EP4782595A1

EP4782595A1 - Modular floor covering

Info

Publication number: EP4782595A1
Application number: EP26153678.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernardo FABBRICATORE
Original assignee: Efesto Production Srl
Current assignee: Efesto Production Srl
Priority date: 2025-01-24
Filing date: 2026-01-23
Publication date: 2026-07-29

Abstract

Modular floor covering (100) comprising a plurality of panels (1, 2, 3) that can be placed side by side, in the longitudinal direction (y) and transverse direction (x), first joining means (10) for adjacent panels (1, 2) in the transverse direction (x) and second joining means (20) for adjacent panels (1, 3) in the longitudinal direction (y).

The first joining means (10) comprise a first profile (4) associable along the longitudinal direction (y) with a first panel (1) via first fastening means (101), a second profile (5) associable along the longitudinal direction (y) with a second panel (2), adjacent to the first along said transverse direction (x), via second fastening means (102). The second joining means (20) comprise a first interface element (6) stably associable with the first panel (1) along the transverse direction, a third profile (7) associable along the transverse direction with the first interface element (6) via third fastening means (103), a second interface element (8) stably associable along the transverse direction with a third panel (3), adjacent to the first along the longitudinal direction, a fourth profile (9) associable along the transverse direction with the second interface element (8) via fourth fastening means (104).

Said first (4) and second (5) and said third (7) and fourth (9) profile are adapted to be overlaid on each other and retained via screw means (15). Said first (101), second (102), third (103) and fourth (104) fastening means are of the type with male-female coupling to provide a hinge constraint, and to allow reciprocal rotation between panels (1, 2) and profiles (4, 5) and between interface elements (6, 8) and profiles (7, 9).

Description

Technical field of application

The invention concerns the sector of floor and wall coverings and, specifically, a metal modular floor covering designed to be arranged on the ground, in order to distribute loads over large surfaces while protecting the ground below.

Prior art

According to the known technique, modular floor coverings generally comprise:

a plurality of panels having quadrangular shape, adapted to be arranged in rows and columns, namely beside one another both in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, to provide said floor covering;
joining means for adjacent panels along said longitudinal direction;
joining means for adjacent panels along said transverse direction.

From the document WO2005/059254 A1 a modular paving device is known where the paving elements comprise along a first longitudinal edge thereof a male connector and along a second longitudinal edge thereof a female connector. When two paving elements are placed side by side in a transverse direction, the male connector of a first paving element cooperates with the corresponding female connector of a second paving element thus coupling the two paving elements. Said male-female connectors provide said joining means in a transverse direction.
Said male-female connectors provide a tongue and groove coupling, thus contrasting not only transverse separation between adjacent panels but also possible reciprocal rotations between the paving elements.
The joining means in the longitudinal direction comprise a first profile piece and a second profile piece adapted to be fastened by screws to a first and to a second transverse edge respectively of each paving element. Said first and second profile pieces each comprise a hook, where said hooks are respectively oriented upwards and downwards. By placing two paving elements side by side in a longitudinal direction, the hook facing upwards of the first profile piece of a first paving element cooperates with the corresponding hook facing downwards of the second profile piece of a second paving element, thus longitudinally coupling the two paving elements. Said hooks provide said joining means in a longitudinal direction.
Said hooks provide a tongue and groove coupling, thus contrasting not only longitudinal separation between adjacent paving elements but also possible reciprocal rotations of the paving elements.
Furthermore, said first and second profile piece, when coupled to each other, provide a seat in which a plate can be inserted transversely which further blocks the reciprocal rotation between the paving elements.
From the document EP 1 950 349 A2 a modular floor covering is known where the joining means between adjacent panels along a transverse direction comprise profiles which are associated with the panels via shape coupling means (claw with C-shaped section and double hook), and which are then fastened to one another via screw means.
Furthermore, said first and second profiles when coupled to each other provide at the ends a seat in which a connection plate can be partially inserted longitudinally for connection to a further pair of panels adjacent in a longitudinal direction.
Also in this case, the claw coupling with double hook and the plate connector prevent even minimum reciprocal rotation between the panels, providing an interlocking constraint.
Disadvantageously, all the modular floor coverings are rigid, and not able to adapt to the line of the terrain, which can be uneven, on which they are installed.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a modular floor covering which is stable and which prevents the panels from sliding out and moving away from one another, but which at the same time allows reciprocal rotation, thus adapting to the line of the terrain, which is often uneven.
A further object of the invention is to provide a modular floor covering which is simple and inexpensive to produce, easy to install and maintain, extremely versatile, stable, long-lasting and resistant.
The objects are achieved by a modular floor covering designed to be arranged on the ground and comprising:

