Technical field of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to panels that may be arranged perpendicular to each other and locked together with a mechanical locking device. The panels may be assembled and locked together to obtain a furniture product, such as a bookshelf, a cupboard, a wardrobe, a box, a drawer or a furniture component. The locking device may comprise a flexible tongue.

Technical background

A furniture product provided with a mechanical locking device is known in the art, as evidenced by WO2015/038059. The furniture product comprises a first panel connected perpendicular to a second panel by a mechanical locking device comprising a flexible tongue in an insertion groove.

The above description of various known aspects is the applicant's characterization of such, and is not an admission that any of the above description is considered as prior art. Summary of the invention

It is an object of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide an improvement over the above described techniques and known art; particularly, to reduce the size of the insertion groove at the second panel surface of the second panel. The reduced size may have the advantage of an increased locking strength. At least some of these and other objects and advantages that will be apparent from the description have been achieved by a first aspect of the invention that includes a set comprising a first panel, a second panel and a mechanical locking device for locking the first panel to the second panel. The first panel comprises a first edge surface and a first panel surface. The second panel comprises a second edge surface and a second panel surface. The first edge su rface is facing the second panel surface in a locked position of the first and the second panel. The mechanical locking device comprises a rod-shaped element at the first edge surface and an insertion groove at the second panel surface. The mechanical locking device further comprises an edge groove at the second edge surface and a flexible tongue positioned in the edge groove. The rod-shaped element comprises a recess. The rod-shaped element is configured to be inserted into the insertion groove, and the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the recess for a locking of the first panel to the second panel in a first direction which is perpendicular to the second panel surface.

A locking surface of the flexible tongue may cooperate with a locking surface of the recess for the locking of the first panel to the second.

The insertion groove may be formed in the second panel surface and in a core of the second panel.

The second panel surface may comprise a decorative layer and the insertion groove may extend though the decorative layer.

The insertion groove may be formed by mechanical cutting, such as milling, d rilling or sawing. The rod-shaped element and the insertion groove at the second panel surface may have the advantage that the sizes of the grooves of the locking device are reduced compared to the known mechanical locking devices. An edge element, such as an edge band, is preferably attached to the second edge for covering the edge groove and for enforcing the second edge. A further advantage may be that the insertion groove may be produced by drilling, which may improve the position of the first panel relative the second panel in the locked position.

The first panel and the second panel are preferably panels for a fu rniture product and may be a part of a frame of a furniture product. The set is preferably configured for locking the first panel to the second panel with the first pa nel surface perpendicular or essentially perpendicular to the second panel surface. The mechanical locking device is preferably configured to automatically lock the first panel to the second panel when the rod-shaped element is inserted into the insertion groove and the first edge surface is arranged against second panel surface.

The rod-shaped element is preferably configured to cooperate with the insertion groove for a locking of the first panel to the second panel in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first panel surface.

The rod-shaped element is preferably configured to cooperate with the insertion groove for a locking of the first panel to the second panel in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The rod-shaped element preferably has a longitudinal shape with a length direction which is parallel to the first panel surface.

A first crosscut of the rod-shaped element, in a plane parallel to the second panel surface, may have a circular shape or a rectangular shape.

A second cross cut of the insertion groove, in a plane parallel to the second panel surface, preferably has a shape that matches the first cross cut.

The insertion groove may extend from the second panel surface to the edge groove.

A part of the rod-shaped element, such as an outer surface or an envelope su rface of the rod-shaped element, may be configured to cooperate, for the locking in the second direction, with a side wall of the of the insertion groove. The sidewall may comprise material of the core of the second panel.

The insertion groove may be a bottom-ended groove, such as a bottom ended drill hole, comprising a bottom surface which is positioned at a distance from the edge groove.

The insertion groove may have a first part on a first side of the edge groove and a second part on a second side of the edge groove, wherein the second part comprises a bottom su rface and a side wall, wherein, in a locked position, the rod-shaped element passes through the first part of the insertion groove, through the edge groove and into the second part of the insertion groove.

