Multi-purpose tile system, tile covering, and tile

A multi-purpose tile system, comprising a plurality of floor tiles, wherein a first tile of the plurality of tiles comprises:

• at least one first edge having a first coupling profile comprising:
• a sideward tongue extending in a direction substantially parallel to an upper side of the first tile,
• at least one first downward flank lying at a distance from the sideward tongue, and
• a first downward recess formed between the sideward tongue and the first downward flank,
• at least one second edge having a second coupling profile comprising:
• a downward tongue extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper side of the first tile,
• at least one second downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue, and
• a second downward recess formed between the downward tongue and the downward flank,
• at least two other edges, each other edge having a third coupling profile comprising:
• a third recess configured for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile of a second tile of the plurality of floor tiles and at least a part of the downward tongue of the second tile, said third recess being defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, wherein said lower lip is provided with an upward locking element, and
• wherein the first coupling profile and the third coupling profile are configured such that the first tile and the second tile can be coupled to each other at the first and other edges through a turning movement, wherein, in coupled condition:
• at least a part of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile of the first tile is inserted into the third recess of the third coupling profile of the second tile to realise a vertical locking effect, and
• at least a part of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile is inserted into the first downward recess of the first coupling profile,
• wherein the second coupling profile and the third coupling profile are configured such that the first tile and the second tile can be coupled to each other at the second and other edges by means of a fold-down movement or a vertical movement, wherein, in coupled condition:
• at least a part of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile is inserted in the third recess of the third coupling profile,
• at least a part of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile is inserted in the second downward recess of the second coupling profile, and
• wherein at least a part of the proximal side of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile, facing the third recess, is upwardly inclined in a direction towards the upper lip, and wherein at least a part of the proximal side of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile, facing the first downward recess, is downwardly inclined in a direction towards the first downward flank, wherein an upper surface of the upward locking element is angled relative to the upper lip and an upper surface of the first downward recess is angled relative to the upper lip,
• wherein the second coupling profile comprises at least one second locking element, and wherein the third coupling profile comprises at least one third locking element, wherein, in coupled condition of two tiles, the second locking element of the second tile is configured to co-act with the third locking element of the first tile to realise a vertical locking effect,
• wherein the at least one second locking element of the second coupling profile is provided at a distal side of the downward tongue facing away from the second downward recess, and wherein at least one third locking element of the third coupling profile is provided at a side of the upper lip, in coupled condition facing said distal side of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile of the first tile, and
• wherein the co-act between the second locking element and the third locking element for creating the vertical locking effect in coupled condition of the first tile and the second tile, defines a tangent T1 which encloses an angle A1 with a plane defined by the first tile, which angle A1 is smaller than an angle A2 enclosed by said plane defined by the first tile and a tangent T2 defined by a co-act between an inclined part of a proximal side of the upward locking element facing toward the third recess and an inclined part of a proximal side of the downward tongue facing toward the second downward flank, wherein the greatest difference between angle A1 and angle A2 is situated between 5 and 20 degrees, wherein the inclined part of the proximal side of the upward locking element is angled upwardly in a direction towards a distal side of the upward locking element positioned opposite the proximal side of the upward locking element.

A first tile for use in a multi-purpose tile system, the first tile comprising:

• at least one first edge having a first coupling profile comprising:
• a sideward tongue extending in a direction substantially parallel to an upper side of the first tile,
• at least one first downward flank lying at a distance from the sideward tongue, and
• a first downward recess formed between the sideward tongue and the first downward flank,
• at least one second edge having a second coupling profile comprising:
• a downward tongue extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper side of the first tile,
• at least one second downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue,
• a second downward recess formed between the downward tongue and the downward flank, and
• at least one second locking element;
• at least two other edges, each other edge having a third coupling profile comprising:
• a third recess configured for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile of a second tile and at least a part of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile of the second tile, said third recess being defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, wherein said lower lip is provided with an upward locking element, and
• at least one third locking element,
• wherein the first coupling profile and the third coupling profile are configured such that the first tile and the second tile can be coupled to each other at the first and other edges through a turning movement, wherein, in coupled condition:
• at least a part of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile of the first tile is inserted into the third recess of the third coupling profile of the second tile to realise a vertical locking effect, and
• at least a part of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile is inserted into the first downward recess of the first coupling profile,
• wherein the second coupling profile and the third coupling profile are configured such that the first tile can be coupled to the second tile at the second and other edges by means of a fold-down movement or a vertical movement, wherein, in coupled condition:
• at least a part of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile is inserted in the third recess of the third coupling profile,
• at least a part of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile is inserted in the second downward recess of the second coupling profile, and
• at least one second locking element is facing, and co-acting with, at least one third locking element to realise the vertical locking effect, and
• wherein at least a part of the proximal side of the upward locking element of the third coupling profile, facing the third recess, is upwardly inclined in a direction towards the upper lip, and (i) wherein at least a part of the proximal side of the sideward tongue of the first coupling profile, facing the first downward recess, is downwardly inclined in a direction towards the first downward flank and/or (ii) wherein at least a part of the proximal side of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile, facing the second downward recess, is downwardly inclined in a direction towards the second downward flank, wherein an upper surface of the upward locking element is angled relative to the upper lip and an upper surface of the first downward recess is angled relative to the upper lip,
• wherein the at least one second locking element of the second coupling profile is provided at a distal side of the downward tongue facing away from the second downward recess, and wherein at least one third locking element of the third coupling profile is provided at a side of the upper lip, in coupled condition facing said distal side of the downward tongue of the second coupling profile of the first tile, and
• wherein the co-act between the second locking element and the third locking element for creating the vertical locking effect in coupled condition of the first tile and the second tile, defines a tangent T1 which encloses an angle A1 with a plane defined by the first tile, which angle A1 is smaller than an angle A2 enclosed by said plane defined by the first tile and a tangent T2 defined by a co-act between an inclined part of a proximal side of the upward locking element facing toward the third recess and an inclined part of a proximal side of the downward tongue facing toward the second downward flank, wherein the greatest difference between angle A1 and angle A2 is situated between 5 and 20 degrees, wherein the inclined part of the proximal side of the upward locking element is angled upwardly in a direction towards a distal side of the upward locking element positioned opposite the proximal side of the upward locking element.