US 2,005,166,514 · Filed 2005-01-13
The Click-Lock Floorboard Patent That Revolutionized DIY Flooring
Imagine floorboards that snap together like LEGO bricks instead of being nailed down—that's what this patent does. The boards lock side-to-side and end-to-end using clever mechanical grooves and ridges, creating a floating floor that can shift slightly with temperature changes without buckling or coming apart.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a floorboard design with a mechanical locking system built into its edges that allows two boards to join tightly together while still permitting controlled micro-movement. Specifically, what's protected is the geometry and engineering of the tongue-and-groove or similar interlocking profiles that grip boards together without adhesive or fasteners, plus the tolerance system that lets the entire floor float slightly when temperature or humidity changes.
Why it matters
This patent matters because it solved a real problem in flooring: traditional nailed-down floors crack and buckle when wood expands and contracts with humidity and temperature swings. The click-lock system lets homeowners and contractors install professional-grade floating floors quickly without special tools, nails, or glue. This technology has become the industry standard for laminate, vinyl, and engineered wood floors, making it easier and faster for millions of people to renovate their homes.
Real-world use
When you walk across a click-lock vinyl or laminate floor in a home—hearing that satisfying snap as each plank locks into place during installation—you're experiencing this patented locking mechanism at work.
Original USPTO abstract
Floorboards with a mechanical locking system that allows movement between the floorboards when they are joined to form a floating floor.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,005,166,514
- Filing date
- 2005-01-13
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Valinge Aluminium Ab
- Inventor(s)
- PERVAN DARKO
- CPC class
- E04F15/02033
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