FR2821102A1 - Floor or wall covering panel has two sets of interlocking elements for adjacent panels in the form of locking couplings and hinges - Google Patents

Abstract

The panel (1) has two sets of interlocking elements on its edges to engage with adjacent panels and prevent relative movement. One set (7, 9) is in the form of lugs (7a, 7b) on one edge and matching cavities (9a, 9b) in the opposite edge, fastening together by means of studs and recesses. The other set (15, 17) is in the form of male and female hinge members (15a, 15b, 17a, 17b) on the other two edges of the panel that can be engaged only when two panels are held at an angle to one another and then laid flat to lock them. The panels are made from plastic and have ribbed under surfaces (37).

Description

<Desc / Clms Page number 1>

 The present invention relates to a tile for covering floors and / or walls, to a coating formed of such tiles, and to a method of mounting such a coating.

 There is known from the prior art a slab for covering floors and / or walls, of the type comprising first self-locking means intended to cooperate with first adjacent slabs so as to prevent movements of said slab relative to said adjacent slabs in a substantially direction parallel to said coating.

 With slabs of this type, temporary coverings can be mounted within very short periods, so that these slabs are particularly suitable for fairs, exhibitions, receptions in which the assembly / disassembly times of decoration and presentation elements are critical. .

 The first self-locking means mentioned above make it possible to obtain, with a minimum of handling, a very stable coating with respect to the stresses oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the coating.

 The problems arise when it is desired to mount such a coating on a floor or on a wall which is not strictly flat: in this case in fact, the first self-locking means mentioned above prove to be insufficient to maintain cohesion between the slabs which form the coating.

 The object of the present invention is to provide a slab which, while allowing rapid mounting of a covering by means of self-locking means, makes it possible to obtain perfectly stable covering in particular on uneven floors or walls.

 This object of the invention is achieved with a slab for covering floors and / or walls, of the type comprising first self-locking means intended to cooperate with first adjacent slabs so as to prevent movements of said slab relative to said adjacent slabs according to a direction substantially parallel to said coating, remarkable in that it further comprises second self-locking means intended for

<Desc / Clms Page number 2>

 cooperate with second adjacent slabs so as to prevent movements of said slab relative to said second adjacent slabs in a direction substantially perpendicular to said covering.

problèmes de la technique antérieure. Thanks to these characteristics, the slab according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a coating which is also stable with respect to the stresses substantially perpendicular to the coating, which makes it possible to envisage mounting such a coating in particular on a floor or on a wall. irregular without meeting the

problems of the prior art.

- le fond de chacun desdits trous borgnes est muni d'un orifice, - ladite dalle comporte, sur sa face inférieure, deux évidements s'étendant sur toute la longueur de ladite dalle, positionnés au droit desdites parties mâles et femelles, - lesdits deuxièmes moyens autobloquants comprennent des parties mâles et femelles complémentaires, conformées de manière que l'assemblage de ladite dalle avec l'une desdites deuxièmes dalles adjacentes nécessite tout d'abord de présenter ladite dalle de manière inclinée par rapport à ladite deuxième dalle adjacente, puis de rabattre ladite dalle dans le plan de ladite deuxième dalle adjacente, According to other characteristics of! a slab according to the invention: - said second self-locking means are further adapted to prevent movements of said slab relative to said second adjacent slabs in a direction substantially parallel to said covering, - said first self-locking means comprise complementary male and female parts, shaped so as to produce a dovetail-type blocking of said slab with respect to said first adjacent slabs, - the male parts of said first self-locking means comprise feet and heads, and the female parts of said first self-locking means include grooves and blind holes defining volumes respectively complementary to those of said feet and said heads,

- the bottom of each of said blind holes is provided with an orifice, - said slab has, on its underside, two recesses extending over the entire length of said slab, positioned in line with said male and female parts, - said second self-locking means comprise complementary male and female parts, shaped so that the assembly of said slab with one of said second adjacent slabs requires first of all to present said slab in an inclined manner relative to said second adjacent slab, then fold down said slab in the plane of said second adjacent slab,

