Panel, covering and method for installing such panels

A floor panel for forming a floor covering, which at least at two opposite edges, comprising:

• coupling parts arranged to couple two of such panels to each other by means of a downward movement of one panel in respect to the other;
• wherein the coupling parts form a first locking system, which effects a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicularly to said edges, as well as form a second locking system, which effects a locking perpendicularly to the plane of the panels;
• the first locking system is formed at least of an upwardly directed lower hook-shaped portion situated at one of said two edges, as well as of a downwardly directed upper hook-shaped portion is situated at the opposite edge;
• and
• the lower hook-shaped portion has a lip with an upwardly directed locking element, whereas the upper hook-shaped portion has a lip with a downwardly directed locking element, wherein at least one of said hook-shaped portions is bendable in respect to the plane of the respective panel, such that the pertaining locking element can perform a tilting movement which facilitates coupling the panels.

A floor panel for forming a floor covering, the panel comprising:

• a substrate of a material on the basis of soft PVC;
• the panel is rectangular, either oblong or square, and comprises a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges;
• both pairs of opposite edges comprise coupling parts allowing to mutually couple a plurality of such panels to each other;
• wherein the coupling parts at both pairs of edges form a first locking system which effects a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges, as well as form a second locking system which effects a locking perpendicular to the plane of the panels;
• the coupling parts substantially are realized from said substrate;
• the coupling parts at the first pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other at these edges by means of a turning movement;
• wherein the coupling parts at the second pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other by means of a downward movement of one panel in respect to the other by means of the downward movement obtained as a result of the turning movement at the first pair of edges.

A floor panel for forming a floor covering, which at least at two opposite edges, comprising

• coupling parts arranged allowing to couple two of such panels to each other by means of a downward movement of one panel in respect to the other;
• the coupling parts form a first locking system, which effects a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicularly to said edges, as well as form a second locking system, which effects a locking perpendicularly to the plane of the panels;
• the first locking system is formed at least of an upwardly directed lower hook-shaped portion situated at one of said two edges, as well as of a downwardly directed upper hook-shaped portion situated at the opposite edge;
• the lower hook-shaped portion has a lip with an upwardly directed locking element, whereas the upper hook-shaped portion has a lip with a downwardly directed locking element;
• the second locking system comprises locking parts which are situated next to the proximal end of the lower hook-shaped portion and the distal end of the upper hook-shaped portion, respectively;
• wherein at least one of said locking parts of the second locking system is made from soft PVC.

A floor panel for forming a floor covering, comprising:

• a substrate of supple synthetic material,
• the panel, at least at two opposite edges, comprises coupling parts of the type allowing to couple two of such panels to each other by means of a downward movement of one panel in respect to the other;
• the coupling parts form a first locking system, which effects a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicularly to said edges, as well as form a second locking system, which effects a locking perpendicularly to the plane of the panels;
• the first locking system is formed at least of an upwardly directed lower hook-shaped portion situated at one of said two edges, as well as of a downwardly directed upper hook-shaped portion situated at the opposite edge;
• wherein in said substrate, a reinforcement layer is present extending in the plane of the panel;
• the lower hook-shaped portion has a lip with an upwardly directed locking element, whereas the upper hook-shaped portion consists of a lip with a downwardly directed locking element;
• and
• at least one of said lips is configured such that, seen in cross-section, it is at least over a certain portion free from said reinforcement layer.

A method for installing floor panels, wherein the panels are rectangular, either oblong or square, and comprise a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges;

