Patent ID: 6968664

Claim:
A floor covering panel comprising coupling profiles on at least two opposite edges of the panel, said profiles configured so that several ones of such panels can be mutually coupled to one another along said edges, said coupling profiles configured so as to enable interlocking of the profiles in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane including coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges of coupled panels and parallel to the plane of the coupled panels, said coupling profiles also being configured so that when two coupled panels located between other adjacent coupled panels, with each panel coupled to a respective adjacent panel starting from a generally co-planar position, are turned over towards one another toward their bottom sides over at least a given angle, such turning movement frees said two coupled panels so they may be uncoupled and removed from in between said other adjacent panels, and wherein the coupling profiles comprise a tongue having a distal tip and a groove, said groove having a top side and a bottom side, an upper lip having a distal tip extending from the top side and a lower lip extending from the bottom side, a first interlocking part on the lower lip and a second interlocking part cooperating with the first interlocking part on the bottom side of another similar panel coupled thereto, said coupling profiles enabling coupled panels to be assembled by means of a turning movement about a pair of coupled edges, and said coupling profiles when coupled creating spaces above the first interlocking part and under the second interlocking part enabling said turning movement of the panels relative to each other toward their bottom sides.