<Desc / Clms Page number 3>

 - the male parts of said second self-locking means include cylindrical parts and returns, and the female parts of said second self-locking means include grooves defining volumes complementary to those of said cylindrical parts and said returns, - said slab has a generally rectangular outline, by square example, said first self-locking means are arranged on two opposite sides of said outline, and said second self-locking means are arranged on the other two opposite sides of said outline, - said slab comprises on the one hand two sets of feet and heads and two sets grooves and blind holes on said two opposite sides, and on the other hand two sets of cylindrical and return parts and two grooves on said two other opposite sides, - said slab is formed of plastic, - the underside of said slab is ribbed, - the upper side d e said slab has non-slip asperities.

 The present invention also relates to a covering of floors and / or walls, remarkable in that it is formed by an assembly of tiles in accordance with the above.

 The present invention also relates to a method for mounting a covering in accordance with the above, remarkable in that it comprises the steps consisting in: - placing a first slab flat on the ground or on a wall, - presenting a second slab inclined with respect to said slab so as to make the second self-locking means of said slabs cooperate, and to fold down said second slab in the plane of said first slab.

 The present invention also relates to a method for mounting a covering in accordance with the above, remarkable in that it comprises the steps consisting in:

<Desc / Clms Page number 4>

- fixer une première pluralité de dalles sur des premiers tasseaux de manière que les premiers moyens autobloquants de ces dalles coopèrent entre eux, - fixer une deuxième pluralité de dalles sur des deuxièmes tasseaux de manière que les premiers moyens autobloquants de ces dalles coopèrent entre eux, - placer l'ensemble formé par ladite première pluralité de dalles et par lesdits premiers tasseaux sur le sol ou sur un mur, - présenter l'ensemble formé par ladite deuxième pluralité de dalles et par lesdits deuxièmes tasseaux de manière inclinée par rapport à l'ensemble formé par ladite première pluralité de dalles et par lesdits premiers tasseaux de manière à faire coopérer les deuxièmes moyens autobloquants desdites première et deuxième pluralités de dalles, et à - rabattre l'ensemble formé par ladite deuxième pluralité de dalles et

par lesdits deuxièmes tasseaux de manière que ladite deuxième pluralité de dalles vienne se placer dans le plan de ladite première pluralité de dalles.

- fixing a first plurality of slabs on first battens so that the first self-locking means of these slabs cooperate with each other, - fixing a second plurality of slabs on second battens so that the first self-locking means of these slabs cooperate with each other, - placing the assembly formed by said first plurality of slabs and by said first battens on the ground or on a wall, - presenting the assembly formed by said second plurality of slabs and by said second battens in an inclined manner relative to the assembly formed by said first plurality of slabs and by said first cleats so as to make the second self-locking means of said first and second pluralities of slabs cooperate, and to - fold down the assembly formed by said second plurality of slabs and

by said second cleats so that said second plurality of slabs comes to be placed in the plane of said first plurality of slabs.

deuxième dalles une fois qu'elles sont assemblées, - da figure 5 est une vue en perspective de première et deuxième pluralités de dalles en cours d'assemblage, et - la figure 6 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 5 des première et deuxième pluralités de dalles une fois qu'elles sont assemblées. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the description which follows and on examining the appended drawing, in which: FIG. 1 is a top view of a slab according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a side view along arrow II of Figure 1 of said slab, - Figure 3 is a side view similar to that of Figure 2 of the first and second slabs being assembled, - the Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 of the first and

second slabs once they are assembled, - in Figure 5 is a perspective view of first and second pluralities of slabs being assembled, and - Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 of the first and second pluralities of slabs once they are assembled.

 In these figures, identical references designate identical or similar members or sets of members.

