EP2468981A1

EP2468981A1 - System for joining ceramic tiles for floor installations

Info

Publication number: EP2468981A1
Application number: EP10382351A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miguel Bartolome Alvaro; Miguel Llorens Colera; Francisco Javier Mira Peidro; Elena Uviedo Ramos; Michel Toumi Borges
Original assignee: Ascer (asociacion Espanola De Fabricantes De Azulejos Y Pavimentos Ceramicos)
Current assignee: Ascer (asociacion Espanola De Fabricantes De Azulejos Y Pavimentos Ceramicos)
Priority date: 2010-12-23
Filing date: 2010-12-23
Publication date: 2012-06-27

Abstract

System for joining ceramic tiles for floor installations which includes a plurality of joining gaskets (3) placed between a plurality of ceramic pieces (1) and is characterized in that said joining gasket consists in a first base portion or region (31), with a flat floor, to be used as support for the assembly laid over the floor; and a second region (32), perpendicular to the first region (31) and originates from said first region (31) in the shape of an inverted wedge so that the edges or lower sharp edges (11) of the ceramic pieces (1) are housed on the vertices (33) formed between the first and second region (31,32), and fastened by the pressure exerted by a plurality of wedges placed around the perimeter of the floor.

Description

The purpose of this invention is a system for joining ceramic tiles for floor installations, where the joining is carried out by means of a section of gasket where the edge of the ceramic pieces coincides with the shape of said gasket.
This invention is included within the technical sector of building finishes, specifically of finishes in buildings that include floorings.

PRIOR STATE OF THE ART

One of the problems of ceramic floors is the high cost of traditional installation works that are based on using cement mortars, cement adhesives, dispersed adhesives or reactive resins, which are all wet systems.
On the other hand, the edges of ceramic tiles are not perpendicular to the top surface of the floor tile because during the pressing process, it is required that the edges of the piece have an extraction angle that is always less than 90° with respect to the horizontal.
Finally, during the manufacturing of stoneware porcelain pieces, these go through a process that finishes the lower edges of the stoneware in a way that varies from being completely bevelled to having a sharp edge, because after the moulding, the trimming machine does not finish the edges in a uniform fashion. This invention requires that the finishing of the lower edge of the tile be carried out uniformly.

INVENTION EXPLANATION

The technical problem that this invention intends to resolve is the installation of floors without needing cement or adhesives by taking advantage of the angled shape of the tile's edges.
Therefore, a purpose of this invention is a system where the union between ceramic pieces is carried out using extruded plastic gaskets with a wedge shaped section so that the edge of the pressed ceramic pieces coincides with the shape of said gasket, and when confining the pieces between the walls of a space, all the edges of these pieces are fastened to each other due to the action of said gasket (by expansion or dilation of the gasket). This is possible because the extraction angle of the press moulding (used in the process for manufacturing ceramic pieces) causes the ceramic pieces to not have perfectly orthogonal sides with respect to the horizontal; instead, they are angled a few degrees and therefore the wedge shaped gasket holds them in place.
The ceramic flooring assembly is placed on top of a layer of elastic substrate arranged over a levelled support which absorbs any small irregularities present in the floor.
Wedges are placed between the perimeter of the pieces and the structural element that confines them such as exterior walls, interior walls and baseboards in order to apply pressure between them and ensure a proper joining of the pieces.
Throughout the description and claims, the word "encompasses" and its synonyms do not intend to exclude other technical characteristics, additions, components or steps. For experts in the field, other objectives, advantages and characteristics of this invention will in part be derived from the description and in part from placing the invention into practice. The following examples and drawings provide an illustration and are not intended to limit this invention. Additionally, this invention covers all the possible combinations of particular and preferred performances indicated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1. Perspective view of the ceramic pieces and the joining gasket.
FIG 2. Detailed view of the space left between ceramic pieces in a possible installation, where a joining gasket is housed.
FIG 3. Front view of the gasket used for joining ceramic pieces.
FIG 4. View of the assembling of the first ceramic piece using the system described in this invention.
FIG 5. View of a finished floor carried out using the method described in this invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In an example of the practical embodiment of this invention, a floor has been installed based on a plurality of ceramic pieces (1), where the lower edges (11) of said pieces (1), vary between being bevelled and having a completely sharp edge because when the pieces (1) go through the trimming machine used for finishing said edges, these are not trimmed uniformly as can be seen in figure 1.
Figure 2 shows the space between ceramic pieces (1), which will roughly define by symmetry; the joining gasket (3) profile, which consists in a first base portion or region (31), with a flat floor, destined to support the assembly over the floor; and a second region (32) that is perpendicular to said first region (31) and originates from said first region (31) in the shape of an inverted wedge so that the edges or lower sharp edges (11) of the ceramic pieces (1) are housed on the vertices (33) formed between the first and second region (31,32), absorbing the irregularities of the ceramic pieces (1), as can be seen in figure 3.
Stoneware porcelain slabs (1) with a very low water absorption capability, dry pressed and subjected to a single heat treatment have been used in this example. They are fine grade and homogenous, where the non-homogenous elements such as grains, inclusions or pores are not appreciable with the naked eye. The in-view side of the same material as the body can be finished with a flat, speckled, marbled or decorative colour.
The union gasket (3) is manufactured of a thermoplastic polymer that is presented as white material that begins to soften at 80°C and breaks down at about 140°C. It is worth mentioning that it is a polymer through addition and also a resin that results from the polymerization of vinyl chloride or chloroethylene, obtaining a very good resistance to electricity and flames. The joining gasket is obtained through an extrusion process.
On the other hand, for assembling the floor, an acoustic insulation laminate must be installed and the stoneware porcelain pieces (1) are placed over it. The first piece is placed at a corner and two gasket sections (3) with their edge bevelled at 45° are placed at its two free sides in order to join both segments.
Finally, the procedure is repeated until the floor has been completely covered (as shown in figure 5), taking into account that at each union between pieces (1) required a gasket (3) being installed. To ensure the proper adjustment between pieces (1) and gaskets (3), requires using wedges (4) placed around the perimeter, between the wall (2) and the ceramic pieces (1). The method for installing the described system includes the following steps:

