IP Library Granted Patent US 12709901
Granted Patent B2
US 12709901 · App. 18/440,330 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Building panel with a mechanical locking system

Inventor: Thomas Meijer (Viken, SE)
Assignee: VÄLINGE INNOVATION AB
E04F15/02038A47B47/0075A47B96/201E04F13/0894A47B2230/16E04F2201/023E04F2201/049
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12709901
App. No.
18/440,330
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A set of panels configured to be locked together by a flexible tongue which includes a flexible element and an opposite flexible element, wherein an end of the flexible element and an end of the opposite flexible element are connected to a connecting part, wherein an outer end of the flexible element and an outer end of the opposite flexible element each includes a protruding part, wherein the protruding part of the flexible element and the protruding part of the opposite flexible element are configured to cooperate during assembling of the first panel and the second panel with a guiding surface of the first panel such that the protruding part of the flexible element and the protruding part of the opposite flexible element are pushed towards a bottom surface of the insertion groove.

Claims (22)

1 . A set of panels comprising a first panel with a first edge and a second panel with a second edge and a flexible tongue, wherein the second edge comprises an insertion groove comprising the flexible tongue and a bottom surface and the first edge comprises a tongue groove, wherein the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate in an assembled state of the first panel and the second panel with the tongue groove,

wherein the flexible tongue comprises a flexible element and an opposite flexible element, wherein an end of the flexible element and an end of the opposite flexible element are connected to a connecting part, wherein an outer end of the flexible element and an outer end of the opposite flexible element each comprise a protruding part,

wherein the protruding part of the flexible element protrudes from the flexible element in a direction away from the bottom surface of the insertion groove,

wherein the protruding part of the opposite flexible element protrudes from the opposite flexible element in a direction away from the bottom surface of the insertion groove,

wherein the flexible tongue comprises a longitudinal space between the protruding part of the flexible element and the protruding part of the opposite flexible element,

wherein the protruding part of the flexible element and the protruding part of the opposite flexible element are configured to cooperate during assembling of the first panel and the second panel with a guiding surface of the first panel such that each of the flexible element and the opposite flexible element bends and such that the protruding part of the flexible element and the protruding part of the opposite flexible element are pushed towards the bottom surface of the insertion groove, wherein each of the flexible element and the opposite flexible element springs back in a direction towards the tongue groove when the first panel and the second panel reach the assembled state,

wherein the protruding part of the flexible element and the protruding part of the opposite flexible element are configured to cooperate in the assembled state with the tongue groove.

2 . The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in an unassembled state, the protruding part of the flexible element and the protruding part of the opposite flexible element protrude outside the insertion groove.

3 . The set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible tongue comprises an inner flexible element and an opposite inner flexible element, wherein an end of the inner flexible element and an end of the opposite inner flexible element are connected to the connecting part.

4 . The set as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the inner flexible element is positioned between the flexible element and the bottom surface of the insertion groove, and wherein the opposite inner flexible element is positioned between the opposite flexible element and the bottom surface of the insertion groove.

5 . The set as claimed in claim 4 , wherein an outer end of the inner flexible element, and an outer end of the opposite inner flexible element each comprises a protruding part which protrudes in a direction towards the bottom surface of the insertion groove.

6 . The set as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the protruding part of the inner flexible element and the protruding part of the opposite inner flexible element are configured to cooperate during the assembling with the bottom surface of the insertion groove.

7 . The set as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the flexible tongue comprises a space between the protruding part of the inner flexible element and the protruding part of the opposite inner flexible element.

8 . The set as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the inner flexible element, the opposite inner flexible element and the connecting part are configured to be positioned within the insertion groove in an unassembled state.

9 . The set as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the flexible tongue comprises a space between the flexible element and the inner flexible element, and an opposite space between the opposite flexible element and the opposite inner flexible element.

10 . The set as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the flexible element and the inner flexible element are during the assembling configured to bend towards each other, and the opposite flexible element and the opposite inner flexible element are configured to bend towards each other, optionally such that the space and the opposite space decreases.

11 . The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal direction of the flexible tongue is essentially parallel with a longitudinal direction of the insertion groove.

12 . The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible tongue has a symmetrical shape with a symmetry line through the connecting part.

13 . The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible tongue comprises a polymer material.

14 . The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible tongue is injection moulded.

15 . The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the entire flexible tongue is made of the same material.

16 . The set of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible tongue comprises a polymer material with an enforcement.