A set of panels

Abstract

The panel set includes first and second panels (1, 2). The first and second panels each include a first and second edge. The first edge includes a locking strip (19) having a locking element (5) configured to cooperate with a locking groove (4) in the second edge to lock the first edge (17) to the second edge (18). The locking element (5) includes a first locking surface (31) at a first angle (101) from a plane parallel to the first panel surface (15), and the locking groove includes a second locking surface (32) at a second angle (102) from a plane parallel to the third panel surface (13). The first angle (101) is different from the second angle (102), such that the first locking surface (31) converges toward the second locking surface (32) at a cooperating portion (104) in the locked position. The first locking surface (31) cooperates with the second locking surface (32) at a cooperating portion (104).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to panels such as floor plates configured to be integrally locked by vertical displacement.

Background Art

[0002] Panels are known that are assembled by vertical displacement and configured to be integrally locked in the vertical and horizontal directions. Such panels are disclosed, for example, in International Publication No. 2018 / 063047 pamphlet and International Publication No. 2014 / 209213 pamphlet. The connection between the tongue and the groove locks the first edge of the first panel to the second edge of the second panel in a second direction. The first edge and the second edge further comprise locking elements configured to cooperate with locking grooves in order to lock in a first direction perpendicular to the second direction.

[0003] Embodiments of the present invention address the need to provide easy assembly of the panel and / or improved locking strength.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The object of at least certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improvement over the above-described technology and known technologies.

[0006] A further object of at least certain embodiments of the present invention is to facilitate the assembly of panels that are assembled by vertical displacement and configured to be integrally locked in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0007] Another object of at least certain embodiments of the present invention is to improve the locking strength by preventing or at least reducing damage to the edges of the panel, particularly to the portions of the edges having a locking function. The locking strength can also be improved by an improved configuration of the locking surfaces of the edges of the panel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] At least some of these and other objects and advantages that may be apparent from the description are achieved by a first aspect of the present invention including a set of panels comprising a first panel and a second panel, the first panel including a first edge, a first panel surface, and an opposite second panel surface, the second panel including a second edge, a third panel surface, and an opposite fourth panel surface. The first edge includes a lock strip having a locking element configured to cooperate with a locking groove of the second edge of the second panel to lock the first edge to the second edge in a first direction parallel to the first panel surface. The first edge is configured to be assembled to the second edge by displacement of the second edge relative to the first edge in an assembly direction perpendicular to the first panel surface to obtain a locking position of the first edge and the second edge. The locking element includes a first locking surface at a first angle from a plane parallel to the first panel surface, and the locking groove includes a second locking surface at a second angle from a plane parallel to the third panel surface. The first angle is different from the second angle, whereby the first locking surface converges toward the second locking surface at a cooperating portion of the locking position. The first locking surface cooperates with the second locking surface at a cooperating portion for locking in the first direction.

[0009] The converging locking surface may have the effect that a load in a first direction, for example a load due to a force pulling the panel apart, is absorbed at a portion having a short moment arm. The short moment arm may have the advantage of improving the locking strength.

[0010] The converging locking surface may have the effect that the contact area between the first locking surface and the second locking surface decreases during assembly. The decrease in the contact area during assembly may have the advantage of reducing the friction during assembly and facilitating the assembly.

[0011] The locking element may include a first guide surface on the outer surface, and the locking groove may include a second guide surface at the opening of the locking groove. The first guide surface is configured to cooperate with the second guide surface during assembly to guide the locking element into the locking groove.

[0012] The size of the first guide surface may be larger than the size of the second guide surface that may have the effect of improving the guiding.

[0013] The first guide surface may include an essentially flat surface.

[0014] The second guide surface may have a rounded shape.

[0015] The ratio of the length of the flat surface to the radius of the rounded shape may be in the range of about 1 to about 5, or about 2 to about 4 or about 3.

[0016] The cooperating portion may be closer to the strip surface of the lock strip than to the outer surface of the locking element.

[0017] There may be a space between the first locking surface and the second locking surface in the locked position, and the space is disposed between the cooperating portion and the outer surface of the locking element.

