EP0382667A1 - Easily dismantled floor - Google Patents

Abstract

The floor, which comprises a set of plates (P1, P'1, P''1) intended to be disposed against each other and staggered in the longitudinal direction, each plate (P1, P'1, P''1) being equipped on each of its longitudinal sides with at least one first positioning component which engages with a second component, of complementary shape, integral with an adjacent plate, is characterised in that the linking of the lateral sides of the said plates is provided by a slip tongue (7) which is accommodated in two grooves formed in these sides, the said slip tongue (7) being provided at one of its ends with an assembling means capable of engaging with a complementary means provided on one of the longitudinal sides of a previously laid plate, adjacent on this side to the two plates in the grooves of which the slip tongue is accommodated. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to an easily removable floor.

It is often necessary to install temporary floors, for example in multipurpose rooms or gymnasiums for the holding of certain events. Thus, when an exhibition takes place in a gymnasium, it is preferable to protect the floor of the room with a floor so as not to deteriorate it.

Removable floors have already been proposed. However, for most of them, the installation is delicate because the floor elements are heavy and bulky and therefore difficult to handle.

The main disadvantage of this type of floor is the fact that, although the floor elements are joined when they are assembled, they tend to separate from each other during use. In addition, if this separation is very localized at the start (that is to say that it only concerns a few plates), it tends to generalize to the entire surface of the parquet, due to the gradual relaxation of all plates.

The present invention aims in particular to overcome these drawbacks. With this in mind, it offers a floor structure that can be easily assembled and dismantled, which makes it possible to obtain excellent resistance of the plates to each other, both in the transverse and longitudinal directions and in the plane defined by the floor.

The floor of the invention which comprises a set of plates intended to be arranged one against the other, and offset in the longitudinal direction, each plate being equipped on each of its longitudinal sides with at least one first positioning member which cooperates with a second member of complementary shape integral with an adjacent plate is characterized in that the connection of the lateral sides of said plates is ensured by a false tongue which is housed in two grooves formed in these sides, said false tongue being provided at one of its ends with an assembly means capable of cooperating with a additional means provided on one of the longitudinal sides of a previously installed plate, adjacent by this side to the two plates in the grooves of which the false tongue is housed.

According to other advantageous, but not limiting, characteristics:
- Said false tongue is a rod of circular section while said grooves have a complementary semi-cylindrical section, and in that said means of assembly provided at one of the two ends - called first end - of said false tongue is a plate cooperating with a light secured to one of said longitudinal edges, the locking of the plate being obtained by rotation of the rod about its own axis over approximately 90 °;
- The second end of the false tongue is provided with an operating lever making it possible to rotate the rod on itself in order to lock and unlock the wafer;
- The second end of the false tongue is also provided with a collar which bears against the edges of the plates joined by said false tongue;
- one of the sides of each of the plates, said first longitudinal side, has a tongue, which engages in a complementary groove formed in the opposite side, said second longitudinal side, of an adjacent plate, and in that said first and second positioning members constitute an elastic latching device, one of the elements of which is housed in a recess in said tongue while the other element is fixed in said groove, so that when the tongue comes s '' engage in the complementary groove of the adjacent plate, this device is snapped in by making said plates contiguous;
- Said elastic snap-in device consists of a tenon with a bulged head cooperating with a double pump catch;
- Said post is fixed in the groove while said double latch is housed in said recess;
- Said groove has a recess in which the post is fixed;
- Each of said plates is rectangular, of width equal to half the length and in that its longitudinal sides are provided one, with a pair of identical snap-in elements and the other with a pair of complementary snap-in elements, said elements being arranged symmetrically on either side of the minor axis of symmetry of the plate, and situated at the four vertices of an imaginary square with a side equal to the width of the plate, so that the connection of the various plates is made in staggered rows;
- The floor has square-shaped edge plates with an additional elastic snap-in element on each of its longitudinal sides, in the middle of this side.

