Set of floor panels

Abstract

Each of connectable floor panels (1, 1', 1") has a male-female longitudinal coupling element (7), a female longitudinal coupling element (8), and an equal male-female transverse coupling element (10) formed below each short edge (4' ). Each transverse coupling element (10) has a central recess (20) with a flat vertical retaining surface (37) recessed into an upper portion of a lower vertical tongue (21), above a flat guiding surface (35), wherein between the flat guiding surface (35) and the flat vertical retaining surface (37) an angular latching surface (34) is formed.

Description

[0001] Set of floor panels

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates to a set of floor panels designed for stably connecting short edges of a panel to long edges of an adj acent panel and long edges of a panel to long edges of an adj acent panel . The invention is applicable to connecting floor panels in parquet patterns, in so-called herringbone, and in mosaics in the form of squares and rectangles . The connectable panels can be made of materials such as solid wood, glued laminated materials, as laminated panels of wood materials and conglomerates of various materials, including mineral conglomerates, and synthetic materials with additives improving the mechanical and hygienic properties of the final products .

[0004] BACKGROUND ART

[0005] Known from WO22224078 is a set of rectangular floor panels comprising two identical downward-facing male-female coupling elements extending partially beyond each of the short edges of the upper surface . Each of the male-female coupling elements has an upper tongue in the form of a plastic resilient insert and a lower tongue with an arched wall and a vertical guiding surface . The equally formed coupling elements formed in this way do not provide the possibility of interconnecting the short side of one floor panel with the short side of identical floor panel, which preferably forces the connection of the short side of one floor panel with the long side of identical panel or the interconnection of these panels with long sides .

[0006] From EP1730366 is known a rectangular panel for laying floors in parquet patterns, herringbone or squares . This panel also hastwo identical downward-f cing male-female coupling elements formed under short edges of its upper surface . In the case of this construction, both an upper tongue and a lower tongue are formed from material of the floor panel core, which eliminates the need for a plastic latch insert . These upper and lower tongues are arranged to connect by latching with respective grooves and tongues formed below both long edges of the adj acent panel . The malefemale coupling element formed under the short edge has a downwardfacing upper tongue, at the same time protruding in a horizontal direction beyond the short edge of the upper surface of the panel . This male-female coupling element also has a downward-facing lower inclined tongue, behind which a lower recess for receiving an upward-facing tip formed on the lip of the female longitudinal coupling element is formed. In addition, a central recess is formed between the upper tongue and the lower tongue adapted to receive an arched tongue of the longitudinal coupling element protruding from the long side of the panel . This central recess is limited by an angular guiding surface, an upper surface, a flat vertical surface, and an angular elongated retaining surface of the lower inclined tongue . In contrast, the tongue tip of the male-female longitudinal coupling element is arcuately terminated such that, when coupled to said central recess of the transverse coupling element, the arc of said tongue tip of the longitudinal coupling element lies on the angular elongated retaining surface and does not contact the flat vertical surface of said central recess .

[0007] Known also from DE202023100292U is a set of rectangular floor panels with grooves and tongues for interconnecting transverse and longitudinal coupling elements . Each such panel also has two identical downward-facing male-female coupling elements extendingpartially beyond each of its two short edges of the upper surface . In this example, a central recess is formed between an upper tongue and a lower tongue of the male-female transverse coupling element for receiving an upward-facing protrusion formed on the longitudinal coupling element of an adj acent panel . The lower tongue of the male-female coupling element has an arched guiding surface all the way up to the upper surface of the central recess .

[0008] The aim of this invention is to develop a set of floor panels, with equal transverse coupling elements on both short sides, the design of which forces the need to lay floors in herringbone or mosaic parquet patterns, while maintaining the stability of connections of short sides with long sides . In addition, the obj ect of this invention is to provide a design that assures improved cooperation for substantially vertical connecting of short sides with long sides of floor panels . Such a design should enable creating a stable transverse-longitudinal connection. In addition, the design of connecting elements of both short and long sides should allow for substantially vertical connecting and, with such connecting, should not cause a lower tongue of a male-female transverse coupling element to break off .

[0009] SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0010] In a set of floor panels of this invention, each of connectable floor panels is in the form of a rectangular plate comprising :

[0011] - an upper surface and an underside surface parallel thereto, to be laid on the ground,

[0012] - two long edges of long side surfaces,

[0013] two short edges of frontal side surfaces .