[0018] If the panel material is brittle or contains defects, the outer part of the locking element may be damaged during assembly. The space may have the advantage that it can reach the desired locking position even if the outer part of the locking element is damaged.

[0019] The difference between the first angle and the second angle may be in the range of about 5° to about 15°, or in the range of about 5° to about 10° or about 7°.

[0020] The cooperating part may be positioned at a first distance from the strip surface of the lock strip, and the outer surface of the locking element is positioned at a second distance from the strip surface of the lock strip, and the ratio of the first distance to the second distance is in the range of about 0.03 to about 0.3, or in the range of about 0.1 to about 0.2, 0.3 or about 0.15.

[0021] One of the first edge or the second edge may include a tongue, and the tongue is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove of the other of the first edge or the second edge for locking in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0022] The tongue may be a flexible tongue disposed in the insertion groove at the first edge or the second edge.

[0023] The first angle may be in the range of about 90° to about 145°, or in the range of about 100° to about 135°, or in the range of about 110° to about 125° or about 120°, and the second angle may be in the range of about 80° to about 135°, or in the range of about 100° to about 115° or about 110°.

[0024] The locking surface and the second locking surface may be configured to lock in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0025] The first angle may be in the range of about 70° to about 90°, or in the range of about 80° to about 89°, or in the range of about 85° to about 89°, and the second angle may be in the range of about 75° to about 85°, or in the range of about 80° to about 85°.

[0026] The panel may include a polymer material or a wood-based material.

[0027] The distance between the first panel surface and the second panel surface may range from about 3 mm to about 15 mm, or from about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

[0028] The distance between the third panel surface and the fourth panel surface may range from about 3 mm to about 15 mm, or from about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

[0029] The first panel surface and the third panel surface may include a decorative surface.

[0030] The assembly may include horizontal displacement.

[0031] The first and second panels may be rectangular in shape.

[0032] The first and second panels may be construction panels such as floor panels, wall panels or ceiling panels.

[0033] The first edge and the second edge may be the short edges of the first and second panels.

[0034] The assembly may also include angular movement along the long sides of the first and / or second panels. At the same time, the angular movement may connect the long sides of the first and / or second panels to any side of the third panel by means of a mechanical locking device.

[0035] The first panel and the second panel may be elastic panels. The elastic panel may include a core containing a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material may be foam-molded.

[0036] The thermoplastic material may include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate, methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, polybutylene terephthalate, or a combination thereof. The core may be formed of several layers.

[0037] The first panel and the second panel may include a decorative layer such as a decorative foil containing a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material of the decorative layer may be polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate, methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, polybutylene terephthalate, or a combination thereof, or may contain them. The decorative foil is preferably printed, for example, by direct printing, rotary gravure printing, or digital printing.

[0038] The first panel and the second panel may include a wear layer such as a film or foil. The wear layer may contain a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material may be polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate, methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, polybutylene terephthalate, or a combination thereof.

[0039] Embodiments of the present invention may be particularly advantageous for panels including a locking surface having high friction.

[0040] The first and second panels may include a wood-based core such as HDF, MDF, or plywood.

[0041] These and other aspects, features, and advantages realized by the embodiments of the present invention will become apparent and be elucidated from the following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0042]

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 1C

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0043] Next, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the present invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

[0044] The embodiments of a set of panels shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and 7 in the locked position are according to the present invention. The set of panels comprises a first panel 1 and a second panel 2. The first panel 1 includes a first edge 17, a first panel surface 15, and an opposite second panel surface 16. The second panel 2 includes a second edge 18, a third panel surface 13, and an opposite fourth panel surface 14. The first edge 17 includes a lock strip 19 having a locking element 5 configured to cooperate with a lock groove 4 of the second edge 18 of the second panel 2 to lock the first edge 17 to the second edge 18 in a first direction 12 parallel to the first panel surface 15. The first edge 17 is configured to be assembled to the second edge 18 by displacement of the second edge 18 relative to the first edge 17 in an assembly direction 10 perpendicular to the first panel surface 15 to obtain the locked positions of the first edge 17 and the second edge 18.