<Desc / Clms Page number 5>

 Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, on which we see that the slab 1 according to the invention may have a substantially rectangular outline, for example square, having on two opposite sides 3.5 of the first self-locking means 7, 9 and on the other two opposite sides 11,13 of the second self-locking means 15,17.

 By self-locking means that the means in question are sufficient in themselves to achieve the blocking concerned, that is to say that it is not necessary to have recourse to additional fixing means.

 The first self-locking means 7, 9 preferably comprise complementary male parts 7a, 7b and female parts 9a, 9b, shaped so as to block the dovetail type of the slab 1 relative to the adjacent slabs.

 As is particularly visible in FIG. 1, the male parts 7a, 7b preferably comprise feet 19a, 19b surmounted by heads 21 a, 21 b in the form of pellets, and the female parts 9a, 9b preferably comprise grooves 23a , 23b and blind holes 25a, 25b defining volumes respectively complementary to those of the legs 19a, 19b and the heads 21a, 21b.

 Preferably, the bottom of each of the blind holes 25a, 25b is provided with an orifice 27a, 27b.

 As is particularly visible in FIG. 2, the second self-locking means 15, 17 preferably comprise complementary male parts 15a, 15b and female parts 17a, 17b, shaped so that the assembly of the slab 1 with an adjacent slab requires all first to present the slab 1 in an inclined manner with respect to the adjacent slab, then to fold the slab 1 into the plane of the adjacent slab.

 This result can be obtained for example with male parts 15a, 15b having cylindrical parts 33a, 33b and returns 34a, 34b, and with female parts 17a, 17b comprising grooves 35a, 35b defining volumes complementary to those of the parts cylindrical 33a, 33b and returns 34a, 34b.

<Desc / Clms Page number 6>

Preferably, ja alle 1 has, on its underside, two recesses 36a, 36b extending over the entire length of the slab, positioned in line with the male parts 7a, 7b and females 9a, 9b.

 The slab 1 can be formed by molding a plastic material. In this case, its lower face (that is to say its face intended to be facing the ground) may have ribs 37 (see FIG. 1).

 Preferably, the upper face of the slab 1 has a non-slip texture, obtained for example with roughness 39.

 For example, the sides of slab 1 can measure approximately 50 cm.

 The advantages of slab 1 and its mode of use for the production of a covering of floors and / or walls result directly from the above description.

 According to a first possible mounting variant (not shown), the tiles 1 can be assembled directly on the floor or on a wall.

 To assemble the slabs 1 in the direction Y of FIG. 1, the mat parts 7a, 7b are simply fitted into the female parts 9a, 9b of each slab.

 This interlocking makes it possible to immobilize the slabs 1 relative to each other in the direction Y on the one hand and in the perpendicular direction X on the other hand (see FIG. 1), that is to say ultimately according to n any direction substantially parallel to the coating.

 As can be seen in FIG. 3, to assemble the tiles 1 in the direction X, each tile 1a is presented in an inclined manner with respect to a tile 1b already in place, in order to bring the cylindrical parts 33a, 33b of the male parts 15a, 15b inside the grooves 35a, 35b of the female parts 17a, 17b.

 The slab 1a is then folded back into the plane of the slab 1b (see FIG. 4), which has the effect of bringing the returns 34a, 34b of the slab 1a under the female parts 17a, 17b of the slab 1b.

<Desc / Clms Page number 7>

In this way, an interlocking is obtained which makes it possible to block the slabs with respect to each other in the direction Z perpendicular to the covering.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 and 6, on which another variant of the assembly of the tiles according to the invention has been shown.

According to this other variant, one begins by fixing slabs 1 a, 1 b, 1 c on the one hand and 1d, 1e, 1f on the other hand in strips respectively on pairs of battens 41a, 41b on the one hand and 41 c, 41 d on the other hand.

These cleats are positioned so that they fit into the recesses 36a, 36b (see Figure 1).

