SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF DRY LAYING OF COVERING ELEMENTS FOR FLOORS OR WALLS AND A SUPPORT FOR SAID SYSTEM
The system comprises at least one laminar element (103; 104) with a first face of contact with a laying surface (F) and a second face of contact with at least one covering element (R). Strips (121) defining joints between covering elements (R) are arranged around the edges and corners of the covering elements (R) to define and fill the joints between mutually adjacent covering elements. Corner elements for mutual connection of said strips are further provide to retain the strips around the respective covering element.
The present invention relates to methods and systems for laying covering elements for floors and walls, such as in particular, but not exclusively, tiles made of various materials.
More in particular, the present invention relates to improvements to systems of dry laying, i.e., ones that do not require application of binding pastes or other adhesive products for anchoring the covering elements to a base.
STATE OF THE ARTIn the present description and in the annexed claims, by covering is meant as a whole a structure, obtained by setting covering elements, such as floor tiles, wall tiles, slabs or the like, alongside one another, for covering any structure, whether this be vertical, inclined, or horizontal. Consequently, by covering is meant both a covering for floors and a covering for vertical walls.
In the production of said there is normally used a binding paste, with which the tiles or other covering elements are bonded to the surface of the structure to be covered. Between the tiles, or other covering elements, set adjacent to one another, empty spaces, referred to as “joints”, are left, which are then filled with a suitable material. The floors and coverings thus made can be removed only by breaking the covering elements and moreover call for specialized staff for laying thereof.
A further drawback of this system of laying is represented by the fact that the floor becomes practicable after laying of the covering only when the binding paste has started to grip, which takes a rather long time during which no other work, for example, finishing, can be carried out in the same environment.
There have consequently been studied systems of dry laying, in which the covering elements do not require bonding on the surface of the structure, but are rather applied with the aid of locking supports. Examples of systems of dry covering of this type are described in the WO-A-02/077389, WO-A-03/040491 and WO-A-2005/052279.
These known systems present considerable limitations and drawbacks. In fact, they are based upon the use of covering elements that are individually equipped with a rear support in the form of a frame or the like, with systems of mutual fitting or locking between adjacent elements. Provided along the edges of the support are strips that form the joint gaps between adjacent covering elements. It is necessary to provide each individual covering element with a respective frame or support for laying thereof. The covering element and frame or support are bonded together by the manufacturer. These elements, provided with said supports are then laid dry, the individual frames being fitted to one another, said frames being for this purpose equipped with interlocking elements projecting underneath the rear surface of the covering element bonded on each support.
The mounting or laying of the elements equipped with the respective supports is a relatively complex operation. Furthermore, having to equip each covering element with its support via bonding entails a considerable increase in costs and also in the encumbrance and weights of the material to be transported.
The type of interlocking between supports designed to form an individual covering is such that, in the case where it is necessary to replace a damaged covering element, said replacement requires dismantling of at least part of the covering, since it is not possible to remove the individual damaged covering element. Nor is it possible to replace covering elements individually, for example, for modifying the aesthetic appearance of the covering.
Furthermore, since each covering element must be equipped with its own support, which has, along two sides, strips forming the joints, to each format of tile or other covering element there must correspond a respective support format. It is thus necessary to produce as many different supports as there are formats of the covering elements that are to be equipped with the supports themselves for dry laying.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect the present invention provides a support for dry laying of covering elements and a corresponding system of dry laying of covering elements that will alleviate or overcome either totally or in part at least some of the aforesaid drawbacks.
According to some embodiments, the invention envisages a system for dry laying of covering elements for walls or floors, comprising at least one laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with at least one covering element, characterized in that it comprises:
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- strips defining joints between covering elements, which can be applied along the edges of the covering elements;
- corner elements for mutual connection of said strips, so that said strips are retained around the respective covering element.
According to some embodiments, the planar laminar element is a flexible or pliable layer of a suitable material, preferably an acoustically insulating material, which is placed on the surface to be covered, and on which the covering elements are simply placed, the laminar element filling a gap between the surface to be covered and the covering elements.
According to some embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of plane laminar elements provided along their edges with members for interlocking between adjacent plane laminar elements, such that a continuous or substantially continuous layer is formed between the surface to be covered and the covering elements. According to some embodiments, the plane laminar elements are further preferably provided with a plurality of locking seats for respective anchoring members for mutual anchorage between plane laminar elements and covering elements. In such embodiments, the covering elements, such as tiles or the like, are individually anchored to an underlying layer formed by the mutually interlocked plane laminar elements. Each covering element, such as a tile, can be removed independently of the other elements, by removing the anchoring element(s) from the corresponding locking seats provided in the plane laminar elements.
