EP1457613A1

EP1457613A1 - Construction or covering element

Info

Publication number: EP1457613A1
Application number: EP04075783A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anthonius Johannes Adrianus Bol
Original assignee: Aja Bol Holding Bv
Current assignee: Aja Bol Holding Bv
Priority date: 2003-03-13
Filing date: 2004-03-10
Publication date: 2004-09-15

Abstract

Assembly of a container having a wall defining an accommodation space (17) and a filling material (200) placed in the accommodation space, which filling material originates from previous use, such as a rock wool mat, or waste, such as sawdust. Preferably the container is substantially plate-shaped. Preferably the container is intended for use in or on construction works, wherein the container is provided with means for mutual connection, particularly coupling.

Description

The invention relates to a construction or covering element. The invention further relates to a covering of a wall constructed using such elements. The invention furthermore relates to a method for carrying out work, such as construction work using such elements.
It is known to build construction works using wall elements, such as bricks to be laid or blocks to be glued. It is furthermore known to cover roofs with roof elements, such as roof tiles.
It is also known to include tiles of recycled material in a pavement.
In the manufacturing of such construction elements recycled material is used more and more. For instance a roof tile is known that has entirely been formed out of recycled synthetic foamed material.
The use of recycled material in those construction elements is indeed a good purpose of use and results in waste reduction, but unfortunately requires great effort to find the right techniques. Usually specifically designed processes and machines are necessary.
It is an object of this invention to provide a construction element or covering element that is easy to manufacture using or utilising already used material or waste material originating from a treatment, or material originating from a previous purpose.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a construction element or covering element that is easy to compose and can be used as ballasting element in buildings.
From one aspect the invention to that end provides an assembly of a container having a wall defining an accommodation space and a filling material placed in the accommodation space, which filling material originates from previous use, purpose or treatment.
Thus the previously used material can be utilised without much treatment, wherein the wanted rigidity is provided by the container. The container itself may be made of a material which, when building, is easily manageable and incorporated in construction works. The recycled material or material originating from a treatment as waste, does not have to be treated itself in order to for instance be able to be attached to traditional construction elements or obtain an appearance similar to the traditional construction elements. The material used can be selected depending on the function to be fulfilled by the construction element, such as ballasting function on a roof, insulation function in a wall, etc.
Preferably the container is substantially plate-shaped, so that placement actions can be reduced when the placement direction is parallel to a wall or roof or street.
Preferably the container is provided with means for mutual connection, particularly coupling without additional aids. This further facilitates the placement of the assemblies.
The connection means facilitate the placement of the assemblies when they are adapted for mutual connection in a direction perpendicular to the surface to be covered.
In a possible embodiment the connection means form a dovetail joint/coupling.
In a another possible embodiment the connection means form a tenon and mortise joint.
The container may be made of a synthetic material, for instance by vacuum forming or compression moulding.
In a further development of the assembly according to the invention, the container comprises a tray and a closure for it. The tray as accommodation space can be filled with the filling material, which is subsequently confined using the closure. The closure may be flexible, such as a foil, but may alternatively form a lid, as a result of which the reliable shielding may be achieved.
The connection means may comprise first parts provided on the lid and second parts cooperating therewith provided on the tray, such that the first parts of the one assembly are able to cooperate with the second parts of the adjacent assembly.
Preferably the lid and/or the tray are provided with strips extending sideward on which the connection parts are provided. If the strips extending sideward are provided on the lid and the tray is provided with second connection parts at the edge of the bottom, the connection can simply be realised when the tray of the adjacent container is placed. The lid of the one container is then confined downward by the tray (and its weight) of the next container.
Providing support strips extending sideward on the lid of the one container for supporting the tray of the next container may also be advantageous to the aforementioned downward confinement without connection parts present on those strips.
Preferably the strips projecting sideward extend along at least one side of the tray or lid, preferably along two sides thereof connecting to each other.
In a preferred embodiment the circumferential wall of the container, tray and/or lid is provided with protrusions or recesses that fit into each other, as a result of which a correct placement of adjacent containers against each other is facilitated.
In a further development, areas for passage of attachment means, such as bolts, are provided in an upper wall of the container, such as the lid. In this way the container can be fixated -optionally detachably- to a basis such as a roof surface.
In a further development the accommodation space is divided into a number of sub spaces, as a result of which loose material can also remain evenly distributed in inclined or even vertical positioning.
The filling material can be selected adapted to the intended use. The container may be standard.
The filling material may for instance be intended for heat insulation, and then for instance consist of previously used glass wool, rock wool, synthetic foamed material, in composed mat-shaped, fibrous or granular form.