[0014] In addition, each of the connectable panels has :a male-female longitudinal coupling element formed below the first long edge of the side surface, comprising

[0015] - - a retaining longitudinal recess formed in the upper portion of the male-female longitudinal coupling element, wherein the retaining longitudinal recess is located partially below the upper surface and partially protruding in a horizontal direction beyond the edge of said upper surface, - a female longitudinal coupling element formed below the second long edge at the lower surface, wherein said female longitudinal coupling element has a coupling cavity formed partially under the top surface and partially protruding in a horizontal direction beyond the edge of said top surface,

[0016] - an equal male-female transverse coupling element, formed below each short edge, comprising:

[0017] - - a central recess limited by an angular guiding surface and the upper surface,

[0018] - - a lower recess limited by the upper surface,

[0019] - - an upper tongue protruding downwards below the upper surface of the central recess and protruding in a horizontal direction beyond the edge of the upper surface, and

[0020] - - a lower vertical tongue with an arched wall formed from the side of the lower recess .

[0021] The male-female longitudinal coupling element and the female longitudinal coupling element are parallel to the upper surface, and the retaining longitudinal recess of the male-female longitudinal coupling element has an inclined buttress surface for coupling with an inclined thrust surface of the upper tongue of the male-female transverse coupling element of the adj acent floor panel .Further, the male-female longitudinal coupling element has a lower arched portion and a protrusion formed at its end protruding upwardly above the lower horizontal surface of the retaining longitudinal recess, wherein the protrusion, in the connected state of the floor panels, is arranged in a central recess formed between the upper tongue and the lower vertical tongue of the malefemale transverse coupling element .

[0022] The solution is characterized by that the central recess has a flat vertical retaining surface recessed into the upper portion of a lower vertical tongue, above a flat guiding surface, wherein the flat guiding surface and the flat vertical retaining surface are connected by an angular latching surface .

[0023] Preferably, the angular latching surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane at an angle in a range of 20 ° to 40 ° , and more preferably at the angle of 30 ° .

[0024] Preferably, the angle of inclination of the angular latching surface has the same value as an angle of inclination of the lower flat surface of the male-female longitudinal coupling element .

[0025] Preferably the upper tongue, in the connected state of the floor panels, is seated in the retaining longitudinal recess of the male-female longitudinal coupling element, and the inclined buttress surface of said male-female longitudinal coupling element is in contact with the inclined thrust surface of the upper tongue, wherein a portion of the upper tongue protruding in a horizontal direction beyond the short edge is seated in the longitudinal recess under the upper surface .

[0026] Preferably, the flat vertical retaining surface is parallel to the flat guiding surface .

[0027] Preferably, the flat guiding surface extends into an archedwall of the lower vertical tongue on the side of the lower recess . Preferably, the protrusion of the male-female longitudinal coupling element is terminated by a vertical end surface which connects with a lower flat surface, where a lower latching edge is formed at the connection of the vertical end surface with the lower flat surface .

[0028] Preferably, the lower vertical tongue has an inclined buttress surface between the arched wall and the upper surface of the lower recess .

[0029] Preferably, the inclined buttress surface is flat .

[0030] By such forming of the central recess of the male-female transverse coupling element, wherein the flat vertical retaining surface is recessed in the upper portion of the lower vertical tongue above the flat guiding surface, and the forming of the angular latching surface between the flat guiding surface and the flat vertical retaining surface, better cooperation of the connected floor panels was achieved when they were connected essentially vertically. This facilitates the latch of the protrusion of the longitudinal coupling element into the central recess of the transverse coupling element . Such a structure allows to form a stable transverse-longitudinal connection without adverse breakage of the lower tongue during the floor panel connection operation.

[0031] The configuration of the retaining longitudinal recess in the longitudinal coupling element so that it also enters under the upper surface of the panel allows for bringing the inclined thrust surface of the upper tongue into contact with the inclined buttress surface of the longitudinal coupling element, and thus placing a portion of the upper tongue protruding in a horizontal directionbeyond the short edge inside a portion of a recess formed under the upper surface .

[0032] The placement of the flat inclined buttress surface between the arched wall of the lower vertical tongue and the upper surface of the lower recess provides a stable connection of the tip of the lip of the female longitudinal coupling element after it is seated on the arched wall .