The first part may comprise a side wall, wherein a part of the rod-shaped element, such as an outer su rface or an envelope surface of the rod-shaped element, may be configured to cooperate, for the locking in the second direction, with the side wall of the first part.

The rod-shaped element may be configured to cooperate, in a locked position, with the bottom surface. The first edge su rface may comprise two or more of said rod shaped element and the second panel surface may comprise two or more of said insertion groove, preferably arranged linearly, wherein each of the rod-shaped elements is configured to be inserted into one of the insertion grooves.

The edge groove may be formed in the second edge surface and in the core of second panel by e.g. mechanical cutting, such as milling, drilling or sawing.

The edge groove may comprise a circular cross section in a plane parallel to the first panel surface.

The edge groove may be a longitudinal groove that extends in a longitudinal direction of the second edge surface. The edge groove may extend from the second edge surface to the insertion groove.

The edge groove may be a bottom-ended groove, comprising a bottom surface which is positioned at a distance from the insertion groove.

The flexible tongue is preferably arranged at the bottom surface of the edge groove.

The flexible tongue may be arranged between the recess and the bottom surface of the edge groove in the locked position

The rod-shaped element may be configured to be attached in an attachment groove in the first edge surface. An advantage with this embodiment may be that the material waste for the production of the first panel is reduced.

The insertion groove may be adjacent the second edge surface. The second edge surface may be essentially perpendicular to the second panel surface.

The edge groove may have a length direction extending along the second edge.

The flexible tongue is preferably displaceable in the edge groove. The flexible tongue may be according to the flexible tongue described and shown in FIGS 2A-2F in WO2015/105449. FIGS 2A-2F and the related disclosure from page 6, line 15 to page 7, line 2, in WO2015/105449 are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. The core of the first panel and/or of the second panel may be a wood-based core, preferably made of M DF, HDF, OSB, WPC, plywood or particleboard. The core may also be a plastic core comprising thermosetting plastic or thermoplastic e.g. vinyl, PVC, PU or PET. The plastic core may comprise fillers.

The first panel and/or the second panel may also be of solid wood. The first panel and/or the second pa nel may be provided with a decorative layer, such as a foil or a veneer, on one or more surfaces.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, which shows embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of the flexible tongue according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. IB shows a 3D-view of an embodiment of the invention during assembling. FIGS. 2A-2B show side views of an embodiment of the first panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2C shows an enlargement of a part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the first panel and the second panel in a locked position according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4A shows a cross section of an embodiment of the first panel and the second panel in a locked position according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B shows an enlargement of a part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of the flexible tongue according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5B shows a 3D-view of an embodiment of the invention during assembling.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the second panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 7A-7B show side views of an embodiment of the first pa nel and the second panel in a locked position according to an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 8A shows a cross section of an embodiment of the first panel and the second panel in a locked position according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8B shows an enlargement of a part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A.

Detailed description

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and shou ld not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

A first embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS 1A - 4B including a set comprising a first panel 1, a second panel 2 and a mechanical locking device for locking the first panel to the second panel. The first panel 1 comprises a first edge surface 12 and a first panel surface 13. The second panel 2 comprises a second edge surface 4 and a second panel su rface 3. The first edge surface 12 is facing the second panel surface 3 in a locked position of the first and the second panel. The mechanical locking device comprises a rod-shaped element 8 at the first edge surface 12 and an insertion groove 7 at the second panel surface 3. The mechanical locking device further comprises an edge groove 5 at the second edge su rface 4 and a flexible tongue 6 positioned in the edge groove 5. The rod-shaped element 8 comprises a recess 9. The rod-shaped element 8 is configured to be inserted into the insertion groove 7. The flexible tongue 6 is configured to cooperate with the recess 9 for a locking of the first panel 1 to the second panel 2 in a first direction which is perpendicular to the second panel surface 3. The first pa nel 1 and the second panel 2 are preferably panels for a furniture product and may be a part of a frame of a furniture product.

