EP3741925B1 - Wooden terrace with gap sealing element and method for closing joints in wooden terraces - Google Patents

Description

According to the preamble of patent claim 1, the invention relates to a joint sealing element for laying in joints of wooden terraces and/or between wooden floorboards outdoors with ventilation. The invention further relates to a wooden terrace for outdoor use. In addition, the invention relates to a method for closing joints in wooden terraces and/or between wooden floorboards outdoors with a joint closing element mentioned at the outset.

It is currently state of the art that longitudinal and transverse joints of wooden decking boards as well as boards made of wood materials are to be open. Depending on the material and laying technique, a joint width of between 5 and 9 mm is recommended for these open joints. This open joint design is technically necessary because the material-related longitudinal and transverse expansion of the floorboards must be absorbed and ventilation of these components should also be ensured.

Furthermore, these open joints cause the moisture that accumulates on the terrace surface to drain into the subsoil. This is necessary in some applications if, for example, a vertical distance between a water-bearing level and doors must be maintained.

However, open joints have significant disadvantages. There are no restrictions on the ingress of vermin into the space below the decking against the ground. All objects smaller than the joint width fall between the floorboards in the no longer accessible subsoil under the terrace. Plant growth can protrude from the terrace subsoil through the joints onto the terrace surface. This problem is made even more difficult by the fact that these decking boards are increasingly being laid without visible screws. Although this increases the durability of the floorboards, access to the area below the floorboards is practically only possible through large-scale terrace dismantling.

the AT 5920 U2 tries to solve this problem by inserting a joint sealing profile with lateral slats and an internal cavity in the joints of wooden planks, which are brought to a maximum wood moisture content of 12 percent by artificial drying. When exposed to weather, the wood moisture content rises to 16 to 20 percent "and no longer falls below the 14% mark". Due to the moisture-related expansion of the wooden planks, the joint sealing profile pressed into the joints, resulting in a dust and water tightness of the wooden floor. The disadvantage of this, however, is that it is not possible to ventilate the wooden floor underneath and surface water cannot drain off. If there are also frequent changes between wet and dry periods, the resulting expansion and contraction of the wooden planks and the compressed joint sealing profile can cause damage to the wood.

Similar disadvantages also have a solution in the DE 17 50 008 A is revealed.

From the EP 1 083 269 A is a composed of plates terrace known, the joints between the plates are closed by joint rods. A certain degree of water permeability is achieved due to the corrugated design of the joint bars. Since the joint rods have to be held by the pedestals, laying is laborious and error-prone. In particular, this solution is not suitable for use on wooden terraces.

the KR 101 549 065 B discloses a joint closure element with a housing in which two rails are movably mounted, which are biased outwards by wave-shaped springs. This makes it possible to exert pressure in the axial direction on the adjacent planks and to close the joint almost completely. A construction that allows ventilation and water drainage cannot be realized with it.

Furthermore, the DE 199 40 837 A a laying system for slabs in which a pretension is generated between the slabs by means of wave-shaped springs. However, the springs are not used to mechanically seal the joints or to influence water drainage.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a joint closure element or a wooden terrace with such a joint closure element, so that the thermal-hygric necessity of a butt joint is taken into account and at the same time its mechanical closure is made possible. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a method for closing joints between wooden floorboards without special tools or special assembly elements, in which the above-mentioned conditions are met.

This object is achieved by a joint closure element mentioned at the outset, which according to the invention has the features of patent claim 1 .

In particular, it is provided that the joint closure element is designed as a zigzag-shaped strip section made of an elastic material, with the Joint closure element is intended to be included under prestress in the joint. So the spring effect of the joint closure element is used to keep it in the joint, even if there are fluctuations in the joint width.

It is an essential feature of the invention that the zigzag-shaped design on the one hand ensures appropriate prestressing and on the other hand leaves the joint open enough that water can drain off unhindered and ventilation is guaranteed.

The prestressing is preferably generated in that the strip section has an oversize in the non-assembled state compared to a joint width of the joints of 1.1 times to 1.9 times the joint width. The joint width mentioned here is the value that occurs with average humidity. The joint width can be significantly smaller, especially if the wood-based floorboards are very humid.

This provides a water-permeable joint sealing element to protect against small parts falling through for joints in wooden terraces and wooden floorboards outdoors. The zigzag shape results in a spring effect on longitudinal tension, so that the joint sealing element is particularly easy to insert into existing terraces and a variation in the joint width due to changes in wood moisture can be accommodated without losing the clamping effect.

