Device for bridging expansion joints in walls or floors of buildings

Abstract

A device for bridging expansion joints (7) which separate adjacent surfaces in walls or floors (6) of buildings is provided. The device comprises two anchoring profiles or members (1) having an approximately L-shaped cross section. Each anchoring profile comprises a fastening leg (11) and a terminating leg (12) disposed perpendicular to the fastening leg. Each anchoring profile also has a bridging profile or member (2 and 3, respectively) hinged on the terminating leg (12). The bridging profiles engage one another in a sliding, form-locking manner. In this connection, one leg (33) of a bridging profile (3) is provided with protruding elements (36) spaced from each other at least on the end engaging the other bridging profile (2). Means (4) are also provided for securing the two bridging profiles (2 and 3) engaging one another into an installed position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of European Application No. 00122106.8 filed Oct. 12, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a device for bridging expansion joints in walls or floors of buildings. The device comprises two approximately L-shaped anchoring profiles or members each having a fastening leg and a terminating leg extending perpendicular in relation to the fastening leg, and a bridging profile or member hinged to the terminating leg, the legs engaging one another in a sliding, form-locking manner.

[0004] 2. The Prior Art

[0005] A prior device is known from EP 0 356 268 B1. The anchoring profiles of this known device, which have an about L-shaped cross section, are firmly screwed with their fastening legs to the substrate, with a suitable spacing from each other for forming a bridging of large expansion joints in buildings, and are then covered with mortar or flooring plaster. The terminating legs, which extend perpendicular to the fastening leg, define in this connection with their outer sides the expansion joint to be bridged, and with the top side of the terminating legs form a gauge for building up the wall or floor. Bridging profiles in the form of joint-like connections are hooked into each of the terminating legs, whereby a pocket-shaped bridging profile receives the other bridging profile in its pocket in a sliding manner in a slanted direction. The device is capable in this way to absorb the movements of the floor or wall fields separated from each other by a joint. Due to the sliding connection and the articulation of the bridging profiles, this device is capable of absorbing movements at different levels. Because of the deep design of their pockets and the required engaging section, however, these profiles can be produced with very strong walls only by an extrusion process. Because of the required high wall thickness, these devices are not suitable for application in floors or walls that are covered with ceramic tiles by the so-called thin-bed method in relatively thin adhesive or contact layers. In this method, perforated lateral fastening legs are embedded in the thin bed of the adhesive or contact layer.

[0006] The problem of the invention consists in proposing a device of the type specified above for use in walls or floors that are covered with ceramic tiles laid by the thin-bed laying method, so that thin-walled bridging and anchoring profiles are required. It has to be assured in this connection that when such devices are installed, their installed position is fixed, so that later tensile stresses or movements of expansion of the separated fields of such tile or slate covers can be absorbed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The problem is solved with a device in accordance with the invention. In order to obtain thin-walled pockets with adequate depth and a correspondingly long engaging end of a pocket leg, it is proposed that the engaging pocket leg of a bridging profile or member be provided with protruding elements located at its engaging and interlocking end. These projecting elements extend in the longitudinal direction of the profile with a spacing from each other. In addition, means are provided for securing the two engaged bridging profiles to one another in an installed position. Such securing of the installed position prevents the two bridging profiles engaging one another from being pushed together to an excessive extent when they are installed because they could not absorb in such a position the required expansion movements of the fields of the tile covering. Owing to the design of the engaging end of a pocket legs it is possible to embody this leg as a whole in a thin-walled manner in conformity to the design of the other pocket leg. The pocket legs therefore can be designed largely with almost the same thickness.

[0008] In accordance with one embodiment, the upper leg can be designed shorter than the other leg engaging the pocket. Greater pocket depths can be realized in this way in a favorable manner in the extrusion process.

[0009] Variations of the articulated support holding the bridging profiles on the anchoring profiles or members are specified by the features of further embodiments where on the outer side of the terminating leg of each anchoring profile opposing the fastening leg, a hinge pin is arranged with a spacing from the top edge of the terminating leg. The hinge pin extends in the longitudinal direction of the terminating leg. The bridging profile is pivot-mounted on the hinge pin with a partially cylindrical hinge pan or elongated socket molded onto the end side. The hinge pin may be molded in a cylindrical recess onto the terminating leg with a spacing bridge. The hinge socket engages the recess in a form-locked manner.

