COMBINED SET COMPRISING COVERING ELEMENTS AND ATTACHMENT MEMBERS AND A METHOD FOR MOUNTING SAID COMBINED SET
A combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements made of a synthetic material and a series of attachment members, which attachment members are provided for attaching said covering elements to a support, said covering elements having an upper and a lower surface and a first and second longitudinal edge, and wherein when attached on said support, a gap extends between said first and second longitudinal edges of two subsequently mounted covering elements, said longitudinal edges are integrally formed with said upper and lower surface and extend each time over their whole surface substantially linearly and continuously from an upper surface border to a lower border, and wherein a first respectively a second opening is applied, adjacent to said first respectively second longitudinal edges in said lower surface, in order to form each time a cavity therein, said first respectively said second opening giving access to at a first, respectively a second anchoring lip designed and dimensioned so as to match with said attachment member.
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The present invention relates to a combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements made of a synthetic material and a series of attachment members, wherein each attachment member of said series is provided for attaching two adjacently placed of said covering elements to a support, said covering elements having an upper surface and a first and second longitudinal edge, said longitudinal edges being integrally formed with said upper surface and extend each time over their whole surface substantially linearly and continuously from an upper surface border to a lower border of said covering element, said covering elements further comprising a first, respectively a second, anchoring lip designed and dimensioned so as to match with said attachment member in order to realise said attaching, and wherein when attached on said support, a gap extends between said first and second longitudinal edges of two subsequently mounted covering
The invention also relates to a method for mounting such a combined set.
Such a combined set is known from WO00/56996. The known combined set is for example used for outside floor covering. In order to mount the known combined set, a support is placed on the ground or wall and the attachment members are fixed on the support. Thereafter, the covering elements are applied and fixed to the support by means of the attachment members. Each covering element comprises a first and a second anchoring lip located at a distance corresponding to one third of the width of the covering element with respect to the first and second longitudinal edge. The anchoring lips are formed by protrusions extending downwards from an underside of the upper surface. In order to maintain the gap between two adjacent covering elements the attachment member is provided with an upstanding protrusion, which extends in the gap when the covering elements are attached on the support. Each attachment member always connects two adjacent covering elements to each other.
A drawback of the known combined set is that the anchoring lips are rather fragile due to their construction as a protrusion. As they further are applied at a distance corresponding to one third of the width of the covering element with respect to the first and second longitudinal edge, it is necessary to have attachment members of corresponding width. Consequently the attachment members have a certain width, which causes a cantilever effect on the anchoring lip when mounting the attachment member on the anchoring lip. This often leads to a breaking of the anchoring lip, thereby rendering the covering element useless. As moreover the attachment members have a certain width and need to have an upstanding protrusion, they are complex and expensive to manufacture.
The object of the present invention is to realise a combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements and a series of attachment members which are more easy and less expensive to manufacture and of which the anchoring lips are less fragile.
For this purpose, a combined set according to the invention is characterised in that said covering element comprises at an underside thereof a lower plane surface wherein a first respectively a second opening is applied adjacent to said first respectively second longitudinal edge, said first and second opening giving access to a first respectively a second cavity, said first respectively said second cavity having a cavity wall which is partially formed by said first respectively said second longitudinal edge, said first respectively said second opening giving access to said first, respectively said second anchoring lip, which are applied in said first respectively said second cavity and form an integral part of said lower surface. As the underside is now formed by a plane surface and as the anchoring lips are applied in the cavities and form an integral part of the lower surface a more rigid construction of the anchoring lips is obtained. Due to the fact that the openings are adjacent to the lateral edges and give access to the anchoring lips, the attachment members have only a small width, thereby reducing not only the cantilever effect, but also the amount of material used for manufacturing them. A less expensive attachment member is thus obtained.
A first preferred embodiment of a combined set according to the present invention is characterised in that said attachment member comprises a footplate on which two resilient hooks are mounted, which hooks extend in a height direction with respect to said footplate, said hooks being mounted at a predetermined distance from each other and point in opposite direction with respect to each other. A resilient hook forms a reliable locking of the attachment member on the anchoring lip.
A second preferred embodiment of a combined set according to the present invention is characterised in that said attachment member comprises a perforation provided for receiving a fixing member in order to fix said attachment member to said support, said perforation being applied in such a manner that its location corresponds to the one of said gap when said covering elements are attached on said attachment elements. In such a manner the fixing member is easily accessible from the gap between two adjacent covering elements and there is no need to remove the covering element to access the fixing member.
A third preferred embodiment of a combined set according to the present invention is characterised in that said covering elements have an alveolar structure comprising longitudinal tunnels extending between said upper and lower surface of said covering element, said first and second opening being at least partially applied within a volume described by said tunnel. In such a manner, a good combination of the alveolar structure and the opening, forming the cavity, is obtained.
A fourth preferred embodiment of a combined set according to the present invention is characterised in that said longitudinal edge has a length shorter than a thickness of said covering element, said lower border of said longitudinal edge forming part of said opening. In such a manner the attachment member can be applied in the same plane as the lower surface of the covering element and they both rest integrally on the support.
