EP3877610B1 - Panel - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a panel with a panel core, a panel top, a panel bottom and with at least one pair of edges of opposing complementary panel edges, which are provided with complementary locking means, the complementary locking means being designed in such a way that when two of these panels are assembled, they are below a visible joint By means of the assembled complementary locking means, a locking effect of the panel edges can be achieved both in a direction perpendicular to the top of the panel, and a locking effect against the panels moving apart, namely within the panel plane away from one another, can be achieved in a direction perpendicular to the locked panel edges, with the proviso that that the panel edges provided with the complementary locking means have an upper portion and a lower portion based on the thickness of the panel, the complementary locking means being arranged and designed in the lower portion of the panel edges, the upper portion of the panel edges being included for the design of the upper joint area the visible part of the joint is provided and for this purpose the upper part on each panel edge of the pair of edges has an edge break, which forms a recessed joint when two of these panels are joined together, the edge breaks of the complementary panel edges being of different sizes in the upper part of the panel edges, and that in the joined state of two complementary panel edges, the larger edge break is covered by the smaller edge refraction, with a blunt abutting surface being provided at a lower end of the larger edge refraction, with a counter-butting surface being provided in the upper part of the panel edges on that panel edge with the smaller edge refraction, which interacts with the blunt abutting surface, the abutment surface being below the larger edge refraction is provided, and wherein the locking means arranged in the lower portion are designed so that the blunt abutment surface can be held in contact with the counter-abutment surface.

The assembled state of panels or complementary panel edges basically means the desired state.

From the WO97/47834 A1 a panel is known which has a joint design without recess in the upper part and has positive locking means in the lower part, which are designed in the form of a groove profile and a tongue profile. From the WO 2008/053333 An example of a panel is known which has complementary panel edges, which in an upper part area, based on the thickness of the panel, have a design with edge refractions of different sizes in the form of a larger chamfer and a smaller chamfer. In this prior art, the upper portions of the panel edges are further designed in such a way that two of these panels form a V-joint when assembled form, with the larger bevel being partially covered by the smaller bevel. Furthermore, this prior art defines a neutral position of the panel edges relative to one another, from which the panel edges can move closer to one another or further away from one another. In the neutral position, the V-joint is not closed at the base of the joint, but a gap remains there.

The design of the upper portion of the panel edge known from this prior art is considered inappropriate because of the openness of the joint. Dirt and moisture can easily reach the panel core.

The complementary locking means provided in the lower part of the complementary panel edges from the same prior art appear to be of little load-bearing capacity and their durability is unsatisfactory.

Furthermore, from the US 2011 0146188_A1 a panel is known, which is described as semi-floating planks/building panels with mechanical connection systems, a core with curved edge sections so that the surface layer on the top of the core is below the panel surface, the edges of the plank having a bevel, in the connection system When two planks are assembled and pressed against each other, the surface layer and a part of the core of the connecting edge portion in the second connecting edge overlaps the surface layer which is substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the first connecting edge of the other plank. Furthermore, floorboards/building panels are to be produced by processing the surface structure with a large number of core grooves and applying the cover layer to the top of the core in order to at least partially cover a floor element. According to this state of the art Pressure should be exerted and the cover layer should form around the core grooves. Other publications in the technical field are WO 2017/ 001976_A1 , which suggests a panel with beveled edges, DE 20 2014 010 455_U1 , which concerns a panel for pivot locking, WO 2017 / 187 298_A2 , which concerns a panel without edge refraction and US 2013 0133281 A1 , which in turn suggests a panel that should be able to have an edge break.

A generic panel is from the CN 107 938 992_A known, which according to claim 1 relates to a plug-in structure for parquet floors, which is characterized in that it comprises a first panel body and a second panel body, wherein adjacent ends of the first panel body and the second panel body are connected by a plug-in mechanism and the first panel body is connected. An upper portion of the side is chamfered, and the bevel is an internal concave curve.

The invention is based on the object of proposing a panel which has an improved design with edge breaks in the upper part of the panel edges and which ensures that the joint is closed when assembled.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the counter-impact surface is arranged below the smaller edge refraction in a direction which runs through the smaller edge refraction (5).

The two edge breaks can be designed as a chamfer, as a radius or as a fillet, etc.

Furthermore, the pairing of blunt abutting surface and counter-butting surface provided in the upper part of the panel edges interacts with the locking means arranged in the lower part of the panel edges, with which the Locking effect is effected against moving the panels apart within the panel plane and perpendicular to the locked panel edges. In this way, the closure of the joint desired in the upper part of the panel edge is supported by the locking means provided in the lower part.

The panel edge with the smaller of the two edge breaks has an undercut counter surface below this smaller edge break for the covered part of the larger edge break. The covered part of the larger edge refraction expediently has surface contact with the undercut counter surface. This also improves the integrity of the joint and counteracts the penetration of dirt and moisture.

An advantageous development provides that the counter-impact surface provided below the smaller edge refraction is designed in such a way that it is provided with an oversize in an upper area. As a result, a pressure can be generated with the abutting surface of the complementary panel edge on the upper region of the counter-butting surface when two panels are joined together.

The benefit can be further improved if the abutment surface and the counter-abutment surface are prepared in such a way that when two complementary panel edges are joined together, a wedge-shaped gap is formed between the abutment surface and the counter-abutment surface so that the tip of the gap points upwards towards the top of the panel. The wedge-shaped gap between the abutment surface and the counter-abutment surface promotes relative movement of two mated interlocked panels. The panels can develop a kink along the interlocked panel edges as a pivot point if, for example, they are placed on an uneven surface. Can do this locked panels assume a position relative to each other in which their panel surfaces lie at an angle > 180° to one another. In this case, the wedge-shaped gap creates space within the interlocked panel edges the required angular movement of the panel edges. The blunt abutment surface and the counter-abutment surface maintain contact and an opening of the joint is counteracted.

For a closed joint, it is useful if, when two complementary panel edges are joined together, the blunt abutment surface and the counter-abutment surface touch each other at the tip of the wedge-shaped gap.

The wedge-shaped gap can have a wedge angle in the range of 0° - 10° and preferably from 1° - 5°, with a central axis of the wedge-shaped gap bisecting the wedge angle being arranged either perpendicular to the top of the panel or relative to the plumb line on the top of the panel in an angular range of ± 5° is arranged.

