Set of mutually lockable panels

Abstract

A set of mutually lockable panels comprises a first panel having an edge including a male part and a second panel having an edge including a female part for receiving the male part of the first panel in unlocked condition of the panels. The male part has an outer side which, in locked condition of the panels, is directed to the second panel in a direction substantially parallel to the front face of the first panel, and an opposite inner side which is provided with a locking surface. The female part comprises a locking member, which is pivotable about a pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the edge of the second panel and an actuator for rotating the locking member from its unlocked condition to a locked condition of the panels.

1 . A set of mutually lockable panels comprising:
 a first panel having a front face, a back face and an edge including a male part which is directed in a direction from the front face of the first panel to the back face of the first panel; and   a second panel having a front face, a back face and an edge including a female part configured to receive the male part of the first panel;   wherein the panels are made of a material selected from MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) or HDF (High Density Fiberboard);   wherein the male part has an outer side which, in a locked condition of the panels, is directed to the second panel, and an opposite inner side which is provided with a locking surface;   wherein the female part comprises a locking member, wherein the locking member has a stop surface, wherein the stop surface cooperates with the locking surface of the male part in locked condition of the panels so as to lock the panels with respect to each other at least in a direction substantially perpendicular to the locking surface and the stop surface;   wherein the locking member is formed integral with the second panel;   wherein the edge of the first panel comprises a groove;   wherein the groove is configured for receiving the locking member of the female part, the groove being located between an inner side of the male part and an opposite groove wall;   wherein the female part comprises a lip, wherein the locking member is connected to the second panel by said lip, wherein the lip defines a groove configured to receive the male part of the first panel;   wherein the panels are also interlocked in a direction perpendicular to the upper faces due to a protrusion and a recess;   wherein an outer side of the locking member forms a distal end of the edge of the second panel, wherein the first panel comprises a holding element on the groove wall that fits behind a corner at the outer side of the locking member;   wherein the male part has a lower surface which is directed downwardly and the female part has a bottom surface at the groove which is directed upwardly, wherein the locking member extends beyond the bottom surface as seen in a direction from the back face to the front face of the second panel;   wherein the lower surface of the male part has a curved cross-section, wherein in the locked condition, a portion of the lower surface contacts the bottom surface at a first contact area.   
     
     
         2 . A set of mutually lockable panels as in  claim 1 , wherein, in the locked condition, a first intermediate space is located between the male part and the female part, said first intermediate space extending between the first contact area and the cooperating stop surface and locking surface. 
     
     
         3 . A set of mutually lockable panels as in  claim 2 , wherein a second intermediate space is located between the male part and the female part, said first and second intermediate space extending on either side of the first contact area according to a direction parallel with the front face and perpendicular to the edge. 
     
     
         4 . A set of mutually lockable panels as in  claim 1 , wherein the outer side of the male part abuts against an opposite frontal edge portion of the second panel, wherein said outer side and said frontal edge portion are provided with fasteners for an additional locking in a direction perpendicular to the front face. 
     
     
         5 . The set of panels as in  claim 1 , wherein the panels comprise a core made of a material selected from MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) or HDF (High Density Fiberboard), wherein the core is covered by a decorative layer formed of resin impregnated paper layers. 
     
     
         6 . The set of panels as in  claim 1 , wherein the panels are rectangular, square or elongated, wherein the panels have a first edge and an opposite second edge, a third edge and an opposite fourth edge, wherein said first edge is the edge including the male part and the second edge is the edge including the female part, wherein the third and fourth edge comprise respectively a male joining member and a female joining member which are connectable by angling in, wherein in locked position said male and female joining members of coupled panels urge the coupled panels towards each other. 
     
     
         7 . The set of panels as in  claim 6 , wherein the joining members comprise locking parts which prevent the panels from drifting apart in a direction substantially parallel to their front and back faces and substantially perpendicularly to their edges. 
     
     
         8 . The set of panels as in  claim 1 , wherein the upper borders of the panels are machined to form a lowered area between the panels. 
     
     
         9 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking surface is downwardly inclined with respect to the front face of the first panel in a direction from its front face to its back face as seen from the outer side of the male part. 
     