[0045] For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the locking element 5 includes a first locking surface 31 at a first angle 101 from a plane parallel to the first panel surface 15, and the locking groove 4 includes a second locking surface 32 at a second angle 102 from a plane parallel to the third panel surface 13. The first angle 101 is different from the second angle 102, whereby the first locking surface 31 converges towards the second locking surface 32 at the cooperating portion 104 of the locked position (see, for example, FIGS. 5 and 6), and the first locking surface 31 cooperates with the second locking surface 32 at the cooperating portion 104 to lock in the first direction 12. In an exemplary embodiment, the cooperating portion 104 is the intersection of the first locking surface 31 and the second locking surface 32. The converging locking surfaces can have the effect that a load in the first direction 12, for example a load due to a force pulling the panels apart, is absorbed at a portion having a short moment arm. The short moment arm can have the advantage of improving the locking strength.

[0046] The converging locking surfaces can have the effect that the contact area between the first locking surface and the second locking surface decreases during assembly. The decreasing contact area during assembly can have the advantage of reducing the friction during assembly and facilitating the assembly.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the locking element 5, the locking strip 19, and the locking groove 4 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 7.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the locking element 5, the locking strip 19, and the locking groove 4 of the embodiment of FIG. 1A.

[0049] FIGS. 5 and 6 show embodiments including a cooperating portion 104 closer to the strip surface 36 of the locking strip 19 than to the outer surface 7 of the locking element 5.

[0050] The outer surface 7 may be the outermost surface of the locking element 5. For example, in FIG. 5, the outer surface 7 is the uppermost surface of the locking element 5.

[0051] The exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 include a space 115 between the first locking surface 31 and the second locking surface 32. The space is disposed between the cooperating part 104 and the outer surface 7 of the locking element 5.

[0052] The difference 103 between the first angle 101 and the second angle 102 may be in the range of about 2° to about 15°, or in the range of about 5° to about 10°, or in the range of about 5° to about 7°, or about 7. If the difference is less than 2°, the space 115 is too small, and dust or particles from damaged panel parts during assembly or transportation may not be able to enter. A large difference, for example, a difference exceeding 5°, can be an advantage as it allows for small manufacturing tolerances. A difference exceeding 15° may be a disadvantage as it may weaken the edge of the opening of the locking groove 4 of the second guide surface 22.

[0053] It should be understood that the term "about" includes a margin of measurement error of 1 0 The measurement error margin of 1.

[0054] The cooperating part 104 is positioned at a first distance 113 from the strip surface 36 of the lock strip 19, the outer surface 7 of the locking element 5 is positioned at a second distance 114 from the strip surface 36 of the lock strip 19, and the ratio of the first distance 113 to the second distance 114 may be in the range of about 0.03 to about 0.3, or in the range of about 0.1 to about 0.2, about 0.3 or about 0.15. A short fist distance has the advantage of a short moment arm. The second distance can be of sufficient length to enable the surface of the first guide 20 and reduce the risk of the locking element slipping out of the locking groove when a high load is applied to the panel that may bend the lock strip away from the locking groove.

[0055] Figures 1A to 1C show that one of the first edge 17 or the second edge 18 includes the tongue portion 3, and the tongue portion 3 is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove 6 of the other of the first edge 17 or the second edge 18 to lock in the second direction 11 perpendicular to the first direction 12. Figure 1A shows an embodiment comprising an embodiment of the tongue portion 3 which is a flexible tongue portion disposed in the insertion groove 8. The insertion groove 8 may be disposed on the first edge 17 or the second edge 18. Figures 1B to 1C show an embodiment comprising an embodiment of the tongue portion 3 which can be formed, for example, by mechanically cutting the material of the panel.

[0056] In order to lock in the second direction 11, an embodiment comprising the tongue portion 3 on one of the first edge 17 or the second edge 18 and the tongue groove 6 on the other of the first or second edge may have a first angle 101 in the range of about 90° to about 145°, or in the range of about 100° to about 135°, or in the range of about 110° to about 125° or about 120°, and an embodiment of a second angle 102 in the range of about 80° to about 135°, or in the range of about 100° to about 115° or about 110°.

