A device for leveling and aligning tiles and method for leveling and aligning tiles are disclosed. In one embodiment, the leveling device includes a body and two spaced and parallel strip members extending transversely from the body. Each of the spaced and parallel strip members extend to the front and rear of the body. Two opposing lateral open windows are formed in the body. A breakaway section is defined along the body. A wedge device is provided for penetrating one or more of the two opposing lateral open windows and exerting a force on the tiles for leveling them relative to each other.

Floor panels are provided with a mechanical locking system including a flexible locking element in a locking groove which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically.

A flooring system includes a plurality of rectangular flooring panels, the flooring panels individually including a core comprising two long edges, and two short edges with interlocking joints formed at the short edges. The interlocking joints are shaped to prevent flooring panels that are joined at the short edges from sliding apart. The long edges do not include interlocking joints.

A covering element includes a carrier plate having a mineral material, the carrier plate formed as a flat mineral carrier plate with a content of cement larger than 35 percent by volume and with a content of natural fibers of 1 to 40% by volume. The carrier plate has a thickness between 3 and 15 mm and carries a polymer-containing decor layer on a front side of the carrier plate. Complementary recesses and protrusions are provided on opposing lateral edges of the carrier plate of the covering element, such that in an assembled condition of two or more covering elements the complementary recesses and protrusions engage with each other, wherein a portion of a polymer contained in the polymer containing decor layer penetrates into the carrier plate.

A solid state floor lighting unit comprises a printed circuit board carrying an array of solid state lighting elements and a protective cover. The cover has openings or other light output regions aligned with the solid state lighting elements to provide light output. The protective cover has at least one edge with downwardly projecting spaced supporting tabs. These tabs form a comb structure which enables adjacent units to be interlinked. In this way a reduced pitch between lighting elements across the join between units is made possible, but the protective cover still provides the required stiffness and robustness to carry heavy loads.

In one aspect of a tile and support structure, a support structure may be engaged with a top portion of a pedestal. The support structure may be formed with a generally vertical spine having at least one rail extending outward from a distal end thereof. The spine and rail(s) may be configured to secure one or more tiles, which tiles may be formed with a groove on at least one edge thereof, and wherein one or more rails may be positioned within the groove.

In one embodiment of a tile and support structure, the tile and support structure may be configured to engage a tile such that the tile is oriented in a generally vertical plane. The support structure may include a riser tile engaged with both an upper riser support structure and a lower riser support structure.

A finishing profile for a floor covering, including at least a flange-shaped portion, which extends on opposite sides of an attachment portion situated on the underside, wherein the flange-shaped portion is formed in one piece from synthetics and is provided for being subdivided at the location of the attachment portion. The invention further also relates to a cutting tool for cutting up such finishing profile for a floor covering, wherein this cutting tool includes a body and includes at least one knife, wherein the position of the knife is adjustable.

Surface coverings, such as floor coverings, with an interlocking design are described. Methods of making the surface coverings are further described. A plank including a resilient composite sheet having four sides, an upper surface, a lower surface, and an overall thickness, and said composite sheet comprising at least one base layer, wherein said at least one base layer comprising at least one polymeric material and at least one filler, wherein opposite sides of the composite sheet comprise a first tongue on a first side and a first groove on the opposite second side, wherein the first tongue and first groove have complementary shape to each other to be interlockingly engageable with a corresponding groove or tongue on an adjacent floor plank.

A floor element for forming a floor covering, wherein the floor element comprises a decorative layer made of a ceramic material; a support layer arranged below the decorative layer; and a reinforcing layer arranged in between the decorative layer and the support layer, wherein the support layer comprises edges provided with coupling elements configured to realize a mechanical coupling with coupling elements of an adjacent floor element.