To obtain a high degree of flexibility, the strips are separate from the plane laminar elements; i.e., they constitute elements separate from the laminar elements themselves. They are anchored around the covering elements via the corner elements for mutual connection. The shape and/or size of the covering elements becomes in this way altogether independent of the shape and/or size of the plane laminar elements. Furthermore, there are obtained multiple possibilities of laying of the covering elements according to different patterns, without constraints as regards the shape and arrangement of the plane laminar elements.
Also the corner anchoring elements are advantageously separate from the plane laminar elements for the same purposes. Some advantages of the present invention can, however, be achieved even though the corner anchoring elements are fixed to the plane laminar elements.
In a possible embodiment, the corner elements have a plurality of arms that converge towards a central area of the corner element, said arms having members of constraint for respective strips defining the joints between adjacent covering elements.
In a preferred embodiment, there are provided interlocking members for interlocking between strips and corner elements, for example, engagement members, which enable, for example, stretching of the strips by elastically lengthening them. In one embodiment, the strips have recesses at least in the proximity of the ends, in which projections of said corner elements engage.
In one embodiment each locking seat of the members for mutual anchorage between plane laminar elements and covering elements is formed by a through opening that traverses the thickness of the plane laminar element. The anchoring members can each comprise an insert that can be fitted in a respective seat of the plane laminar element and have means of constraint to a covering element, which can comprise a biadhesive tape.
Further features of the system of dry laying according to the invention are set forth in the annexed claims and will be better understood from the description and the annexed drawings, which shows a possible non-limiting embodiment of the invention.
According to a further aspect, the invention regards a method for dry laying of a floor or covering formed by a plurality of covering elements, comprising the following steps:
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- laying and fitting together, on at least one part of a surface to be covered, a plurality of plane laminar elements equipped with interlocking members, which fit together along their edges, and anchoring members for anchorage of the covering elements;
- applying along the edges of said covering elements strips defining the joints between said covering elements;
- applying to said plane laminar elements a plurality of covering elements equipped with said strips, anchoring them to said plane laminar elements via said anchoring members.
According to a further aspect, the invention envisages a support for dry laying of covering elements for floors or walls, comprising a plane laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, and set along the edges of which are members for interlocking with adjacent plane laminar elements, and set on the second face of which are strips defining a joint between adjacent covering elements, said support being characterized in that it comprises at least one locking seat for a member for anchorage between the covering element and the plane laminar element.
According to a different aspect, the invention envisages a support for dry laying of covering elements for floors or walls, comprising a plane laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, set along the edges of which are members for interlocking with adjacent plane laminar elements, and set on the second face of which are strips defining a joint between adjacent covering elements, said support being characterized in that said strips are set so as to cross one another in a substantially central area of said plane laminar element, dividing said plane laminar element into a plurality of areas, and in that associated to each of said areas into which the plane laminar element is divided are members for anchoring the covering elements to the plane laminar element.
With supports of this type, dry laying of covering elements is much simplified. It is not necessary to bond a support on each covering element, but rather it is possible to keep the covering elements, such as tiles or the like, separated from the supports themselves. The latter can be laid on the surface to be covered, and the covering elements are then inserted in the spaces delimited by the strips forming the joints and associated to the laminar supports. The covering elements can be easily detached from the supports with a simple movement substantially orthogonal to the laying surface. This makes possible simple and fast replacement of individual covering elements without dismantling the covering itself. This results in a greater ease in replacing damaged covering elements, but also a considerable simplicity in replacing, for example, parts of a covering, for modifying the exterior appearance of the covering as a whole. This enables, for example, modification of a floor of a shop or other sales outlet, a public establishment, an environment for trade fairs and exhibitions, show-rooms or the like.
Furthermore, since it is not necessary to bond individual supports to individual covering elements, the system of production becomes much less costly. The manufacturer of tiles or other covering elements can produce traditional covering elements and possibly supply his own customers with the supports for dry laying that may be combined to any one of the covering elements in the catalogue. Transport of the material becomes simpler and the production of said materials less expensive.
Also possible is the separate production of supports for dry laying by specialized firms, which supply said supports to the end customer or to the person who carries out laying, who may then combine to said supports any covering element of his own choice, produced by a manufacturer different from the manufacturer of the supports.
Further advantageous features and embodiments of the supports according to the invention are set forth in the annexed claims and will be described in greater detail in what follows with reference to non-limiting embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings.
The invention also concerns a system of dry laying that uses the aforesaid supports, as well as a floor or covering comprising a plurality of supports of the type described above with corresponding covering elements anchored to the structure to be covered using said supports.
According to a different aspect, the invention regards a method for dry laying of a floor or a covering formed by a plurality of covering elements, characterized by the following steps:
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- laying and fitting together, on at least one part of a surface to be covered, a plurality of plane laminar elements equipped with interlocking members that fit together along their own edges, with strips defining the joints between covering elements on a face of said elements facing the opposite side with respect to said surface and with anchoring members for anchorage of the covering elements;
- applying to said supports a plurality of covering elements, anchoring them to said plane laminar elements via said anchoring members, each covering element being constrained to a plurality of adjacent plane laminar elements.
Further advantageous features and embodiments of the method according to the invention will be described in greater detail in what follows and are set forth in the annexed claims.
The invention will be better understood from the ensuing description and the annexed drawings, which show a practical non-limiting embodiment of the invention. More in particular, in the plates of drawings:
A first embodiment of a system according to the invention will be described here below with reference to
A first component of the system of dry laying of elements (such as tiles or the like) for covering a floor, a wall or the like, formed by a laminar element is shown in detail in
Designated by 103X and 103Y are, respectively, the rear face and the front face of the plane laminar element 103. The face 103X is designed to rest on the floor or on the wall that is to be covered with the system according to the invention, whereas the rear surfaces of the covering elements, such as tiles or the like, come to rest on the face or surface 103Y.
In one embodiment,-provided on the surface 103X are antislip systems designated by 105. In one embodiment, the antislip elements 105 form a grating projecting from the rear surface 103X of the plane laminar element 103. The grating 105 can be made, for example, of plastic material with a high coefficient of friction, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or the like.
In one embodiment, the interlocking members set along the edges 103B of the plane laminar element 103 comprise appendages 103E and recesses or cavities 103F having a shape complementary to that of the appendages 103E. In one embodiment, the appendages have an approximately circular development. In one embodiment, set along two concurrent sides of the plane laminar element 103 are cavities or recesses 103F, whilst set along the other two sides are appendages 103E. The appendages 103E and recesses or cavities 103F can be shaped so as to form undercuts to provide a more effective mutual fitting.
The plane laminar element 103 is equipped with anchoring members for anchorage between the plane laminar element 103 and the covering elements designed to be applied on a complex of plane laminar elements 103 fitted together. In one embodiment, the plane laminar elements 103 have a plurality of locking seats 107 for anchoring members for mutual anchorage between the plane laminar elements 103 and the covering elements. In one embodiment, the locking seats 107 are circular, as illustrated in the drawing, but it should be understood that also different shapes may be used, for example, oval seats, or else polygonal seats, such as triangular or square ones, preferably with rounded corners, or shapes of other kinds. Advantageously, the edge of the seat 107 is rounded, as may be seen in particular in the enlargement of
Preferably, the locking seats 107 are uniformly distributed along the entire development of the plane laminar element 107; for example, it is possible to envisage from two to ten, preferably from four to six, seats 107 parallel to each side of a square plane laminar element 103.
The anchoring members, designated by 109, can be inserted in a stable way (see
The anchoring members 109 can be inserted in the seats 107 by snap action and remain stably anchored in said seats thanks to the concave and convex conformation of the edges 107A and 109A, respectively.
In an advantageous embodiment, applied on the top face of the anchoring members 109, designated by 109Y, is a length of bi-adhesive tape 111, possibly protected with a protective sheet 111X (
A further component of the laying system according to the invention is represented by strips 121 that, when the system is laid, define the joints between adjacent covering elements, applied, via the anchoring members 109, to a set of plane laminar elements 103 joined together.
In one embodiment, the strips 121 have longitudinal sides 121A and a top wall 121B. Defined between the longitudinal sides 121A and the top wall 121B are hollow spaces 121C, 121D, the hollow spaces 121D being set at the ends of the strips 121. Advantageously, in one embodiment, the ends of the strips 121 are defined by edges converging in a vertex 121E to facilitate mounting of the strips themselves. The vertex 121E defines an angle of approximately 90°.
In a preferred embodiment, the spaces or cavities 121D set at the ends of the strips 121 are delimited at least frontally by respective walls 121F, inclined from the top downwards and from the end towards the central part of the strip, to which there corresponds a similar inclination of the external sharp edges or vertices 121E mentioned above.
