Abstract
The invention relates to a floor panel, in particular a laminated floor panel. The invention also relates to a floor covering consisting of a plurality of mutually coupled floor panels according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method for mutually coupling two floor panels, in particular laminated floor panels, according to the invention.
Claims
1. A floor panel, comprising: a centrally located core provided with an upper side and a lower side, at least one first resilient coupling part and at least one second resilient coupling part connected respectively to opposite first edges of the core, wherein the at least one first resilient coupling part comprises a single upward tongue, at least one upward flank lying at a distance from the upward tongue and a single upward groove formed between the upward tongue and the at least one upward flank, wherein: at least a part of a side of the upward tongue facing toward the at least one upward flank forms an upward aligning edge for the purpose of coupling the at least one first resilient coupling part to a second resilient coupling part of an adjacent floor panel, wherein the second resilient coupling part comprises a single downward tongue, at least one downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue, and a single downward groove formed between the downward tongue and the at least one downward flank, wherein: at least a part of a side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank forms a downward aligning edge for the purpose of coupling the second resilient coupling part to a first resilient coupling part of an adjacent floor panel, wherein the upward groove is adapted to receive, with a clamping fit, at least a part of a downward tongue of the adjacent panel, and wherein the downward groove is adapted to receive at least a part of an upward tongue of the adjacent panel, wherein a side of the downward tongue facing away from the at least one downward flank is provided with a protruding locking element, and wherein the at least one upward flank is provided with a recessed counter-locking element, said locking element being adapted to cooperate with said counter-locking element of another floor panel, wherein: an upper side of said locking element is positioned at a higher level than the upward aligning edge, wherein a part of the downward tongue facing away from the at least one downward flank and connecting to said locking element is oriented substantially vertically, wherein said vertical part of the downward tongue defines a vertical plane, wherein said locking element and a remaining portion of said downward tongue are situated at opposite sides of said plane, and further coupling parts connected to remaining opposite second edges of the core, respectively, and wherein the panel is configured to simultaneously connect one of said first edges and one of said second edges of said panel to another panel by pivoting said panel in a downward direction allowing said at least one second resilient coupling part of said first edge of said panel to connect to the first resilient coupling parts of already laid adjacent panels, respectively, and allowing said further coupling part at said second edge of said panel to connect to the further coupling part of yet another panel.
2. The floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the further coupling parts connected to said opposite second edges of said core are formed by a first resilient coupling part and a second resilient coupling part, respectively, wherein said first resilient coupling part and said second resilient coupling part connected to said second edges are identical to said at least one first resilient coupling part and said at least one second resilient coupling part connected to said first edges.
3. The floor panel according to claim 1, wherein each of said locking element and said counter-locking element has a curved outer surface.
4. The floor panel according to claim 1, wherein a portion of an upper surface of said upward groove is defined by a flat surface.
5. The floor panel according to claim 1, wherein a portion of a lower surface of said downward tongue is defined by a flat surface.
6. The floor panel according to claim 1, wherein a centerline of said locking element is positioned at a higher level than the upward aligning edge.
7. The floor panel according to claim 1, wherein a lower surface of said locking element is positioned at a higher level than the upward aligning edge.
8. The floor panel according to claim 1, wherein a lowest section of said locking element is positioned at a lower level than a highest section of the upward aligning edge.