[0057] For example, as shown in Figure 5, the embodiments shown in Figures 1B to 1C and Figure 7 include a first locking surface 31 and a second locking surface 32 configured to lock in the second direction 11 perpendicular to the first direction 12. The embodiment of the first angle 101 may be in the range of about 70° to about 90°, or in the range of about 80° to about 89°, or in the range of about 85° to about 89°, and the embodiment of the second angle 102 may be in the range of about 75° to about 85°, or in the range of about 80° to about 85°.

[0058] Figure 2A shows the embodiment shown in Figure 1A during exemplary assembly. The second edge 18 of the second panel 2 is displaced in the assembly direction 10 with respect to the first edge 17 of the first panel 1 to obtain the locking positions of the first edge and the second edge. The assembly direction 10 may be perpendicular to the first panel surface 15. Figures 4A to 4B show the embodiment before assembly.

[0059] The flexible tongue may be compressed and / or displaced in the direction 112 towards the bottom 9 of the insertion groove 8 during assembly. The flexible tongue is configured to spring back when the first edge 17 and the second edge 18 reach the locking position.

[0060] Figure 2B shows the embodiment shown in Figure 1A during assembly. The embodiments shown in Figures 1C and 7 may be assembled in the same or a similar manner. The second edge 18 of the second panel 2 is displaced in the assembly direction 10 with respect to the first edge 17 of the first panel 1 in order to obtain the locking positions of the first and second edges. The assembly direction 10 may be perpendicular to the first panel surface 15. Figures 3A - 3B show the embodiment before assembly.

[0061] The locking element 5 may include a first guide surface 20 on the outer surface, and the locking groove 4 may include a second guide surface 22 at the opening of the locking groove 4. The first guide surface 20 is configured to cooperate with the second guide surface 22 during assembly to guide the locking element 5 into the locking groove 4.

[0062] Figure 5 shows that the size of the first guide surface 20 is larger than the size of the second guide surface 22, which may have the effect of improving the guidance.

[0063] The first guide surface 20 may include an essentially flat surface. The flat surface may provide a large guide length.

[0064] The second guide surface 22 may have a rounded shape. The rounded shape may reduce the contact surface between the first guide surface 20 and the second guide surface 22 and reduce friction during assembly.

[0065] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the ratio of the length 21 of the flat surface to the radius R1 of the rounded shape of the second guide surface 22 may be in the range of about 2 to about 5, or about 3 to about 4. The above ratio can be made large enough to implement an effective guide over a relatively large guide length, but not so large as to result in a sharp edge on the second guide surface 22 and be too large to cause breakage during assembly or transportation.

[0066] The transition surface between the first locking surface 31 and the strip surface 36 may have a rounded shape. The transition surface may include a transition radius R2. The transition radius R2 may be larger than the radius R1 of the rounded shape of the second guide surface, which may have the effect of improving the locking strength and preventing cracks at the transition surface when a load in the first direction, such as a force pulling the panel apart, is applied during assembly.

[0067] The relatively small radius R1 of the rounded shape of the second guide surface also has the effect of positioning the cooperating part 104 near the strip surface 36 of the lock strip 19, which may have the effect of absorbing the load at a part with a short moment arm when a load in the first direction, such as a force pulling the panel apart, is applied. The short moment arm may have the advantage of improving the locking strength.

[0068] The locking element 5 may be rotated away from the first edge 17 in the direction 111 during vertical displacement and may bounce back when the first edge and the second edge reach the locking position.

[0069] For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the side surface of the lock strip 19 on the second panel surface 16 may include a space 41 such as a recess or an inclined surface under the locking element 5 that may facilitate the rotation of the lock 5 during assembly.

