PANEL, MORE PARTICULARLY FLOOR PANEL
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A panel having a core and at least two opposite edges with coupling parts at two opposite edges. The coupling parts of the panels can be coupled to each other by means of a downward movement, such that a locking is obtained in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the edges, as well as perpendicular to the plane of the panels. The coupling parts at the two edges comprise locking parts ensuring locking in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, and at least one of these locking parts forms part of a flexible portion made in one piece with the core. The flexible portion is bendable at least in the plane of the panel. The panel includes at least one support portion which forms a support against bending of the flexible portion in a direction transverse to the plane of the coupled panels.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1-23. -23. (canceled)
- 24. A floor panel comprising a core, an upper side, a bottom side and at least two opposite edges, the panel having coupling parts provided at said two opposite edges and having a configuration such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other by means of a downward movement of one of the panels in respect to the other, such that a locking is obtained in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to said edges, as well as perpendicular to the plane of the panels, the coupling parts at said two edges including locking parts ensuring said locking in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels and at least one of the locking parts forms part of a flexible portion made in one piece with said core, said flexible portion extending along the respective edge and being bendable at least in the plane of the panel, as a result of connecting two of such panels, wherein the panel includes at least one support portion, which, with two of such coupled panels, when exerting a force in a direction opposed to said downward movement, forms a support against bending of the flexible portion in a direction transverse to the plane of the coupled panels.
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42. A floor panel, the panel comprising a core, an upper side, a bottom side and at least two opposite edges, the panel having coupling parts provided at said two opposite edges and having a configuration such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other by means of a downward movement of one of the panels in respect to the other, such that a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to said edges, as well as perpendicular to the plane of the panels is obtained, the coupling parts at said two edges including locking parts ensuring said locking in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, and at least one of these locking parts forms part of a flexible portion, made in one piece with said core, the portion extending along the respective edge and bendable at least in the plane of the panel, as a result of joining together two of such panels, the coupling parts including locking parts which ensure said locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the aforementioned edges, and that these locking parts define hook-shaped parts which, in the coupled condition of two of such panels, engage one behind the other, the hook-shaped parts are performed as a lower hook-shaped part with a flange protruding laterally next to the underside of the panel and provided with an upwardly directed portion, and an upper hook-shaped part with a flange protruding laterally next to the upper side of the panel and provided with a downwardly directed portion, wherein said flexible portion is formed at the edge comprising the lower hook-shaped part in a material portion of the core situated above the hook-shaped part.
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43. A floor panel comprising a core, an upper side, a bottom side and at least two opposite edges, the panel having coupling parts provided at said two opposite edges, and having a configuration such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other by means of a downward movement of one of the panels with respect to the other, such that a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to said edges, as well as perpendicular to the plane of the panels is obtained, the coupling parts at said two edges including locking parts ensuring said locking in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, and at least one of these locking parts forms part of a flexible portion made in one piece with said core, and extending along the respective edge and bendable at least in the plane of the panel, as a result of joining together two of such panels, and wherein the flexible portion, with the exception of possible cuts forming a substantial part of a profile formed at the coupling parts, is cut free substantially by only one cut, the cut extending only over a portion of the thickness of the panel at the location where the cut is situated.
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44. A floor panel comprising a core, an upper side, a bottom side and at least two opposite edges, the panel having coupling parts provided at said two opposite edges and having a configuration such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other by means of a downward movement of one of the panels in respect to the other, such that a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to said edges, as well as perpendicular to the plane of the panels is obtained, the coupling parts at said two edges including locking parts ensuring said locking in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, at least one of these locking parts forms part of a flexible portion made in one piece with said core, and extending along the respective edge and bendable at least in the plane of the panel, as a result of joining together two of such panels, wherein the flexible portion is bordered at its rear side by a cut, wherein said cut has an open end and a closed end and/or bottom and the flexible portion globally diminishes in cross-section in the direction from the open end towards the closed end and/or the bottom.
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45. A floor panel comprising a core, an upper side, a bottom side and at least two opposite edges, the panel having coupling parts provided at said two opposite edges, the coupling parts having a configuration such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other by means of a downward movement of one of the panels in respect to the other, such that a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to said edges, as well as perpendicular to the plane of the panels is obtained, the coupling parts at said two edges comprising locking parts ensuring said locking in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, at least one of these locking parts forms part of a flexible portion made in one piece with said core, and extending along the respective edge and bendable at least in the plane of the panel, as a result of joining together two of such panels, wherein the flexible portion is attached such that it performs only a rotational and/or torsion movement during coupling.
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46. A floor panel comprising a core, an upper side, a bottom side and at least two opposite edges, the panel having coupling parts provided at said two opposite edges, the coupling parts having a configuration such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other by means of a downward movement of one of the panels in respect to the other, such that a locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to said edges, as well as perpendicular to the plane of the panels is obtained, the coupling parts at said two edges including locking parts ensuring said locking in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, at least one of these locking parts forms part of a flexible portion, made in one piece with said core, and extending along the respective edge and bendable at least in the plane of the panel, as a result of joining together two of such panels, wherein the panel has a core comprising a plurality of crosswise-directed elements, and said flexible portion is realized along the edge of such crosswise-directed element, the crosswise-directed element is selected from the group consisting of MDF, HDF, and synthetic material.
Specification