The cavities or sockets 121D serve as anchorage for the strip to a corner element for mutual connection between a number of strips that converge in a vertex of a covering element. The corner connection elements can have various shapes, as illustrated in
With initial reference to
The strips 121 at rest have a dimension that can be slightly smaller than the side of the covering element for which the strip is intended. There may consequently be strips 121 of different dimensions according to the dimension of the covering elements that are to be laid with the system according to the invention. If the covering elements are square, for example, of 20×20 cm or of 30×30 cm, to lay them strips 121 will be used that are all the same as one another and of dimensions such as to reach, when applied to the covering elements, the length of approximately 20 or 30 cm respectively. If the covering elements are, instead, rectangular, for example, 15×30 cm, strips of two different lengths will be used.
Since it may be necessary to have available a number of strips different from four that converge in one and the same point, the corner anchoring elements can have a shape different from that of the elements 131 of
The corner anchoring elements 131, 141 and 151 serve for applying around the covering elements the strips 121, which form the joints between adjacent covering elements. Shown in
Two respective strips 121 converge at each vertex V of the covering element R, which strips are anchored to corresponding corner anchoring elements. In the example shown, four cross-shaped corner-anchoring elements 131 are provided. As may be understood from
Lying of the covering or floor with the system so far described is performed in the way described in what follows. Applied in adequate number on the surface to be covered are plane laminar elements 103, fitted together by means of the cavities 103F and the appendages 103E made along the edges. Each plane laminar element 103 can be already equipped in its own seats 107 with the anchoring members 109, each of which is still protected at the top by the sheet 111X that covers the bi-adhesive 111. What is obtained is a substantially continuous surface that covers the entire wall or the floor on which the covering elements R are to be laid, without striplike elements defining the joints between the covering elements R. Consequently, it may be understood that, once the plane laminar elements 103 have been laid on the surface thus obtained, a covering can be laid that is made with covering elements R having any shape and size, arranged according to any pattern, for example, partially at 90° and partially in diagonal with respect to the surrounding walls. There are thus no constraints on the choice of the covering element R and on the distribution of said elements. The plane laminar elements 103 have a universal use and can be used with any shape and size of the covering element R itself.
Laying is carried out by applying to a first covering element R or to a first set of covering elements R the strips 121 using the corner anchoring elements 131 or 141 or 151. For example, a single covering element R can be provided, as shown in
Once this operation has been performed, between the opposite arms of two corner anchoring elements 131 that have arms 131A projecting from the covering element R, there can be inserted, so that it bears upon the corresponding strip 121, a subsequent covering element R, around which via further corner anchoring elements 131, 141 or 151 the respective strips 121 are fixed. The process continues in the same way up to completion of the covering of the floor or wall. Obviously before setting the next covering element R up against the strip 121 that has already been laid, the protective elements 111X must be removed from the bi-adhesive 111 of the corresponding anchoring members 109.
Proceeding in this way, it is possible to obtain a complete covering of the floor or wall, also with complex arrangements of covering elements, as illustrated in particular in the example of
It may be understood from what has been described above how with the system according to the invention it is possible to obtain an extreme versatility in the laying of covering elements R, R1, R2, R3 of various shapes using basic elements that are always the same; the plane laminar elements 103, the corner anchoring elements 131, 141 and 151, and the anchoring members 109. Only the strips 121 can be provided with variable dimensions according to the dimensions and shape of the covering elements. Furthermore, with the system according to the invention there are practically no constraints on the arrangement of the covering elements on the plane, as exemplified in
The anchoring members 109 enable removal of individual covering elements R, R1, R2, R3 in the case where it were to become necessary to make a replacement owing to breaking or simply because it is desired or necessary to change the aesthetic appearance of the floor or wall. For this purpose, it is sufficient to pull the covering element R-R3 away, for example, using suction-cup means, detaching from the respective seat 107 the anchoring member or members 109 that are attached on the rear surface of the covering element to be removed. It is sufficient to overcome the force with which the anchoring members 109 are fixed in the seats 107 in order to achieve removal of the corresponding covering element. Spare anchoring members 109 are then inserted in the seats 107 left empty, the protective film 111X is removed from the portions of bi-adhesive 111, and a new covering element can be inserted in the space left empty by the covering element that has been removed.
As shown in the cross section of
The covering system of
A further embodiment of the invention is disclosed herein below reference being made to
Illustrated in
In one embodiment, the support 1 has a substantially plane laminar element 3, which, in this embodiment, has a substantially square development. As may be seen in particular in
In an advantageous embodiment, the strips 5 divide the plane laminar element 3 into four approximately equal areas or sectors, in each of which are set members for anchoring the covering elements to the support 1.