Preferably said anchoring lip is provided with locking means for locking said attachment member. This enables a reliable fixation of the covering element.
Preferably said synthetic material is a composite material comprising a polymer mixed with cellulose. Such a composite material is very suitable for extrusion techniques. The use of cellulose provides a natural aspect to the covering elements.
The method according to the present invention is characterised in that a first attachment member of said set, provided to engage into said first opening, is fixed to said support, a second attachment member is engaged into said second opening of one of said covering elements and attached to said anchoring lip, the latter covering element being moved towards said first attachment member, which is attached to the anchoring lip in said first opening by a shifting movement of the covering element, said second attachment member being thereafter fixed to said support. The shifting movement enables an easy mounting and demounting of the covering elements.
The invention will now be described in more details with reference to the annexed drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the combined set according to the invention.
In the drawings:
In the drawings, a same reference sign has been allocated to a same or analogous element.
The combined set according to the present invention comprises at least two covering elements 6-1 and 6-2, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the embodiment shown in the
The use of an alveolar structure for the covering elements according to the present invention is however not essential. According to another embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated in the figures, the covering element comprises a first 8, respectively a second 9 opening applied adjacent to the first 15, respectively the second 16, longitudinal edge. The openings 8 and 9 are applied in the lower surface and give each time access to a first respectively a second cavity. In the respective cavities there is applied a first (11-R), respectively a second (10-L) anchoring lip, designed and dimensioned so as to match with an attachment member 3. The anchoring lips are integrally formed with the lower surface of the covering element in order to obtain a structural relational therewith, thereby providing a reliable and non-fragile construction. Although a sole anchoring lip for each cavity or opening 8,9 is sufficient, as illustrated in
As the anchoring lips are applied in the cavities, they are accessed by the opening giving access to the cavity. Each of the first and second cavities has a cavity wall, which is partially formed by the longitudinal edge adjacent to which the cavity is applied. So the inner side of a fraction of the longitudinal edge forms a fraction of the cavity wall. Another fraction of the cavity wall is formed by a fraction of the inner side of the lower surface. The cavities and the anchoring lips are thus close to the longitudinal edges, thereby causing that the width of the attachment member remains small and that the cantilever applied by the attachment member on the anchoring lip, when mounting the covering element, remains small.
As illustrated in
The anchoring lip is preferably extruded with the covering element and provided with locking means for locking the attachment member. In the embodiment of the
When an alveolar structure is used, the openings 8 and 9 and their respective cavities are at least partially applied within a volume described by the tunnel. In the embodiment where tunnels are present, the cavities extend in the tunnels adjacent the longitudinal edges. The tunnels, comprising the cavities, have a first and a second section 7-1 and 7-2 separated by a section wall 20. The first section 7-1 forms a closed loop configuration and is substantially L-shaped. The opening 8, 9 is applied in the second section 7-2. The first section bridges the second one. The section wall 20 rigidities, as if to say, the structure of the second section and thereby provides a reinforcement for the anchoring by avoiding that they could become movable. The L shaped structure of the first section rigidities the covering element and assures that, in case where two anchoring lips are present, they are correctly applied on the under surface of the covering element.
In the embodiment shown in
The combined set according to the present invention further comprises a series of attachment members 3. The latter comprise a footplate 30 on which at least one resilient hook 4 is mounted. Although the figures shows each time single hooks, it could also be possible to have a set of adjacent hooks on a same footplate. The attachment member is further provided with a perforation 21 applied on the footplate. Through this perforation a fixing member 5, preferably formed by a screw, is applied in order to fix the attachment member to a frame 1. The frame is for example formed by a series of beams made of wood, steel or a synthetic material and provided to be applied on a support, on which the covering elements have to be applied. The perforation is applied in such a manner that its location corresponds to the one of a gap between two adjacent covering elements when they are attached on said attachment elements, as will be described hereinafter.
As is illustrated in
The attachment member either has a single hook 4 or two hooks. The hook or hooks extend in height direction with respect to the footplate. The hook preferably has a swan-neck's shape. In the embodiment shown in the
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment illustrated in
The embodiment illustrated in
The embodiment illustrated in
The mounting of the embodiment of the combined set according to the present invention and illustrated in the
Once the first attachment member 2 is fixed, a second attachment member 3 is taken, as well as a first covering element 6-1. The second attachment member is introduced into the second opening 9 of the covering element via the space between the anchoring lips 11-L and 10-L, as indicated by arrow a. Once the hook 4 extends inside the cavity 7-2 and the footplate 3 touches the lower surface of the covering element, the attachment member is shifted towards the right, as indicated by arrow b in
After having attached the second attachment member, the covering element 6-1 is lowered towards the first attachment member and the frame 1, so as to engage the first attachment member into the first opening 8, as illustrated in
Once the attachment members are anchored to the anchoring lips, the covering element is put in place, so that the fixing member 5 can now be brought towards the opening of the second attachment member (
When the embodiments illustrated in the
In the embodiment illustrated in
The combined set according to the present invention offers the advantage that the longitudinal edges are an integral part of the covering element, so that it is not necessary to apply some separate beams on the edges forming the border of the terrace or wall, in order to obtain an esthetical final work.
