BE1024220B1 - CONSTRUCTION KIT FOR PRESENTATION PODIA - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a construction kit and in particular to modular floor elements for assembling an elevated modular floor base with removable exchangeable end plates. More specifically it concerns stackable floor elements with accompanying presentation bases that can be assembled continuously or stepwise vertically and horizontally to present a assembled presentation floor or stage for products. The main object of the invention is to provide improved coupling means for a composition between floor elements, blocks and cover plates, through which a wide variety of floors with different heights and shapes can be made.

Description

Construction kit for Presentation stages

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a construction kit and in particular to modular floor elements for assembling an elevated modular floor base with removable exchangeable end plates. More specifically it concerns stackable floor elements with accompanying presentation bases that can be assembled continuously or stepwise vertically and horizontally to present a assembled presentation floor or stage for products. The main object of the invention is to provide improved coupling means for making a composition between floor elements, blocks and add-on plates, whereby a wide variety of floors with different heights and shapes can be made that achieve a virtually seamless and uniform appearance.

Modular floor systems are used to create an artificial ground surface. The main application of this invention is to construct elevated floors and stages with integrated presentation bases and end plates for presenting products. More specifically in a shop or exhibition hall, the combination of a presentation base integrated with a modular presentation floor offers the possibility of making a visually uniform whole with the intention of presenting the products to be presented sufficiently distinctive from the environment.

Modular floor elements known in the state of the art are not designed to present products with sufficient distinction in height. This invention describes solutions to give presentation floors sufficient height. The invention offers a solution in that the floor elements and associated presentation bases are vertically stackable with each other.

Due to the universal nature of the construction kit, various presentation floor configurations can be constructed in a quick and efficient manner with a minimum of labor. The construction kit is primarily intended to make modular floors in combination with block-shaped presentation bases that are mainly low, preferably lower than one meter. The object of the invention is not to make open cavities although this is not entirely excluded. The intention is to make a presentation surface which products can support and present.

Presentation bases are block-shaped bodies that are used to present products at a height from the ground. In the current state of the art, presentation bases are used, whether or not in combination with modular floors, to present products higher than the ground. A disadvantage is that in the current state of the art there are no solutions to visually integrate presentation bases with floor systems. The invention as presented consists of a composition of floor systems and presentation bases that are visually integrated so that stages of different heights can be made in a uniform visual style. An advantage of the invention as described is that a uniform style can be made between the floor and upright presentation bases because the same shape, material and cover plates can be used.

According to the current state of the art, presentation bases are block-shaped bodies that are traditionally constructed from a monolithic plate material such as wood, metal or plastic. An advantage of this construction method is that few visible seams are visible.

The disadvantage of presentation bases made from a monolithic material is that the bases are statically designed and their shape or their external finish is not easy to change. In environments where presentation bases are often used, such as in shops, exhibition halls and in museums, it is often desirable to be able to make regular adjustments to the size or appearance of the presentation bases. Because floor elements and bases as described in the invention can be interchanged and can be combined with decorative cover plates, other compositions can easily be made with a diverse appearance.

The construction kit described in this invention is suitable for the construction of furniture, floors and presentation bases and consists of floor tiles, blocks and cover plates.

The invention is characterized in that only the floor plate has horizontal connections. The floor plates can be attached to each other horizontally magnetically or mechanically. The floorboards described in the present invention can thus be stacked vertically and connected horizontally. These connections are used to connect different modular devices horizontally. Because only the floor is horizontally modular, the blocks must not be horizontally connectable, so that the blocks have virtually seamless upright side surfaces.

The horizontal connections between the blocks are made because the blocks clamp onto the floor plates and the floor plates are connected to each other. The blocks can be mounted on the floor plates in different horizontal positions.