In an advantageous embodiment, the anchoring members comprise, preferably for each area into which the plane laminar element 3 is divided, a locking seat 7 (see in particular
In an advantageous embodiment, the anchoring member 9 has a substantially circular development. It can advantageously have a thickness S equal to the thickness of the plane laminar element 3. In this way, when the anchoring member 9 is retained into the corresponding seat 7, it is set with its rear face 9A and front face 9B substantially flush with the corresponding rear face 3X and front face 3Y of the plane laminar element 3. The seat 7 is consequently a through seat. It should on the other hand be understood that, in a different embodiment, the seat 7 can have a depth smaller than the thickness S of the plane laminar element 3 and accordingly the anchoring member 9 will have a thickness smaller than the thickness S, substantially equal to the depth of the seat 7.
To constrain the anchoring member 9 and the plane laminar element 3 together, according to a possible embodiment of the invention joint systems can be used. In a possible embodiment of the invention, for this purpose the edge of the seat 7 has a conformation defining an undercut, in which the corresponding edge of the anchoring member 9 is restrained.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the figures, the seat 7 has an internal edge 7A, the cross section of which has a convex profile, to which a corresponding concave peripheral profile 9C of the anchoring member 9 is constrained. Also possible is a complementary conformation, i.e., with an anchoring member 9 having a convex peripheral edge that is constrained to a concave edge of the seat 7.
The mutual anchorage between the components 3 and 9 is obtained via deformation of the sharp edge 9S and constraint of the convex profile 7A in the concave profile 9C. It should be understood that the diameter of the anchoring member 9 is substantially the same as the diameter of the seat 7, even though this does not appear from
In a different embodiment (not shown), the anchorage may be obtained via elastic members, such as tabs or the like, provided on one and/or the other of the elements 3 and 9.
In an alternative, even though less advantageous, embodiment the mutual joining between the components 3 and 9 may be obtained via an adhesive, for example, with a bi-adhesive tape set between the rear surface 9A of the anchoring element 9 and a bottom wall of the seat 7, which, in this case, would not be a through seat, but rather would have a depth smaller than the thickness S of the plane laminar element 3.
Set on the front face 9B of the anchoring element 9 is an anchorage means 11 for anchoring to a covering element. Said anchorage means 11 can be formed, for example, by a length of a bi-adhesive film or tape, applied to the face 9B and provided with a layer of adhesive on the top face, i.e., the face that faces the opposite side with respect to the anchoring member 9, possibly protected by a removable protective film, sheet, or lamina F, which is removed at the moment of laying of the covering elements.
Set along the edges 3A-3D of the plane laminar element 3 are members for interlocking between adjacent plane laminar elements. In an advantageous embodiment, said interlocking members comprise appendages 3E arranged along the consecutive edges 3B and 3C of each plane laminar element 3 and cavities 3F having a shape complementary to that of the appendages 3E and provided on the other two consecutive edges 3A and 3D.
In an advantageous embodiment, the appendages 3E have an expanded shape (in the example illustrated in the figures, with an approximately circular profile) for housing into the cavities 3F of similar conformation in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the plane laminar elements 3 on the plane laying surface, after their installation.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the appendages 3E have (see
Illustrated in
Applied on the plane surface of the floor P to be covered are supports 1 of the type illustrated in
The dimension of the supports 1 corresponds to one of the possible formats of the covering elements. For example, the supports 1 illustrated in the figures can have sides L 30 cm in length. Consequently, the grating formed by the strips 5 of the various supports 1 set end-on will have square meshes with sides having a length L=30 cm. Inserted within each of said meshes is a covering element R as illustrated as a whole for four of the meshes formed by the supports 1 in
The covering elements R are anchored to the supports 1 by means of the bi-adhesive 11. Each covering element R is anchored to four areas of four adjacent supports 1 via four portions of bi-adhesive tape 11 applied to four corresponding anchoring members 9. Along the walls M1 and M2 the anchorage will be in part on areas of entire supports 1 and in part on portions 1X, 1Y.
The laying of a covering for a floor P or a wall using the supports 1 is extremely practical and fast. In fact, in a first step the individual supports 1 are applied, being fitted to one another by means of the appendages 3E and the cavities 3F, providing a supporting structure, completed along the walls M1, M2 by portions 1X, 1Y of supports 1. Once this has been done, the individual covering elements R are applied in the meshes formed by the strips 5 set end-on with respect to one another of the various supports 1 and of the respective portions 1X, 1Y via simple removal of the protective film F of the bi-adhesive.