[0010] Measures are specified in another embodiment for protecting the edges of the tile covering to be defined by the anchoring profiles. In accordance with this embodiment, the top end of the terminating leg of each anchoring profile is provided with a bushing or widening to protect an edge of an adjacent covering.

[0011] In order to obtain constant joint configurations between the terminating legs of the anchoring profiles and the adjacent edges of the tile covering, space-keeping means are provided in another embodiment as a molded-on spacing strip extending in the longitudinal direction of the terminating leg.

[0012] Special means for fixing the installed position are proposed according to a further embodiment. In this embodiment, one or several grooves are formed between the ribs for receiving connecting means inserted in the groove in a protruding manner. This projecting connection means is correspondingly provided in a corresponding receiving groove located on the inner side of a leg of the pocket on the other bridging profile. Preferably cylindrical elements can be employed in the form of notched pins that can be destroyed or deformed, or in the form of deformable seals for the securing connection.

[0013] A device according to a further embodiment is proposed for bridging an expansion joint in the corner of a building, the function of this device being identical with the function of a device as defined by the invention in a plane. In this embodiment, the hinge pin is formed on an anchoring profile on an end-side angling on the terminating leg, for pivotably tying the bridging profile to the terminating leg in an approximately parallel direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0015] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a cross section on an enlarged scale through a device as defined by the invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional representation of the installation of this device within the zone of the expansion joint in a floor laid with tiles; and

[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional representation of an installation of a special device for bridging an expansion joint in the corner area between the floor and the wall of a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 show two anchoring profiles or members 1 having an approximately L-shaped cross-section. The anchoring profiles are preferably produced from an aluminum or brass alloy in an extrusion process. Each profile has a fastening leg 11 and a terminating leg 12. The fastening legs 11 have a thickness of less than 1.5 mm, as a rule, and are provided with breakthroughs. The terminating legs 12 are each basically molded perpendicular to fastening leg 11. Each terminating leg comprises a hinge pin 14 that is located in a molded cylindrical recess or well 13. Hinge pin 14 is directed outwards with a spacing that extends in the direction of the profile. Disposed on hinge pins 14 are pocket-like bridging profiles 2 and 3 which form a joint with hinge pins 14. Each bridging profile or member 2, 3 has a respective hinge pan or elongated socket 24, 34 correspondingly configured to and receiving a respective hinge pin 14 by which the bridging profile is hinged on a terminating leg of an adjacent anchoring profile.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows the device used to form a joint between covering tiles to be installed and terminating legs 12. Spacing means are provided in the form of the molded-on strips 17 shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the upper area of terminating legs 12 have widenings or flanges 16 to protect the edges of the laid tiles.

[0021] The two pocket-like bridging profiles 2 and 3 each have a portion that engages and interlocks a corresponding portion of another bridging profile as they slide against each other. Each bridging profile has pocket legs 22, 23 and 32, 33 respectively which form the respective pockets 21, 31. Each bridging profile engages the corresponding pocket legs 22, 33 in a form-locking manner with its pocket. Thus, pocket leg 33 of bridging profile 3 engages pocket 21 of bridging profile 2 with its engaging end 33a. The outer thin-walled pocket leg 32 of bridging profile 3 is kept shorter than the other pocket leg 33 of bridging profile 3, which engages pocket 21 of bridging profile 2 via engaging end 33a. Ribs 36 are formed on one side of engaging end 33a spaced apart from each other. The ribs reinforce pocket leg 33 only by sections, so that the leg can be pushed into pocket 21 in a form-locking manner. In this way, pocket legs 32 and 33 may have the same thickness to the greatest possible extent and be made as thin as possible. Thus, pocket leg 22 has about the same thickness as the other pocket leg 23 forming pocket 21 of bridging profile 3 and engages the pocket 31 of other bridging profile 3 in a sliding and form-locking manner as well. Bridging profile 2, too, is attached with its hinge socket 24 to its corresponding hinge pin 14 in an articulated manner. The hinge pin is formed on spacing bridge 15 in recess 13 of terminating leg 12 of the anchoring profile 1.

