Floor panel and method for manufacturing a floor panel

Abstract

Floor panel, whereby this floor panel ( 1 ) comprises a decor ( 10 ), as well as a top layer ( 11 ) on the basis of synthetic material ( 12 ), and whereby the upper side ( 2 ) of the floor panel ( 1 ) imitates slate or another flaky kind of stone, characterized in that the floor panel ( 1 ) comprises terrace-shaped impressions ( 18 ) at its upper side ( 2 ).

1 . Floor panel, comprising a decor, as well as a top layer on the basis of synthetic material, and wherein the upper side of the floor panel imitates slate or another flaky kind of stone, further wherein the floor panel comprises terrace-shaped impressions at its upper side.  
   
   
       2 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the decor represents a pattern that is realized as a function of the kind of stone to be imitated.  
   
   
       3 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the printed decor comprises shadow lines and/or transition lines following at least partially the contour of a flake of the imitated kind of stone.  
   
   
       4 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the terrace-shaped impressions are at least partially corresponding to a pattern represented by the decor.  
   
   
       5 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the terrace-shaped impressions comprise terraces, which are substantially situated in planes that are substantially parallel to the plane in which the floor panel extends, such that the terraces form zones that are realized from terrace to terrace at a different depth.  
   
   
       6 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the terrace-shaped impressions are obtained as the result of a press treatment with a press plate, the latter having obtained a terraced surface by means of several etching treatments.  
   
   
       7 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the terrace-shaped impressions are obtained as a result of a press treatment with a press plate, in which partially overlapping portions have been etched away and that, in these etching treatments as such, one works with two or more different etching depths (E 1 -E 2 ), such that the number of different heights, at which impressed terraces are situated on the floor panel, is larger than the number of etching treatments performed on the press plate.  
   
   
       8 . Floor panel according to  claim 7 , wherein the terrace-shaped impressions are the result of an embossment with a press plate, on which at least five and still better at least eight etching treatments have been performed, and further wherein at least a number thereof, as such, has been realized with different etching depths.  
   
   
       9 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the terrace-shaped impressions that are formed by successive step-wise transitions, such that the surface of the zones lying in between as such changes in height, such that the height difference between two successive terrace edges is smaller than the height difference at the location of a transition, and preferably is zero or almost zero.  
   
   
       10 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel shows at least two zones of different gloss degree, so that each of the zones substantially corresponds to a visible portion of a flake of the imitated kind of stone.  
   
   
       11 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the imitation of the flaky stone continues over the entire floor panel, possibly with the exception of the edges of the floor panel, whereby the floor panel then imitates a single tile.  
   
   
       12 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises cut-away edge portions at one or more edges, so that the surface formed by said cut-away edge portions is colored, for example, by means of a covering applied by means of transfer printing, or by means of a coloring agent, for example, a coloring agent applied by means of a felt-tip pen, a lacquer or the like.  
   
   
       13 . Floor panel according to  claim 1 , said panel comprising at least at two opposite edges, and in the case of a rectangular floor panel, whether oblong or square, preferably at all edges, coupling means, which, in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effect a vertical and horizontal locking.  
   
   
       14 . Floor panel according to  claim 13 , wherein height differences occur along the upper edge of the floor panel as a result of the terraced construction, and in that along these upper edges impressed zones are present and that all these zones along the edges are limited to distances that are smaller than 10 centimeters.  
   
   
       15 . Floor panel, comprising a single-layer or multi-layer or single- or multipartite substrate, a decor, as well as a top layer on the basis of synthetic material, wherein impressed zones are present on the upper side of the floor panel, said zones extending along at least a part of at least one upper edge of the floor panel and that the floor panel, at least at the edge where said upper edge is situated and at an opposed edge, is provided with mechanical coupling means allowing to couple two of such floor panels to each other, which coupling means thereby can effect a locking in vertical and horizontal directions; and that these coupling means are the result of a machining treatment, so that the upper side of the floor panel is used as a reference, whereby the location of the coupling means as a result of the impressed zones fluctuates in height in respect to the substrate.  
   
   
       16 . Floor panel according to  claim 15 , wherein the floor panel, at the upper edge, is provided with a cut-away edge portion that is colored.  
   
   
       17 . Floor panel, comprising a single-layer or multi-layer or single- or multipartite substrate, a decor, as well as a top layer on the basis of synthetic material, and wherein the floor panel, at least at two opposite edges is provided with mechanical coupling means allowing to couple two of such floor panels to each other, which coupling means thereby can effect a locking in vertical and horizontal directions; wherein at the upper side of the floor panel at least one impressed zone is present that is situated along an upper edge of at least one of the aforementioned two opposite edges of the floor panel; and wherein this impressed zone shows an impression which, at least on the upper edge, effects a height difference with as the largest value at least 0,1 mm; and that this impressed zone extends along said upper edge over a distance of at least 10 centimeters.  
   
   
       18 . Method for manufacturing a floor panel, of the type that is intended for forming a floating floor covering, wherein the floor panel comprises a basic board with at the upper side a top layer on the basis of synthetic material with impressions, and further wherein the impressions are applied during a press treatment with a press plate, on which at least five and still better at least eight etching treatments have been performed, so that at least a number of which, as such, have been performed with differing etching depths and at least a number have been performed partially overlapping.