Panel Interconnectable With Similar Panels for Forming a Covering

Abstract

The last ten years has seen enormous advance in the market for laminate for hard floor covering. It is known to install floor panels on an underlying floor in various ways. It is, for example, known that the floor panels are attached at the underlying floor, either by gluing or by nailing them on. The invention relates to a panel, in particular a floor panel, interconnectable with similar panels for forming a covering. The invention further relates to a covering consisting of mutually interconnected panels.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A panel, interconnectable with similar panels for forming a covering, comprising:
 a core provided with an upper side and a lower side, said core being provided with:
 a first pair of opposite edges, comprising:
 a first edge comprising a sideward tongue, extending in a direction substantially parallel to the upper side of the panel, 
 an opposite, second edge comprising a recess for accommodating at least a part of the sideward tongue, of a further panel, said recess being defined by an upper lip and a lower lip, said lower lip being provided with a upwardly protruding shoulder, 
 the first edge and the second edge being designed such that these edges allow to realize a locking between adjacent panels by insertion of the sideward tongue, of said panel into the recess of a further panel by means of an angling down movement about an axis parallel to the first edge; and 
 
 a second pair of opposite edges, comprising:
 a third edge comprising a single upward tongue, at least one upward flank lying at a distance from the upward tongue and a single upward groove formed between the upward tongue and the upward flank, wherein at least a part of a side of the upward tongue facing toward the upward flank is upwardly inclined towards the upward flank, and 
 a fourth edge comprising a single downward tongue, at least one downward flank lying at a distance from the downward tongue, and a single downward groove formed between the downward tongue and the downward flank, wherein at least a part of a side of the downward tongue facing toward the downward flank is downwardly inclined towards the downward flank, and 
 
 wherein at least a first distal end of the third edge, adjacent to the first edge, comprises a modified portion, for facilitating coupling of the panel with another panel, wherein the modified portion makes part of the upward tongue, and/or 
 wherein at least a first distal end of the fourth edge, adjacent to the first edge, comprises a modified portion, for facilitating coupling of the panel with another panel, wherein the modified portion makes part of the downward tongue. 
   
     
     
         27 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein at least one modified portion is configured to deform at least temporarily during coupling of two panels. 
     
     
         28 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the modified portion of the upward tongue has a varying cross section along the length of the third edge, wherein, said cross section decreases towards the first distal end of the third edge. 
     
     
         29 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein at least one modified portion comprises a section where panel material is removed, at least compared to a middle portion of the third edge or a portion of the third edge not adjacent the first edge, or compared to a portion of the third edge adjacent the second edge. 
     
     
         30 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein at least a part of a side of the upward tongue facing away from the upward flank comprises a first locking element; and wherein the downward flank comprises a second locking element adapted for co-action with the first locking element of a third edge of yet a further panel. 
     
     
         31 . The panel according to  claim 30 , wherein the modified portion of the upward tongue is free of said first locking element or comprises a modified first locking element. 
     
     
         32 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein at least one modified portion extends along a part of the third edge, at most along a third of the length of the third edge. 
     
     
         33 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the modified portion of the upward tongue and/or downward tongue is decreasing in height and/or width over at least part of its length towards the first edge and is positioned in a region near the first edge. 
     
     
         34 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the modified portion of the first distal end of the third edge, and the modified portion of the upward tongue, and/or of the fourth edge comprises at least one slit or slot extending parallel to the third edge, wherein a plane defined by at least one slit or slot is parallel to a plane defined by the panel, and/or wherein a plane defined by at least one slit or slot is perpendicular to a plane defined by the panel. 
     
     
         35 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the modified portion of the first distal end of the third edge comprises an oblique upper surface, enclosing an angle with the lower side of the panel, wherein said oblique upper surface extends over the entire length of the modified portion. 
     
     
         36 . The panel according to  claim 35 , wherein the width of the oblique surface widens towards the first edge. 
     
     
         37 . The panel according to  claim 35 , wherein the oblique surface is at least partially curved. 
     
     
         38 . The panel according to  claim 35 , wherein the modified portion of the first distal end of the third edge comprises an oblique upper surface portion, enclosing an angle with the lower side of the panel, and a horizontal upper surface portion connecting to said oblique upper surface portion, wherein the horizontal upper surface portion is located closer to the first distal end than the oblique upper surface portion. 
     
     
         39 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein at least one modified portion allows the first edge of the panel to be coupled to the second edge of an adjacent panel, by means of an angling down movement about an axis parallel to the first edge, such that the panel can be angled unobstructedly into each until the panels mutually enclose an angle of less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         40 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the panel is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         41 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the first distal end of the third edge comprises at least one wedge-shaped recess, wherein the V of the wedge-shape runs substantially parallel to the first edge of the panel, extending over the entire width of the upward tongue. 
     
     
         42 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the first distal end of the third edge comprises a slit, which slit comprises at least one V-shaped slit, wherein the V-shaped slit runs substantially perpendicular to the first edge of the panel, extending over the entire length of the upward tongue. 
     
     
         43 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the first edge and the second edge being designed such that these edges allow to realize a locking between adjacent panels by insertion of the sideward tongue of said panel into the recess of a further panel by means of an vertical movement. 
     
     
         44 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the third edge and the fourth edge being designed such that these edges are configured to be coupled by means of a fold-down movement. 
     
     
         45 . The panel according to claim  26 , wherein the panel is a decorative panel, and wherein the panel comprises a decorative top structure affixed, either directly or indirectly, to the upper side of the core.