The set is preferably configured for locking the first panel 1 to the second panel 2 with the first panel surface 13 perpendicular or essentially perpendicular to the second panel surface 3. FIG IB shows the first embodiment in a 3D view during assembling. The first panel may be assembled by displacing the first panel relative the second panel in a direction which is perpendicular to the second panel surface 3. The mechanical locking device may be configured to automatically lock the first panel 1 to the second panel 2 when the rod- shaped element 8 is inserted into the insertion groove 7 and the first edge su rface 12 is arranged against second panel surface 3.

The insertion groove 7 may be formed in the second panel surface 3 and in a core of the second panel 2.

The second panel surface 3 may comprise a decorative layer and the insertion groove may extend though the decorative layer. The insertion groove may be formed by mechanical cutting, such as drilling.

An edge element 10 ₇ such as an edge band, is preferably attached to the second edge for covering the edge groove 5 and for enforcing the second edge 4. The edge element 10 may be glued to the second edge or attached by a mechanical locking device, which may comprise a part that protrudes from the edge element and is configured to be inserted into the edge groove 5. The part may be attached to the edge groove 5 by friction. The edge element is in FIG IB partly removed in order to visualize the flexible tongue 6 and the edge groove 5. The flexible tongue 6 is shown before it is positioned in the edge groove 5. The edge groove 5 may comprise a circular cross section. An embodiment of the flexible tongue 6 is shown in FIG 1A in a 3D view. The flexible tongue may have an envelope surface which preferably matches the circular cross section of the edge groove 5. A first part of the flexible tongue is configured to cooperate with the insertion groove and a second part is configured to cooperate with the recess 9 of the rod-shaped element 8. An advantage with this embodiment of the flexible tongue is that the size of the edge groove may be small. A small edge groove may have the advantage that the effect of the strength of the second edge of the second panel is limited or non-existent.

The second part may comprise a first bevel 65 which configured to cooperate with the rod-shaped element 8 during assembling and a second bevel 64 which is configured to cooperate with the recess for the locking.

The flexible tongue may comprise a flexible material to enable compression and a displacement of the flexible tongue in the edge groove during assembling.

The flexible tongue may comprise an element which is flexible to enable compression and a displacement of the flexible tongue in the edge groove during assembling and another element which is less flexible in order to improve the locking strength.

A part of the envelope surface of the flexible tongue 6 may be configured to be displaced against a surface, such as a cylindrical surface, of the edge groove 5.

The first edge surface 12 may comprise two or more of said rod shaped element and the second panel surface 3 may comprise two or more of said insertion groove 7, preferably arranged linearly, wherein each of the rod-shaped elements is configured to be inserted into one of the insertion grooves.

FIG 2A shows a first side view of the first panel 1 and FIG 2B shows a second side view of the first panel 1. FIG 2C shows an enlargement of the encircled area indicated in FIG 2B. 4. An embodiment of the rod-shaped element 8 is shown which comprises an embodiment of the recess 9. The rod-shaped element has a longitudinal shape with a length direction which is parallel to the first panel surface. A first crosscut of the rod- shaped element 8, in a plane parallel to the second panel surface 3 may have a circular shape, a rectangular shape, a star shape, an oval shape or a hexagon shape. A locking of the first panel to the second panel in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first panel surface may be obtained by cooperating locking surfaces between the insertion groove 7 and the rod-shaped element 8.

A locking of the first panel to the second panel in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction surface may be obtained by cooperating locking surfaces between the insertion groove 7 and the rod-shaped element 8.

A second cross cut of the insertion groove 7, in a plane parallel to the second panel surface, preferably has a shape that matches a first cross cut of the rod-shaped element 8, in a plane parallel to the second panel surface. An advantage of this may be that an improved locking of the first panel to the second panel in the second direction is obtained and/or an im proved locking of the first panel to the second panel in a third direction is obtained.

