Floor panel for forming a floor covering

Abstract

A floor panel arranged to be installed according to the fold-down principle, with a first pair and a second pair of edges. The second pair of edges coupling parts are arranged to be coupled to each other by a downward movement with two contact zones at opposite sides of a male part which fits into a female part. The ratio between the horizontal distance between the middle of the first contact zone and the middle of the second contact zone, and the vertical distance between the middle of the first contact zone and the middle of the second contact zone is more than 5, and/or wherein well-defined support points are applied.

1 . A floor panel for forming a floor covering, wherein this floor panel comprises a first pair of opposite edges as well as a second pair of opposite edges;
 wherein the floor panel is oblong rectangular and the first pair of opposite edges forms the long sides of the floor panel, whereas the second pair of opposite edges forms the short sides of the floor panel;   wherein the first pair of opposite edges comprises coupling parts, which allow that two of such floor panels can be mutually coupled to each other, and   wherein these coupling parts show the following characteristics:   the coupling parts comprise a horizontal locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking in a plane of the floor panels and perpendicular to the respective edges;   the coupling parts also comprise a vertical locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking transverse to the plane of the floor panels;   the coupling parts are substantially made of a material of the floor panel itself; and   the coupling parts are configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other at these edges by a turning movement;   wherein the second pair of opposite edges also comprises coupling parts at both edges, which allow that two of such floor panels mutually can be coupled to each other, and wherein these coupling parts show the following characteristics:   the coupling parts comprise a horizontal locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking in the plane of the floor panels and perpendicular to the respective edges;   the coupling parts also comprise a vertical locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking transverse to the plane of the floor panels;   the coupling parts are substantially made of the material of the floor panel itself;   the coupling parts of the second pair of edges are formed at least of an upward-directed lower hook-shaped part, which is situated on one of said second pair of edges, as well as a downward-directed upper hook-shaped part, which is situated on an opposite one of said second pair of edges, wherein the lower hook-shaped part consists of a lip with an upward-directed locking element, which, proximally thereof, defines a female part in the form of a recess, whereas the upper hook-shaped part consists of a lip with a downward-directed locking element which forms a male part;   the coupling parts of the second pair of edges are configured such that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other at their respective edges by a downward movement of the one floor panel in respect to the other;   the coupling parts of second pair of edges comprise locking parts, which, by contact surfaces define at least a first contact zone and a second contact zone, which are situated at opposite sides of the male part and female part;   the locking parts comprise a first locking part and a second locking part at the respective opposite sides of the male part, as well as a third locking part and a fourth locking part at the respective opposite sides of the female part;   in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels, the first and third locking parts define said first contact zone, wherein they have contact surfaces which, in the coupled condition, define at least one inclined tangent line;   in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels, the second and fourth locking parts define said second contact zone, wherein they have contact surfaces, which, in the coupled condition, also define at least one inclined tangent line;   the aforementioned male part has a distal side and a proximal side, wherein the second locking part is situated at the distal side and the first locking part is situated at the proximal side;   wherein the first and third locking parts are at least part of the horizontal locking system;   wherein the second and fourth locking parts are part of the vertical locking system;   in respect to the plane of the floor panel, the tangent line which is defined by the first and third locking parts is steeper than the tangent line which is defined by the second and fourth locking parts, or, the angle of the first-mentioned tangent line with the horizontal is larger than the angle of the second-mentioned tangent line with the horizontal;   the difference in size between both mentioned angles is at least 5 degrees;   the center of the second contact zone is situated higher than the center of the first contact zone.   
     
     
         2 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling parts of the first pair of edges and of the second pair of edges are made in one piece in MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) or HDF (High Density Fiberboard). 
     
     
         3 . The floor panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the floor panel comprises a substrate of M DF or HDF extending over an entire or almost entire surface thereof, wherein the aforementioned coupling parts are formed at the edges. 
     
     
         4 . The floor panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the floor panel comprises a decorative top layer. 
     
     
         5 . The floor panel according to  claim 4 , wherein the top layer consists of DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate), HPL (High Pressure Laminate), wood veneer, a layer of solid wood, linoleum, cork, one or more print layers, one or more lacquer layers or a synthetic material layer selected from the group consisting of vinyl, and a combination or two or more of such layers. 
     
     
         6 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the tangent line in the first contact zone forms an angle with the horizontal of at least 75 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the tangent line in the first contact zone forms an angle with the horizontal of at least 85 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the tangent line in the second contact zone forms an angle with the horizontal of less than 50 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the tangent line in the second contact zone forms an angle with the horizontal of less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact surfaces of the second and fourth locking parts are substantially flat. 
     
     
         11 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein in coupled condition, a space is present behind the distal end of the lower hook-shaped part. 
     
     
         12 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein in coupled condition, a space is present above the upward-directed locking element. 
     
