Vertical joint system and associated surface covering system

Abstract

A vertical joint system for substrates is formed with joints which engage by relative motion in a direction perpendicular to major surfaces and of the substrate. The joints are configured to enable relative rotation of up to 3 degrees while maintaining engagement of the joints. The joints are further configured to form two locking planes one on each of the inner and outer most sides of the joint. Engagement about the locking planes is provided by transverse outward extending surfaces. At least one surface in each pair of engaging surfaces is smoothly curved. The joints can be further arranged to provide a third locking plane parallel to and between the locking planes. The joints are disengaged by combination of a downward rotation of one joint relative the other then application of a downward force.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A vertical joint system for a substrate having an opposed major first and second surfaces, the joint system comprising:
 non-symmetrical male and female joints extending along opposite sides of the substrate, the male and female joints configured to enable two substrates with like joint systems to engage each other in response to a force applied in an engagement direction which is perpendicular to the major surfaces;   the male joint comprising:
 a male protrusion extending generally perpendicular from the first major surface toward the second major surface and a male recess formed inboard of the male protrusion; 
 a distal male locking surface formed on a side of its male protrusion most distant from the male recess, and a proximal male locking surface being a surface common to the male protrusion and male recess; 
 a male planar abutment surface extending from and essentially perpendicular to the first major surface 
 a male contact surface between the male joint abutment surface and the distal male locking surface; 
   the female joint comprising:
 a female protrusion extending generally perpendicular from the second major surface toward the first major surface and a female recess formed inboard of the female protrusion; 
 a proximal female locking surface formed on a side of its female recess most distant from its female protrusion, and a distal female locking surface being a surface common to the female protrusion and female recess; 
 a female planar abutment surface extending from and essentially perpendicular to the first major surface; and 
 a female contact surface between the female joint abutment surface and the proximal female locking surface, 
   wherein the locking surfaces are configured so that when a male and female joint of two substrates are engaged, the distal male and proximal female locking surfaces engage to form a locking plane, and the proximal male and distal female locking surfaces engage to form another locking plane, wherein the locking plane inhibits separation of the engaged joints in a direction parallel to the engagement direction and the another locking plane inhibits separation of the engaged joints in a direction perpendicular to the engagement direction, and wherein the male contact surface is configured to cooperate with the female contact surface when a male and female joint of two substrates are engaged.   
     
     
         22 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the male contact surface and the female contact surface are parallel to the first major surface. 
     
     
         23 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the female planar abutment surface is closer to an innermost surface of the female recess than the proximal female locking surface is, in the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         24 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein when the male and female joints are engaged, the respective surfaces of the male contact surface and female contact surface and of the male and female planar abutment surfaces are in abutment. 
     
     
         25 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein when the male and female joints are engaged, the respective surfaces of the proximal male and distal female locking surfaces and configured to create lateral compression forces between the male and the female planar abutment surfaces and maintaining them in contact thus preventing the creation of a gap between joined panels. 
     
     
         26 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the male and female protrusions are configured to enable relative rotation of two engaged substrates by up to 3° while maintaining engagement of the two substrates. 
     
     
         27 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the male and female joints are further configured to enable an adjacent engaged substrate to rotate by up to 7° to 10° downward from the first substrate without disengaging or damage. 
     
     
         28 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the male and female protrusions are configured to enable relative rotation of one of the engaged substrates relative to the other by an angle of between 7° to 10° in a direction into a surface of which the substrates are laid while maintaining engagement of the two substrates. 
     
     
         29 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein a void is created on a side of the locking plane by virtue of the non-symmetrical configuration of the male and female joints. 
     
     
         30 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein a void is created on a side of the another locking plane by virtue of the non-symmetrical configuration of the male and female joints. 
     
     
         31 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the male and female protrusions and male and female recesses are configured to facilitate self-alignment of two substrates when one of the substrates is joined to another of the substrates. 
     
     
         32 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the substrate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of solid timber, engineered timber, manufactured wood laminate, Bamboo, plastics, and vinyl. 
     
     
         33 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , comprising a beveled surface between the first major surface and the male planar abutment surface. 
     
     
         34 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , comprising a beveled surface between the first major surface and the female planar abutment surface. 
     
     
         35 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the locking surfaces are configured so that when the male and female joint of two substrates are engaged, the distal male and proximal female locking surfaces contact one another at at least one contact interface to inhibit separation of the engaged joints in the direction parallel to the engagement direction. 
     
     
         36 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the distal male locking surface is configured to snap over the proximal female locking surface during locking of the male and female joint of two substrates. 
     
     
         37 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 21 , wherein the male recess comprises an opposite locking surface, which is opposite to the proximal male surface, and the female protrusion comprises an opposite locking surface, which is opposite to the distal female locking surface. 
     
     
         38 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 37 , wherein the opposite locking surface of the male recess is configured to cooperate with the opposite locking surface of the female protrusion at a further locking plane. 
     
     
         39 . The vertical joint system according to  claim 38 , wherein the opposite locking surface of the male recess and the opposite locking surface of the female protrusion are configured to cooperate to inhibit separation of the engaged joints in a direction parallel to the engagement direction