Patent ID: 7654054
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: B27F,B27M,E04B,E04F,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A floor panel, for forming a floor covering, said floor panel having a thickness in the range of 5 to 15 mm; said floor panel comprising a core material made of medium density fiberboard or high density fiberboard; said floor panel having an upper side, an underside, and at least one opposite pair of side edges including upper side edges at upper ends of the side edges, wherein said one opposite pair of side edges includes coupling parts substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, said groove being bordered by an upper lip and a lower lip, and wherein the coupling parts are configured and arranged so as to enable two of such panels to be coupled to each other by placement of the tongue of one panel within the groove of the other panel with the respective upper side edges adjoining each other; wherein said lower lip extends beyond said upper lip, so that the lower lip comprises a portion which is located underneath the upper lip and a portion which extends beyond the upper lip; wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements including locking surfaces which upon coupling of two such panels contact each other and cooperate to prevent the drifting apart of the two coupled floor panels in a direction perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels; wherein said locking elements comprise a recess with a locking surface in said lower lip and a protrusion with a locking surface at the lower side of said tongue, said locking elements and locking surfaces arranged such that in coupled condition of two of such panels the protrusion of one of said panels cooperates with the recess of the other panel with the locking surface on the protrusion contacting the locking surface on the recess, with the respective upper side edges of the panels adjoining each other; wherein said coupling parts and said locking elements are formed in one piece from said core material; wherein said recess is partially located in the portion of the lower lip which is located underneath the upper lip and partially in the portion of this lower lip which extends beyond the upper lip, and wherein said locking surfaces contact 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 which would produce undesired gaps between the upper side edges in a direction perpendicular to the related side edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels.