Covering made from mechanically interconnectable panels

Abstract

The invention relates to a covering comprising panels that can be connected to each other mechanically, and having the following characteristics:—adjacent first and second panels ( 1, 2 ) each having a groove ( 6, 14 ) on the sides ( 5, 21 ) thereof that are complementary to each other,—the grooves ( 6, 14 ) each have upper and lower groove sides ( 7, 8; 17, 26 ) having different lengths,—in one of the grooves ( 6, 14 ) a tongue ( 9, 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d ) is arranged that can be moved relative to the panel ( 1, 2 ) at least in parts, said tongue is suitable for engaging in the corresponding groove ( 6, 14 ) of the adjacent panel ( 1, 2 ) when the adjacent panels ( 1, 2 ) are connected,—the tongue ( 9, 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d ) has at least one projection ( 16, 33, 42, 43 ), which points in the direction of the area of the longer groove sides ( 7, 17 ) of the other groove ( 6, 14 ) that protrudes relative to the shorter groove sides ( 8, 26 ),—the projection ( 16, 33, 42, 43 ) is intended to be moved transversely to the laying plane ( ) of the panels ( 1, 2 ) in the event of contact with said area of the groove side ( 7, 17 ), wherein the projection ( 16, 33, 42, 43 ) is operatively connected to a locking section ( 13, 29, 32, 35, 41, 47 ) of the tongue ( 9, 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d ), said locking section can be moved in the direction of the groove ( 6, 14 ) of the adjacent panel ( 1, 2 ) as a result of the motion of the projection ( 16, 33, 42, 43 ),

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A covering, comprising:
 first and second panels disposed adjacent to one another and having confronting sides which complement one another, each said side having a groove, wherein the groove of one of the confronting sides and the groove of the other one of the confronting sides have upper and lower groove flanks of different lengths to define a short groove flank and a long groove flank which projects beyond the short groove flank by a protruding region; and   a tongue having a locking section, a retaining section, and a connecting section which is displaceable relative to the retaining section and the locking section, said tongue being movably received in one of the grooves of one of the first and second panels for engagement in the groove of the other one of the first and second panels when the first and second panels are connected, said tongue having at least one projection which is oriented in a direction of the protruding region of the long groove flank of the other one of the grooves, said projection being configured to move transversely to a plane of installation when contacting the protruding region to thereby displace the locking section of the tongue in the direction of the groove of the other one of the first and second panels.   
     
     
         20 . The covering of  claim 19 , wherein the locking section bridges in a locking position a gap between the short groove flank of the one of the grooves and the long groove flank of the other one of the grooves. 
     
     
         21 . The covering of  claim 19 , wherein the connecting section is flexibly connected to at least one member selected from the group consisting of locking section and retaining section. 
     
     
         22 . The covering of  claim 21 , further comprising a joint between the connecting section and the member, said joint defining a pivot axis in parallel relationship to the one of the grooves. 
     
     
         23 . The covering of  claim 22 , wherein the joint is a film joint. 
     
     
         24 . The covering of  claim 22 , wherein the joint is arranged between opposing edges of the connecting section and the member. 
     
     
         25 . The covering of  claim 22 , wherein the joint is made from a same material as the locking section, retaining section and connecting section of the tongue. 
     
     
         26 . The covering of  claim 22 , wherein the joint is made from a different material as the locking section, retaining section and connecting section of the tongue. 
     
     
         27 . The covering of  claim 26 , wherein the joint is made from hotmelt. 
     
     
         28 . The covering of  claim 19 , wherein the tongue is made from an elastic material. 
     
     
         29 . The covering of  claim 19 , wherein the locking section is made from a material defined by a lower elasticity than other parts of the tongue. 
     
     
         30 . The covering of  claim 19 , wherein the tongue comprises a plurality of said locking section, said locking sections being arranged in spaced-apart relationship in longitudinal direction of the one of the grooves and actuatable independently of one another. 
     
     
         31 . The covering of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of said tongue in the one of the grooves, wherein the retaining sections of the tongues are connected to one another in a region of the one of the grooves. 
     
     
         32 . The covering of  claim 19 , wherein the locking section of the tongue has a profiling on at least one side selected from the group consisting of a side oriented towards an upper side of the one of the first and second panels and a side oriented towards a lower side of the one of the first and second panels. 
     
     
         33 . The covering of  claim 19 , wherein the one of the grooves has a profiling on at least one of the upper and lower groove flanks for receiving the locking section of the tongue. 
     
     
         34 . The covering of  claim 33 , wherein the locking section of the tongue has a profiling on at least one side selected from the group consisting of a side oriented towards an upper side of the one of the first and second panels and a side oriented towards a lower side of the one of the first and second panels, said profiling of the locking section engaging in the profiling of the one of the grooves. 
     
     
         35 . The covering of  claim 19 , wherein parts of the tongue are constructed to be able to assume a first state and a second state, wherein the first state is a stable state and the second state is a stable or metastable state.