Panel, in particular a floor panel or wall panel, and panel covering

Abstract

A panel including a centrally located core, 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 includes 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: which second coupling part includes 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.

Claims

1. A panel, in particular a floor panel, ceiling panel, or wall 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, at least one first locking element, provided at a distant side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank; wherein at least a part of a proximal side of the upward tongue, facing the upward flank, is upwardly inclined towards 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; at least one second locking element adapted for co-action with a first locking element of an adjacent panel, said second locking element being provided at the downward flank wherein at least a part of a proximal side of the downward tongue, facing the upward flank, is downwardly inclined towards the downward flank, wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part are configured such that in coupled condition a pretension is existing, which forces the respective panels at the respective edges towards each other, wherein this is performed by applying overlapping contours of the downward tongue and the upward groove and overlapping contours of the upward tongue and the downward groove, and wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part are configured such that the two of such panels can be coupled to each other by means of a fold-down movement and/or a vertical movement, such that, in coupled condition, wherein, in coupled condition, at least a part of the downward tongue of the second coupling part is inserted in the upward groove of the first coupling part, such that the downward tongue is clamped by the first coupling part and/or the upward tongue is clamped by the second coupling part, and wherein the upward tongue is oversized with respect to the downward groove; wherein the width of the upward tongue is oversized with respect to the width of the downward groove; wherein the maximum width of the upward tongue exceeds the maximum width of the downward groove; wherein the first locking element comprises a bulge, and wherein the second locking element comprises a recess, wherein a part of a side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank is provided with a third locking element, in the form of an outward bulge, adapted for co-action with a fourth locking element, in the form of a recess, of an adjacent panel; and wherein at least a part of the upward flank is provided with a fourth locking element, in the form of a recess, adapted for co-action with the third locking element, in the form of an outward bulge, of an adjacent panel, and wherein in a coupled state of adjacent panels, the upward tongue and the downward flank are in contact at mating surfaces immediately adjacent and below the coupled first locking element and the second locking element.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the downward tongue is oversized with respect to the upward groove.

3. The panel according to claim 2, wherein the width of the downward tongue is oversized with respect to the width of the upward groove.

4. The panel according to claim 3, wherein the maximum width of the downward tongue exceeds the maximum width of the upward groove.

5. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the height of the downward tongue is equal to or smaller than the height of the upward groove.

6. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the upward tongue is at least 3%, or at least 5% oversized with respect to the downward groove.

7. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the height of the upward tongue is equal to or smaller than the height of the downward groove.

8. The panel according to claim 1, wherein a lower side of the first coupling part is provided with a recessed portion configured to allow downward bending of the upward tongue, such that the upward groove is widened to facilitate coupling of two panels.

9. The panel according to claim 8, wherein, in a coupled state of adjacent panels, the upward tongue of the coupled first coupling part is bent outwardly and the upward groove of said first coupling part is widened compared to the uncoupled state of said first coupling part.

10. The panel according to claim 8, wherein, in cross-sectional view of the panel, the recessed portion has a substantially rectangular shape or inclined shape.

11. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling part comprises a lower bridge connected to the core of the panel, wherein the upward tongue is connected to said lower bridge and extends in upward direction with respect to said lower bridge.

12. The panel according to claim 9, wherein the recessed portion is provided underneath both at least a part of the upward tongue and at least a part of the lower bridge.

13. The panel according to claim 1, wherein during coupling the upward tongue bends downwardly, and then returns in the direction of its initial position.

14. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of the upward tongue is inclined, and runs downward from the proximal side of the upward tongue, facing toward the upward flank, towards the distant side of the upward tongue, facing away from the upward flank.

15. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part are integrally formed with the core.

16. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling part are made of a flexible material or of a semi-rigid material.

17. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the core comprises a plurality of layers.

18. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a plurality of first coupling parts and a plurality of second coupling parts.

19. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel has a polygonal shape, a square shape or rectangular shape.

20. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel has a parallelogramical shape, wherein two pairs of adjacent edges enclose an acute angle, and wherein two pairs of other adjacent edges enclose a obtuse angle.

21. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel comprises at least one third coupling part and at least one fourth coupling part connected respectively to opposite edges of the core, wherein the third coupling part comprises: a sideward tongue extending in a direction substantially parallel to the upper side of the core, at least one second downward flank lying at a distance from the sideward tongue, and a second downward groove formed between the sideward tongue and the second downward flank, wherein the fourth coupling part comprises: a second groove configured for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue of the third coupling part of an adjacent panel, said second groove being defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, wherein said lower lip is provided with an upward locking element, wherein the third coupling part and the fourth coupling part are configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other by means of a turning movement, wherein, in coupled condition: at least a part of the sideward tongue of a first panel is inserted into the second groove of an adjacent, second panel, and wherein at least a part of the upward locking element of said second panel is inserted into the second downward groove of said first panel.

22. The panel according to claim 21, wherein the third coupling part and the fourth coupling part are configured such that a coupled condition is substantially free of pretension between the third coupling part and the fourth coupling part.

23. A covering, a floor covering, ceiling covering, or wall covering, comprising a plurality of mutually coupled panels according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be elucidated on the basis of non-limitative exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the following figures. Corresponding elements are denoted in the figures by corresponding reference numbers. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1a shows a schematic representation of a panel according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 1b shows a schematic representation of another panel according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 2a shows a cross-section of a panel as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b taken along line A-A,

(5) FIG. 2b shows a cross-section of a panel as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b taken along line B-B,

(6) FIG. 3a shows a cross-section of two panels as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, being coupled together at a first and a second coupling part respectively, and

(7) FIG. 3b shows a cross-section of the two panels as shown in FIG. 3a in a coupled position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1a shows a schematic representation of a panel (100) according to the invention, having a polygonal shape. In this specific embodiment, the panel (100) has a rectangular upper side (102) and lower side (103) and comprises two pairs of opposite edges (104, 105). Each two adjacent edges hereby enclose a right angle (106). A first coupling part (107) and a second coupling part (108) are respectively connected to a different edge of one pair of opposite edges (104). The panel (100) is further provided with a third coupling part (109) and a fourth coupling part (110), respectively connected to a different edge of the other pair of opposite edges (105).

