Patent ID: 7665265
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: B27F,B27M,E04B,E04F,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A floor panel, for forming a floor covering, said floor panel having a substantially planar upper side and a substantially planar underside, and a first and second pair of opposite side edges, including upper side edges adjacent the panel upper side; said floor panel having a thickness measured between the substantially planar upper side and the substantially planar underside in the range of 5 to 15 mm; said floor panel further comprising a core material selected from the group consisting of medium density fiberboard and high density fiberboard; said floor panel at the first and second pairs of opposite side edges being provided with coupling parts substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein said coupling parts are configured so as to enable two of such panels to be coupled to each other by the tongue of one panel being received in the groove of the other panel with the respective upper side edges of the panels adjoining each other and wherein said groove at said first pair of side edges is bordered by an upper and lower lip; said upper lip having an underside which in coupled condition of two of such panels cooperates with the tongue of the other panel; said coupling parts being provided with integrated mechanical locking elements including locking surfaces which contact and cooperate with each other when two of such panels are coupled with the upper side edges adjoining each other to prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction perpendicular to the related side edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels; said coupling parts and said locking elements being formed in one piece in said core material; wherein at least at the first pair of opposite side edges, said upper side edges, coupling parts and locking elements are configured such that coupling of a pair of panels at their respective side edges with the upper side edges adjoining is achievable by a turning movement wherein one panel by its side edge is angled-in to the side edge of the other panel until a tongue of one panel is fully received in a groove of the other panel with the locking surfaces in contact with each other and said upper side edges adjoining each other; said locking surfaces of the coupling parts at least at said first pair of opposite side edges contacting each other when a pair of the panels are coupled by placement of the tongue of one panel into the groove of the other panel with the upper side edges of the panels adjoining each other, to thereby secure the upper side edges of said coupled panels in adjoined relationship while preventing unintentional separation between the upper side edges that would produce undesired gaps between the upper side edges in directions perpendicular to the related side edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels; and wherein, at least at the first pair of opposite side edges, at the entrance of the groove of the coupling parts a chamfer is provided on said lower side of said upper lip;