9. A floor panel, comprising: a centrally located core provided with an upper side and a lower side, at least one first resilient coupling part and at least one second resilient coupling part connected respectively to opposite first edges of the core as well as to opposite second edges of the core, wherein the at least one first resilient coupling part comprises a single upward tongue, at least one upward flank lying at a distance from the upward tongue and a single upward groove formed between the upward tongue and the at least one upward flank, wherein: at least a part of a side of the upward tongue facing toward the at least one upward flank forms an upward aligning edge for the purpose of coupling the at least one first resilient coupling part to a second resilient coupling part of an adjacent floor panel, wherein the second resilient coupling part comprises a single downward tongue, at least one downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue, and a single downward groove formed between the downward tongue and the at least one downward flank, wherein: at least a part of a side of the downward tongue facing away from the at least one downward flank forms a downward aligning edge for the purpose of coupling the second resilient coupling part to a first resilient coupling part of an adjacent floor panel, wherein the upward groove is adapted to receive with a clamping fit at least a part of a downward tongue of an adjacent panel, and wherein the downward groove is adapted to receive at least a part of an upward tongue of the adjacent panel, wherein a side of the downward tongue facing away from the at least one downward flank is provided with a protruding locking element, and wherein the at least one upward flank is provided with a recessed counter-locking element, said locking element being adapted to cooperate with said counter-locking element of another floor panel, wherein: a centerline of said locking element is positioned at a higher level than the upward aligning edge, wherein a part of the downward tongue facing away from the at least one downward flank and connecting to said locking element is oriented substantially vertically, and wherein the panel is configured to simultaneously connect one of said first edges and one of said second edges of said panel to another panel by pivoting said panel in a downward direction allowing said at least one second resilient coupling part of said first edge of said panel to connect to at least one first resilient coupling part of at least one already laid adjacent panel and allowing said at least one second resilient coupling part of said second edge of said panel to connect to at least one first resilient coupling part of at least one other already laid adjacent panel.
10. The floor panel according to claim 9, wherein said vertical part of the downward tongue defines a vertical plane, wherein said locking element and a remaining portion of said downward tongue are situated at opposite sides of said plane.
11. The floor panel according to claim 9, wherein the further coupling parts connected to said opposite second edges of said core are formed by the at least one first resilient coupling part and the at least one second resilient coupling part, respectively, wherein said at least one first resilient coupling part and said at least one second resilient coupling part connected to said second edges are identical to said at least one first resilient coupling part and said at least one second resilient coupling part connected to said first edges.
12. The floor panel according to claim 9, wherein each of said locking element and said counter-locking element has a curved outer surface.
13. The floor panel according to claim 9, wherein a portion of an upper surface of said upward groove is defined by a flat surface.
14. The floor panel according to claim 9, wherein a portion of a lower surface of said downward tongue is defined by a flat surface.
15. The floor panel according to claim 9, wherein a lower surface of said locking element is positioned at a higher level than the upward aligning edge.
16. The floor panel according to claim 9, wherein a lowest section of said locking element is positioned at a lower level than a highest section of the upward aligning edge.
17. A method for mutually connecting a plurality of floor panels as claimed in claim 1, comprising the step of: A) connecting a second coupling part connected to a first edge of at least one of such a floor panel with a first coupling part connected to a first edge of at least one other of such a floor panel to create a first row of at least three interconnected floor panels, B) connecting a second coupling part connected to a second edge of another of such a floor panel with first coupling parts connected to second edges of interlocked floor panels installed during step A) to create a second floor panel, and C) simultaneously connecting yet another of such a floor panel at its first edge and its second edge to panels installed during step A) and B) by pivoting said panel in a downward direction allowing said at least one second resilient coupling part of said first edge of said panel to connect to first resilient coupling parts of already laid panels of the first row as installed during step A), and allowing said at least one second resilient coupling part of said second edge of said panel to connect said first resilient coupling part of said panel installed during step B).
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein during step C) a corner section of said yet another of such a floor panel is positioned in a corner formed by already coupled floor panels of the first row and second row.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures herein:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a side view of a floor panel according to the invention,
[0029] FIG. 2 is a side view of an assembly of coupled floor panels according to FIG. 1,
[0030] FIG. 3 is a side view of another floor panel according to the invention,
[0031] FIG. 4 is a side view of a part of an assembly of coupled floor panels according to FIG. 3,
[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the floor panel according to FIG. 3,
[0033] FIG. 6 is a transverse side view of yet another floor panel according to the invention,
[0034] FIGS. 7A-7F show successive method steps for realizing a coupling between two floor panels according to FIG. 6,
[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the floor panel according to FIGS. 6 and 7,
[0036] FIG. 9 is another transverse side view of the floor panel according to FIGS. 6-8,