A further development provides that in the lower part of the complementary panel edges, the complementary locking means are designed as complementary hook profiles, namely an upwardly open receiving hook and a downwardly open locking hook, so that both complementary hook profiles have holding surfaces provided in one piece on the panel core, by means of which the locking effect is counteracted the movement of the panels apart within the panel plane away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the locked panel edges can be achieved, and that a separate locking element is provided for the locking effect in the vertical direction perpendicular to the top of the panel, as in the EP 1 415 056 B1 defined or in the WO 2011/087425 A1 suggested. Reference is hereby made to the design examples for separate locking elements and their arrangement on a panel, as defined in the two aforementioned publications, and this technical teaching is included.

Furthermore, the separate locking element can be mounted on one of the complementary panel edges and have a latching means with which it can be latched into a latching contour of the complementary panel edge.

A technical solution other than the aforementioned locking means with hook profiles does not require a separate locking element and provides that locking means comprising a groove profile and a complementary tongue profile are provided in the lower part of the complementary panel edges, the groove profile and the complementary tongue profile having those holding surfaces by means of which the locking effect can be achieved against the panels moving apart within the panel plane away from one another in a direction perpendicular to the locked panel edges, and that the tongue profile has a contact surface on its tongue top and the groove profile has a complementary inner surface on an upper groove wall, which means that in the assembled state Locking effect can be achieved in the vertical direction perpendicular to the top of the panel.

The design of the lower portion of the complementary panel edges with locking means, if they are designed as a groove profile and complementary tongue profile, as described above, is viewed as an independent invention, which can alternatively do without the design of the upper portion of the complementary panel edges proposed above. In the upper part, the panel edges can then have any design; for example, no edge breakage can be dispensed with, so that no recessed joint occurs on the surface between two locked panels. This applies equally to all subsequent further developments of the panel with a groove profile and complementary tongue profile.

The lower groove wall advantageously protrudes further distally from the panel edge than the upper groove wall, with a retaining edge being provided at the free end of the lower groove wall, and the retaining surface for the locking effect against moving the panels apart in the panel plane being provided on said retaining edge .

The groove profile and the tongue profile are helpfully prepared for a snap lock, in which two identical panels are locked perpendicularly to one another by a plane displacement of the panel edges and/or are prepared in such a way that a panel can be locked with an identical panel by a pivoting movement (pivot locking ), in which the panel is positioned in an inclined plane relative to the panel plane of the identical other panel and the tongue profile can be locked with its groove profile by subsequently pivoting the inclined panel into the plane of the other panel.

An additional improvement is achieved if one of the holding surfaces for the locking effect against the flat movement of the panels apart is arranged on the lower groove wall of the groove profile, this holding surface being located in the area of the lower, longer groove wall, which is distally over the length of the upper groove wall extends, this holding surface being designed as an oblique plane which slopes towards the groove base of the groove profile, and the holding surface of the tongue profile on the underside of the tongue which is complementary to the holding surface of the groove profile is also an oblique plane which, in the assembled state, is flat on the holding surface of the groove profile applied.

Handling can be improved by preparing the groove profile and the tongue profile for swivel locking, wherein a flat lower heel surface is provided on the underside of the tongue, which is aligned parallel to the top of the panel, the groove profile having a support surface for the heel surface of the tongue profile on a lower groove wall, and the support surface is also flat and parallel to the top of the panel.

For good locking in the vertical direction, the contact surface provided on the top of the tongue can be designed parallel to the top of the panel and the complementary inner surface of the upper groove wall of the groove profile can be arranged parallel to the top of the panel for this purpose.

The contact surface of the top of the spring has a distal end and a proximal end and the heel surface of the bottom of the spring also has a distal end and a proximal end, with a distance expediently being provided between the distal end of the heel surface and the proximal end of the contact surface. (swivel connection)

To improve the stability of the groove profile, the lower groove wall rises from the plane of the support surface towards the bottom of the groove.

An alternative provides that the groove profile and the tongue profile are prepared for a snap lock, the tongue profile having a proximal lower shoulder surface on its tongue underside and a supporting surface distally (close to the free end of the spring profile) that the complementary groove profile supports the supporting surface of the tongue profile has a support surface on the lower groove wall, and that the complementary groove profile is provided with a suitable support surface for the lower shoulder surface of the tongue profile. With the concept of snap locking of two panels, the panel edges with groove profile and tongue profile are moved translationally towards each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the complementary panel edges. In order to be able to create a positive lock between the groove profile and the tongue profile, these locking means must allow and be able to endure sufficient elastic deformation.

The supporting surface of the tongue profile as well as the associated support surface of the groove profile are expediently arranged parallel to the top of the panel. The support surface is expediently arranged in an area of the lower groove wall which is opposite the upper groove wall. If there is a load on the top of the panel in the area of locked panel edges that exerts pressure on the upper groove wall, then the force is transmitted via the inner surface of the upper groove wall to the contact surface of the top of the tongue and through the tongue profile. On the underside of the spring, the force is transferred from its supporting surface to the supporting surface of the lower groove wall, which in turn transfers the force downwards into a surface on which the panel rests.

The support surface provided on the groove profile for the lower shoulder surface of the tongue profile can be arranged in the area of the lower groove wall, which projects further distally from the panel edge compared to the upper groove wall.

The support surface provided for the lower shoulder surface of the tongue profile on the groove profile is expediently flat. It can also be designed with a downward inclination in the distal direction. The inclination is preferably in an angular range of 2° - 10° compared to the top of the panel. The inclination is due to the interaction with the design that the lower groove wall has in the area of its free end, as explained in more detail below.

For the design of the panel intended for snap connection, the contact surface provided on the top of the spring is conveniently arranged parallel to the top of the panel, with the complementary inner surface of the upper groove wall of the groove profile then also being arranged parallel to the top of the panel, and the inner surface of the upper groove wall being larger than the support surface provided on the lower groove wall. Likewise, the supporting surface on the underside of the spring is smaller than the contact surface provided on the top of the spring. Therefore, a force introduced from the top of the panel is transmitted from the upper groove wall downwards into the tongue profile via a first pair of surfaces. The first pair of surfaces consists of the inner surface of the upper groove wall and the contact surface of the top of the tongue. The force from the spring profile is then transmitted further downwards by means of a second pair of surfaces consisting of the supporting surface of the underside of the spring and the supporting surface of the lower groove wall. The size of the contact surface of the second pair of surfaces is smaller than the size of the contact surface of the first pair of surfaces. The reduced contact area of the second pair of surfaces is due to the improvement in the strength of the lower groove wall.

Preferably, the center of the inner surface of the upper groove wall is arranged closer to the groove base than the center of the support surface of the lower groove wall. This also serves to improve the strength of the lower groove wall.