[0070] The second edge 18 may be provided with a calibration groove 25 adjacent to the lock groove 4. The calibration groove 25 may compensate for differences in thickness of floorboards having different thicknesses, particularly at the edges of the floorboards. The calibration groove enables the second edge to be pushed towards the subfloor on which the floorboard is disposed. The calibration groove 25 shown in FIG. 2B is rectangular in shape, but the calibration groove may have other shapes such as an inclined surface.

[0071] The assembly shown in FIGS. 2A - 2B may include displacements parallel to the first direction.

[0072] The panels 1, 2 may include a polymer material or a wood - based material.

[0073] For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the distance 116 between the first panel surface 15 and the second panel surface 16 may be in the range of about 3 mm to about 15 mm, or in the range of about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

[0074] For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the distance 117 between the third panel surface 13 and the fourth panel surface 14 may be in the range of about 3 mm to about 15 mm, or in the range of about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

[0075] The lock strip 19 may protrude beyond the first joint surface 37 at the first edge 17 adjacent to the first panel surface 15.

[0076] The second edge 18 may include a second joint surface 38 adjacent to the third panel surface 13.

[0077] The first joint surface 37 may be configured to cooperate with the second joint surface 38 to lock in a direction opposite to the first direction 12.

[0078] The edge surface 35 of the second edge may be configured to cooperate with the strip surface 36 to lock in a direction opposite to the first direction 11. The edge surface may be positioned on the same side surface of the second edge 18 as the fourth panel surface 14.

[0079] The first locking surface 31 and / or the second locking surface 32 may be substantially planar.

[0080] The first panel surface 15 and the third panel surface 13 may include a decorative surface.

[0081] The first and second panels may be building panels such as floor panels, wall panels or ceiling panels.

[0082] The first and second panels may be rectangular in shape.

[0083] The first and second panels may be building panels such as floor panels, wall panels or ceiling panels.

[0084] The first edge and the second edge may be the short edges of the first and second panels.

[0085] The assembly may also include angular movement along the long sides of the first and / or second panels.

[0086] The above-described embodiments may be elastic panels. The elastic panel may include a core containing a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material may be foam molded.

[0087] The thermoplastic material may include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate, methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, polybutylene terephthalate, or a combination thereof. The core may be formed from several layers.

[0088] The above-described embodiments may include a decorative layer such as a decorative foil containing a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material of the decorative layer may be polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate, methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, polybutylene terephthalate, or a combination thereof, or may contain them. The decorative foil is preferably printed, for example, by direct printing, rotogravure printing, or digital printing.

[0089] The above-described embodiments may include a wear layer such as a film or foil. The wear layer may contain a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material may be polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate, methacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, polybutylene terephthalate, or a combination thereof.

[0090] The above embodiments may include a wood-based core such as HDF, MDF, or plywood.

[0091] Further embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

[0092] 1. A set of panels comprising a first panel (1) and a second panel (2), wherein the first panel (1) includes a first edge (17), a first panel surface (15), and a second panel surface (16) on the opposite side, and the second panel (2) includes a second edge (18), a third panel surface (13), and a fourth panel surface (14) on the opposite side, The first edge (17) includes a locking strip (19) having a locking element (5) configured to cooperate with a locking groove (4) of a second edge (18) of a second panel (2) in a first direction (12) parallel to the first panel surface (15) to lock the first edge (17) to the second edge (18). The first edge (17) is configured to be assembled to the second edge by displacement of the second edge (18) relative to the first edge (17) in an assembly direction (10) perpendicular to the first panel surface (15) to obtain a locked position of the first edge (17) and the second edge (18). The locking element (5) includes a first locking surface (31) at a first angle (101) from a plane parallel to the first panel surface (15). The locking groove includes a second locking surface (32) at a second angle (102) from a plane parallel to the third panel surface (13). The first angle (101) is different from the second angle (102), whereby the first locking surface (31) converges towards the second locking surface (32) at a cooperating portion (104) of the locked position, and the first locking surface (31) cooperates with the second locking surface (32) at the cooperating portion (104) to lock in the first direction (12). A set of panels.

[0093] 2. The set of panels according to embodiment 1, wherein the cooperating portion (104) is closer to the strip surface (36) of the locking strip (19) than to the outer surface (7) of the locking element (5).

