Set of panels comprising a locking device

Abstract

A set of panels including a locking device for locking a first edge portion of a first panel to a second edge portion of a second panel. The locking device includes a horizontal locking device and a vertical locking device. The vertical locking device includes a separate tongue arranged in an insertion groove of the first edge portion and a tongue groove provided in the second edge portion. In a vertically locked state of the first and second edge portions, an abutment member provided at a longitudinal end portion of the separate tongue cooperates with a stop surface of the second edge portion, and a locking portion of the separate tongue cooperates with the tongue groove at a locking surface arranged in a wood-based body layer including wood fibres mainly oriented along a first fibre direction.

1 . A set of panels comprising a first panel and a second panel and a locking device for locking a first edge portion of the first panel to a second edge portion of the second panel, wherein the panels comprise a front side and a rear side, a normal of a main plane extending along the front and/or the rear side defining a vertical direction extending away from the front sides of the first and second panels, wherein the locking device comprises a horizontal locking device and a vertical locking device, the vertical locking device comprising:
 a separate tongue arranged in an insertion groove of said first edge portion, a longitudinal extension of the separate tongue extending along the first edge portion, and   a tongue groove provided in, and extending along, said second edge portion,   wherein in a vertically locked state of the first and second edge portions:   an abutment member provided at a longitudinal end portion of the separate tongue cooperates with a stop surface of the second edge portion, and   a locking portion of the separate tongue cooperates with the tongue groove at a locking surface,   wherein the locking portion of the separate tongue is spaced from the stop surface in the vertically locked state, wherein the locking surface is at least partially arranged in a wood-based body layer of the second edge portion, and   wherein the body layer comprises wood fibres mainly oriented along a first fibre direction extending along the main plane and being parallel with a principal direction extending perpendicularly to a vertical plane provided in the vertically locked state along joining upper portions of the first and second edge portions.   
     
     
         2 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking surface is entirely arranged in the wood-based body layer of the second edge portion. 
     
     
         3 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the second edge portion of the second panel comprises a layered structure comprising the body layer and at least two wood-based joining layers comprising wood fibres being mainly oriented along a second fibre direction, which is perpendicular to the first fibre direction. 
     
     
         4 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the body layer extends between the second edge portion and an opposing edge portion of the second panel. 
     
     
         5 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the body layer is arranged in an edge piece, and wherein the second panel further comprises an inner core. 
     
     
         6 . The set of panels according to  claim 5 , wherein the vertical and/or horizontal locking device is at least partially formed in the edge piece. 
     
     
         7 . The set of panels according to  claim 5 , wherein the inner core comprises a wood-based board or a plurality of core elements. 
     
     
         8 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the tongue groove comprises at least one bevel at least partially arranged in the body layer. 
     
     
         9 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of a vertical extension from an uppermost segment of the locking surface to a lower vertical end segment of the second edge portion positioned directly vertically below said uppermost segment is arranged in the body layer and/or at least one wood-based connection layer comprising wood fibres mainly oriented along the first fibre direction. 
     
     
         10 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein, during locking, the locking portion is configured to be gradually inserted into the insertion groove along the first edge portion in a first stage, and in a second subsequent stage the locking portion is configured to be gradually inserted into the tongue groove along the second edge portion. 
     
     
         11 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the abutment member is provided in an outer and lower portion of the separate tongue. 
     
     
         12 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the abutment member is one of at least two abutment members, and wherein opposing longitudinal end portions of the separate tongue both comprise a respective one of the at least two abutment members. 
     
     
         13 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is disposed below the tongue groove. 
     
     
         14 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is disposed outside an opening of the tongue groove. 
     
     
         15 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is planar and extends essentially vertically. 
     
     
         16 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is inclined forming an angle (τ) exceeding 10° and not exceeding 30° with respect to the normal. 
     
     
         17 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the separate tongue comprises flexible members configured to face an inner portion of the insertion groove when the separate tongue is arranged in the insertion groove, the flexible members being configured to displace the separate tongue outwards during locking or unlocking. 
     
     
         18 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking portion of the separate tongue is longitudinally bent in the vertically locked state. 
     
     
         19 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein a tip portion of the separate tongue is curved as seen in a cross-sectional side view. 
     
     
         20 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal locking device comprises a locking element arranged on a strip extending horizontally outwards from a lower portion of the first edge portion and a locking groove provided in the second edge portion, the locking element and the locking groove being configured to cooperate to provide a horizontally locked state of the first and the second edge portions. 
     
     
         21 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second edge portions are configured to be vertically unlocked by a forced relative vertical displacement of the first and second edge portions away from each other and/or by a repeated forced relative vertical displacement of the first and second edge portions away and towards each other. 
     
     
         22 . A set of panels comprising a first panel and a second panel and a locking device for locking a first edge portion of the first panel to a second edge portion of the second panel, wherein the panels comprise a front side and a rear side, a normal of a main plane extending along the front and/or the rear side defining a vertical direction extending away from the front sides of the first and second panels, wherein the locking device comprises a horizontal locking device and a vertical locking device, the vertical locking device comprising:
 a separate tongue arranged in an insertion groove of said first edge portion, a longitudinal extension of the separate tongue extending along the first edge portion, and   a tongue groove provided in, and extending along, said second edge portion,   wherein a locking portion of the separate tongue cooperates with the tongue groove at a locking surface in a vertically locked state of the first and second edge portions,   wherein the locking surface is at least partially arranged in a wood-based body layer of the second edge portion, and   wherein the body layer comprises wood fibres mainly oriented along a first fibre direction extending along the main plane and being parallel with a principal direction extending perpendicularly to a vertical plane provided in the vertically locked state along joining upper portions of the first and second edge portions.   
     
     
         23 . The set of panels according to  claim 22 , wherein the locking surface is entirely arranged in the wood-based body layer of the second edge portion. 
     
     
         24 . The set of panels according to  claim 22 , wherein, in the vertically locked state, a relative angle (θ) between a underside of a tip portion of the separate tongue and the locking surface exceeds 10°. 
     
     
         25 . The set of panels according to  claim 24 , wherein, in the vertically locked state a underside of a tip portion of the separate tongue forms an angle (σ) with respect to the main plane, the angle being 0°≤σ≤25°. 
     
     
         26 . The set of panels according to  claim 22 , wherein the locking surface forms an angle (ε) with respect to the main plane, the angle being 10°≤ε≤50°.