The groove profile can have a free cut on the inside of the upper groove wall towards its free end, which preferably has an oblique free cut surface. The free cut is expediently prepared in such a way that the width of the groove profile increases towards the free end and forms an enlarged entry opening. The entry opening expanded in this way of the groove profile acts like a funnel for a tongue profile that moves translationally in the direction of the groove profile. The spring profile then first comes into contact with the free cut surface on its spring top.

The free end of the spring profile can be designed as a blunt wedge-shaped cross section, with the wedge surface promoting guidance and centering along the oblique cut-out surface of the upper groove wall in order to facilitate the insertion of the spring profile into the groove profile.

The wedge surface on the underside of the spring is longer and creates a larger clearance than the wedge surface on the top of the spring. The free cut on the underside of the tongue serves to create space for the lower groove wall, which should be reinforced by making the lower groove wall with an increasing wall thickness towards the groove base.

The retaining edge provided at the free end of the lower groove wall is expediently provided with an edge surface which is arranged at a level which makes it possible to slide the underside of the spring of a complementary panel over the edge surface for a snap connection and thereby move the upper side of the spring profile with the free cut on the inside of the upper groove wall. The top of the tongue is supported by the contact on the upper groove wall, which benefits the further joining movement. During the further joining movement, the tongue profile is moved forward deeper into the groove profile, with the shoulder surface of the tongue profile pressing against the edge surface of the retaining edge of the lower groove wall and the lower groove wall bending elastically downwards towards the underside of the panel. On the top of the tongue, the tongue profile is supported on the inside of the strong upper groove wall. The upper groove wall is due to its smaller distal extent and less forgiving than the bottom groove wall. In addition, the wall thickness of the upper groove wall is thicker than the wall thickness of the lower groove wall, which promotes the desired higher rigidity of the upper groove wall compared to the lower groove wall.

Furthermore, the edge surface is expediently provided with an inclination which is adapted to the inclination of the shoulder surface of the underside of the tongue, or is identical to the inclination of the support surface of the lower groove wall. This ensures that at the beginning of the translational joining movement, the shoulder surface of the underside of the tongue has flat contact with the edge surface and pressure can be exerted evenly on the edge surface in order to begin the elastic bending of the lower groove wall.

The underside of the spring can have a concave contour between its supporting surface and its heel surface, with a free space being formed between the concave contour and the lower groove wall when two panels are assembled. The concave contour favors the start of the joining movement. It is known from the prior art that to begin the joining movement, the underside of the spring is initially placed only on the holding edge. It has now been found that the underside of the spring can be so unfavorably inclined that it can slip down there at the very beginning of the joining movement, if it has only been placed on the edge surface of the holding edge. If you have a long panel, it may be difficult to properly place the bottom of the spring on the retaining edge along the entire length of the panel. The concave contour in this area on the underside of the spring makes it easy and safe to place the spring profile on the holding edge and prevent it from slipping off the holding edge.

Furthermore, due to the concave contour on the Underside of the tongue there is a free space to the lower groove wall. The free space makes it possible for the surface pairing of the support surface/support surface to lie against one another and at the same time for the pairing of the heel surface/support surface to lie flat against one another. The free space also leaves room for particles that can appear anywhere on the lower groove wall. Such particles could disrupt the contact of the aforementioned surface pairings and impair the functionality of the lock.

When two complementary panel edges are assembled, at least three pairs of contact surfaces can be formed between the groove profile and the tongue profile. A contact surface pairing consists of the contact surface of the top of the tongue paired with the inner surface of the upper groove wall. At least a second contact surface pairing consists of the shoulder surface of the underside of the tongue paired with the contact surface of the lower groove wall. A third contact surface pairing can consist of the supporting surface of the underside of the spring paired with the supporting surface of the lower groove wall. When two panels are assembled, a free space is formed between each of the contact surface pairings mentioned.

For a panel with a lower groove wall, which would be too rigid for a snap connection due to its wall thickness, a slot can be provided below the groove base of the groove profile in the area of the proximal end of the lower groove wall on the underside of the panel, which extends parallel to the panel edge To increase flexibility of the lower groove wall. The slot expediently has a rounded bottom, which reduces notch stresses. The slot may include parallel sidewalls or the slot may have a substantially trapezoidal cross section.

Fig. 1

ein Paneel gemäß dem Stand der Technik,

Fig. 2

einen oberen Teilbereich des bekannten Paneels gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

einen unteren Teilbereich des bekannten Paneels gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

einen Ausschnitt des oberen Teilbereichs eines erfindungsgemäßen Paneels, beziehungsweise dessen komplementäre Paneelkanten in einem miteinander verriegelten Zustand,

Fig. 5

einen Ausschnitt gemäß Fig. 4 mit einer alternativen Gestaltung des oberen Teilbereichs eines erfindungsgemäßen Paneels,

Fig. 6

einen Ausschnitt gemäß Fig. 4 mit einer weiteren alternativen Gestaltung des oberen Teilbereichs eines erfindungsgemäßen Paneels,

Fig. 7

ein Ausschnitt zweier komplementärer Paneelkanten, die an einem erfindungsgemäßen Paneel vorgesehen sein können,

Fig. 8

eine Weiterbildung des Paneels gemäß Fig. 7,

Fig. 9

ein Ausschnitt einer weiteren Ausführung mit Darstellung zweier für eine Schwenkverriegelung vorgesehener komplementärer Paneelkanten, die an einem erfindungsgemäßen Paneel vorgesehen sein können,

Fig. 10

ein Ausschnitt einer weiteren Ausführung mit Darstellung zweier für eine Schnappverriegelung vorgesehener komplementärer Paneelkanten, die an einem erfindungsgemäßen Paneel vorgesehen sein können,

Fig. 11

ein Ausschnitt einer weiteren Ausführung mit Darstellung zweier für eine Schnappverriegelung vorgesehener komplementärer Paneelkanten, die an einem erfindungsgemäßen Paneel vorgesehen sein können.

The invention is illustrated below by way of example in a drawing and described in detail using several exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

a panel according to the state of the art,

Fig. 2

an upper portion of the known panel Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3

a lower portion of the known panel Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 4

a section of the upper portion of a panel according to the invention, or its complementary panel edges in a locked state,

Fig. 5

a section according to Fig. 4 with an alternative design of the upper portion of a panel according to the invention,

Fig. 6

a section according to Fig. 4 with a further alternative design of the upper portion of a panel according to the invention,

Fig. 7

a section of two complementary panel edges that can be provided on a panel according to the invention,

Fig. 8

a further development of the panel in accordance with Fig. 7 ,

Fig. 9

a detail of a further embodiment showing two complementary panel edges intended for a pivot lock, which can be provided on a panel according to the invention,

Fig. 10

a section of another version with illustration two complementary panel edges provided for a snap lock, which can be provided on a panel according to the invention,

Fig. 11

a detail of a further embodiment showing two complementary panel edges intended for a snap lock, which can be provided on a panel according to the invention.

