Panel Locking System And Panels Therefor

Abstract

A panel can have a face surface having a length and a width. The panel can include a first tongue that extends along the length and a second tongue that extends along the width. The pane can further include first front and back legs that extend along the length of the panel and define a first groove therebetween and second front and back legs that extends along the width of the panel and define a second groove. At least one of the first tongue or the first back leg can a longitudinal dimension that is greater than the length of the face surface; or at least one of the second tongue or the second back leg can have a longitudinal dimension that is greater than the width of the face surface.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A unitary panel comprising:
 a core comprising fiber cement, magnesium oxide, chalk, or talc; and   a face structure disposed on the core and comprising at least one of a decorative layer or a coating,   wherein the core comprises:
 a face surface having:
 a first edge and a second edge that extend along a first axis and are spaced by a width along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and 
 a third edge and a fourth edge that extend along the second axis and are spaced by a length along the first axis; 
 
 a back surface spaced from the face surface along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes, 
 a first side that extends between the first edge of the face surface and the back surface, wherein the first side comprises a first tongue; 
 a second side that extends between the second edge of the face surface and the back surface, wherein the second side comprises a first front leg and a first back leg that cooperate to define a first groove therebetween; 
 a third side that extends between the third edge of the face surface and the back surface, wherein the third side comprises a second tongue; and 
 a fourth side that extends between the fourth edge of the face surface and the back surface, wherein the fourth side comprises a second front leg and a second back leg that cooperate to define a second groove. 
   
     
     
         11 . The unitary panel of  claim 10 , wherein the core comprises magnesium oxide. 
     
     
         12 . The unitary panel of  claim 10 , wherein the core is mineral-based. 
     
     
         13 . The unitary panel of  claim 10 , wherein the core comprises a ceramic. 
     
     
         14 . The unitary panel of  claim 10 , wherein the core comprises at least two materials selected from the group of: fiber cement, magnesium oxide, chalk, and talc. 
     
     
         15 . The unitary panel of  claim 10 , wherein the core further comprises polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The unitary panel of  claim 10 , wherein the face structure comprises a decorative layer and a coating disposed thereon. 
     
     
         17 . The unitary panel of  claim 10 , wherein:
 at least one of the first tongue or the first back leg has a longitudinal dimension along the first axis that is greater than the length of the face surface; or   at least one of the second tongue or the second back leg has a longitudinal dimension along the second axis that is greater than the width of the face surface.   
     
     
         18 . The panel of claim  1 , wherein each of the first tongue and the second tongue has a forward surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface of the second tongue is spaced from the rear surface of the first tongue along the third axis in a direction away from the face surface,
 wherein each of the first back leg and the second back leg has a forward surface and a rear surface that is spaced from the forward surface along the third axis, and wherein the forward surface of the second back leg is spaced from the forward surface of the first back leg along the third axis by a tab thickness measured in the direction away from the face surface.   
     
     
         19 . The panel of  claim 18 , wherein the tab thickness is between 0.2 mm and 5 mm. 
     
     
         20 . A unitary panel comprising:
 a core comprising polyethylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polypropylene, or polyurethane; and   a face structure disposed on the core and comprising at least one of a decorative layer or a coating,   wherein the core comprises:
 a face surface having:
 a first edge and a second edge that extend along a first axis and are spaced by a width along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and 
 a third edge and a fourth edge that extend along the second axis and are spaced by a length along the first axis; 
 
 a back surface spaced from the face surface along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes; 
 a first side that extends between the first edge of the face surface and the back surface, wherein the first side comprises a first tongue; 
 a second side that extends between the second edge of the face surface and the back surface, wherein the second side comprises a first front leg and a first back leg that cooperate to define a first groove therebetween; 
 a third side that extends between the third edge of the face surface and the back surface, wherein the third side comprises a second tongue; and 
 a fourth side that extends between the fourth edge of the face surface and the back surface, wherein the fourth side comprises a second front leg and a second back leg that cooperate to define a second groove. 
   
     
     
         21 . The unitary panel of  claim 20 , wherein the core comprises polypropylene or polyurethane. 
     
     
         22 . The unitary panel of  claim 21 , wherein the core comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         23 . The unitary panel of  claim 20 , wherein the core comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         24 . The unitary panel of  claim 20 , wherein the core further comprises a mineral. 
     
     
         25 . The unitary panel of  claim 20 , wherein the core further comprises fiber cement, magnesium oxide, chalk, or talc. 
     
     
         26 . The unitary panel of  claim 20 , wherein the face structure comprises a decorative layer and a coating disposed thereon. 
     
     
         27 . The unitary panel of  claim 20 , wherein:
 at least one of the first tongue or the first back leg has a longitudinal dimension along the first axis that is greater than the length of the face surface; or   at least one of the second tongue or the second back leg has a longitudinal dimension along the second axis that is greater than the width of the face surface.   
     
     
         28 . The panel of  claim 20 , wherein each of the first tongue and the second tongue has a forward surface and a rear surface, wherein the rear surface of the second tongue is spaced from the rear surface of the first tongue along the third axis in a direction away from the face surface,
 wherein each of the first back leg and the second back leg has a forward surface and a rear surface that is spaced from the forward surface along the third axis, and wherein the forward surface of the second back leg is spaced from the forward surface of the first back leg along the third axis by a tab thickness measured in the direction away from the face surface.   
     
     
         29 . The panel of  claim 28 , wherein the tab thickness is between 0.2 mm and 5 mm.