In the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each strip comprises three slabs, but it goes without saying that more or less long strips can be produced by fixing more or less slabs.

The slabs 1a to 1f are fixed on the cleats 41a to 41d in the direction Y, that is to say so that the first self-locking means 7, 9 of these slabs cooperate with each other.

The fixing of the tiles 1 a to 1 f on the battens 41a to 41d is carried out by placing fixing means such as screws through the orifices 27a, 27b (see FIG. 1) formed in the bottom of each blind hole 25a, 25b .

Once the slabs 1a to 1f have been fixed on the cleats 41a to 41d, the assembly formed is assembled by the three slabs 1 a to 1 c and by the pair of cleats 41a, 41b on the formed assembly. by the three slabs 1d to 1f and by the pair of cleats 41c, 41d by proceeding as indicated in the first mounting variant, that is to say first by making the second self-locking means of the slabs 1a to 1c cooperate with those of the tiles 1d to 1f, then folding tiles 1a to 1c in the plane of tiles 1 d 1f.

This second variant makes it possible to accelerate the rates of assembly and disassembly of coverings formed from slabs according to the invention, since these slabs are partly pre-assembled.

Of course, in order to disassemble a coating put in place according to one or other of the variants described above, one proceeds in the reverse order to the operations which have been described.

<Desc / Clms Page number 8>

 As can be understood in the light of the above, the slab according to the invention makes it possible both to quickly mount / dismount a covering of floors and / or walls, and to obtain a blocking in the three directions of the 'space, which allows to consider mounting such a coating including a floor or an irregular wall without encountering the problems associated with the prior art.

 It will also be noted that the second self-locking means 15, 17 contribute to blocking the slabs in the directions X and Y (see FIG. 1), which makes it possible to strengthen the cohesion of the coating.

 The fact of making plastic slabs makes it possible to meet the standards relating in particular to temporary coatings (hygiene, safety in the event of fire, etc.).

 When these slabs are made of plastic, the ribs 37 make it possible, with relatively little material, to obtain a very solid slab.

 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, provided by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example.

 Thus, for example, the first 7.9 and second 15.17 self-locking means could have all other forms than those described above, provided that they fulfill blocking functions similar to those which have been described.

 This is also how the slab 1 could have any shape other than the rectangular shape. For example, a hexagonal shape (tomette) could be quite suitable.

Claims (18)

 1. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) for covering floors and / or walls, of the type comprising first self-locking means (7, 9) intended to cooperate with first adjacent slabs so as to prevent

 movements of said slab (1, 1a to 1f) with respect to said adjacent slabs in a direction substantially parallel to said covering, characterized in that it further comprises second self-locking means (15, 17) intended to cooperate with second adjacent slabs so as to prevent movements of iadite da)! e (1, 1a to 1f) with respect to said second adjacent tiles in a direction substantially perpendicular to said covering.  2. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second self-locking means (15,17) are further adapted to prevent movements of said slab (1, 1a to 1f) relative to said second adjacent tiles in a direction substantially parallel to said covering.  3. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said first self-locking means (7,9) comprise complementary male (7a, 7b) and female (9a, 9b) parts , shaped so as to produce a blocking of the dovetail type of said slab (1, 1a to 1f) relative to said first adjacent slabs.  4. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to claim 3, characterized in that the male parts (7a, 7b) of said first self-locking means (7,9) comprise feet (19a, 19b) and heads (21a, 21b), and in that the female parts (9a, 9b) of said first self-locking means (7, 9) comprise grooves (23a, 23b) and blind holes (25a, 25b) defining volumes complementary respectively to those of said feet (19a, 19b) and said heads (21a, 21b).  5. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to claim 4, characterized in that the bottom of each of said blind holes (25a, 25b) is provided with an orifice (27a, 27b). <Desc / Clms Page number 10>

6. Slab (1, 1a to 1 f) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises, on its underside, two recesses (36a, 36b) extending over the entire length of said slab (1, 1a to 1f), positioned in line with said male (7a, 7b) and female (9a, 9b) parts.  7. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second self-locking means (15, 17) comprise complementary male (15a, 15b) and female (17a, 17b) parts, shaped so that the assembly of said slab (1, 1a to 1f) with one of said second adjacent slabs requires first of all to present said slab (1, 1a to 1f) in an inclined manner relative to said second slab adjacent, then to fold said slab (1, 1a to 1f) in the plane of said second adjacent slab.

8. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to claim 7, characterized in that the male parts (15a, 15b) of said second self-locking means (15,17) comprise cylindrical parts (33a, 33b) and returns (34a , 34b), and in that the female parts (17a, 17b) of said second self-locking means (15, 17) include grooves (35a, 35b) defining volumes complementary to those of said cylindrical parts (33a, 33b) and of said returns (34a, 34b).  9. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a generally rectangular outline, for example square, in that said first self-locking means (7, 9) are arranged on two opposite sides (3,5) of said outline, and in that said second self-locking means (15,17) are arranged on the other two opposite sides (11,13) of said outline.  10. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to claim 9 when it depends on claims 4 and 8, characterized in that it comprises on the one hand two sets of feet (19a, 19b) and heads (21a , 21 b) and two sets of grooves (23a, 23b) and blind holes (25a, 25b) on said two opposite sides (3,5), and on the other hand two sets of cylindrical parts (33a,

 33b) and returns (34a, 34b) and two grooves (35a, 35b) on said two other opposite sides (11, 13). <Desc / Clms Page number 11>

11. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed of plastic.  12. Slab (1, 1a to 1f) according to claim 11, characterized in that its lower face is ribbed (37).  13. Slab (1, 1 a to 10 according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its upper face has non-slip asperities (39).  14. Coating, characterized in that it is formed by an assembly of tiles (1a to 1f) according to any one of the preceding claims.  15. Coating according to claim 14 when it depends on claims 5 and 6, characterized in that it comprises cleats (41 a to

 41 d) resting on the ground or on a wall and embedded in said recesses (36a, 36b) and in that said slabs (1a to 1f) are fixed to said battens (41 a to 41 d) with fixing means passing through said orifices (27a, 27b). 16. A method of mounting a covering according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises at least the steps consisting in: - placing a first slab (1b) flat on the ground or on a wall, - presenting a second slab (1a) inclined relative to said slab (1b) so as to make the second self-locking means (15,17) of said slabs cooperate, and to - fold down said second slab (1a) in the plane of said first slab (1b).  17. The method of claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises the step of presenting at least a third slab so as to cooperate its first self-locking means (7,9) with those of one of said first (1b) or second (the) tiles.  18. A method of mounting a covering according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in: <Desc / Clms Page number 12>  1c) and by said second battens (41a, 41b) so that said second plurality of tiles (1a to 1c) comes to be placed in the plane of said first plurality of tiles (1d to 1f).

 - fixing a first plurality of slabs (1d to 1f) on first battens (41c, 41d) so that the first self-locking means (7, 9) of these slabs cooperate with each other, - fixing a second plurality of slabs (1a to 1c) on second battens (41 a, 41 b) so that the first self-locking means (7, 9) of these slabs cooperate with each other, - place the assembly formed by said first plurality of slabs (1d to 1f) and by said first battens (41 c, 41 d) on the ground or on a wall, - presenting the assembly formed by said second plurality of slabs (1a to 1c) and by said second battens (41a, 41b) in an inclined manner by relative to the assembly formed by said first plurality of slabs (1d to 1f) and by said first cleats (41c, 41d) so as to make the second self-locking means (15,17) of said first (1d to 1f) and second co-operate (1 to 1c) pluralities of slabs, and to - fold down the assembly formed by ladi te second plurality of tiles (1a to