The Figures 1 to 3 show a section of a panel according to the prior art WO97/47834 A1 . In Fig. 1 the panel edges 1 and 2 of two panels 1' and 2' are shown in the assembled state. The panel edges are positively locked together. With a horizontal dash-dot line S is in Fig. 1 the division of the panel edges into an upper section A and a lower section B is noted. In the upper section A the design of a joint 3 can be seen; This state of the art does not require a recessed joint. Instead, a continuously flat overall surface is formed on the adjacent panel edges 1 and 2.

In Fig. 2 only the upper section A of the panel edges 1 and 2 is shown in detail Fig. 1 shown and Fig. 3 shows a section of only the lower portion B of the panel edges 1 and 2, which is here provided with locking means in the form of a groove profile on the panel edge 1 and a complementary tongue profile on the panel edge 2.

Based on Figs. 4 to 6 Examples of embodiments for the upper section A are shown using complementary panel edges joined together, which result in a recessed joint 3. On the panel edge 2 shown on the right Figs. 4 to 6 is in each case a large edge refraction 4 is provided in the form of a chamfer 4 ', which is arranged at an angle α, and on the panel edge 1 shown on the left there is a small edge refraction 5 in the form of a chamfer 5' arranged at an angle β. The angles α and β can have the same angular amount or can differ from each other by an amount of ± 5°. In the present exemplary embodiment, the angle α = 30° and the angle β is 35°.

The panel edge 1 with the smaller of the two edge breaks has a wedge-shaped projection 6 on which an undercut counter surface 7 is arranged below the smaller edge break 5. The counter surface 7 serves as a contact surface for the covered part of the larger edge refraction 4. The covered part of the larger edge refraction 4 therefore expediently has contact with the undercut counter surface 7. This improves the integrity of the joint 3 and counteracts the penetration of dirt and moisture.

Because of the above-mentioned angle α = 30 ° of the smaller edge refraction 5 and the angle β = 35 ° of the larger edge refraction 4, the result is that the counter surface 7 always comes into contact at its upper end with the chamfer 4 'of the larger edge refraction 4, which sealed tightly in this way.

On the panel edge 2 with the larger edge refraction 4, a blunt abutting surface 8 is provided below the edge refraction. The complementary panel edge 1 with the smaller edge refraction 5 has a counter-impact surface 9 below the wedge-shaped projection 6 or below the undercut counter surface 7, which comes into contact with the blunt abutment surface 8 when two complementary panels 1 'and 2' are joined together. The blunt impact surface and the counter-butt surface 9 are prepared in such a way that when two complementary panel edges are joined together, a wedge-shaped gap 10 is formed between the blunt abutment surface 8 and the counter-butt surface 9. The tip of the gap 10' is directed upwards towards the panel surface 11/12. This wedge-shaped gap promotes relative movement of two locked panels assembled together. If the interlocked panel edges 1 and 2 of two panels act as a pivot point, a kink may form in the overall surface between the two panels. This occurs, for example, when the panels 1' and 2' lie on an uneven surface and in particular when the panels lie on a surface with a hump. Two locked panels can then assume a position relative to one another in which their panel surfaces assume an angle > 180° to one another. In this case, the wedge-shaped gap 10 provided between the blunt abutment surface and the counter-abutment surface 9 provides relief because it creates space within the locked panel edges 1 and 2 for the required angular movement of the panel edges. The blunt abutment surface 8 and the counter-abutment surface 9 maintain contact at their upper ends, so that an opening of the joint is counteracted in this way.

The wedge-shaped gap 10 has in Fig. 4 a wedge angle of 6° and is arranged symmetrically to the plumb line on the panel surface. In Fig. 5 the wedge angle is 4° and its central axis M is + 2° out of plumb on the panel surface 11/12. In Fig. 6 the wedge angle is again 4° and its central axis is -2° out of plumb on the panel surface 11/12.

The above exemplary embodiments for the upper portions A of the panel edges with the recessed joints between them Adjacent panel edges can be combined in any way with differently designed lower portions B of the panel edges, which are designed to contribute the function of positive locking.

A first exemplary embodiment for a combination of upper section A and lower section B is in Fig. 7 shown. It shows sections of complementary panel edges 1 and 2 in the locked state. Its upper section A is designed as shown in Fig. 4 proposed, but it is important that any other design of the upper part is also possible, for example that according to the prior art, as in the Figures 1 and 2 shown. This applies equally to all of the following exemplary embodiments, which further develop the lower section. In Fig. 7 the lower portion B of the panel edges 1 and 2 is provided with locking means V, which lock two joined panel edges in the vertical and horizontal directions. In this exemplary embodiment, a separate locking element 13 is provided for the vertical locking effect and has spring-elastic properties. The separate locking element can be designed like the spring-elastic locking element designs in the EP 1 415 056 B1 or in the WO 2011/087425 A1 .

For the horizontal locking effect are according to Fig. 7 In the lower section B of the panel edges 1 and 2, complementary hook profiles H made in one piece with a panel core 14 or 15 are provided, namely a receiving hook 16 with a hook edge 17 and a receiving recess 18 that is open at the top, and a locking hook 19, which has a locking shoulder 20 and a downward one has open locking recess 21. The receiving recess 18 is designed to to accommodate the locking shoulder 20 of the locking hook.

Both hook profiles each have a holding surface 22 or 23 formed in one piece on the panel core 14 or 15, by means of which the locking effect against the moving apart of the panels 1 'and 2' within the panel plane away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the locked panel edges can be achieved (horizontal). The receiving hook 16 faces an underside of the panel 24 and protrudes distally from the panel edge 2 on the underside of the panel. The holding surface 22 of the receiving hook 16 is provided on a proximal side of the hook edge 17. The surface normal of the holding surface is directed towards the panel core 15 of the panel 2 '. Likewise, the locking hook 19 has the holding surface 23 arranged on a proximal side of the locking shoulder 20 and its surface normal is directed towards the panel core 14 of the panel 1`.

