GB1565251A - Prefabricated element for forming continuois floors and similar coverings - Google Patents

Description

(54) PREFABRICATED ELEMENT FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS FLOORS AND SIMILAR COVERINGS (71) I, MARIA TERESA FERRER SAYOL, a Spanish citizen of Calle Doctor Gales 7, Gelida, Barcelona, Spain, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a prefabricated element or tile for forming continuous floors and similar surfaces, which can, despite its simplicity, be very strong and even waterproof.

At present it is almost impossible to obtain a surface having heat insulating and sound absorbing characteristics and which at the same time is strong, waterproof, and decorative, except by laying successive independent coverings in separate operations, by which the cost of the installation is considerably increased.

On the other hand, to obtain continuous floorings without any break of continuity is complicated and limited to certain specific materials, and this is not in accord with the requirements of the building industry.

The prefabricated element of the invention can be such as to be laid easily and can make it possible to obtain a continuous flooring having superior insulating and strength properties.

According to the invention in one aspect, there is provided a tile comprising a plurality of layers which are, in succession from the underside (which in use is to be closest to the surface on which the tile is fixed), a first layer of deformable heat insulating and sound absorbing material, a second layer of material harder and more rigid than the material of the first layer bonded to the first layer, a third layer of sheet material providing the visible face of the tile and bonded to the second layer, and a fourth layer which is a transparent waterproof varnish covering the third layer.

The third, sheet layer can be a continuous sheet or if desired be formed from a number of mutually abutting sheet pieces suitably combined to form various patterns.

The invention also provides a method of laying the tiles described above, which method includes the steps of applying adhesive to the surface to which the tiles are to be applied and/or the underside of the tiles; applying the elements to the surface in abutting relationship with the first layer lowermost; and applying to the upper surface of the tiles a coating of varnish which is such as to merge with the fourth layer of the tiles, whereby a single continuous surface is produced.

The invention yet further provides a floor covering or other surface covering comprising tiles as described above laid in juxtaposition with an additional layer of varnish covering their upper surfaces so as to close the gaps between them.

A practical embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: - Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a portion of the tile embodying the invention; Figure 2 shows in perspective a portion of the tiles partly assembled but with the pieces of sheet material separated; and Figure 3 is a view in perspective of a portion of the completed element.

The prefabricated tile for the formation of continuous floors and similar surfaces illustrated in the drawing consists of a layer 1 of easily deformable material, for example cork, on one face of which there is adhesively bonded a second layer 2 of a harder and stronger material based on fibre or other similar material, which in turn is covered by a thin sheet layer 3, made for example of strips of wood, metal, or other suitable decorative material covered by a film 3 (not shown in Figures 1 or 2) of waterproof, abrasion resisant varnish, such as a polyurethane compound.

The sheet layer 3 may consist of various abutting pieces forming a design or pattern composition (Figures 2 and 3), or else in a single piece.

The tiles obtained are adhesively bonded to the floor or surface to be covered by means of a suitable glue or mastic. An advantage of the tiles of this invention is that the layer 1 of easily deformable material not only has heat insulating and sound absorbing properties but is also very well able to compensate for any small irregularities or imperfections in the surface which is to be covered. This is of great value, in that it makes it possible for these elements to be installed on surfaces covered with other material which may have aged or which it is simply desired to replace, without these surfaces requiring to be made level.

The elements may be supplied provided with their own covering of adhesive on the back, protected by a sheet of paper which can be peeled off when the elements are to be laid, a layer of adhesive also being applied to the floor which is to be covered in order to obtain perfect union of the covering material. Any other system of adhesive may be used, either incorporated in the element, applied to the ground, or both at the same time.

Once all the elements have been laid, the covering need have no breaks of continuity, the impression of a continuous surface being given by a final comprising a coat of varnish of identical characteristics to 4, which fills any gaps between the elements, imparting to them complete continuity. This varnish may be such that the layer of varnish on the element merges with the subsequently applied coat of varnish applied to the whole surface, and thus the floor is covered with one continuous layer of varnish.

The floor formed has sound absorbing and heat insulating properties as well as shock properties because of the layer 1 of cork or other material having the required properties; it has considerable strength and nondeformability because of the layer 2 of firm material; it offers an attractive appearance and very extensive decorative possibilities because of the thin sheet 3 of various materials; and finally it is completely waterproof and abrasion resistant because of the varnish layer 4 and of the coat of varnish which is applied once the elements have been laid.

