Panel

Abstract

A panel has at least one first pair of opposite edges with coupling parts that allow two such panels to be couplable together. The coupling parts include a horizontally acting locking system that in a coupled state of two such panels achieves locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges. The horizontally acting locking system includes a projecting lip with an upward directed locking element on the underside of the panel. The upward directed locking element abuts against the proximally located upper side of the aforementioned projecting lip at least by means of a concave surface.

1 .- 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A panel, wherein this panel has at least one first pair of opposite edges with coupling parts,
 wherein the aforementioned coupling parts allow two such panels to be couplable together and further have the following characteristic features:   the coupling parts comprise a horizontally acting locking system, which in a coupled state of two such panels achieve locking in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges;   the coupling parts also comprise a vertically acting locking system, which in a coupled state of two such panels achieve locking transverse to the plane of the panels;   wherein the horizontally acting locking system comprises a projecting lip with an upward directed locking element on the underside of the panel,   wherein the upward directed locking element abuts against the proximally located upper side of the aforementioned projecting lip at least by means of a curved concave surface with a radius of at least 0.7 mm; and/or by means of a curved concave surface with a radius that is at least 75%, or at least 85% of the thickness of the panel, excluding an optional glued-on sublayer; and/or by means of a concave surface formed by two planes that enclose an angle of at least 105°.   
     
     
         50 . The panel as in  claim 49 , wherein the horizontally acting locking system comprises, on the opposite edge, a downward directed locking element, which in the aforementioned coupled state comes or may come into contact with the aforementioned upward directed locking element. 
     
     
         51 . The panel as in  claim 50 , wherein the aforementioned contact extends over a contact surface that is located completely in the lowest 65% of the total height over which the upward directed locking element extends relative to the aforementioned proximally located upper side of the projecting lip. 
     
     
         52 . The panel as in  claim 50 , wherein the downward directed locking element extends deeper in the proximal half thereof than in the distal half thereof,
 wherein the difference in depth is at least 0.20 mm.   
     
     
         53 . The panel as in  claim 49 , wherein the aforementioned coupled state the projecting lip is bent out downward. 
     
     
         54 . The panel as in  claim 50 , wherein the coupling part comprises a tongue on the aforementioned opposite edge,
 wherein the tongue comprises the downward directed locking element on its underside,   wherein the aforementioned projecting lip is the lower lip of a groove, which is delimited upward by an upper lip,   wherein the interaction of the aforementioned tongue and groove in the aforementioned coupled state brings about locking in the direction perpendicular to the coupled panels, or   wherein, in other words, the aforementioned tongue and groove form part of the aforementioned vertical locking system,   wherein the tongue of a first such panel may be brought by means of a turning motion and/or by means of a substantially horizontal sliding motion, into the groove of a second such panel, wherein coupling is obtained between the first such panel and the second such panel.   
     
     
         55 . The panel as in  claim 49 , wherein the aforementioned projecting lip comprises a recess on the underside from the distal end of the lower lip. 
     
     
         56 . The panel as in  claim 55 , wherein the aforementioned recess has, vertically under the aforementioned, whether or not curved, concave surface, a height, measured perpendicular to the plane of the panel, of at least 10% of the total thickness of the panel. 
     
     
         57 . A panel, wherein this panel has at least one first pair of opposite edges with coupling parts,
 wherein the aforementioned coupling parts allow two such panels to be couplable together,   wherein in the coupled state locking is obtained on the respective edges both in a horizontal direction in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges and in a vertical direction transverse to the plane of the panels,   wherein the coupling parts are configured substantially as a tongue and a groove delimited by means of a lower lip and an upper lip,   wherein the aforementioned tongue and groove are provided with locking elements that prevent the tongue and groove moving apart and   wherein the aforementioned locking elements comprise an upright locking element on the aforementioned lower lip and, interacting therewith, the downward directed locking element on the underside of the tongue,   wherein in the aforementioned coupled state a contact surface is formed between the upper side of the aforementioned tongue and the underside of the aforementioned upper lip, wherein   the largest thickness of the aforementioned upper lip at the location of the aforementioned contact surface is equal, or is approximately equal, to the smallest thickness of the aforementioned lower lip and/or   wherein the difference in thickness is less than 10%, or even 5% or less than the thickness of the panel, excluding an optional glued-on sublayer; and/or   wherein the smaller of the aforementioned thicknesses of the lower lip and upper lip is at least 90% of the larger of the aforementioned thicknesses;   the smallest thickness of the portion of the lower lip, proximal to the upright locking portion, is located at a distal position of the upper lip, or, in other words, in the portion of the lower lip that extends beyond the upper lip or, in yet other words, in the projecting portion of the lower lip;   the sum of the aforementioned largest thickness of the upper lip, the smallest thickness of the lower lip and the largest thickness of the tongue at the location of the aforementioned contact surface is less than, but is almost equal to the thickness of the panel, and/or   wherein between the aforementioned sum and the thickness of the panel there is less than 10%, or even 5% or less of the thickness of the panel, excluding an optional glued-on sublayer.   
     
