Set consisting of two panels for cladding a surface and of a panel connection element, panel connection element, and use of a panel connection element

A set consisting of two panels for cladding a surface and a panel connection element for connecting the two panels, wherein:

• the panels each comprise a panel core which is enclosed by a flat panel upper surface, a flat panel lower surface spaced therefrom and parallel thereto and four panel side surfaces each connecting the panel upper surface to the panel lower surface,
• at two mutually opposing panel side surfaces mutually complementary coupling elements in the form of an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element are disposed, which are designed in such a way that they enable a coupling of a first such panel to a second such panel by means of a relative movement of the upper coupling element of the first panel towards the lower coupling element of the second panel,
• the lower coupling element comprises a latching receptacle and the upper coupling element comprises a locking element which engages in the latching receptacle in the coupled state of the two panels, so that the locking element forms a first coupling section of the coupling elements together with the latching receptacle, the lower coupling element comprises a groove adjacent to the latching receptacle, the panel connection element comprises a first part and a second part coupled to the first part via a connecting web, wherein the first part is inserted into the groove in the coupled state of the two panels, the second part is pivotable relative to the first part about the connecting web, the second part comprises an upper section comprising a latching element and a lower section comprising a lever and the latching element comprises a bulge at a distal end of the latching element,
• wherein the first part of the panel connection element remains substantially stationary in the groove while the second part is pivoted relative to the first part during coupling of the two panels,
• the locking element comprises a contact surface which abuts against the lever in the coupled state of the two panels, and
• the locking element comprises a latching receptacle which is complementary to the latching element and in which the bulge of the latching element engages in the coupled state of the two panels, so that the bulge of the latching element forms a second coupling section of the coupling elements together with the latching receptacle.