• - la figure 1 représente schématiquement, en vue de dessus, quelques plaques assemblées les unes aux autres pour constituer une structure de plancher conforme à la présente invention ;
• - la figure 2 est une vue de dessus partiellement coupée d'une plaque ;
• - la figure 3 est une vue de la même plaque, coupée par le plan III-III de la figure 2 ;
• - la figure 4 est une vue de face des deux éléments du dispo­ sitif d'encliquetage avec lesquels coopèrent les plaques du plancher de l'invention, l'un de ces éléments étant partiellement coupé ;
• - la figure 5 est une vue de dessus partiellement coupée de quelques plaques de plancher assemblées à l'aide des éléments de la figure 4 ;
• - les figures 6 et 8 représentent schématiquement en vue de côté partiellement éclatée le principe d'assemblage d'une fausse languette assurant le maintien des plaques de plancher par leurs côtés transversaux ;
• - les figures 7 et 9 sont des vues des mêmes éléments coupés respectivement par les plans VII-VII de la figure 6 et IX-IX de la figure 8 ;
• - la figure 10 représente en vue de dessus éclatée les organes permettant l'assemblage de deux plaques par leurs côtés transversaux et leur blocage avec une troisième ;
• - la figure 11 représente ces mêmes éléments après assem­blage ;
• - la figure 12 est une vue de détail, à plus grande échelle, de la figure 11 coupée selon le plan XII-XII ;
• - la figure 13 représente schématiquement en vue de dessus une variante d'assemblage de plaques constitutives d'un plancher conforme à l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• - Figure 1 shows schematically, in top view, a few plates assembled together to form a floor structure according to the present invention;
• - Figure 2 is a partially sectioned top view of a plate;
• - Figure 3 is a view of the same plate, cut by the plane III-III of Figure 2;
• - Figure 4 is a front view of the two available elements locking click with which the floor plates of the invention cooperate, one of these elements being partially cut;
• - Figure 5 is a partially sectioned top view of a few floor plates assembled using the elements of Figure 4;
• - Figures 6 and 8 schematically show in partially exploded side view the principle of assembly of a false tongue ensuring the maintenance of the floor plates by their transverse sides;
• - Figures 7 and 9 are views of the same elements cut respectively by the planes VII-VII of Figure 6 and IX-IX of Figure 8;
• - Figure 10 shows an exploded top view of the members allowing the assembly of two plates by their transverse sides and their blocking with a third;
• - Figure 11 shows these same elements after assembly;
• - Figure 12 is a detail view, on a larger scale, of Figure 11 cut along the plane XII-XII;
• - Figure 13 schematically shows a top view of an alternative assembly of plates constituting a floor according to the invention.

There is shown in Figure 1 some wooden plates assembled together to form a floor structure according to the present invention. This floor is made up of P₁ wooden plates, rectangular and identical, arranged in staggered rows. By "staggered" means an arrangement according to which the middle of one of the plates P₁ is located substantially in the center of a rectangle (or square) while those of the other four plates which surround it are distributed substantially at the angles of the same rectangle (or square). In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the length L of the plates P₁ is equal to twice their width 1. Due to the particular arrangement of the plates Ponce in staggered rows, border plates P₂, which have the shape of squares of side 1 are provided at the edge in order to give the floor a contour without detachment.

Schematically represented by crosses are positioning members which in this example are elastic snap-fastening devices 1 cooperating with the longitudinal sides of the plates P₁ and P₂. Furthermore, assembly members 5 have also been shown which cooperate with the lateral sides of the plates. These various devices and members will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 12.

The plate P₁ which is shown in Figure 2 has two longitudinal sides 40 and 42 and two transverse sides 41 and 43. In the side 40 is provided a groove 402 which has a substantially semi-cylindrical section. The opposite side 42 is provided with a tongue 420 which has a shape complementary to that of the groove 402. Thus, the tongue 420 on the side 42 of a first plate P₁ is adapted to cooperate with the groove 402 on the side 40 of a second adjacent plate P₁. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, each of the sides 40, 42 have two recesses denoted respectively 401 and 421. The recesses 401 are adapted to receive an element 2 of the elastic snap-fitting device described above. The recesses 421 are, in turn, adapted to receive a latching element 3 which is intended to cooperate with an element 2 of an adjacent plate P₁.

The four recesses are arranged at the vertices of an imaginary square on side l, symmetrically on either side of the small axis of symmetry x, x ′ of the plate.

