AU2012284623B2

AU2012284623B2 - Mechanical locking system for floor panels

Info

Publication number: AU2012284623B2
Application number: AU2012284623A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Darko Pervan; Tony Pervan
Original assignee: Ceraloc Innovation AB
Current assignee: Ceraloc Innovation AB
Priority date: 2011-07-19
Filing date: 2012-07-11
Publication date: 2017-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-11
Also published as: KR102083655B1; CN105971223A; RU2014103804A; CN103703197B; MY164102A; KR20140053168A; RU2016140240A; EP3760812A1; PL2734684T3; CN105971223B; AU2012284623A1; EP2734684A4; RU2721838C2; EP3760812B1; BR112014000516B1; PL3135838T3; BR112014000516A2; AU2012284623C1; HUE030211T2; ES2602317T3

Abstract

Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a vertical locking system on short edges having a displaceable tongue that is displaced in one direction into a tongue groove during vertical displacement of two panels.

Description

1

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

The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any aspect of the discussion was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

Throughout the description and claims of the specification, the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises", is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

The present invention is 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 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 . 2012284623 02 Feb 2017 la 5

The following description of known technique, problems of known systems 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 10 floor panels with long and shorts edges intended to be mechanically joined to each other on both long and short edges .

The long and short edges are mainly used to simplify the 15 description of the invention. The panels may be square. The invention is preferably used on the short edges. It should be emphasised that 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 20 to be joined using a mechanical WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 2 locking system connecting the panels in the horizontal and vertical directions on at least two adjacent sides.

The invention may also be applicable to, for instance, 5 solid wooden floors, parquet floors with a core of wood or wood-fibre-based material and a surface of wood or wood veneer and the like, floors with a printed and preferably also varnished surface, floors with a surface layer of plastic or cork, linoleum, rubber. Even floors 10 with hard surfaces such as stone, tile and similar materials are included and floorings with soft wear layer, for instance needle felt glued to a board. The invention may also be used for joining building panels which preferably contain a board material for instance 15 wall panels, ceilings, furniture components and similar.

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 20 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 25 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. 30 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 35 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- WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 3 ed of a separate material, for instance aluminium or HDF, which is integrated with the floor panel, i.e. joined with the floor panel in connection with the manufacture thereof. 5

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. 10

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, 15 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 20 panels together define a "vertical plane" perpendicular to the horizontal plane. By "vertical locking" is meant locking parallel to the vertical plane in D1 direction.

By "horizontal locking" is meant locking parallel to the horizontal plane in D2 direction. 25 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. 30 By "locking systems" are meant co acting connecting elements, which connect the floor panels vertically and/or horizontally.

RELATED ART AND PROBLEMS THEREOF 35 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 WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 4 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. 5 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 10 horizontally. Such a snap connection is complicated since a hammer and a tapping block may need to be used to overcome the friction between the long edges and to bend the strip during the snapping action. 15 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. 20 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 25 described in WO 2006/043893 (Valinge Innovation AB.

Several versions are used on the market as shown in figures la-lf. Figure la, lb show a flexible tongue 30 with a flexible snap tab extending from the edge. Figure 30 lc, Id show a displaceable tongue with an inner flexible part that is bendable horizontally in a cross section of the tongue or along the joint. Such systems are referred to as vertical snap systems and they provide an automatica locking during the folding action. 35

The locking system may also be locked with a side push action such that a displaceable tongue 30 is pushed into WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 5 a locked position from the long side edge when adjacent sort side edges are folded down to the sub floor. Such a side push action could be difficult to combine with a simple angling and the friction may be too strong for 5 wide panels.

Figure le shows a fold down system with a flexible tongue 30 that is made in one piece with the core. Figure 1 f shows a long edge locking system in a fold down system 10 that is connected with angling.

Although such systems are very efficient, there is still room for improvements. Vertical snap systems are designed with the tongue on the strip panel. The reason is that an 15 inclined sliding surface can only be formed on the fold panel when the upper edges are made without a bevel and this is generally the case. It is difficult to insert the separate tongue 30 during production into a groove 40 over a strip 6 comprising a locking element 8. The 20 locking force is dependant on the snapping resistance. High locking force can only be accomplished with high snapping resistance when the tongue is pressed inwardly and when it snaps back into a tongue groove 40. This creates separation forces that tend to push the panels 25 apart during folding. The locking may lose its strength if the flexibility and pressing force of the tongue decreases over time. The flexibility must be considerable and allow that a flexible tong is displaced in two directions about 1-2 mm. The material, which is used to 30 produce such tongues, is rather expensive and glass fibres are generally used to reinforce the flexible tongue .

