Wood panels, locking elements and wood panel assemblies

Abstract

The present invention provides a wood panel, a locking member, and a wood panel assembly. Slots are provided at the corners of the bottom surfaces of the wood panels. The slots and the edges of the wood panels together form a mounting portion. The slots are configured to engage with the side walls of the locking member. The wood panel according to the present invention can effectively limit the position of assembled wood panels.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wood panel assembly, and more particularly, to a wood panel with a lock buckle, a locking member and a wood panel assembly. Background Art

[0002] Wood panels, such as wooden floors, shrink in dry environments, creating gaps between the panels. Conventional wood panels often incorporate improvements to their groove structure, such as by adding protrusions or notches to create a locking mechanism to prevent gaps between assembled panels. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to solve or at least alleviate the problems existing in the prior art.

[0004] On the one hand, a wood block is provided, wherein a slot is provided at a corner of a bottom surface of the wood block, the slot and an edge of the wood block together form a mounting portion, and the slot is used to cooperate with a side wall of a locking member.

[0005] Optionally, in the wooden block, a first slot along a first direction and a second slot along a second direction intersecting the first direction are provided at the corners of the bottom surface of the wooden block, and the first slot and the second slot and the edge of the wooden block together form a mounting portion, and the first slot and the second slot are respectively used to cooperate with the adjacent first wall and second wall of the locking member.

[0006] Optionally, in the wood block, the wood block is in a cubic shape, the first slit is along the width direction of the wood block, and the second slit is along the length direction of the wood block.

[0007] Optionally, in the wood block, the width of the first slot is substantially equal to the thickness of the first wall of the locking member matched therewith, so that the first slot is tightly matched with the first wall.

[0008] Optionally, in the wood block, the width of the second slot is greater than the thickness of the second wall of the locking member matched therewith, so that the second slot is loosely matched with the second wall.

[0009] Optionally, in the wooden blocks, the wooden blocks are being assembled, and the locking members are used to lock the mounting portions at the corners of the four wooden blocks.

[0010] Optionally, in the wooden block, the second slot of the wooden block extends the entire length of the wooden block, and the wooden block further includes a third slot and a fourth slot in the middle of the wooden block along the width direction of the wooden block. The wooden blocks are assembled in a staggered manner, and the locking member is used to lock the mounting portions at the corners of two wooden blocks and the mounting portion in the middle of another wooden block.

[0011] Optionally, in the wooden block, the second slot of the wooden block extends the entire length of the wooden block, and the wooden block further includes a third slot, a fourth slot, a fifth slot and a sixth slot in the middle of the wooden block along the width direction of the wooden block. The wooden blocks are assembled in a herringbone shape, and the locking member is used to lock the mounting portions at the corners of two wooden blocks and the mounting portion in the middle of another wooden block.

[0012] Optionally, in the wooden block, the wooden block is diamond-shaped, the first slot and the second slot are respectively parallel to the adjacent edges of the diamond-shaped wooden block, and the locking member is used to lock the mounting portions of the corners of four or eight wooden blocks.

[0013] Optionally, in the wood block, the width of the first groove and / or the second groove is in the range of 1.0-3.5 mm, and / or the depth of the first groove and / or the second groove is in the range of 4-8 mm.

[0014] Optionally, in the wood block, the slot includes an arc-shaped section.

[0015] A locking member is also provided. The locking member includes a side wall in a closed ring shape. The locking member is used to lock the wood boards according to the embodiments of the present invention together.

[0016] Optionally, in the locking member, the locking member is made of plastic or metal.

[0017] Optionally, in the locking member, the cross-section of the locking member is rectangular, circular, arrow-shaped, diamond-shaped or star-shaped.

[0018] A wood panel assembly is also provided. The wood panel assembly includes the wood panels according to various embodiments of the present invention and a locking member, wherein the locking member is used to lock the wood panels together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The principles of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 shows a front view of a wood panel according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 shows a reverse side view of a wood panel according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 A locking member according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 4A schematic diagram of assembling a wood panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of assembling a wood panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of assembling a wood panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 Shown Figure 6 The extended state of the wood panel assembly in;

[0027] Figure 8 A schematic diagram showing an assembly of a wood panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0028] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of assembling a wood panel assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] It is easy to understand that according to the technical solution of the present invention, without changing the essential spirit of the present invention, a person skilled in the art can propose a variety of interchangeable structural modes and implementation modes. Therefore, the following specific embodiments and drawings are only exemplary descriptions of the technical solution of the present invention and should not be regarded as the entire invention or as a limitation or restriction of the technical solution of the present invention.

