Panel, in particular a floor or wall

Abstract

A panel comprising 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 comprising: a centrally located core provided with an upper side and a lower side, which core defines a plane; wherein the core has a thickness, which thickness is the distance between the upper side and the lower side of the 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 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: 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 upward tongue facing away from the upward flank is provided with a first locking element, in the form of an outward bulge, adapted for co-action with a second locking element, of an adjacent panel; wherein at least a part of a side of the downward flank is provided with a second locking element, in the form of a recess, adapted for co-action with the first locking element of an adjacent panel; wherein the lower part of the first coupling part that is located between a side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank and the upward flank is a bottommost part of the first coupling part, wherein the bottommost part of the first coupling part comprises a recessed portion extending between the upward flank and the side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank; wherein the recessed portion is configured to allow downward movement of the upward tongue, into the recessed portion, during coupling of two adjacent panels, such that the upward groove is temporarily widened to facilitate coupling of two panels; wherein at least a part the side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank is located at a distance from at least a part of the upward flank; wherein at least a part of the side of the upward tongue is inclined towards the upward flank, wherein the angle enclosed between the plane of the panel and the inclined part of the side of the upward tongue facing the upward flank lies between 90 and 45 degrees; wherein the distance is less than the thickness of the core; and wherein the recessed portion extends over at least 75% of the distance.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion defines an area between the panel and a surface on which the panel is arranged.

3. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion extends from the part of the side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank inwards, such that at the bottom of the side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank at least a part of the recessed portion is located.

4. The panel according to claim 1, wherein, in cross sectional view of the panel, the recessed portion has a substantially rectangular cross section.

5. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the upward tongue is oversized compared to the downward groove.

6. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the inward transition from the recessed portion to the core of the panel is at least partially curved, or wherein the inward transition from the recessed portion to the core of the panel is square.

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

8. The panel according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the side of the upward tongue, facing the upward flank, is inclined away from the upward flank, wherein the angle enclosed between the plane of the panel and the inclined part of the side of the upward tongue facing the upward flank lies between 90 and 180 degrees.

9. The panel according to claim 1, wherein a part of a side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank is provided with a third locking element adapted for co-action with a fourth locking element of an adjacent panel; and wherein at least a part of the upward flank is provided with a fourth locking element adapted for co-action with the third locking element of an adjacent panel.

10. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling part comprises an first bridge part, arranged between the core and the upward tongue, and wherein the second coupling part comprises a second bridge part, arranged between the core and the downward tongue, wherein the first bridge part comprises a weakened zone of reduced thickness, to facilitate deformation of the first bridge part during coupling and/or wherein the second bridge part comprises a weakened zone of reduced thickness, to facilitate deformation of the second bridge part during coupling.

11. The panel according to claim 1, wherein during coupling the upward tongue bends downward into the recessed portion, and then returns at least partially towards its initial position.

12. The panel according to claim 11, wherein in coupled position the upward tongue remains bend downwards at least partially compared to its initial position, and wherein in coupled position the coupling parts exert a locking force onto the panels, forcing the panels towards each other under a tension force exerted by at least one of the coupling parts.

13. The panel according to claim 1, 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 first coupling part and the second coupling part, in particular overlapping contours of the downward tongue and the upward groove and/or 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, 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.

14. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion extends over at least 75% of the greatest distance definable between the upward flank and the side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank.

15. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion extends over at least 80% of the distance.

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, wherein:

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

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows first coupling part according to the invention in a second embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows first coupling part according to the invention in a third embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically shows first coupling part according to the invention in a fourth embodiment;

(6) FIG. 5 schematically shows a first coupling part of a first panel and a second coupling part of a second panel, during coupling;

(7) FIG. 6 schematically shows the first and second coupling part of FIG. 5 in coupled condition;

(8) FIG. 7 schematically shows an embodiment of two coupled panels with a different location of locking elements; and

(9) FIG. 8 schematically shows another embodiment according to the present invention, of two panels in coupled condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) The features as shown in the figures are interchangeable between the embodiments, unless otherwise indicated.

(11) FIG. 1 schematically shows a panel (1) with the first coupling part (3). FIG. 1 shows the panel (1), with a centrally located core (2) provided with an upper side (2a) and a lower side (2b), which core (2) defines a plane (P). FIG. 1 shows one of the opposite edges (5), with a first coupling part (3). This first coupling part (3) comprises an upward tongue (7), one upward flank (8) lying at a distance from the upward tongue and an upward groove (9) formed in between the upward tongue (7) and the upward flank (8). The upward groove (9) is adapted to receive at least a part of a downward tongue (10) of a second coupling part (4) of an adjacent panel (1), which elements are indicated in another figure. A side (13) of the upward tongue (7) facing away from the upward flank (8) is provided with a first locking element (14), in the form of an outward bulge adapted for co-action with a second locking element (15), in the form of a recess (15) of an adjacent panel (1). The lower part of the first coupling part (7) that is located between a side (13) of the upward tongue (7) facing away from the upward flank (8) and the upward flank (8) is the bottom part (16) of the first coupling part (7), and the bottom part (16) of the first coupling part (7) comprises a recessed portion (17) extending between the upward flank (8) and the side (13) of the upward tongue (7) facing away from the upward flank (8).

(12) The recessed portion (17) extends from the part of the side (13) of the upward tongue (7) facing away from the upward flank (8) inwards, such that at the bottom (18) of the side (13) of the upward tongue (7) facing away from the upward flank (8) at least a part of the recessed portion (17) is located. The recessed portion (17) in FIG. 1 extends over the full distance (D) from the part of the side (13) of the upward tongue (7) facing away from the upward flank (8) to the vertical level (V) of the upward flank (8). The inward transition (19) from the recessed portion (17) to the core (2) of the panel (1) is square, or at a 90 degree angle, with the bottom of the core.

