EP1087073B1

EP1087073B1 - Track section for applying and fixing bathroom fittings, kitchen fittings or the like

Info

Publication number: EP1087073B1
Application number: EP00120532A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simone Fontana
Original assignee: PROFILI ITALIA SpA
Current assignee: PROFILI ITALIA SpA
Priority date: 1999-09-27
Filing date: 2000-09-20
Publication date: 2005-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-20
Also published as: EP1087073A2; EP1087073A3; ATE309430T1; ITVI990082U1; IT248660Y1; DE60023812D1; DE60023812T2

Abstract

A track section for applying and fixing bathroom fittings, kitchen fittings or the like mainly for domestic use, to be applied onto a wall under the tile coating, in particular between two tile rows, said track section being provided with at least a thin anchoring tongue (3) which is buried in the adhesive layer, under the coating (14). The track section according to the invention is provided with some blocks (4) which can be inserted inside the track (2) and which have threaded holes (7), for subsequently fixing interior decoration fittings by means of screws (9). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention provides a fixing device comprising a track section and a plurality of blocks for applying and fixing bathroom fittings, kitchen fittings or the like mainly for domestic use.
According to the invention a track section is applied onto a wall under the tile coating, in particular between two tile rows, said track section being provided with tongues having such a shape that they permit to apply any bathroom fitting, kitchen fitting or the like, without having to drill and, consequently, to damage the coating irreversibly.
With respect to the known solutions, the section of the invention has the advantage of avoiding the need to provide holes, seats or the like on the existing coating, that is avoiding damaging the coating, thus permitting to apply any desired fitting onto the wall, the coating of which remains perfectly intact.
The section of the invention is also particularly practical to use, due to the configuration of the parts which makes it extremely rapid and easy to set only by means of adhesive or cement mortar used to fix the coating.
As known, in the field of domestic fittings several supporting elements are utilized for objects which have to be kept hanging on the walls to be more comfortable and immediate to use.
Thus for example adhesive or suction cup supporting fittings are used to hang or rest cakes of soap, bathroom fittings, towels, driers or the like which, however, in time tend to come out of the surface on which they are applied, also due to the weight of the element which they have to support.
In order to ensure the tightness of the hook support it is thus necessary to appeal to those solutions according to which the hooking means are fixed onto the wall by tightening pressure plugs, fisher screws or the like, which, however, have the drawbacks of having to provide holes or seats, for example by using drills.
The coating is thus irreversibly damaged, which is even more disagreeable especially with economically and often also artistically valuable ceramic tiles.
DE-A-19640274 describes a track section for decoration fittings to be applied to a wall or a floor.
The track has a two thin tongues that are buried in the adhesive used for applying a coating to the wall, and includes a support profile having a U-shaped cross section on which a decoration element is inserted.
The decoration element has a decorative upper surface which is at least partly located between the side webs of the support profile. The decorative surface is orientated to face into the room, and is releasably fixable to the support profile.
The object of the invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks by using a solution (cf. claim 1) according to which the existing tiles are no longer drilled and consequently damaged, but more simply a particular section is laid which is buried under the tiles, thus being firmly engaged with them.
In particular, the invention provides a track having one or two perforated anchoring tongues to be buried between the mortar or adhesive layer and the coating material, which can particularly consist of ceramic tiles, marble plates or a painted plaster layer or the like, the supports and/or connections of the various wall fittings being applied to said track.
Further objects, advantages and particular functions of the invention can be better understood from the following description, given by way of non limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

