DE102020103443A1 - System for covering a large area such as a wall - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (1) for cladding a surface, comprising: - at least one elongated mounting rail (100) comprising two mounting flanges (145, 150) with free edges that are directed towards one another; - at least one profiled strip (200) with longitudinal side surfaces (220, 230) ), with at least one elongated recess or groove (222, 232) which is arranged in each of the side surfaces (220, 230). The rail and the strip are dimensioned so that the strip (200) between the mounting flanges (140, 150 ) the rail (100) with the mounting flanges extending into the grooves (222, 232) to effectively hold the bar (200).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wallcovering.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, the walls of buildings such as residential or office buildings are built together by cementing bricks together. The bricks are placed side by side in a horizontal layer on which a next layer is placed, etc. When completed, the bricks themselves form the structural wall and are able to provide structural strength. The wall erected in this way can be an inner wall of the building in question or an outer wall. In any case, such a wall has a wall surface which, unless it is obscured, is visually visible and shows a pattern of brick side surfaces.

Such a pattern and the impression it makes on a human viewer seem to have aesthetic value, so even in cases where a wall is built using different methods, wall coverings have been designed to be attached to the wall to convey the same or a similar impression. An example is a wallpaper with a brick print. One advantage of wallpaper is that it is light in weight and does not place a large load on the supporting wall. Even if they might give a similar impression from a distance, the wallpaper remains paper, and on closer inspection all impressions of real stone bricks are destroyed. Apart from that, a pattern is recurring in wallpaper and does not allow any artistic variation. Another disadvantage is that it is difficult to achieve a true three-dimensional effect. Another disadvantage is that if the pattern is changed, it is practically impossible to reuse the existing wallpaper: either you place new paper over the old paper, or you remove and dispose of the old paper.

An alternative wall cladding system consists of tiles to be attached to the load-bearing wall with adhesive. These tiles are obtained by cutting a thin layer from a real brick and are also known as stone molding. Attaching them to a wall requires that they be glued individually. Straight lines are difficult to get, and the strips are difficult to remove so that they won't break and can be used again. A common disadvantage of the above systems is that they all require the presence of a closed wall to which the wallpaper or stone moldings can be attached. However, it is also desirable to have a wall with an open structure, e.g. B. a metal frame structure to be provided with a cladding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the above problems. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a relatively lightweight wall cladding system that is versatile, offers a true three-dimensional effect of real stone bricks and is reusable. In addition, the system should be easy to install with no special skills required. The system should be attachable to open walls.

For this purpose, the present invention proposes a system which consists of specially profiled stone strips and mounting rails for holding the stone strips. The mounting rails can easily, for. B. by screwing, attached to a supporting structure that does not have to be a closed wall. The profiled stone strips can be easily mounted in the rails by sliding them. The rails ensure a clean, straight result. The dismantling of the wallcovering can easily be done by a reverse process by sliding the strips out of the rails and unscrewing the rails, after which the system is immediately ready for reuse in another location. It is also easily possible to change the visual impression by replacing the strips with other strips.

Figure list

• 1 ist eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausschnitts einer speziell profilierten Montageschiene nach der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 2 ist eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausschnitts einer speziell profilierten Leiste nach der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 3 ist ein schematischer Querschnitt, in größerem Maßstab, einer in der Montageschiene montierten Steinleiste;
• 4 ist ein schematischer Querschnitt einer mit dem System nach der vorliegenden Erfindung verkleideten Wand.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail by the following description of one or more preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which the same reference symbols designate the same or similar parts:

• 1 is a schematic perspective view of a section of a specially profiled mounting rail according to the present invention;
• 2 is a schematic perspective view of a section of a specially profiled strip according to the present invention;
• 3 Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section, on a larger scale, of a stone ledge mounted in the mounting rail;
• 4th Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section of a wall clad with the system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1 shows schematically a perspective view of a section of a specially profiled elongated mounting rail 100 according to the present invention. The rail 100 has a generally U-shaped shape with a bottom wall 110 and two side walls 120 , 130 on each side of the bottom wall 110 . Each has a side wall at its top 120 , 130 each has an inward-facing mounting flange 140 , 150 .