[0030] The terms "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "front," "back," "top," and "bottom" mentioned or potentially mentioned in this specification are defined relative to the configurations shown in the accompanying drawings. They are relative concepts and may vary depending on the location and usage of the device. Therefore, these and other directional terms should not be construed as restrictive.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wood panel is provided having slots formed at the corners of the bottom surface of the wood panel. The slots and the edges of the wood panel together form a mounting portion. A locking member includes a closed ring-shaped sidewall that is inserted into the slots of multiple wood panels, so that the locking member surrounds the mounting portions of the multiple wood panels, thereby restraining the wood panels. The wood panels may be, for example, wood flooring, wall paneling, decorative paneling, or furniture paneling. The following uses wood flooring as an example.

[0032] First reference Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively, show perspective views of a wood panel, such as a wooden floor, from the front and back. The wood panel 1 may include a top surface 11 and a bottom surface 12. Slots 21 and 31 are provided at the corners of the bottom surface 12 of the wood panel 1. The slots 21 and 31, along with the edge of the wood panel 1, form mounting portions 51 at the corners of the wood panel 1. Figure 2 The width w and depth h of the slot are marked in the figure. Figure 3 The locking member 6 shown is engaged with the mounting portion 51 of the plurality of wood panels 1, thereby linking the wood panels 1 together. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, a first slot 31 along a first direction and a second slot 21 along a second direction intersecting the first direction are provided at the corners of the bottom surface 12 of the wood block 1. The first slot 31, the second slot 21, and the edge of the wood block 1 collectively define a mounting portion 51. The first slot 31 and the second slot 21 are respectively configured to engage with the adjacent first wall 61 and second wall 62 of the locking member 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the wood block 1 is in the shape of a cube. The first slot 31 and the second slot 32 are parallel to the edges of the wood block, with the first slot 31 extending along the width of the wood block 1 and the second slot 21 extending along the length of the wood block 1. Because the slots in the wood blocks according to various embodiments of the present invention can be parallel to the edges of the wood blocks, these slots can be machined during the mortising process without requiring additional steps. In alternative embodiments described below, the wood blocks 1 can have other shapes, and the slots can have other configurations.

[0033] refer to Figure 3 FIG. 6 shows a locking member 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The locking member 6 comprises a side wall in a closed ring shape. When mounted on a wood panel, the side wall of the locking member is perpendicular to the bottom surface or the top surface of the wood panel. The locking member is used to lock the wood panel. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The wooden panels 1 are shown locked together. In this embodiment, the locking member 6 is in the shape of a cube or box, comprising at least a first side wall 61, a second side wall 62, a third side wall 63, and a fourth side wall 64. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the locking member 6 does not include a bottom wall, and therefore does not cushion the wooden panels when installed between them.

[0034] refer to Figure 4, which shows a wood panel assembly in an assembled state according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the wood panels are selected for positive assembly, that is, adjacent wood panels are arranged in the same direction, and the edges of each wood panel are aligned. The wood panel 1 includes a set of first slots 31, 34 and a set of second slots 21, 22, thereby defining four mounting portions 51 at the four corners of the wood panel 1. The locking member 6 is used to lock the mounting portions 51 at the corners of the four wood panels. In some embodiments, the width of the first slots 31, 34 is substantially equal to the thickness of the first wall 61 of the locking member that cooperates therewith, so that the first slots 31, 34 fit tightly with the first wall 61. Since the expansion and contraction of the wood panel 1, especially the wooden floor made of solid wood, in its longitudinal direction is not significant, the first slots 31, 34 are arranged in the longitudinal direction to fit tightly with the first wall 61. In some embodiments, the width of the second slots 21 and 22 can be greater than the thickness of the second wall 62 of the locking member 6 with which they are mated, allowing for a clearance fit between the second slots 21 and 22 and the second wall 62. This allows for expansion and contraction of the wood panel 1 in the width direction, which is advantageous for wood panels made of solid wood. In other embodiments, such as in composite flooring where expansion and contraction are less pronounced, each slot can be tightly fitted with the side wall of the locking member. In some embodiments, the second slots 21 and 22 are approximately 1 mm thicker than the second wall 62, such as 0.5-1.5 mm, so that after assembly, a clearance of approximately 1.0 mm exists between the second slots 21 and 22 and the second wall 62. This relationship can be achieved by adjusting the slot width or the thickness of the locking member's side wall.