• both pairs of opposite edges comprise coupling parts forming a first locking system arranged to lock in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges, as well as form a second locking system arranged to lock perpendicular to the plane of the panels;
• the coupling parts at the first pairs of opposite edges are configured such that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other by means of a turning movement;
• the coupling parts at the second pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other by means of a downward movement of one panel in respect to the other, by means of the downward movement obtained as a result of the turning movement at the first pair of edges;
• at the second pair of edges, the locking system is formed at least of an upwardly directed lower hook-shaped portion situated at one of said two edges, as well as of a downwardly directed upper hook-shaped portion situated at the opposite edge;
• and
• the lower hook-shaped portion has a lip with an upwardly directed locking element, the upper hook-shaped portion has a lip with a downwardly directed locking element;
• at the second pair of edges coupling parts are applied of which at least one of the lips, in respect to the plane of the panel concerned, can be bent out of this plane, such that the pertaining locking element can perform a tilting movement, facilitating the coupling of the panels, the method comprising the following steps:
• installing a first panel intended for forming part of a first row of panels;
• coupling a second panel to said first panel, such at said first pair of edges, the second panel is intended for forming part of a second row successive to said first row of panels;
• coupling in the second row a third panel both to said second panel and to the first panel, wherein the third panel is coupled to the first panel by means of a turning movement, wherein the third panel, from an upwardly pivoted position, is brought into substantially the same plane as the first and second panels, whereas, as a result of this movement and the downward pressing-together movement created therein, the hook-shaped portions engage into each other between the third and second panel;
• applying an underlay element therein;
• and, during pressing together, as a result of the use of the underlay element, deforming by at least one of said lips in such a manner that coupling is facilitated.

A panel for forming a floor covering, the panel comprising:

• a substrate of a material on the basis of soft PVC;
• the panel is rectangular, either oblong or square, and comprises a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges;
• both pairs of opposite edges comprise coupling parts allowing to couple a plurality of such panels to each other;
• the coupling parts, at both pairs of edges, form a first locking system effecting a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges, as well as form a second locking system effecting a locking transverse to the plane of the panels;
• the coupling parts substantially are realized from said substrate;
• wherein the coupling parts, at the two pairs of edges, have a tongue and a groove, as well as locking parts, which, in the coupled condition, prevent the drifting apart of the tongue and the groove;
• said groove is bordered by a lower lip and an upper lip, the lower lip extending laterally up to beyond the distal end of the upper lip;
• and
• said tongue and said groove have a shape providing in the coupled condition of two of such panels, a space is present underneath the tongue, said space extending from the tip of the tongue continuously underneath the tongue at least up to a location situated beyond the distal end of the upper lip.

The floor panel for forming a floor covering, comprising:

• a substrate of a material on the basis of synthetic material;
• the panel is rectangular, either oblong or square, and comprises a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges;
• both pairs of opposite edges comprise coupling parts allowing to couple a plurality of such panels to each other;
• the coupling parts, at both pairs of edges, form a first locking system effecting a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges, as well as form a second locking system effecting a locking transverse to the plane of the panels;
• the coupling parts substantially are realized from said substrate;
• the coupling parts of the first pair of opposite edges as well as of the second pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other at these edges by means of a turning movement;
• said coupling parts, at least at one pair of edges, have a tongue and a groove, as well as locking parts, which, in coupled condition, prevent the drifting apart of the tongue and groove;
• said groove is bordered by a lower lip and an upper lip, the lower lip extends laterally up to beyond the distal end of the upper lip;
• and
• said tongue and groove have a shape providing, in the coupled condition of two of such panels, a space is present underneath the tongue, said space extending from the tip of the tongue continuously underneath the tongue at least up to a location situated beyond the distal end of the upper lip.

A floor panel for forming a floor covering, comprising:

• a substrate of a material on the basis of synthetic material, the panel is rectangular, either oblong or square, and comprises a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges, both pairs of opposite edges comprise coupling parts allowing to couple a plurality of such panels to each other, the coupling parts, at both pairs of edges, form a first locking system effecting a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges, as well as form a second locking system effecting a locking transverse to the plane of the panels, the coupling parts substantially are realized from said substrate;
• wherein the coupling parts of at least the first pair of opposite edges are configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other at these edges by means of a turning movement;
• said coupling parts at the first pair of edges have a tongue and a groove, as well as locking parts, which, in the coupled condition, prevent the drifting apart of the tongue and groove;
• said groove is bordered by a lower lip and an upper lip, the lower lip extending laterally up to beyond the distal end of the upper lip;
• said tongue and groove have a shape providing in the coupled condition of two of such panels, a space is present underneath the tongue, said space extending from the tip of the tongue continuously underneath the tongue at least up to a location situated beyond the distal end of the upper lip;
• and
• the tongue is in connection with the remainder of the panel via a narrowed portion;
• the smallest thickness of the portion of the lower lip situated beyond the distal end of the upper lip, is smaller than the smallest thickness of said narrowed portion;
• and
• the tongue in downward direction is supported on the groove by the locking surfaces and/or by a support point located proximally in respect to the locking surfaces.