Interlocking self-aligning cladding panel for floors, walls, ceilings, or the like

Abstract

Interlocking cladding panels for floors, walls, ceilings, or the like, having a top surface and a bottom surface and terminating with at least a receiving edge and an engaging edge. The receiving edge has a head tooth, a leveling tooth recess, an intermediate tooth, a locking tooth recess, and a foot tooth. The engaging edge has a head tooth recess to cooperate with the head tooth, a leveling tooth to cooperate with the leveling tooth recess, an intermediate tooth recess to cooperate with the intermediate tooth, a locking tooth to cooperate with the locking tooth recess, and a foot tooth recess to cooperate with the. foot tooth. The receiving edge is complementary in shape to the engaging edge so that when the engaging edge is placed on the foot tooth of an adjacent panel it is guided into position permitting the installer to snap the panels into a locked position.

1 . An interlocking self-aligning cladding panel ( 100 ) for floors, walls, ceilings, or the like, comprising: 
 a top surface ( 110 ) and a bottom surface ( 120 ) that are substantially parallel and terminate with at least four edges including a receiving edge ( 200 ) and an engaging edge ( 300 );    the receiving edge ( 200 ) having a head tooth ( 210 ), a leveling tooth recess ( 220 ), an intermediate tooth ( 230 ), a locking tooth recess ( 240 ), and a foot tooth ( 250 );    the engaging edge ( 300 ) having a head tooth recess ( 310 ) to cooperate with the head tooth ( 210 ), a leveling tooth ( 320 ) to cooperate with the leveling tooth recess ( 220 ), an intermediate tooth recess ( 330 ) to cooperate with the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), a locking tooth ( 340 ) to cooperate with the locking tooth recess ( 240 ), and a foot tooth recess ( 350 ) to cooperate with the foot tooth ( 250 ); and    the receiving edge ( 200 ) being substantially complementary in shape to the engaging edge ( 300 ) so that when the engaging edge ( 300 ) of one panel ( 100 ) is placed on the foot tooth ( 250 ) of the receiving edge ( 200 ) of an adjacent panel ( 100 ) and is rotated toward the bottom surface ( 120 ) the panels ( 100 ) snap together so as to oppose withdrawal of the receiving edge ( 200 ) from the engaging edge ( 300 ) in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) and bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panels ( 100 ).    
   
   
       2 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 1 , wherein the head tooth ( 210 ) is defined by the top surface ( 110 ) of the panel ( 100 ), a primary surface ( 212 ), and a lower surface ( 214 ), the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 232 ), a primary surface ( 234 ), and a lower surface ( 236 ), the leveling tooth recess ( 220 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 214 ) of the head tooth ( 210 ), a rear surface ( 222 ), and the upper surface ( 232 ) of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), the foot tooth ( 250 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 252 ), a primary surface ( 254 ), and the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ), and the locking tooth recess ( 240 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 236 ) of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), a rear surface ( 242 ), and the upper surface ( 252 ) of the foot tooth ( 250 ), and wherein the leveling tooth ( 320 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 322 ), a primary surface ( 324 ), and a lower surface ( 326 ), the head tooth recess ( 310 ) is defined by a rear surface ( 312 ) and the upper surface ( 322 ) of the leveling tooth ( 320 ), the locking tooth ( 340 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 342 ), a primary surface ( 344 ), and a lower surface ( 346 ), the intermediate tooth recess ( 330 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 326 ) of the leveling tooth ( 320 ), a rear surface ( 332 ), and the upper surface ( 342 ) of the locking tooth ( 340 ), and the foot tooth recess ( 350 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 346 ) of the locking tooth ( 340 ) and a rear surface ( 352 ).  
   
   
       3 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein the foot tooth ( 250 ) extends beyond both the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) and the head tooth ( 210 ) by a projection distance ( 256 ) parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) from the distal most point on the foot tooth ( 250 ) to the distal most point of the head tooth ( 210 ), or the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), that is greater than, or equal to, the height ( 258 ) of the foot tooth ( 250 ).  
   