Despite these advantages, the cost of the element can be low, and can save a considerable amount of material and reduce to a single operation of laying of the elements, which at the present time requires a number of operations corresponding to the different types of covering which have to be applied.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A tile comprising a plurality of layers which are, in succession from the underside (which in use is to be closest to the surface on which the tile is fixed), a first layer of deformable heat insulating and sound ab sorbing material, a second layer of material harder and more rigid than the material of the first layer bonded to the first layer, a third layer of sheet material providing the visible face of the tile and bonded to the second layer, and a fourth layer which is a transparent waterproof varnish covering the third layer.

2. A tile according to claim 1 wherein the third layer comprises a plurality of mutually abutting sheet pieces.

3. A tile according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the third layer is formed of wood or metal.

4. A tile according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the second layer is formed of a fibrous material.

5. A tile according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first layer is of cork.

6. A tile according to claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

7. A method of laying tiles according to any one of the preceding claims, which method includes the steps of applying adhesive to the surface to which the tiles are to be applied and/or the underside of the tiles applying the elements to the surface in abutting relationship with the first layer lowermost; and applying to the upper surface of the tiles a coating of varnish which is such as to merge with the fourth layer of the tiles whereby a single continuous surface is produced.

8. A floor covering or other surface covering comprising a plurality of tiles according to any one of claims 1 to 6 laid in juxtaposition with an additional layer of varnish covering their upper surfaces so as to close the gaps between them.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. composition (Figures 2 and 3), or else in a single piece. The tiles obtained are adhesively bonded to the floor or surface to be covered by means of a suitable glue or mastic. An advantage of the tiles of this invention is that the layer

1 of easily deformable material not only has heat insulating and sound absorbing properties but is also very well able to compensate for any small irregularities or imperfections in the surface which is to be covered. This is of great value, in that it makes it possible for these elements to be installed on surfaces covered with other material which may have aged or which it is simply desired to replace, without these surfaces requiring to be made level.

The elements may be supplied provided with their own covering of adhesive on the back, protected by a sheet of paper which can be peeled off when the elements are to be laid, a layer of adhesive also being applied to the floor which is to be covered in order to obtain perfect union of the covering material. Any other system of adhesive may be used, either incorporated in the element, applied to the ground, or both at the same time.

Once all the elements have been laid, the covering need have no breaks of continuity, the impression of a continuous surface being given by a final comprising a coat of varnish of identical characteristics to 4, which fills any gaps between the elements, imparting to them complete continuity. This varnish may be such that the layer of varnish on the element merges with the subsequently applied coat of varnish applied to the whole surface, and thus the floor is covered with one continuous layer of varnish.

The floor formed has sound absorbing and heat insulating properties as well as shock properties because of the layer 1 of cork or other material having the required properties; it has considerable strength and nondeformability because of the layer 2 of firm material; it offers an attractive appearance and very extensive decorative possibilities because of the thin sheet 3 of various materials; and finally it is completely waterproof and abrasion resistant because of the varnish layer 4 and of the coat of varnish which is applied once the elements have been laid.

Despite these advantages, the cost of the element can be low, and can save a considerable amount of material and reduce to a single operation of laying of the elements, which at the present time requires a number of operations corresponding to the different types of covering which have to be applied.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A tile comprising a plurality of layers which are, in succession from the underside (which in use is to be closest to the surface on which the tile is fixed), a first layer of deformable heat insulating and sound ab sorbing material, a second layer of material harder and more rigid than the material of the first layer bonded to the first layer, a third layer of sheet material providing the visible face of the tile and bonded to the second layer, and a fourth layer which is a transparent waterproof varnish covering the third layer.

2. A tile according to claim 1 wherein the third layer comprises a plurality of mutually abutting sheet pieces.

3. A tile according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the third layer is formed of wood or metal.

4. A tile according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the second layer is formed of a fibrous material.

5. A tile according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first layer is of cork.

6. A tile according to claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

7. A method of laying tiles according to any one of the preceding claims, which method includes the steps of applying adhesive to the surface to which the tiles are to be applied and/or the underside of the tiles applying the elements to the surface in abutting relationship with the first layer lowermost; and applying to the upper surface of the tiles a coating of varnish which is such as to merge with the fourth layer of the tiles whereby a single continuous surface is produced.

8. A floor covering or other surface covering comprising a plurality of tiles according to any one of claims 1 to 6 laid in juxtaposition with an additional layer of varnish covering their upper surfaces so as to close the gaps between them.