Panel and covering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a panel, in particular a floor panel, interconnectable with similar panels for forming a covering. The invention also relates to a covering consisting of mutually connected floor panels according to the invention.

Claims

1. A panel, comprising: a centrally located core provided with an upper side and a lower side, which core defines a plane; at least one first coupling part and at least one second coupling part connected respectively to opposite edges of the core, which first coupling part comprises an upward tongue, at least one upward flank lying at a distance from the upward tongue and an upward groove formed in between the upward tongue and the upward flank wherein the upward groove is adapted to receive at least a part of a downward tongue of a second coupling part of an adjacent panel, wherein: at least a part of a side of the upward tongue facing toward the upward flank is inclined toward the upward flank; which second coupling part comprises a downward tongue, at least one downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue, and a downward groove formed in between the downward tongue and the downward flank, wherein the downward groove is adapted to receive at least a part of an upward tongue of a first coupling part of an adjacent panel, wherein: at least a part of a side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank is inclined toward the downward flank, wherein the upward flank is provided with a first locking element in the form of a rounded recess, and wherein a side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank is provided with a second locking element, in the form of a rounded bulge, wherein the first locking element of a first panel and the second locking element of a second panel are configured to coact in a coupled condition of the two panels; wherein the rounded recess forms a first circular segment, wherein a centre of a first circle that forms the first circular segment is located within the upward groove; and wherein the rounded bulge forms a second circular segment, wherein a centre of a second circle that forms the second circular segment is located within the downward tongue, and wherein a central angle of the first circular segment measured from the centre of the first circle lies between 30 and 70 degrees and/or wherein a central angle of the second circular segment measured from the centre of the second circle lies between 25 and 85 degrees.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the centre of the first circle is located below the upper side of the upward tongue and/or wherein the centre of the second circle is located below an upper side of the downward groove.

3. The panel according to claim 1, wherein in coupled condition the part of the side of the upward tongue facing toward the upward flank and the part of a side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank are in contact in a contact zone, wherein the centre of the first and/or second circle is located above the contact zone.

4. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the upward flank is oriented substantially vertically and is provided with the first locking element in the form of the rounded recess and/or wherein the side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank is oriented substantially vertically and is provided with the second locking element in the form of the rounded bulge.

5. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the width of the downward groove is larger compared to the width of the upward tongue, such that in coupled condition a space exists between the downward flank and a side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank.

6. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the upward tongue is connected to the core of the panel by a first bridge part, and wherein the downward tongue is connected to the core of the panel by a second bridge part, wherein the maximal thickness of the first bridge part is less than the maximal thickness of the second bridge part.

7. The panel according to claim 1, wherein a central angle of the first circular segment is less than a central angle of the second circular segment, wherein the central angle of the first circular segment is about 60 degrees, and wherein the central angle of the second circular segment is about 65 degrees.

8. The panel according to claim 1, wherein an upper part of the upward flank and an upper part of a side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank define a vertical plane in coupled condition, and wherein the distal part of the second locking element protrudes beyond the vertical plane, wherein the centre of the first and/or second circular segment is located halfway the distance between the vertical plane and the side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank.

9. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the outermost part of the second locking element defines a horizontal level, wherein the centre of the first and/or second circular segment is located at said horizontal level.

10. The panel according to claim 1, wherein an upper part of the upward flank and an upper part of a side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank define a vertical plane in coupled condition, wherein the second locking element is located below the upper part of the side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank and wherein an empty space is provided between the upper part of the side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank and the second locking element.

11. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the total thickness of the panel is between 1.5 and 5 times the radius of the circular segment.

12. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the part of a side of the upward tongue facing toward the upward flank, which is inclined toward the upward flank, and the side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank, which is inclined toward the downward flank, define a closed groove system, wherein the part of the side of the upward tongue facing toward the upward flank is directed upward towards the upper side of the panel, and wherein the side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank is directed downward towards the bottom side of the panel.

13. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the downward flank is substantially planar and free of locking elements.

14. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of the upward tongue and the upper side of the downward groove are spaced apart in coupled condition.

15. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the width of the downward tongue lies between 1 and 3 times the radius of the second circle.

16. The panel according to claim 1, wherein both above and below the second locking element the side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank is at least partially oriented vertically.

17. Covering, comprising a plurality of interconnected panels according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be elucidated on the basis of non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a panel and first coupling part according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows a panel and second coupling profile according to the invention; and

(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows two panels in coupled condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 schematically shows a panel (1), with a centrally located core (2) provided with an upper side (3) and a lower side (4). The panel (1) further comprises a first coupling part (5) connected to an edge of the core (2). The first coupling part (5) comprises an upward tongue (6), an upward flank (7) lying at a distance from the upward tongue (6) and an upward groove (8) formed in between the upward tongue (6) and the upward flank (7). The upward groove (8) is adapted to receive at least a part of a downward tongue of a second coupling part of an adjacent panel (1). A part (9) of a side (10) of the upward tongue (6) facing toward the upward flank (7) is inclined toward the upward flank (7), as indicated by the dotted line and arrow (11).

(6) The upward flank (7) is provided with a first locking element (12) in the form of a rounded recess (12), configured to co-act with a locking element of an adjacent panel (1) in a coupled condition of two panels (1). The rounded recess (12) forms a first circular segment (13), wherein the centre (14) of the first circle (20) is located within the upward groove (8), wherein the angle (α) enclosed by the first circular segment (13) and the centre (14) is about 60 degrees. The angle (γ) enclosed by the inclined part (9) of the upward tongue (6) and the vertical (V) originating from the inclined part (9) may lie between 0 and 10 degrees, and is typically about 2.5 or 3 degrees.