The blocks and floor tiles can be provided with a cover plate, thus guaranteeing the uniform aesthetic of the whole. This front plate is designed as a plate with raised surrounding edges. The add-on plate makes it possible to add customized decorations or patterns to the presentation base with the aim of aesthetically covering the modular construction kit. This add-on plate can be provided with the necessary decoration according to the needs and wishes of the customer. These cover plates are transparent, opal or printed directly and can be exchanged quickly and easily by means of an optional clamping means. This allows the transition between contiguous end plates or the edge with the blocks to be effected in an aesthetically responsible manner.

The blocks and the various floor plates, according to the present invention, are preferably manufactured from plastic with the advantage that they are light and yet have sufficient rigidity. The different parts are therefore preferably monolithic and are manufactured in one piece according to a known technique, such as injection molding.

The ground surface of the parts preferably has a length and a width of 40 cm so that the total surface of a composition fits within the grid dimensions of a euro pallet, which is an efficient measure of transport.

The structural members described in the invention preferably have corners and edges that have a small chamfer. The chamfer of the edges is preferably between 3 and 6 millimeters. When a composition is made of different bodies, the chamfered corners will result in 2 edges of 2 different bodies that each have a chamfer with the chamfers mirrored to each other, which will result in a composite seam that visually looks like a diamond and aesthetically appealing to the viewer.

Optionally, the blocks have raised edges on the inside of the top surface. These round raised edges are positioned in the middle of the construction blocks and can be used for cable routing, inserting office inserts or extensions for mounting bicycles or other products.

An important desired product property of presentation bases in the prior art is that the visible bodies have a smooth surface with few seams. The blocks and end plates as described in this construction kit each have four closed upright sides and a closed top and no means for making vertical connections, so that the sides and tops have a virtually seamless surface, so that the bodies and the combination of bodies do not have a technical appearance to have.

It is well known that portable floor systems consist of switchable structural elements as described in US2006016136A1. The disadvantage of systems as described in US2006016136A1 is that the tiles cannot be stacked. As a result, it is not possible to make higher floor elements.

In a number of cases, users want a floor that is higher in order to make a greater visual distinction with the floor. The disadvantage of these floor systems as described in US2015376904 is that the floors have no height. Floor systems as described in US2010263317 have a height but have the disadvantage that the floors cannot be stacked and therefore no higher floors can be made. Being able to present products higher is often a desirable characteristic in commercial environments.

A disadvantage of floor systems as described in USD456533S1 or US6233886B1 is that these floor systems do not build up a height difference with the ground floor, as a result of which the visual height difference remains limited and no cable entry is possible in the floor system. Often a technical horizontal floor space is required to store away data or electricity cables. It is often difficult to hide the cables without being able to easily change the route of the cables. A very advantageous feature of the embodiment of the floor slabs is characterized in that the tops of the floor tiles in the length and width direction provide a space where cables lower than the upper surface can be stored.

Floor systems made of switchable plastic tiles are generally known as described in US841998. A disadvantage of floor systems as described in US2015361675 is that the sides of the floor parts have projecting parts, so that the sides of a composite floor always have projecting parts on the sides of a composite floor.

A solution for not having protruding parts is the use of a separate side or the use of interchangeable connectors. A disadvantage of modular floor systems with interchangeable connectors as described in US5509244A is that separate connecting elements are often lost during transport or installation of the floor elements. An advantage of the invention as described is that the connectors can be mounted directly in the floor element when they are not being used.

The disadvantage of switchable floor systems as described in US2002108323A1 is that the demolition and construction must always be linear. The assembly and disassembly must always start at the sides of the assembly, which has the disadvantage that the flexibility of the installation is greatly reduced. An advantage of the invention as described is that the assembly and disassembly must not start at the side but can start, for example, at the middle floor tile. This is possible because the horizontal floor tile connectors can be accessed from the top surface.

It is generally known that floor systems for drainage purposes consist of a combination of structural elements and cover plate elements as described in US2008118703A1. An advantage of using exchangeable face plates is that the face plates have no structural bearing function and therefore much less material is required for production and therefore cheaper in production.

