| 摘要 |
Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove. |
| 主权项 |
1. A floor panel for forming a floor covering, wherein the floor panel is rectangular, square or oblong, and comprises a first pair of opposite edges and a second pair of opposite edges;
wherein the floor panel is provided, at said first pair of opposite edges, with first coupling elements made in one piece with the floor panel, so that two of such floor panels can be mutually coupled in a given plane, the first coupling elements providing for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the given plane, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the given plane; wherein the floor panel is provided, at said second pair of opposite edges, with second coupling elements made in one piece with the floor panel, so that two of such floor panels can be mutually coupled in the given plane, said second coupling elements providing for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the given plane, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the given plane; wherein said first coupling elements comprise contact surfaces which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels in the given plane, cooperate with each other and provide for the interlocking in the direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the given plane; wherein said first coupling elements further comprise a lip with an interlocking part, the lip belonging to one of the edges of the first pair of opposite edges and, seen in a cross-section perpendicular to the first pair of opposite edges, extending from a lower part of the floor panel in distal direction; wherein said interlocking part, at a side facing towards the floor panel, comprises one of the contact surfaces; wherein said first coupling elements further define a part which is connected to the floor panel via a flexible zone, the part belonging to the edge opposite the edge with the lip; wherein said part, at a side facing towards the floor panel, comprises another one of the contact surfaces; wherein said flexible zone, seen in a cross-section perpendicular to the first pair of opposite edges, is situated at a top side of the floor panel and has a minimum thickness (D1), according to a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the floor panel, which is smaller than half the thickness of the floor panel; wherein the edge provided with the flexible zone is bendable; and wherein said second coupling elements comprise a tongue and a groove, and the second coupling elements are configured such that two of such floor panels can be assembled by means of a turning movement. |
