| 1. A panel locking system with edge profiles provided on at least two opposite edges of the panel for the positive connection
of similar panels, wherein one of the opposite edges of the panel has an edge profile designed as a groove profile, with an
upper groove wall, a lower groove wall, and a base, said upper groove wall having an abutting surface and a flank, and wherein
the second of the opposite edges of the panel has an edge profile designed as a tongue profile with an upper tongue wall having
an abutting surface, a lower tongue wall and a tongue having a convex notch projection on the underside of the tongue at a
distal end that engages a concave notch recess in the lower groove wall of an adjacent panel in the assembled state, wherein
the lower groove wall must be slightly elastically expanded in order to join adjacent panels, a leveling surface is provided
on the top side of the tongue, which interacts with a leveling surface of the upper groove wall when panels are joined, the
flank comprises an angularly displaced face formed on a lower portion of the upper groove wall a triangular space is formed
between the angular displaced face and a right angle surface formed by the topside of the tongue and the abutting surface
of the upper tongue wall, the triangular space vertically in line with the convex notch projection and the concave notch recess,
a horizontal, rectangular space formed between a proximal end of a horizontal portion of the underside of the tongue and a
distal end of a horizontal portion of the lower groove wall, and
the triangular space offset vertically from the rectangular space such that, in the assembled state, the engaged edge profiles
form an articulated joint that acts to restore the panels to their installation plane when deflected either up or down.
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