Importance

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Abstract

A building-construction panel (e.g., a structural wood subflooring panel) includes a tongue on one edge and a groove on an opposite edge that receives the tongue of an adjacent panel. A shoulder on the tongue-side edge defines an abutted surface that is contacted by an abutting surface on the groove-side edge to limit panel travel during installation and maintain a gap between upper edge portions of the adjacent panels. A bottom transition is formed on the groove-side edge so that the groove-side abutting surface is smaller than the tongue-side shoulder abutted surface. In this way, the relatively smaller groove-side abutting surface structurally maintains the gap but also minimizes frictional interpanel contact area to minimize squeaking. And the relatively larger tongue-side shoulder abutted surface helps keep the shoulder from being collapsed into the groove from overdriving the panels together during installation. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the panels.

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First Claim