figure 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the coating of a wall on which the supporting section of the invention has been buried;
figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the section of the invention, being provided with a cylindrical head with a steel round or the like forming a hanging means or the like;
figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the section of the invention on which a glass shelf has been set which is supported by a suitable bearing applied on the section;
figures from 4 to 6 are partial perspective views of other preferred embodiments of the section of the invention;
figures 7 and 8 are respectively the front view and the sectional view of the fixing and bearing block for setting the fittings onto the support.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular to figure 1, the system comprises a section 1 provided with a track 2 and preferably perforated anchoring tongues 3 extending for a certain length along the track sides.
The track 2 of the section 1, which is preferably made of a metal such as aluminium, brass or the like or of a material such as PVC, is preferably C-shaped or the like to receive at least a fixing block 4, which is better shown in figures 7 and 8.
The cross section of the fixing block 4 is almost complementary to the central track 2 of the section 1, so that the fixing block 4 is held therein, and further said fixing block has two diametrically opposed chamfered corners 5 which permit to insert and stabilize the block in the track after a rotation of 90 degrees.
The central area is provided with a projecting portion 6 partially fitting in the track opening. The projecting portion 6 of the fixing block 4 has a threaded seat 7 which permits to tighten any fitting on the block, thus avoiding the need to drill and, consequently, damage the coating irreversibly.
By way of example figures 2 and 3 show some bearing fittings comprising, in the former case, a cylindrical body 8 with a central, possibly self-threading through screw 9 and a steel round 10 forming a hanging means or the like, whereas in the latter case the body 11 bears supporting surfaces 12 made of glass or the like.
It is to be noted how, by screwing the fitting in the seat of the block 4, the block 4 is tightened against the track tongues 13, thus being locked in its position.
In order to fix the described section to a wall it is sufficient to lay off a mortar or adhesive layer onto the raw plaster of the wall P, and then to rest and press the section on the mortar or adhesive by letting the section perforated anchoring tongues 3 adhere.
Then the coating material, consisting of the ceramic tiles 14, marble plates or the like, is applied onto the mortar or adhesive by placing it around the section to cover the tongues and keep the track levelled with the coating.
The wall is thus provided with a horizontal groove in which the supporting block 4 can be inserted and fixed, on the seat of which the requested fitting is screwed.
The fixing blocks can be moved inside the track, added and removed without damaging the coating, thus modifying the environmental interior decoration with great flexibility.
The block 4 can be made of a metal such as steel, brass or the like, or of a plastic material such as PVC.
In this case one or more block edges can be provided with flexible teeth which engage corresponding flexible or deformable teeth on a wall of the track.
The engagement between the two sets of teeth will then keep the block in its position along the track, and the block can be moved due to the teeth elastic deformation.
Various alternative configurations can then be provided within the same scope of invention.
Thus, for example, the track can have a pair of short tongues without any holes as in figure 5, or have on the outer sides some grooves or cavities shown with numeral 15 in figure 6, which will be filled with adhesive for better anchoring. For aesthetic purposes the base of the track can also have a projecting edge 16 acting as a support for the coating tiles.
According to a further embodiment shown in figure 4, the track 2 can be separated from the tongues 3 but it can be configured to have a pair of seats 17 engaged by teeth 18 on the vertical walls 19 of the tongues 3. The tongues 3 will have different lengths to fit the section to the coating thickness.
The track section of the invention has been described and illustrated according to a preferred embodiment, but those skilled in the art can provide several modifications and variations which, if they fall within at least one of the following claims, are to be considered as included within the same scope.

Claims

A fixing device comprising a track section (2) and a plurality of blocks (4) for fixing kitchen or bathroom fittings, in which the track section has a horizontal groove and at least a thin anchoring tongue (3) which is buried in the adhesive layer, under the coating (14), and the blocks (4) can be inserted and be slid in the longitudinal direction of said groove and have threaded holes (7), for subsequently fixing kitchen or bathroom fittings by means of screws (9), characterized in that the track section is C-shaped or the like and comprises track tongues (13) provided at the free ends of said C-section in that the length of the blocks (4) is slightly smaller than the width of the track (2) and the blocks have a pair of diametrically opposed chamfered corners (5) so that the block can be rotated inside the track from an inserting position in which the block is aligned with the track slit, to a rotated locking position in which they are tightened against the track tongues (13) by screwing the fitting in the seat of the block.
A fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tongues (3) have holes and/or slits to let the adhesive pass through for better adhesion.
A fixing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing blocks (4) can slide inside the track and be locked in the desired position.
A fixing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of said track (2) is equal to the the thickness of the coating (14) and of the corresponding adhesive layer.
A fixing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that on one or more of the outer walls said track section is provided with grooves (15), cavities or hooking elements for increased anchoring.
A fixing device fittings according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has unperforated anchoring tongues which are shorter than the track side walls.
A fixing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of said block (4) is complementary to the track (2) and the block (4) has, at least on one side, one or more elastically deformable teeth or reliefs which cooperate with elastically deformable teeth or reliefs at least on one track wall to let the block slide and keep it in the reached position.
A fixing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said track (2) has, at least on one of the outer walls, a relief (16) forming a supporting and resting element for the coating, to provide thereby an aesthetic space.
A fixing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tongues (18) are separated from the track and have engaging means (15) which fit inside corresponding seats (17) provided in the track for assembling.
A fixing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said block (4) is made of metal.
A fixing device according to claims from 1 to 9, characterized in that said block (4) is made of a plastic material.
A fixing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said screw (9) is self-threading.