In the present example, the locking heel 20 has a distal heel surface 26 on a heel underside 25, which touches a bottom 27 of the receiving recess 18, and a proximal material recess 28, which reaches laterally up to the holding surface 23 of the locking heel 20. The material recess 28 ensures that the holding surfaces 22/23 of the locking shoulder 20 and the hook edge 17 are in good contact.

For this version of the panel provided with hook profiles H, the joining movement runs in a direction perpendicular to the panel plane (vertical). For the small edge break 5, the wedge-shaped projection 6 on the locking hook 19 is expediently provided. The top of the wedge-shaped projection 6 forms the small edge refraction 5 and its underside includes the undercut counter surface 7, which serves as a contact surface for the covered part of the larger edge refraction 4 is provided on the receiving hook 16.

The separate locking element 13 is only mounted on the panel edge 2 at the beginning of a joining movement. It has a distally projecting locking means 29. The locking means can automatically lock into a lateral locking recess 30, which is provided on the complementary panel edge 1, during the joining movement.

A modification of the aforementioned exemplary embodiment is in Fig. 8 shown, which corresponds to the exemplary embodiment except for one detail Fig. 7 corresponds. In contrast to Fig. 7 is according to Fig. 8 the counter-impact surface 9 provided on the locking hook 19 below the smaller edge break 5 is modified. The cross section of the entire locking hook 19 is in Fig. 8 drawn as a dashed line and shows its neutral shape, as if it were not attached to the hook. It can be seen that the dashed line in the area of the counter-butt surface 9 intersects/covers the cross section of the complementary receiving hook 16, specifically where it has its blunt abutment surface 8. The amount of coverage 31 is in Fig. 8 exaggerated for better visibility. In practice, the maximum depth of the cover 31 is a hundredths to a few tenths of a millimeter. In practice, the cover causes the joined panel edges to be pressed between the abutment surface 8 and the counter-abutment surface 9.

This desired pressure takes place in the upper area of the abutment surface 8 and the counter-abutment surface 9. For this purpose, the design is prepared in such a way that the amount of coverage extends over half the height (X/2) of the area (X) of the panel edges, which the abutment surface 8 and the counter-abutment surface 9 occupy.

A further embodiment of a panel according to the invention with complementary panel edges 1 and 2 is shown in Fig. 9 shown. This is a panel in which the lower section B of the panel edges intended for the locking effects (horizontal/vertical) is provided with a groove profile 32 on the panel edge 1 and with a complementary tongue profile 33 on the panel edge 2. The groove profile 32 has an upper groove wall 34 and a lower groove wall 35. Fig. 9 shows the sections of the two identical panel edges 1 and 2 in the assembled state. In the upper section A, this type of panel results in a design as follows Fig. 4 , with a V-joint 3, which has a large edge refraction 4 and a small edge refraction 5, the large edge refraction 4 being partially covered by the small edge refraction 5. Here too, it is important that any other design of the upper portion A can be provided as an alternative, for example that according to the prior art, as in the Figures 1 and 2 to see. The groove profile 32 and the complementary tongue profile 33 in the lower section B of these panel edges are intended for a pivot lock. For the pivot locking, the panel 2 'with the spring profile 33 is positioned at a pivot angle γ in order to insert the free end of the spring profile 33 between the groove walls 34 and 35 of the groove profile 32, as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 9 illustrated spring profile 33`. The lock can then be easily established by pivoting the panel, which was initially pivoted upwards, down into the plane of the panel 1 'with the complementary groove profile 32.

The lower groove wall 35 of the groove profile 32 protrudes further distally from the panel edge 1 than the upper groove wall 34. In addition, the lower groove wall 35 has a retaining edge 36 at its free end, on a proximal side of the retaining edge a holding surface 37 is provided, which counteracts horizontal movement apart of locked panels. The holding surface 37 is designed as an oblique plane which slopes towards the groove base 38 of the groove profile 32, with a holding surface 39 of the spring profile 33 which is complementary to the holding surface of the groove profile 32 on the underside of the spring 40 also being designed as an oblique plane which in the assembled state on the holding surface 37 of the groove profile lies flat. The holding surface 37 of the groove profile therefore has a surface normal that is directed towards the panel core 14 of the panel 1`. The holding edge 36 of the lower groove wall 35 of the groove profile 32 also has a height R, which does not allow a panel with the tongue profile 33 to be moved horizontally over the holding edge 36 and the free end of the tongue profile 33 on the way of a snap lock between the groove walls 34 and 35 of the groove profile 32 to get positioned.

A flat lower shoulder surface 41 is provided on the underside of the spring 40 and is aligned parallel to the panel surface 11. Correspondingly, the groove profile 32 has a flat support surface 42 on its lower groove wall 35 for the shoulder surface 41 of the spring profile 33, which is also flat and aligned parallel to the panel surface 12.

For good locking in the vertical direction, a contact surface 44 is provided on the top of the spring 43, which in turn is aligned parallel to the panel surface 12. For this contact surface of the top of the spring, a complementary inner surface 45 of the upper groove wall 34 of the groove profile is provided, which is arranged parallel to the panel surface 11.

The contact surface 44 of the top of the spring has a distal end 44a and a proximal end 44b. Likewise, the shoulder surface 41 of the underside of the spring has a distal end 41a and a proximal one End of 41b. Between the distal end 41a of the heel surface and the proximal end 44b of the contact surface 44 is according to Fig. 9 a distance D is provided.

To improve the stability of the groove profile 32, the lower groove wall 35 is designed with a rise 46 from the plane of the support surface 42 towards the groove base 38. As a result, its wall thickness is greater in the proximal region of the lower groove wall 35, where it emerges from the panel core 14. The transition from greater wall thickness of the lower groove wall to smaller wall thickness is continuous, which also contributes to the strength of the lower groove wall 35.

Within the lock according to Fig. 9 Pairs of contact surfaces can be seen, with one surface of the groove profile 32 in contact with an associated surface of the complementary spring profile 33. From top to bottom through the locking, this begins with a first contact surface pairing, which is formed from the blunt abutment surface 8 on the Panel edge 2 with the spring profile 33 and the counter-butt surface 9 on the panel edge 1 with the groove profile 32. The second contact surface pairing is the pairing consisting of the horizontal contact surface 44 of the spring top 43 and the inner surface 45 of the upper groove wall 34. Between the first two contact surface pairings is a Clearance 47 available. The third contact surface pairing is the pairing consisting of the shoulder surface 41 of the underside of the spring and the support surface 42 of the lower groove wall 35. There is also a free space 48 between the second and the third contact surface pairing, which is located at the groove base 38 and between the underside of the tongue and the lower groove wall 35 extends. A fourth contact surface pairing follows, consisting of the holding surface 39 provided on the underside of the spring and that provided on the holding edge 36 of the lower groove wall 35 Holding surface 37. A free space 49 is again provided between the third and fourth pairing of contact surfaces.

