Floor covering, floor panels for forming such floor covering, and method for realizing such floor panels

Method for making a floor panel,

• said floor panel having an upper surface and a lower surface, and comprising a laminated structure including a base plate and a top layer;
• said top layer comprising a decorative layer;
• said decorative layer comprising a printed pattern;
• said top layer comprising impressions and defining a transparent or translucent layer of synthetic material on top of said decorative layer;
• said synthetic layer at least partially forming said top side of the panel;
• wherein said method comprises at least the steps of manufacturing a plate larger than said floor panel and forming said floor panel from said larger plate;
• wherein said manufacturing of said plate comprises at least the steps of
• a) bringing at least said base plate, said decorative layer and said synthetic layer together in a heated press containing a pressing mould on which a relief is formed;
• wherein said pressing mould is a pressing plate;
• and then
• b) compressing at least said base plate, said decorative layer and said synthetic layer in said heated press at least by means of putting said pressing mould in contact with said synthetic layer, thereby providing for an adhesion and hardening of said top layer;
• wherein said relief formed on said pressing mould is applied for forming said impressions in said layer of synthetic resin, simultaneously to said compressing;
• and wherein said impressions are formed as a function of said printed pattern in order to form an embossment which is in register with said printed pattern;
• and
• wherein said step of forming said floor panel from said larger plate, comprises at least the steps of
• a) dividing said larger plate into a plurality of panels, having first and second pairs of opposite edges;
• and
• b) in order to form said floor panel, providing at least one of these panels on at least said first pair of opposite edges with coupling parts for mutually coupling a plurality of said floor panels to each other in a common plane to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling parts in coupled condition of two of such floor panels provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of the floor panels;
• wherein said base plate comprises Medium Density Fiberboard or High Density Fiberboard;
• wherein said larger plates are realized according to a Direct Pressure Laminate technique.