that are detachably
attached to the main tongue body, and the separate spring parts
are located in an inner part of the displacement groove and
spaced from each other in a length direction of the main tongue
body.
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In another aspect, there is provided a tongue blank comprising
at least two tongues, which are each designed to be inserted
into a groove of a building panel and lock the building panel
to an adjacent building panel, a part of each tongue is
configured to be displaced during locking wherein the tongues
are of an elongated shape, wherein each tongue comprises a
separate spring part that is configured to be detachably
attached to a main body of the tongue, and wherein said
separate spring parts comprise an upwardly or downwardly
extending fixing connection part.
In another aspect, there is provided building panels including
at least a first building panel and a second building panel
that are provided with a locking system for vertical locking of
the first building panel and the second building panel by a
vertical displacement of the first and second building panels
relative each other, the locking system comprising a
displaceable tongue attached into a sidewardly open
displacement groove provided at an edge of the first building
panel, said displaceable tongue cooperates with a tongue groove
provided at an adjacent edge of the second building panel for
locking the edge and the adjacent edge vertically, and the
locking system further comprising a strip that protrudes from
the edge or the adjacent edge: below the displacement groove
and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge; or below the
tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the
adjacent edge, wherein the displaceable tongue comprises a main
tongue body extending along the edge of the first building
panel and separate flexible spring parts attached to the main
tongue body, the separate spring parts are located in an inner
part of the displacement groove and spaced from each other in a
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length direction of the main tongue body, and the main tongue
body and the spring parts are made of different materials.
In another aspect, there is provided building panels including
at least a first building panel and a second building panel
5 that are provided with a locking system for vertical locking of
the first building panel and the second building panel by a
vertical displacement of the first and second building panels
relative each other, the locking system comprising a
displaceable tongue attached into a sidewardly open
10 displacement groove provided at an edge of the first building
panel, said displaceable tongue cooperates with a tongue groove
provided at an adjacent edge of the second building panel for
locking the edge and the adjacent edge vertically, and the
locking system further comprising a strip that protrudes from
15 the edge or the adjacent edge: below the displacement groove
and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge; or below the
tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the
adjacent edge, wherein the displaceable tongue comprises a main
tongue body extending along the edge of the first building
20 panel and separate flexible spring parts that are adapted to be
attached to the main tongue body, the separate spring parts are
located in an inner part of the displacement groove and spaced
from each other in a length direction of the main tongue body;.
and wherein said separate spring parts comprise an upwardly or
25 downwardly extending fixing connection part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The disclosure will in the following be described in connection
to exemplary embodiments and in greater detail with reference
to the appended exemplary drawings, wherein:
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Figs la-c illustrate locking systems according to known
technology.
Figs 2a-e illustrate a flexible and displaceable tongue
according to known technology.
Figs 3a-3g illustrate a displaceable tongue according to an
embodiment of the invention.
Figs 4a-d illustrate the function of a spring part according to
an embodiment of the invention.
Figs 5a-g illustrate forming and separation of a tongue blank
according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figs 6a-e illustrate preferred embodiments of displaceable
tongues.
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Figs 7a-c illustrate vertical locking of two panels
comprising a displaceable tongue according to
an embodiment of the invention.
5 Figs 8a-f illustrate forming and fixing of a
displaceable tongue according to an
embodiment of the invention.
Figs 9a-g illustrate forming of a tongue blank
10 according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figs 10a-g illustrate embodiments of the invention.
Figs 11a-g illustrate spring parts made of a
compressible material according to
embodiments of the invention.
Figs 12a-i illustrate spring parts connected into
cavities according to embodiments of the
invention.
Figs 13a-f illustrate separate friction connections
according to embodiments of the invention.
Figs 14a-d illustrate spring parts connected into a
groove according to embodiments of the
invention.
Figs 15a-f illustrate different embodiments of the
invention.