i. Removal of the original baseboard (if present) in order to finish using the baseboard included in the invention.
ii. Levelling of the floor using self levelling mortar if required.
iii. Installation of the substrate used for insulating and absorbing of irregularities throughout the surface to be paved, being careful that wrinkles or folds do not occur on the surface. The substrate laminates must be joined to each other using sealing tape.
iv. Installation of the ceramic pieces (1) using wedges (4) on all that are within the perimeter to be paved. The first piece (1), which is installed at the corner, will have two wedges (4) at its sides facing outward and two gaskets (3) at its sides facing inward. Each new piece (1) that is installed will have two new gaskets (3) and, only when necessary, two new wedges (4), leaving one gasket (3) at each union between ceramic pieces (1) and one wedge (4) at each union between ceramic pieces and the wall.
v. Trimming the wedges so they are flush. Cutting the protruding part of each wedge (4), leaving the part of the wedge that exerts the pressure below the floor level.
vi. Finally, installing the baseboard along the perimeter of the paved surface.

Claims

System for joining ceramic tiles for floor installations which includes a plurality of joining gaskets (3) placed between a plurality of ceramic pieces (1) and is characterized in that said joining gasket consists in a first base portion or region (31), with a flat floor, to be used as support for the assembly laid over the floor; and a second region (32), perpendicular to the first region (31) and originates from said first region (31) in the shape of an inverted wedge so that the edges or lower sharp edges (11) of the ceramic pieces (1) are housed on the vertices (33) formed between the first and second region (31,32), and fastened by the pressure exerted by a plurality of wedges placed around the perimeter of the floor.
System in accordance with claim 1 that is characterized in that the ceramic pavement assembly (1) and the gaskets (3) are placed over a layer of elastic substrate arranged over a flat and level support.
System in accordance with claims 1 and 2 that is characterized in that wedges (4) are placed between the perimeter of the pieces (1) and the structural element that confines them, such as exterior walls, interior walls and baseboards in order to apply pressure upon both of these.
Method for assembling the ceramic tile joining system for floor installations of claims 1 to 3 that is characterized in that it includes the following stages:
(i) elimination of the original baseboard and levelling of the floor with self levelling mortar if required;

(ii) installation of the substrate used for insulating and absorbing of irregularities throughout the surface to be paved, without wrinkles or folds and where the substrate laminates must be joined together using sealing tape.

(iii) installation of the ceramic pieces (1) using wedges (4) on all that are within the perimeter to be paved; and where the first piece (1), which is installed at the corner, will have two wedges (4) at its sides facing outward and two gaskets (3) at its sides facing inward; and where for each new piece (1) that is installed will have two new gaskets (3) and, only when necessary, two new wedges (4), leaving one gasket (3) at each union between ceramic pieces (1) and one wedge (4) at each union between ceramic pieces (1) and the wall;

(iv) and a wedge (4) trimming stage by cutting the excess protruding portion of each wedge (4), placing the part of the wedge that exerts the pressure below the floor level, in order to finally install the baseboard around the entire perimeter of the paved surface.