The walls and flanges can be perpendicular to each other as shown, but this is not essential. In an alternative embodiment, the floor 110 be smaller, with one of the side walls 120 , 130 or both run obliquely outwards. In a preferred embodiment, as shown, the mounting flanges are 140 , 150 aligned with one another, ie they lie in a common virtual plane, parallel to the bottom wall 110 . In other designs this is not necessary: the flanges can be placed at an angle to the bottom wall.

The mounting rail 100 can be made as an extrusion profile or by folding a flat strip. Appropriately, the material of the bar is a metal, for example aluminum or stainless steel.

The rail 100 is intended to be attached to a supporting structure, the bottom wall 110 is aligned with this supporting structure. For this purpose, the rail 100 appropriately with holes 111 be provided for the passage of screws. These holes can be arranged by the manufacturer, but they can also be arranged or added later in the intended location. There may also be situations where it is more convenient to attach a sidewall to a support. As an alternative to screwing, the rail can also be attached with an adhesive.

2 shows schematically a perspective view of a section of a specially profiled strip 200 according to the present invention.

The bar 200 has a generally rectangular appearance, with a longitudinal dimension L, a width dimension W, and a height dimension or thickness H. Typically, the longitudinal dimension L is larger than the width dimension W, but this is not strictly necessary. Typically, the thickness H will be less than the width dimension W, but this is not essential to the practice of the present invention. Main surfaces of the groin 200 will be the first major surface 210 and second major surface 240 or, what is more appropriate in view of the drawing, as top and bottom surfaces 240 , 210 designated. These areas generally extend in the length and width directions.

Side faces of the bar 200 which generally extend in the longitudinal and height directions are used as the first side surface 220 and second side face 230 or, what is more appropriate in terms of the drawing, than left and right surfaces 230 , 220 designated.

According to an essential aspect of the present invention is in the side surfaces 220 , 230 each has an elongated recess or groove 222 , 232 arranged. The remaining side face parts above and below the groove are called lower side face parts 221 , 231 or upper side surface parts 223 , 233 designated.

• - die Breite (Höhe) der Nuten 222, 232 der Dicke der Montageflansche 140, 150 entspricht, d. h. etwas größer ist als diese;
• - die Breite des Körperteils 250 der Leiste 200, der zwischen den Böden der Nuten 222, 232 verbleibt, dem gegenseitigen Abstand zwischen den freien Endkanten der Montageflansche 140, 150 entspricht, d. h. kleiner als dieser ist;
• - für jede Nut die Summe ihrer Tiefe (Breitenrichtung) und der Breite des Körperteils 250 größer als der gegenseitige Abstand zwischen den freien Endkanten der Montageflansche 140, 150 ist.

A bar 200 is considered to be "suitable" for a mounting rail 100 referred to when the bar 200 on the rail 100 can be mounted using the mounting flanges 140 , 150 in the grooves 222 , 232 protrude and so the bar 200 hold as in 3 shown. This requires that:

• - the width (height) of the grooves 222 , 232 the thickness of the mounting flange 140 , 150 corresponds, ie is slightly larger than this;
• - the width of the body part 250 the bar 200 that is between the bottoms of the grooves 222 , 232 remains, the mutual distance between the free end edges of the mounting flanges 140 , 150 corresponds to, ie is smaller than this;
• - for each groove the sum of its depth (width direction) and the width of the body part 250 greater than the mutual distance between the free end edges of the mounting flanges 140 , 150 is.

The assembly of a bar 200 on a rail 100 is done by hitting the bar 200 in alignment with the end of the rail 100 brings the bar longitudinally into engagement with the rail and then moves the bar further to a target position. This target position can be defined by making contact with an existing adjacent bar. It should be understood that this is a very simple operation.

