A rectangular panel includes four edges each provided with continuous coupling profiles. The coupling profiles enable to couple a plurality of such panels. The panels and the coupling profiles are configured such that only one type of panel is required to install the panels in herringbone configuration.
1 . A panel, wherein the panel is rectangular, square or oblong,
wherein the panel comprises a first edge and a third edge,
wherein the first edge and the third edges are provided opposite to each other,
wherein the panel comprises a second edge and a fourth edge wherein the second edge and the fourth edge are provided opposite to each other,
wherein each of the first edge, the second edge, the third edge and the fourth edge comprise a profile selected from a first profile, a second profile and a third profile,
wherein the first profile, the second profile and the third profile are configured such that a panel edge comprising the first profile can be coupled to the edge of another such panel wherein the edge of the another such panel comprises any one of the second profile or the third profile,
wherein in a coupled condition a locking of the coupled edges is provided in a direction perpendicular to the coupled panels as well as in a direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with a surface of the coupled panels; and
such that a panel edge comprising the second profile can be coupled to the edge of another such panel wherein the edge of the another such panel comprises the third profile,
wherein in the coupled condition a locking of the coupled edges is provided in the direction perpendicular to the coupled panels as well as in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the surface of the coupled panels;
wherein the first profile comprises a groove;
wherein the groove is bordered by a lower lip and by an upper lip, wherein the lower lip extends distally to beyond the upper lip;
wherein the lower lip comprises a locking element, at its distal end, wherein the locking element of the lower lip of the first profile is provided for realizing a locking in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with a panel surface when a panel edge comprising the first profile is coupled to the edge of another such panel when said edge of the another such panel comprises any one of the second profile or the third profile;
wherein the upper lip comprises a locking surface for establishing a locking in the direction perpendicular to the panel surface when a panel edge comprising the first profile is coupled to the edge of another such panel when said edge of the another such panel comprises the third profile;
wherein the second profile comprises a tongue;
wherein the tongue of the second profile is configured for insertion in the groove of the first profile of an edge of another such panel, thereby establishing a locking in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the coupled panels,
wherein the tongue of the second profile comprises a first recess;
wherein the first recess is suited for cooperation with the locking element of the first profile of an edge of another such panel thereby establishing a locking of the coupled panels in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the panel surface;
wherein the tongue of the second profile comprises a second recess;
wherein the second recess is suited for cooperation with a locking element of the third profile of an edge of another such panel thereby establishing a locking of the coupled panels in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the panel surface;
wherein the second profile comprises a locking surface, wherein the locking surface is closer to the panel surface than a location of the tongue of the second profile, wherein said locking surface of the second profile establishes a locking in the direction perpendicular to the panel surface when a panel edge comprising the second profile is coupled to the edge of another such panel when said edge of the another such panel comprises the third profile;
wherein the third profile comprises a first tongue and a second tongue;
wherein the second tongue is provided closer to the panel surface than the first tongue of the third profile;
wherein a second groove is provided between the first tongue and the second tongue of the third profile;
wherein the first tongue of the third profile comprises at its bottom a recess;
wherein the recess of the first tongue is provided for establishing, in cooperation with the locking element of the lower lip of the first profile, a locking in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the surface of the panel when a panel edge comprising the third profile is coupled onto the edge comprising the first profile of another such panel;
wherein the second tongue comprises a locking surface for establishing a locking in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the panels in combination with the locking surface of the first profile or the locking surface of the second profile, when a panel edge comprising the third profile is coupled to an edge of another such panel comprising the first profile respectively the second profile;
wherein the first tongue or the second tongue comprises the locking element of the third profile;
wherein the locking element of the third profile is provided for establishing in combination with the second recess of the second profile a locking in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the panel surface when a panel edge comprising the third profile is coupled to the edge comprising the second profile of another such panel;
wherein the first recess and the second recess are provided at a same side of the tongue of the second profile.
2 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the locking element of the lower lip of the first profile is directed upwards.
3 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the locking surface of the upper lip of the first profile is provided at an upper surface of an additional groove, the locking surface of the upper lip is closer to the panel surface than the groove of the first profile.
4 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the locking surface of the upper lip of the first profile is provided as an inclined surface at the distal edge of the upper lip.
5 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the locking surface of the second profile is provided at an upper side of an undercut in the second profile.
6 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the second tongue provides the locking surface of the third profile.
7 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the locking surface of the second tongue is provided by a separate insert inserted in the second tongue, wherein the insert is configured such that a displacement of the locking surface by a displacement or elastic deformation of at least part of the insert during the coupling of the panel edges provides for said locking in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the panel.
8 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein in coupled condition of an edge comprising the first profile to an edge comprising the second profile of another such panel, the lower lip of the first profile contacts the second profile of an edge of the another such panel in two distinct zones, wherein a gap is provided between said two distinct zones.
9 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein in coupled condition of an edge comprising the first profile to an edge comprising the third profile of another such panel, the lower lip of the first profile contacts a bottom of the tongue of the second profile of the edge of the another such panel in two distinct zones, wherein a gap is provided between said two distinct zones.