An advantage of the invention is that the floor slabs assume a structural function but the visible upper surface is visually covered by the end plates, so that there are few visual requirements for the production of the floor slabs, whereby exemplary recycled materials can be used for the production of the structural floor plates. In W02006102062 use is made of a front plate which is clamped on a base. With this construction it becomes difficult to change the finishing plates due to their structural function. An advantage as described in the present invention is that the exchangeable mounting plates have a non-structural bearing function and that the mounting plates are not clamped in the assembly, as a result of which mounting plates can easily be replaced. The use of the invention is characterized in that users often want to make adjustments after installation. Because end plates are not clamped in, they can

End plates as known in industrial construction are not produced by injection molding. A disadvantage of end plates as described in DE3819164A1 or US5673529A have the disadvantage that the materials and construction techniques are expensive. The disadvantage of floor systems such as CN102947872 with interchangeable inserts is that the separate inserts are often expensive semi-finished products. The end plates described in this invention offer an economical alternative. Flat end plates without an internal rib structure with a projected surface larger than 1500 cm2 made from plastic in an injection molding process is very difficult to produce with injection molding. Cover plates made with plastic injection molding have the advantage that they can be produced economically. A disadvantage of the injection molding of flat face plates with large surface area is that the injection molding of large flat surfaces is technically difficult. Injection molding is a high-pressure process whereby the production pieces build up a large internal stress during the injection and solidification of the material. As a result, after the injection molding process, the end plate will attempt to warp, making it unusable. An additional disadvantage of injection molding large surfaces is that filling the entire mold becomes more difficult as the surface of the face plate becomes thinner. The use of different injection points for filling a thin surface can help, but will have the disadvantage that visible flow fronts will form in places where the material will touch during injection. An additional advantage as described in the present invention is the flat face plates that use raised edges and internal flow channels that simplify the sputtering process and result in a completely flat face plate.

A disadvantage of modular systems as described in WO2014122155A1 is that these systems have a plurality of parts and mechanical connections between the elements. The mechanical connection between the parts has a visible seam. The result of many mechanical connections has the effect that there are also a multitude of seams, which gives the composition of a presentation base a very technical appearance. An advantage of the present invention is that no horizontal connections are required between the presentation bases.

Another disadvantage of presentation bases made with systems such as described in WO2014122155A1 is that the plurality of parts required for the construction of a presentation base result in a higher overall economic cost. In the prior art such as the aforementioned, greater flexibility is described which is at the expense of ease of use. Often the users who install presentation bases are not technical staff. Often these users do not have time to make complex compositions. In the aforementioned modular presentation bases, the user needs different components; building a volume is done with different profiles, different plates and different couplings which is very labor intensive. This entails high labor costs, which is an important objection for, for example, window services.

It is well known that presentation bases can be built from a combination of blocks as described in CH699151. The disadvantage of this type of modular systems is that there are many visible seams. The disadvantage of CH699151 is that frames must be made with a profile. This achieves a high flexibility, but as a disadvantage the composition will form a plurality of visible seams, which is considered visually unattractive. Very prototypical for the construction kit as proposed in this invention is that the blocks are cast completely monolithically from a single piece and have no seams on the surface of the blocks. The gaps between the elements are as small as possible so that the composition of the parts appears visually as a single whole.

Stackable bins as described in EP1743844A1 are known in the art and are used to enclose, enclose or transport products. Often these bins are produced with an injection molding process and they are provided with means and facilities to stack or nest the blocks. The disadvantage of blocks as described in US20030024845A1 is that they have an open top and cannot be used for placing products. An advantage of the invention as described is that the blocks are stackable but have a closed top so that products can be placed on the blocks. Buildable Systems as described in US6820950bl, EP0621063A1 or US3836217A1 have very many different parts which makes assembly more labor intensive. DE202004016911 describes blocks that can be stacked and in which a top can be exchanged. In the invention as described, the top is provided with reinforcing ribs. The product is mainly used for the presentation of other products that may weigh heavily. The solution offered in DE202004016911 also does not offer horizontal connections, so that it is not possible to make a modular device that is mechanically connected.