FIG 3 shows a side view of the first panel and the second panel in the locked position. FIG 4A shows a cross cut, at the line indicated by 4A in FIG 3; of the first panel and the second panel in the locked position. FIG 4B show an enlargement of the encircled area indicated in FIG 4A. The insertion groove may extend from the second panel su rface 3 to the edge groove 5.

A locking surface 62 of the flexible tongue 6 may cooperate with a locking surface 82 of the recess 81 for the locking of the first panel to the second.

The insertion groove may a bottom-ended groove, such as a bottom ended drill hole, comprising a bottom su rface 43 which is positioned at a distance from the edge groove 5.

The insertion groove may have a first part on a first side of the edge groove 5 and a second part on a second side of the edge groove 5, wherein the second part comprises a bottom surface 43 and side walls 71, 72, wherein, in a locked position, the rod-shaped element passes through the first part of the insertion groove, through the edge groove 5 and into the second part of the insertion groove. The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to cooperate, for the locking in the second direction, with the side walls 71, 72 of the second part of the insertion groove.

The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to cooperate, in a locked position, with the bottom surface 43. The first part may comprise side walls 73, 74, wherein the rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to cooperate, for the locking in the second direction, with side walls 73, 74 of the first part.

The sidewalls may comprise material of the core of the second panel.

The edge groove may extend from the second edge surface 4 to the insertion groove 7. The edge groove 5 may be a bottom-ended groove, comprising a bottom surface 44 which is positioned at a distance from the insertion groove 7.

The flexible tongue 6 may be arranged at the bottom surface 44 of the edge groove 5.

The flexible tongue may be arranged between the recess 9 and the bottom surface 44 of the edge groove in the locked position. The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to be attached in an attachment groove 45 in the first edge surface 12.

The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to be glued in the attachment groove 45 in the first edge surface 12.

The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to be locked in the attachment groove 45 by a friction connection or by a mechanically connection, such as threads or by a locking element, such as a barb.

The second edge surface 4 may be essentially perpendicular to the second panel surface 3.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS 5A - 8B including a set comprising a first panel 1, a second panel 2 and a mechanical locking device for locking the first panel to the second panel. The embodiment comprises an embodiment of the edge groove 5 which is a longitudinal groove that extends in a longitudinal direction of the second edge surface 4. FIG 5B shows the second embodiment in a 3D view du ring assembling. The first panel may be assembled by displacing the first pa nel relative the second panel in a direction which is perpendicular to the second panel surface 3. The mechanical locking device may be configured to automatically lock the first panel 1 to the second panel 2 when the rod-shaped element 8 is inserted into the insertion groove 7 and the first edge surface 12 is arranged against second panel surface 3.

The insertion groove 7 may be formed in the second panel surface 3 and in a core of the second panel 2.

The second panel surface 3 may comprise a decorative layer and the insertion groove may extend though the decorative layer.

The insertion groove may be formed by mechanical cutting, such as milling or sawing.

An edge element 10 ₇ such as an edge band, is preferably attached to the second edge for covering the edge groove and for enforcing the second edge 4. The edge element 10 may be glued to the second edge or attached by a mechanical locking device, which may comprise a part that protrudes from the edge element and is configured to be inserted into the edge groove 5. The part may be attached to the edge groove by friction. The edge element is in FIG 5B partly removed in order to visualize the flexible tongue 6 and the edge groove 5. The flexible tongue 6 is shown before it is positioned in the edge groove 5. The first panel 1 and the rod-shaped element 8 of the second embodiment may be identical to the first panel 1 and the rod-shaped element 8, respectively, of the first embodiment.