[0094] 3. The set of panels according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein there is a space 115 between the first locking surface (31) and the second locking surface (32) in the locked position, and the space is disposed between the cooperating portion (104) and the outer surface (7) of the locking element (5).

[0095] 4. The set of panels according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the difference (103) between the first angle (101) and the second angle (102) is in the range of about 2° to about 15°, or in the range of about 5° to about 10°, or in the range of about 5° to about 7°, or about 7.

[0096] 5. The collaborative part (104) is positioned at a first distance (113) from the strip surface (36) of the lock strip (19), the outer surface (7) of the lock element (5) is positioned at a second distance (114) from the strip surface (36) of the lock strip (19), and the ratio of the first distance (113) to the second distance (114) is in the range of about 0.03 to about 0.3, or in the range of about 0.1 to about 0.2, 03 or about 0.15, a set of panels according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 4.

[0097] 6. One of the first edge (17) or the second edge (18) includes a tongue (3), and the tongue (3) is configured to cooperate with the tongue groove (6) of the other of the first edge (17) or the second edge (18) for locking in a second direction (11) perpendicular to the first direction (12), a set of panels according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 5.

[0098] 7. The tongue (3) is a flexible tongue disposed in an insertion groove at one of the first edge (17) or the second edge (18), a set of panels according to Embodiment 6.

[0099] 8. The first angle (101) is in the range of about 90° to about 145°, or in the range of about 100° to about 135°, or in the range of about 110° to about 125° or about 120°, The second angle (102) is in the range of about 80° to about 135°, or in the range of about 100° to about 115° or about 110°, a set of panels according to Embodiment 6 or 7.

[0100] 9. The first locking surface (31) and the second locking surface (32) are configured to lock in a second direction (11) perpendicular to the first direction (12), a set of panels according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 8.

[0101] 10. The first angle (101) is in the range of about 70° to about 90°, or in the range of about 80° to about 89°, or in the range of about 85° to about 89°, The pair of panels according to embodiment 9, wherein the second angle (102) is in the range of about 75° to about 85°, or in the range of about 80° to about 85°.

[0102] 11. The pair of panels according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the panel comprises a polymer material or a wood-based material.

[0103] 12. The pair of panels according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the distance between the first panel surface (15) and the second panel surface (16) is in the range of about 3 mm to about 15 mm, or in the range of about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

[0104] 13. The pair of panels according to any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the distance between the third panel surface (13) and the fourth panel surface (14) is in the range of about 3 mm to about 15 mm, or in the range of about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

[0105] 14. The pair of panels according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein the first panel surface (15) and the third panel surface (13) comprise decorative surfaces.

[0106] 15. The pair of panels according to any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the first and second panels are building panels such as floor panels, wall panels or ceiling panels.

[0107] 16. The pair of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the locking element (5) comprises a first guide surface (20) on an outer surface, the locking groove (4) comprises a second guide surface (22) at an opening of the locking groove (4), and the first guide surface (20) is configured to cooperate with the second guide surface (22) during assembly to guide the locking element (5) into the locking groove (4).

[0108] 17. The pair of panels according to claim 16, wherein the size of the first guide surface (20) is larger than the size of the second guide surface (22).

[0109] 18. The set of panels according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the first guide surface (20) comprises a substantially flat surface.

[0110] 19. The set of panels according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the second guide surface (22) has a rounded shape.

[0111] 20. The set of panels according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the first guide surface (20) comprises a substantially flat surface, the second guide surface (22) has a rounded shape, and the ratio of the length (21) of the flat surface to the radius (R1) of the rounded shape of the second guide surface is in the range of about 1 to about 5, or about 2 to about 4, or about 3.

