EP3460144A1

EP3460144A1 - Fixture for laying a joint-covering/threshold-covering profiled element and kit comprising such fixture

Info

Publication number: EP3460144A1
Application number: EP18188405.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dennis BORDIN
Original assignee: Progress Profiles SpA
Current assignee: Progress Profiles SpA
Priority date: 2017-09-20
Filing date: 2018-08-10
Publication date: 2019-03-27
Also published as: EA201891828A1; US20190085570A1; CA3015771A1; EA039342B1; IT201700104860A1; CN109518914A; AU2018220107A1

Abstract

A fixture (10) for laying a joint-covering/threshold-covering profiled element and a kit (24) comprising such fixture (10). The fixture (10) comprises an insert (11) to be arranged under the profiled element (14) and which is substantially L-shaped in cross-section, with a first portion (12) arranged parallel to the flooring surface and a second portion (13) arranged substantially vertically at the side of the flooring surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a fixture for laying a joint-covering/threshold-covering profiled element and a kit comprising such fixture.
Nowadays, when laying floors, elongated threshold-covering profiled elements are often used to conceal the perimetric space of a flooring surface or to join, continuously and without steps, two adjacent flooring surfaces that are located on two different levels, and to protect the edges thereof.
Among the various models of profiled elements are ones that in cross-section have a central portion, below which there are protrusions that form seats for coupling heads of optional anchoring blocks to be inserted between the two flooring surfaces, and two lateral portions adapted to rest the profiled element on the two adjacent floor surfaces, with interposition of a specific adhesive.
A fixture that comprises anchoring blocks and adhesives is well adapted to maintain the installation position of the profiled element where the flooring surfaces are coplanar or have a maximum height difference of 14 mm.
Usually, for height differences of up to 10 mm, adhesives are used exclusively, while greater height differences up to a maximum of 14 mm, require anchoring blocks as well.
This solution therefore presents a non-negligible limit on the maximum height difference that can be joined. In fact, for greater height differences different profiled elements are needed, for example ones that, in cross-section, have a horizontal portion and an inclined portion for resting on the lower flooring surface.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a fixture for laying a threshold-covering profiled element which is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a fixture that makes it possible to use a same threshold-covering profiled element in different situations of height differences, which can be applied easily and stably.
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known art in an alternative manner to any existing solutions.
Another object of the invention is to provide a profiled element that is highly reliable, easy to implement and has a low cost.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a fixture according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the fixture according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows the fixture according to the invention with a threshold-covering profiled element;
Figure 2 shows the fixture according to the invention during the laying of a threshold-covering profiled element;
Figure 3 shows the fixture according to the invention during the laying of a threshold-covering profiled element.

With reference to the above figures, the fixture according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, comprises an insert 11 to be arranged under a profiled element 14 (joint-covering/threshold-covering) and which is substantially L-shaped in cross-section, with a first portion 12 arranged parallel to the flooring surface and a second portion 13 arranged substantially vertically at the side of the flooring surface.
The insert is provided preferably by molding plastic material such as, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene, it is substantially rigid, and its length is comprised preferably between 3 mm and 500 mm.
The profiled element shown, usually made of metal, for example aluminum, is designated with the reference numeral 14. It is elongated in extension and has, in cross-section, a central portion 15, below which there are protrusions 16 that determine the presence of a dovetail-shaped cavity, and two lateral portions 17 slightly inclined downward at the ends.
The first portion 12 of the insert 11 has a part 18 that is shaped complementarily to the lower face of a portion of the profiled element 15, i.e. the central portion.
In particular, such complementarily-shaped part 18 of the first portion 12 presents a dovetail shape in relief, that is to be coupled by snap action, or by insertion, below the profiled element, at the central portion 15.
The coupling can be inverted, with the dovetail-shaped cavity on the insert and the complementarily-shaped relief on the profiled element.
In the example shown in Figure 2, the profiled element 14 is laid so as to conceal the perimetric space with a height difference with respect to the base 19 of the flooring surface 20 equal to the height of the second portion 13.
The second portion 13 is preferably 4 mm high.
In the example shown in Figure 3, the height difference is greater and it can be seen that the fixture 10 advantageously also comprises a block 21 for compensating the height, which is to be positioned vertically below the second portion 13.
Such block 21 for compensating can have different heights, to be used according to the height difference to be compensated, preferably for example of 3 mm, 6 mm, 9 mm and 12 mm.
The insert 11 has a bevel 22 at the corner of the L-shaped section, which allows the interposition of an adhesive layer 23 applied between it and the profiled element 14.
The fixture 10 in fact advantageously also comprises adhesive layers 23 to be interposed between the lower surface of the profiled element 14 and the insert 11 at the bevel 22 and also, in a conventional manner, between the flooring surface and the profiled element 14.
Usually the profiled element 14 is sold already provided with adhesive layers 23 applied below the lateral portions 17, close to the outer edges of the profiled element 14. Such adhesive layers 23 consist preferably of bi-adhesive strips, from which the outer film is removed at the time of laying.
The fixture 10 also conveniently comprises connectors for joining two contiguous profiled elements 14 and blocks for anchoring the profiled element 14, to be installed below the central portion 15, with the head of the block in the cavity defined by the protrusions 16.
The insert 11, the blocks 21, the adhesive layers 23, the connectors and the blocks for anchoring can be provided by the manufacturer in a single package with the threshold-covering profiled element. In particular, it is convenient to provide multiple blocks 21 of different heights in order to enable the operator to lay the profiled element when there are several different height differences in the flooring surface.
The invention also relates to a kit 24 that comprises the fixture 10 and also the profiled element 14, which is elongated in extension and has, in cross-section, a central portion 15, below which there are protrusions 16 that determine the presence of a dovetail-shaped cavity, and two lateral portions 17, as described previously.
Use of the fixture, according to the invention, is evident from the foregoing description and explanation and, in particular, it is clear that the fixture enables the operator to easily and stably lay the threshold-covering profiled element even in the presence of height differences greater than 14 mm.
In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing a fixture that makes it possible to easily and stably lay a same threshold-covering profiled element in different situations of height differences.
The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.
In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102017000104860 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A fixture for laying a joint-covering/threshold-covering profiled element, characterized in that it comprises an insert (11) to be arranged under the profiled element (14) and which is substantially L-shaped in cross-section, with a first portion (12) arranged parallel to the flooring surface and a second portion (13) arranged substantially vertically at the side of the flooring surface.
The fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that said first portion (12) of said insert (11) has a part (18) that is shaped complementarily to a lower face of a portion of the profiled element (14).
The fixture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said complementarily-shaped part (18) of said first portion (12) presents a dovetail shape in relief.
The fixture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one height compensation block (21), to be arranged vertically below said second portion (13).
The fixture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said insert (11) has a bevel (22) at a corner of the L-shaped section.
The fixture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one adhesive layer (23) to be applied between a lower surface of said profiled element (14) and said insert (11) at said bevel (22).
The fixture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises connectors for joining two contiguous elements of said profiled elements (14).
The fixture according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises blocks for anchoring said profiled element (14).
A kit comprising the fixture according to one or more of the preceding claims, which is characterized in that it also comprises said profiled element (14), which is elongated in extension and has, in cross-section, a central portion (15), below which there are protrusions (16) that determine the presence of a dovetail-shaped cavity, and two lateral portions (17).