[0022] To fix the bridging profiles into a predetermined installation position, a receiving groove 35 is formed between the ribs 36 on pocket leg 33,. The receiving groove conforms to a corresponding receiving groove 25 located on the inner side of pocket leg 23. To install the device in a fixed position, after the installation position has been reached, cylindrical elements 4 are inserted into these grooves when disposed one on top of the other. Such cylindrical elements may include notched pins or cylindrical sealing cords, and elements made of a material that can be destroyed or deformed in a yielding manner under pressure and/or tensile stress.

[0023] An example of the installed bridging device is shown in FIG. 2. The schematic representation indicates the two floor fields 6, between which a floor joint 7 is provided that may be filled with a filler material in this area. The device according to FIG. 1 is installed for bridging the joint 7. Anchoring profiles 1 are in this connection installed on the floor with their fastening legs 11 underneath the surfaces or ceramic tiles 8, using the thin-bed coating method, with the height of the tiles being coordinated with the clear height of the terminating leg. The applied adhesive or mortar is indicated by reference numeral 9. The cylindrical elements shown in FIG. 1 for securing the installed position are removed in the position shown.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an expansion joint with the bridging device located in the corner area of a building. The floor is again denoted by reference numeral 6. The expansion joint is denoted by reference numeral 7, and the wall by reference numeral 10. A special anchoring profile 101 is required for this embodiment. This anchoring profile is based on the same principle as before. On the end of the terminating leg 112 of this anchoring profile, an outwardly directed angling 102 is provided. This angling, in a corresponding manner, comprises the hinge pin 14, on which the described bridging profile 3 is hinged. The embodiment of the bridging device on the side of the floor corresponds with the embodiment according to FIG. 2.

[0025] While only two embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for bridging an expansion joint which separates adjacent surfaces comprising:

(a) at least two anchoring members having an approximately L-shaped cross section, each of said members comprising a fastening leg for securement beneath the adjacent surfaces and a terminating leg perpendicular to said fastening leg;

(b) at least two bridging members, each bridging member being hinged to one of said terminating legs and having a portion engaging and interlocking a corresponding portion of another of said bridging members, in a sliding, locking manner, wherein one of said bridging members has a leg provided with spaced protruding elements on the portion engaging and interlocking the other bridging member; and

(c) means for securing the engaged bridging members to each other in an installed position.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein each bridging member has at least two legs forming a U-shaped pocket facing and interlocking the legs of the other bridging member.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said at least two legs of one bridging member comprises a first outer leg and a second leg forming an engaging end with another bridging pocket, said first outer leg being shorter than the second leg forming the engaging end.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the terminating leg of each anchoring member has (i) an outer side opposing the fastening leg of said anchoring pin and (ii) a hinge pin spaced from a top edge of the terminating leg, said hinge pin extending in the longitudinal direction of the terminating leg, each bridging member having a partly cylindrical hinge socket molded onto an end side pivotally-mounting said bridging member on a corresponding hinge pin.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein each hinge pin is molded with a spacing bridge in a cylindrical recess of each terminating leg, whereby the hinge socket of one of said bridging members lockingly engages said recess of an adjoining anchoring member.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the terminating leg of each anchoring member has a top end provided with a flange for protecting an edge of an adjacent surface.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the terminating leg has spacing means on a side facing the surface to be protected, said spacing means being adapted to form a joint between the edge of the surface and the terminating leg.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the spacing means comprises a molded-on spacing strip extending in the longitudinal direction of the terminating leg.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the protruding elements comprise ribs, said other bridging member has at least two legs forming a pocket for receiving said leg of said one of said bridging members, one of said at least two legs having an inner side having a receiving groove, and said means for securing the bridging members in the installed position comprises at least one groove formed between the ribs for receiving connecting means provided in said receiving groove and insertable in said at least one groove in a protruding manner.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the connecting means comprises at least one cylindrical element which is removable from the receiving grooves and said at least one groove formed between the ribs.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein said at least one cylindrical element comprises a notched pin.

12. The device according to claim 10 wherein said connecting means comprises a deformable sealing cord.

13. The device according to claim 10 wherein said connecting means comprises a cylindrical pin made of a material which can be deformed transversely in relation to its longitudinal direction.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein each anchoring member has a hinge pin formed on an angle on an end side of the terminating leg for pivotably mounting said bridging member to the terminating leg in an approximately parallel direction.

15. The device according to claim 1 wherein the protruding elements of said leg comprise ribs.