US 5,755,068 · Granted 1998-05-26
The Interlocking Veneer Panel That Lets Wood Pieces Snap Together
Imagine thin wood veneers glued to thick backing boards, then cut with grooves in a grid pattern so the ends of two panels can lock together like puzzle pieces. When you connect them, the staggered joints disappear into the groove pattern, creating a seamless wood surface that looks professionally installed.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a veneer panel with a thin decorative wood layer bonded to a thick support base, with longitudinal and transverse grooves carved into the veneer surface. What's protected is the specific method of cutting the panel ends so they have projecting teeth of different lengths that interfit with matching teeth on an adjacent panel, creating a staggered interlocking joint that aligns with the groove pattern.
Why it matters
This patent addresses a real problem in wood paneling installation: hiding joints between panels. By designing panels that physically interlock while their seams vanish into a pre-existing groove pattern, the invention eliminates visible gaps and reduces installation complexity. This approach makes veneer paneling faster and more forgiving for do-it-yourself installers and contractors alike.
Real-world use
When you install wood-look wall paneling or decorative wainscoting in a room, you'd be using this interlocking system to connect edge-to-edge panels so cleanly that the seams disappear into the wood grain pattern.
Original USPTO abstract
A veneer panel (10) has a relatively thin veneer layer (12) secured to a relatively thick supporting base (16) to form a generally rectangular veneer panel blank. The outer veneer layer (12) is then grooved in a predetermined pattern with longitudinally extending grooves (30) and transversely extending grooves (34) in the veneer layer forming veneer rows (30). At least one end of the veneer panel (10) is cut across its entire thickness to form projecting end portions (32B) of varying lengths corresponding to the veneer rows (30) and defining slotted spaces (36) between the projecting end portions (32B). A complementary projecting end portion (32B) of an adjacent panel is provided and the end portions (32B) on complementary panels are interfitted to form a staggered joint defined by a plurality of transverse grooves across the entire width of the panels similar to the remaining grooves (30, 34).
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 5,755,068
- Filing date
- 1996-09-27
- Grant date
- 1998-05-26
- Assignee
- Ormiston; Fred I.
- Inventor(s)
- ORMISTON; FRED I.
- CPC class
- B32B21/04
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