Viken, Sweden — The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued on Jan. 29 patent 8,359,805, which protects a more flexible and improved fold down locking system, enabling assembly in a vertical direction, snapping in the horizontal direction and locking with angling.
The advanced locking system, developed in 2006, provides the advantages of fold down locking combined with horizontal snapping and locking/unlocking of short edges by angling. Snapping may be used to, for example, lock the first row or to lock panels where angling is difficult, such as under door frames. All Välinge 5G original locking systems allow snapping and several licensees have introduced systems that allow angling.
The patent protects floor panels comprising a mechanical locking system with a separate tongue, wherein a part of the tongue is flexible and bendable. The locking system
is configured to connect a first panel to a second panel by angling, horizontal snapping and vertical locking.
The patented innovation enables simultaneous locking of long and short sides of the floor panels in one action, or fold down locking. In addition, it is also possible to install the floorboards by traditional methods such as angling/angling and angling/snapping.
“This patent further strengthens our position in the fold down field. Flexible tongues have proven to be the best way to solve the short side installation and with this patent we cover all versions of such systems that can also snap horizontally and angle,” said Per Nygren, executive vice president of marketing, Välinge.
Disconnection of the floorboards by angling up, sliding out, or by the use of a needle shaped tool is also possible.
The issued patent is a continuation of application 13/195,297 filed on Aug. 1, 2011.