# US 11,441,319 B2 · Panel and covering > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,319 B2 - Document ID: US11441319B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/155,902 - Filed: 2021-01-22 - Published: 2021-05-13 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-26 - Assignees: i4F Licensing NV - Applicants: I4F Licensing NV - Inventors: Eddy Alberic Boucké; Johan Christiaan Rietveldt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441319B2 ## CPC - E04F 15/02038: {characterised by tongue and groove connections between neighbouring flooring elements} - E04F 15/10: of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite {tiles}, hardboard {, or with a top layer of other materials} - E04F 2201/0146: with snap action of the edge connectors - E04F 2201/041: Tongues or grooves with slits or cuts for expansion or flexibility - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) ## Abstract Interconnectable panels, such as interconnectable floor panels, are generally joined mechanically at edges of the panels by using complementary coupling profiles at opposite edges. Traditionally, rectangular floor panels are connected at the long edges by means of a traditional angling method. The invention relates to an interconnectable panel, in particular a floor panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel, in particular a floor panel, comprising: a centrally located core provided with an upper side and a lower side, which core defines a plane; at least one first coupling part and at least one second resilient coupling part connected respectively to opposite edges of the core, which first coupling part comprises a single upward tongue, at least one upward flank lying at a distance from the upward tongue and an upward groove formed in between the upward tongue and the upward flank, wherein the upward groove is adapted to receive at least a part of a downward tongue of a second coupling part of an adjacent panel, wherein: at least a part of a side of the upward tongue facing toward the upward flank is inclined toward the upward flank, which second coupling part comprises a single downward tongue, at least one downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue, and a downward groove formed in between the downward tongue and the downward flank, wherein the downward groove is adapted to receive at least a part of an upward tongue of a first coupling part of an adjacent panel, wherein: at least a part of a side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank is inclined toward the downward flank, wherein the first coupling part comprises a resilient lower bridge part connecting the upward tongue to the core of the panel, wherein the bridge part is configured to deform during coupling of the panels, to widen the upward groove temporarily, facilitating introduction of the downward tongue in the widened upward groove, wherein said lower bridge part is provided with at least one lower elongated slot, wherein the elongated slot has an open first end connecting to the upward groove, and a closed second end, such that a weakened area is formed in said lower bridge part between said closed second end of said lower elongated slot and a lower side of said lower bridge part, facilitating deformation of said lower bridge part. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The panel according to claim 1, wherein the second coupling part comprises a resilient upper bridge part connecting the downward tongue to the core of the panel, wherein the bridge part is configured to deform during coupling of adjacent panels, to widen the downward groove, facilitating introduction of the upward tongue into the widened downward groove; and wherein said bridge part is provided with at least one upper elongated slot, wherein the elongated slot has an open first end connecting to the downward groove, and a closed second end, such that a weakened area is formed in said upper bridge part between said closed second end of said elongated slot and an upper side of said upper bridge part, facilitating deformation of said bridge part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The panel according to claim 2, wherein the closed second end of the lower elongated slot and/or the closed second end of the upper elongated slot has a rounded shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The panel according to claim 1, wherein the closed second end of the lower elongated slot has a rounded shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The panel according to claim 1, wherein a side of the upward tongue facing toward the upward flank is at least partially curved or rounded, for forming an upward aligning edge for the purpose of coupling the first coupling part to a second coupling part of an adjacent panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The panel according to claim 5, wherein an upper part of the side of the upward tongue facing toward the upward flank is at least partially curved or rounded. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The panel according to claim 1, wherein a side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank is at least partially curved or rounded, for forming a downward aligning edge for the purpose of coupling the first coupling part to a second coupling part of an adjacent panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The panel according to claim 7, wherein an lower part of the side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank is at least partially curved or rounded. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The panel according to claim 1, wherein the open first end of the upper elongated slot is arranged at the transition between the upper bridge part and the core, or at the transition between the upper bridge part and the downward flank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The panel according to claim 1, wherein the open first end of the lower elongated slot is arranged at the transition between the lower bridge part and the core, or at the transition between the lower bridge part and the upward flank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The panel according to claim 1, wherein the elongated slot has a length which is at least two times the width of the slot. ### Claim 12 A panel, in particular a floor panel, comprising: a centrally located core provided with an upper side and a lower side, which core defines a plane; at least one first coupling part and at least one second resilient coupling part connected respectively to opposite edges of the core, which first coupling part comprises a single upward tongue, at least one upward flank lying at a distance from the upward tongue and an upward groove formed in between the upward tongue and the upward flank, wherein the upward groove is adapted to receive at least a part of a downward tongue of a second coupling part of an adjacent panel, wherein: at least a part of a side of the upward tongue facing toward the upward flank is inclined toward the upward flank, which second coupling part comprises a single downward tongue, at least one downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue, and a downward groove formed in between the downward tongue and the downward flank, wherein the downward groove is adapted to receive at least a part of an upward tongue of a first coupling part of an adjacent panel, wherein: at least a part of a side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank is inclined toward the downward flank, wherein the first coupling part comprises a resilient lower bridge part connecting the upward tongue to the core of the panel, wherein the bridge part is configured to deform during coupling of the panels, to widen the upward groove temporarily, facilitating introduction of the downward tongue in the widened upward groove, wherein the second coupling part comprises a resilient upper bridge part connecting the downward tongue to the core of the panel, wherein the bridge part is configured to deform during coupling of adjacent panels, to widen the downward groove, facilitating introduction of the upward tongue into the widened downward groove; wherein the material of at least one bridge part of the lower bridge part and the upper bridge part is locally interrupted to form a weak bridge area to facilitate deformation of said bridge part.