a plurality of panels having quadrangular shape, adapted to be arranged beside one another in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction, to provide said floor covering;
first joining means for adjacent panels along said transverse direction;
second joining means for adjacent panels along said longitudinal direction,

where said first joining means comprise:
- a first profile associable along said longitudinal direction with a first panel via first fastening means;
- a second profile associable along said longitudinal direction with a second panel, adjacent to the first along said transverse direction, via second fastening means;
and where said first and second profiles are adapted to be overlaid on each other and retained in a stable but reversible manner via screw means,

a first interface element adapted to be stably associated with said first panel along said transverse direction;
a third profile associable along said transverse direction with said first interface element via third fastening means;
a second interface element adapted to be stably associated along said transverse direction with a third panel, adjacent to the first along said longitudinal direction;
a fourth profile associable along said transverse direction with said second interface element via fourth fastening means,

According to a first aspect of the invention:

said first profile comprises a female linear connector comprising a concavity and said first panel comprises a male linear connector comprising a complementary convexity, where said connectors are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said first hinge-type fastening means;
said second profile comprises a male linear connector comprising a convexity and said second panel comprises a female linear connector comprising a complementary concavity, where said connectors are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said second hinge-type fastening means.

Advantageously, said male linear connector of said first panel and said female linear connector of said second panel are directly obtained from the respective panels.
According to a further aspect of the invention:

said third profile comprises a female linear connector comprising a concavity and said first interface element comprises a male linear connector comprising a complementary convexity, where said connectors are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said third hinge-type fastening means;
said fourth profile comprises a male linear connector comprising a convexity and said second interface element comprises a female linear connector comprising a complementary concavity, where said connectors are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said fourth hinge-type fastening means.

In a preferred variation, said first interface element and said second interface element comprise brackets adapted to be housed in longitudinal cavities of said first and third panel.
In particular, said brackets are C-shaped and, when inserted in the longitudinal cavities of said first and third panel, are in contact with respective upper and lower walls.
Furthermore, said flooring comprises rivets for fastening said brackets to the upper and lower walls of said first and third panel.
In a possible embodiment:

said first and third profile comprise slots;
said second and fourth profile comprise threaded holes,

where said slots are adapted to overlay said threaded holes when said first and third profile are respectively coupled to said second and fourth profile,
and where said screw means are adapted to cooperate with said threaded holes, simultaneously also engaging said slots, to stably retain said profiles.

Preferably, said slots and said threaded holes are arranged at the ends of said profiles.
Advantageously, said slots are obtained inside cavities provided on said first and third profile.
In a possible embodiment of the invention, said panels comprise longitudinal slats, where each slat comprises a male linear connector and a female linear connector arranged on opposite sides, so that the male linear connector of a slat cooperates with the female linear connector of the adjacent slat to provide one of said panels, and where the male linear connector of an end slat and the female linear connector of the slat at the opposite end provide, partly, said first and second hinge-type fastening means.
In particular, said first and second interface element and said third and fourth profile have length equal to the width of said slats.
A modular floor covering according to the invention has an important advantage: the panels are connected to one another, in both longitudinal and transverse direction, via hinge-type fastening means which allow reciprocal rotation between the panels so as to render said flooring adaptable to the line of the terrain below in the two longitudinal and transverse directions.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more evident from the more detailed description given below with the aid of the figures, which show some preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 shows, in cross section along a vertical plane, a panel of a modular floor covering according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows, in cross section along a vertical plane, a slat that composes the panel of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows, in cross section along a vertical plane, the assembly diagram of two adjacent slats of the same panel;
Figures 4a and 4b show, in cross section along a vertical plane, two end details of the panel of Figure 1;
Figure 5 shows, in cross section along a vertical plane, a modular floor covering according to the invention;
Figure 6 shows, in cross section along a vertical plane, a detail of Figure 5;
Figures 7a, 7b, 7c show, in partial axonometric views, three assembly phases of the flooring of Figure 5;
Figures 8 and 9 show, in assembled and partially exploded axonometric views respectively, a modular floor covering according to the invention;
Figure 10 shows, in a partial axonometric view, an assembly phase of the flooring of Figure 8;
Figure 11 shows, in a partially exploded axonometric view, a detail of the modular floor covering according to the invention.