An advantage of the invention as described here is that the construction kit consists of a few large volumes. The block-shaped volumes described in this invention preferably have a projected surface greater than 35 cm in length and 35 cm in width so that few parts are required for assembling a presentation base, and therefore a limited number of seams will arise. For the creation of a presentation base that consists of 3 blocks, only 2 horizontal seams are visible. An advantage of the invention as described herein is that the seams that are visible are distributed over a regular pattern and that regular patterns are experienced as visually aesthetic.

Description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a floor element (1) with raised edge (2), a closed bearing surface (3) and space for storing clamping means (4)

Figure 2 shows a composition of four floor elements (1) into a whole of a modular floor base (6)

Figure 3 shows a modular device (5) consisting of floor elements (1) which are covered with cover plates (8) with raised edges (2) with a closed bearing surface (3) and a block (7) that clamps on the raised edges ( 2) of the floor elements (5)

Figure 4 shows a modular device (5) consisting of floor elements (1) with raised edges (2) which are covered with cover plates (8) with a closed bearing surface (3) and a block (7) which clamps on the raised edges ( 2) of the modular floor base (6)

Figure 4 shows a modular device (5) with a number of floor elements (1) that form a modular floor base (6) with a closed bearing surface (3) and a number of blocks (7) with a closed bearing surface (3) and a raised edge ( 2) to which more blocks (7) or additional plates (8) can clamp.

Figure 5 shows a modular device (5) with a number of floor elements (1) that form a modular floor base (6) and a number of blocks (7) with a closed bearing surface (3) and a raised edge (2) where more blocks (7) ) or attachment plates (8).

Figure 6 shows a modular device (5) with a number of floor elements (1) which are covered with cover plates (8) that form a modular floor base (6) and a number of blocks (7) with a closed bearing surface (3) and a raised edge (2) to which more blocks (7) or additional plates (8) can clamp.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a block (7) with raised edges (2), a closed bearing surface (3) and a closed side (9)

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the inside of a block (7) with closed sides (9) with the floor element support point (10) and reinforcement ribs (11) and means for clamping on the raised edge (12)

Figure 9 shows a modular device (5) with a block (7) small blocks (14) with raised edges (2) and a front plate (8)

Figure 10 shows a block (7) of closed side faces (9) and chamfered edges (15)

Figure 11 shows a modular device (5) block (7) and raised edges (2)

Figure 12 shows a modular device (5) with a block (7) small blocks (14) with raised edges (2) and means for clamping on raised edges (12) and a chamfered block (16)

Figure 13 shows a modular device (5) with 2 blocks (7) and a closed bearing surface (3)

Figure 14 shows the underside of a front plate (8), a closed bearing surface (3) and breaking edges for the front plate (17)

Figure 15 shows a modular device (5) with a number of floor elements (1) that form a modular floor base (6) and a block (7) that can be placed on the ground surface at a different position with a closed bearing surface (3) and a raised edge (2) on which more blocks (7) can clamp.

Figure 16 shows a modular floor base (6) consisting of two floor elements (1) that have a closed bearing surface (3) and clamping means for connecting floor tiles (18)

Figure 17 shows a cross section of two floor elements (1) and space for concealing clamping means (4) and shows clamping means for connecting floor tiles (18) and a clamping surface of the floor tiles (22)

Figure 18 shows a cross section of clamping means (18) for connecting floor tiles and handles for disassembling clamping means (19) and snap hooks (20) that act as a clamp.