The individual supports 1 can be produced and sold complete with the anchoring members 9 already inserted and fitted in the seats 7 and provided with the bi-adhesive 11. Not ruled out, however, is the possibility of these components 3, 9, 11 being sold separately; for example, the anchoring members 9 equipped with the bi-adhesive 11 can be sold separate from the plane laminar elements 3, and the person who carries out laying of the covering will insert the individual components 9 in the seats 7 before proceeding to application of the tiles or covering elements R. Furthermore, also the bi-adhesive 11 might not be applied previously on the anchoring members 9 but rather sold separately, for example, in sheets from which individual pre-cut portions of bi-adhesive 11 can be detached by the user, who will then apply them to the anchoring member 9 possibly already inserted in its seat 7, or else still to be inserted in the latter. Since the anchoring members 9 and the plane laminar elements 3 cannot be obtained by dinking, i.e., cutting the anchoring members 9 from the plane laminar element 3, on account of the concave and convex profiles 7A and 9C, but rather must be produced separately, the manufacturer could offer on the market a product at a lower cost, in which the assembly of the anchoring members 9 on the plane laminar elements 3, as well as possibly also the application of the bi-adhesive 11, are entrusted to the end user.
In a modified embodiment, the anchoring members 9 could be without bi-adhesive 11 and made for receiving, for example, a glue to be applied to areas or points directly by the user. For example, a simple silicone sealant could be used, to be applied using a normal silicone gun on the surface 9B of the anchoring members 9 inserted in the seats 7.
Whatever the manner with which the anchoring member 9 is inserted in the respective seat 7 of the plane laminar element 3 and with which the covering element or tile R is fixed (using bi-adhesive, glue, or the like) to the anchoring members 9, it is always possible to remove one or more tiles or covering elements R individually to replace them, for example, in the case of breakage or when it is desired to change the appearance of the covering. In fact, for this purpose it is sufficient to exert an adequate traction force on the covering element R in a direction orthogonal to the plane P of the floor or of the wall on which the covering has been applied. Said traction force will bring about detachment of the anchoring members 9 from the corresponding plane laminar elements, via release of the connection formed by the shaped edges 7A and 9C. It will then be convenient to detach, for example, with the aid of a cutter, the individual anchoring members 9 that remain adherent to the rear face of the covering element R that has been removed. Said element is then replaced simply by inserting new anchoring members 9 into the seats 7 that have remained free within the mesh from which the covering element R has been removed. Said new anchoring members 9 can in fact be produced for being sold also as spare pieces or additional components with respect to the laminar elements 3.
The covering elements R, which have been removed in order to carry out modification of the aesthetic appearance of the covering, can be reused at a later date.
The supports 1 so far described can be used for dry laying of covering elements also of different formats with respect to the format L×L of the support 1. For this purpose there can be provided spacers or inserts of the type illustrated as a whole in
Illustrated in
In this embodiment, the spacers or inserts 21 are without anchoring members 9, but could be provided with anchoring members 9, just as the supports 1 are provided therewith. On the other hand, already with four anchoring members 9 for each mesh, as shown in
Formed in each mesh is a central empty area V having a square shape, in which no laminar element is provided. This area is sufficiently small as not to represent a drawback to proper laying of the covering material. On the other hand, in a modified embodiment of the invention, there may be envisaged the use of plane laminar inserts having a shape corresponding to the development in plan view of the area V, which come to fill also this portion of floor.
Along the walls that surround the floor P on which the covering is applied with the system illustrated in
Shown in
Shown in
As illustrated in the drawings, both the supports 1 and the inserts 21 and 31 can be provided, on the rear face 3X, 21A and 31A of an antislip covering, for example, a rubber layer, for a better adhesion to the underlying laying surface. The plane laminar elements 3, the inserts or spacers 21, 31, and the anchoring members 9 can be made of any suitable material, for example, moulded plastic, wood, etc. The production by moulding of plastic material having adequate capacity of elastic deformation enables the edges 7A and 9C to be made with the same operation of moulding, without any need for subsequent processing operations, and consequently proves particularly advantageous.
So far described have been supports of size 30×30 cm and corresponding inserts for dry laying of tiles or other covering elements of larger dimensions. It should be understood, on the other hand, that the same principles can be used for obtaining supports of different dimensions (for example, 45×45 or 60×60 cm) and also of different shapes, for example, rectangular, without ruling out the possibility of envisaging also supports for tiles or other covering elements of other shape.