[0037] FIGS. 10A-10G show a first method for laying a floor constructed from floor panels according to FIGS. 6-9,
[0038] FIGS. 11A-11G show a second method for laying a floor constructed from floor panels according to FIGS. 6-9,
[0039] FIG. 12 is a top view of another embodiment of a floor panel according to the invention,
[0040] FIG. 13 shows a detail view of a part of the floor panel according to FIGS. 6-11G,
[0041] FIG. 14 shows a side view of a part of an assembly of another embodiment of connected floor panels according to the invention,
[0042] FIG. 15 shows a side view of a part of an assembly of yet another embodiment of connected floor panels according to the invention,
[0043] FIG. 16 shows a side view of a part of an assembly of still another embodiment of connected floor panels according to the invention,
[0044] FIG. 17 shows a side view of a part of an assembly of a further embodiment of connected floor panels according to the invention,
[0045] FIG. 18 shows a side view of a part of an assembly of another embodiment of connected floor panels according to the invention,
[0046] FIG. 19 shows a side view of a part of an assembly of another embodiment of connected floor panels according to the invention, and
[0047] FIG. 20 shows a detailed mathematical view of an intermediate state (pre-alignment state) of the orientation of two floor panels as shown in FIG. 7c.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0048] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a floor panel 1 according to the invention. Floor panel 1 comprises a plate-like core 2 which is manufactured from fibreboard, in particular MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) or HDF (High Density Fibreboard) or chipboard and on which a top layer 3 is arranged. The opposite longitudinal sides of core 2 are provided with a first coupling part 4 and a second coupling part 5. The part of floor panel 1 lying between first coupling part 4 and second coupling part 5, as indicated by means of the broken lines, forms the central part 6 of floor panel 1. First coupling part 4 comprises an upward tongue 7, an upward flank 8 and an upward groove 9 formed between upward tongue 7 and upward flank 8. Second coupling part 5 comprises a downward tongue 10, a downward flank 11 and a downward groove 12 formed between downward tongue 10 and downward flank 11. As shown, upward tongue 7, upward flank 8 and upward groove 9 extend in the direction (indicated by means of arrow A) of the normal of central part 6 (indicated by means of arrow N1) of the central floor panel 1. The same applies for the direction in which the downward tongue 10, downward flank 11 and downward groove 12 extend (see arrows B and N2). In this exemplary embodiment the angle □ enclosed by arrows A and N1 is equal to the angle □ enclosed by arrows B and N2, these angles equalling 30°. The first coupling part 4 is provided with a ridge 13 which in the coupled situation co-acts with a recess 14 arranged in a second coupling part 5 of an adjacent floor panel 1 (see FIG. 2) for the purpose of realizing a locking between the two floor panels 1. In addition, both coupling parts 4, 5 are provided with a protective lip 15, 16 adapted to be received in a complementary receiving space 17, 18 of coupling parts 4, 5. Downward tongue 10 is provided with an angled outer end 10a, of which one side is positioned substantially horizontally and one side substantially vertically. Formed in this way are a substantially horizontal stop surface and a substantially vertical stop surface adapted for co-action with the complementarily formed upward groove 9, whereby stabilizing (locking) of the coupling between the two floor panels 2 occurs (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2, coupling parts 4, 5 engage form-fittingly into each other. Coupling can take place by simply displacing first coupling part 4 of a floor panel 1 in linear direction (indicated by means of arrow C) in the direction of second coupling part 2 of an adjacent floor panel 1, whereby the coupling parts engage fixedly in each other. Horizontal forces exerted on the assembly, resulting for instance from shrinkage or expansion of floor parts 1, or vertical forces exerted on the assembly, resulting for instance from expansion of floor parts 1, will not adversely affect the realized coupling, whereby no uncoupling of floor parts 1 or forming of gaps between floor parts 1 will take place.
[0049] FIG. 3 shows a side view of another floor panel 19 according to the invention. Floor panel 19 comprises a plate-like core 20 which is manufactured from fibreboard, in particular MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) or HDF (High Density Fibreboard) or chipboard and on which a top layer 21 is arranged. The opposite longitudinal sides of core 20 are provided with a first coupling part 22 and a second coupling part 23 which is complementary relative to first coupling part 22. The part of floor panel 19 located between first coupling part 22 and second coupling part 23, as indicated by means of the broken lines, is designated the central part 24 of floor panel 19. First coupling part 22 comprises an upward tongue 25, an upward flank 26 and an upward groove 27 formed between upward tongue 25 and upward flank 26. Second coupling part 23 comprises a downward tongue 28, a downward flank 29 and a downward groove 30 formed between downward tongue 28 and downward flank 29. As shown, upward tongue 25, upward flank 26 and upward groove 27 extend in the direction (indicated by means of arrows A1, A2 and A3) of the normal of central part 24 (indicated by means of arrow N) of floor panel 19. The same applies for the direction in which downward tongue 28 and downward groove 30 extend (see arrows B1 and B3). Downward flank 29 extends in this exemplary embodiment in a direction substantially the same as the normal of central part 24 of floor panel 19. As shown, first coupling part 22 is provided with a outward bulge 31 and second coupling part 23 is provided with a complementary recess 32 for the purpose of being able to realize a locking during coupling of floor panel 19 to an adjacent floor panel 19 (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 4, upward groove 27 of first coupling part 22 of a floor panel 19 and a downward tongue 28 of a second coupling part 23 of an adjacent floor panel 19 mutually enclose an air space 33. FIG. 5 further shows that side edges 34 (end surfaces) of floor panel 19 are provided with an upward profile 35 and a complementary downward profile 36 for realizing a lateral coupling between two floor panels 19 positioned against each other on end surfaces 34.
