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US 12,000,155 B2Granted
Floor or wall covering
AssigneeUnilin BV
InventorsJan De Rick, Bryan Rollier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A recess is provided at the surface of a floor or wall covering between two panels mechanically coupled to each other by a male coupling part and a female coupling part. The recess may include a first recess cut out or otherwise provided at the female edge through the top layer and extending into the substrate. The recess may have a second recess cut out or otherwise provided at the male edge through the top layer and extending into the substrate. The recess includes a grouting material.
Claims18
A floor or wall covering comprising floor or wall panels;
- the panels comprise a substrate and a top layer;
- the top layer comprises a decor layer;
- the panels are provided at least at edges of two opposite sides with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in a form of male coupling parts and female coupling parts, for coupling the panels to each other in the floor or wall covering;
- the male coupling part is provided at a male edge of the panels;
- the female coupling part is provided at a female edge of the panels;
- a recess is provided at a surface of the floor or wall covering between two panels mechanically coupled to each other by the male coupling part and the female coupling part;
- wherein the recess comprises a grouting material;
- wherein the male coupling parts comprise a tongue;
- wherein the female coupling parts comprise a groove;
- wherein the groove comprises a bottom lip and an upper lip, wherein the bottom lip extends over a longer distance from the edge of the panel than the upper lip;
- wherein the recess comprises a bottom, wherein the bottom is completely provided by part of the upper surface of the tongue;
- wherein the part of the upper surface of the tongue provides a complete bottom of the recess, the complete bottom is provided as an inclined plane declining towards a distal end of the tongue;
- wherein the female edge comprises a rounded nose above the groove;
- and
- wherein the grouting material contacts and adheres to an upper section of the nose and also at least partially to a bottom section of the nose.
12 more elements
A floor or wall covering comprising floor or wall panels;
- the panels comprise a substrate and a top layer;
- the top layer comprises a decor layer;
- the panels are provided at least at edges of two opposite sides with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in a form of male coupling parts and female coupling parts, for coupling the panels to each other in the floor or wall covering;
- the male coupling part is provided at male edge of the panels;
- the female coupling part is provided at female edge of the panels;
- a recess is provided at a surface of the floor or wall covering between two panels mechanically coupled to each other by the male coupling part and the female coupling part;
- wherein the male edge comprises a protrusion directed substantially downwards when the panel is put horizontally, the protrusion is arranged to make contact with a distal end of the other edge, and lock the panels horizontally in a flexible way;
- a lower end of the protrusion is provided at a same level as a bottom side of the panels;
- wherein the male coupling parts comprise a tongue;
- wherein the female coupling parts comprise a groove;
- wherein a largest thickness of the tongue is less than 70% of a largest opening of the groove.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.