[0033] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] The subj ect of the invention is presented by means of embodiments in the drawing, the figures of which show:

[0035] Fig. 1 floor panel in plan view;

[0036] Fig. 2 floor panels arranged in a herringbone pattern in axonometric view;

[0037] Fig. 3 the panel in a cross-sectional view showing coupling elements on the long sides;

[0038] Fig. 4 the panel in a longitudinal view showing coupling elements on the short sides;

[0039] Fig. 5 a set of floor panels prepared to form a lock in the first version of the orthogonal connection;

[0040] Fig. 6 the set of floor panels of fig. 5 in a position during the connection operation of their profiles to form the lock;

[0041] Fig. 7 the set of floor panels of fig. 6 in the connected position;

[0042] Fig. 7a an enlarged view of the male-female longitudinal coupling element of fig. 7 ;

[0043] Fig. 7b an enlarged view of the male-female transverse coupling element of fig. 7 ;

[0044] Fig. 8 a set of floor panels prepared to form a lock in the second version of the orthogonal connection;Fig. 9 the set of floor panels of fig. 8 in a position during the connection operation of their profiles to form the lock;

[0045] Fig. 10 the set of floor panels of fig. 9 in the connected position;

[0046] Fig. 11 the set of floor panels prepared to form a lock in a version of parallel connection;

[0047] Fig. 12 the set of floor panels of fig. 11 in a position during the connection operation of their profiles to form the lock;

[0048] Fig. 13 the set of floor panels of fig. 12 in the connected position;

[0049] Fig. 14 floor panels during connecting a long side to a long side and connecting a short side to a long side of an adj acent panel ;

[0050] Fig. 15 floor panels of fig. 14 arranged in a herringbone pattern in axonometric view.

[0051] EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0052] Fig. 1 illustrates a floor panel 1 having two parallel long edges 2, 2' of long side surfaces 3, 3' and two parallel short edges 4, 4' of frontal side surfaces 5, 5' . The long edges 2, 2' and the short edges 4, 4' define a rectangular area of an upper surface 6 of the floor panel 1. Outside said upper surface 6, a male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 and a female longitudinal coupling element 8 protrude sideways . Both the longitudinal coupling elements 7, 8 are parallel to a longitudinal axis 9 of the upper surface 6 of the floor panel 1. Below the short edges 4, 4' equally formed male-female transverse coupling elements 10, 10' are placed and arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 9.In fig. 2, a method of assembling the floor panels 1, 1' , 1' ' in the form of herringbone is illustrated. As shown in fig. 2, another floor panel 1 is attached to the female longitudinal coupling element 8 of the floor panel 1' , which is deflected from the floor by an angle a with an insertion of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7, and then the deflected floor panel 1 is moved longitudinally towards the female longitudinal coupling element 8 of the floor panel 1' ' . During the final step of pressing the floor panel 1, before its lower surface 11 contacts a ground 12, there is a shift towards the long side surface 3 of the floor panel 1' ' , which results in coupling and produces two connecting locks at the same time, the first of which is comprised between the female longitudinal coupling element 8 of the floor panel 1' and the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 of the floor panel 1 and the second between the male-female transverse coupling element 10 of the floor panel 1 and the female longitudinal coupling element 8 of the floor panel 1' ' .

[0053] As shown in fig. 3, below the first long edge 2 of the long side surface 3 of the floor panel 1, the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 is formed with a lower arched portion 13 having a radius R1 extending into a rising lower flat surface 14. In the upper portion of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7, an upwardly open retaining longitudinal recess 15 is formed, entering under the upper surface 6 and partially protruding in a horizontal direction beyond the long edge 2 of said upper surface 6. Below the second long edge 2' of the long side surface 3' , the female longitudinal coupling element 8 is formed with a coupling cavity 16 and with a lip 17 protruding in a horizontal directionbeyond said edge 2' of the upper surface 6. The inner portion of the lip 17 has a concave arched surface 18 with a radius r .

[0054] Fig. 4 shows the shape of equal male-female transverse coupling elements 10, 10' formed below each of the short edge 4, 4' of the frontal side surfaces 5, 5' . Each of the male-female transverse coupling elements 10, 10' has an upper tongue 19 separated by a central recess 20 from a lower vertical tongue 21, wherein said lower vertical tongue 21 has an arched wall 22 with a radius R2 formed from the side of a lower recess 23.

