EP2243409A2

EP2243409A2 - Floor slab

Info

Publication number: EP2243409A2
Application number: EP10160558A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jurgen Hendrik Peter Jozeph Keizers
Original assignee: Easy Sanitary Solutions BV
Current assignee: Easy Sanitary Solutions BV
Priority date: 2009-04-22
Filing date: 2010-04-21
Publication date: 2010-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2030-04-21
Also published as: NL2002776C2; EP2243409A3; EP2243409B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor plate (1), for instance for a shower floor, which floor plate comprises:
- a plate, preferably of hard foam (2);
- a drain (22) arranged in the plate; and
- a sealing membrane (4) extending at least over the peripheral edges of the plate, which sealing membrane is fixed watertightly to the plate at a distance from the peripheral edge (9).

Description

The invention relates to a floor plate, for instance for a shower floor. It is known to arrange a plastic plate on a hard sub-floor during the construction or renovation of a shower floor. This plastic plate is also referred to as sloping plate because such a plate often has a gradient in the upper surface. It is usual here for a drain to be arranged in the plate and for the gradient in the upper surface of the plate to be directed toward the drain.
Such a floor plate is placed on an existing sub-floor of for instance a shower. A sealing membrane is then arranged on the floor plate. This sealing membrane protrudes over the edges of the floor plate and is incorporated into the side walls or the floor. A watertight connection is hereby obtained between the floor plate and surrounding walls and floors. In addition, the sealing membrane ensures a good substrate for adhesion of tiles.
A drawback in such floor plates is that the adhesion of the sealing membrane to the floor plate depends on the skill of the installer. When the correct glue is for instance not used, it may be the case that the sealing membrane is not fixed wholly watertightly to the floor plate. Another drawback is that the connection of the drain to the floor plate or to the sealing membrane can vary in quality subject to the skills of the installer.
It is now further known in the prior art that floor plates are factory-supplied provided with a sealing membrane which covers the whole upper surface of the floor plate. Because the sealing membrane is already fixed to the floor plate in the factory, the quality, and thereby the water-tightness, are guaranteed. A drawback again however is that it is difficult to make such plates to measure because the sealing membrane is glued over the whole surface of the floor plate.
It is now an object of the invention to provide a floor plate wherein the above stated drawbacks are alleviated. This object is achieved with a floor plate according to the invention, which floor plate comprises:

a plate, preferably of hard foam;
a drain arranged in the plate; and
a flexible layer extending at least over the peripheral edges of the plate, which flexible layer is fixed watertightly to the plate at a distance from the peripheral edge.

Because the flexible layer is arranged at a distance from the peripheral edge, a strip along the edge of the plate is free, and this edge can be processed as desired. The flexible layer can thus already be fixed to the plate in the factory, whereby a good sealing of the flexible layer on the foam plate is guaranteed, while the floor plate can be easily made to measure during installation. The plate is preferably manufactured from a hard foam. Foam has the advantage of a low specific weight, but also a good sound insulation.
In an embodiment of the floor plate according to the invention the flexible layer is arranged around a central part of the plate. In this embodiment the central part of the plate is not fully covered by the flexible layer. The advantage is that tiles can be fixed directly onto the plate without interposing a flexible layer. This reduces the danger of the tiles detaching as a result of movement.
In another embodiment of the floor plate according to the invention there is arranged around the central part a peripheral groove into which an edge of the flexible layer protrudes. Because the flexible layer protrudes into the groove, the layer is held fast over a large surface area, whereby the watertight connection between the plate and the layer is very robust. It is recommended here that a strip is arranged in the peripheral groove for the purpose of clamping the flexible layer. This strip ensures a good clamping as well as an increased stability of the plate, since the strip functions as a strengthening rib.
In a preferred embodiment of the floor plate according to the invention the flexible layer is provided with a central opening such that the edge of the central opening of the flexible layer protrudes into the peripheral groove, and wherein elastic parts are inserted into the edge of the central opening of the flexible layer. These elastic parts can for instance be rubber inserts which make it possible for the edge of the sealing membrane protruding into the peripheral groove to run through continuously without being interrupted at the corners or different layers lying one over another.
In another preferred embodiment of the floor plate according to the invention the central part of the plate is provided with an adhesive layer for adhering for instance tiles. Since the central part is not covered by the flexible layer, this part can be provided with a suitable adhesive layer. Such an adhesive layer is a further advantage since the central part is loaded most when for instance the floor plate is used as shower floor.
The flexible layer according to the invention can for instance be a sealing membrane or bitumen layer.
In a preferred embodiment of the floor plate according to the invention the underside of the plate is provided with a large number of protrusions. A floor plate must be glued onto the sub-floor. When the glue is applied unevenly to the sub-floor it may occur that cavities remain after placing of a floor plate. These cavities occur because the flat lower surface of a floor plate cannot sufficiently displace the unevenly applied glue.
By now arranging protrusions, such as for instance studs or ribs, under the plate these protrusions can be pressed into the glue, whereby the glue is displaced more easily. The surface covered by the protrusions is preferably 40% to 80% of the total surface of the underside.
The underside can further be provided with an adhesive layer for adhering to the substrate.
In another preferred embodiment of the floor plate according to the invention a glue layer is arranged on the adhesive layer, the glue layer being covered airtightly by a film. The correct glue ensuring a good fixing to a sub-floor can hereby already be applied in the factory. The fixing of the floor plate to the sub-floor hereby no longer depends on the glue at the disposal of the installer.
The plate of the floor plate according to the invention preferably has a uniform thickness. Such plates are readily available commercially at a reasonable price. In order to obtain the desired gradient in such a plate of uniform thickness, extra glue can be used on one side during the arranging thereof, whereby a gradient can be obtained in simple manner. This gradient is usually in the order of 1 centimetre per metre.
In yet another embodiment of the floor plate according to the invention at least part of the upper surface of the plate does not run parallel to the lower surface of the plate. The floor plate hereby obtains a gradient running preferably in the direction of the drain.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the floor plate according to the invention there are arranged in the underside at least two parallel grooves in which strengthening elements of substantially U-shaped cross-section are arranged. These strengthening elements prevent bending of the plate, whereby tiles arranged on the plate remain better fixed thereto.
It is recommended here that the floor plate comprises at least two wedge-like elements, which wedge-like elements protrude into the strengthening elements in order to tilt the floor plate relative to the substrate on which the floor plate is placed. Both the height and the angle of inclination of the floor plate according to the invention can hereby be adjusted.
The drain is preferably further arranged, for instance glued, sealingly in the plate.
It is further highly recommended that the drain is an elongate shower drain.
These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a floor plate according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the floor plate of figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a perspective bottom view of the floor plate of figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view with exploded parts of a second embodiment of a floor plate according to the invention.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a floor plate 1 according to the invention. This floor plate 1 has a foam plate 2 in which an elongate drain 3 is arranged. Floor plate 1 is provided with a central part 4 around which a sealing membrane 5 is arranged.

