Abstract: A set of mutually lockable panels comprises a first panel having an edge including a male part and a second panel having an edge including a female part for receiving the male part of the first panel in unlocked condition of the panels. The male part has an outer side which, in locked condition of the panels, is directed to the second panel in a direction substantially parallel to the front face of the first panel, and an opposite inner side which is provided with a locking surface. The female part comprises a locking member, which is pivotable about a pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the edge of the second panel and an actuator for rotating the locking member from its unlocked condition to a locked condition of the panels.

Abstract: A floor panel for forming a floor covering, wherein the floor covering consists of floor panels, which, on at least one pair of edges, are provided with coupling parts. The coupling parts substantially are manufactured from the material of the floor panel, and the coupling parts are configured such that two such floor panels, at the pair of edges, can be installed and locked to each other by means of a downward movement and/or by means of the fold-down principle.

Abstract: A set of mutually lockable panels comprises a first panel having an edge including a male part and a second panel having an edge including a female part for receiving the male part of the first panel in unlocked condition of the panels. The male part has an outer side which, in locked condition of the panels, is directed to the second panel in a direction substantially parallel to the front face of the first panel, and an opposite inner side which is provided with a locking surface. The female part comprises a locking member, which is pivotable about a pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the edge of the second panel and an actuator for rotating the locking member from its unlocked condition to a locked condition of the panels.

Abstract: A floor panel assembly includes adjacent floor panels connected together along edges thereof with a locking element extending between the edges. The locking element has a first locking surface; a locking portion at one end; a control portion near another end; and a connecting portion connecting the locking portion to the control portion. The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in a channel of one of the panels and pushed towards a first end of the channel when the locking element is moved or deformed from a first position to a second position by the control portion, the front position being when the panels are disconnected and movable relative to each other and the second position being when the panels are fixedly connected to each other.

Abstract: A set of mutually lockable panels comprises a first panel having an edge including a male part and a second panel having an edge including a female part for receiving the male part of the first panel in unlocked condition of the panels. The male part has an outer side which, in locked condition of the panels, is directed to the second panel in a direction substantially parallel to the front face of the first panel, and an opposite inner side which is provided with a locking surface. The female part comprises a locking member, which is pivotable about a pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the edge of the second panel and an actuator for rotating the locking member from its unlocked condition to a locked condition of the panels.

Abstract: A floor panel assembly includes adjacent floor panels connected together along edges thereof with a locking element extending between the edges. The locking element has a first locking surface; a locking portion at one end; a control portion near another end; and a connecting portion connecting the locking portion to the control portion. The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in a channel of one of the panels and pushed towards a first end of the channel when the locking element is moved or deformed from a first position to a second position by the control portion, the front position being when the panels are disconnected and movable relative to each other and the second position being when the panels are fixedly connected to each other.

Abstract: A floor panel assembly includes sheet-shaped floor panels joinable by joining members, each panel being provided on a first edge with a first joining member and, on a second edge, with a second joining member. The first and second joining members of two panels are configured to be joined by a movement of the panels towards to each other. The joining members lock the panels vertically and horizontally. The joining members are provided with a locking element which is deformable, during said joining, from a first position allowing the joining members to be joined, to a second position in which it locks the joining members to each other at least horizontally.

Abstract: A set of mutually lockable panels comprises a first panel having an edge including a male part and a second panel having an edge including a female part for receiving the male part of the first panel in unlocked condition of the panels. The male part has an outer side which, in locked condition of the panels, is directed to the second panel in a direction substantially parallel to the front face of the first panel, and an opposite inner side which is provided with a locking surface. The female part comprises a locking member, which is pivotable about a pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the edge of the second panel and an actuator for rotating the locking member from its unlocked condition to a locked condition of the panels.

Abstract: A panel for use in an assembly of panels is attached to each other to form a covering. The panel comprises an upper surface and a lower surface each extending within a different main plane, and at least an edge between these surfaces comprising a coupling to couple the panel to a coupling of another panel. The upper surface includes a lowered part at said edge and the cross-section of the lowered part, perpendicular to the edge of the panel, varies along the edge. Such a panel provides a good imitation of a panel made of natural materials. The invention also provides an appropriate method and apparatus to make such a panel.

Abstract: A floor panel assembly includes adjacent floor panels connected together along edges thereof with a locking element extending between the edges. The locking element has a first locking surface; a locking portion at one end; a control portion near another end; and a connecting portion connecting the locking portion to the control portion. The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in a channel of one of the panels and pushed towards a first end of the channel when the locking element is moved or deformed from a first position to a second position by the control portion, the front position being when the panels are disconnected and movable relative to each other and the second position being when the panels are fixedly connected to each other.

