US 2,008,134,614 · Filed 2007-08-10
The Click-Lock Floor That Changed How We Install Panels
This patent describes a clever locking groove system that lets floor panels snap together horizontally without nails or screws. A flexible clip inside the groove pops up and locks as you slide each panel into place, making installation faster and the floor more stable.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a mechanical locking system embedded in the edges of floor panels, specifically a flexible locking element positioned in a groove that moves vertically when panels are pushed together horizontally. What's protected here is the geometry and motion sequence of how that clip engages and holds adjacent panels in place without additional fasteners.
Why it matters
This patent represents a major shift in how residential and commercial floors are installed. By enabling tool-free, click-together assembly, it reduces labor costs, installation time, and skill requirements compared to traditional nailed or glued floors. The locking mechanism also creates a more rigid, stable floor surface and allows for easier panel replacement, making it valuable across laminate, vinyl, and engineered wood flooring markets.
Real-world use
When you install luxury vinyl plank flooring in a home renovation, each plank clicks and locks into its neighbor using this mechanical system, requiring no adhesive or nails.
Original USPTO abstract
Floor panels are provided with a mechanical locking system including a flexible locking element in a locking groove, which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,008,134,614
- Filing date
- 2007-08-10
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Valinge Innovation Ab
- Inventor(s)
- PERVAN DARKO, BERGELIN MARCUS
- CPC class
- E04F15/02038
Want to file your own patent?
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