It would be a major advantage if the separate tongue 35 could be fixed to the fold panel and if snapping could be eliminated in a system that locks automatically during folding. 6 2012284623 02 Feb 2017

5 SUMMARY

It is therefore desirable to provide a 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 without a snap 10 action that creates a locking resistance and separation forces of the short edges during folding. It is particularly desirable to provide a locking system with a separate displaceable tongue on the fold panel that may lock without any contact with the sharp upper edge of the strip panel and 15 that the tongue is displaced essentially in one direction only from an inner part of a groove and outwardly. A first aspect of the invention are building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building 20 panel and a second building panel by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels comprising a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of the first building panel, and a strip protrudes below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first 25 building panel, the strip comprising a locking element configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove formed on the second building panel, for locking of the first and the second building panels in a horizontal direction; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open displacement 30 groove, the sidewardly open displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel and the sidewardly open displacement groove extends vertically above a top of the locking groove, the displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge of the second panel and a tongue locking surface 35 located at an upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface cooperating for vertical locking with a groove locking surface of the tongue groove; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part spaced inwardly from an upper part of 7 the edge of said second panel, the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip, such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical direction.

According to the present invention there is also provided building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels comprising: a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of the first building panel, and a strip protruding below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first building panel, the strip comprising a locking element configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove formed on the second building panel, for locking of the first and the second building panels in a horizontal direction; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open displacement groove, the sidewardly open displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel, the displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge of the second panel and a tongue locking surface located at an upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface cooperating for vertical locking with a groove locking surface of the tongue groove; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second panel; the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip, such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a locking of the first 7a and the second building panel in a vertical direction, wherein an uppermost part of at least a portion of the locking groove is located vertically below the tongue locking surface of the displaceable tongue.

According to the present invention there is also provided building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels comprising: a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of the first building panel, and a strip protruding below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first building panel; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open displacement groove, the sidewardly open displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel, the displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge of the second panel and a tongue locking surface located at an upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface cooperating for vertical locking with a groove locking surface of the tongue groove; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second panel; the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip, such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical direction, wherein the entire tongue pressing surface is located vertically below the tongue locking surface.

According to the present invention there is also provided building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel 7b by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels comprising: a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of the first building panel, and a strip protruding below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first building panel, the strip comprising a locking element configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove formed on the second panel, for locking of the first and the second building panels in a horizontal direction; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open displacement groove, the sidewardly open displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel and the sidewardly open displacement groove extends vertically above a top of the locking groove, the displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge of the second panel and a tongue locking surface located at an upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface contacting a groove locking surface of the tongue groove for vertical locking; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second panel; the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip, such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical direction.

The displaceable tongue is preferably an injection-moulded tongue .

The displaceable tongue may be asymmetric and comprising a protrusion and the second panel may comprise a cavity for housing the protrusion. 2012284623 02 Feb 2017 7c 5

The protrusion may comprise a flexible part.

The strip may be provided with a locking element that cooperates with a downwardly open locking groove formed on the 10 second panel for locking the first and the second building panel in a horizontal direction.

The tongue pressing surface is preferably positioned on the protrusion and the strip pressing surface is preferably 15 located on the locking element.

The strip pressing surface is most preferably located on an inclined surface of the locking element that is directed towards the edge of the first building panel. 20

The locking system may comprise a cavity that extends from the displacement groove to the locking groove. WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 8

The strip and the tongue pressing surfaces may be inclined against a horizontal plane with an angle of about 25 to 75 degrees. 5 The displacement groove may be inclined and comprise an inner part that extends downwards.

The building panels may be locked vertically by two pairs of cooperating surfaces comprising the groove locking 10 surface and the tongue locking surface, and an upper part of the strip and a lower part of the edge of the second panel, respectively.

The groove locking surface and the tongue locking surface 15 may be inclined against a horizontal plane.

The groove locking surface and the tongue locking surface may be inclined with an angle of about 10 to 60 degrees to a horizontal plane. 20

The displaceable tongue may be provided with a flexible friction element.

The displaceable tongue may comprise at least two 25 protrusions extending from the main tongue body and each protrusion may comprise said tongue pressing surface located at an outer part of the protrusion that during locking is in contact with a locking element provided on the strip. 30

The building panel may be a floor panel and the outer part of the displaceable tongue is preferably in an unlocked position located in the displacement groove. 35 The displacement groove may extend vertically above the locking groove. WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 9

The locking groove may be located vertically below the upper part of the displacement groove.

An upper part of the locking element may be located 5 vertically below the tongue locking surface of the displaceable tongue.