Figs 16a-g illustrate spring parts connected into a
groove according to embodiments of the
invention.
Figs 17a-g illustrate different embodiments of the
invention.
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Figs 18a-e illustrate different embodiments of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
To facilitate understanding, several locking systems in
the figures are shown schematically. It should be
emphasised that improved or different functions may be
achieved using combinations of the embodiments.
All embodiments may be used separately or in
combinations. Angles, dimensions, rounded parts, spaces
between surfaces etc. are only examples and may be
adjusted within the basic principles of the invention.
Figures 3a - 3g show a first preferred embodiment of a
displaceable tongue 30 which is intended to be used to
lock two adjacent edges of two floor panels by a vertical
displacement of the panels relative each other.
Figure 3a show a displaceable tongue 30 with a main
tongue body 31, a length direction L along the joint, a
width W perpendicular to the length and parallel to a
horizontal plane and a thickness perpendicular to the
width. An inner vertical tongue plane Tpl and an outer
vertical tongue plane Tp2 parallel with the length
direction of the tongue intersects the outer edges of the
tongue.
Figure 3b shows a displaceable tongue 30 comprising a
separate spring part 40 attached to the main tongue body
31. The spring part comprises a spring part body 41, a
friction connection 36, preferably formed as a small
local protrusion extending vertically from the spring
part body 41 and a fixing connection part 42 that is
fixed into a fixing groove 32 formed in the main tongue
body 31.
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Figure 3c shows a spring part blank 60 seen from above
comprising several spring parts 40 connected to each
other in parallel rows and to spring part rails 61.
Figure 3d shows the spring part blank seen from below.
Each spring part 40 comprises a fixing connection part 42
that in this embodiment is formed as a protrusion
extending vertically from the main spring part body 41
and in opposite direction to the extension of the
friction connection 36.
Figure 3e shows a main tongue body 31 that in this
embodiment is formed as a two dimensional profile with
the same cross section along the tongue body. Such a
tongue body may be formed by for example linear
machining, extrusion or by injection moulding where
rather simple moulding tools are used.
Figure 3f shows a displaceable tongue in an outer locked
position, which tongue comprises a main tongue body 31
and two separate spring parts 40,40' mechanically
connected to the tongue body 31 and spaced from each
other in the length direction of the tongue 30.
Figure 3g shows the displaceable tongue in an inner
unlocked position when the tongue 30 is pressed into a
sidewardly open displacement groove 21. The spring part
is displaced inwardly beyond the first vertical tongue
plane Tpl but also above a part of the main tongue body
31. The thickness of the spring part is smaller than the
thickness of the tongue body 31. This embodiment offers
the advantage that the spring part may be easily
connected to a tongue body that has a rather simple cross
section and that the depth of the displacement groove may
be reduced since the main tongue body 31 and the spring
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part body 41 may overlap each other in locked and
unlocked position.
Any type of polymer materials may be used to form spring
parts such as RA (nylon), POM, PC, PP, PET or PE or
similar having the properties described above in the
different embodiments. These plastic materials may be,
when injection moulding is used, reinforced with for
instance glass fibre, Kevlar fibre, carbon fibre or talk
or chalk. A preferred material is glass fibre, preferably
extra long, reinforced PP or PPM. Such materials may also
be used to form the main tongue body.
The tongue body preferably comprises a low cost material
that preferably may be machined. Suitable materials are
wood fibre based materials combined with thermoplastic or
thermosetting binders.
Figures 4a shows a part of a displaceable tongue 30
comprising a spring part 40 connected to an upper part of
a main tongue body 31. Figure 4b shows the spring part 40
from below with a fixing connection part 42 that is
flexible and adapted to be connected vertically into a
vertically open fixing groove 32 formed on the upper part
of the tongue body 31. The fixing connection part 42
comprises a horizontal friction protrusion 43 that
presses against a vertical wall of the fixing groove 32.
