Construction panel with improved locking mechanism allowing for separable connection with like building panels

Abstract

A panel-shaped, rectangular construction panel that includes: a visible face; a base face located opposite to the visible face; two first shaped side faces that run parallel to each other, and two other, second shaped side faces, also parallel to each other, that run perpendicular to said side faces, wherein all of the side faces are bordered by the visible face and the base face; and at least one pair of locking mechanisms that are incorporated in the side faces of the construction panel, are compatible with each other and, when assembled, work together to allow for a separable connection between like construction panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel-shaped, rectangular construction panel ( 100 ;  200 ;  300 ), comprising:
 a visible face ( 11 );   a base face ( 12 ) located opposite to the visible face ( 11 );   two first shaped side faces ( 1 . 1 ,  2 . 1 ) that run parallel to each other, and two other, second shaped side faces ( 1 . 2 ,  2 . 2 ), also parallel to each other, that run perpendicular to said side faces ( 1 . 1 ,  2 . 1 ), wherein all of the side faces ( 1 . 1 ,  2 . 1 ;  1 . 2 ,  2 . 2 ) are bordered by the visible face ( 11 ) and the base face ( 12 );   at least one pair of locking mechanisms ( 9 ,  19 ) that are incorporated in the side faces ( 1 . 2 ,  2 . 2 ) of the construction panel, are compatible with each other and, when assembled, work together to allow for a separable connection between like construction panels,
 wherein the locking mechanisms ( 9 ,  19 ) located on the side faces ( 1 . 1 ,  2 . 1 ) of the construction panel create a positive groove and tongue connection ( 40 ) when connected to a like construction panel, 
 in which the locking mechanism ( 9 ) comprises a trapezoidal groove ( 13 ) that tapers in the direction of the groove bottom ( 14 ) thereof and has a first groove flank ( 15 ) that runs substantially parallel to the visible face ( 11 ), and a second, inclined groove flank ( 25 ) located opposite to the first groove flank, wherein the second groove flank ( 25 ) transitions over a rounded step ( 17 ) into a sunken depression ( 10 ) with respect to the groove ( 13 ), which is located outside of the locking mechanism ( 9 ), said depression being arranged on a side piece ( 4 ) that protrudes beyond the groove ( 13 ) and tapers into a lip ( 8 ), the lip ( 8 ) being bordered by a planar inner wall ( 21 ) and a free surface ( 44 ) that is plane-parallel to the base face ( 12 ), 
 and in which the locking mechanism ( 19 ) also comprises a trapezoidal tongue ( 24 ) that engages in the groove ( 13 ) and additionally transitions into an approximately semicircular projection ( 26 ) that is oriented toward the base face ( 12 ) and will be accommodated in the depression ( 10 ), wherein the semicircular projection ( 26 ) adjoins a recess ( 27 ) in which the lip ( 8 ) engages; 
   
       characterized in that:
 the inner wall ( 21 ) of the lip ( 8 ) extends, on one hand, to a rounded glide surface ( 20 ) facing a depression ( 10 ) and adjoining the free surface ( 44 ) of the lip ( 8 ) and, on the other hand, to a depression edge ( 42 ) located in a lowermost region ( 43 ) of the depression ( 10 ) near the base face ( 12 ), so that the depression ( 10 ), starting from the depression edge ( 42 ) thereof, rises steadily toward the rounded step ( 17 ); and 
 after the tongue ( 24 ) has been inserted into the groove ( 13 ), the projection ( 26 ) is accommodated in the depression ( 10 ) in such a way that a clearance ( 30 ) approaching a zero value is created between the projection ( 26 ) and a transition ( 18 ) from the inner wall ( 21 ) to the glide surface ( 20 ), or a linear contact ( 41 ) is formed. 
 
     
     
         2 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the inner wall ( 21 ) is arranged perpendicularly or obliquely with respect to the base face ( 12 ). 
     
     
         3 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the step ( 17 ) is located between the depression ( 10 ) and a plane (E 1 ) that runs perpendicular to the visible face ( 11 ), and is defined as a continuation of an abutting surface ( 28 . 1 ) of the construction panel. 
     
     
         4 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the inner wall ( 21 ) is arranged at an acute angle (β) with respect to a plane (E 2 ) that is defined by the transition ( 18 ) from the glide surface ( 20 ) to the inner wall ( 21 ) and is parallel with respect to said plane (E 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . A construction panel according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the angle (β) is between 1° and 45°, but preferably between 16° and 20°, with particular preference being placed on an angular value of 18° with an angular tolerance of ±0.5°. 
     
     
         6 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the clearance ( 30 ) has a value between 0.01 mm and 0.20 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A construction panel according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the clearance ( 30 ) is a maximum 0.14 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the linear contact ( 41 ) occurs at the transition ( 18 ). 
     
     
         9 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the lip ( 8 ) has a height dimension (H 1 ) that approximately corresponds to a height (H 2 ) where a transition ( 31 ) from the step ( 17 ) to the groove flank ( 25 ) is located. 
     
     
         10 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the depression ( 10 ) is divided into two circle-section regions (L 1 , L 2 ), the region (L 1 ) of which has a radius (R 2 ) that equals a radius (R 1 ) of the glide surface ( 20 ). 
     
     
         11 . A construction panel according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the region (L 2 ) of the depression ( 10 ) has a radius (R 3 ) that exceeds the value of the radius (R 2 ). 
     
     
         12 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the construction panel is solid. 
     
     
         13 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the construction panel has multiple layers. 
     
     
         14 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the construction panel is a wall, ceiling, or floor panel. 
     
     
         15 . A construction panel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the construction panel is a furniture panel. 
     
     
         16 . A surface covering comprising assembled construction panels according to  claim 1 .