IP Library Granted Patent US 10,935,063
Granted Patent B2
US 10,935,063 · App. 16/911,893 · Granted Mar 2, 2021

Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element

Inventors: Luc Maertens (Ardooie, BE); Mark Cappelle (Staden, BE); Luc Vanhastel (Tielt, BE); Luc Deman (Izegem, BE); Guy Van Hooydonck (Schoten, BE)
Assignee: UNILIN BV
F16B12/26A47B47/042A47B96/201A47B96/206B32B3/06B32B21/02B32B21/04E04F13/08E04F13/0894E04F13/10E04F15/02E04F15/02038E04F15/045F16B5/0056F16B12/46B32B2471/00E04F2201/0115E04F2201/0153E04F2201/041E04F2201/0523F16B2012/463F16B2012/466Y10T403/7005Y10T403/7073Y10T428/13Y10T428/19Y10T428/24008Y10T428/24488Y10T428/24942Y10T428/31591Y10T428/31982
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,935,063
App. No.
16/911,893
Granted
Mar 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A composed element includes at least two panel-shaped elements, which each have an edge zone in which coupling means are present in a profiled part respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the respective edge zone, and each including an end face extending transversely to the respective edge zone. The profiled parts allow the coupling of the panel-shaped elements together in an interlocking manner. At least one of the panel-shaped elements includes an arrangement which hides from view at least a portion of the profiled part formed at the pertaining edge zone at the location of the end face.

Claims (32)

1. A method for assembling a piece of furniture,

wherein said piece of furniture comprises a basic structure having four corners;

wherein panel-shaped elements form horizontal walls of said basic structure, and the panel-shaped elements form vertical walls of said basic structure;

wherein the panel-shaped elements each have an edge zone in which coupling means are present in the form of a profiled part respectively extending in a longitudinal direction of an edge zone;

wherein each panel shaped element forming the vertical wall arranged is coupled with two of said panel-shaped elements forming the horizontal walls in an interlocking manner;

wherein said method comprises realizing connections between both of said panel-shaped elements forming the vertical wall and both of said panel-shaped elements forming the horizontal wall;

wherein the coupling means of at least one of said connections includes a male part and a female part, and the at least one of said connections is realized by snapping the male part into the female part of the respective panel-shaped elements into each other by means of a translation movement of the coupling means towards each other;

wherein said snapping includes the female part being elastically deformed upon entering of the male part into the female part followed by a recovery of at least part of an elastic deformation of the female part in order to create the snapping.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least two of said connections are realized by turning the coupling means of a first of the panel-shaped elements into a second of the panel-shaped elements by a turning movement.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said connections are present at said corners.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the basic structure is formed by turning the panel-shaped elements into each other at a location of three corners, whereas exclusively a fourth corner is effected by means of a translation and snap movement.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said coupling means being connected by a translation and snap movement comprise a locking element which is made as an insertion piece in the female part; and

wherein the insertion piece is elastically deformed upon entering of the male part into the female part followed by a recovery of at least part of the elastic deformation of the insertion piece in order to create the snapping.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said panel-shaped elements completely surround a space.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein all said connections are formed by means of a translation and snap movement.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said piece of furniture is a table or a cupboard.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further includes a preliminary step of taking said panel-shaped elements from a packaged box of flat-pack furniture.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises the step of attaching a door to said basic structure, wherein said door is at least in a closed condition position in front of contours of said coupling means.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said panel-shaped element is made from particle board.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein realizing said connections between both of said panel-shaped elements forming the vertical wall and both of said panel-shaped elements forming the horizontal wall comprises:

turning the coupling means of a first edge of a first of the panel-shaped elements into a first edge of a second of the panel-shaped element,

turning the coupling means of a first edge of a third of the panel-shaped elements into second edge of the second of the panel-shaped element.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein realizing said connections between both of said panel-shaped elements forming a vertical wall and both of said panel-shaped elements forming a horizontal wall further comprises:

turning the coupling means of a first edge of a fourth of the panel-shaped element into a second edge of the third of the panel-shaped element; or

turning the coupling means of a second edge of a third of the panel-shaped element into a first edge of the fourth of the panel-shaped element.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the translation movement that realizes the connection by said snapping connects the second edge of the first panel-shaped element and the second edge of the fourth panel-shaped element.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the female part comprises a groove bordered by a first lip and a second lip;

wherein said snapping includes the first lip being elastically deformed upon entering of the male part into the female part followed by a recovery of at least part of the elastic deformation of the first lip in order to create the snapping.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the elastic deformation of the first lip is an elastic bending.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first lip has a longer length than the second lip.

18. The method of claim 5 , wherein the insertion piece comprises or consists of a strip.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the strip is inserted in a recess in the female part.

Assignments (5)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
To: UNILIN BV
Reel/Frame 066805/0445 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056494 FRAME 0304. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 13, 2021
From: UNILIN, BV
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 057182/0617 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2021
From: UNILIN, BV
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 056494/0304 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 13, 2020
From: UNILIN BVBA
To: UNILIN BV
Reel/Frame 054042/0912 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2020
From: MAERTENS, LUC; CAPPELLE, MARK; VANHASTEL, LUC; DEMAN, LUC; VAN HOOYDONCK, GUY
To: UNILIN, BVBA
Reel/Frame 053040/0883 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 16401421 · May 2, 2019
Continuation 15700958 · Sep 11, 2017
Continuation 15145324 · May 3, 2016
Continuation 14324504 · Jul 7, 2014
Continuation 13140590
Provisional Application 61175596 · May 5, 2009
Related Publication 20200325923A1 · Oct 15, 2020