ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 25 -- United States Patent no. 12,480,315, issued on Nov. 25, was assigned to UNILIN BV (Wielsbeke, Belgium).
"Coated panel" was invented by Dries Brouckaert (Gullegem, Belgium), Christophe Naeyaert (Jabbeke, Belgium) and Bryan Rollier (Kanegem, Belgium).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A coated panel with a substrate and a decorative top layer. The substrate includes an, optionally filled, plastic composite. The coated panel is provided on at least a first pair of two opposite edges with mechanical coupling means that allow two such panels to be coupled to each other on the first pair of edges in question. Locking is obtained both in a vertical direction perpendicular to t...