An embodiment of the flexible tongue 6 is shown in FIG 5A in a 3D view. The flexible tongue 6 may comprise a first essentially straight edge and a second edge which comprises a bendable part 61, preferably a first bendable part and a second bendable part. The first edge is preferably configured to cooperate with the recess 9 of the rod- shaped element 8. The flexible tongue preferably comprises a recess 63 at each of said bendable parts. An advantage with this embodiment of the flexible tongue is that a stronger spring force may be obtained which may provide a stronger locking. A disadvantage for some embodiments of the second panel is that the size of the edge groove may have to be larger which may weaken the second edge 4 of the second panel 2.

The first essentially edge may comprise a first bevel 65 which configured to cooperate with the rod-shaped element 8 during assembling and/or a second bevel 64 which is configured to cooperate with the recess for the locking.

FIG 6 shows a top view of a part of the second panel 2. The second panel may comprise two or more of said edge groove 5. The edge grooves are hidden and the outline of said edge groove is indicated by a broken line. The bendable part of the flexible tongue may cooperate with a bottom surface of the edge groove 5. FIG 7A shows a first side view and FIG 7B a second side view of the first panel 1 and the second panel 2 in a locked position.

FIG 8A shows a cross cut, at the line indicated by 8A in FIG 7B; of the first panel 1 and the second panel 2 in the locked position. FIG 8B show an enlargement of the encircled area indicated in FIG 8A. The insertion groove may extend from the second panel surface 3 to the edge groove 5.

A locking surface 62 of the flexible tongue 6 may cooperate with a locking surface 82 of the recess 81 for the locking of the first panel to the second.

The insertion groove may a bottom-ended groove, such as a bottom ended drill hole, comprising a bottom su rface 43 which is positioned at a distance from the edge groove 5.

The insertion groove may have a first part on a first side of the edge groove 5 and a second part on a second side of the edge groove 5, wherein the second part comprises a bottom surface 43 and side walls 71, 72, wherein, in a locked position, the rod-shaped element passes through the first part of the insertion groove, through the edge groove 5 and into the second part of the insertion groove.

The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to cooperate, for the locking in the second direction, with the side walls 71, 72 of the second part of the insertion groove.

The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to cooperate, in a locked position, with the bottom surface 43. The first part may comprise side walls 73, 74, wherein the rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to cooperate, for the locking in the second direction, with side walls 73, 74 of the first part.

The edge groove may extend from the second edge surface 4 to the insertion groove 7. The edge groove 5 may comprise a first su rface, an opposite second su rface and a bottom surface 44 extending between the first su rface and the opposite second surface.

The bottom surface may be positioned at a distance from the insertion groove 7.

The bendable part 61 of the flexible tongue 6 may be arranged at the bottom surface 44 of the edge groove 5.

The flexible tongue 6 may be arranged at the bottom surface 44 of the edge groove 5.

The flexible tongue may be arranged between the recess 9 and the bottom surface 44 of the edge groove in the locked position.

A part of the flexible tongue 6 may be configured to be displaced against a su rface of the edge groove 5, such as the first surface and/or the second surface.

The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to be attached in an attachment groove 45 in the first edge surface 12.

The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to be glued in the attachment groove 45 in the first edge surface 12. The rod-shaped element 8 may be configured to be locked in the attachment groove 45 by a friction connection or by a mechanically connection, such as threads or by a locking element, such as a barb.

The second edge surface 4 may be essentially perpendicular to the second panel surface 3. The flexible tongue 6 may be according to the flexible tongue described and shown in FIGS 2A-2F in WO2015/105449. FIGS 2A-2F and the related disclosure from page 6, line 15 to page 7, line 2, in WO2015/105449 are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. The core of the first panel 1 and/or of the second panel 2 may be a wood-based core, preferably made of M DF, HDF, OSB, WPC, plywood or particleboard. The core may also be a plastic core comprising thermosetting plastic or thermoplastic e.g. vinyl, PVC, PL) or PET. The plastic core may comprise fillers. The first panel 1 and/or the second panel 2 may also be of solid wood.

The first panel 1 and/or the second panel 2 may be provided with a decorative layer, such as a foil or a veneer, on one or more surfaces.