Yet another embodiment of the panel according to the invention is shown in Fig. 10 shown. It has a groove profile 32 and a complementary tongue profile 33, which are designed so that they are suitable for a snap lock, in which locking takes place by a plane displacement of two identical panels 1 'and 2' with the panel edges 1 and 2 facing each other frontally .

The spring profile 33 points according to Fig. 10 On the underside of the spring, a lower shoulder surface 41 is provided proximally and distally (close to the free end of the spring profile) a support surface 50 is provided on the spring profile 33. The complementary groove profile 32 has a support surface 51 on a lower groove wall 35 for the purpose of supporting the support surface 50 of the spring profile. The groove profile 32 has a suitable support surface 42 for the shoulder surface 41 of the tongue profile 33.

For good locking in the vertical direction, a contact surface 44 is provided on the top of the spring 43, which in turn is aligned parallel to the panel surface 12. For this contact surface 44, a complementary inner surface 45 is provided on the upper groove wall 34 of the groove profile 32, which is arranged parallel to the panel surface 11.

In order to be able to produce the positive connection between the groove profile 32 and the spring profile 33 when producing the snap lock, the groove profile 32 in particular must allow and be able to endure sufficient elastic deformation.

A190 The support surface 50 of the spring profile 33 as well as the associated support surface 51 of the groove profile 32 are useful arranged parallel to the panel surface 11/12. The support surface 51 is in accordance with this Fig. 10 arranged in an area of the lower groove wall 35, which lies opposite the upper groove wall 34.

If there is a load on the panel surface 11 in the area of locked panel edges that exerts pressure on the upper groove wall 34, then the force is transmitted via the inner surface 45 of the upper groove wall 34 to the contact surface 44 of the top of the spring and through the spring profile 33 directed down to the underside of the spring. On the underside of the spring, the force is transferred from its supporting surface 50 into the supporting surface 51 of the lower groove wall 35, which in turn transfers the force further downwards into a surface on which the panel 1' rests.

A200 The support surface 42 provided on the groove profile 32 for the lower shoulder surface 41 of the spring profile 33 is arranged in the area of the lower groove wall 35, which projects further distally from the panel edge 1 compared to the upper groove wall 34.

A210 The support surface 42 provided for the lower shoulder surface 41 of the tongue profile 33 on the groove profile 32 is according to Fig. 10 just trained. It is also designed with a downward inclination in the distal direction. The inclination is preferably in an angular range of 2° - 10° relative to the panel surface 11. The inclination is due to the interaction with the design of the lower groove wall in the area of its free end, as explained in more detail below.

A220 For the panel according to Fig. 10 the contact surface 44 provided on the top of the spring is arranged parallel to the panel surface 11. The complementary inner surface 45 of the upper groove wall 34 of the groove profile 32 is arranged parallel to the panel surface 12.

The inner surface 45 of the upper groove wall 34, which serves for contact with the top of the spring, is in Fig. 10 larger than the support surface 51 on the lower groove wall 35, which creates contact with the spring profile 33 on the underside of the spring. Likewise, the support surface 50 on the underside of the spring is smaller than the contact surface 44 provided on the top of the spring.

A force introduced by the panel surface is transmitted from the upper groove wall 34 downward into the spring profile 33 via a first pair of surfaces. The first pair of surfaces consists of the inner surface 45 of the upper groove wall 34 and the contact surface 44 of the top of the tongue. The force from the spring profile 33 is then transmitted further downwards by means of a second pair of surfaces consisting of the support surface 50 of the underside of the spring and the support surface 51 of the lower groove wall 35. The size of the contact surface of the second pair of surfaces is smaller than the size of the contact surface of the first pair of surfaces. The reduced contact area of the second pair of areas serves to improve the strength of the lower groove wall 35.

A230 Preferably, the center of the inner surface 45 of the upper groove wall 34 is arranged closer to the groove base 38 than the center of the support surface 51 of the lower groove wall 35. This also serves to improve the strength of the lower groove wall 35.

A240 The groove profile 32 has a free cut 52 on the inside of the upper groove wall 34 towards its free end, according to Fig. 10 is designed as an oblique free-cut surface 52'. This free cut is prepared so that the Width of the groove profile 32 increases towards the free end. In this way, an enlarged inlet opening 53 is formed in the groove cross section of the groove profile 32. For a spring profile 33 that moves translationally in the direction of the groove profile 32, the expanded inlet opening 53 acts like a funnel. The spring profile 33 is “funneled” into the groove profile 32. It first comes into contact with the free cut surface 52' of the upper groove wall 34 on its tongue top side.

A250 The free end of the spring profile 33 is designed as a blunt wedge-shaped cross section, with an upper wedge surface 54 enabling guidance and centering along the oblique cut-out surface 52' of the upper groove wall 34 in order to facilitate the insertion of the spring profile 33 into the groove profile 32.

A260 The lower wedge surface 55 provided on the underside of the tongue is longer and creates a larger clearance than the upper wedge surface 54. The larger clearance on the underside of the tongue serves to create space for the lower groove wall 35, which has a rise 56 in this area and therefore is reinforced, i.e. the lower groove wall 35 is designed with an increasing wall thickness towards the groove base.

A270 At the free end of the lower groove wall 35, a retaining edge 57 is provided, the design of which is designed to work well with the shoulder surface 41 of the spring profile 33.

The retaining edge 57 is provided with an edge surface 58 which is arranged at a level which makes it possible to slide the spring underside of a complementary panel 2 'over the edge surface 58 for a snap connection, thereby taking the spring upper side of the spring profile 33 with it the free cut surface 52 'on the inside of the upper groove wall 34 to bring into contact. The top of the spring is then supported by the contact on the upper groove wall 34, which benefits the further joining movement. During the further joining movement, the spring profile 33 is moved forward deeper into the groove profile 32, with the shoulder surface 41 of the spring profile 33 pressing from above against the edge surface 58 of the retaining edge 57 of the lower groove wall 35. The lower groove wall 35 is thereby bent elastically downwards towards the underside of the panel. On the top of the spring, the spring profile 33 is supported on the inside of the thicker and stronger upper groove wall 34. The upper groove wall 34 is less flexible than the lower groove wall 35 due to its smaller distal extent. In addition, the wall thickness of the upper groove wall 34 is greater than the wall thickness of the lower groove wall 35, which results in the desired higher rigidity of the upper groove wall 34 compared to the lower groove wall 35 manufactures.

