Floor covering panel
AssigneeFlooring Industries Limited, Sarl
InventorBernard Paul Joseph THIERS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Floor covering hard panels having at least on two opposite edges, coupling elements made in one piece with the panels, so that several ones of such panels can be mutually coupled, whereby these coupling elements provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges and parallel to the plane of the panels, and whereby these coupling elements are made such that the panels can be rotated into and/or out of one another at least along the above-mentioned edges. The panels are provided, at least on the above-mentioned edges, near the top side, with a part from which has been removed an amount of material such as by a bevel.
Claims10
A floor covering panel for forming a floor covering,
- wherein the panel has a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges;
- wherein at least the first pair of edges is provided with coupling parts made in one piece of the material of the panel, said coupling parts being configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other in a same plane so as to form said floor covering, and provide an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to said plane of the coupled floor panels and in a direction perpendicular to said edges and parallel to the plane of the floor covering;
- wherein said coupling parts include a tongue and a groove for providing the interlocking in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering, said groove being bordered by an upper lip and a lower lip, said lower lip extending distally beyond the upper lip;
- wherein said coupling parts further include locking parts for providing the interlocking in the direction perpendicular to said edges and parallel to said plane, said locking parts comprising a locking part at said lower lip and a locking part at the lower side of the tongue, said locking parts defining locking surfaces, said locking surfaces of two of such panels being in contact when coupled to each other;
- wherein said coupling parts are configured such that in a coupled condition of two of said panels said lower lip is bent downwards, and creates a force forcing the coupled panels towards each other;
- and
- wherein said panel at said first pair of edges comprises upper edges, each of these upper edges being provided with a bevel, resulting in that the panels are forced against each other at a level mainly below said bevels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.