[0035] In the embodiment shown, the second slots 21, 22 of the wood block 1 extend the entire length of the wood block 1. In the embodiment shown, the first slots 31, 34 of the wood block 1 extend the entire width of the wood block 1. In alternative embodiments, the first slots and / or the second slots may extend only a portion of the width or length of the wood block 1. Figure 1 ,2 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the wood panel 1 further includes a third slot 32 and a fourth slot 33 in the middle of the wood panel along the width direction of the wood panel 1. The second slot 22, the third slot 32, the fourth slot 33 and the edge of the wood panel 1 together form a mounting portion 52 in the middle of the wood panel 1 (wherein, the middle does not mean the exact center, but can be any position between the two ends of the wood panel, such as 1 / 3 of the length of the wood panel). Figure 5As shown, the wood panels 1 are assembled in a staggered manner, i.e., the wood panels 1 are arranged in the same direction, but the head of one wood panel 1 is aligned with a certain position in the middle of another wood panel 1. The locking member 6 is used to secure the mounting portions 51 at the corners of the two wood panels and the mounting portion 52 in the middle of the other wood panel. In this embodiment, the first slots 31, 34, the third sealing groove 32, and the fourth slot 33 are designed to fit tightly against the wall of the locking member 6, while the second slots 21, 22 are designed to loosely fit against the wall of the locking member 6.

[0036] Continue to refer Figure 6 and Figure 7 The second slots 21, 22 of the wood panel extend the entire length of the wood panel 1. The wood panel 1 also includes a third slot 32, a fourth slot 33, a fifth slot 36, and a sixth slot 35 in the middle of the wood panel along the width of the wood panel. The second slots 21, 32, and 33, along with the edge of the wood panel, form a first middle mounting portion 52, and the second slots 21, 36, and 35, along with the edge of the wood panel, form a second middle mounting portion 52. The wood panels are arranged in a herringbone pattern, i.e., the wood panels are arranged in a herringbone pattern perpendicular to each other. The locking member 6 is used to lock the mounting portions 51 at the corners of two wood panels and the mounting portion 52 at the middle of another wood panel. In this embodiment, similarly, the first slots 31, 34, the third slot 32, the fourth slot 33, the fifth slot 36, and the sixth slot 35 can be tightly fitted with the wall of the locking member 6, while the second slots 21, 22 can be loosely fitted with the wall of the locking member 6. In this embodiment, the wall thickness of the locking member 6 can be set to the same while the widths of the various slots can be set to different to achieve the above structure. Figure 7 The figure shows a herringbone assembly of target panels. In some embodiments, each wooden panel is limited by six locking members 6. In some embodiments, some locking members 6 can be selectively omitted. For example, each wooden panel can be limited by three, four or five locking members 6.

[0037] As can be seen from the above embodiments, the wood panel assembly according to the embodiments of the present invention can allow the wood panels to be assembled in a straight, staggered or herringbone arrangement, and can effectively limit the relative positions of the wood panels. In some embodiments, it can also allow the wood panels to expand and contract in the width direction.