As the attachment members grip on the anchoring lip, which preferably has a length of at least 1.0 cm and preferably 2 cm, a sufficient contact surface between the anchoring lip and the hook is obtained, thereby leading to a reliable fixing of the covering element. As moreover the anchoring lips are close to the longitudinal edges the total width of the attachment member is less than 10 cm, preferably between 5 and 8 cm. It is also possible to create a more important contact surface between the anchoring lip and the hook. This is favourable when larger covering elements are used which require a larger contact surface due to more important mechanical forces applied on it. Moreover the expansion and shrink of the larger attachment members due to temperature fluctuations is more important which also imposes a larger contact surface. The present invention enables a more important contact surface without affecting the aesthetical aspect of the covering element, as the attachment is realised at the underside. In comparison to the known covering elements, the width of the covering element could be doubled thereby still enabling a reliable attachment. Moreover, as the hook is resilient, thermal fluctuations are better absorbed and they do not affect the attachment of the hook to the anchoring lip.
Since only the fixing member 5 is present in the gap, the latter can be kept small, even less than 4 mm, as no attachment members extend in the gap.
In the embodiment shown in the
Claims
1. A combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements made of a synthetic material and a series of attachment members, wherein each attachment member of said series is provided for attaching two adjacently placed of said covering elements to a support, said covering elements having an upper surface and a first and second longitudinal edge, said longitudinal edges being integrally formed with said upper surface and extend each time over their whole surface substantially linearly and continuously from an upper surface border to a lower border of said covering element, said covering elements further comprising a first, respectively a second, anchoring lip designed and dimensioned so as to match with said attachment member in order to realise said attaching, and wherein when attached on said support, a gap extends between said first and second longitudinal edges of two subsequently mounted covering elements, characterised in that, said covering element comprises at an underside thereof a lower plane surface wherein a first respectively a second opening is applied adjacent to said first respectively second longitudinal edge, said first and second opening giving access to a first respectively a second cavity, said first respectively said second cavity having a cavity wall which is partially formed by said first respectively said second longitudinal edge, said first respectively said second opening giving access to said first, respectively said second anchoring lip, which are applied in said first respectively said second cavity and form an integral part of said lower surface.
2. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said attachment member comprises a footplate on which two resilient hooks are mounted, which hooks extend in a height direction with respect to said footplate, said hooks being mounted at a predetermined distance from each other and point in opposite direction with respect to each other.
3. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said attachment member comprises a footplate on which two resilient hooks are mounted, which hooks extend in a height direction with respect to said footplate, said hooks being mounted at a predetermined distance from each other and point in a same direction with respect to each other.
4. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said attachment member comprises a perforation provided for receiving a fixing member in order to fix said attachment member to said support, said perforation being applied in such a manner that its location corresponds to the one of said gap when said covering elements are attached on said attachment elements.
5. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said longitudinal edge has a length shorter than a thickness of said covering element, said lower border of said longitudinal edge forming part of said opening.
6. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said anchoring lip is provided with locking means for locking said attachment member.
7. A combined set as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said locking means are tooth and grove shaped.
8. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said covering elements have an alveolar structure comprising longitudinal tunnels extending between said upper and lower surface of said covering element, said first and second cavity being at least partially applied within a volume described by said tunnel.
9. A combined set as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said longitudinal tunnels located adjacent to said longitudinal edges comprise a first and a second section separated by a section wall, said first section having a closed loop configuration, said first and second cavity being applied in said second section.
10. A combined set as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said first section is substantially L-shaped and bridges said second section.
11. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said synthetic material is a composite material comprising a polymer mixed with cellulose.
12. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a third anchoring lip is provided, said third and said first respectively said second anchoring lip being mirror symmetrically applied with respect to a centre of said opening.
13. A combined set as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said hook is swan-neck shaped.
14. A combined set as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said hook is lamppost shaped.
15. A combined set as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said hook has a curved shape.
16. A combined set as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said hook is formed by two legs, each leg being half mushroom shaped.
17. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said covering element comprises a third opening applied in said lower surface, said third opening giving access to a third cavity.
18. A combined set as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that said third opening is asymmetrical with respect to a middle axis of said covering element.
19. A method for mounting a combined set according to claim 1, characterised in that a first attachment member of said set and provided to engage into said first opening, is fixed to said support, a second attachment member is engaged into said second opening of one of said covering elements and attached to said anchoring lip, the latter covering element being moved towards said first attachment member, which is attached to the anchoring lip in said first opening by a shifting movement of the covering element, said second attachment member being thereafter fixed to said support.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that said first attachment member is attached to said anchoring lip by a shifting movement.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that said first attachment member is attached to said anchoring lip by a pivotal movement.
22. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that said first attachment member is attached to said anchoring lip by clicking.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 21, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 12, 2009
Applicant:
Inventor: Yves Michel (Hoegaarden)
Application Number: 12/034,947
International Classification: E04C 2/30 (20060101);