An upper part of the locking groove may be located vertically below the tongue locking surface of the 10 displaceable tongue.

The innermost part of the displaceable tongue may be below the outermost part of such tongue. 15 The tongue pressing surface may be located vertically below the tongue locking surface.

An upper part of the locking element may be located in the lower half of an intermediate core of the first 20 building panel.

The strip may be flexible such that it bends downwards during locking. 25 The cavity may be larger than the protrusion such that there is a space S of at least about 1-3 mm.

The displaceable tongue may be gradually inserted into the tongue groove from a tongue part, which is adjacent 30 an installed long edge, to another tongue part adjacent a free long edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will in the following be described in 35 connection to exemplary embodiments and in greater detail with reference to the appended exemplary drawings, wherein: 10

Figs la-f illustrate locking systems according to known technology.

Figs 2a-d illustrate a short edge locking system 5 according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figs 3a-3d illustrate a short edge locking system according to preferred embodiments of the invention. 10

Figs 4a-e illustrate preferred embodiments of short edge locking systems.

Figs 5a-e 15 WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 illustrate vertical folding of three panels according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figs 6a-e illustrate the flexibility of the locking systems during locking and preferred embodiments of displaceable tongues. 20

Figs 7a-c illustrate tongue blanks according to embodiments of the invention comprising several displaceable tongues. 25

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 30 achieved using combinations of the preferred embodiments.

All embodiments may be used separately or in combinations. Angles, dimensions, rounded parts, spaces between surfaces etc are only examples and may be 35 adjusted within the basic principles of the invention. WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 11

Figures 2a -2d show a first preferred embodiment of a short edge locking system provided with a flexible and displaceable tongue 30 in an edge of a second panel 1' inserted in a displacement groove 40 and extending along 5 the edge of the second panel. The displaceable tongue 30 has a tongue locking surface 31 located at an upper and outer part that cooperates with a groove locking surface 21 located at an inner and upper part of a tongue groove 20 formed in an adjacent edge of a first panel 1. The 10 locking surfaces lock the panels in a first vertical direction. The locking surfaces are preferably inclined with an angle A2 that is about 10 - 60 degrees. The displacement groove is preferably also inclined and the outer part is closer to the panel surface than an inner 15 part.

The first panel 1 comprises a protruding strip 6 that extends outwardly beyond a vertical plane VP. The strip comprises a locking element 8. The second panel 1' 20 comprises a locking groove 14 that cooperates with the locking element 8 and locks the panels in a horizontal direction. The strip 6 has an upper part 6', which is in contact with a lower part 37 of the adjacent edge and locks the panels in a second vertical direction. 25

The displaceable tongue 30 comprises a protrusion 34 extending from a main tongue body 36. The second panel 1' comprises at least one cavity 35 for housing the protrusion. The cavity extends from the displacement 30 groove to the locking groove 14.

The cavity may be formed by a screw cutter or by displaceable saw blades.

The protrusion comprises a tongue pressing surface 32 which cooperates with a strip pressing surface 33 on the 35 locking element. The strip pressing surface 33 and the tongue pressing surface 32 are inclined with an angle A1 WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 12 which is preferably 25 - 75 degrees against a horizontal plane HP.

The displaceable tongue is displaced essentially in one 5 direction towards the tongue groove 20 when the inclined pressing surfaces are sliding against each other during the vertical displacement of the adjacent edges. The tongue may be locked with a strong pressure against the groove locking surface 21 and the locking element 8 10 prevents the tongue from sliding back into the displacement groove.

One major problem related to a "press lock system" as described above is the risk that panel may split with a 15 crack 50 between the displacement groove 40 and the locking groove 14 as shown in figure 2d. Therefore it is preferable that the upper parts of the locking groove 14a and the locking element 8a are made in the lower part of the floor panel, preferably below the centre line C that 20 divides the floor panel in two equal parts, one upper part UP and one lower part LP. It is also preferable that the tongue pressing surface 32 is located vertically below the tongue locking surface 31. The tongue pressing surface and the tongue locking surface are preferably 25 offset vertically and are preferably located on different horizontal planes H2, HI. It is also preferred that an upper part of the locking element 8a and/or an upper part of the locking groove 14a are located vertically below the tongue locking surface 31. The innermost part of the 30 displaceable tongue 30 is preferably located below the outermost part of such tongue.

The cavities 35 are preferably formed by rotating saw blades and comprise preferably an upper rounded part with 35 an outer part 35b that is located above an inner part 35a as shown in figure 2d. The cavity is preferably formed WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 13 such that it intersects the inner part 14b of the locking groove 14.