[0050] FIG. 6 shows a side view of yet another rectangular floor panel 37 according to the invention. Floor panel 37 comprises a core 38 provided with an upper side 38a and a lower side 38b, and coupling parts 39, 40 positioned on opposite longitudinal sides of core 38 and connected integrally to core 38. A first coupling part 39 comprises an upward tongue 41, an upward flank 42 and an upward groove 43 formed between upward tongue 41 and upward flank 42. A side 41a of upward tongue 41 facing toward upward flank 42 extends in the direction of the normal N1 of the upper side 38a of core 38. The tangent R1 and the normal N1 of upper side 38a of core 38 are thus directed toward each other (converging orientation), wherein the angle enclosed by R1 and N1 amounts to 5 degrees. Another side 41b of upward tongue 41 facing toward upward flank 42 forms an aligning edge enabling facilitated realization of a coupling to an adjacent floor panel. As shown, this side 41b functioning as aligning edge is directed away from the normal N1 of upper side 38a of the core. An upper side 41d of upward tongue 41 does however extend in the direction of the normal N1 of upper side 38a of core 38, and runs inclining downward in the direction of the side 41e of upward tongue 41 facing away from upward flank 42. This chamfering provides the option of giving the complementary second coupling part 40 a more robust and therefore stronger form. The side 41e of upward tongue 41 facing away from upward flank 42 is oriented substantially vertically and is moreover provided with an outward bulge 44. A lower part 42a of upward flank 42 is oriented diagonally, while an upper part 42b of upward flank 42 is shown to be substantially vertical and forms a stop surface for second coupling part 40. A lower wall part 43a of upward groove 43 is oriented substantially horizontally in this exemplary embodiment. A bridge 45 lying between lower wall part 43a of upward groove 43 and a lower side 39a has a somewhat elastic nature and is adapted to allow upward tongue 41 to pivot relative to upward flank 42, this resulting in a (temporary) widening of upward groove 43, whereby coupling of floor panel 37 to an adjacent floor panel can be facilitated (see FIGS. 7A-7F). Second coupling part 40 is substantially complementary to first coupling part 39. Second coupling part 40 comprises a downward tongue 46, a downward flank 47 and a downward groove 48 formed between downward tongue 46 and downward flank 47. A side 46a of downward tongue 46 facing toward downward flank 47 lies in the direction of the normal N2 of the lower side 38b of core 38. This means that a tangent R2 of side 46a of downward tongue 46 and the normal of the lower side 38b of core 38 are mutually converging. In this exemplary embodiment the tangent R2 and the normal N2 enclose a mutual angle of 5 degrees. A side 46b facing away from downward flank 47 is diagonally oriented, but has a flatter orientation than the complementary side 42a of upward flank 42, whereby a gap (air space) will be formed in the coupled position (see also FIG. 7F), which will generally facilitate coupling between two floor panels 37. The inclining side 46b of downward tongue 46 also functions as aligning edge for the purpose of further facilitating coupling between two floor panels 37. Another side 46c facing away from downward flank 47 takes a substantially vertical form and forms a complementary stop surface for stop surface 42b of upward flank 42 (of an adjacent floor panel). Downward tongue 46 is further provided with a side 46d which is facing toward downward flank 47 and which functions as aligning edge for first coupling part 39 of an adjacent floor panel. Because upper side 41d of upward tongue 41 has an inclining orientation, an upper side 48a of downward groove 48 likewise has an inclining orientation, whereby the (average) distance between upper side 48a of downward groove 48 and an upper side 40a of second coupling part 40 is sufficiently large to impart sufficient strength to second coupling part 40 as such. Downward flank 47 is oriented substantially vertically and is provided with a recess 49 adapted to receive the outward bulge 44 of upward tongue 41 (of an adjacent floor panel).
