Decorative panel, and covering of such decorative panels

Abstract

A decorative panel including at least at a first pair of opposite edges, a first coupling part and a second coupling part allowing that several of such panels can be coupled to each other, whereby the first and second coupling parts, in coupled condition of two of such panels, provide a locking in a first direction perpendicular to a plane of the panels, as well as in a second direction perpendicular to respective edges and parallel to the plane of the panels.

Claims

1. A decorative panel, comprising, at least at a first pair of opposite edges, a first coupling part and a second coupling part allowing that several of such panels can be coupled to each other, whereby the first and second coupling parts, in coupled condition of two of such panels, provide a locking in a first direction (R1) perpendicular to a plane of the panels, as well as in a second direction (R2) perpendicular to respective edges and parallel to the plane of the panels, wherein said first coupling part comprises a sideward tongue, wherein said sideward tongue comprises a front region and a back region, wherein a bottom surface and/or a side surface of said front region being rounded at least partly, wherein a top surface of the front region is at least partially inclined downwardly in a direction away from the back region, and wherein a bottom surface and/or side surface of the back region of said sideward tongue defines a first contact portion, and wherein the sideward tongue comprises a passive bottom surface situated adjacent to the first contact portion, wherein said passive bottom surface is defined by a cut-out portion at a lower side of the sideward tongue, wherein said second coupling part comprises a recess for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue of a further panel, said recess being defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, wherein the lower lip extends beyond the upper lip, and wherein the lower lip being provided with a upwardly protruding shoulder defining a second contact portion configured to actively co-act with said first contact portion of another panel, in coupled condition of said panels, such that that the panels are forced with a tension force (T1) at least laterally towards each other, wherein a top surface of said lower lip is smoothly curved at least partially and is configured as sliding surface for the at least partially rounded bottom surface and/or side surface of the front region of the sideward tongue of another panel during coupling, and wherein said at least partially curved top surface of the lower lip and said passive bottom surface of the sideward tongue are mutually situated such that, in coupled condition of two panels, an intermediate space is present adjacent to actively co-acting first and second contact portions, and wherein a lower surface of the upper lip is at least partially inclined and configured to abut at least a part of the top surface of the front region of the sideward tongue of another panel, wherein the bottom surface and/or side surface of the front region of the sideward tongue is configured to co-act with the lower lip in coupled condition of two panels, and together define a bottom front contact surface, wherein a seam formed by two panels in coupled condition define a vertical plane (VP), wherein said vertical plane subdivides the lower lip into an inner lower lip part and an outer lower lip lower part, and wherein an entire bottom front contact surface and the first and second contact portions are situated at the same side of the vertical plane.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the passive bottom surface of the sideward tongue is substantially flat.

3. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the passive bottom surface is at least partially inclined downwardly in a direction towards the front region.

4. The panel according to claim 3, wherein the inclined top surface of the sideward tongue and the inclined passive bottom surface converge in a direction away from the back region of the sideward tongue.

5. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the lower lip defines a deepest point of the recess, and wherein, in coupled condition of two panels, said deepest point is positioned at a distance from the passive bottom surface.

6. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the lower lip defines a deepest point of the recess, wherein the shoulder of the lower lip defines a highest point of the lower lip, wherein said deepest point and highest point define a lower lip depth (LLD), and wherein the first and second contact portions are entirely located above half the lower lip depth.

7. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the lower lip defines a deepest point of the recess, wherein the shoulder of the lower lip defines a highest point of the lower lip, wherein said deepest point and highest point define a lower lip depth (LLD), and wherein the smallest thickness (STD) of the sideward tongue, measured between the at least partially inclined upper surface and the passive bottom surface of the sideward tongue exceeds the lower lip depth.

8. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion is inclined upwardly in a direction away from the front region of the sideward tongue, wherein the inclined first contact portion and the plane of the panel encloses an angle of at least 45 degrees, and wherein the second contact portion is inclined upwardly in a direction away from the upper lip, wherein the inclined second contact portion and the plane of the panel encloses an angle of at least 45 degrees.

9. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the lower lip comprises a curved back top surface and a curved front top surface, wherein the back top surface and the front top surface are staggered with respect to each other, and wherein the front top surface is deepened with respect to the back top surface.

10. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the entire bottom front contact surface is located underneath the level of the first and second contact portions.

11. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the bottom front contact surface on one side and the contact surface defined by the first and second contact portions on the other side mutually enclose an angle of between 70 and 110 degrees, between 80 and 100 degrees.

12. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the side surface of the front region of the sideward tongue and a facing part of the top surface of the lower lip are substantially complementary shaped, and substantially complementary curved.

13. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the entire top surface of the lower lip extending in between said vertical plane (VP) and the second contact portion is a smooth curved surface.

14. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the lower lip is provided with a staggered cut-out portion, wherein the staggered cut-out portion is at least partially located underneath the upper lip, and which is configured to accommodate a terminal portion of the sideward tongue of another panel.

15. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel defines a top surface and a bottom surface defining the thickness (PT) of the panel, and wherein the thickness of the shoulder (ST), as measured from the bottom surface of the panel to the highest point of the shoulder, exceeds 30% of the panel thickness (PT).

16. The panel according to claim 1, wherein a seam formed by or in between two panels in coupled condition defines a vertical plane (VP), wherein said vertical plane subdivides the lower lip into an inner lower lip part and an outer lower lip lower part, and wherein, in coupled condition, the entire bottom surface and the entire side surface of the inner lower lip part are positioned at distance from the second coupling part.

17. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel comprises, at least at a further, in particular second, pair of opposite edges, a third coupling part and a fourth coupling part allowing that several of such panels can be coupled to each other by a lowering or vertical motion, whereby these coupling parts, in coupled condition of two of such panels, provide a locking in a first direction (R1) perpendicular to the plane of the panels, as well as in a second direction (R2) perpendicular to the respective edges and parallel to the plane of the panels, wherein the third coupling part comprises an upward tongue, at least one upward flank situated 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 the fourth coupling part of another panel, wherein the side of the upward tongue facing the upward flank is the inside of the upward tongue and the side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank is the outside of the upward tongue, wherein the fourth coupling part comprises a downward tongue, at least one downward flank situated 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 the upward tongue of the third coupling part of another panel, wherein the side of the downward tongue facing the downward flank is the inside of the downward tongue and the side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank is the outside of the downward tongue.

18. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel comprises at least one core layer, and at least one decorative top section, directly or indirectly affixed to said core layer, wherein the top section defines a top surface of the panel, and wherein the top section comprises a printed decorative layer, and at least one wear layer covering said printed decorative layer.

19. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the maximum distance a between the side surface of the front region of the sideward tongue and a facing part of the top surface of the lower lip is smaller than the maximum distance b between the passive bottom surface of the sideward tongue and a facing part of the top surface of the lower lip.

20. A decorative covering for a floor, ceiling or wall, which is constituted by a multitude of interconnected decorative 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, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a rectangular floor panel according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a transversal cross-section along line A-A in FIG. 1, of respective side edges;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a method of coupling of the side edges shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows in a transversal cross-section, the side edges of FIG. 2 in coupled condition;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-section along line B-B in FIG. 1 of respective side edges;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a method of coupling of the side edges shown in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows in a longitudinal cross-section, further details of respective side edges when in coupled condition;

(9) FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the side edges of FIG. 2 which allow for another method of coupling;

(10) FIG. 9 shows another alternative embodiment of the side edges of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) FIG. 1 shows a decorative panel 1 which upper side 2 is provided with a decorative top layer 12. The panel is of a rectangular shape having a length extending longitudinally along line B-B, and a width extending transversally along line A-A. The plane of the panel is hence determined by the combination of lines A-A and B-B. At opposite side edges 3 and 4, a first coupling part in the form of profile 5, resp. a second coupling part in the form of profile 6 is provided. At opposite side edges 9 and 10, a third coupling part in the form of profile 7 resp. a fourth coupling part in the form of profile 8 is provided.