4th is a schematic cross-section of a wall M associated with the system 1 after present invention is disguised. Multiple mounting rails 100 are fastened in a straight line to the wall M, with adjacent rails preferably touching one another and the rails adjusted if necessary so that they are all flush. This does not require any special skills in construction. Then the ledges 200 on the rails 100 assembled. The end result is wall cladding that gives the impression of perfectly straight brick lines.

While 4th the system mounted on a vertical wall 1 shows, it is pointed out that the inventive system can also be used to cover a ceiling or a floor. The supporting structure, perhaps a wall, does not need to be prepared in advance to provide a smooth mounting surface. In fact, the supporting structure does not even have to have a mounting surface: the supporting structure can for example consist of a frame made of beams. It should be noted that the supporting structure as such is not part of the invention.

The inventive system not only enables very simple assembly and equally simple dismantling without destruction and is thus reusable, but the system also allows different variations to achieve desired visual effects. Depending on whether such possibilities are desired or not, the system can have different design details.

The material of the bar 200 can in fact be any material a designer wishes to use for aesthetic reasons, e.g. B. metal, wood, stone, glass, ceramics. The bar 200 can be made as an extrusion product that is cut to size. The bar 200 can be manufactured as a molded part. The bar 200 can be made by cutting slices from a larger piece of material, e.g. B. a brick or a tree trunk. The grooves can be formed directly, e.g. B. when extruding, but the grooves can also be arranged later, e.g. B. by grinding or cutting off the groove material.

When they are on the mounting rail 100 is mounted, has the bar 200 one of its main surfaces is directed towards the inside of the rail, while the other main surface is directed outwards in order to be visible to an observer. This main area is called the outer area. This outer surface can be a smooth surface or a surface with a three-dimensional structure, as desired.

It may be the groin 200 has only one surface that is intended as an outer surface. In such a case, it may be desirable to take preventive measures to prevent the strips from being installed in the wrong orientation (inside out). For this purpose, the mounting flanges 140 , 150 be placed at a slight angle that is a similar angle in the orientation of the grooves 222 , 232 so that the strips only fit in one direction.

Alternatively, it can be the bar 200 has both surfaces that are suitable as the outer surface, the selection of the surface actually used as the outer surface being made by the user when assembling the bar on the rail. In this case the mounting flanges 140 , 150 be aligned in a common virtual plane, and the same applies to the grooves 222 , 232 .

It may be the grooves 222 , 232 symmetrical in the groin 200 are arranged, ie that the lower side surface parts 221 , 231 the same height as the upper side face parts 223 , 233 to have. In this case, all strips are flush with the outside, regardless of the installation position. However, the user may be given the opportunity to achieve aesthetic visual effects by resetting some bars with respect to other bars. This can be achieved when the grooves 222 , 232 asymmetrical in the groin 200 be positioned.

For example, while the grooves can be aligned parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the bar, the grooves can be closer to the top surface 240 / lower face 210 lie so that the lower side face parts 221 , 231 have a greater / lesser height than the upper side face parts 223 , 233 . In such a case, when mounted in one orientation, the bar will be raised while in the other orientation it will be recessed.

In addition, the grooves 222 , 232 lie on different planes, while the grooves can be aligned parallel to a longitudinal center line of the bar, so that the bar, when mounted, is slightly inclined in the transverse direction.

In addition, the grooves can be slightly angled in the longitudinal direction, so that the bar is slightly inclined in the longitudinal direction in the assembled state.

It is also possible that a bar 200 two or even more grooves on the sides 220 , 230 to enable the bar to be attached to the rail in different selectable levels.

Combinations of the above variants are possible. These combinations can be in the same bar. These combinations can also consist in the fact that the different strips of the system have different design features.

