US 2,008,110,125 · Filed 2007-10-25
The Patent That Made Click-Lock Flooring Installation a DIY Dream
Imagine a jigsaw puzzle where the pieces lock together as you fold them up instead of sliding them flat. This patent describes floor planks with a clever mechanical locking system on all edges that lets you install them by folding them together vertically, making the job faster and easier without requiring messy glues or nails.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a floor panel design with interlocking mechanical systems on both the long and short edges that enable vertical-fold installation. What's protected here is the specific way the long-edge locking mechanism prevents the short edges from separating during the folding and locking motion. Competitors cannot copy this particular configuration of grooves, tabs, and locking features that allow panels to snap together by folding upward rather than sliding horizontally.
Why it matters
This patent represents a significant innovation in flooring installation mechanics. By enabling vertical folding instead of horizontal sliding, the design simplifies DIY installation, reduces the skill and physical strength required, and speeds up the laying process. Valinge Innovation Ab built its reputation on developing these mechanical locking systems, making click-lock flooring accessible to homeowners and reducing labor costs for professional installers across residential and commercial projects.
Real-world use
When you watch a homeowner or contractor installing modern laminate or vinyl plank flooring by lifting each plank and folding it down into the previous row, you're seeing this mechanical locking system in action—no hammers, no sliding pieces out of alignment.
Original USPTO abstract
Floor panels ( 1, 1′, 1 ″) are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system on long and short edges ( 5 a , 5 b , 4 a , 4 b ) allowing installation with vertical folding and where the long edge ( 5 a , 5 b ) locking system prevents separation of the short edges ( 4 a , 4 b ) during the folding action.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,008,110,125
- Filing date
- 2007-10-25
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Valinge Innovation Ab
- Inventor(s)
- PERVAN DARKO
- CPC class
- E04F15/02038
Want to file your own patent?
If you're designing a new flooring product or home-improvement material, use our free scanner to check whether your locking mechanism might overlap with existing patents before you invest in tooling and manufacturing.
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