Figures 3a -3d show the locking function during the 5 vertical displacement of the second panel 1' against the first panel 1. The displaceable tongue 30 is gradually pressed into the tongue groove 20 by the cooperating pressing surfaces 32,33 and the panels are locked vertically with two pairs of cooperating locking 10 surfaces, the tongue locking surface 31 and the groove locking surface 21 and an upper part 6' of the strip 6 and a lower part 37 of the adjacent edge 1'.

Figures 4a-4e show different embodiments. Figure 4a shows 15 a displaceable tongue 30 with a protrusion 34 located under the main tongue body. The locking groove 14 is located vertically under an upper part of the displacement groove 40. Figure 4b shows a tongue pressing surface 32 that locks against a strip pressing surface 20 that is not active in the horizontal locking. Figure 4c shows that the same locking surface 33 on the locking element 8 may be used as a pressing surface and as a locking surface for the horizontal locking. Figure 4d shows that the strip pressing surface may be formed on a 25 separate pushing rod 42. Figure 4e shows a protrusion 34 that comprises a curved cross section and a locking element that comprises an upper part 44 formed as local protrusion that protrudes above the inner part of the locking groove 14 and into the cavities 35. 30

Figures 5a -5e show vertical folding of three panels wherein the long edges 2,2' are connected with angling and the short edges 1, 1' with a scissor like motion that combines angling and vertical displacement. Figure 5b 35 shows that the displaceable tongue is gradually inserted into the tongue groove 20 from one part of the edges that is adjacent to the installed long edge 2 to the other WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 14 free long edge. Figure 5c shows the tongue in the cross section A-A and figures 5d, 5e show the tongue position in the cross sections B-B, and C-C. The strip 6 and the locking element 8 are in this embodiment designed such 5 that they bend backwards during locking and this facilitates locking since the necessary flexibility may be provided partly or completely with such strip bending. The locking groove is positioned vertically under the lower part of the displacement groove 40. 10

Figure 6a shows that the locking system may be formed such that several parts are flexible for example the protrusion 34, the locking strip 6 and the locking element 8. This flexibility may be used to reduce or 15 eliminate production tolerances and to facilitate an easy and strong locking. Figure 6a shows that the strip 6 may be bent downwards and the locking element 8 may be bent downwards and outwardly. Such a strip bending may facilitate locking that may even be accomplished with a 20 displaceable tongue that comprises a limited flexibility such as a tongue that essentially comprises wood fibre material. A locking may be accomplished with a flexibility where a part of the displaceable tongue 30 is bended or compressed marginally for example only about 25 0,1-1,0 mm in the horizontal direction.

Figure 6b and 6c show embodiments of the tongue. The displaceable tongue 30 may be fixed into the displaceable groove with a friction connection 38. The protrusion 34 30 may comprise flexible parts 39 that create a pre tension against the tongue groove 20. The cavity 35 may be considerably larger than the protrusion and preferably there is a space S that may be about 1-3 mm. 35 Figure 6d shows a locking system with a sliding surface 45 that protrudes beyond a vertical plane VP. The tongue groove 20 is preferably formed on an inclined edge WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 15 surface 46. Such an embodiment offers the advantages that the displaceable tongue 30 may be pressed inwardly and the conventional two-way snapping action may be combined with a one way pressing motion that may be used to create 5 the final locking.

Figure 6e shows a separate tongue 30, located in a sideway open groove 40 on the second panel 1', comprising an upwardly extending snap tab 47 that cooperates with a 10 downwardly extending sliding surface 45 that is located on the first panel 1 and that protrudes beyond the upper edge and the vertical plane VP. The second panel 1' comprises preferably an inclined edge surface 46' located above and and/or below the tongue 30. An easy snapping 15 may be obtained even with panels that have straight and sharp upper adjacent edges. The snap tab may be replaced with a displaceable tongue that comprises flexible snapping protrusions along its length. The locking system shown in figure Id may also be adjusted such that it 20 comprises inclined edge surfaces and such a design may be used to increase the strength of the joint.

The locking system according to the invention may also be formed without a locking grove 14 and a locking element 8 25 such that it only locks the edges in a vertical direction. The locking element 8 may be replaced with local protrusions that extend upwards from a strip 6 and are in locked position located in the cavities. The short edges may be locked horizontally by friction between the 30 long edges.

All locking systems may be designed such that they can be unlocked with angling and/or sliding along the edges. 35 Figure 7a, 7b show a tongue blank 43 that comprise several displaceable tongues that are preferably asymmetric along the tongue length. Figure 7a shows WO 2013/012386 PCT/SE2012/050828 16 injection-moulded tongues 30 and figure 7b shows displaceable tongues 30 made of a wood based material that is preferably machined and punched. 5 The cavities 35 that are preferably formed by rotating saw blades comprises an upper part that is rounded and may comprise an inner part that is located below an outer part.