(13) The upper side (20) of the upward tongue (7) is inclined, and runs downward from the side (21) of the upward tongue (7) facing toward the upward flank (8) towards the side (13) of the upward tongue (7) facing away from the upward flank (8).

(14) A part of the side (21) of the upward tongue (7) is inclined towards the upward flank 8), wherein the angle (a) enclosed between the plane (P) of the panel (1) and the inclined part of the side (21) of the upward tongue (7) facing the upward flank (8) lies between 90 and 45 degrees, and is about 87 to 88 degrees. The first coupling part (3) comprises an first bridge part (25), arranged between the core (2) and the upward tongue (7).

(15) FIG. 2 shows a variation on the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with the difference that the inward transition (19) between the core (2) and the recessed portion (17) is curved.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a variation on the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiments in that the recessed portion (17) is not provided between a subfloor or supporting surface and the panel (1). Instead, the recessed portion (17) is provided in the bottom part (16) of the first coupling part (3), but is arranged as a sideward groove (17), from the side (13) of the upward tongue (7) facing away from the upward flank (8) inwards, in this case horizontally. Additionally, the depth of the groove (17), or the recessed portion (17) is not the complete distance (D), but a little over half the distance (D).

(17) FIG. 4 shows a variation on the FIG. 1 embodiment, in which the recessed portion (17) does not extend over the complete distance (D), but it does extend over half the distance (D/2).

(18) FIG. 5 schematically shows a first coupling part (3) of a first panel and a second coupling part (4) of a second panel, during coupling, in the final phases of coupling. The second coupling part (4) comprises a downward tongue (10), at least one downward flank (11) lying at a distance from the downward tongue (10), and a downward groove (12) formed in between the downward tongue (10) and the downward flank (11). This downward groove (12) is adapted to receive at least a part of an upward tongue (7) of a first coupling part (3) of the other panel (1); as shown in FIG. 5. A part of a side of the downward flank (11) is provided with a second locking element (15) in the form of a recess (15) for co-action with the first locking element (14) of the other panel (1).

(19) FIG. 5 further shows that the recessed portion (17) is configured to allow downward movement of the upward tongue (7), into the recessed portion (17), during coupling of two adjacent panels (1), wherein the upward groove (9) is temporarily widened to facilitate coupling of two panels (1). During coupling the upward tongue (7) bends downward into the recessed portion (17), as indicated by the downward bended first coupling part (3). During this coupling motion, the first locking element (14) may need to be compressed or deformed slightly or partly, in order to allow for sufficient space for this bending motion.

(20) The second coupling part (4) comprises a second bridge part (26), arranged between the core (2) and the downward tongue (10), wherein the second bridge part (26) comprises a weakened zone (27) of reduced thickness, to facilitate deformation of the second bridge part (26) during coupling.

(21) FIG. 6 shows the FIG. 5 embodiment shortly after coupling. In the FIG. 6 embodiment, the upward tongue (7) is slightly bend downward compared to for instance the FIG. 6 embodiment (which shown an uncoupled state). The upward tongue (7) does want to return to its initial position, and thus exerts a tension force (F), of coupling force, onto the panels. This force (F) in turn forces the panels (1) towards each other, and keeps the panels (1) together.

(22) FIG. 7 schematically shows an embodiment in which instead of the first (14) and second (15) locking elements, the panel comprises third (23) and fourth (24) locking elements. A part of a side (22) of the downward tongue (10) facing away from the downward flank (11) is provided with the third locking element (23), in the form of an outward bulge (23), adapted for co-action with a fourth locking element (24), in the form of a recess (24), of an adjacent panel (1). A part of the upward flank (8) is provided with a fourth locking element (24), in the form of a recess (24) for co-action with the third locking element (23) of the other panel (1).

(23) FIG. 8 schematically shows an embodiment according to the present invention, of two panels (1) in coupled condition. Features corresponding or fulfilling the same effect as features of the previous figures have been provided with the same reference numbers. Compared to earlier embodiments, the recessed portion (17) is shaped like a triangle, and the underside of the upward tongue (7) is at an angle. This triangular shape creates a space in the recessed portion (17) which increases towards the outside of the upward tongue (7). It is at this side that the tongue (7) is most likely to bend downwardly the most. By increasing the space underneath the tongue (7) at the end, deformation at the end is facilitated most, and coupling of panels (1) is thus facilitated. The inclined recessed portion (17) extends over at least 90% of the thickness (D) between at least a part the side of the upward tongue (7) facing away from the upward flank (8), and the upward flank (8). The angle enclosed by the plane defined by the panel(s) 1 and the inclination of the recessed portion (17) is, in general, preferably situated between 15 and 35 degrees. In this example, the angle enclosed by the plane defined by the panel(s) 1 and the inclination of the recessed portion (17) is 25 degrees. It is advantageous in case the maximum height of the recessed portion (17) is preferably at least 30% of the panel thickness. In this case the maximum height of the recessed portion (17) is (about) ⅓ of the panel thickness. This embodiment is in particular advantageous in case the core is at least partially composed of a mineral material, like magnesium oxide and/or derivates therefrom. A common panel thickness, which is more or less equal to the core thickness, for these kinds of materials is 8 mm (or slightly larger like 10 mm or 12 mm).

(24) 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.

(25) 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.

(26) 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.