Detailed disclosure of the invention

With reference to the Figures, a modular floor covering 100 is illustrated designed to cover the ground, guaranteeing, in the presence of high loads, a redistribution of said loads over a larger surface, protecting the soil below.
Said modular floor covering 100 comprising:

a plurality of panels 1, 2,3 having a quadrangular shape, designed to be arranged beside one another in a longitudinal direction y and in a transverse direction x, to provide said floor covering 100;
first joining means 10 for adjacent panels 1, 2 along said transverse direction x;
second joining means 20 for adjacent panels along said longitudinal direction y.

The single panel illustrated has a floor plan dimension of 300x215cm and a thickness of approximately 3 cm; obviously said dimensions are only illustrative and the possibility of producing panels having different dimensions is not ruled out.
By combining the assembly of panels 1, 2, 3 in the transverse direction x and longitudinal direction y it is possible to define a floor covering 100 having variable shape and dimensions as multiples of the base panel.
Said panel 1, 2, 3 consists of a plurality of longitudinal slats, obtained from extruded aluminium alloy profiles (Fig. 1). In detail, each panel is composed of five slats having width of 41 cm.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, each slat d comprises a male linear connector and a female linear connector arranged on opposite sides, so that the male connector of a slat d cooperates longitudinally with the female connector of the adjacent slat d to provide one of said panels.
Said male-female connectors between slats d provide a hinge-type coupling: said coupling allows a slight rotation between the slats such as to allow them to adapt to the unevenness in the ground on which the floor covering rests.
With reference to detail Figures 4a and 4b, the panel 1 is completed, longitudinally, by a first 4 and a second 5 profile, having the same length as the slats d. Said profiles 4, 5 couple with the end slats of the panel 1 via the same male-female system described above, and more specifically detailed below.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate two adjacent panels 1, 2 along said transverse direction x connected via said first joining means 10.
Said first joining means 10 comprise:

a first profile 4 associated along said longitudinal direction with a first panel 1 via first fastening means 101;
a second profile 5 associated along said longitudinal direction with a second panel 2, adjacent to the first along said transverse direction x, via second fastening means 102,

Said first 4 and second 5 profile have a section sized so that they overlay each other. In this way it is possible to place side by side and subsequently connect several panels to one another in the transverse direction x.
Said first 101 and second 102 fastening means are of the male-female coupling type to create a hinge constraint and to allow reciprocal rotation between panels 1, 2 and profiles 4, 5, so as to render said floor covering 100 adaptable to the line of the terrain below in the transverse direction x.
Said first profile 4 comprises a female linear connector 41 comprising a concavity and said first panel 1 comprises a male linear connector 11 comprising a complementary convexity, where said connectors 41, 11 are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said first hinge-type fastening means 101.
Said second profile 5 comprises a male linear connector 51 comprising a convexity and said second panel 2 comprises a female linear connector 21 comprising a complementary concavity, where said connectors 51, 21 are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said second hinge-type fastening means 102.
Said male linear connector 11 of said first panel 1 and said female linear connector 21 of said second panel 2 are directly obtained from the respective panels 1, 2. More specifically, the male linear connector of an end slat d of the first panel 1 and the female linear connector of an end slat d of the second panel 2 provide, partly, said first 101 and second 102 hinge-type fastening means between panels 1, 2 and profiles 4, 5.
With particular reference to the assembly diagram of Figures 7a, 7b and 7c, the connection between adjacent panels 1, 2 in the transverse direction x occurs at said profiles 4, 5 via rigid connection provided by screw means 15.
In detail:

said first profile 4, namely the upper profile, has through slots 43, at the two ends, inside a cavity 44;
said second profile 5, namely the lower profile, has threaded holes 53 at the two ends.