[0055] The first version of the perpendicular connection, shown in fig. 5, fig. 6 and fig. 7, is designed to engage the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 with the male-female transverse coupling element 10. The male-female longitudinal coupling element 7, shown in fig. 5, protrudes beyond the long edge 2 of the long side surface 3 and has the upwardly open retaining longitudinal recess 15 that enters under the upper surface 6 and partially protrudes in a horizontal direction beyond the long side surface 3. The retaining longitudinal recess 15 has a lower horizontal surface 24 intended for contact with a lower flat surface 25 of the upper tongue 19 and an inclined buttress surface 26 formed between an upper inner surface 26a and the long side surface 3. This inclined buttress surface 26 comes into contact with an inclined thrust surface 27 of the upper tongue 19. At the end of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7, a protrusion 28 is formed rising above the lower horizontal surface 24, limited by an inclined abutment surface 29, an upper horizontal surface 30 and a vertical end surface 31. Said vertical end surface 31 in its lower portion extends into the lower flat surface 14 to form a lower latching edge 32 .The central recess 20 formed between the upper tongue 19 and the lower tongue 21 has an angular guiding surface 33 and an angular latching surface 34 above a flat guiding surface 35. The angular guiding surface 33 constituting the inner surface of the upper tongue 19 extends into an upper surface 36, which extends into a flat vertical retaining surface 37, and said flat vertical retaining surface 37 extends into the flat guiding surface 35 through said angular latching surface 34. In this way, a recess in the flat vertical retaining surface 37 in the upper portion of the lower vertical tongue 21 above the flat guiding surface 35 is obtained .

[0056] When connecting the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 to the male-female transverse coupling element 10, the protrusion 28 fits into the central recess 20 such that the inclined abutment surface 29 comes into contact with the angular guiding surface 33, and the lower latching edge 32 moves over the angular latching surface 34 located above the flat guiding surface 35 of the lower vertical tongue 21. In the final stage of fixing the floor panels 1, 1' the upper horizontal surface 30 of the protrusion 28 is arranged in parallel to the upper surface 36 of the central recess 20 and, respectively, the vertical end surface 31 is arranged in parallel to the flat vertical retaining surface 37. This configuration of the central recess 20 allows the latching insertion of the protrusion 28 of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 such that after the latching it is held both in the area of the upper horizontal surface 30 and in the area of the vertical end surface 31.

[0057] Behind the arched wall 22 of the lower vertical tongue 21, the lower recess 23 is formed, limited by an upper surface 38,wherein an inclined buttress surface 39 is formed between the arched wall 22 and the lower recess 23.

[0058] The upper tongue 19 further has a vertical frontal surface 40 which, like the vertical flat guiding surface 35 of the lower vertical tongue 21, facilitates proper guidance of the panels 1, 1' during their assembly. The vertical frontal surface 40 of the upper tongue 19 is guided over the long side surface 3, and the vertical end surface 31 of the protrusion 28 is guided over the flat guiding surface 35 of the lower vertical tongue 21. When the upper tongue 19 is seated in the retaining longitudinal recess 15 and the protrusion 28 is seated in the central recess 20, the upper surfaces 6 and the lower surfaces 11 of the connected panels 1, 1' are flush.

[0059] As shown in fig. 6, when connecting the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 to the male-female transverse coupling element 10 of the floor panels 1, 1' , the vertical frontal surface 40 of the upper tongue 19 slides over the long side surface 3 over the retaining longitudinal recess 15, and the vertical end surface 31 of the protrusion 28 slides over the flat guiding surface 35 of the lower vertical tongue 21. As a result of further mutual pressing of the floor panels 1, 1' , the protrusion 28 enters the central recess 20, both in the area of its upper recess limited by the upper surface 36 and in the area of its lateral recess limited by the flat vertical retaining surface 37.

[0060] In a connected position of the floor panels shown in fig. 7 the upper tongue 19 is seated by latching in the retaining longitudinal recess 15. In this position, a portion of the upper tongue 19 protruding in a horizontal direction beyond the upper surface 6 of the floor panel 1' is seated in a portion of theretaining longitudinal recess 15 entering horizontally under the upper surface 6 of the floor panel 1. In contrast, the protrusion 28 is seated in the central recess 20 between the angular guiding surface 33 and the angular latching surface 34.

