Panel

1. A panel which comprises coupling parts on at least two opposite sides by means of which coupling parts two such panels can be brought into a coupled position; wherein these coupling parts form a horizontally active locking system and a vertically active locking system;

wherein the horizontally active locking system has a male part and a female part which allow two such panels to be connected to each other on the aforementioned sides by fitting one of these panels with the associated male part in the female part of the other panel by means of a downward movement;

wherein the vertically active locking system comprises a locking element which is fitted in one of the respective sides in the form of an insert;

wherein this locking element comprises at least a blocking body, a securing section and a bending zone; wherein the aforementioned bending zone consists of an elastic bending zone which forms a connection between the securing section and the blocking body;

wherein the locking element consists of a strip which is secured in a recess in the panel;

wherein the locking element consists of a coextruded plastic strip which, viewed in cross section, consists of several zones made of plastic with different properties, including at least a first zone formed by the aforementioned blocking body, and, at least a second zone formed by the aforementioned bending zone;

wherein the blocking body is made of a first polymer, said first polymer is at least 60% by weight of the blocking body;

wherein the bending zone is made of a second polymer, said second polymer is at least 60% by weight of the bending zone;

wherein the blocking body is made of a mixture comprising the first polymer and the second polymer; or

wherein the bending zone is made of a mixture comprising the second polymer and the first polymer.

2. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein, in the bending zone, the percentage by weight of the first polymer in the mixture of the second polymer and the first polymer is more than 10% by weight.

3. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein, in the blocking body, the percentage by weight of the second polymer in the mixture of the first polymer and the second polymer is more than 10% by weight.

4. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the blocking body at one end forms a stop-forming locking portion which can cooperate with a locking portion of a similar coupled panel.

5. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the securing section retains the strip in the recess.

6. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the first polymer is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

7. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the second polymer is a polyurethane or a polyurethane-based plastic.

8. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the securing section is made of the same polymer or polymer mixture as the blocking body.

9. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the aforementioned blocking body is a rotatable blocking body.

10. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the aforementioned locking element is fitted as an insert in a recess in the aforementioned male part, and wherein the aforementioned blocking body is an upwardly directed blocking body.

11. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the panel has a thickness of 15 millimetres or less.

12. The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the panel is substantially composed of a core material and a decorative top layer.

13. A panel which comprises coupling parts on at least two opposite sides which allow two such panels to be brought to a coupled position;

wherein these coupling parts form a horizontally active locking system and a vertically active locking system; wherein the horizontally active locking system has a male part and a female part which allow two such panels to be connected to each other on said sides by fitting one of these panels with the associated male part in the female part of the other panel by means of a downward movement;

wherein the vertically active locking system comprises a locking element which is fitted in one of the respective sides in the form of an insert;

wherein this locking element comprises at least a blocking body, a securing section and a bending zone;

wherein the aforementioned bending zone consists of an elastic bending zone which forms a connection between the securing section and the blocking body, wherein the locking element consists of a strip which is secured in a recess in the panel, wherein the locking element consists of a coextruded plastic strip which, viewed in cross section, consists of several zones made of plastic with different properties, including at least a first zone formed by the aforementioned blocking body, and, at least a second zone formed by the aforementioned bending zone;

wherein the blocking body is made of a first polymer, said first polymer is at least 60% by weight of the blocking body;

wherein the bending zone is made of a second polymer, said second polymer is at least 60% by weight of the bending zone;

wherein the blocking body is made of a mixture of the first polymer and the second polymer; or

wherein the bending zone is made of a mixture of the second polymer and the first polymer;

wherein the aforementioned blocking body is a rotatable blocking body;

wherein the securing section retains the strip in the recess;

wherein the blocking body at one end forms a stop-forming locking portion which can cooperate with a locking portion of a similar coupled panel;

wherein the panel has a thickness of 15 millimetres or less;

wherein the securing section is made of the same polymer or polymer mixture as the blocking body.

14. The panel as in claim 13 ,

wherein, in the bending zone, the percentage by weight of the first polymer in the mixture of the second polymer and the first polymer is more than 10% by weight.

15. The panel as in claim 14 , wherein the first polymer is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); or wherein the second polymer is a polyurethane or a polyurethane-based plastic, or wherein the first polymer is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and the second polymer is a polyurethane or a polyurethane-based plastic.

16. The panel as in claim 13 ,

wherein, in the blocking body, the percentage by weight of the second polymer in the mixture of the first polymer and the second polymer is more than 10% by weight.

17. The panel as in claim 16 , wherein the first polymer is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); or wherein the second polymer is a polyurethane or a polyurethane-based plastic, or wherein the first polymer is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and the second polymer is a polyurethane or a polyurethane-based plastic.