For good interaction with the heel surface 41, which has an inclination of 2° - 10° relative to the panel surface 11, the edge surface 58 is provided with a suitable inclination, which is adapted to the inclination of the heel surface 41 of the underside of the spring, or with the inclination the support surface 42 of the lower groove wall 35 is identical. This ensures that at the beginning of the translational joining movement, the shoulder surface 41 of the underside of the spring has flat contact with the edge surface 58 and pressure can be exerted evenly on the edge surface in order to begin the elastic bending of the lower groove wall 35.

Furthermore, a holding surface 37 is provided on the holding edge proximally, the surface normal of which is directed towards the panel core 14. A holding surface 39 is provided on a proximal surface of the spring underside of the spring profile 33 when assembled Fig. 10 interacts with the holding surface 37 of the lower groove wall.

A280 The underside of the spring has a concave contour 59 between its supporting surface 50 and its heel surface 41. When two panels are assembled, a free space is formed between the concave contour 59 and the lower groove wall 35. The concave contour favors the start of the joining movement. The underside of the spring profile can be easily placed on the holding edge without slipping down from there at the beginning of the joining movement.

Furthermore, due to the concave contour on the underside of the tongue, there is a free space 60 to the lower groove wall. The free space makes it possible for the surface pairing of the support surface/support surface to lie against one another and at the same time for the pairing of the heel surface/support surface to lie flat against one another. The free space also leaves room for particles that can appear anywhere on the lower groove wall. Such particles could disrupt the contact of the aforementioned surface pairings and impair the functionality of the lock.

A290 When two complementary panel edges are joined together, at least three pairs of contact surfaces are formed in the lower section B of the panel edges between the groove profile 32 and the tongue profile 33. A contact surface pairing consists of the contact surface 44 of the upper side of the spring paired with the inner surface 45 of the upper groove wall 34. A second contact surface pairing consists of the shoulder surface 41 of the underside of the spring paired with the contact surface 42 of the lower groove wall 35. A free space 48 is provided between the first and second contact surface pairing . A third contact surface pairing consists of the supporting surface 50 of the underside of the spring paired with the supporting surface 51 of the lower one Groove wall 35. A free space 60 is provided between the second and third pairing of contact surfaces. Furthermore, a free space 61 is provided in the area of the free-cut area 52', which transitions from the lower part area B to the upper part area A. Another small free space 62 is between the contact surface pairings 41/42 and 37/39. Here, a radius is provided on the underside of the spring between the shoulder surface 41 and the holding surface 39, this radius being slightly larger than a radius which is formed on the lower groove wall between its support surface 42 and the holding surface 37 provided on the holding edge 57. The free space 62 is located between the radii of different sizes mentioned.

A further exemplary embodiment of the panel according to the invention is shown in Fig. 11 shown. With the panel according to Fig. 11 A snap lock should be able to be produced, just like with the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 10 . The design of the cross sections of the tongue profile and groove profile in Fig. 11 is slightly different from that in Fig. 10 . But she could also Fig. 11 be identical to the design in Fig. 10 is shown. The main difference in Fig. 11 consists in the modified lower groove wall 35, which is thicker and stronger and less flexible than that in Fig. 10 .

Below the groove base 38 of the groove profile 32, in the area of the proximal end of the lower groove wall 35, a slot 63 is provided on the underside of the panel 24, which increases the flexibility of the lower groove wall 35. The slot 63 extends parallel to the panel edge 1. This increases the flexibility of the lower groove wall 35 to such an extent that a snap locking of the complementary panel edges 1 and 2 is possible. The bottom G of the slot is rounded Cross-section designed to minimize notch stresses and prevent cracking.

The free end of the lower groove wall 35 is provided with a stepped contour 64 with several chamfers 65, 66 and 67. Between the bevels or adjacent to them are blunt outer surfaces 68, 69 and 70. The bevel 67 is the largest and it extends to the underside of the panel 24. The bevels are produced by machining with a single milling tool. The milling tool used virtually embodies the stepped contour 64 shown of the free end of the lower groove wall 35. Panels can be produced in this way in different panel thicknesses, with the possible panel thicknesses being expediently chosen so that the respective underside of the panel is in the area of one of the bevels 65, 66 or 67, which offers the stepped contour 64.

Of course, the cross-sections of the tongue profile and groove profile can be designed according to Fig. 11 So it can also be intended for a thinner panel. For example, it can have a panel thickness that matches the panel in Fig. 10 corresponds. The underside of the panel would then be located within the stepped contour 64 at a level of the chamfer 65. With this small panel thickness, the slot 63 is omitted.

Reference symbol list

1

panel edge

1'

panel

2

panel edge

2`

panel

3

Gap

4

large edge refraction

4'

large bevel

5

small edge break

5'

small bevel

6

wedge-shaped projection

7

Counter surface

8th

blunt impact surface

9

Counter-impact surface

10

wedge-shaped gap

10'

Top of the gap

11

panel surface

12

panel surface

13

separate locking element

14

panel core

15

panel core

16

Pick-up hook

17

hook edge

18

receiving recess

19

Locking hook

20

Locking heel

21

Locking recess

22

holding surface

23

holding surface

24

Panel bottom

25

Bottom of paragraph

26

Heel area

27

Bottom (receiving recess)

28

material recess

29

Locking means

30

locking recess

31

Coverage

32

Groove profile

33

Spring profile

34

upper groove wall

35

lower groove wall

36

retaining edge

37

holding surface

38

groove base

39

holding surface

40

Feather bottom

41

Heel area

41a

distal end

41b

proximal end

42

Support surface

43

Feather top

44

investment area

44a

distal end

44b

proximal end

45

Inner surface

46

rise

47

free space

48

free space

49

free space

50

carrying surface

51

Support surface

52

Free cut

52'

Clearance area

53

Entry opening

54

upper wedge surface

55

lower wedge surface

56

rise

57

retaining edge

58

Edge surface

59

concave contour

60

free space

61

free space

62

free space

63

slot

64

graduated contour

65

chamfer

66

chamfer

67

chamfer

68

dull external surface

69

dull external surface

70

dull external surface

A

upper section

b

lower section

D

Distance

G

Floor

H

Hook profile

M

Central axis

S

Dash-dot line

α

angle

β

angle

γ

Swivel angle

Claims (15)