It is understood that the drawings merely show one example provided purely as a practical embodiment of the invention, it being possible for said invention to vary in the forms and arrangements, without thereby departing from the scope of the idea underlying the invention itself. The possible presence of reference numbers in the annexed claims has the purpose of facilitating reading of the claims with reference to the description and the drawings, and in no way limits the scope of protection represented by the claims.
Claims
1. A kit for dry laying of covering elements for walls or floors, comprising at least one laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with at least one covering element, the kit comprising:
- strips defining joints between covering elements, which can be applied along the edges of the covering elements;
- corner elements wherein said corner elements are provided with constraint members co-acting with interlocking members on said strips, for constraining and anchoring the strips around the edges of the respective covering element.
2. A kit for dry laying of covering elements for walls or floors, comprising plane laminar elements with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, said laminar elements comprising along their own edges members for interlocking between adjacent plane laminar elements, the kit comprising:
- strips defining joints between covering elements, which can be applied along the edges of the covering elements;
- a plurality of locking seats made in said plane laminar elements, for respective anchoring members for mutual anchorage between plane laminar elements and covering elements, said anchoring members comprising an insert that can be engaged into a respective seat of the plane laminar element and has means of constraint to a covering element, said locking seats comprising a shaped peripheral edge to form a shape fit with the edge of the corresponding anchoring member.
3. The kit according to claim 2, further comprising corner elements for mutual connection between said strips, interlocking members being provided for mutually anchoring said strips and said corner elements and retaining said strips around the edges of said covering elements.
4. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said strips have a substantially rectilinear development.
5. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said strips are separate from the plane laminar elements.
6. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said corner elements have a plurality of arms that converge towards a central area of the corner element, said arms having members of constraint for respective strips defining the joints between adjacent covering elements.
7. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said corner elements for connection of the strips are separate from the plane laminar elements.
8. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said strips are made of impermeable material and form seals around the edges of the covering elements.
9. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said strips are made of elastic material.
10. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said strips have recesses at least in the proximity of the ends, in which projections of said corner elements engage.
11. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said interlocking members between adjacent plane laminar elements are designed for fitting adjacent plane laminar elements via a relative movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the face of the plane laminar element.
12. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said interlocking members comprise cavities and appendages made along the edges of the plane laminar element, the cavities being open along the corresponding edge of the plane laminar element and at least towards the second face of the plane laminar element, for inserting in said cavities corresponding appendages of adjacent laminar elements with a movement substantially orthogonal to the laying surface.
13. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said locking seats for locking the anchoring members for mutual anchorage between plane laminar elements and covering elements are formed by through openings that traverse the thickness of the plane laminar element.
14. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said anchoring members comprise an insert that can be engaged into the seat of the plane laminar element and has a thickness not larger than the thickness of the plane laminar element so that, when an anchoring member is mounted in the respective seat, said anchoring member is set with its top surface flush with the second face of the plane laminar element.
15. The kit according to claim 14, wherein the edge of each locking seat for said anchoring members comprises an edge forming an undercut, into which the anchoring member is engaged, said anchoring member having a peripheral edge shaped accordingly so that said peripheral edge engages into the undercut formed in the peripheral edge of the seat.
16. The kit according claim 1, wherein said anchoring members comprise an adhesive on one of their faces, for adherence to the covering element.
17. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said locking seats for the anchoring members have a convex peripheral edge, in which a concave peripheral edge of the corresponding anchoring member engages.
18. The kit according to claim 1, further comprising an antislip covering on the first face.
19. The kit according to claim 18, wherein said antislip covering is set according to a grating pattern.
20. The kit according to claim 18, wherein said anchoring members comprise a bottom surface provided with a layer of antislip material.
21. A method for dry laying of a floor or covering formed by a plurality of covering elements, the method comprising the following steps:
- laying at least one laminar element on a surface to be covered;
- by means of corner elements, anchoring along the edges of said covering elements strips defining the joints between said covering elements;
- applying to said at least one plane laminar element a plurality of covering elements equipped with said strips.
22. A planar supporting element for dry laying of covering elements for floors or walls, the planar supporting element comprising:
- a plane laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, and along the edges of which are set interlocking members for interlocking with adjacent plane laminar elements, wherein on the second face of said supporting element are set strips defining a joint between adjacent covering elements, and comprising at least one locking seat for an anchoring member for anchorage between the covering element and the plane laminar element, said locking seat comprising a shaped peripheral edge to form a shape fit with the edge of an anchoring member.
23. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein said interlocking members are shaped for fitting adjacent supports via a relative movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the face of the plane laminar element.
24. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein said interlocking members comprise cavities and appendages arranged along the edges of the plane laminar element, the cavities being open along the corresponding edge of the plane laminar element and at least towards the second face of the plane laminar element, facing the covering element, for inserting in said cavities corresponding appendages of adjacent laminar elements with a movement substantially orthogonal to the laying surface.
25. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein said at least one locking seat for the anchoring member is formed by a through opening that traverses the thickness of the plane laminar element.
26. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein said anchoring member comprises an insert that can be anchored into said seat of the plane laminar element and having means for constraint to a covering element.
27. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein said anchoring member comprises an insert that can be anchored into the seat of the laminar element and has a thickness not larger than the thickness of the plane laminar element, so that, when the anchoring member is mounted in the respective seat, said anchoring member is set with its top surface flush with the second face of the plane laminar element.
28. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein the edge of the locking seat for the anchoring member comprises an edge forming an undercut, constrained to which is the anchoring member having a peripheral edge shaped accordingly so as to be constrained into the undercut formed in the peripheral edge of the seat.
29. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein said at least one anchoring member comprises an adhesive on one of its faces so as to adhere to the covering element.
30. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein said strips defining the joint between adjacent covering elements are arranged to form a cross, substantially orthogonal to the edges of the plane laminar element and intersect approximately at the center of the plane laminar element.
31. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein said strips defining the joint between adjacent covering elements divide the plane laminar element into at least four areas, each of which is equipped with at least one seat for a respective anchoring member.
32. The supporting element according to claim 31, wherein said strips divide the supporting element into four areas, each area having a dimension substantially corresponding to one quarter of the dimensions of the covering element.
33. The supporting element according to claim 22, wherein said at least one locking seat for an anchoring member has a convex peripheral edge anchored to which is a concave peripheral edge of said anchoring member.
34. The supporting element according to claim 22, further comprising an antislip covering on the first face.
35. The supporting element according to claim 34, wherein said at least one anchoring member comprises a bottom surface provided with a layer of antislip material.
36. A kit for dry laying of covering elements, comprising a plurality of supporting elements, each supporting element comprising a plane laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, and along the edges of which are set interlocking members for interlocking with adjacent plane laminar elements, wherein on the second face of said supporting element are set strips defining a joint between adjacent covering elements, each supporting element comprising at least one locking seat for an anchoring member for anchorage between the covering element and the plane laminar element, said locking seat comprising a shaped peripheral edge to form a shape fit with the edge of an anchoring member.
37. The kit according to claim 36, further comprising a plurality of anchoring members.
38. The kit according to claim 36, further comprising spacers to be set between said supports.
39. The kit according to claim 38, wherein said spacers each comprise a laminar element, provided on the edges of which are interlocking members complementary to the interlocking members of said supports.
40. The kit according to claim 38, wherein said spacers comprise a strip designed to form at least part of a joint between adjacent covering elements.
41. A floor or covering comprising a plurality of supports and a plurality of covering elements anchored to a structure via said supports, each support comprising a plane laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, and along the edges of which are set interlocking members for interlocking with adjacent plane laminar elements, wherein on the second face of said supporting element are set strips defining a joint between adjacent covering elements, each support comprising at least one locking seat for an anchoring member for anchorage between the covering element and the plane laminar element, said locking seat comprising a shaped peripheral edge to form a shape fit with the edge of an anchoring member.
42. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said strips have a substantially rectilinear development.
43. The kit according to claim 3, wherein said strips have a substantially rectilinear development.
44. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said corner elements have a plurality of arms that converge towards a central area of the corner element, said arms having members of constraint for respective strips defining the joints between adjacent covering elements.
45. The kit according to claim 3, wherein said corner elements have a plurality of arms that converge towards a central area of the corner element, said arms having members of constraint for respective strips defining the joints between adjacent covering elements.
46. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said corner elements for connection of the strips are separate from the plane laminar elements.
47. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said strips are made of impermeable material and form seals around the edges of the covering elements.
48. The kit according to claim 3, wherein said strips are made of impermeable material and form seals around the edges of the covering elements.
49. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said strips are made of elastic material.
50. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said strips have recesses at least in the proximity of the ends, in which projections of said corner elements engage.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 15, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 15, 2010
Inventors: Alessandro Fogli (Modena), Davide Carra (Modena)
Application Number: 12/514,873
International Classification: E04F 13/00 (20060101); E04C 2/38 (20060101); E04F 15/00 (20060101);