[0051] A bridge 50 lying between upper side 48a of downward groove 48 and upper side 40a has a somewhat elastic nature and is adapted to allow downward tongue 46 to pivot relative to downward flank 47, this resulting in a (temporary) widening of downward groove 48, whereby coupling of floor panel 37 to an adjacent floor panel can be facilitated (see FIGS. 7A-7F). The shown floor panel 37 can form a parquet floor panel, a plank, a laminated floor panel or a plastic floor panel.
[0052] FIGS. 7A-7F show successive method steps for realizing a coupling between two floor panels 37a, 37b as according to FIG. 6. In a first (optional) step as shown in FIG. 7A, second coupling part 40 of a first floor panel 37a is displaced in the direction of first coupling part 39 of a second floor panel 37b by sliding first floor panel 37a over second floor panel 37b (see arrow). As shown in FIG. 7B, second coupling part 40 of first floor panel 37a will then be brought into line with first coupling part 39 of second floor panel 37b by having the lower side 38b of core 38 of the first floor panel 37a slide along upper side 41d of upward tongue 41 of second floor panel 37b (see arrow) until aligning edge 46a of downward tongue 46 of first floor panel 37a supports on aligning edge 41b of upward tongue 41 of second floor panel 37b (FIG. 7C). The other aligning edge 46b of downward tongue 46 of first floor panel 37 will generally also make contact here with upper side 38a of core 38. By now exerting a downward force on at least bridge 50 of second coupling part 40 of first floor panel 37a, downward tongue 46 will pivot in upward direction relative to downward flank 47, wherein upward tongue 41 of second floor panel 37b will generally also pivot relative to upward flank 42 of second floor panel 37b (FIG. 7D). During this temporary deformation of coupling parts 39, 40 both the downward groove 48 of first floor panel 37a and the upward groove 43 of second floor panel 37b will be widened such that downward tongue 46 of first floor panel 37a can be arranged at least partially in upward groove 43 of second floor panel 37b, and upward tongue 41 of second floor panel 37b can be arranged at least partially in downward groove 48 of first floor panel 37a (FIG. 7E). After the force on floor panels 37a, 37b has been released, the deformation will be substantially ended, and floor panels 37a, 37b will be mutually coupled. An additional locking is realized here in that locking elements 44, 49 of both floor panels 37a, 37b are mutually co-acting in the coupled position. Uncoupling of floor panels 37a, 37b can otherwise take place by moving the free outer end, facing away from second floor panel 37b, of first floor panel 37a in upward direction, after which floor panels 37a, 37b will click loose of each other. Movement of first floor panel 37a in upward direction can optionally be facilitated by making use of a tool, such as for instance a wedge. Another method of disassembling floor panels 37a, 37b is to slide floor panels 37a, 37b along each other, whereby coupling parts 39, 40 can be removed from each other, which will result in uncoupling of floor panels 37a, 37b.
[0053] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of floor panel 37 according to FIGS. 6 and 7, which also shows that a first coupling part 51 and a second coupling part 52 are positioned on the opposite short sides of the rectangular floor panel 37. A transverse side view of the short sides of floor panel 37 is shown in FIG. 9. As shown, first coupling part 51 largely corresponds structurally to the construction of first coupling part 39 shown in FIG. 6, and second coupling part 52 largely corresponds structurally to the construction of second coupling part 40 shown in FIG. 6. However, first coupling part 51 shown in FIG. 8 comprises a less deep upward groove 53 compared to upward groove 43 of the long side of floor panel 37 as shown in FIG. 6. Furthermore, a first locking element 54 connects to an upper side 55 of an upward tongue 56 of first coupling part 51. A flat lower side 57 defining upward groove 43 further has smaller dimensions than this lower side as shown in FIG. 6, and upward tongue 56 has smaller dimensions than upward tongue 41 as shown in FIG. 6. The second coupling part 52 shown in FIG. 8 is correspondingly modified relative to second coupling part 40 as shown in FIG. 6. The dimensioning of the first coupling part 51 and second coupling part 52 arranged on the short sides relative to the first coupling part 39 and second coupling part 40 positioned on the long sides is particularly intended to facilitate mutual coupling of floor panels 37, as further shown in FIGS. 10A-10G (first method) and FIGS. 11A-11G (second method).