The tongue 420 does not extend all along the side 42 of the plate. On the contrary, it is stopped at the ends of the latter, thus providing notches 44. We will understand below the role of these notches. Furthermore, the side 42 has a third recess 422 located at mid-length of this side, which leads to a cavity 45 formed in the thickness of the wood. The recess 422 is separated from the cavity 45 by a metal plate 8 which has a central lumen.

Finally, the lateral sides 41 and 43 of the plate P₁ both comprise a secondary groove 410, respectively 430, the function of which will be explained later in the description.

As already specified, the latching device 1 comprises two elements 2 and 3 intended to cooperate with each other. The element 2 is a tenon which has a base 20 and a tenon body 21. The base 20 has the form of a plate provided with two holes 201, 201 ′ intended to receive countersunk head fixing screws. The post body has a base 210 of substantially parallelepiped section and a bulged head 211.

Element 3 consists of a double pump catch. By pump catch means a small catch whose bolt is retractable in a tubular housing against a spring, the bolt and the housing having identical circular sections (apart from play, necessary for the sliding of the bolt). The two latch body 31 and 31 ′ are integral with a base 30 which, like the base 20, has holes 301 and 301 ′ of frustoconical section intended to receive screws, not shown. The body of each catch has a cylindrical bore 310 in which is housed a ball 32 which is constantly pushed towards one end of the bore by a helical compression spring 312. The stroke of the ball 32 is limited by the flange annular 311 of the bore, the diameter of the bore at this rim being less than the diameter of the ball. Finally, a threaded plug 313 keeps the ball and the spring in place.

The two latches are placed symmetrically on the same axis, their balls facing each other.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the distance d between the two balls 32 is less than the width of the head 211 of the lug 21. Consequently, when the post is inserted between the two balls, the head 211 firstly causes the balls to move inside the bore while simultaneously the spring 312 is compressed. When the head 211 of the tenon touches the base 30 of the double latch, the part 210 of the tenon faces the balls 32 which are pulled against it, making the snap-fastening. The elements 2 and 3 are therefore then firmly held fixed to one another.

The plates P₁ and P′₁ which appear in FIG. 5 are assembled to each other by this type of element 2 and 3. The assembly being carried out, it is noted that the plates P₁ and P′₁ are perfectly contiguous. Although this does not appear in the figure, the plate P'1 is assembled with the plate P˝₁ by identical snap-fastening elements. The plates P₁, P′₁ and P˝₁ have, along each of their longitudinal sides, two elastic snap-fastening elements. They could, of course, include more than two, for example four. As has already been specified above, P plaques edge plates of square shape are put in place when the P₁ plates, of rectangular shape, are placed in staggered rows with respect to each other. These plates preferably have, on each of their longitudinal sides, a single latching element 2 or 3, located in the middle of this side.

The locking of the plates P₁ and P˝₁ with the plate P′₁ is carried out as follows. While the plates P₁ and P˝₁ are already placed on the ground and assembled to each other, the plate P′₁ is dragged along its edge 40 towards the plates previously laid in the direction of the arrow f (figure 5). When the elements 2 of the plate P′₁ are facing the elements 3 of the plates P₁ and P˝₁, one causes a final displacement of the plate P′₁ towards the other two plates while leaving it to rest on the ground. The snap-fastening is thus easily carried out.

To separate the plates, it suffices to perform the reverse maneuver, by lifting the plate P′₁ by its side 42 (not visible); the side 40 of the plate P′₁ comes to bear on the side 42 of the plate P′₁ which causes a lever arm effect. In this way, the latching elements are separated from each other.

We will now describe more particularly with reference to Figures 6 to 12 the device which ensures the connection of the lateral sides of the plates. This device has not been shown in FIG. 5 so as not to overload it unnecessarily.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the connection of the lateral sides of the plates is ensured by a rod playing the role of false tongue which is housed in two secondary grooves formed in these sides. This false tongue 7, which is shown in particular in Figures 6 and 8, comprises a cylindrical rod 70. The length of the rod 70 corresponds substantially to that of a lateral side of the plates P₁ or P₂. One of the ends of the rod 70 is extended by a groove 72 and a plate 71 which has a slightly bevelled shape. Note, by consulting Figures 6 to 9 that this plate has a substantially rectangular section. The second end of the rod 70 has a cylindrical head 73 provided with a support flange 74 and an operating rod 75 (small lever).