[0038] Continue to refer Figure 8, shows a wooden block assembly in an assembled state according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the wooden block 1' is in a diamond shape, and the first slots 31, 34 and the second slots 21, 22 are respectively parallel to the adjacent sides of the diamond-shaped wooden block. Locking members, such as the octagonal star-shaped locking member 71, are used to lock the mounting portions 51 at the corners of eight wooden blocks, and locking members, such as the arrow-shaped locking member 72 or the diamond-shaped locking member 73, are used to lock the mounting portions 51 at the corners of four wooden blocks. In this embodiment, similarly, the first slots 31, 34 can be tightly fitted with the walls of the locking members 71, 72, 73, and the second slots 21, 22 can be loosely fitted with the walls of the locking members 71, 72, 73. Figure 8 In the illustrated embodiment, the diamond-shaped corners are approximately 45 degrees, and the central locking member 71 is used to secure eight wood panels. In an alternative embodiment, the diamond-shaped corners may be approximately 60 degrees, and the locking member is used to secure six wood panels. The diamond-shaped corners may also have other angles, and the locking member may be used to secure other numbers of wood panels. Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment, the diamond-shaped wood panels may also be spliced ​​using a herringbone pattern.

[0039] In some embodiments, the slot, such as the first slot or the second slot, may include an arcuate segment. Figure 9 As shown, in some embodiments, for a cubic wooden block 1''', the slot with an arc-shaped section and the edge of the wooden block form a mounting portion 51 at the corner, and the locking member 8 with an arc-shaped section can be used to lock the mounting portions 51 at the corners of the four wooden blocks.

[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the width of the first and / or second slots is in the range of 1.0-3.5 mm, or 1.5-3.5 mm, or 2.0-3.0 mm, and / or the depth of the first and / or second slots is in the range of 4-8 mm, or 4-7 mm, or 4-6 mm. In some embodiments, the depth of the first and second slots is within one-third of the total thickness of the wood panel to ensure the strength of the wood panel. In some embodiments, the locking members 6, 7, and 8 can be made of plastic or metal. In some embodiments, the cross-section of the locking members 6, 7, and 8 can be rectangular, circular, arrow-shaped, diamond-shaped, or star-shaped, such as a hexagonal or octagonal star.

[0041] On the other hand, the present invention is also intended to protect a wood panel or a locking element sold separately, or a wood panel assembly comprising a wood panel and a locking element sold together.

[0042] It should be understood that all the above preferred embodiments are illustrative rather than restrictive, and various modifications or variations made by those skilled in the art to the specific embodiments described above under the concept of the present invention should be within the legal protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wood panel assembly, comprising: A plurality of wood blocks, each of the wood blocks having a first slot along a first direction and a second slot along a second direction intersecting the first direction, the first slot and the second slot and an edge of the wood block together forming a mounting portion, the slot being adapted to engage with a side wall of a locking member; as well as A locking member, wherein the locking member is composed of a side wall in a closed ring shape; Wherein, the locking member surrounds the mounting portions of the plurality of wood panels, so that the wood panels are limited by the locking member; The wooden block is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, the first slit is along the width direction of the wooden block, and the second slit is along the length direction of the wooden block; The width of the first slot is substantially equal to the thickness of the first wall of the locking member matched therewith, so that the first slot is tightly matched with the first wall; and The width of the second slot is greater than the thickness of the second wall of the locking member matched therewith, so that the second slot is loosely matched with the second wall to allow the expansion and contraction of the wood board in the width direction.

2. The wood panel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The wooden blocks are being assembled, and the locking members are used to lock the mounting portions at the corners of the four wooden blocks.

3. The wood panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The second slot of the wood panel extends the entire length of the wood panel, and the wood panel further includes a third slot and a fourth slot in the middle portion of the wood panel along the width direction of the wood panel. The wood panels are assembled in a staggered manner, and the locking member is used to surround and lock the mounting portions at the corners of two wood panels and the mounting portion in the middle portion of another wood panel.

4. The wood panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The second slot of the wood block extends the entire length of the wood block, and the wood block further includes a third slot, a fourth slot, a fifth slot and a sixth slot in the middle of the wood block along the width direction of the wood block. The wood blocks are assembled in a herringbone shape, and the locking member is used to surround and lock the mounting portions at the corners of two wood blocks and the mounting portion in the middle of another wood block.

5. The wood panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein: A width of the first slot and / or the second slot is in the range of 1.0-3.5 mm, and a depth of the first slot and / or the second slot is in the range of 4-8 mm.

6. The wood panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The slot includes an arc-shaped segment.

7. The wood panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The locking member is made of plastic or metal.

8. The wood panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The cross section of the locking member is rectangular, circular, arrow-shaped, diamond-shaped or star-shaped.

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