[0061] As shown in the enlarged view in fig. 7a and fig. 7b, the portion of the retaining longitudinal recess 15 and the protrusion 28 of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 of the floor panel 1 protrudes in a horizontal direction beyond the long edge 2. The inclined buttress surface 26 is inclined with respect to the long side surface 3 at an angle al equal to 45 ° , preferably with a tolerance of ±10 ° , the same as an angle a2 of inclination of the inclined thrust surface 27 of the upper tongue 19. In contrast, the inclined abutment surface 29 of the protrusion 28 is inclined with respect to the long side surface 3 at an angle pl of 20 ° preferably with a tolerance of ±10 ° , the same as an angle p2 of inclination of the angular guiding surface 33 of the upper tongue 19.

[0062] The central recess 20 of the male-female transverse coupling element 10 of the floor panel 1' is formed between the upper tongue 19 and the lower vertical tongue 21, between the angular guiding surface 33, the upper surface 36, the flat vertical retaining surface 37 recessed into the upper part of the lower vertical tongue 21 and the angular latching surface 34, wherein this angular latching surface 34 is formed between the flat vertical retaining surface 37 and the flat guiding surface 35. The angular latching surface 34 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane at an angle y2 equal to 30 ° , preferably with a tolerance of ±10 ° , the same as an angle yl of inclination of the lower flat surface 14 of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7. The given anglesal, a2, pl, p2, yl, y2 and their preferred tolerances can be used for solid oak wood floor panels , glued laminated materials, laminates of wood materials and conglomerates of various materials, including mineral conglomerates, and synthetic materials .

[0063] The protrusion 28 of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 is terminated by the vertical end surface 31 which extends into the lower flat surface 14, whereby the lower latching edge 32 is formed at the connection of the vertical end surface 31 with the lower flat surface 14.

[0064] The second version of the perpendicular connection, shown in fig. 8, fig. 9 and fig. 10, is designed to engage the female longitudinal coupling element 8 with the male-female transverse coupling element 10' . The connecting of the floor panels 1, 1' is performed by vertically pressing the upper tongue 19 and the lower vertical tongue 21 of the male-female transverse coupling element 10' into the female longitudinal coupling element 8 to flush the upper surfaces 6 of the panels 1, 1' . The attachment of the floor panel 1' is performed by lifting it slightly and pushing the vertical frontal surface 40 to the long side surface 3' of the floor panel 1 and pressing on the upper surface 6 of the floor panel 1 ’ .

[0065] When connecting the female longitudinal coupling element 8 to the male-female transverse coupling element 10' of the floor panels 1, 1' , the vertical frontal surface 40 of the male-female transverse coupling element 10' is moved over the long side surface 3' , and the lower vertical tongue 21 with its arched wall 22 with the radius R2 presses against a flat sliding surface 41 of the lip 17, moving towards its concave arched surface 18 with the radius r .The movable male-female transverse coupling element 10' of the attached panel 1' exerts pressure on the flat sliding surface 41, causing the lip 17 to deflect elastically. The vertical frontal surface 40 of the male-female transverse coupling element 10' passes the long side surface 3' and the upper tongue 19 moves towards the coupling cavity 16, in which the inclined thrust surface 27 of the upper tongue 19 will abut a second buttress surface 42 of the floor panel 1, and the arched wall 22 with the radius R2 of the lower vertical tongue 21 of the attached floor panel 1' will abut the concave arched surface 18 with a radius r and the connection will be secured against disconnection using a input notch 43 from the side of the flat sliding surface 41, and an output notch 44 from the bottom. In the connected position of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 to the male-female transverse coupling element 10' , a tip 45 of the lip 17 is inserted into the lower recess 23 and in this position the flat sliding surface 41 is adj acent to the inclined buttress surface 39 formed between the end of the arched wall 22 and the upper surface 38 of the lower recess 23.

[0066] Fig. 9 shows the female longitudinal coupling element 8 of the floor panel 1 and the male-female transverse coupling element 10' of the panel 1' in the process of assembly, showing the method of guiding the male-female transverse coupling element 10 of the panel 1' when fastened into the female longitudinal coupling element 8 of the panel 1.