[0054] FIGS. 10A-10G show a first method of laying a floor 58 constructed from floor panels 37 as according to FIGS. 6-9. When a floor panel 37a has to be coupled to already laid floor panels 37 (FIG. 10A), the relevant floor panel 37 can then be pushed in transverse direction (see arrow A) over the already laid floor panels 37 (FIGS. 10B and 10C), wherein first coupling part 39 of one or more already laid floor panels 37 is coupled to second coupling part 40 of the floor panel 37 for laying. After coupling of the longitudinal sides of floor panels 37 the floor panel 37 for laying is pushed in longitudinal direction (see arrow B) (FIGS. 10D and 10E), whereby the short sides of the floor panels can be connected to each other by causing second coupling part 52 of the floor panel 37 for laying to co-act with first coupling part 51 of the adjacent floor panel 37.
[0055] FIGS. 11A-11G show a second method of laying a floor 58 constructed from floor panels 37 as according to FIGS. 6-9. When a floor panel 37a has to be coupled to already laid floor panels 37 (FIG. 11A), a corner point 37a of the relevant floor panel 37 for laying can then be positioned in a corner formed by already coupled floor panels (FIGS. 11B and 11C and successively FIGS. 11D and 11E), after which the floor panel 37 for laying is pivoted in downward direction, whereby second coupling part 40 of the floor panel 37 for laying will co-act with—in this case—a plurality of first coupling parts 39 of already laid floor panels 37, and whereby second coupling part 52 of the floor panel 37 for laying will co-act with first coupling part 51 of an adjacent floor panel 37. According to this second method, the long side and the short side are connected (more or less) simultaneously to each other.
[0056] FIG. 12 shows a top view of an alternative floor panel 59 according to the invention. Floor panel 59 comprises six equal sides 60, wherein sides 60 are alternately provided with a first coupling part 61 and a second coupling part 62. First coupling part 61 is structurally identical to first coupling part 39 as shown in FIG. 6, and second coupling part 62 is structurally identical to second coupling part 40 as shown in FIG. 6. A floor can be manufactured with a honeycomb pattern by coupling the hexagonal floor panels 59 through co-action of first coupling parts 61 and second coupling parts 62 of different floor panels 59.
[0057] FIG. 13 shows a detail view of a part of floor panel 37 according to FIGS. 6-11G, wherein particularly the first coupling part 39 is shown. In addition to all particular surfaces already specified in the foregoing, FIG. 13 also shows that upper part 42b of upward flank 42 is shown substantially vertically and is provided with an offset, overhanging connecting surface 63. The advantage of applying an overhanging connecting surface 63 is that a second coupling part 40 of an adjacent panel 37 (indicated by means of broken lines) will be able to fit closely onto the overhanging connecting surface 63, wherein an air gap 64 is also formed between the two coupling parts 39, 40 just below the overhanging connecting surface 63. This clearance intentionally created between the two coupling parts 39, 40 is usually advantageous for the purpose of accurate connection of coupling parts 39, 40 to each other, since irregularities in the form of floor panel 37 or expansion of floor panel 37 can be compensated by air gap 64. Already stated above is that a side 46b facing away from the downward flank has a flatter orientation than the complementary side 42a of upward flank 42, whereby a further air gap 65 will also be formed in the coupled position, which will generally further facilitate coupling between two floor panels 37.