     
         10 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein in the locked condition the locking member clamps the male part between the stop surface and a frontal edge portion of the second panel. 
     
     
         11 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding element is a protrusion on the groove wall. 
     
     
         12 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein in locked condition the stop surface and the locking surface exert a pressure force upon each other. 
     
     
         13 . The set of panels according to  claim 1 , wherein the male part and the female part are dimensioned such that in a locked condition of the panels the locking member presses the outer side of the male part against the second panel. 
     
     
         14 . A set of mutually lockable panels comprising:
 a first panel having a front face, a back face and an edge including a male part which is directed in a direction from the front face of the first panel to the back face of the first panel; and   a second panel having a front face, a back face and an edge including a female part configured to receive the male part of the first panel;   wherein the panels comprise a core made of a material selected from MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) or HDF (High Density Fiberboard), wherein the core is covered by a decorative layer formed of resin impregnated paper layers;   wherein the male part has an outer side which, in a locked condition of the panels, is directed to the second panel, and an opposite inner side which is provided with a locking surface;   wherein the female part comprises a locking member, wherein the locking member has a stop surface, wherein the stop surface cooperates with the locking surface of the male part in locked condition of the panels so as to lock the panels with respect to each other at least in a direction substantially perpendicular to the locking surface and the stop surface;   wherein the locking member is formed integral with the second panel;   wherein the edge of the first panel comprises a groove;   wherein the groove is configured for receiving the locking member of the female part, the groove being located between an inner side of the male part and an opposite groove wall;   wherein the female part comprises a lip, wherein the locking member is connected to the second panel by said lip, wherein the lip defines a groove configured to receive the male part of the first panel;   wherein the panels are also interlocked in a direction perpendicular to the upper faces due to a protrusion and a recess;   wherein an outer side of the locking member forms a distal end of the edge of the second panel, wherein the first panel comprises a holding element on the groove wall that fits behind a corner at the outer side of the locking member;   wherein the male part has a lower surface which is directed downwardly and the female part has a bottom surface at the groove which is directed upwardly, wherein the locking member extends beyond the bottom surface as seen in a direction from the back face to the front face of the second panel;   wherein the lower surface of the male part has a curved cross-section, wherein in the locked condition, a portion of the lower surface contacts the bottom surface at a first contact area.   
     
     
         15 . A set of mutually lockable panels as in  claim 14 , wherein, in the locked condition, a first intermediate space is located between the male part and the female part, said first intermediate space extending between the first contact area and the cooperating stop surface and locking surface. 
     
     
         16 . A set of mutually lockable panels as in  claim 15 , wherein a second intermediate space is located between the male part and the female part, said first and second intermediate space extending on either side of the first contact area according to a direction parallel with the front face and perpendicular to the edge. 
     
     
         17 . The set of panels as in  claim 16 , wherein the panels are rectangular, square or elongated, wherein the panels have a first edge and an opposite second edge, a third edge and an opposite fourth edge, wherein said first edge is the edge including the male part and the second edge is the edge including the female part, wherein the third and fourth edge comprise respectively a male joining member and a female joining member which are connectable by angling in, wherein in locked position said male and female joining members of coupled panels urge the coupled panels towards each other. 
     
     
         18 . The set of panels as in  claim 17 , wherein the joining members comprise locking parts which prevent the panels from drifting apart in a direction substantially parallel to their front and back faces and substantially perpendicularly to their edges. 
     
     
         19 . The set of panels according to  claim 18 , wherein the locking surface is downwardly inclined with respect to the front face of the first panel in a direction from its front face to its back face as seen from the outer side of the male part. 
     
     
         20 . The set of panels according to  claim 19 , wherein in the locked condition the locking member clamps the male part between the stop surface and a frontal edge portion of the second panel. 
     
     
         21 . The set of panels according to  claim 20 , wherein the holding element is a protrusion on the groove wall. 
     
     
         22 . The set of panels according to  claim 21 , wherein the male part and the female part are dimensioned such that in a locked condition of the panels the locking member presses the outer side of the male part against the second panel.