1. A panel (1', 2') comprising a panel core (14, 15), a panel surface (11, 12), a panel underside (24) and at least one edge pair of mutually opposite complementary panel edges (1, 2) provided with complementary locking means (V), wherein the complementary locking means are of such a configuration that in the assembled state of two of those panels beneath a visible join (3) by means of the assembled complementary locking means both a locking action of the panel edges (1, 2) can be achieved in a direction perpendicular to the panel surface and also a locking action can be achieved to prevent the panels from moving apart and more specifically away from each other within the panel plane in a direction perpendicular to the locked panel edges, with the proviso that the panel edges provided with the complementary locking means have an upper portion (A) and a lower portion (B) in relation to the thickness of the panel, wherein the complementary locking means are arranged and formed in the lower portion (B) of the panel edges, wherein the upper portion (A) of the panel edges is provided for the formation of the upper join region including the visible part of the join (3) and for that purpose the upper portion (A) at each panel edge of the edge pair has an edge break (4, 5) which in the assembled state of two of said panels forms a recessed join, wherein the edge breaks of the complementary panel edges are of different sizes in the upper portion of the panel edges, and in the assembled state of two complementary panel edges the larger edge break (4) is covered by the smaller edge break (5), wherein an obtuse butting surface (8) is provided at a lower end of the larger edge break (4), provided in the upper portion (A) of the panel edges (1, 2) at that panel edge having the smaller edge break (5) is a counterpart butting surface (9) cooperating with the obtuse butting surface (8), that is provided beneath the larger edge break (4), and wherein the locking means disposed in the lower portion are so designed that the obtuse butting surface can be held in contact with the counterpart butting surface, and wherein the locking means arranged in the lower portion are designed in such a way that the obtuse butting surface can be held in contact with the counterpart butting surface, characterised in that the counterpart butting surface (9) is arranged below the smaller edge break (5) in a direction which runs through the smaller edge break.
2. A panel according to claim 1 wherein the panel edge (1) having the smaller of the two edge breaks has beneath that smaller edge break (5) an undercut counterpart surface (7) for the covered part of the larger edge break (4).
3. A panel according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the counterpart butting surface (9) is of such a configuration that in its upper region it is provided with an oversize so that in the assembled state pressing against the obtuse butting surface (8) of the complementary panel edge (2) can be achieved with the upper region of the counterpart butting surface (9).
4. A panel according to one of claims 1 to 3 the obtuse butting surface (8) and the counterpart butting surface (9) are so arranged that in the assembled state of two complementary panel edges (1, 2) a wedge-shaped gap (10) is formed between the obtuse butting surface (8) and the counterpart butting surface (9), such that the tip (10') of the wedge-shaped gap (10) faces upwardly towards the panel surface (11, 12).
5. A panel according to one of claims 1 to 4 wherein in the lower portion (B) of the complementary panel edges (1, 2) the complementary locking means (V) are in the form of complementary hook profiles (H), namely an upwardly open receiving hook (16) and a downwardly open arresting hook (19), that both complementary hook profiles have holding surfaces (22, 23) provided integrally on the panel core (14, 15) and by means of which the locking action to prevent the panels moving apart within the panel plane away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the locked panel edges (1, 2) can be achieved and that there is provided a separate locking element (13) for the locking action in the vertical direction perpendicular to the panel surface (11, 12).
6. A panel according to claim 5 wherein the separate locking element (13) is mounted at one of the complementary panel edges (2) and has a latching means (29) with which it is latchable in a latching recess (30) of the complementary panel edge (1).
7. A panel according to one of claims 1 to 6 wherein provided in the lower portion (B) of the complementary panel edges (1, 2) are locking means (V) including a groove profile (32) and a complementary tongue profile (33), the groove profile (32) and the complementary tongue profile (33) have holding surfaces (37, 39), by means of which the locking action preventing the panels (1, 2) from moving apart within the panel plane away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the locked panel edges can be achieved and the tongue profile (33) at its tongue top side has a contact surface (44) and the groove profile (32) at an upper groove wall (34) has a complementary internal surface (45) whereby in the assembled state the locking action can be achieved in the vertical direction perpendicular to the panel surface (11, 12).
8. A panel according to claim 7 wherein the groove profile (32) and the tongue profile (33) are adapted for a snap locking action in which locking is effected by level displacement of two identical panels (1', 2') with the panel edges (1, 2) perpendicular towards each other and/or are so adapted that a panel (1', 2') is lockable to an identical panel by a pivotal movement, in that the panel is fitted in an inclined plane relative to the panel plane of the identical other panel and the tongue profile (33) is lockable by subsequent pivotal movement of the inclinedly fitted panel into the plane of the other panel with its groove profile (32) (pivotal locking).
9. A panel according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the contact surface (42) provided on the groove profile (32) for the lower shoulder surface (41) of the tongue profile (33) is disposed in the region of the lower groove wall (35), that projects distally further from the panel edge (1) in relation to the upper groove wall (34).
10. A panel according to claim 9 wherein the contact surface (42) provided for the lower shoulder surface (41) of the tongue profile (33) on the groove profile (32) is flat and is provided with an inclination directed downwardly in the distal direction in the region of 2° to 10° with respect to the panel plane or panel surface (12).
11. A panel according to claim 7 to 10 wherein the contact surface (44) at the tongue top side is arranged parallel relative to the panel surface, wherein the internal surface (45) complementary thereto of the upper groove wall (34) of the groove profile (32) is also arranged parallel to the panel surface, and the internal surface (45) of the upper groove wall (34) is larger than the support surface (51) at the lower groove wall (35).
12. A panel according to one of claims 7 to 11 wherein at the inside (45) of the upper groove wall (34) the groove profile (32) has a cut-free relief portion (52) towards its free end and the relief portion (52) is such that the width of the groove increases towards the free end.
13. A panel according to one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the free end of the tongue profile (33) is in the form of an obtuse wedge-shaped cross-section and the wedge surface (54) at the tongue top side and also the wedge surface (55) at the tongue underside (40) create space.
14. A panel according to one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the holding edge (57) at the free end of the lower groove wall (35) is provided with an edge surface (58) and the edge surface (58) is arranged on a level which for a snapping locking action makes it possible to slidingly move the tongue underside (40) of a complementary panel (2') over the edge surface (58) and in so doing to bring the tongue top side of the tongue profile (33) into contact with the relief portion at the inside of the upper groove wall (34).
15. A panel according to one of claims 9 to 14 wherein provided beneath the groove bottom (38) of the groove profile (32) in the region of the proximal end of the lower groove wall (35) at the panel underside (40) is a slot (63) extending parallel to the panel edge (1).

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