(7) The centre (14) of the first circle (20) is located below the upper side (15) of the upward tongue (6). The upward flank (7) is oriented substantially vertically and is provided with the rounded recess (12), in the shown figure such that both above and below the recess (12) a piece of upward flank (7) is present. The upward tongue (6) is connected to the core (2) of the panel (1) by a first bridge part (16), with a first maximal thickness (17). A part (18) of the side (10) of the upward tongue (6) facing towards the upward flank (7) may form an aligning edge (18), for aligning two panels (1) during coupling, and a part (19) of the upper side (15) of the upward tongue (6) may have an inclining orientation.

(8) FIG. 2 schematically shows a panel (1), with a centrally located core (2) provided with an upper side (3) and a lower side (4). The panel (1) further comprises a second coupling part (21) connected to an edge of the core (2), on an opposite side to the edge shown in FIG. 1. The second coupling part (21) comprises a downward tongue (22), a downward flank (23) lying at a distance from the downward tongue (22), and a downward groove (24) formed in between the downward tongue (22) and the downward flank (23). The downward groove (24) is adapted to receive at least a part of an upward tongue of a first coupling part of an adjacent panel (1). A part (25) of a side (26) of the downward tongue (22) facing toward the downward flank (23) is inclined toward the downward flank (23) as indicated by the dotted line and arrow (27).

(9) The side (28) of the downward tongue (22) facing away from the downward flank (23) is provided with a second locking element (29), in the form of a rounded bulge (29), configured to co-act with a locking element of an adjacent panel (1) in a coupled condition of two panels (1). The rounded bulge (29) forms a second circular segment (30), wherein the centre (31) of the second circle (40) is located within the downward tongue (22), wherein the angle (β) enclosed by the first circular segment (30) and the centre (31) is about 65 degrees. The angle (γ) enclosed by the inclined part (25) of the downward tongue (22) and the vertical (V) originating from the inclined part (25) may lie between 0 and 10 degrees, and is typically about 2.5 or 3 degrees.

(10) The centre (31) of the second circle (40) is located below the lower side (32) of the downward groove (24). The side (28) of the downward tongue (22) facing away from the downward flank (23) is oriented substantially vertically and is provided with the second locking element (29) in the form of the rounded bulge (29), in the shown figure such that both above and below the bulge (29) a piece of downward tongue (22) is present.

(11) The downward tongue (22) is connected to the core (2) of the panel (1) by a second bridge part (33), with a second maximal thickness (34), being larger than the maximal thickness (17) of the first bridge part (16). The outermost part (35) of the second locking element (29) defines a horizontal level (H), wherein the centre (31) of the second circular segment (30) is located at said horizontal level (H). The downward flank (23) is shown substantially planar and free of locking elements.

(12) FIG. 3 schematically shows two panels (1), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in coupled condition, wherein the upward groove (8) of a panel (1) is receiving at least a part of a downward tongue (22) of the adjacent panel (1). The part (9) of the side (10) of the upward tongue (6) facing toward the upward flank (7) and the part (25) of the side (26) of the downward tongue (22) facing toward the downward flank (23) are in contact in a contact zone (41). The centre (14, 31) of the first (20) and second (40) circle is located above the contact zone (41), as indicated by arrow (42). The centre (14) of the first circle (20) is located below the upper side (15) of the upward tongue (6), as indicated by arrow (43).

(13) The width of the downward groove (8) is larger compared to the width of the upward tongue (6), such that in coupled condition a space (44) exists between the downward flank (23) and a side (45) of the upward tongue (6) facing away from the upward flank (7).

(14) The central angle (α) of the first circle segment (13) is less than the central angle (β) of the second circle segment (30), such that the second circle segment (30) is slightly larger than the first circle segment (13), resulting in a slight difference (46). In FIG. 3, the central angle (α) of the first circle segment (13) is about 60 degrees and the central angle (β) of the second circle segment (30) is about 65 degrees.

(15) An upper part (47) of the upward flank (7) and an upper part (48) of the side (28) of the downward tongue (22) facing away from the downward flank (23) define a vertical plane (49) in coupled condition, wherein the distal part (35) of the second locking element (29) protrudes beyond the vertical plane (49). The centre (14, 31) of the first (13) and second (30) circular segment is located halfway the distance between the vertical plane (49) and the side (26) of the downward tongue (22) facing toward the downward flank (23). The second locking element (35) is located below the upper part (48) of the side (28) of the downward tongue (22) facing away from the downward flank (23) and an empty space (50) is provided between the upper part (48) of the downward tongue (22) and the second locking element (29). Another space (51) exists in coupled condition, since the upper side (15) of the upward tongue (6) and the lower side (32) of the downward groove (24) are spaced apart in coupled condition, indicated by arrow (52).

(16) In an alternative embodiment, the first and second locking elements may be mirrored around the vertical plane, such that the downward tongue is provided with the rounded recess, and the upward flank with the rounded bulge.

(17) It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the working examples shown and described herein, but that numerous variants are possible within the scope of the attached claims that will be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

(18) The above-described inventive concepts are illustrated by several illustrative embodiments. It is conceivable that individual inventive concepts may be applied without, in so doing, also applying other details of the described example. It is not necessary to elaborate on examples of all conceivable combinations of the above-described inventive concepts, as a person skilled in the art will understand numerous inventive concepts can be (re)combined in order to arrive at a specific application.

(19) The verb “comprise” and conjugations thereof used in this patent publication are understood to mean not only “comprise”, but are also understood to mean the phrases “contain”, “substantially consist of”, “formed by” and conjugations thereof.