Floor panel and method for the manufacture thereof

1. Floor panel from which, together with other identical or similar floor panels, a floor covering can be formed, said floor panel comprising layers including a hard top layer forming a decorative surface and a panel top side, and at least one sound-absorbing layer which is integrated into the floor panel and is located between other layers of the floor panel;

wherein apart from the sound absorbing layer and the top layer, at least a first structural basic layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of MDF and HDF is provided;

wherein the sound absorbing layer is a compressible, vibration absorbing material;

wherein said first structural basic layer is situated below the sound-absorbing layer, such that the sound-absorbing layer is located between said top layer and said first structural basic layer;

wherein the panel along at least two of its edges includes mechanical coupling parts enabling vertical as well as horizontal locking between coupled similar panels, said coupling parts being formed integrally in one piece with said first structural basic layer;

wherein both the hard top layer and said first structural basic layer have a higher strength and are less compressible than the sound-absorbing layer.

2. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein said sound-absorbing layer, viewed in cross-section of the floor panel, is disposed at least partially in the upper half of the floor panel.

3. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein said sound-absorbing layer, viewed in cross-section of the floor panel, is disposed entirely in the upper half.

4. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sound-absorbing layer, viewed in cross-section of the floor panel, is disposed at a distance (D 2 ) below the upper side of the floor panel less than or equal to 2 mm.

5. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein only one sound absorbing layer is integrated between other layers of the panel.

6. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein said first structural basic layer is a sole one-piece structural basic layer.

7. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the top layer is fixed directly on top of the sound-absorbing layer, without intermediate structural basic layers.

8. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sound-absorbing layer is provided on top of said first structural basic layer, and the top layer is provided on top of this sound-absorbing layer, exclusive of any adhesive layers and insulating layer on the panel underside.

9. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the panel includes a second structural basic layer, and wherein the sound-absorbing layer is located between said first and said second structural basic layers.

10. Floor panel according to claim 9 , wherein the top layer is fixed directly on top of an upper structural basic layer.

11. Floor panel according to claim 9 , said first and said second structural layer both comprise a material selected from the group consisting of MDF and HDF.

12. Floor panel according to claim 1 , including at least one backing layer.

13. Floor panel according to claim 12 , wherein the backing layer is provided at least at the underside of the floor panel.

14. Floor panel according to claim 12 , including a covering layer and a backing layer which are integrated in the floor panel and are located respectively at the upper side and underside of said first structural basic layer.

15. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one sound-absorbing layer is situated outside of the coupling parts.

16. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sound-absorbing layer comprises cork.

17. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sound-absorbing layer comprises a sound-absorbing synthetic material.

18. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sound-absorbing layer is formed of a material layer which can be wound upon itself.

19. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sound-absorbing layer has a thickness of less than 2 mm.

20. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the top layer has a thickness of less than 1 mm.

21. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the top layer is formed in a manner selected from any one of the following:

as an HPL (high Pressure Laminate);

as a DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate), or LPL (Low Pressure Laminate);

as a plate, formed as compact laminate.

22. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sound-absorbing layer is integrated into the top layer.

23. Floor panel according to claim 1 , including a bevel-like part at an upper edge, wherein the bevel-like part at least partially extends through the sound-absorbing layer; and wherein on this bevel-like part, a decorative covering is printed.

24. Floor panel according to claim 1 , including a layer of a compressible material located against the underside of the floor panel.

25. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein said hard top layer comprises at least one resin impregnated decorative layer of paper.

26. Floor panel according to claim 25 , wherein said sound absorbing layer comprises cork material.

27. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein said hard top layer comprises veneer.

28. Floor panel according to claim 27 , wherein said sound absorbing layer comprises cork.

29. Floor panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sound absorbing layer has a better sound absorbing quality than said first structural layer.

30. Floor panel according to claim 29 , wherein said sound absorbing layer comprises cork.