In one variant of the invention, when the joint closure element is not installed, the normal distance between at least two immediately adjacent extreme deflections of the zigzag-shaped strip section in a direction normal to a longitudinal direction of the joint closure element is between 1.1 times and 1.9 -Fold the joint width of the joints.

Provision is preferably made for the joint closure element to consist of rectangular segments which are arranged essentially at right angles to the respective adjacent segments. As a result, the joint closure element is vertically prismatic when in use, leaving the maximum possible cross-section free for water drainage and ventilation.

The object of the invention is also achieved according to the invention by a wooden terrace mentioned at the outset in that joint closure elements of the type described above are provided at least partially and/or in sections in the joints.

The wooden floorboards are advantageously arranged on support beam elements, with the support beam longitudinal axes running transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the direction of a floorboard's longitudinal axis.

In a variant of the invention, the support beam elements are arranged at a support beam distance of 30 cm to 90 cm, preferably 45 cm, from one another.

1. a) Aufbringen einer Zugbelastung auf in Längsrichtung des Fugenverschlusselements einander gegenüberliegende Endabschnitte eines Bandabschnitts des Fugenverschlusselements;
2. b) Einlegen des Fugenverschlusselements in eine Fuge;
3. c) Beenden der Zugbelastung auf das Fugenverschlusselement.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a method mentioned at the outset for closing joints in wooden terraces and/or between wooden floorboards outdoors with a joint closing element of the type mentioned above by the following steps:

1. a) application of a tensile load to opposite end sections of a strip section of the joint closure element in the longitudinal direction of the joint closure element;
2. b) inserting the joint closure element into a joint;
3. c) Termination of the tensile load on the joint closure element.

As a result, the spring action of the joint closure element according to the invention can be utilized and the joint can be closed particularly quickly and reliably.

In a variant of the invention, in a step a0) carried out before step a), two or more joint closure elements are placed one inside the other in a form-fitting manner before steps a) to c) are carried out. Laying into one another in a form-fitting manner means here that the respective extreme deflections of the strip sections of the two or more joint closure elements are brought into engagement, so that the strip sections bear directly against one another. The change in length can then be achieved by exerting the tensile load on the respective end sections together. With this design variant, wider joints or joint sections can also be reliably sealed.

In a further variant, in a step a00) carried out before all other steps, the wooden terrace is erected in an outdoor area by laying wood-based material planks, with joints with a joint width of between 5 mm and 9 mm, preferably with a joint width of 7 mm, being made between adjacent wood-based material planks . It is advantageous if the wooden floorboards are laid with a wood moisture content of 14 percent to 18 percent, preferably between 16 percent and 18 percent.

This ensures a particularly simple introduction of the joint closure elements according to the invention.

Fig. 1

eine Schrägdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Fugenverschlusselements;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Fugenverschlusselement im nicht-montierten Zustand;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht aus das Fugenverschlusselement aus Fig. 2 bei Einwirken einer Zugbelastung in Längsrichtung;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Holzterrasse mit Fugenverschlusselementen; und

Fig. 5

eine Schnittansicht der Holzterrasse entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 4.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a non-restrictive exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures. Show in it:

1

an oblique view of a joint closure element according to the invention;

2

a plan view of a joint closure element according to the invention in the non-assembled state;

3

a top view of the joint closure element 2 when subjected to a tensile load in the longitudinal direction;

4

a perspective view of a wooden terrace according to the invention with joint closure elements; and

figure 5

a sectional view of the wooden deck along the line AA in 4 .

In 1 a perspective view of a joint closure element 100 according to the invention is shown. The joint closure element 100 is designed as a zigzag-shaped strip section 1, which is essentially composed of a number of rectangular segments. This is to be understood as meaning a strip section 1 with a specific material thickness, which has a sequence of extreme deflections in a direction normal to a longitudinal axis 1a of the strip section 1 or of the joint closure element 100 . The extreme deflections form the boundaries of the successive segments. In this case, immediately successive extreme deflections extend in opposite directions from the longitudinal axis 1a, such as in particular 2 and 3 can be seen. This results in the aforesaid zigzag shape—essentially, in plan view, a sequence of isosceles triangles, the tips of which point in the opposite direction of the immediately adjacent triangles. The width of the strip section 1 results essentially from the distance between immediately adjacent extreme deflections in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis 1a of the joint closure element 100.

In 2 For example, a first extreme deflection 101 and an immediately adjacent second extreme deflection 102 are provided with reference symbols: The width of the strip section 1 results from the distance between these extreme deflections 101, 102 in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis 1a of the joint closure element 100.