In 3 can be seen that the inner half of the bar 200 between the side walls 120 , 130 the rail 100 is included. If it is desirable that the bar 200 The top half of the bar should also be used in reverse orientation 200 also between the side walls 120 , 130 the rail 100 fit. Consequently it will be on the outside of the rail 100 there may be a small gap between the outer surfaces, which is defined by the material thickness of the side walls of the rail. If it is desirable that this gap be smaller or even zero, the bar can 200 be asymmetrical in that the outer surface is slightly wider than the inner surface.

The transverse inclusion of the bar 200 opposite the rail 100 is done either by having the inner half of the bar 200 one of the side walls 120 , 130 the rail 100 touches or the bottom of the grooves 222 , 232 one of the mounting flange (s) 140 , 150 touched. The amount of play of the bar is determined by the amount of play in the named locations.

Once assembled, the combination forms the rail 100 with ledges 200 a closed box. The inside of this box forms a suitable accommodation space for the accommodation of cables, hoses, pipes of various types, which are installed before or after the insertion of the strips. In addition, this interior can contribute to insulation. In order to further improve the insulating properties of the wall cladding, it is possible for insulating material to be arranged inside the rail before the strips are attached, but it is also possible for the strips 200 are provided with insulating material on their inner surfaces.

It should be clear to a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed above, but that several variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The side and bottom walls of the rails can, for example, be provided with holes or designed as open gauze or grids to reduce material and weight. In addition, the side walls can be provided with one or more recesses to accommodate cables that are not easily accessible from the outside.

Even if certain features are recited in different dependent claims, the present invention also relates to an embodiment which has these features in common. Even if certain features have been described in combination with one another, the present invention also relates to an embodiment in which one or more of these features are omitted. Features that were not explicitly described as essential can also be omitted. Any reference signs in a claim should not be construed as limiting the scope of that claim.

Claims (15)

System (1) for covering a surface, comprising: - At least one elongated mounting rail (100) comprising two mounting flanges (145, 150) with free edges which are directed towards one another; - At least one profiled strip (200) with longitudinal side surfaces (220, 230), with at least one elongated recess or groove (222, 232) which is arranged in each of the side surfaces (220, 230); - wherein the rail and the bar are dimensioned so that the bar (200) fits between the mounting flanges (140, 150) of the rail (100), the mounting flanges extending into the grooves (222, 232) to accommodate the bar ( 200) effective. System according to Claim 1 wherein the mounting rail (100) has a generally U-shaped shape with a bottom wall (110) and two side walls (120, 130) on each side of the bottom wall (110) with the mounting flanges (145, 150) at the respective upper ends of the respective side walls (120, 130) are arranged facing inwards. System according to Claim 2 wherein the bottom wall (110) of the rail (100) is provided with holes (111). The system of any preceding claim, wherein the mounting flanges (140, 150) are aligned with one another. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip (200) comprises metal, wood, stone, glass, ceramic or a combination of these materials. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the bar (200) is made by extrusion, or wherein the bar (200) is made from a larger piece of material by cutting disks. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the mounting flanges (140, 150) are aligned in a common virtual plane, and wherein the grooves (222, 232) are aligned in a common virtual plane. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the grooves (222, 232) are symmetrically positioned in the ledge (200). System according to one of the preceding Claims 1 - 7th wherein the grooves (222, 232) are positioned asymmetrically in the bar 200. System according to Claim 9 wherein the grooves (222, 232) are closer to one main surface (240) than to the opposite main surface (210). System according to Claim 9 or 10 , wherein the grooves (222, 232) are on different planes from one another. System according to one of the preceding Claims 9 - 11 , with the grooves in the longitudinal direction at a slight angle. System according to one of the preceding Claims 9 - 12th wherein at least one side (220, 230) of the strip (200) has two or even more grooves. System according to one of the preceding Claims 1 - 13th wherein the ledge (200) has an outer surface that is wider than its inner surface. System according to one of the preceding Claims 1 - 14th wherein the system comprises a first plurality of strips (200) all of which have the same design features and / or a second plurality of strips (200) all of which have mutually different design features.

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