US 12,392,140 B2
Panel and covering
Eddy Alberic Boucké, Menen (BE)
Assigned to i4F Licensing NV, Turnhout (BE)
Appl. No. 18/018,699
Filed by I4F Licensing NV, Turnhout (BE)
PCT Filed Jul. 27, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/070967
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 30, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/023320, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2026188 (NL), filed on Jul. 31, 2020; application No. 2026191 (NL), filed on Jul. 31, 2020; application No. 2026559 (NL), filed on Sep. 28, 2020; and application No. PCT/EP2021/070758 (WO), filed on Jul. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0304299 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. E04F 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC E04F 15/02038 (2013.01) [E04F 2201/0146 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A panel, in particular a floor panel, comprising:
a. at least one first coupling part and at least one second coupling part arranged on opposite panel sides, wherein the first coupling part of said panel and the second coupling part of another panel are arranged to be coupled with a downward motion;
b. wherein the 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 another panel, wherein a side of the upward tongue facing towards the upward flank is an inside of the upward tongue and a side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank is an outside of the upward tongue, wherein at least a part of the inside of the upward tongue is inclined towards the upward flank;
c. wherein the 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 another panel, wherein a side of the downward tongue facing towards the downward flank is an inside of the downward tongue and a side of the downward tongue facing away from the downward flank is an outside of the downward tongue, wherein at least a part of the inside of the downward tongue is inclined towards the downward flank;
d. wherein the outside of the downward tongue and the upward flank both comprise an upper contact surface near or towards the top of the panel, wherein at least one of said contact surfaces extends vertically at least partly, and wherein the upper contact surface of the outside of the downward tongue of said panel is configured to engage the upper contact surface of the upward flank of an adjacent panel, in coupled condition of said panels;
e. wherein the outside of the upward tongue comprises a first locking element comprising an outward bulge and wherein the downward flank is provided with a second locking element comprising a recess, wherein, in coupled condition of adjacent panels, at least a part of the first locking element of said panel and at least a part of second locking element of an another panel are in contact to realize a vertical locking effect of the panels with respect to each other;
f. wherein the outside of the outward bulge comprises an upper portion and an adjoining lower portion, wherein the lower portion comprises a planar inclined locking surface and the upper portion comprises a curved, guiding surface, wherein said inclined locking surface forms a crease with the curved upper portion;
g. wherein the recess comprises a curved upper portion and an adjoining lower portion, wherein the lower portion comprises a planar inclined locking surface wherein said inclined locking surface forms a crease with the curved upper portion;
h. and wherein, in coupled condition of adjacent panels, the inclined locking surface of the lower portion of the outward bulge and the inclined locking surface of the lower portion of the recess are in contact to realize said locking effect between the panels and wherein, in coupled condition of adjacent panels, the upper portions of the outward bulge of the first locking element and the recess of the second locking element are spaced apart at least partially;
i. wherein the outside of the upward tongue comprises an upper vertical outside portion, and a lower vertical outside portion, wherein the first locking element is arranged between the upper and lower vertical outside portion; and,
j. wherein the inclined locking surface of the lower portion of the outward bulge and the inclined locking surface of the lower portion of the recess both enclose an angle with respect to the upper and/or lower vertical outside portion, said angle being between 100 and 175 degrees.