US 12,442,195 B2
Panel, covering, and method of uncoupling two interconnected panels
Eddy Alberic Boucké, Menen (BE)
Assigned to 14F Licensing NV, Turnhout (BE)
Appl. No. 18/018,750
Filed by 14F Licensing NV, Turnhout (BE)
PCT Filed Jul. 23, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/070758
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 30, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/023224, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2026188 (NL), filed on Jul. 31, 2020; application No. 2026189 (NL), filed on Jul. 31, 2020; and application No. 2026559 (NL), filed on Sep. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0304301 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. E04F 13/02 (2006.01); E04F 13/08 (2006.01); E04F 15/02 (2006.01); E04F 13/14 (2006.01); E04F 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC E04F 15/02038 (2013.01) [E04F 13/0894 (2013.01); E04F 13/14 (2013.01); E04F 15/08 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0146 (2013.01); E04F 2201/023 (2013.01); E04F 2201/042 (2013.01); E04F 2201/043 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A panel suitable as a floor, ceiling or wall panel, which panel is of a planar design having an upper side, a bottom side and side edges which comprise a first side edge provided with a first profile and a second side edge provided with a second profile,
wherein the first profile and the second profile are mutually interacting profiles that can be coupled to each other, so that a first panel can be coupled in one common plane to a second, identical panel by the mutually interacting profiles,
wherein the first profile and the second profile in coupled condition establish an interlocking with each other both in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction,
and wherein the first profile and the second profile are configured to allow for:
a coupling of the mutually interacting profiles of the first panel and the second panel by a vertical insertion of the mutually interacting profile of the second panel into the mutually interacting profile of the first panel, and
an uncoupling of said mutually interacting profiles of the first panel and the second panel by a downward angling movement between the first panel and the second panel out of the common plane;
wherein a frontal side of the upward tongue of the first profile is provided with at least one locking element and a horizontally opposed frontal side of the second profile is provided with a counterlocking element, wherein the locking element and the counterlocking element are substantially complementary, such that in a coupled condition of two panels, the locking element of the first profile and the counterlocking element of the second profile mutually interlock, and wherein the locking element and the counterlocking element define at least one pivot point or at least one pivot zone around which, in coupled condition of the two panels, the two panels can be mutually angled downwardly during uncoupling of said first profile and the second profile; and
wherein the locking element comprises at least one locking surface, and wherein the counterlocking element comprises at least one counterlocking surface, such that in the coupled condition of two panels, the locking surface and the counterlocking surface are configured to co-act with each other to realize a locking effect in at least a vertical direction, wherein the locking surface and the counterlocking surface are located at a level which is below a deepest point of an upward groove enclosed by the upward tongue and a core of the panel, and wherein the pivot point or pivot zone is defined by the locking surface and counterlocking surface.