The locking system may be partly or completely formed by 10 carving tools.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. Building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels comprising: a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of the first building panel, and a strip protrudes below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first building panel, the strip comprising a locking element configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove formed on the second building panel, for locking of the first and the second building panels in a horizontal direction; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open displacement groove, the sidewardly open displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel and the sidewardly open displacement groove extends vertically above a top of the locking groove, the displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge of the second panel and a tongue locking surface located at an upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface cooperating for vertical locking with a groove locking surface of the tongue groove; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second panel, the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip, such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical direction.
2. The building panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein said displaceable tongue is asymmetric and comprises a protrusion and the second panel comprises a cavity for housing the protrusion.
3. The building panels as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protrusion comprises a part that is flexible.
4. The building panels as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the tongue pressing surface is provided on the protrusion and the strip pressing surface is provided on the locking element.
5. The building panels as claimed in claim 4, wherein the strip pressing surface is provided at an inclined surface of the locking element directed towards the first edge.
6. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the strip pressing surface is provided at an upper part of the locking element.
7. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the cavity extends from the displacement groove to the locking groove.
8. Building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels comprising: a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of the first building panel, and a strip protruding below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first building panel, the strip comprising a locking element configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove formed on the second building panel, for locking of the first and the second building panels in a horizontal direction; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open displacement groove, the sidewardly open displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel, the displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge of the second panel and a tongue locking surface located at an upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface cooperating for vertical locking with a groove locking surface of the tongue groove; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second panel; the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip, such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical direction, wherein an uppermost part of at least a portion of the locking groove is located vertically below the tongue locking surface of the displaceable tongue.
9. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are inclined relative to a horizontal plane with an angle of about 25 to 75 degrees.
10. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the displacement groove is inclined and comprises an inner part that extends downwards.
11. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first and the second building panel are locked vertically by a first and a second pair of cooperating surfaces, the first pair comprises the tongue locking surface and the groove locking surface, the second pair comprises an upper part of the strip and a lower part of the edge of the second panel.
12. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said groove locking surface and said tongue locking surface are inclined relative to a horizontal plane.
13. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the groove locking surface and the tongue locking surface are inclined relative to a horizontal plane with an angle of about 10 to about 60 degrees.
14. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the displaceable tongue comprises a flexible friction element.
15. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the displaceable tongue comprises at least two protrusions extending from the main body, wherein each protrusion comprises said tongue pressing surface at an outer part of the protrusion, wherein each tongue pressing surface is configured to be in contact during locking with the locking element provided on the strip.
16. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the innermost part of the displaceable tongue is below the outermost part of the displaceable tongue.
17. Building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels comprising: a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of the first building panel, and a strip protruding below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first building panel; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open displacement groove, the sidewardly open displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel, the displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge of the second panel and a tongue locking surface located at an upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface cooperating for vertical locking with a groove locking surface of the tongue groove; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second panel; the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip, such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical direction, wherein the entire tongue pressing surface is located vertically below the tongue locking surface.
18. The building panels as claimed in one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the displaceable tongue is an injection-moulded tongue .
19. Building panels provided with a locking system for vertical locking of a first building panel and a second building panel by a vertical displacement of the panels relative each other, the panels comprising: a sidewardly open tongue groove provided at an edge of the first building panel, and a strip protruding below the tongue groove and outwardly beyond an upper part of the edge of said first building panel, the strip comprising a locking element configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove formed on the second panel, for locking of the first and the second building panels in a horizontal direction; a displaceable tongue provided in a sidewardly open displacement groove, the sidewardly open displacement groove in an edge of the second building panel and the sidewardly open displacement groove extends vertically above a top of the locking groove, the displaceable tongue comprises a main body extending along the edge of the second panel and a tongue locking surface located at an upper and outer part of the tongue, the tongue locking surface contacting a groove locking surface of the tongue groove for vertical locking; the displaceable tongue comprises an inner part spaced inwardly from an upper part of the edge of said second panel; the inner part comprises a tongue pressing surface configured to cooperate with a strip pressing surface on the strip, such that the displaceable tongue is displaced into the tongue groove when the tongue pressing surface and the strip pressing surface are displaced vertically against each other to obtain a locking of the first and the second building panel in a vertical direction.
20. The building panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the displaceable tongue further comprises a protrusion and the second panel comprises a cavity for housing the protrusion, and the cavity extends farther from a vertical joint plane than a surface of the locking groove that faces the vertical joint plane.