10 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the first profile, the second profile and the third profile extend continuously and without interruption along the edge where they are provided.
11 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the first profile, the second profile and the third profile have a constant cross section perpendicularly to the edge where they are provided, over a full length of the edge where they are provided.
12 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the first profile, the second profile and the third profile extend along a full length of the panel edge where they are provided.
13 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the panel is oblong and wherein both short edges are provided with the same profile.
14 . The panel as in claim 1 , wherein the first recess and the second recess are provided at a bottom of the tongue of the second profile.
15 . A panel, wherein the panel is rectangular, square or oblong,
wherein the panel comprises a first edge and a third edge;
wherein the first edge and the third edges are provided opposite to each other;
wherein the panel comprises a second edge and a fourth edge wherein the second edge and the fourth edge are provided opposite to each other;
wherein each of the first edge, the second edge, the third edge and the fourth edge comprise a profile selected from a first profile, a second profile and a third profile;
wherein the first profile, the second profile and the third profile are configured such that a panel edge comprising the first profile can be coupled to the edge of another such panel wherein the edge of the another such panel comprises any one of the second profile or the third profile;
wherein in a coupled condition a locking of the coupled edges is provided in a direction perpendicular to the coupled panels as well as in a direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with a surface of the coupled panels; and
such that a panel edge comprising the second profile can be coupled to the edge of another such panel wherein the edge of the another such panel comprises the third profile;
wherein in the coupled condition a locking of the coupled edges is provided in the direction perpendicular to the coupled panels as well as in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the surface of the coupled panels;
wherein the first profile comprises a groove;
wherein the groove is bordered by a lower lip and by an upper lip, wherein the lower lip extends distally to beyond the upper lip;
wherein the lower lip comprises a locking element, at its distal end, wherein the locking element is provided for realizing a locking in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with a panel surface when a panel edge comprising the first profile is coupled to the edge of another such panel when said edge of the another such panel comprises any one of the second profile or the third profile;
wherein the upper lip comprises a locking surface for establishing a locking in the direction perpendicular to the panel surface when a panel edge comprising the first profile is coupled to the edge of another such panel when said edge of the another such panel comprises the third profile;
wherein the second profile comprises a tongue;
wherein the tongue of the second profile is configured for insertion in the groove of the first profile of an edge of another such panel, thereby establishing a locking in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the coupled panels;
wherein the tongue of the second profile comprises a first recess;
wherein the first recess is suited for cooperation with the locking element of the first profile of an edge of another such panel thereby establishing a locking of the coupled panels in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the panel surface;
wherein the tongue of the second profile comprises a second recess;
wherein the second recess is suited for cooperation with a locking element of the third profile of an edge of another such panel thereby establishing a locking of the coupled panels in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the panel surface;
wherein the second profile comprises a locking surface for establishing a locking in the direction perpendicular to the panel surface when a panel edge comprising the second profile is coupled to the edge of another such panel when said edge of the another such panel comprises the third profile, wherein said locking surface of the second profile is closer to the panel surface than a location of the tongue of the second profile;
wherein the third profile comprises a first tongue and a second tongue; wherein the second tongue is provided closer to the panel surface than the first tongue of the third profile;
wherein a second groove is provided between the first tongue and the second tongue of the third profile;
wherein the first tongue of the third profile comprises at its bottom a recess;
wherein the recess is provided for establishing, in cooperation with the locking element of the lower lip of the first profile, a locking in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the surface of the panel when a panel edge comprising the third profile is coupled onto the edge comprising the first profile of another such panel;
wherein the second tongue comprises a locking surface for establishing a locking in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the panels in combination with the locking surface of the first profile or the locking surface of the second profile, when a panel edge comprising the third profile is coupled to an edge of another such panel comprising the first profile respectively the second profile;
wherein the first tongue or the second tongue of the third profile comprises the locking element of the third profile;
wherein the locking element of the third profile is provided for establishing in combination with the second recess of the second profile a locking in the direction perpendicular to the coupled edges and parallel with the panel surface when a panel edge comprising the third profile is coupled to the edge comprising the second profile of another such panel;
wherein in coupled condition of an edge comprising the first profile to an edge comprising the second profile of another such panel, a gap is provided between the upper surface of the locking element of the first profile and the edge of the another panel.
16 . The panel as in claim 15 , wherein the locking element of the lower lip of the first profile is directed upwards.
17 . The panel as in claim 15 , wherein the first recess and the second recess are provided at different sides of the tongue of the second profile, wherein the first recess is provided at the bottom of the tongue of the second profile, or wherein the first recess and the second recess are provided at a same side of the tongue of the second profile, wherein the first recess and the second recess are provided at a bottom of the tongue of the second profile.
18 . The panel as in claim 15 , wherein the locking surface of the upper lip of the first profile is provided at an upper surface of an additional groove, the locking surface of upper lip of the first profile is closer to the panel surface than the groove of the first profile.
19 . The panel as in claim 15 , wherein the locking surface of the upper lip of the first profile is provided as an inclined surface at the distal edge of the upper lip.