[0058] FIG. 14 shows a side view of a part of an assembly 51 of another embodiment of floor panels 52a, 52b according to the invention. From a constructive point of view the floor panel 52, 52b as shown is for a substantial part similar to the floor panel 37 as shown in FIG. 6, wherein the floor panels are mutually connected by means of three locking mechanism. A first locking mechanism is also present in the floor panel 37 as shown in FIG. 6, and is based upon the cooperation between an outward bulge 53 positioned at an outward surface 54 of an upward tongue 55 of the right floor panel 52b, and a recess 56 positioned at a downward flank 57 of the left floor panel 52a. A second locking mechanism, which is also present in the floor panel 37 as shown in FIG. 6, is formed by the engagement of an inclined surface 58 of the downward tongue 59 of the left floor panel 52a, to an inclined surface 60 of the upward tongue 55 which results in locking the downward tongue 59 of the left floor panel 52a into an upward groove 61 of the right floor panel 52b. A third locking mechanism is formed by the application of an additional outward bulge 62 positioned at an outer surface 63 of the downward tongue 59, and which is more in particular positioned between an aligning edge 64 and a vertical top end 65 of the outer surface 63 of the downward tongue 59, of the left floor panel 52a. Said additional bulge 55 co-acts with and snap-fits into a complementary recess 66 applied to an upward flank 67 of the right floor panel 52b. Between the downward tongue 59 and the upward flank 67 an expansion chamber 68 is present in order to be able to compensate play in case of expansion of the floor panels 52, 52b, for example due to moist absorption.
[0059] FIG. 15 shows a side view of a part of an assembly 69 of another embodiment of floor panels 70a, 70b according to the invention having three locking mechanisms. A first locking mechanism is based upon the cooperation between an outward bulge 71 positioned at an outward surface 72 of an upward tongue 73 of the right floor panel 70b, and a recess 74 positioned at a downward flank 75 of the left floor panel 70a. A second locking mechanism is formed by the engagement of an inclined surface 76 of the downward tongue 77 of the left floor panel 70a, to an inclined surface 78 of the upward tongue 73 which results in locking the downward tongue 78 of the left floor panel 70a into an upward groove 79 of the right floor panel 70b. A third locking mechanism is formed by the application of an additional outward bulge 80 positioned at an outer surface 81 of the downward tongue 77, and which is more in particular positioned between an aligning edge 82 and a vertical top end 83 of the outer surface 81 of the downward tongue 77, of the left floor panel 70a, wherein there is a smooth transition between the bulge 80 and the vertical top end 83. Said additional bulge 80 co-acts with and snap-fits into a complementary recess 84 applied to an upward flank 85 of the right floor panel 70b. Between the downward tongue 77 and the upward flank 85 an expansion chamber 86 is present in order to be able to compensate play in case of expansion of the floor panels 70, 70b, for example due to moist absorption.
[0060] FIG. 16 shows a side view of a part of an assembly 87 of another embodiment of floor panels 88a, 88b according to the invention having three locking mechanisms. The first and second locking mechanisms are identical to the first and second locking mechanism as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 14, and FIG. 15. The third locking mechanism is based upon the application of an outward bulge 89 positioned at an outward surface 90 of a downward tongue 91 of the left floor panel 88a which co-acts with a complementary recess 92 of an upward flank 93 of a right floor panel 88b. The bulge 89 is adapted to deform slightly with respect to a core part of the downward tongue 91 due to the presence of a substantially vertical slot 94, adjacent to the bulge 89, applied into an aligning edge 95 of the downward tongue 91. This flexibility facilitates snapping of the bulge 89 into the recess 92, and hence realization of the connection between the floor panels 88a, 88b.
[0061] FIG. 17 shows a side view of a part of an assembly 96 of another embodiment of floor panels 97a, 97b according to the invention having three locking mechanisms. The first and second locking mechanisms are identical to the first and second locking mechanism as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16. Again, the third locking mechanism is based upon the application of an outward bulge 98 positioned at an outward surface 99 of a downward tongue 100 of the left floor panel a which co-acts with a complementary recess 101 of an upward flank 102 of a right floor panel 97b. The bulge 98 is adapted to deform slightly with respect to a core part of the downward tongue 100 due to the presence of a substantially vertical slot 103 applied into a horizontal bottom surface 104 of the downward tongue 100. This flexibility facilitates snapping of the bulge 98 into the recess 101, and hence realisation of the connection between the floor panels 97a, 97b.
[0062] FIG. 18 shows a side view of a part of an assembly 105 of another embodiment of floor panels 106a, 106b according to the invention having three locking mechanisms. The first and second locking mechanisms are identical to the first and second locking mechanism as shown in the previous figures. The third locking mechanism is based upon the application of a slot 107 positioned at an outward surface 108 of a downward tongue 109 of the left floor panel 106a which co-acts with a horizontally displaceable spring pin 110 contained by an opposite recess 111 of an upward flank 112 of the right floor panel 106b. An outer end of the spring pin 110 is conically shaped as to facilitate connection of both floor panels 106a, 106b.