   
       4 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein the foot tooth ( 250 ) extends beyond both the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) and the head tooth ( 210 ) by a projection distance ( 256 ) parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) from the distal most point on the foot tooth ( 250 ) to the distal most point of the head tooth ( 210 ), or the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), that is greater than, or equal to, twenty-five percent of the thickness ( 130 ) of the panel ( 100 ).  
   
   
       5 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein the foot tooth ( 250 ) extends beyond both the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) and the head tooth ( 210 ) by a projection distance ( 256 ) parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) from the distal most point on the foot tooth ( 250 ) to the distal most point of the head tooth ( 210 ), or the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), that is greater than, or equal to, thirty-five percent of the thickness ( 130 ) of the panel ( 100 ).  
   
   
       6 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein the lower surface ( 346 ) of the locking tooth ( 340 ) is formed with at least one heel ( 347 ) projection extending toward the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ) that cooperates with at least one heel recess ( 253 ) formed in the upper surface ( 252 ) of the foot tooth ( 250 ).  
   
   
       7 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 6 , having two heel ( 347 ) projections and two heel recesses ( 253 ).  
   
   
       8 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein when adjacent panels ( 100 ) are engaged at least a portion of the leveling tooth ( 320 ) upper surface ( 322 ) is coincident with a portion of the head tooth ( 210 ) lower surface ( 214 ), a portion of the leveling tooth ( 320 ) lower surface ( 326 ) is coincident with a portion of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) upper surface ( 232 ), a portion of locking tooth ( 340 ) upper surface ( 342 ) is coincident with a portion of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) lower surface ( 236 ), and a portion of the foot tooth ( 250 ) upper surface ( 252 ) is coincident with a portion of the locking tooth ( 340 ) lower surface ( 346 ).  
   
   
       9 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein when adjacent panels ( 100 ) are engaged the foot tooth ( 250 ) primary surface ( 254 ) does not contact the rear surface ( 352 ) of the foot tooth recess ( 350 ).  
   
   
       10 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein when adjacent panels ( 100 ) are engaged the leveling tooth ( 320 ) primary surface ( 324 ) does not contact the rear surface ( 222 ) of the leveling tooth recess ( 220 ).  
   
   
       11 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 2 , wherein when adjacent panels ( 100 ) are engaged the locking tooth ( 340 ) primary surface ( 344 ) does not contact the rear surface ( 242 ) of the locking tooth recess ( 240 ).  
   
   
       12 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 3 , wherein the head tooth ( 210 ) has a head tooth length ( 216 ), the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) has an intermediate tooth length ( 238 ), the leveling tooth ( 320 ) has a leveling tooth length ( 328 ), and the locking tooth ( 340 ) has a locking tooth length ( 348 ), wherein the head tooth length ( 216 ), the intermediate tooth length ( 238 ), and the leveling tooth length ( 328 ) are less than fifty percent of the panel thickness ( 130 ) and the locking tooth length ( 348 ) is less than seventy-five percent of the panel thickness ( 130 ).  
   
   
       13 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 12 , wherein the head tooth lower surface ( 214 ), the leveling tooth upper surface ( 322 ), the intermediate tooth lower surface ( 236 ), and the locking tooth upper surface ( 342 ) are substantially parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) and the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ).  
   
   
       14 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 12 , wherein the head tooth primary surface ( 212 ), the leveling tooth recess rear surface ( 222 ), the intermediate tooth primary surface ( 234 ), the locking tooth recess rear surface ( 242 ), the foot tooth primary surface ( 254 ), the head tooth recess rear surface ( 312 ), the leveling tooth primary surface ( 324 ), the intermediate tooth recess rear surface ( 332 ), the locking tooth primary surface ( 344 ), and the foot tooth recess rear surface ( 352 ) are substantially orthogonal to the top surface ( 110 ) and the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ).  
   