The filling material may also be intended for ballasting, and for instance then consist of wood chips or sawdust as waste, rubble, rubber, soil, asphalt, sand/gravel (for instance originating from the previous, natural purpose).
From another aspect the invention provides a tray suitable and intended for use in an assembly according to the invention.
From a further aspect the invention provides a roof covering provided with a layer of assemblies according to the invention.
From a further aspect the invention provides a partition, particularly a wall, provided with assemblies according to the invention.
From yet a further aspect the invention provides a method for constructing a building, using assemblies according to the invention, wherein the container is filled with material to be recycled, or material originating from a previous purpose, such as for instance substrate rock wool mat, the container is closed and placed in the building.
The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:
Figures 1, 1 A and 1 B show a perspective view, a top view and a side view, respectively, of a tray member of a preferred embodiment of a container according to the invention.
Figures 2, 2A and 2B show a perspective view, a top view and a view, respectively, of a lid to be used with a tray according to the figures 1, 1 A and 1 B; and
Figures 3A-C show containers of the figures 1 and 2 arranged on a roof.
The tray 10, shown in figures 1, 1A and 1B has a bottom 11 and side walls 12, which define a substantially rectangular inner space 17. The inner space 17 is divided into sub spaces 19 by means of partitions 18. In the sub spaces 19 the bottom 11 is provided with recesses 15 forming support cams.
The side walls 12 are provided with arched recesses 13 and flat surfaces 14, wherein in adjacent long and short sides the recesses 13 are oriented inward and in the opposite long and short sides the recesses are oriented outward.
As indicated in figure 1B the side walls 12 are slightly slanting, at an angle α of slightly less than 90° to the horizontal. In the partitions 18 and in the bottom 11, the tray 10 is provided with passages 30 for possible attachment means, which passages extend perpendicular to the bottom.
The bottom 11 is furthermore provided with integrally formed cams 16, that are accessible from the bottom side of the tray 10. The tray can simply be made from synthetic material through vacuum forming.
As can be seen in figures 1 and 2 the tray 10 may also cooperate with a lid 20 for forming a container according to the invention.
The lid 20 may also be made from synthetic material through vacuum forming. It is remarked that other methods of manufacturing are of course possible, such as for instance injection moulding.
The lid 20 is formed to be able to cooperate with the tray 10. The lid 20 here has an upper wall 21 and a circumferential wall 22 having the shape of a rectangular, which wall is also slanting (angle α). Just like the circumferential wall 12 of the tray 10, the circumferential wall 22 is provided with arched recesses 23 extending inward in a short and long side, and in the two opposite sides with arched recesses 23 extending outward. In between there are flat surfaces 24.
In the upper wall 21 attachment holes 31 are provided, which come to be in line with the recesses 30 in the tray 10. The attachment holes 31 can be provided with a metal plate or stop plate 27 for the head of an attachment means, such as a plate or nail.
Two of the sides of the circumferential wall 22 are provided with flanges 28 extending sideward, on which hollow cams 26 are provided.
The sub spaces 19 of the tray 10 can simply be filled with a filling material, depending on the intended use. Said filling material 200 is schematically shown in grain shape in figure 1. This may for instance be rubber grains originating from previously used material.
The tray 10 may, when it is intended for heat insulating purposes, be filled with for instance a previously used rock wool mat. In that case the partitions 18 may be absent.
After the tray 10 has been filled the lid 20 can be placed over it, and possibly be attached on it by means of attachment means that are already present in the passages 30 and 31, or for instance by gluing. The thus readied container 1 can for instance be placed on a roof surface of a building 100 (figures 3A-C), provided with walls 102, 103 and a roof surface 101. The filled, ready-made containers 1 can be placed against each other almost like roof tiles, in order to form series, as shown in figures 3A-C. Here each next container is placed next to a container placed earlier on, by fitting the projections 23 of either a long or short side of the circumferential wall 22 into the recesses 23 of a long or short side of the already placed container 1, wherein the cams 16 in the bottom 11 of the container 1 to be placed fit over/on the cams 26 on the strips 28 of the already placed container 1. Here the containers 1 are placed with respect to each other, wherein the adjacent containers 1 prevent that the container 1 situated in between would be able to move upwards, as a result of its strips 28 overlapping. If necessary, the containers can be secured in the roof surface 101 by means of the attachment means that extend through the passages 30 and 31. The container 1 rests on the roof to 101 with the recess 15.
For ballasting the surface 101 the filling material 200 may consist of ballasting material such as gravel or sand. By using the containers 1 according to the invention the ballast material is kept together and it is prevented that the gravel or sand adheres to the roof covering as a result of which after some years, in case of removal, it would have to be disposed of as chemical waste. The lifting of roof coverings by the wind can thus simply be prevented by using the containers 1 according to the invention.
The container according to the invention can also be used as insulation plate. By mounting the container on a roof plate an insulated roof is realised. On said insulated roof the roof covering can be attached directly, i.e. on the upper walls 21 of the containers 1. For insulation a filling material 200 can be selected from for instance glass wool, rock wool, sawdust, rock wool granulate or other substances. In this structure no other insulation plates will be necessary in the roof.
The container 1 according to the invention can also be used in vertical partitions as insulation or filling.

