Reversible floor covering element

Abstract

A floor covering element includes coupling means at two opposite edges. The floor covering element includes one or a combination of two or more of the following features: the top surface and/or the bottom surface is, at the respective edge, provided with a lowered surface, such as a bevel; the coupling means comprise a tongue with one or more elastically bendable portions; the coupling means are configured to allow for a closed connection at only one of the top and bottom surfaces; the coupling means allow for an assembly and/or disassembly by angling in, respectively out, upwardly and downwardly; the groove and/or the tongue are formed by a separate insert; the coupling means have a varying geometry along the respective edge; the floor covering element has a decorative surface at the top surface and at the bottom surface.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A floor covering element having a major top surface and a major bottom surface and having at least two edges comprising coupling means,
 wherein these coupling means allow to create a mutual locking with a similar floor covering element at the respective edges,   wherein said locking is active in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the respective edge and in the plane of the floor covering elements, and is active in a vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the floor covering elements,   wherein said floor covering element further shows one or a combination of two or more of the following features:   at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface is, at the respective edge, provided with a lowered surface, such as a bevel;   only one of the top surface and the bottom surface is, at the respective edge, provided with a lowered surface, such as a bevel, the other surface being free from lowered surface at the respective edge, such that the joint between two adjacent floor covering elements is flush at said other surface, or at least with height differences lower than 0.15 mm;   said coupling means are basically shaped as a tongue-in-groove joint, wherein said tongue comprises one or more elastically bendable parts that bend upon forming the joint, wherein the elastically bendable part remains in a bent condition when connected;   said coupling means are configured to allow for a closed connection, i.e. without intermediate space or with a space smaller than 0.15 mm between the coupled edges, at only one of the top surface and the bottom surface, while at the other major surface a space is available larger than the possible space at the one surface;   said coupling means allow for a disassembly by angling out upwardly and downwardly;   said coupling means are basically shaped as a tongue-in-groove joint, wherein the groove and/or the tongue are partially or wholly formed by a separate, plastic, insert, e.g. made by extrusion or injection molding, wherein said insert is made of a material harder or more flexible or less filled than the basic material of the floor covering element, wherein the insert is provided;   said coupling means have a varying geometry along the respective edge; and are discontinuous along said edge;   said floor covering element has a decorative surface at the top surface and at the bottom surface.   
     
     
         19 . The floor covering element of  claim 18 , wherein said floor covering element has a decorative surface at the top surface and at the bottom surface. 
     
     
         20 . The floor covering element of  claim 19 , wherein said decorative surface comprises a wear layer provided over a decorative print. 
     
     
         21 . The floor covering element of  claim 20 , wherein said floor covering element is panel-shaped, such as a laminate floor panel, a panel of LVT (luxury vinyl tile), a panel having a core of, whether or not filled, thermoplastic material with one or two decorative surface layers. 
     
     
         22 . The floor covering element of  claim 18 , wherein said floor covering element is sheet-shaped, such as a cushion or compact vinyl sheet or polyolefin or polyurethane sheet. 
     
     
         23 . The floor covering element according  claim 18 , wherein said floor covering element is reversible in the sense that the user may, upon choice, install the floor covering element with any of the major surfaces facing to the room. 
     
     
         24 . The floor covering element of  claim 18 , wherein the coupling means are configured such that said floor covering element is reversible in the sense that the user may, upon choice, install a plurality of such floor covering elements to form a floor covering,
 wherein in the floor covering at least one of the floor covering elements is installed with its major top surface facing to the room;   coupled with its coupling means to the coupling means of at least one of the floor covering elements installed with its major bottom surface facing to the room.   
     
     
         25 . The floor covering element of  claim 18 , wherein said coupling means allow for connection by means of a mainly horizontal shifting movement of the respective edges towards each other. 
     
     
         26 . The floor covering element of  claim 18 , wherein said coupling means allow for connection by means of a downward movement of one of the edges towards the other. 
     
     
         27 . The floor covering element of  claim 18 , wherein said floor covering element has a thickness of 3 mm or more. 
     
     
         28 . The floor covering element of  claim 18 , wherein said coupling means allow for connection by means of a rotational movement about the edges of the respective major upper surfaces, as well as by means of a rotational movement about the edges of the respective major bottom surfaces. 
     
     
         29 . The floor covering element of  claim 28 , wherein said floor covering elements are rectangular with a pair of opposing long edges and a pair of opposing short edges,
 wherein said coupling means are available at said pair of opposing long edges, and wherein said pair of opposing short edges is provided with coupling means as well.   
     