[0063] FIG. 19 shows a side view of a part of an assembly 113 of another embodiment of floor panels 114a, 114b according to the invention having three locking mechanisms. The first and second locking mechanisms are identical to the first and second locking mechanism as shown in the previous figures. The third locking mechanism is based upon the application of a horizontal slot 115 positioned at an outward surface 116 of a downward tongue 117 of the left floor panel 114a, wherein said slot 115 is bounded by a protruding locking edge 118 which co-acts with a complementary counter edge 119 making part of an upward flank 120 of the right floor panel 114b.
[0064] FIG. 20 shows a detail of the floor panels 37a, 37b as according to FIG. 7c which is considered as an intermediate state in which pre-alignment of the floor panels 37a-37b takes place. The references in this FIG. 18 are defined as follows:
[0065] a: contact point between floor panel 37a and floor panel 37b, wherein the floor panels 37a and 37b are undeformed;
[0066] b: contact point between floor panel 37a and floor panel 37b, wherein the upward tongue 41 is deformed to allow downward tongue 46 to enter into upward groove 43;
[0067] c: a point on the inclining side g of floor panel 37a, which coincides with the plane of the upper surface of the floor panel 37b;
[0068] d: the upper corner d of the floor panel 37b;
[0069] e: the highest point in the roof of the downward groove 48
[0070] f: the inclined flank of the downward tongue 46 in a direction to the downward groove 48;
[0071] g: the inclined side of the downward tongue 46 facing away from the downward groove 48;
[0072] w1: the actual width w1 of the downward tongue 46 is defined by the distance between a line 11 through the point a of floor panel 37b in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of floor panel 37b and a line 12 through the point c of floor panel 37a in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of floor panel 37b in a direction parallel to the angled outer end 120 of the downward tongue 46;
[0073] w2: the effective width w2 of the downward tongue 46 is defined by the shortest distance between the line 11 and the line 12 in a direction parallel to the top surface of floor panel 37b;
[0074] w3: the width w3 of the upward groove 43 is defined by the shortest distance between the line 11 and a line 13 through the corner d of floor panel 37b in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of floor panel 37b;
[0075] w4: the width w4 of the downward tongue 46 is defined by the shortest distance between a line 14 through the point b of floor panel 37b in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of floor panel 37b and the line 13
[0076] h1: the actual height of the downward tongue 46, as defined by the shortest between the angled outer end 120 of the downward tongue 46 and a line through point c parallel to the angled outer end 120 of the downward tongue 46;
[0077] h2: the effective height of the downward groove 48, as defined by the shortest distance between a line 15 through point a of floor panel 37b in a direction parallel to the top surface of the floor panel 37b and a line 16 through point e in the roof of the downward groove 48 in a direction parallel to line 15;
[0078] δ: the angle between the line through point c of floor panel 37a in a direction parallel to the angled outer end 121 of the downward tongue 46 and a line through point c of floor panel 37a in a direction parallel to the top surface of the floor panel 37b; and
[0079] φ: the angle between the line 11 and a flank f of floor panel 37a.
[0080] The floor panels 37a,37b as shown in this mutual orientation are undeformed. Between the upper corner d of the floor panel 37b and the point c of the floor panel 37a is a small space so as not to damage or the corner d by a force generated onto floor panel 37a. Floor panels 37a and 37b can be coupled as explained in FIG. 7. During coupling the second coupling part 40 will deform. The contact point between the floor panels 37a and 37b will then move from point a to point b, wherein the downward tongue 46 will be able to be inserted into upward groove 43 of the floor panel 37b.
[0081] To allow effective coupling of the floor panels 37a and 37b the mutual relation between the floor panels 37a,37b are dimensions as follows: [0082] w2<w3 [0083] w2≤w4 [0084] w3>w4 [0085] w2≈w1*cos δ [0086] h1≈h2*cos φ [0087] δ<φ [0088] w1<w3*cos δ
[0089] It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described here, but that within the scope of the appended claims numerous variants are possible which will be self-evident to the skilled person in this field.
