Floor panels with edge connectors

摘要

Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.

主权项

1. A floor panel, for forming a floor covering,
said floor panel having a core, an upper side and an underside, said underside being generally flat; said floor panel being rectangular or square and having a first pair of opposite sides and a second pair of opposite sides; said floor panel at the first pair of opposite sides being provided with coupling parts, whereby these coupling parts allow that two of such panels can be coupled to each other; wherein said coupling parts at said first pair of opposite sides provide a locking in vertical direction and furthermore are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction perpendicular to the related sides and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels; wherein said coupling parts, inclusive said locking elements, at said first pair of opposite sides are formed in one piece from said core; said floor panel at said second pair of opposite sides also being provided with coupling parts, whereby these coupling parts allow that two of such panels can be coupled to each other; wherein said coupling parts at said second pair of opposite sides are provided with contact surfaces which provide a locking in vertical direction and furthermore are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction perpendicular to the related sides and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels; wherein said coupling parts, inclusive said locking elements, at said second pair of opposite sides are also formed in one piece from said core; wherein at one side of the second pair of sides, the respective locking element is formed by an upwardly directed element, protruding upward from a lip which distally extends from the lower side of the panel, whereas at the other side of the second pair of sides, the respective locking element is formed by a downwardly directed protrusion; wherein the locking elements at the second pair of opposite sides upon coupling of two panels cooperate with each other, thereby defining a locking in the plane of the panels by means of co-operating surfaces that can contact each other to thereby prevent the drifting apart of coupled panels, said surfaces being located at the upwardly directed locking element and the downwardly directed protrusion; wherein at said second pair of sides directly or indirectly adjacent at least one of said surfaces there is provided a guiding means for facilitating the engagement of said surfaces behind each other when coupling two of said floor panels at these edges, said guiding means being effective as a guide during coupling of two of said floor panels as of a first position in which the downwardly directed protrusion has contacted the upwardly directed element; wherein, in said first position, the relative movement of said downwardly directed protrusion and said upwardly directed element is prohibited such that a force needs to be applied to commence engagement of the said surfaces behind each other; wherein the side of the floor panel at which the locking element is formed by a downwardly directed protrusion comprises at least one of said contact surfaces, said contact surface being located at the distal edge of said side and cooperating with a contact surface at the other side of the second pair of opposite sides to thereby prevent the moving apart of coupled floor panels in vertical direction; and; wherein said lip extends beyond the upper side of the floor panel in the distal direction.