   
       15 . An interlocking self-aligning cladding panel ( 100 ) for floors, walls, ceilings, or the like, comprising: 
 a top surface ( 110 ) and a bottom surface ( 120 ) that are substantially parallel and terminate with at least four edges including a receiving edge ( 200 ) and an engaging edge ( 300 );    the receiving edge ( 200 ) having a head tooth ( 210 ), a leveling tooth recess ( 220 ), an intermediate tooth ( 230 ), a locking tooth recess ( 240 ), and a foot tooth ( 250 );    the engaging edge ( 300 ) having a head tooth recess ( 310 ) to cooperate with the head tooth ( 210 ), a leveling tooth ( 320 ) to cooperate with the leveling tooth recess ( 220 ), an intermediate tooth recess ( 330 ) to cooperate with the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), a locking tooth ( 340 ) to cooperate with the locking tooth recess ( 240 ), and a foot tooth recess ( 350 ) to cooperate with the foot tooth ( 250 );    the receiving edge ( 200 ) being substantially complementary in shape to the engaging edge ( 300 ) so that when the engaging edge ( 300 ) of one panel ( 100 ) is placed on the foot tooth ( 250 ) of the receiving edge ( 200 ) of an adjacent panel ( 100 ) and is rotated toward the bottom surface ( 120 ) the panels ( 100 ) snap together so as to oppose withdrawal of the receiving edge ( 200 ) from the engaging edge ( 300 ) in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) and bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panels ( 100 );    the head tooth ( 210 ) is defined by the top surface ( 110 ) of the panel ( 100 ), a primary surface ( 212 ), and a lower surface ( 214 ), the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 232 ), a primary surface ( 234 ), and a lower surface ( 236 ), the leveling tooth recess ( 220 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 214 ) of the head tooth ( 210 ), a rear surface ( 222 ), and the upper surface ( 232 ) of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), the foot tooth ( 250 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 252 ), a primary surface ( 254 ), and the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ), and the locking tooth recess ( 240 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 236 ) of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), a rear surface ( 242 ), and the upper surface ( 252 ) of the foot tooth ( 250 ), and wherein the leveling tooth ( 320 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 322 ), a primary surface ( 324 ), and a lower surface ( 326 ), the head tooth recess ( 310 ) is defined by a rear surface ( 312 ) and the upper surface ( 322 ) of the leveling tooth ( 320 ), the locking tooth ( 340 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 342 ), a primary surface ( 344 ), and a lower surface ( 346 ), the intermediate tooth recess ( 330 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 326 ) of the leveling tooth ( 320 ), a rear surface ( 332 ), and the upper surface ( 342 ) of the locking tooth ( 340 ), and the foot tooth recess ( 350 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 346 ) of the locking tooth ( 340 ) and a rear surface ( 352 );    the foot tooth ( 250 ) extends beyond both the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) and the head tooth ( 210 ) by a projection distance ( 256 ) parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) from the distal most point on the foot tooth ( 250 ) to the distal most point of the head tooth ( 210 ), or the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), that is greater than, or equal to, the height ( 258 ) of the foot tooth ( 250 ); and    the lower surface ( 346 ) of the locking tooth ( 340 ) is formed with at least one heel ( 347 ) projection extending toward the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ) that cooperates with at least one heel recess ( 253 ) formed in the upper surface ( 252 ) of the foot tooth ( 250 ).    
   
   
       16 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 15 , wherein the foot tooth ( 250 ) extends beyond both the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) and the head tooth ( 210 ) by a projection distance ( 256 ) parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) from the distal most point on the foot tooth ( 250 ) to the distal most point of the head tooth ( 210 ), or the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), that is greater than, or equal to, twenty-five percent of the thickness ( 130 ) of the panel ( 100 ).  
   
   
       16 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 15 , wherein the foot tooth ( 250 ) extends beyond both the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) and the head tooth ( 210 ) by a projection distance ( 256 ) parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) from the distal most point on the foot tooth ( 250 ) to the distal most point of the head tooth ( 210 ), or the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), that is greater than, or equal to, thirty-five percent of the thickness ( 130 ) of the panel ( 100 ).  
   
   
       17 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 16 , having two heel ( 347 ) projections and two heel recesses ( 253 ).  
   
