High friction joint, and interlocking joints for forming a generally planar surface, and method of assembling the same

Abstract

An interlockable panel for forming a generally planar surface. Each panel includes a first surface positioned substantially in a plane and a second surface facing opposite the first surface and substantially parallel to and displaced from the first surface. Each surface has a perimeter defined by edges extending between the first and second surfaces. The edges may include male or female edges. Each male edge includes a tongue that extends outwardly from the male edge and a longitudinally extending void that extends inwardly of the tongue. Each female edge includes a groove having a protrusion position within the groove and extending outwardly from the groove generally parallel to the first surface. An adjacent panel may be linked to a fixed panel such that the tongue engages the groove and the protrusion engages the void. The invention also includes a method for assembling a generally planar surface using interlockable panels such as the above-mentioned. The method generally includes the steps of placing the first surfaces of adjacent panels within a common plane, and manually linking of the male edge of the first panel with the female edge of a second panel, by relatively moving the panels towards each other while maintaining said panels in a common plane.