     
         30 . The floor covering element of  claim 29 , wherein said coupling means at said pair of opposing short edges allow for a connection by means of a downward movement of either of the edges towards the other. 
     
     
         31 . The floor covering element of  claim 28 , wherein a first one of said pair of opposite long edges at least comprises a portion that horizontally extends beyond the edge of said major upper surface and an excavation formed in the side of said portion opposite said major upper surface, while a second one of said pair of opposite long edges at least comprises a portion that horizontally extends beyond the edge of said major bottom surface, and an excavation formed in the side of said portion opposite said major bottom surface,
 wherein in a coupled condition of two such floor covering elements, one or more of the following features are available:   horizontally locking surfaces are available on material portions bordering said excavations in a horizonal direction outwardly;   said horizontally locking surfaces are in contact and/or said horizontally locking surfaces extend at an angle A with said major upper surface of 30 to 60°; said horizontally locking surfaces extend at least about midway in the thickness of said floor covering elements;   vertically locking surfaces are available on one or more material portions bordering one or more of said excavations in a vertical direction;   said vertically locking surfaces are in contact and/or extend at an angle A 2 -A 3  with said major upper surface of 20 to 45°;   the features of the previous two paragraphs combined, wherein the angle A at which said horizontally locking surfaces extend is larger than the angle A 2 -A 3  at which said vertically locking surfaces extend;   the angle A 4 -A 5  enclosed between the vertical and the imaginary line connecting the edges of the major surfaces is at both opposite edges is comprised between 10 and 30°;   said portions extending beyond the respective major surfaces both have a horizontal extension between 10 and 30% of the floor covering element thickness; the horizontal extension of both portions is about equal, i.e. have a ratio between 1:0.7 and 0.7:1;   in a connected condition all locking surfaces are arranged in an area which extends horizontally to a lesser extent than vertically;   said horizontal extension is less than 75% of the vertical extension.   
     
     
         32 . The floor covering element of  claim 30 , wherein a first one of said pair of opposite short edges at least comprises a portion that horizontally extends beyond the edge of said major upper surface and an excavation formed in the side of said portion opposite said major upper surface, while a second one of said pair of opposite short edges
 at least comprises a portion that horizontally extends beyond the edge of said major bottom surface, and an excavation formed in the side of said portion opposite said major bottom surface,   wherein in a coupled condition of two such floor covering elements, one or more of the following features are available:   horizontally locking surfaces are available on material portions bordering said excavations in a horizonal direction outwardly;   said horizontally locking surfaces are in contact and/or said horizontally locking surfaces extend at an angle A with said major upper surface of 60° to 100°;   said horizontally locking surfaces extend at least about midway in the thickness of said floor covering elements;   vertically locking surfaces are available on one or more material portions bordering one or more of said excavations in a vertical direction;   said vertically locking surfaces are in contact and/or extend at an angle A 2 -A 3  with said major upper surface of 20 to 45°;   the features of the previous two paragraphs combined, wherein the angle A at which said horizontally locking surfaces extend is larger than the angle A 2 -A 3  at which said vertically locking surfaces extend;   the angle A 4 -A 5  enclosed between the vertical and the imaginary line connecting the edges of the major surfaces is at both opposite edges comprised between 35° and 60°;   said portions extending beyond the respective major surfaces both have a horizontal extension between 0.5% and 5% of the thickness of the floor covering element;   the horizontal extension of both portions is about equal, i.e. have a ratio between 1:0.7 and 0.7:1;   in a connected condition all locking surfaces are arranged in an area which extends horizontally about equally as vertically;   said horizontal extension is within 80 to 120% of the vertical extension.   
     
     
         33 . The floor covering element of  claim 18 , wherein the coupling means are provided such that in coupled condition in a floor covering of a first such floor covering element with a second such floor covering element both with their top surface facing to the room, at the coupled edges of the first such floor covering element with the second such floor covering element, a point of symmetry at the middle of the height of the floor covering element is provided such that the coupling means of the first coupled floor covering element are symmetrical with respect to the point of symmetry with the coupling means of the second coupled floor covering element. 
     
     
         34 . A floor covering element having a decorative surface at both the major top surface and the major bottom surface,
 wherein the floor covering element has straight edges and/or is provided with a tongue and groove joint only locking in the horizontal direction, or, only locking in the vertical direction.