Figure 4c shows the flexible tongue 30 in outer position
and figure 4d shows the flexible tongue 30 in an inner
position. A-A shows the cross section of a middle part of
the main tongue body. B-B shows the cross section of an
outer part of the main tongue body. The figures show that
a part of the spring part body 41 is located above an
upper part of the tongue body 31 and displaced beyond the
first vertical tongue plane Tpl during locking such that
it overlaps the main tongue body.
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Figure 5a shows a cross section of a tongue blank 50
comprising several displaceable tongues that comprise of
a main tongue body 31 and separate flexible parts 40
connected to the tongue body. Figure 5b shows a tongue
body blank 70 comprising several tongue bodies 31 that
are connected with tongue body rails 71. Such rails may
for example be formed by punching away material from the
tongue bodies. Figure 5f shows a spring part blank 60
where the spring parts are positioned with essentially
the same distance D between each other as the distance
between the tongue bodies 31. This facilitates the fixing
of the spring parts to the tongue bodies since the spring
parts may be displaced after separation, shown in figure
5g, mainly parallel with the tongue bodies over the
tongue bodies and pressed vertically such that the fixing
connection part 42 enters the fixing groove 32. A tongue
blank 50 may be formed as shown in figure Sc. Such
forming may be made as a separate operation and tongue
blanks are delivered as integrated blanks. The connection
may also be made in line with the inserting of the tongue
into the displacement groove. The tongues 30 are
separated from the blank as shown in figure 5d and
inserted into the displacement groove 21 as shown in
figure 5e. The tongues may be inserted in a groove of the
strip panel comprising the strip or into a groove formed
in the other adjacent panel.
Figure 6a- 6d shows alternative methods to connect the
spring parts 40 to a main tongue body 31. One or several
holes 34a or cavities 34b may be formed. Figure 6e shows
that different lengths of the displaceable tongues may be
formed by combining several spring parts that are
positioned along the main tongue body 31.
Figures 7a-7c show locking of two panels 1,1'. Figure 7a
shows that the tongue 30 tilts downwards during locking
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and figure 7c shows that the tongue 30 tilts upwards in
locked position such that an outer part of the rigid
tongue body forms an upper contact surface 22 with the
displacement groove 21 and that an inner part forms a
5 lower contact surface 23. This means that it is an
advantage to connect the spring part to an upper part of
the main tongue body. The spring part may of course be
connected to a lower part into a fixing groove that is
open downwards.
Figures 8a - 8e shows a method to form and insert
displaceable tongues into an edge of a panel that may be
used for example when tongue bodies are delivered as
loose element or as extruded sections that are cut into
defined lengths. The tongue bodies 31 are displaced, for
example, parallel with their lengths and spring part
blanks 60 are displaced towards the tongue bodies where
the spring parts 40 are separated and connected to the
tongue body when the tongue body 31 is displaced in its
length direction. The displaceable tongues 30 are
thereafter inserted into the displacement groove 21.
Figures 9a -9c show that a tongue body blank may be
formed as an extruded section, figure 9a,b, or by, for
example, machining a panel from a machined wood,
wood/plastic or plastic panel, figure 9b, or by injection
moulding, figure 9c.
Figure 9d and 9f show that tongue blanks may be formed by
displaceable tongues that are connected with rails that
may be comprise extrudes section, figure 9e, or moulded
parts, figure 9g.
Figures 10a-10d show preferred embodiments of
displaceable tongues 30. Figure 10a shows overlapping
spring parts 40. Figure 10b shows a spring part that is
glued to a tongue body. Figure 10c show spring parts with
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a spring part body that is only flexible at one edge.
Figure 10d shows spring parts that are connected to each
other.
Figure 10e shows a tongue 30 with a spring part that is
connected into an inclined displacement groove 21 in the
strip panel comprising the locking strip 6. Figure 10f
shows a displaceable tongue 30 inserted into an edge of a
groove panel comprising the locking groove 14. Figure lOg
shows a locking system that only locks vertically. The
strip 6 has no locking element. The horizontal locking
may be accomplished with for example friction between the
long edges.