FIGS. 10 to 12 show the various members allowing the assembly of two plates by their lateral sides and their blocking with a third. These plates are called P₁, P′₁, P˝₁. Identical elements of these plates are given the same number, it being understood that they will receive the sign 'or "to differentiate them.

As can be seen very clearly in FIG. 10, the lateral edges 41 ′ and 43˝ of the plates P′₁ and P˝₁ each have a groove 410 ′, respectively 430˝. These grooves have a substantially semi-cylindrical section, of shape complementary to that of the rod 70 of the false tongue 7 so that it is possible, when the plates P′₁ and P˝₁ are joined to slide the false tongue inside of the "channel" created by the union of grooves 410 ′ and 430˝.

Furthermore, the plate P₁ has a recess 422 formed in the tongue 420 of its longitudinal edge 42. This recess 422 is located mid-length of the side 42. It opens onto a cavity 45 formed in the body of the plate P₁. The recess 422 and the cavity 45 are separated from each other by a small metal element 8 in the form of a plate. This element 8 has a central lumen 80 which has a width and a length sufficient to allow the passage of the plate 71 of the false tongue through it. The element 8 is held in place by two screws 80.

Finally, as has already been explained above in the description, the tongues 420 ′ and 420 plaques of the plates P′₁ and P˝₁ stop before the end of the corresponding side, thus providing notches at this level 44 ′ And 44˝.

The assembly of the plates P′₁ and P˝₁ and their blocking with the plate P₁ is carried out as follows. While these plates have been arranged and applied against one another in staggered rows to achieve the snap-fastening of elements 2, 3, the axis of the grooves 410 ′ and 430 ′ of the plates P′₁ and P˝₁ coincide with the light 80 of item 8.

The false tongue 7 is then engaged inside the grooves 410 ′ and 430˝ so that the lever 75 is in a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the various plates (Figures 6, 7 and 10). In this position, the plate 71 on the contrary is found substantially parallel to this plane.

We slide the false tongue inside the grooves until the flange comes to rest against the edges 440 ′, 440˝ of notches 44 ′, 44˝. During this operation, the plate 71 passes through the lumen 80 (FIG. 6) to penetrate into the cavity 45, until the groove 72 comes opposite the lumen 80. This is made possible by the fact that the plate 71 has, in section, a length and a width respectively less than the length and the width of the lumen 80.

The false tab being thus placed, it causes a rotation thereof of about a quarter of a turn by operating the lever 75 as shown by the arrow g in FIG. 11. The lever is then in the same plane as the plates . The manipulation is made possible by the fact that the lever can be moved in the space provided by the notches 44 ′ and 44˝. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the plate 71 of the false tongue is thus blocked inside the cavity 45, the main axis of the plate then being perpendicular to the main axis of the light 80.

After locking, the flange 74, the lever 75 and a part of the head 73 are retracted in the notches 44 ′ and 44˝; a small cavity is advantageously provided in the groove of the adjacent plate to receive the end of the head 73.

The separation of the plates can be obtained by rotating the lever 75 90 ° upwards, and removing the false tongue from the grooves 410 ′ and 430˝.

There is shown in Figure 13, an alternative embodiment of the floor according to the invention. This floor is made up of plates P₁ offset from one another in the longitudinal direction of a third of their length. These plates have for example a length L of 190 cm and a width of 60 cm. The positioning members 1 provided on the longitudinal sides of the plates P₁ are represented by crosses and by bold lines. 5 of the devices for assembling the plates along their lateral sides. These are of the same type as those described above, and therefore include a false lockable tab.

In the variant shown, the positioning members 1 are not elastic snap-fastening devices, but simply centering means comprising pins 9 capable of being housed in complementary holes 9 ′. These means are shown in FIG. 13 on the two not yet assembled plates referenced P _1A and P _1B , the pins 9 being provided on one of the longitudinal sides, and the holes 9 ′ on the other longitudinal side, facing each other. against the nipples. The nipples and associated holes are for example three in number per plate.