While the present figures show an exemplary embodiment in which the absolute value of all deflections with respect to the longitudinal axis 1a is chosen to be the same, variants are also possible in which the extreme deflections vary over the longitudinal extension of the strip section 1. The width is then defined by the largest distance between adjacent extreme deflections.

The band section 1 of the joint closure element 100 is made of an elastic material. In the present disclosure, elastic is understood to mean the property of absorbing acting tensile forces or acting pressure by deformation and resuming the original shape when the action ends. Plastics such as elastomers in particular have this property; for example, the band section 1 can be made of a thermoplastic elastomer.

The shape and material selection of the joint closure element 100 according to the invention allow its width to be varied by longitudinal stretching—similar to an accordion. If a tensile load is applied to opposite end sections 1′, 1″ of the strip section 1 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 1a, the result is an elongation with a simultaneous reduction in width.

2 shows a joint closure element 100 according to the invention in the non-assembled state, in which neither the action of a tensile nor a compressive load is present. The strip section 1 of the joint closure element 100 has a first width B1 and a first length L1. 3 Fig. 12 now shows this joint closure element 100 with an applied load - for example the first end section 1' is held and at the second end section 1" a tensile load is applied along the longitudinal axis 1a in a direction away from the second end section 1" or vice versa, or it is applied at both end sections 1' , 1" a tensile load is applied in opposite directions. Due to the zigzag shape of the strip section 1, the result is an extension to a second length L2 with a simultaneous reduction in width from the first width B1 to a narrower second width B2.

For example, in the embodiment according to 2 and 3 the second width B2 is 20 percent less than the first width B1, while the second length L2 is 30 percent greater than the first length L1. In a version with a TPO belt with an A-Shore hardness of 90, i.e. a belt made of an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer with the corresponding material hardness, the inventor's tests resulted in a reduction in width of 30 percent and an increase in length by 20 percent.

If the tensile loading of the joint closure element 100 ends, the in 2 shown starting position taken.

If, at the time the tensile load is ended, the joint closure element 100 is placed in a joint 2 that is narrower than the first width B1 but wider than the second width B2, the joint closure element 100 cannot return completely to its starting position with the first width B1, but is jammed himself in the joint 2.

The joint closure element 100 according to the invention thus enables simple, in particular also subsequent, laying in joints 2 of wooden terraces 3 and/or between wooden floorboards 4 outdoors, in that the strip section 1 is designed with an oversize compared to a joint width F0 in the non-assembled state. In particular, the oversize is 1.1 to 1.9 times the joint width F0.

It should be noted that the zigzag-shaped strip section 1 in the sense of the present invention is not just a strip made of elastic material composed of flat segments, but also an alternatively shaped strip, as long as the clamping effect is guaranteed with appropriate pretensioning as long as the sharpest possible edge is formed between the segments. This avoids surface contact between the strip and the wooden floorboards, so that no accumulations of moisture can form as a result of capillary effects.

In 4 is a wooden terrace 3, consisting of wooden floorboards 4, which are mounted on supporting beam elements 5 in the form of upholstered wood, shown, which is located outdoors, ie not carried out inside a building and is therefore exposed to the weather. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the support beam longitudinal axes 5a run normal to the direction of the floorboard longitudinal axes 4a and the support beam elements 5 are arranged at a support beam spacing S1 of 45 cm from one another.

The wooden floorboards 4 are arranged at a distance from one another, so that there are 4 joints 2 between the wooden floorboards.

The Austrian Society for Wood Research (HFA-ÖGH) recommends a joint width F0 of at least 7 mm with a wood moisture content of 16 percent to 18 percent when erecting wooden terraces 3 . Since the moisture content of the wood changes due to the weather, the wooden floorboards 4 expand or contract accordingly, so that the joint width F0 varies. Practical measurements by the inventor have shown that the joint width F0 varies in the range of about 2 mm, with an assumed joint width F0 of 7 mm during installation, i.e. between 6 mm and 8 mm, depending on the moisture content of the wood during installation and the weather, larger fluctuations are also possible. The joint closure is thus faced with great challenges, which the invention solves accordingly.

The width B1 of the strip section 1 of the joint closure element 100 in the non-assembled state is selected such that it has an excess of 1.1 times to 1.9 times the joint width F0 compared to the joint width F0. In a variant of the invention, when the joint closure element 100 is not installed, the normal distance between at least two immediately adjacent extreme deflections 101, 102 of the zigzag-shaped strip section 1 in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis 1a of the joint closure element 100 is between the 1.1 Lay up to 1.9 times the joint width F0 of joints 2. In the above-described case of an installation joint density F0 of 7 mm, a joint closure element 100 with a first width B1 of 9.5 mm is used, for example.

