Floor covering
AssigneeUnilin Beheer B.V., besloten vennootschap
InventorsBernard Paul Joseph Thiers, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle
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Abstract
The invention concerns a floor covering formed of hard panels (2) which are provided, at least on two opposite edges (3-4, 5-6), with coupling devices (7) made in one piece with the panels (2), whereby these coupling devices (7) provide for an interlocking in a direction (R1) perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering (1), as well as in a direction (R2) perpendicular to the edges (3-4, 5-6) concerned and parallel to the plane of the floor covering (1). These coupling devices (7) comprise a tongue (8) and a groove (9). The lip (11) which is situated on the bottom side of the groove (9) is longer than the lip (10) on the top side. The edge (5) which is provided with the tongue (8) is made elastically flexible.
Claims8
A floor covering panel comprising coupling profiles on at least two opposite edges of the panel, said profiles configured so that several ones of such panels can be mutually coupled to one another along coupled edges, said coupling profiles configured so as to enable interlocking of the profiles in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the floor covering panel, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the panel edges and parallel to the plane of the floor covering panel, said coupling profiles also being configured so that when two coupled panels starting from a generally co-planar position with each coupled panel coupled to a respective adjacent panel are turned over towards one another toward their bottom sides over at least a given angle, such turning movement enables said coupled panels to be uncoupled and removed from in between said adjacent panels that form part of a floor covering assembly of said panels;
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- wherein the coupling profiles comprise a tongue having a distal tip and a groove, said groove having a top side and a bottom side, an upper lip having a distal tip extending from the top side and a lower lip extending from the bottom side, said lower lip extending distally longer than the upper lip away from the groove, a first interlocking part on the lower lip and a second interlocking part cooperating with the first interlocking part on the bottom side of another similar panel coupled thereto, said coupling profiles enabling coupled panels to be assembled by means of a turning movement about a pair of coupled edges, and said coupling profiles when coupled creating spaces above the first interlocking part and under the second interlocking part enabling said turning movement of the panels relative to each other toward their bottom sides.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.