Said slots 43 are adapted to overlay said threaded holes 53 when said first profile 4 is coupled with and overlaid on said second profile 5; said screw means 15 are adapted to cooperate with said threaded holes 53, simultaneously also engaging said slots 43, to stably retain said profiles 4, 5.
The slots 43 allow fastening of the panels 1, 2 to each other also in the presence of a non-perfect transverse coupling. The cavities 44 on the first upper profile 4 result in the head of the screws 15 being slightly below the walking surface of the floor covering 100.
With said first joining means 10 described above it is possible to assemble an indefinite number of adjacent panels in the transverse direction x.
Analogously to the joining of adjacent panels in the transverse direction x, each panel 1, 2, 3 is provided with its own joining means for joining to adjacent panels in the longitudinal direction y, namely the second joining means 20 of the floor covering 100.
With particular reference to Figures 8, 9 (exploded) and 10, said second joining means 20 between two adjacent panels 1, 3 in the longitudinal direction y are illustrated.
Said second joining means 20 comprise:

a first interface element 6 adapted to be stably associated with said first panel 1 along said transverse direction x;
a third profile 7 associable along said transverse direction x with said first interface element 6 via third fastening means 103;
a second interface element 8 adapted to be stably associated along said transverse direction x with a third panel 3, adjacent to the first 1 along said longitudinal direction y;
a fourth profile 9 associable along said transverse direction x with said second interface element 8 via fourth fastening means 104.

Said third 7 and fourth 9 profiles are adapted to be overlaid on each other and stably but reversibly retained via screw means 15, while said third 103 and fourth 104 fastening means are of the male-female coupling type to create a hinge constraint and to allow reciprocal rotation between interface elements 6, 8 and profiles 7, 9 (and therefore between the panels 1, 3), so as to render said floor covering 100 adaptable to the line of the terrain below also in the longitudinal direction y.
Said third profile 7 comprises a female linear connector 71 comprising a concavity and said first interface element 6 comprises a male linear connector 61 comprising a complementary convexity, where said connectors 71, 61 are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said third hinge-type fastening means 103.
Said fourth profile 9 comprises a male linear connector 91 comprising a convexity and said second interface element 8 comprises a female linear connector 81 comprising a complementary concavity, where said connectors 91, 81 are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said fourth hinge-type fastening means 104.
Said first interface element 6 and said second interface element 8 comprise brackets 62, 82 adapted to be housed in longitudinal cavities c of said first 1 and third 3 panel. Said longitudinal cavities c are defined by the ribs n of the slats d which provide each panel 1, 2, 3.
Said brackets 62, 82 are C-shaped and, when inserted in the longitudinal cavities c of said first 1 and third 3 panel, are in contact with respective upper and lower walls.
Said interface elements 6, 8 are fixed to the respective panels 1, 3 via rivets 16 which fix said brackets 62, 82 to the upper and lower walls of the panels 1, 3.
The length of said interface elements 6, 8 and said profiles 7, 9 is equal to the width of a slat d.
With reference to Figure 10, and similarly to the stable but reversible fastening between the first 4 and the second 5 profile, also the connection between said third 7 and fourth 9 profile is via rigid connection provided by screw means 15.
In detail:

said third profile 7 comprises through slots 73 at the two ends, inside a cavity 74;
said fourth profile 9 comprises threaded holes 93 at the two ends.

Said slots 73 are adapted to overlay said threaded holes 93 when said third profile 7 is coupled with said fourth profile 9, and said screw means 15 are adapted to cooperate with said threaded holes 93, simultaneously engaging also said slots 73, to stably retain said profiles 7, 9.
Lastly, to complete the floor covering 100 and according to the known art, ramp-type end closing elements 17, 18 are provided which, mounted alternatively on the profiles 4, 7, and 5, 9, whether arranged in the longitudinal direction y or transverse direction x, allow access to the floor covering free from steps and barriers.
Each end closing element 17, 18 is fixed to the respective profile 4, 7, and 5, 9 in a stable but reversible manner via screw means 15.