When the plates P₁ have been positioned one against the other by making the studs of one cooperate with the holes on the other, the false tongue is locked along their lateral sides as described above. .

The assembly is completed by border plates not shown. These plates are of two types, some having a length L / 3, and the others 2L / 3.

When a set of plates has been assembled to form a floor in accordance with the invention, it may be useful to have suitable holding means at the periphery of the floor to reinforce the holding of the plates together. Such means have not been described here because they are not strictly speaking part of the invention.

Although in the examples illustrated here, the floor plates are made of wood, it is of course possible to use other materials, in particular plastics.

The various assembly elements necessary for the implementation of the invention are relatively inexpensive and only slightly affect the cost price of the floor. The assembly and disassembly of the floor can be done very easily, even by non specialists. After assembly, the assembly elements are completely invisible, while ensuring very effective retention of all of the plates. The plates are completely reversible, which allows each side to be used; this reversibility is of interest in particular for the distribution of wear; moreover, if the two faces have different aspects (by color or decor for example) or different qualities, it is possible, with the same plates, to produce floors which are aesthetically different or intended for different uses (dance and sport for example).

Claims (10)

1. Easily removable floor which comprises a set of plates (P₁) intended to be arranged against each other and offset in the longitudinal direction, each plate (P₁) being fitted on each of its longitudinal sides (40, 42) with at least a first positioning member which cooperates with a second member of complementary shape integral with an adjacent plate, characterized in that the connection of the lateral sides (41, 43) of said plates (P₁) is ensured by a false tongue (7 ) which is housed in two grooves (410, 430) formed in these sides, said false tongue (7) being provided at one of its ends with an assembly means capable of cooperating with additional means provided on the one of the longitudinal sides of a previously placed plate, adjacent by this side to the two plates in the grooves (410, 430) of which the false tongue is housed. 2. Floor according to claim 1, characterized in that said false tongue (7) is a rod (70) of circular section while said grooves (410, 430) have a complementary semi-cylindrical section, and in that said means assembly provided at one of the two ends - called the first end - of said false tongue (7) is a plate (71) cooperating with a light (80) integral with one of said longitudinal edges (40, 42), the locking of the wafer (71) being obtained by rotation of the rod (70) about its own axis about 90 °. 3. Floor according to claim 2, characterized in that the second end of the false tongue (7) is provided with an operating lever (75) for rotating the rod (70) on itself for locking and unlocking the wafer (71). 4. Floor according to claim 3, characterized in that the second end of the false tongue (7) is also provided with a flange (74) which bears against the edges of the plates joined by said false tongue. 5. Floor according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one of the sides (42) of each of the plates, said first longitudinal side, has a tongue (420), which engages in a groove complementary (402) formed in the opposite side (40), said second longitudinal side, of an adjacent plate, and in that said first and second positioning members constitute an elastic latching device (1) one of the elements is housed in a recess (421) formed in said tongue (420) while the other element is fixed in said groove (402), so that when the tongue (420) engages in the complementary groove ( 402) of the adjacent plate, the locking of this device is carried out by making the said plates contiguous. 6. Floor according to claim 5, characterized in that said elastic latching device (1) consists of a lug with a bulged head (2) cooperating with a double pump catch (3). 7. Floor according to claim 6, characterized in that said stud (2) is fixed in the groove (402) while said double latch (3) is housed in said recess (421). 8. Floor according to claim 7, characterized in that said groove (402) has a recess (401) in which is fixed the post (2). 9. Floor according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that each of said plates (P₁) is rectangular, of width (l) equal to half the length (L) and in that its longitudinal sides are provided one of a pair of identical snap-ins and the other of a pair of snap-ins complementary latching, said elements being arranged symmetrically on either side of the small axis of symmetry (x, x ') of the plate, and located at the four vertices of an imaginary square with a side equal to the width (l) of the plate (P₁), so that the connection of the various plates is staggered. 10. Floor according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises edge plates (P₂) of square shape having a complementary element of elastic snap on each of its longitudinal sides, in the middle of this side.

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