Viken, Sweden—The U.S. Patent and Trademark office (USPTO) recently issued U.S. patent no. 8,584,423 assigned to Välinge Innovation AB. The issued patent, claiming benefit of applications from 2001, projects a floor panel provided with connectors for mechanical joining and a resilient surface layer.
The patent includes claims directed to a floor panel provided with connectors for mechanical joining and a material seal of a resilient surface layer of plastic or linoleum covering an upper surface layer of the core of the floor panel.
Further, the issued patent is relevant for resilient floorings such as luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) and planks with mechanical locking systems. This newly issued patent, combined with Välinge patents rights relating to locking technology and combined with Mannington Mills patents related to LVT with locking, which Välinge has the exclusive right to sub-license, creates a strong and extensive patent protection for LVT with mechanical locking systems.
“This recently granted patent confirms Välinge’s position in IP related to resilient flooring, such as LVT, utilizing a mechanical locking system,” said Niclas Hakansson, Välinge’s CEO. “Valinge’s base of licensees has grown substantially lately as producers seek high performing solutions. This type of patent, just like the Mannington patents in our portfolio, covers a broad range of products and are not limited to a specific kind of mechanical locking system.”
The patent is a continuation of an application filed on July 26, 2002, which claims benefit of a provisional application filed on Aug. 21, 2001, and a Swedish application filed on July 27, 2001.
More than 25 companies have already signed a license for the use of Välinge’s 2G mechanical locking system on LVT, and more than 15 companies have already signed a license to use 5G on LVT and production of 5G in LVT flooring started in 2013.