[0067] Fig. 10 shows the set of floor panels 1, 1' of fig. 9 in the connected position, in which the previously deflected lip 17 of the female longitudinal coupling element 8 made an elastic return to the starting position, pushing its concave arched surface 18against the convex arched wall 22 of the lower vertical tongue 21 of the male-female transverse coupling element 10' . In this position the tip 45 of the lip 17 is placed in the lower recess 23 and the flat sliding surface 41 is pressed against the inclined buttress surface 39 of the lower vertical tongue 21, and furthermore the frontal side surface 5' is pulled to the long side surface 3' and the contact of the inclined thrust surface 27 of the upper tongue 19 with the second buttress surface 42 of the floor panel 1 occurs .

[0068] An example of a parallel connection of the long edges 2, 2' of the long side surfaces 3, 3' of the adj acent floor panels 1, 1' is shown in fig. 11, fig. 12 and fig. 13. The parallel connection of the floor panels 1 and 1' is effected by deflecting the attached floor panel 1 by the angle a from the ground 12, as shown in fig. 2, and introducing the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 into the coupling cavity 16 formed in the female longitudinal coupling element 8. For this purpose, the lower arched portion 13 of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 is abutted on the flat sliding surface 41 of the lip 17, and the attached floor panel 1 is pressed downwards, causing the lower arched portion 13 with a radius R1 of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 to move through the input notch 43 until the lower arched portion 13 is introduced onto the concave arched surface 18 of the lip 17, between the input notch 43 and the output notch 44. At the same time, when pressing the floor panel 1, the lower flat surface 14 of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 moves to a position parallel to an inclined plane 46 of the lip 17 of the female longitudinal coupling element 8, and the upper horizontal surface 30 of the protrusion 28 abuts the inner horizontal abutmentsurface 47 of the coupling cavity 16. In this final position, the tip 45 of the lip 17 is seated in a lower recess 48, and the flat sliding surface 41 is in contact with an inclined buttress surface 49 of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7. In such final position the long side surface 3 is pressed against the lateral surface 3' , whereby the long edges 2, 2' are in contact and the upper surfaces 6 of the two floor panels 1, 1' are flush.

[0069] In the case of the parallel connection of the floor panels 1, 1' shown in fig. 11 to fig. 13, and in the case of the second version of the perpendicular connection shown in fig. 8 to fig.

[0070] 10, the upwardly open retaining longitudinal recess 15 of the upper portion of the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 is not used, and the central recess 20 formed between the upper tongue 19 and the lower vertical tongue 21 is not used. These technical means are used only for the first version of the perpendicular connection shown in the embodiment in fig. 5 to fig. 7, for coupling the malefemale longitudinal coupling element 7 to the male-female transverse coupling element 10.

[0071] As shown in the embodiment in fig. 14 and fig. 15, connecting the floor panels 1, 1' , 1' ' into the so-called herringbone consists of parallel connections, such as the connection of the floor panels 1 and 1' , and of perpendicular connections, such as the connection of the panel 1 to the panel 1' ' and the connection of the floor panel 1' to the floor panel 1' ' .

[0072] The assembly of the panels manufactured according to the invention into the parquet patterns is possible by using the multifunctional coupling elements, shown in the embodiment in fig.

[0073] 5 to fig. 7, for coupling the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 to the male-female transverse coupling element 10, 10'in the first version of the perpendicular connection and in the second version of the perpendicular connection shown in fig. 8 to fig. 10, as well as in the version of the parallel connection of the floor panels shown in fig. 11 to fig. 13.

[0074] As shown in fig. 14, the floor panel 1' is connected to the floor panel 1' ' using the connection shown in fig. 8 to fig. 10, where the male-female transverse coupling element 10' is pressed into the female longitudinal coupling element 8. The floor panel 1 is connected to the floor panels 1, 1' ' thus connected using the connection shown in fig. 11 to fig. 13, wherein the male-female longitudinal coupling element 7 is connected to the female longitudinal coupling element 8 using a rotational movement with respect to the long edge 2, 2' . In the final step of connecting these longitudinal coupling elements, the male-female transverse coupling element 10 of the floor panel 1 is coupled to the female longitudinal coupling element 8 of the floor panel 1' ' .

[0075] Fig. 15 shows an axonometric view of the connected floor panels after the connecting step shown in fig. 14. In the case of designing floor panels 1, 1' , 1' ' intended for transverse-longitudinal laying, a length 50 of the upper surface 6 of each floor panel 1, 1' , 1' ' should be a multiple of its width 51.