The width of the zigzag-shaped strip section 1 can be reduced by longitudinal traction to such an extent that it can simply be pushed into the joint 2 . The restoring force due to the elasticity of the material subsequently causes a permanent clamping in the joint 2 without the need for further mechanical fixation. Due to the fact that isosceles triangles (prisms) remain open as a continuous opening, the shape ensures that surface water can safely drain off the surface of the wooden terrace 3 into the subsoil. Since the contact with the flank - ie the side surfaces 4' delimiting the joint 2 - of the wood-based material planks 4 takes place only via individual, short lines at the tip of said isosceles triangular prisms, the formation of a capillary suction interface is prevented. This ensures that the flank zone does not take on increased wood moisture compared to the floorboard surface.

In 4 corresponding joint closure elements 100 in the form of zigzag-shaped strip sections 1 are inserted into the joints 2. The given, zigzag-shaped geometry, in conjunction with the selected, elastic material of the strip section 1 (eg thermoplastic polyolefin), causes a constant adaptation to the thermally hygric changes in the joint width F0 and thus its secure fixation. The joint closure element 100 is thus inserted into the joint 2 in such a way that the zigzag course runs in a direction parallel to the surface of the wooden terrace 3 or the wooden floorboards 4, so that the extreme deflections prevent jamming with the side surfaces 4 bordering the joint 2 ' (please refer figure 5 ) of the wooden floorboards 4 takes place.

The grid-like closure of the joint 2 eliminates the conflict of objectives between the desired security against objects falling through and their physical construction required openness. The length of the band sections 1 is selected here so that the second length L2 is greater than the support bar spacing S1 when inserted. This simplifies installation because there is a stop for the strip sections 1 when they are pushed in if the joint closure elements 100 are pushed deeper into the joints 2 . The band sections 1 can be pressed in until they are present on the support beam elements 5 .

As a result, in the event that the joint width F0 becomes larger than the first width B1 of the strip section 1 - this can be the case with extreme dryness and a corresponding decrease in wood moisture or with age-related decrease in the elasticity of the material of the strip section 1, but also due to Be due to errors when laying - ensures that the joint closure element 100 remains in the joint 2. In such a case, it can also be provided that when the joint closure elements 100 are inserted, two tape sections 1 are placed one into the other in a form-fitting manner and only then are they inserted. A shorter strip section 1 can also be inserted into a longer strip section 1 in order to bridge a locally limited excess width of the joint 2 .

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the element height H1 (ie the height of the joint closure element 100 or its strip section 1) is selected such that it is between 0.5 times and 1.0 times the plank height H0. this is in figure 5 to discern where a cut along line AA in 4 is shown: The element height is about 0.75 times the floorboard height H0 and the strip section 1 is pushed all the way down into the joint 2, so that between the top of the strip section 1 and the surface of the wooden terrace 3 or the wooden floorboards 4 distance exists.

The invention thus enables an elastic joint closure element 100 with ventilation for joints 2 of wooden terraces 3 and/or wooden floorboards 4 outdoors, with the selection of a zigzag-shaped geometry in connection with an elastic material allowing water to run off to a large extent from the terrace surface and dry it back from the underground is not affected. The formation of the flanks between the joint closure element 100 and the wooden side walls of the wooden floorboards 4 is designed in such a way that no capillary effect occurs. The purpose of the joint seal is to prevent insects from penetrating the terrace substructure and to prevent the loss of small objects through the joint. As shown in the figures, this takes place through a zigzag formation of a longitudinally and transversely elastic band section 1 made of plastic (preferably thermoplastic polyolefin). On the one hand, this enables simple insertion (reduction in width through longitudinal stretching) and the clamping effect required for fixing is achieved (oversize compared to the joint width F0). On the other hand, the grid-like design of the joint closure prevents small objects from falling through. The elastic deformability also ensures that the material-related changes in geometry of the joint 2 are accommodated.

Laying the joint closure element 100 is also easily possible. A method according to the invention for sealing joints 2 therefore comprises the following steps:
First, a tensile load is applied to at least one of two opposite end sections 1', 1" of the strip section 1 in the longitudinal direction of the joint closure element 100; preferably, such a large tensile load is applied that the first width B1 of the strip section is reduced to a second width B2 , which is smaller than the joint width F0. If the joint 2 is wider or has sections with a greater width, two or more joint closure elements 100 can also be placed one inside the other in a preceding step, or a somewhat shorter section of tape 1 for the wider area can be placed in a longer section of tape 1 to be inserted.