Figures 11a - 11g shows that the spring part may also be
formed from a flexible material such as, for example,
rubber. The flexible parts are even in this embodiment
positioned with a distance between each other along the
main tongue body and the separate parts may be compressed
and displaced beyond the first vertical tongue plane Tpl
as shown in figure 11c. Preferably flexing cavities 33
are formed in the main tongue body to allow such
compression. The spring parts 40 are preferably
asymmetric in the length direction of the displaceable
tongue 30.
Figures 12a - 12i show that several fixing cavities 33
and flexing cavities 34 may be formed in the main tongue
body 31 in order to fix spring parts and to allow
compression or flexing displacement within beyond the
vertical tongue plane Tpl. The figures show that the
tongue bodies 31 and the spring parts 40 are asymmetric
in the length direction of the tongue.
Figures 13a-13f show that also other parts of the
displaceable tongue may be connected as separate parts,
for example, friction connection 36 that may be attached
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to a main tongue body 31 as shown in figure 13d. Figure
13e shows that a friction connection 36 may be formed and
attached to the main tongue body 31 such that it may be
displaced with a turning. Such turning device may be used
as a link in order to displace a tongue outwardly from
the displacement groove when the tongue is pushed
sideways along the joint with a side pressure.
Figures 14a-14d show an alternative method to form a
displaceable tongue that comprises separate spring parts
40. The spring parts are inserted into the displacement
groove 21. A main tongue body 31 is thereafter inserted
into the displacement groove and connected to the spring
parts 40.
Figures 15a-15f shows a preferred embodiment of a spring
part that is suitable to be inserted into a displacements
groove 21. Figure 15a shows the spring part 40 from above
and figure 15b is a side view. The spring part comprises
a frictions connection 36, a snapping connection 44 and a
holding connection 45 located vertically at opposite
upsides of the spring part. The snapping and holding
connections are displaced along the spring part body 41.
The main tongue body 31 is automatically snapped to the
spring part that is connected with the friction
connection 36 to the displacement groove. Figure 15e and
15f shows cross sections during locking. The snapping
connection 44 is fixed to the main tongue body and the
holding connections slides against the tongue body 31
during locking. The spring part 41 may of course also be
attached to the main tongue body prior to the fixing into
the displacement groove 21.
Figures 16a-g shows a spring part 40 that is only
possible to snap to a main tongue body 31 when the spring
part is already in the displacement groove 21 since the
spring part only comprises a snapping connection 44 and
CA 02844377 2014-02-05
WO 2013/025163 PCT/SE2012/050871
18
no holding connection. Figure 16a shows the spring part
seen from above and figure 16b shows a side view. It is
preferred that the snapping connection 44 is located on
the upper part of the spring part 40.
Figures 17a-g shows that a flexing cavity 33 may be
formed in the main tongue body 31 and this embodiment
allows that a major part of the spring part body 41 may
be displaced beyond the vertical tongue plane Tpl
Figure 18a -18e shows that tongue body 31 may be formed
as a three-dimensional moulded component and optimized to
be snapped to a spring part. The material savings are
mainly obtained due to the fact that the plastic material
of the tongue body 31 may be less costly since no
flexibility is required. Figure 18e is a side view of
figure 18d. The spring part protrusions 46, 46', are
during locking displaced in the displacement cavities 33,
33'.
The described tongues are mainly intended to be used on
short edges of panels comprising locking systems on long
edges that may be locked by angling. However, the tongues
may be used on short and/or long edges.
The principles of the invention may also be used to form
two-piece tongues that are not flexible and that are, for
example, used to be displaced along the joint during
locking. Separate parts may be used as, for example,
wedges that during displacement create a movement of the
tongue perpendicular to the edge.