[0076] The selected terminology used herein is for informational purposes only and does not in any way limit the scope of the present invention. For example, terms such as "top" , "lower" , "side" , "center" , "vertical" , "horizontal" , or the like only describe the position shown in the figures .

[0077] As follows from the above, the upper surface means the surface visible when the floor panels are laid on the ground, whether the floor panels are laid on the floor, on the wall or on the ceiling.The lower surface means the surface invisible when laid, whether the floor panels are laid on the floor, on the wall or on the ceiling, and intended to be in contact with the ground, while the horizontal plane means any plane parallel to the upper surface of the floor panel .

[0078] Similar reference numbers in the drawing refer to similar elements . The preferred embodiments disclosed in the drawing and in the description, despite the use of certain terms, are of a general nature only and should not be considered as limitations of the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims .

[0079] List of references :

[0080] 1, 1' , 1' ' floor panel

[0081] 2, 2' long edge

[0082] 3, 3' long side surface

[0083] 4, 4' short edge

[0084] 5, 5' side surface

[0085] 6 upper surface of floor panel

[0086] 7 male-female longitudinal coupling element

[0087] 8 female longitudinal coupling element

[0088] 9 longitudinal axis

[0089] 10, 10' male-female transverse coupling elements

[0090] 11 lower surface

[0091] 12 ground

[0092] 13 lower arched portion

[0093] 14 lower flat surface

[0094] 15 retaining longitudinal recess

[0095] 16 coupling cavity18 concave arched surface

[0096] 19 upper tongue

[0097] 20 central recess

[0098] 21 lower vertical tongue

[0099] 22 arched wall

[0100] 23 lower recess

[0101] 24 lower horizontal surface

[0102] 25 lower flat surface

[0103] 26 inclined buttress surface

[0104] 26a upper inner surface

[0105] 27 inclined thrust surface

[0106] 28 protrusion

[0107] 29 inclined abutment surface

[0108] 30 upper horizontal surface

[0109] 31 vertical end surface

[0110] 32 lower latching edge

[0111] 33 angular guiding surface

[0112] 34 angular latching surface

[0113] 35 flat guiding surface

[0114] 36 upper surface

[0115] 37 flat vertical retaining surface 38 upper surface

[0116] 39 inclined buttress surface

[0117] 40 vertical frontal surface

[0118] 41 flat sliding surface

[0119] 42 second buttress surface

[0120] 43 input notch

[0121] 44 output notch

[0122] 45 tip of the lip46 inclined lip plane

[0123] 47 inner horizontal abutment surface

[0124] 48 lower recess

[0125] 49 inclined buttress surface

[0126] 50 upper surface length

[0127] 51 upper surface width

[0128] r radius of concave arched surface

[0129] R1 radius of lower arched portion

[0130] R2 radius of lower vertical tongue

[0131] a deflection angle of the panel from the floor

[0132] al angle of inclination of the inclined buttress surface a2 angle of inclination of the inclined thrust surface pl angle of inclination of the inclined abutment surface p2 angle of inclination of the angular guiding surface yl angle of inclination of the lower flat surface y2 angle of inclination of the angular latching surface .