     
         13 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the second contact zone is a local contact zone, defined as not extending over the entire height of the male part; the contact zone is situated with an upper end of the contact zone at a distance from an upper side of the floor panel and is situated with its lower end at a distance above the lower end of the male part; the second contact zone, seen in the height, is situated between ¼ and ¾ of the overall height of the male part measured between the lowermost point of the male part and the upper side of the floor panel. 
     
     
         14 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling parts at the first pair and the second pair of opposite edges are configured such that in coupled condition a pretension exists, which forces the respective floor panels at the respective edges towards each other. 
     
     
         15 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein at the male part, at a height lower than the second contact zone, a contact surface is provided, which, in the coupled condition, together with a contact surface at the female part of the then coupled floor panel, forms a support point which limits the movement of the male part in downward direction. 
     
     
         16 . The floor panel according to  claim 15 , wherein this support point is situated at the proximal half of the male part, whereas at the distal half of the male part no downward support point is present at a lower side of the male part. 
     
     
         17 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal distance between the middle of the first contact zone and the middle of the second contact zone is at least 3 millimeters. 
     
     
         18 . The floor panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and third locking parts are also part of the horizontal locking system. 
     
     
         19 . A floor panel for forming a floor covering, wherein this floor panel comprises a first pair of opposite edges as well as a second pair of opposite edges;
 wherein the floor panel is oblong rectangular and the first pair of opposite edges forms the long sides of the floor panel, whereas the second pair of opposite edges forms the short sides of the floor panel;   wherein the first pair of opposite edges comprises coupling parts, which allow that two of such floor panels can be mutually coupled to each other, and   wherein these coupling parts show the following characteristics:   the coupling parts comprise a horizontal locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking in a plane of the floor panels and perpendicular to the respective edges;   the coupling parts also comprise a vertical locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking transverse to the plane of the floor panels;   the coupling parts are substantially made of a material of the floor panel itself; and   the coupling parts are configured such that two of such panels can be coupled to each other at these edges by a turning movement;   wherein the second pair of opposite edges also comprises coupling parts at both edges, which allow that two of such floor panels mutually can be coupled to each other, and   wherein these coupling parts show the following characteristics:   the coupling parts comprise a horizontal locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking in the plane of the floor panels and perpendicular to the respective edges;   the coupling parts also comprise a vertical locking system, which, in a coupled condition of two of such floor panels, effects a locking transverse to the plane of the floor panels;   the coupling parts are substantially made of the material of the floor panel itself;   the coupling parts of the second pair of edges are formed at least of an upward-directed lower hook-shaped part, which is situated on one of said second pair of edges, as well as a downward-directed upper hook-shaped part, which is situated on an opposite one of said second pair of edges, wherein the lower hook-shaped part consists of a lip with an upward-directed locking element, which, proximally thereof, defines a female part in the form of a recess, whereas the upper hook-shaped part consists of a lip with a downward-directed locking element which forms a male part;   the coupling parts of the second pair of edges are configured such that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other at their respective edges by downward movement of the one floor panel in respect to the other;   the coupling parts of second pair of edges comprise locking parts, which, by contact surfaces define at least a first contact zone and a second contact zone, which are situated at opposite sides of the male part and female part;   the locking parts comprise a first locking part and a second locking part at the respective opposite sides of the male part, as well as a third locking part and a fourth locking part at the respective opposite sides of the female part;   in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels, the first and third locking parts define said first contact zone, wherein they have contact surfaces which, in the coupled condition, define at least one inclined tangent line;   in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels, the second and fourth locking parts define said second contact zone, wherein they have contact surfaces, which, in the coupled condition, also define at least one inclined tangent line;   the aforementioned male part has a distal side and a proximal side, wherein the second locking part is situated at the distal side and the first locking part is situated at the proximal side;   wherein the first and third locking parts are at least part of the horizontal locking system;   wherein the second and fourth locking parts are part of the vertical locking system;   in respect to the plane of the floor panel, the tangent line which is defined by the first and third locking parts is steeper than the tangent line which is defined by the second and fourth locking parts, or, the angle of the first-mentioned tangent line with the horizontal is larger than the angle of the second-mentioned tangent line with the horizontal;   the difference in size between both mentioned angles is at least 5 degrees;   the coupling parts of the first or second pair of opposite edges are realized such that the floor panels can be installed according to the fold-down principle;   the center of the second contact zone is situated higher than the center of the first contact zone;   wherein the coupling parts of the first pair of edges and of the second pair of edges are made in one piece in MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) or HDF (High Density Fiberboard);   wherein the floor panel comprises a decorative top layer;   wherein the tangent line in the first contact zone forms an angle with the horizontal of at least 75 degrees and wherein the tangent line in the second contact zone forms an angle with the horizontal of less than 50 degrees;   wherein the horizontal distance between the middle of the first contact zone and the middle of the second contact zone is at least 3 millimeters.   
     
     
         20 . The floor panel according to  claim 19 , wherein the coupling parts at the first pair and the second pair of edges are configured such that in coupled condition a pretension exists, which forces the respective floor panels at the respective edges towards each other.