US 11,987,990 B2
Mechanical locking of floor panels with vertical snap folding
Darko Pervan, Viken (SE); and Marcus Nilsson Ståhl, Höganäs (SE)
Assigned to Välinge Innovation AB, Viken (SE)
Filed by Välinge Innovation AB, Viken (SE)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/057,811.
Application 18/057,811 is a continuation of application No. 16/253,465, filed on Jan. 22, 2019, granted, now 11,519,183.
Application 16/253,465 is a continuation of application No. 15/695,437, filed on Sep. 5, 2017, granted, now 10,214,917, issued on Feb. 26, 2019.
Application 15/695,437 is a continuation of application No. 14/947,436, filed on Nov. 20, 2015, granted, now 9,777,487, issued on Oct. 3, 2017.
Application 14/947,436 is a continuation of application No. 14/011,121, filed on Aug. 27, 2013, granted, now 9,212,492, issued on Dec. 15, 2015.
Application 14/011,121 is a continuation of application No. 13/660,538, filed on Oct. 25, 2012, granted, now 8,544,234, issued on Oct. 1, 2013.
Application 13/660,538 is a continuation of application No. 12/266,762, filed on Nov. 7, 2008, granted, now 8,353,140, issued on Jan. 15, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/986,077, filed on Nov. 7, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2023/0220680 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E04F 15/02 (2006.01); E04F 13/08 (2006.01); E04F 15/10 (2006.01); H01F 7/02 (2006.01); H01F 7/122 (2006.01); H04M 1/02 (2006.01); H04M 1/18 (2006.01); H04M 1/7246 (2021.01); E04F 15/04 (2006.01); H04M 1/04 (2006.01); H04M 1/21 (2006.01)
CPC E04F 15/02 (2013.01) [E04F 13/0894 (2013.01); E04F 15/02033 (2013.01); E04F 15/02038 (2013.01); E04F 15/102 (2013.01); E04F 15/107 (2013.01); H01F 7/0252 (2013.01); H01F 7/122 (2013.01); H04M 1/0256 (2013.01); H04M 1/0262 (2013.01); H04M 1/0279 (2013.01); H04M 1/185 (2013.01); H04M 1/7246 (2021.01); E04F 15/04 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0138 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0146 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0153 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0161 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0169 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0176 (2013.01); E04F 2201/022 (2013.01); E04F 2201/026 (2013.01); E04F 2201/041 (2013.01); H04M 1/0264 (2013.01); H04M 1/04 (2013.01); H04M 1/21 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A set of essentially identical floor panels each comprising long and short edges,
wherein the short edges are provided with a mechanical locking system comprising first and second connectors integrated with the floor panels,
wherein the first and second connectors and the floor panels are made of a same material and are monolithic,
wherein the first connector comprises a flexible locking strip with an upwardly directed locking element, at a first short edge of a floor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove at an adjacent second short edge of another floor panel for connecting the adjacent edges horizontally,
wherein the second connector comprises a first tongue, either at the first or the second short edge, extending horizontally, configured to cooperate with a horizontally open tongue groove, at the other of said first or second short edges, for connecting the adjacent edges in vertical direction and configured to be locked with a vertical motion,
wherein the first tongue at one of the short edges is formed in one piece with the panel,
wherein the short edge with the tongue groove is provided with a second tongue above the tongue groove, the second tongue protruding horizontally,
wherein a length of the locking strip which extends from an inner most surface of the tongue groove to an outer most surface of the locking the strip is greater than a maximum thickness from an upper-most surface of the floor panel to a lower-most surface of the floor panel, and
wherein the second tongue is spaced from the upper-most surface of the floor panel.