Claims

Claims1 . A set of floor panels ( 1 , 1 ' , 1 ' ’ ) , in which each of the connectable floor panels ( 1 , 1 ' , 1 ' ' ) is in the form of a rectangular plate , the plate comprising- an upper surface ( 6 ) and a lower surface ( 11 ) parallel thereto , - two long edges ( 2 , 2 ' ) of a long side surfaces ( 3 , 3 ' ) ,- two short edges ( 4 , 4 ' ) of frontal side surfaces ( 5 , 5 ' ) ,- a male- female longitudinal coupling element ( 7 ) formed below the first long edge ( 2 ) of the long side surface ( 3 ) , comprising- - a retaining longitudinal recess ( 15 ) formed in the upper portion of the male- female longitudinal coupling element ( 7 ) , wherein the retaining longitudinal recess ( 15 ) is located partially under the upper surface ( 6 ) and partially protrudes in a hori zontal direction beyond the edge ( 2 ) of said upper surface ( 6 ) ,- a female longitudinal coupling element ( 8 ) formed below the second long edge ( 2 ' ) at the lower surface ( 11 ) , wherein said female longitudinal coupling element ( 8 ) has a coupling cavity ( 16 ) formed partially under the upper surface ( 6 ) and partially protrudes in a hori zontal direction beyond the edge ( 2 ' ) of said upper surface ( 6 ) ,- an equal male- female transverse coupling element ( 10 , 10 ' ) , formed below each of the short edge ( 4 , 4 ' ) , comprising- - a central recess ( 20 ) limited by an angular guiding surface ( 33 ) and an upper surface ( 36 ) ,- - a lower recess ( 23 ) limited by an upper surface ( 38 ) , - - an upper tongue ( 19 ) protruding downwards below the upper surface ( 36 ) of the central recess ( 20 ) and protruding in ahori zontal direction beyond the edge ( 4 , 4 ' ) of the upper surface ( 6 ) , and- - a lower vertical tongue ( 21 ) with an arched wall ( 22 ) formed from the side of a lower recess ( 23 ) ,wherein the male- female longitudinal coupling element ( 7 ) and the female longitudinal coupling element ( 8 ) are parallel to the upper surface ( 6 ) , and the retaining longitudinal recess ( 15 ) of the male- female longitudinal coupling element ( 7 ) has an inclined buttress surface ( 26 ) for coupling with an inclined thrust surface ( 27 ) of the upper tongue ( 19 ) of the male- female transverse coupling element ( 10 , 10 ' ) of the adj acent floor panel ( 1 ' ) , and further, the male- female longitudinal coupling element ( 7 ) has a lower arched portion ( 13 ) and, at its end, a protrusion ( 28 ) protruding upwardly above a lower hori zontal surface ( 24 ) of the retaining longitudinal recess ( 15 ) , wherein the protrusion ( 28 ) in a connected state of the floor panels ( 1 , 1 ' ) is arranged in the central recess ( 20 ) between the upper tongue ( 19 ) and the lower vertical tongue ( 21 ) of the male- female transverse coupling element ( 10 , 10 ' ) ,characteri zed in that the central recess ( 20 ) has a flat vertical retaining surface ( 37 ) recessed into an upper portion of the lower vertical tongue ( 21 ) , above a flat guiding surface ( 35 ) , wherein the flat guiding surface ( 35 ) and the flat vertical retaining surface ( 37 ) are connected by an angular latching surface ( 34 ) .2 . The set according to claim 1 characteri zed in that the angular latching surface ( 34 ) is inclined with respect to the hori zontal plane at an angle (y2 ) in the range of 20 ° to 40 ° .3 . The set according to claim 1 or 2 characteri zed in that the angular latching surface ( 34 ) i s inclined with respect to thehori zontal plane at the angle (y2 ) of 30 ° .4 . The set according to claim 2 or 3 characteri zed in that the angle of inclination (y2 ) of the angular latching surface ( 34 ) has the same value as an angle of inclination (yl ) of a lower flat surface ( 14 ) of the male- female longitudinal coupling element ( 7 ) .5 . The set according to any of claims 1 to 4 , characteri zed in that the upper tongue ( 19 ) in the connected state of the floor panels ( 1 , 1 ' ) is seated in the retaining longitudinal recess ( 15 ) of the male- female longitudinal coupling element ( 7 ) , and the inclined buttress surface ( 26 ) of said male- female longitudinal coupling element ( 7 ) is in contact with the inclined thrust surface ( 27 ) of the upper tongue ( 19 ) , wherein the portion of the upper tongue ( 19 ) protruding in a hori zontal direction beyond the short edge ( 4 , 4 ' ) is seated in the retaining longitudinal recess ( 15 ) under the upper surface ( 6 ) .6 . The set according to any of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the flat vertical retaining surface ( 37 ) is parallel to the flat guiding surface ( 35 ) .7 . The set according to any of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the flat guiding surface ( 35 ) extends into the arched wall ( 22 ) of the lower vertical tongue ( 21 ) on the side of the lower recess ( 23 ) .8 . The set according to any of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the protrusion ( 28 ) of the male- female longitudinal coupling element ( 7 ) is terminated by a vertical end surface ( 31 ) which connects with the lower flat surface ( 14 ) , whereby a lower latching edge ( 32 ) is formed at the connection of the vertical end surface ( 31 ) with the lower flat surface ( 14 ) .9 . The set according to any of claims 1 to 8 characterized in thatthe lower vertical tongue (21 ) has an inclined buttress surface (39) between the arched wall (22) and the upper surface (38 ) of the lower recess (23) .

10. The set according to claim 9 characterized in that the inclined buttress surface (39) is flat .

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