(12) FIG. 2 shows in transversal cross-section the first coupling part 5 at side edge 3. The first coupling part 5 comprises a sideward tongue 20 which comprises a front region 21 and a back region 22, wherein a bottom surface 23 and/or a side surface 23 of said front region 21 is rounded at least partly, wherein a top surface 24 of the front region 21 is at least partially inclined downwardly in a direction away from the back region 22, and wherein a bottom surface 26 and/or side surface 26 of the back region 22 of said sideward tongue 20 defines a first contact portion 26, and wherein the sideward tongue 20 comprises a passive bottom surface 27 situated adjacent to the first contact portion 26, wherein said passive bottom surface 27 is defined by a cut-out portion at a lower side of the sideward tongue 20. The passive bottom surface 27 herein extends over an intermediate region 28 between the back region 22 and the front region 21, and is substantially flat. The passive bottom surface 27 is inclined downwardly in a direction towards the front region 21, such that the inclined top surface 24 of the sideward tongue and the inclined passive bottom surface 27 converge in a direction away from the back region of the sideward tongue. Furthermore, the second coupling part 6 comprises a recess 30 for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue 20 of a further panel, said recess 30 being defined by an upper lip 31 and a lower lip 32, wherein the lower lip 32 extends beyond the upper lip 31, and wherein the lower lip 32 is provided with a upwardly protruding shoulder 33 defining a second contact portion 34 configured to actively co-act with a first contact portion 26 of another panel, in coupled condition of such panels as will be discussed with reference to FIG. 4. A top surface 35 of the lower lip 32 is smoothly curved at least partially and is configured as sliding surface for the at least partially rounded bottom surface 23 and/or side surface 23 of the front region 21 of the sideward tongue 20 of another panel during coupling of a first and second coupling part. The upper surface 35 of the lower lip is provided with a staggered cut-out portion 35s, which is at least partially located underneath the upper lip 31, and which is configured to accommodate a terminal portion of the sideward tongue 20 of another panel.

(13) FIG. 3 shows a method of coupling of two panels 1 and 1, each being provided with first and second coupling parts 5 and 6 as shown in FIG. 2. The two panels are coupled to each other by an angling movement over arrow MA. As evident from FIG. 3, the curvature of top surface 35 of the lower lip 32 functions as sliding surface for the at least partially rounded bottom surface 23 and/or side surface 23 of the tongue 20.

(14) FIG. 4 shows the coupling parts 5 and 6 of the two panels 1 and 1 once the coupling shown in FIG. 3 has been completed by the angling movement. The respective contact portions 26 and 34 in the shown coupled status, together create a tension force (T1) which forces the side edges 3 and 4 towards each other.

(15) Further in the shown coupled status, the at least partially curved top surface 35 of the lower lip 32 and the passive bottom surface 27 of the sideward tongue 20 are mutually situated such that an intermediate space S is present adjacent to actively co-acting first and second contact portions 26 and 34. The passive bottom surface 27 is depicted as a substantially flat surface, but may alternatively have a concave or convex surface, as long as an amount of intermediate space S is maintained between tongue and recess in coupled status. A lower surface 36 of the upper lip 31 is at least partially inclined and configured to abut at least a part of the top surface 24 of the front region of the sideward tongue 20. The top surface 35 of the lower lip defines a deepest point 38 of the recess, wherein the shoulder 33 of the lower lip defines a highest point 39 of the lower lip, wherein said deepest point and highest point define a lower lip depth (LLD). On the upper side of the panels 1 and 1 which are forced together by the tension force from contact portions 26 and 34, a seam 40 is present which defines a vertical plane VP which subdivides the lower lip 32 into an inner lower lip part 32i and an outer lower lip part 320. The top surface of the shoulder part 33 is herein located at a distance from first coupling part 5, so that an intermediate space is present at this part as well.

