Granted Patent B2

US 12,607,216 · App. 18/610,590 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Inventors: Mark Cappelle (Staden, BE); Luc Deman (Izegem, BE)

Assignee: UNILIN, BV

F16B12/44A47B47/042A47B88/913A47B88/9412F16B5/00F16B5/0016F16B12/125F16B2012/466F16B2200/30

Abstract

Claims (41)

1 . A composed element, wherein the composed element comprises a first panel-shaped element and a second panel-shaped element,

wherein the first panel-shaped element and the second panel-shaped element each comprise a decorative surface;

wherein the first panel-shaped element and the second panel-shaped element each comprise a coupling zone, in which coupling parts are provided for coupling the first panel-shaped element to the second panel-shaped element thereby realizing a locking wherein the coupling parts of the coupled panel-shaped elements lock at an angle and in a mechanically locking manner in a direction perpendicular to the decorative surface of the first panel-shaped element, and in a direction perpendicular to the decorative surface of the second panel-shaped element;

wherein the coupling parts comprise a male coupling part extending from a surface of the first panel-shaped element and a corresponding female coupling part in a surface of the second panel-shaped element;

wherein the composed element further comprises a protrusion having a three-dimensional form including a first portion extending into a thickness of and coupled to the first panel-shaped element, and a second portion extending from the surface of the first panel-shaped element comprising the male coupling part;

wherein the second panel-shaped element comprises a recess in the surface comprising the female part, wherein the recess is a blind hole configured for removably receiving the second portion of the protrusion;

wherein in a coupled condition of the first panel-shaped element to the second panel-shaped element, the protrusion fits into the recess to establish a locking of the coupled panels preventing the coupled panel-shaped elements from being slid out of each other in each of two directions defined by a cutting line of the decorative surface of the first panel-shaped element and the decorative surface of the second panel-shaped element;

wherein the male coupling part comprises a tongue, and the female coupling part forms a groove;

wherein sidewalls of the groove are angled and deviate from the direction perpendicular to the decorative surface of the second panel-shaped element, and wherein an inner surface of the recess is aligned with the direction perpendicular to the decorative surface of the second panel-shaped element.

2 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends perpendicular to the surface of the first panel-shaped element comprising the male coupling part.

3 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the male coupling part extends from an edge surface of the first panel-shaped element.

4 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is provided as a plug.

5 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the recess is provided in a form of a bore.

6 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein in the coupled condition, the first panel-shaped element and the second panel-shaped element are coupled in a corner connection.

7 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the recess is substantially cylindrical.

8 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is substantially cylindrical.

9 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the recess extends deeper into the second panel-shaped element than the female coupling part.

10 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein in coupled condition, the protrusion extends further than the male coupling part from the surface of the first panel-shaped element comprising the male coupling part.

11 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion and the recess have a same or approximately a same diameter.

12 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the first panel-shaped element, or the second panel-shaped element, or both, comprise a wood-based pressed board.

13 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the first panel-shaped element, or the second panel-shaped element, or both, comprise a particle board, a medium density fiberboard or a high density fiberboard.

14 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the first panel-shaped element, or the second panel-shaped element, or both, are formed of melaminated board.

15 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the composed element is a piece of furniture.

16 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the tongue is arranged to snap into the groove by a translation movement.

17 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the tongue has a first part and a second part separated by a slit.

18 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is elongate and has a central longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the male coupling part, wherein the male coupling part is coupled to the female coupling part due to at least a translation movement along the longitudinal axis of the male coupling part.

19 . The composed element of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has a diameter greater than or less than a thickness of the tongue.

20 . A piece of furniture, wherein the piece of furniture comprises a first panel-shaped element and a second panel-shaped element,

wherein the first panel-shaped element and the second panel-shaped element each comprise a decorative surface;

wherein the first panel-shaped element and the second panel-shaped element each comprise a coupling zone, in which coupling parts are provided for coupling the first panel-shaped element to the second panel-shaped element thereby realizing a locking wherein the coupling parts of the coupled panel-shaped elements lock at an angle and in a mechanically locking manner in a direction perpendicular to the decorative surface of the first panel-shaped element, and in a direction perpendicular to the decorative surface of the second panel-shaped element;

wherein the coupling parts comprise a male coupling part extending from a surface of the first panel-shaped element and a corresponding female coupling part in a surface of the second panel-shaped element;

wherein the piece of furniture further comprises a protrusion having a three-dimensional form including a first portion extending into a thickness of and coupled to the first panel-shaped element, and a second portion extending from the surface of the first panel-shaped element comprising the male coupling part;

wherein the second panel-shaped element comprises a recess in the surface comprising the female part, wherein the recess is a blind hole configured for removably receiving the second portion of the protrusion;

wherein in a coupled condition of the first panel-shaped element to the second panel-shaped element, the protrusion fits into the recess to establish a locking of the coupled panels preventing the coupled panel-shaped elements from being slid out of each other in each of two directions defined by a cutting line of the decorative surface of the first panel-shaped element and the decorative surface of the second panel-shaped element;

wherein the protrusion extends perpendicular to the surface of the first panel-shaped element comprising the male coupling part;

wherein the male coupling part extends from an edge surface of the first panel-shaped element;

wherein the protrusion is provided as a plug;

wherein the recess is provided in a form of a bore;

wherein in the coupled condition, the first panel-shaped element and the second panel-shaped element are coupled in a corner connection;

wherein the male coupling part comprises a tongue, and the female coupling part forms a groove;

wherein sidewalls of the groove are angled and deviate from the direction perpendicular to the decorative surface of the second panel-shaped element, and wherein an inner surface of the recess is aligned with the direction perpendicular to the decorative surface of the second panel-shaped element.

Assignments (4)

Priority Claims (2)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (399)