Foam plate 2 is provided with a gradient. The upper surface of foam plate 2 does not run parallel here to the lower surface. This ensures that water falling onto floor plate 1, or tiles arranged thereon, runs in the direction of elongate drain 3.
As can be seen in figure 2, sealing membrane 5 is arranged with a peripheral edge 6 in a peripheral groove 7. This peripheral edge 6 is clamped here by a strip 8.
Because sealing membrane 5 is connected to foam plate 2 at a distance from peripheral edges 9 of foam plate 2, it is simple to modify foam plate 2 to the dimensions of the floor on which floor plate 1 must be placed, without sealing membrane 5 being affected.
Central part 4 of foam plate 2 is further provided with an adhesive layer 11. Just as sealing membrane 5, this adhesive layer 11 can already be applied in the factory so that a desired quality is obtained. Adhesive layer 11 forms a good substrate for tiling.
Studs 10 are arranged on the underside of foam plate 2 (see also figure 3) . These studs 10 ensure that the glue with which floor plate 1 is adhered to a sub-floor is displaced and comes to lie in the space between studs 10. In addition, studs 10 enlarge the adhesive surface area, and unevenness in the sub-floor can be easily compensated.
Figure 4 shows a second embodiment 20 of a floor plate according to the invention. This floor plate 20 also has a foam plate 21. Foam plate 21 here has a uniform thickness. Further arranged in foam plate 21 are an elongate drain 22 and a peripheral groove 24 arranged around a central part 23. An edge 25 of sealing membrane 26 is inserted into this peripheral groove 24. Edge 25 is provided with inserted flexible parts 27. In non-loaded situation edge 25 can hereby lie at an angle to the remaining part of sealing membrane 26. This simplifies insertion of edge 25 into groove 24 and facilitates a good watertight connection of cloth 26 to foam plate 21.
Further inserted into peripheral groove 24 is a strip 28 with which edge 25 of cloth 26 is clamped fixedly.
Foam plate 21 is provided on the underside with a number of parallel grooves 28. U-shaped profiles, which impart strength to foam plate 21, are preferably arranged in these grooves 28. Wedge-like elements 29 are then inserted into these grooves 28, whereby the height of floor plate 20 can be adjusted, as can the angle of inclination, so that floor plate 20 is still given a gradient while foam plate 21 has a uniform thickness.

Claims

Floor plate, for instance for a shower floor, which floor plate comprises:
- a plate, preferably of hard foam;

- a drain arranged in the plate; and

- a sealing membrane extending at least over the peripheral edges of the plate, which sealing membrane is fixed watertightly to the plate at a distance from the peripheral edge.
Floor plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing membrane is arranged around a central part of the plate.
Floor plate as claimed in claim 2, wherein a peripheral groove, into which an edge of the sealing membrane protrudes, is arranged around the central part.
Floor plate as claimed in claim 3, comprising a strip arranged in the peripheral groove for the purpose of clamping the sealing membrane in the peripheral groove.
Floor plate as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the sealing membrane is provided with a central opening such that the edge of the central opening of the sealing membrane protrudes into the peripheral groove, and wherein elastic parts are inserted into the edge of the central opening of the sealing membrane.
Floor plate as claimed in any of the claims 2-5, wherein the central part of the plate is provided with an adhesive layer for adhering for instance tiles.
Floor plate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the underside of the plate is provided with a large number of protrusions.
Floor plate as claimed in claim 7, wherein the surface covered by the protrusions is 40% to 80% of the total surface of the underside.
Floor plate as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the underside is provided with an adhesive layer for adhering to the substrate.
Floor plate as claimed in claim 9, wherein a glue layer is arranged on the adhesive layer, the glue layer being covered airtightly by a film.
Floor plate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least part of the upper surface of the plate does not run parallel to the lower surface of the plate.
Floor plate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein there are arranged in the underside at least two parallel grooves in which strengthening elements of substantially U-shaped cross-section are arranged.
Floor plate comprising at least two wedge-like elements, which wedge-like elements protrude into the strengthening elements in order to tilt the floor plate relative to the substrate on which the floor plate is placed.
Floor plate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the drain is arranged, for instance glued, sealingly in the plate.
Floor plate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the drain is an elongate shower drain.