Claims

Modular floor covering (100) designed to be arranged on the ground and comprising:
- a plurality of panels (1, 2, 3) having quadrangular shape, adapted to be arranged beside one another in a longitudinal direction (y) and in a transverse direction (x), to provide said floor covering (100);

- first joining means (10) for adjacent panels (1, 2) along said transverse direction (x);

- second joining means (20) for adjacent panels (1, 3) along said longitudinal direction (y),

where said first joining means (10) comprise:
- a first profile (4) associable along said longitudinal direction (y) with a first panel (1) via first fastening means (101);

- a second profile (5) associable along said longitudinal direction (y) with a second panel (2), adjacent to the first along said transverse direction (x), via second fastening means (102),

and where said first (4) and second (5) profile are adapted to be overlaid on each other and retained in a stable but reversible manner by screw means,

characterized in that said second joining means (20) comprise:
- a first interface element (6) adapted to be stably associated with said first panel (1) along said transverse direction (x);

- a third profile (7) associable along said transverse direction (x) with said first interface element (6) via third fastening means (103);

- a second interface element (8) adapted to be stably associated along said transverse direction (x) with a third panel (3), adjacent to the first along said longitudinal direction (y);

- a fourth profile (9) associable along said transverse direction (x) with said second interface element (8) via fourth fastening means (104),

where said third (7) and fourth (9) profile are adapted to be overlaid on each other and retained in a stable but reversible manner via screw means (15),

and where said first (101), second (102), third (103) and fourth (104) fastening means are of the type with male-female coupling to provide a hinge constraint, and to allow respective reciprocal rotation between panels (1, 2) and profiles (4, 5) and between interface elements (6, 8) and profiles (7, 9), so as to render said floor covering (100) adaptable to the line of the ground below in the two longitudinal (y) and transverse (x) directions.
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that:
- said first profile (4) comprises a female linear connector (41) comprising a concavity and said first panel (1) comprises a male linear connector (11) comprising a complementary convexity, where said connectors (41, 11) are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said first hinge-type fastening means (101);

- said second profile (5) comprises a male linear connector (51) comprising a convexity and said second panel (2) comprises a female linear connector (21) comprising a complementary concavity, where said connectors (51, 21) are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said second hinge-type fastening means (102).
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that said male linear connector (11) of said first panel (1) and said female linear connector (21) of said second panel (2) are directly obtained from the respective panels (1, 2).
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that:
- said third profile (7) comprises a female linear connector (71) comprising a concavity and said first interface element (6) comprises a male linear connector (61) comprising a complementary convexity, where said connectors (71, 61) are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said third hinge-type fastening means (103);

- said fourth profile (9) comprises a male linear connector (91) comprising a convexity and said second interface element (8) comprises a female linear connector (81) comprising a complementary concavity, where said connectors (91, 81) are adapted to cooperate with each other to provide said fourth hinge-type fastening means (104).
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that said first interface element (6) and said second interface element (8) comprise brackets (62, 82) adapted to be housed in longitudinal cavities (c) of said first (1) and third (3) panel.
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that said brackets (62, 82) are C-shaped and, when inserted in the longitudinal cavities (c) of said first (1) and third (3) panel, are in contact with respective upper and lower walls.
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises rivets (16) for fixing said brackets (62, 82) to the upper and lower walls of said first (1) and third (3) panel.
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that:
- said first (4) and third (7) profile comprise slots (43, 73);

- said second (5) and fourth (9) profile comprise threaded holes (53, 93),

where said slots (43, 73) are adapted to overlay said threaded holes (53, 93) when said first (4) and third (7) profile are coupled respectively with said second (5) and fourth (9) profile,

and where said screw means (15) are adapted to cooperate with said threaded holes (53, 93), simultaneously also engaging said slots (43, 73), to stably retain said profiles (4, 5, 7, 9).
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that said slots (43, 73) and said threaded holes (53, 93) are arranged at the ends of said profiles (4, 5, 7, 9).
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that said slots (43, 73) are obtained inside cavities (44, 74) provided on said first (4) and third (7) profile.
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said panels (1, 2, 3) comprise longitudinal slats (d), where each slat (d) comprises a male linear connector and a female linear connector arranged on opposite sides, so that the male linear connector of a slat (d) cooperates with the female linear connector of the adjacent slat to provide one of said panels (1, 2, 3), and where the male linear connector of an end slat and the female linear connector of the slat at the opposite end provide, partly, said first (101) and second (102) hinge-type fastening means.
The modular floor covering (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that said first (6) and second (8) interface element and said third (7) and fourth (9) profile have a length equal to the width of said slats (d).