     
         58 . The panel as in  claim 57 , wherein the thickness of the projecting portion of the lower lip decreases continuously in the distal direction to the proximal position with the aforementioned smallest thickness. 
     
     
         59 . The panel as in  claim 57 , wherein the aforementioned smallest thickness of the lower lip is manifested at or just before the abutment of the upper side of the lower lip with the aforementioned upright locking element. 
     
     
         60 . The panel as in  claim 57 , wherein the horizontal distance of the distal position with the aforementioned smallest thickness from the lower lip to the distal end of the upper lip is at least 50%, or 75% or more of the distance by which the lower lip projects beyond the upper lip. 
     
     
         61 . The panel as in  claim 57 , wherein in the aforementioned coupled state a space is present between the upper side of the lower lip and the underside of the tongue. 
     
     
         62 . The panel as in  claim 61 , wherein the aforementioned space at least is present at the location of the zone or position with the aforementioned smallest thickness. 
     
     
         63 . The panel as in  claim 61 , wherein the aforementioned space is present continuously from a position vertically under the distal end of the upper lip at least to the proximal position with the aforementioned smallest thickness. 
     
     
         64 . The panel as in  claim 61 , wherein the aforementioned space, at least over 80% of the distance over which the space extends in the horizontal direction, has an almost constant vertical dimension,
 wherein this vertical dimension has, over the respective distance, if it varies, a variation of less than 10%, or even of 5% or less, and/or   wherein this vertical dimension, over the distance between the position vertically under the distal end of the upper lip and the proximal position with the aforementioned smallest thickness, if it varies, displays a variation of less than 10%, or even of 5% or less.   
     
     
         65 . The panel as in  claim 57 , wherein in the aforementioned coupled state a contact surface is formed between the aforementioned upright locking element and the aforementioned downward directed locking element,
 wherein this contact surface has a tangent increasing in the distal direction of the lower lip, said tangent making an angle from 47.5 to 65° with the horizontal.   
     
     
         66 . The panel as in  claim 65 , wherein the distal position with the aforementioned smallest thickness is located at a distance from the center of the aforementioned contact surface,
 wherein this distance is less than 20% of the thickness of the panel, or is 10% or less of this thickness.   
     
     
         67 . The panel as in  claim 65 , wherein the center of the aforementioned contact surface is located at a horizontal distance from the distal end of the upper lip that is greater than 50% of the thickness of the panel, or is 60% or more of the thickness of the panel. 
     
     
         68 . A panel, wherein this panel has at least one first pair of opposite edges with coupling parts,
 wherein the aforementioned coupling parts allow two such panels to be couplable together,   wherein in the coupled state, locking is obtained on the respective edges both in a horizontal direction in the plane of the panels and perpendicular to the respective edges, and in a vertical direction transverse to the plane of the panels,   wherein the coupling parts are substantially configured as a tongue and a groove delimited by means of a lower lip and an upper lip,   wherein the aforementioned tongue and groove are provided with locking elements that prevent the tongue and groove moving apart and   wherein the aforementioned locking elements comprise an upright locking element on the aforementioned lower lip and, interacting therewith, a downward directed locking element on the underside of the tongue,   wherein in the aforementioned coupled state a contact surface is formed between the upper side of the aforementioned tongue and the underside of the aforementioned upper lip,   wherein the panel comprises one or more of the following characteristic features, so long as these are not contradictory:   the largest thickness of the aforementioned upper lip at the location of the aforementioned contact surface is equal, or is approximately equal, to the smallest thickness of the aforementioned lower lip and/or   wherein the ratio of the smallest thickness of the aforementioned lower lip to the largest thickness of the aforementioned upper lip is at least 1.1, and/or is at most 1.5;   the smallest thickness of the portion of the lower lip, proximal to the upright locking portion, is located at a distal position of the upper lip, or, in other words, in the portion of the lower lip that extends beyond the upper lip or, in yet other words, in the projecting portion of the lower lip;   the sum of the aforementioned largest thickness of the upper lip, the smallest thickness of the lower lip and the largest thickness of the tongue at the location of the aforementioned contact surface is less than, but is almost equal to, the thickness of the panel, and/or   wherein between the aforementioned sum and the thickness of the panel there is less than 10%, or even 5% or less of the thickness of the panel, excluding an optional glued-on sublayer;   the largest thickness of the tongue at the location of the aforementioned contact surface is less than the smallest thickness of the lower lip;   the largest thickness of the tongue at the location of the aforementioned contact surface is less than the largest thickness of the upper lip.