Abstract: A floor panel assembly includes adjacent floor panels connected together along edges thereof with a looking element extending between the edges. The locking element has a first locking surface; a locking portion at one end; a control portion near another end; and a connecting portion connecting the locking portion to the control portion. The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in a channel of one of the panels and pushed towards a first end of the channel when the locking element is moved or deformed from a first position to a second position by the control portion, the front position being when the panels are disconnected and movable relative to each other and the second position being when the panels are fixedly connected to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling panels and locking elements comprises a feeding conveyor for substantially continuously supplying a panel, a processing assembly including a magazine for receiving the continuously supplied panels, the processing assembly being provided with an indexing system for taking the panels from the magazine in a substantially discontinuous manner to a plurality of processing stations, including a machining station for making a recess into a panel, an inserting station for inserting a locking element into a recess of a panel, and a discharge station for discharging the assembled panel.

Abstract: A panel coupling assembly includes a panel having a side edge with an activating portion. An intermediate coupling member is displaceable with respect to the panel and a base coupling and is provided with a sleeve portion facing the activating portion of the panel. A guide guides the intermediate coupling member from a non-assembled condition to an assembled condition. The guide is configured such that upon displacing the panel with respect to the base coupling member in the panel fixing direction, the activating portion of the panel presses onto the sleeve portion and the intermediate coupling member is displaced in at least a direction extending transversely to the panel fixing direction. A fixing element is engageable to the intermediate coupling member to form a locking member that couples the panel and the base coupling member.

Abstract: A floor panel assembly includes adjacent floor panels connected together along edges thereof with a locking element extending between the edges. The locking element has a first locking surface; a locking portion at one end; a control portion near another end; and a connecting portion connecting the locking portion to the control portion. The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in a channel of one of the panels and pushed towards a first end of the channel when the locking element is moved or deformed from a first position to a second position by the control portion, the front position being when the panels are disconnected and movable relative to each other and the second position being when the panels are fixedly connected to each other.

Abstract: A set of panels comprises a first panel having a first edge including an undercut which accommodates a fastening member, and a second panel having a second edge including a locking region. The first and second edges are positioned adjacent to each other when the panels are fastened to each other by means of the fastening member. The fastening member comprises a displaceable activating portion and a locking portion which is displaceable with respect to the first panel upon displacement of the activating portion in opposite direction of the displacement of the activating portion such that the locking portion engages the locking region of the second panel when the panels are fastened to each other by means of the fastening member.

Abstract: A panel coupling assembly includes a panel having a side edge with an activating portion. An intermediate coupling member is displaceable with respect to the panel and a base coupling and is provided with a sleeve portion facing the activating portion of the panel. A guide guides the intermediate coupling member from a non-assembled condition to an assembled condition. The guide is configured such that upon displacing the panel with respect to the base coupling member in the panel fixing direction, the activating portion of the panel presses onto the sleeve portion and the intermediate coupling member is displaced in at least a direction extending transversely to the panel fixing direction. A fixing element is engageable to the intermediate coupling member to form a locking member that couples the panel and the base coupling member.

Abstract: A floor panel assembly includes adjacent floor panels connected together along edges thereof with a locking element extending between the edges. The locking element has a first locking surface; a locking portion at one end; a control portion near another end; and a connecting portion connecting the locking portion to the control portion. The connecting portion is slidably accommodated in a channel of one of the panels and pushed towards a first end of the channel when the locking element is moved or deformed from a first position to a second position by the control portion, the front position being when the panels are disconnected and movable relative to each other and the second position being when the panels are fixedly connected to each other.

Abstract: A floor panel assembly includes sheet-shaped floor panels joinable by joining members, each panel being provided on a first edge with a first joining member and, on a second edge, with a second joining member. The first and second joining members of two panels are configured to be joined by a movement of the panels towards to each other. The joining members lock the panels vertically and horizontally. The joining members are provided with a locking element which is deformable, during said joining, from a first position allowing the joining members to be joined, to a second position in which it locks the joining members to each other at least horizontally.

Abstract: A panel for use in an assembly of panels is attached to each other to form a covering. The panel comprises an upper surface and a lower surface each extending within a different main plane, and at least an edge between these surfaces comprising a coupling to couple the panel to a coupling of another panel. The upper surface includes a lowered part at said edge and the cross-section of the lowered part, perpendicular to the edge of the panel, varies along the edge. Such a panel provides a good imitation of a panel made of natural materials. The invention also provides an appropriate method and apparatus to make such a panel.

Abstract: A method and system of manufacturing a panel, such as a vinyl floor tile, with one or more profiled edges, wherein the edge is moved along one or more machining tools to form the profiled edge wherein the panel is cooled at least in an area containing the edge, wherein the cooling takes place before and/or during machining of the edge. Covering element manufactured this way, comprising at least one profiled edge at least partly within a thermoplastic section, the edge being profiled to form a tongue-in-groove interlocking connection with a matching profiled edge of a corresponding covering element.