In a next step, the joint closure element 100 is inserted into the joint 2. It does not matter whether the wooden terrace 3 has been freshly erected and the installation joint width is available or whether the joint sealing element 100 is introduced at a later point in time when the joint width F0 has changed due to the weather. The width of the joint closure element 100 can be adjusted accordingly by varying the tensile load.

Finally, the tensile load on the joint closure element 100 is terminated. Due to the construction of an elastic material and the zigzag shape, the joint closure element 100 tries to restore its original state and to expand from the second width B2 back to the first width B1. This results in the clamping effect of the joint closure element 100 in the joint 2 and its permanent closure.

If the joints 2 are closed immediately during installation, the wooden terrace 3 is erected in an outdoor area in a previous step by laying wooden floorboards 4, with joints 2 between adjacent wooden floorboards 4 with a joint width F0 between 5 mm and 9 mm, preferably with a joint width F0 of 7 mm can be executed. In this case, wood material planks 4 with a wood moisture content of 14 percent to 18 percent are preferred laid, preferably between 16 percent and 18 percent, or it must be ensured before laying that drying is carried out if the wooden floorboards 4 are soaked through, for example due to careless storage.

Finally, the laying is carried out as described above.

Claims (13)

1. Wooden terrace (3) for outdoor use with ventilation, consisting at least of wooden material boards (4), between which gaps (2) are formed, wherein in the gaps (2) at least partially and/or in sections in each case a gap closure element (100) for laying in gaps (2) of wooden terraces (3) and/or between wooden material boards (4) in outdoor use with ventilation is accommodated under pretension, characterised in that the gap closure element leaves the gap open to such an extent that water can flow off unhindered, which gap closure element (100) is designed as a zigzag-shaped strip section (1) made of an elastic material.
2. Wooden terrace (3) according to claim 1, characterised in that the strip section (1) of the gap closure element (100) in the non-assembled state has an oversize relative to a gap width (F0) of the gaps (2) from 1.1 times to 1.9 times the gap width (F0).
3. Wooden terrace (3) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that in the non-assembled state of the gap closure element (100), the normal distance between at least two directly adjacent extreme deflections (101, 102) of the zigzag-shaped strip section (1) in a direction normal to a longitudinal axis (1a) of the gap closure element (100) is between 1.1 times and up to 1.9 times the gap width (F0) of the gaps (2).
4. Wooden terrace (3) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the gap closure element (100) consists of rectangular segments arranged substantially at right angles to respective adjacent segments.
5. Wooden terrace (3) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the gap closure element (100) consists of segments between which edges are provided in each case.
6. Wooden terrace (3) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the gaps (2) are designed with a gap width (F0) between 5 mm and 9 mm, preferably with a gap width (F0) of 7 mm.
7. Wooden terrace (3) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the wooden material boards (4) are arranged on supporting beam elements (5), wherein the supporting beam longitudinal axes (5a) extend transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the direction of a board longitudinal axis (4a).
8. Wooden terrace (3) according to claim 7, characterised in that the supporting beam elements (5) are arranged at a supporting beam spacing (S1) of 30 cm to 90 cm, preferably of about 45 cm, from each other.
9. Wooden terrace (3) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the gap closure element (100) leaves at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, of the cross-section of the gap (2) open in the installed state.
10. Method for closing gaps (2) in wooden terraces (3) and/or between wooden material boards (4) in the outdoor area with a gap closure element (100) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterised by the following steps:

    a) applying a tensile load to end sections (1', 1") of a strip section (1) of the gap closure element (100) that are opposite one another in the longitudinal direction of the gap closure element (100);

    b) inserting the gap closure element (100) into a gap (2);

    c) terminating the tensile load on the gap closure element (100).
11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that, in a step a0) carried out before step a), two or more gap closure elements (100) are placed in one another in a form-fitting manner before steps a) to c) are carried out.
12. Method according to one of the claims 10 or 11, characterised in that, in a step a00) carried out before all the other steps, the wooden terrace (3) is erected in an outdoor area by laying wooden material boards (4), wherein gaps (2) with a gap width (F0) of between 5 mm and 9 mm, preferably with a gap width (F0) of 7 mm, are made between adjacent wooden material boards (4).
13. Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the wooden material boards (4) are laid with a wood moisture content of 14 percent to 18 percent, preferably between 16 percent and 18 percent.

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