(16) FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a panel 1 shown in FIG. 1, along line B-B. At side edges 9 resp. 10, a third coupling part in the form of profile 7 resp. a fourth coupling profile in the form of profile 8 is provided. The third coupling part 7 comprises an upward tongue 71, an upward flank 72 situated at a distance from the upward tongue and an upward groove 73 formed in between the upward tongue 71 and the upward flank 72, wherein the upward groove is adapted to receive at least a part of a downward tongue 81 of the fourth coupling part 8 of another panel. The side of the upward tongue 71 facing the upward flank 72 is the inside 77 of the upward tongue, and the side of the upward tongue 71 facing away from the upward flank 72 is the outside 76 of the upward tongue. A first locking element 75 is provided at an outside of the upward tongue 71 facing away from the upward flank 72. The fourth coupling part 8 comprises a downward tongue 81, a downward flank 82 situated at a distance from the downward tongue, and a downward groove 83 formed in between the downward tongue 81 and the downward flank 82, wherein the downward groove 83 is adapted to receive at least a part of the upward tongue 71 of the third coupling part 7 of another panel. The side of the downward tongue 81 facing the downward flank 82 is the inside 87 of the downward tongue and the side of the downward tongue 81 facing away from the downward flank 82 is the outside 86 of the downward tongue 81. A second locking element 85 adapted for co-action with a first locking element 75 of another panel, is provided at the downward flank 82.

(17) FIG. 6 shows how the third and fourth coupling profiles 7 and 8 of FIG. 5 can be coupled to each other when connecting a panel 1 and a panel 1 to each other. The panel 1 is hereby moved vertically downwards along the arrow, wherein the profiles 7 and 8 engage with each other by receiving upward tongue 71 in downward groove 83 and receiving downward tongue 81 in upward groove 73.

(18) FIG. 7 shows in more detail the side edges 7 and 8 in coupled condition, after the coupling by vertical movement as shown in FIG. 6 has been completed. It is noted that the side edges 7 and 8 of the embodiment of FIG. 7 contain some slight adaptations over the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, which are directly visible from the figures, and further explained below. As far as FIGS. 5-7 have the same features in common, these are indicated by the same reference numerals. The inside 77 of the upward tongue 71 is in contact with the inside 87 of the downward tongue 81 of another panel, such that the panels create a tension force (T2) which forces the side edges 7 and 8 towards each other. Part of the inside 77 of the upward tongue is inclined towards the upward flank 72, and part of the inside 87 of the downward tongue 81 is inclined towards the downward flank 82, such that the two coupled panels are interlocked in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels (i.e. in a vertical direction). Additionally, the first and second locking elements 75 and 85 interlock with each other, further contributing to the vertical interlocking of the coupled panels. The first locking element is a bulge 75, the second locking element is a recess 85. The bulge 75 has an upper portion 90 and an adjoining lower portion 88, wherein the lower portion 88 comprises an inclined locking surface and the upper portion 90 comprises a, preferably curved, guiding surface. The recess 85 comprises an upper portion 94 and an adjoining lower portion 92, wherein the lower portion 92 comprises an inclined locking surface.

(19) The respective upper portions 90 and 94 are at a distance from each other, thus allowing for an intermediate space. At the upper side of the coupled side edges 7 and 8, the upper contact surfaces 95 and 96 are forced together due to the interaction of the insides 77 and 87. In addition, the respective upper contact surfaces 95 and 96 are provided with a bulge 98 and a recess 97, which interlock with each other in the coupled state. Above the bulge 98 and recess 97 respective inclined contact surfaces 99a and 99b are provided which engage with each other.

(20) FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the side edges 3 and 4 according to FIG. 2, wherein the upper surface 24 of the front region 21 of the sideward tongue and a side surface 23 of the front region 21 of the sideward tongue are connected by means of a transitional convex surface 100, and the lower surface 36 of the upper lip 31 and a side surface 102 of the upper lip 31 are connected by means of a transitional convex surface 104. All other features of the side edges 3 and 4 are similar to FIG. 2. The shown embodiment allows for a coupling movement by shifting the panels towards each other in a planar direction as indicated by the arrow Snap.

(21) FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the side edges 3 and 4 according to FIG. 2, wherein the upper surface 35 of the lower lip 32 has a staggered cut-out portion 35s which is complementary in size to the terminal portion 23 of the tongue 20, so that it encloses the portion 23 in a clamping way. All other features of the side edges 3 and 4 are similar to FIG. 2.

(22) 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.

(23) 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.

(24) 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.