Claims

1. A set of panels comprising a first panel (1) and a second panel (2), wherein the first panel (1) includes a first edge (17), a first panel surface (15), and a second panel surface (16) opposite thereto, the second panel (2) includes a second edge (18), a third panel surface (13), and a fourth panel surface (14) opposite thereto, the first edge (17) includes a locking strip (19) having a locking element (5) configured to cooperate with a locking groove (4) of the second edge (18) of the second panel (2) to lock the first edge (17) to the second edge (18) in a first direction (12) parallel to the first panel surface (15), the first edge (17) is configured to be assembled to the second edge by displacement of the second edge (18) relative to the first edge (17) in an assembly direction (10) perpendicular to the first panel surface (15) to obtain a locked position of the first edge (17) and the second edge (18), the locking element (5) includes a first locking surface (31) at a first angle (101) from a first plane parallel to the first panel surface (15), the locking groove (4) includes a second locking surface (32) at a second angle (102) from a second plane parallel to the third panel surface (13) in a set of panels, the first angle (101) is different from the second angle (102), whereby the first locking surface (31) converges towards the second locking surface (32) at a cooperating portion (104) of the locked position, the first locking surface (31) cooperates with the second locking surface (32) at the cooperating portion (104) for the locking in the first direction (12), and further, the difference (103) between the first angle (101) and the second angle (102) is in the range of about 5° to about 15°, the first locking surface defines a third plane extending at the first angle, the cooperating portion includes an upper side and a lower side, the outer surface portion of the locking groove converges (i) from the upper side of the cooperating portion towards the third plane, (ii) from the lower side of the cooperating portion towards the third plane, and (iii) is limited to a single side of the third plane, a set of panels characterized by this.

2. The set of panels according to claim 1, wherein the cooperating part (104) is closer to the strip surface (36) of the lock strip (19) than to the outer surface (7) of the lock element (5).

3. The set of panels according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a space (115) between the first locking surface (31) and the second locking surface (32) in the locking position, the space being arranged between the cooperating part (104) and the outer surface (7) of the lock element (5).

4. The lock element (5) includes a first guide surface (20) on a part of the outer surface portion, and the lock groove (4) includes a second guide surface (22) at an opening of the lock groove (4). The set of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first guide surface (20) is configured to cooperate with the second guide surface (22) during assembly to guide the lock element (5) into the lock groove (4).

5. The cooperating part (104) is positioned at a first distance (114) from the strip surface (36) of the lock strip (8), the outer surface (7) of the lock element (5) is positioned at a second distance (115) from the strip surface (36) of the lock strip (19), and the ratio of the first distance (114) to the second distance (115) is in the range of about 0.03 to about 0.3, or in the range of about 0.1 to about 0.2, 03 or about 0.

15. The set of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. One of the first edge (17) or the second edge (18) includes a tongue (3), and the tongue (3) is configured to cooperate with a tongue groove (6) in one of the other of the first edge (17) or the second edge (18) to lock in a second direction (11) perpendicular to the first direction (12). The set of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The set of panels according to claim 6, wherein the tongue (3) is a flexible tongue arranged in an insertion groove (8) on the one of the first edge (17) or the second edge (18).

8. The first angle (101) is in the range of about 90° to about 145°, or in the range of about 100° to about 135°, or in the range of about 110° to about 125° or about 120°. The set of panels according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second angle (102) is in the range of about 80° to about 135°, or in the range of about 100° to about 115° or about 110°.

9. The set of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first locking surface (31) and the second locking surface (32) are configured to lock in a second direction (11) perpendicular to the first direction (12).

10. The first angle (101) is in the range of about 70° to about 90°, or in the range of about 80° to about 89°, or in the range of about 85° to about 89°, The set of panels according to claim 9, wherein the second angle (102) is in the range of about 75° to about 85°, or in the range of about 80° to about 85°.

11. The set of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the panel comprises a polymer material or a wood-based material.

12. The set of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the distance between the first panel surface (15) and the second panel surface (16) is in the range of about 3 mm to about 15 mm, or in the range of about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

13. The set of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the distance between the third panel surface (13) and the fourth panel surface (14) is in the range of about 3 mm to about 15 mm, or in the range of about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

14. The set of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first panel surface (15) and the third panel surface (13) comprise a decorative surface.

15. The set of panels according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first and second panels are building panels including at least one of a floor panel, a wall panel, or a ceiling panel.

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