(9) FIG. 1b shows a schematic representation of another panel (101) according to the invention, being parallelogram-shaped. The panel (101) has a parallelogram-shaped upper side (102) and lower side (103) and comprises two pairs of opposite edges (104, 105). Two pairs of adjacent edges hereby enclose an acute angle (111), wherein the other two pairs of adjacent edges enclose an obtuse angle (112).

(10) FIG. 2a shows a cross-section of a panel (100, 101) as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b taken along line A-A. The panel (100, 101) comprises a centrally located core (113), defining the upper side (102) and the lower side (103) of the panel (100, 102). Connected to the core (113) at opposite edges (104) of the panel (100, 101) are the first coupling part (107) and the second coupling part (108).

(11) The first coupling part (107) comprises an upward tongue (114), an upward flank (115) lying at a distance from the upward tongue (114), an upward groove (116) formed in between the upward tongue (114) and the upward flank (115). The upper side (117) of the upward tongue (114) is inclined such that it runs downward from a proximal side (118) of the upward tongue (114), facing the upward flank (115) towards a distant side (119) of the upward tongue (114) facing away from the upward flank (115). The upward tongue (114) is connected to a lower bridge (120) that is connected to the core (113) of the panel (100, 101). The upward tongue (114) hereby extends in an upward direction with respect to the lower bridge (120). A part of the proximal side (118) of the upward tongue (114) is upwardly inclined towards the upward flank (115). At the distant side (119) of the upward tongue (114) the upward tongue (114) is further provided with a first locking element (121), which takes the form of an outward bulge. Additionally, a fourth locking element (122), also in the form of an outward bulge, is provided on the upward flank (115). A lower side (123) of the first coupling part (107) is provided with a recessed portion (124) which provides room for the upward tongue (114) to bend downwards. In the depicted panel (100, 101), the recessed portion (124) is provided underneath both the upward tongue (114) and the lower bridge (120).

(12) The second coupling part (108) comprises a downward tongue (125), at least one downward flank (126) lying at a distance from the downward tongue (125) and a downward groove (127) formed in between the downward tongue (125) and the downward flank (126). A part of a proximal side (128) of the downward tongue (125), facing the downward flank (126), is downwardly inclined towards the downward flank (126). The downward flank (126) is further provided with a second locking element (129) adapted for co-action with a first locking element (121) of an adjacent panel (100, 101). A distal side (130) of the downward tongue (125), facing away from the downward flank (126), is additionally provided with a third locking element (131), taking the form of a recess. The third locking element (131) is adapted for co-action with a fourth locking element (122) of an adjacent panel (100, 101).

(13) FIG. 2b shows a cross-section of a panel (100, 101) as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b taken along line B-B. The centrally located core (113) of the panel (100, 101) is again visible, defining the upper side (102) and the lower side (103) of the panel (100, 101). Connected to the core (113) at opposite edges (105) of the panel (100, 101) are the third coupling part (109) and the fourth coupling part (110).

(14) The third coupling part (109) comprises a sideward tongue (132) extending in a direction substantially parallel to the upper side (102) of the panel (100, 101), at least one second downward flank (133) lying at a distance from the sideward tongue (132), and a second downward groove (134) formed between the sideward tongue (132) and the second downward flank (133). The fourth coupling part (110) comprises a second groove (135) configured for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue (132) of the third coupling part (109) of an adjacent panel (100, 101), said second groove (135) being defined by an upper lip (136) and a lower lip (137), wherein said lower lip (137) is provided with an upward locking element (138).

(15) FIG. 3a shows a cross-section of two panels (100, 101) as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, being coupled together at a first coupling part (107) and a second coupling part (108) respectively. Due to the shown configuration of the first coupling part (107) and the second coupling part (108), the two panels (100, 101) are coupled to each other by means of a fold-down movement and/or a vertical movement. This movement allows the downward tongue (125) of the second coupling part (108) to be inserted in the upward groove (116) of the first coupling part (107), which goes along with a downward bending of the upward tongue (114), as a result of which the upward groove (116) is widened. As can be seen in FIG. 3b, the upward tongue (114) will after that return in the direction of its initial position.

(16) FIG. 3b shows a cross-section of the two panels (100, 101) as shown in FIG. 3a in a coupled position, wherein the downward tongue (125) is clamped by the first coupling part (107) and/or the upward tongue (114) is clamped by the second coupling part (108). As the first coupling part (107) and the second coupling part (108) have overlapping contours, a pretension exists within said coupling parts (107, 108) that forces the two panels (100, 101) and their edges (104) towards each other. Specifically, the downward tongue (125) is oversized with respect to the upward groove (116) wherein the maximum width (139) of the downward tongue (125) exceeds the maximum width (140) of the upward groove (116). Additionally, the upward tongue (114) is oversized with respect to the downward groove (127) wherein the maximum width (141) of the upward tongue (114) exceeds the maximum width (142) of the downward groove (127). To ensure a level connection of the upper sides (102) of the respective panels (100, 101), the height (143) of the downward tongue (125) is however equal to (or smaller than) the height (144) of the upward groove (116) and the height (145) of the upward tongue (114) is equal to (or smaller than) the height (146) of the downward groove (127).