   
       18 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 15 , wherein when adjacent panels ( 100 ) are engaged at least a portion of the leveling tooth ( 320 ) upper surface ( 322 ) is coincident with a portion of the head tooth ( 210 ) lower surface ( 214 ), a portion of the leveling tooth ( 320 ) lower surface ( 326 ) is coincident with a portion of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) upper surface ( 232 ), a portion of locking tooth ( 340 ) upper surface ( 342 ) is coincident with a portion of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) lower surface ( 236 ), and a portion of the foot tooth ( 250 ) upper surface ( 252 ) is coincident with a portion of the locking tooth ( 340 ) lower surface ( 346 ).  
   
   
       19 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 15 , wherein when adjacent panels ( 100 ) are engaged the foot tooth ( 250 ) primary surface ( 254 ) does not contact the rear surface ( 352 ) of the foot tooth recess ( 350 ).  
   
   
       20 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 15 , wherein when adjacent panels ( 100 ) are engaged the leveling tooth ( 320 ) primary surface ( 324 ) does not contact the rear surface ( 222 ) of the leveling tooth recess ( 220 ).  
   
   
       21 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 15 , wherein when adjacent panels ( 100 ) are engaged the locking tooth ( 340 ) primary surface ( 344 ) does not contact the rear surface ( 242 ) of the locking tooth recess ( 240 ).  
   
   
       22 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 15 , wherein the head tooth ( 210 ) has a head tooth length ( 216 ), the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) has an intermediate tooth length ( 238 ), the leveling tooth ( 320 ) has a leveling tooth length ( 328 ), and the locking tooth ( 340 ) has a locking tooth length ( 348 ), wherein the head tooth length ( 216 ), the intermediate tooth length ( 238 ), and the leveling tooth length ( 328 ) are less than fifty percent of the panel thickness ( 130 ) and the locking tooth length ( 348 ) is less than seventy-five percent of the panel thickness ( 130 ).  
   
   
       23 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 22 , wherein the head tooth lower surface ( 214 ), the leveling tooth upper surface ( 322 ), the intermediate tooth lower surface ( 236 ), and the locking tooth upper surface ( 342 ) are substantially parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) and the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ).  
   
   
       24 . The interlocking cladding panel of  claim 22 , wherein the head tooth primary surface ( 212 ), the leveling tooth recess rear surface ( 222 ), the intermediate tooth primary surface ( 234 ), the locking tooth recess rear surface ( 242 ), the foot tooth primary surface ( 254 ), the head tooth recess rear surface ( 312 ), the leveling tooth primary surface ( 324 ), the intermediate tooth recess rear surface ( 332 ), the locking tooth primary surface ( 344 ), and the foot tooth recess rear surface ( 352 ) are substantially orthogonal to the top surface ( 110 ) and the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ).  
   