Claims

Assembly of a container having a wall defining an accommodation space and a filling material placed in the accommodation space, which filling material originates from previous use, purpose or treatment.
Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the container is substantially plate-shaped.
Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container is provided with means for mutual connection, particularly coupling without additional aids, wherein the connection means preferably are adapted for mutual connection in a direction perpendicular to the surface to be covered, wherein the connection means preferably form a dovetail joint/coupling or a tenon and mortise joint.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is made of a synthetic material, for instance by vacuum forming or compression moulding.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises a tray and a closure for it, such as a closure of foil or a lid.
Assembly according to claim 5 and claim 3, wherein the connection means comprise first parts provided on the lid and second parts cooperating therewith provided on the tray, such that the first parts of the one assembly are able to cooperate with the second parts of the adjacent assembly, wherein the lid and/or tray preferably are provided with strips extending sideward on which the connection parts are provided, wherein the strips extending sideward preferably are provided on the lid and the tray is provided with second connection parts preferably at the edge of the bottom.
Assembly according to claim 6, wherein the strips projecting sideward extend along at least one side of the tray or lid, preferably along two sides thereof connecting to each other.
Assembly according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the circumferential wall of the container, tray and/or lid is provided with protrusions or recesses that fit into each other.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container in an upper wall, such as the lid, is provided with areas for passage of attachment means, such as bolts. In this way the container can be fixated - optionally detachably- to a basis such as a roof surface.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, intended for use in or on buildings.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is mutually connectable for forming a plate-shaped unity.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling material is a heat or sound insulating material.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip is provided with holding means for the tray of an adjacent assembly, wherein the strip preferably forms a support surface for the adjacent tray, wherein the lid preferably is provided with pendent walls, that engage over the tray.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container at one lower side is provided with spacers, such as cams or ribs.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the accommodation space is divided into a number of sub spaces.
Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling material comprises glass wool, rock wool, synthetic foamed material, in composed mat-shaped, fibrous or granular form.
Assembly according to any one of the claims 1-12, wherein the filling material comprises wood particles, such as chips or sawdust, rubble, rubber, soil or sand/gravel.
Tray suitable and intended for use in an assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.
Roof covering provided with a layer of assemblies according to any one of the claims 1-17.
Partition, particularly wall, provided with assemblies according to any one of the claims 1-17.
Method for constructing a building, using assemblies according to any one of the claims 1-17, wherein the container is filled with material to be recycled, such as for instance substrate rock wool mat, the container is closed and placed in the building.