Figure 19 shows clamping means (18) for connecting floor tiles and handles for disassembling the clamping means (19)

Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the inside of a floor element (1) with a raised edge (2) and reinforcement ribs (11) clamping surfaces of the floor tile (22) and means for clamping on raised edges (12) and storing space for clamping means (4)

Figure 21 shows a modular device (5) consisting of 2 floor elements (1) and a data cable (24)

Figure 22 shows a floor element (1) and some floor element support points (10) in which a vertical connector (24) is mounted

Figure 23 shows examples of a modular device (5) in which floor elements (1) and blocks (7) and additional plates (17) together form a presentation unit

Figure 24 shows examples of a modular device (5) in which floor elements (1) and blocks (7) and additional plates (17) together form a presentation unit

Figure 25 shows examples of a modular device (5) in which floor elements (1) and blocks (7) and additional plates (17) together form a presentation unit

Figure 26 shows examples of a modular device (5) in which floor elements (1) and blocks (7) and additional plates (17) together form a presentation unit

Figure 27 shows examples of a modular device (5) in which floor elements (1) and blocks (7) and additional plates (17) together form a presentation unit

Claims (20)

Conclusions = A kit for modular devices consisting of a. One or more floor tiles, each floor tile of which consists of; i. A rectangular panel that has 4 identical upright side surfaces, an upper and lower surface. ii. Top surface that is closed almost completely flat. iii. A bottom surface that is open and has an internal rib structure. iv. The 4 upright side surfaces on the upper sides narrow so that the upper surface forms an upright edge. v. A bottom that is shaped to be able to clamp on the top of the floor plates. vi. The 4 identical upright opposite side surfaces have openings for connecting bodies which are configured to connect form-conruent clamping means to the adjacent side surfaces of the same structural plate. b. one or more blocks, consisting of: i. A rectangular panel that has 4 identical upright side surfaces, an upper and lower surface. ii. Top surface that is closed almost completely flat. iii. A bottom surface that is open and has an internal rib structure. iv. The 4 upright side surfaces on the upper sides narrow so that the upper surface forms an upright edge. v. A bottom that is shaped to be able to clamp onto the top of the blocks and floor tiles. c. one or more interchangeable end plates, consisting of: i. A rectangular panel that has 4 identical upright side surfaces and a substantially smooth closed upper surface and an open lower surface ii. Characterized by having the same surface size and being able to clamp on the top surface of floor slabs and blocks. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that blocks and floor tiles can be stacked with each other. 3. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the side surfaces of vertically stacked floor tiles, block-shaped bodies and end plates lie in the same vertical plane and are delimited by this vertical plane, with virtually no parts deviating vertically from this horizontal plane and thus a substantially seamless vertical surface. 4. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that floor plates can be connected to each other in the same horizontal plane with an accessory connector. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the upright side surfaces of floor tiles, blocks and cover plates are virtually seamless. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that upper surfaces of blocks and additional plates are virtually seamless. 7. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that floor plates have deployable clamping means to be connected to each other horizontally. 8. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that blocks, add-on plates and floor plates are form-conruent and therefore have a similarly dimensioned projected surface, their horizontal position being determined mutually with a vertical stack. 9. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that blocks, additional plates and floor plates preferably have bevelled edges. The chamfer of the edges is preferably between 3 and 6 millimeters. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the upper surface of the base plate preferably has a cross-shaped cut, whereby 4 identical upright volumes are formed. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the cross-shaped cut on the upper surface of the floor tile produces different raised edges on which blocks, floor tiles and additional plates can clamp at different horizontal positions. 12. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the cross-shaped cut on the upper surface of the floor tile provides the space for a passage of exemplary cables through the entire surface. " A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the floor plates have a cavity in which the clamping means for horizontal clamping can be stored. 14. connectors of these floor plates can preferably be stored in a space provided in the floor plate. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that floor plates, blocks and exchangeable end plates preferably have corners and edges with an identical bevel. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the cover plate preferably has a wall thickness that is greater than 1 mm and smaller than 3 mm. 17. The construction kit described in this invention is preferably made from a molded plastic, preferably with a thin-walled thermoplastic. 18. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the length and the width of the base of the floor tile, block-shaped body and cover plate are substantially the same. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that upper surfaces of floor tiles and blocks form a strong bearing surface. A modular device according to the preceding claims and characterized in that. floor tiles has vertical supports with the same height as the side surfaces and from. bottom surface to top surface with the vertical support points nestable in the top surface of the floor plate. 21. A modulary information According to the previous cortdustess, characterized in that the length and width of the base are greater than 35 cm.