   
       25 . An interlocking self-aligning cladding panel ( 100 ) for floors, walls, ceilings, or the like, comprising: 
 a top surface ( 110 ) and a bottom surface ( 120 ) that are substantially parallel and terminate with at least four edges including a receiving edge ( 200 ) and an engaging edge ( 300 );    the receiving edge ( 200 ) having a head tooth ( 210 ), a leveling tooth recess ( 220 ), an intermediate tooth ( 230 ), a locking tooth recess ( 240 ), and a foot tooth ( 250 );    the engaging edge ( 300 ) having a head tooth recess ( 310 ) to cooperate with the head tooth ( 210 ), a leveling tooth ( 320 ) to cooperate with the leveling tooth recess ( 220 ), an intermediate tooth recess ( 330 ) to cooperate with the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), a locking tooth ( 340 ) to cooperate with the locking tooth recess ( 240 ), and a foot tooth recess ( 350 ) to cooperate with the foot tooth ( 250 );    the receiving edge ( 200 ) being substantially complementary in shape to the engaging edge ( 300 ) so that when the engaging edge ( 300 ) of one panel ( 100 ) is placed on the foot tooth ( 250 ) of the receiving edge ( 200 ) of an adjacent panel ( 100 ) and is rotated toward the bottom surface ( 120 ) the panels ( 100 ) snap together so as to oppose withdrawal of the receiving edge ( 200 ) from the engaging edge ( 300 ) in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) and bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panels ( 100 );    the head tooth ( 210 ) is defined by the top surface ( 110 ) of the panel ( 100 ), a primary surface ( 212 ), and a lower surface ( 214 ), the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 232 ), a primary surface ( 234 ), and a lower surface ( 236 ), the leveling tooth recess ( 220 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 214 ) of the head tooth ( 210 ), a rear surface ( 222 ), and the upper surface ( 232 ) of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), the foot tooth ( 250 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 252 ), a primary surface ( 254 ), and the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ), and the locking tooth recess ( 240 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 236 ) of the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), a rear surface ( 242 ), and the upper surface ( 252 ) of the foot tooth ( 250 ), and wherein the leveling tooth ( 320 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 322 ), a primary surface ( 324 ), and a lower surface ( 326 ), the head tooth recess ( 310 ) is defined by a rear surface ( 312 ) and the upper surface ( 322 ) of the leveling tooth ( 320 ), the locking tooth ( 340 ) is defined by an upper surface ( 342 ), a primary surface ( 344 ), and a lower surface ( 346 ), the intermediate tooth recess ( 330 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 326 ) of the leveling tooth ( 320 ), a rear surface ( 332 ), and the upper surface ( 342 ) of the locking tooth ( 340 ), and the foot tooth recess ( 350 ) is defined by the lower surface ( 346 ) of the locking tooth ( 340 ) and a rear surface ( 352 );    the foot tooth ( 250 ) extends beyond both the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) and the head tooth ( 210 ) by a projection distance ( 256 ) parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) from the distal most point on the foot tooth ( 250 ) to the distal most point of the head tooth ( 210 ), or the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), that is greater than, or equal to, the height ( 258 ) of the foot tooth ( 250 );    the lower surface ( 346 ) of the locking tooth ( 340 ) is formed with two heel ( 347 ) projections extending toward the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 ) that cooperates with two heel recess ( 253 ) formed in the upper surface ( 252 ) of the foot tooth ( 250 );    the foot tooth ( 250 ) extends beyond both the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) and the head tooth ( 210 ) by a projection distance ( 256 ) parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) from the distal most point on the foot tooth ( 250 ) to the distal most point of the head tooth ( 210 ), or the intermediate tooth ( 230 ), that is greater than, or equal to, thirty-five percent of the thickness ( 130 ) of the panel ( 100 );    the head tooth ( 210 ) has a head tooth length ( 216 ), the intermediate tooth ( 230 ) has an intermediate tooth length ( 238 ), the leveling tooth ( 320 ) has a leveling tooth length ( 328 ), and the locking tooth ( 340 ) has a locking tooth length ( 348 ), wherein the head tooth length ( 216 ), the intermediate tooth length ( 238 ), and the leveling tooth length ( 328 ) are less than fifty percent of the panel thickness ( 130 ) and the locking tooth length ( 348 ) is less than seventy-five percent of the panel thickness ( 130 );    the head tooth lower surface ( 214 ), the leveling tooth upper surface ( 322 ), the intermediate tooth lower surface ( 236 ), and the locking tooth upper surface ( 342 ) are substantially parallel to the top surface ( 110 ) and the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 );    the head tooth primary surface ( 212 ), the leveling tooth recess rear surface ( 222 ), the intermediate tooth primary surface ( 234 ), the locking tooth recess rear surface ( 242 ), the foot tooth primary surface ( 254 ), the head tooth recess rear surface ( 312 ), the leveling tooth primary surface ( 324 ), the intermediate tooth recess rear surface ( 332 ), the locking tooth primary surface ( 344 ), and the foot tooth recess rear surface ( 352 ) are substantially orthogonal to the top surface ( 110 ) and the bottom surface ( 120 ) of the panel ( 100 );    wherein when adjacent panels ( 100 ) are engaged the foot tooth ( 250 ) primary surface ( 254 ) does not contact the rear surface ( 352 ) of the foot tooth recess ( 350 ), the leveling tooth ( 320 ) primary surface ( 324 ) does not contact the rear surface ( 222 ) of the leveling tooth recess ( 220 ), and the locking tooth ( 340 ) primary surface ( 344 ) does not contact the rear surface ( 242 ) of the locking tooth recess ( 240 ).