HRP20010145A2 - Cross-shaped connecting element for installing slab-like coverings and assembly method - Google Patents

Description

The field to which the invention relates

The invention belongs to the field of construction, namely finishing works on buildings, i.e. covering flat surfaces, especially floors, and can be classified in E 04 F 15/00 according to the International Classification of Patents.

Technical problem

In practice, it is required to install slab floor coverings so that they are well connected to each other and with minimal gaps so that together they form a high-quality flat surface. It must be able to withstand local static and dynamic loads so that there is no local lifting or lowering of one or more panels, especially in relation to neighboring panels in the opposite direction. The goal to be achieved is to obtain a flat paneled floor covering whose strength and elasticity is long-lasting, but that the paneled covering can be disassembled if desired without destroying the panels. The technical problem that needs to be solved is the construction of the connecting elements that should connect all plate elements (hereinafter referred to as plates) so that they have no remaining free edges, but that the possibility of subsequent disassembly of the plates remains for the purpose of partial plate changes or relocation. Connecting elements must be able to be installed by an average skilled person in a simple way without special tools. After installation, the connecting elements must not be visible. The base on which the panel covering is placed using such connecting elements does not have to be extremely flat and smooth, and the filling of unevennesses that create cavities between the panel floor covering and the supporting base is not the object of this invention. However, the connecting elements must ensure a good mutual connection of the plate elements even in cases of the appearance of such unevenness.

State of the art

Today's solutions for connecting slab floor elements (slabs) provide for variants with connecting elements, but also different constructions of panels that are connected to each other without connecting elements. The edges of some boards have grooves on one side and protrusions on the other, so that by pressing the edges of adjacent boards together, a joint can be achieved, e.g. with parquet slats (FR 2746127 A1) and laminate (e.g. with hollow elongated elements in EP 0783064 A ). Most of the connecting elements are designed to be placed under the intersection - the place of assembly of 4 adjacent panels. In some cases, their primary function is to level the floor covering, which consists of panel elements (e.g. FR 2761095) such as ceramic or stone floor slabs, so that there is a mechanical regulation of the height of individual connecting elements. In other cases, the connecting elements are individually permanently fixed to all 4 adjacent panels at the place of their composition (eg JP11013203) or along the entire line of composition of those panels in the case of a connecting element in the form of a strip with holes. An interesting solution for placing and connecting panels is a self-centering panel for the production of prefabricated panels with mosaic, ceramic tiles or glass for framing (eg DE3801805), in which there is a mesh grid inside the metal frame with partitions between which panels are inserted into precisely prepared cavities to arranged in this way would be connected to each other by gluing.

None of the mentioned solutions for joining the panels into a flat surface for floor covering foresees individual connecting elements that would connect the panels along all the edges with the aim of preventing any possible movement of one panel in relation to the adjacent ones. Also, many of them do not enable or provide for subsequent disassembly of the joints without damaging the edges of the plates at the joint points, the plates as a whole or the connecting elements themselves.

Presentation of the essence of the invention

For the execution of flat panel coverings, especially on the floors, the joining procedure with a simple hand tool (rubber or plastic hammer) with individual sequential placement of panels (2) which should be connected by connecting elements (1) is chosen in this invention so that a rigid end-to-end connection of the panels is achieved with the possibility subsequent disassembly if necessary.

This technical solution envisages the use of specially constructed rigid flat connecting elements in the shape of a cross, which are connected to each other according to the "tongue-and-groove" principle. The arms of such a cross must be inserted into the grooves made along the edges of the panels to be connected to each other. Each arm (1) is made in the form of a flat strip whose section thickness (a) corresponds to the width of the slot (3), and the length of the strip section (b) corresponds to half the depth (b/2) of the slot (3) in which the arms are inserted. The length of individual arms (1) of the cross connecting element corresponds to half the length (s/2) of the side of one plate, so that the groove (3) in it is completely filled when the arms (1) of two cross elements are connected. In case you need to connect square panels, it is necessary to choose a cross connection element with arms (1) of equal length. In the case of connecting rectangular panels, it is necessary to choose a cross element with corresponding arms of different lengths. The material from which the cross connecting element is made can be metal, plastic or wood, and it is recommended that it be a metal of the required strength and elasticity so that its arms can well stiffen the two panels that need to be connected. It is important to maintain the harmony of the dimensions of the arms and the grooves in the panels to achieve a solid connection during insertion, as well as for the mutual connection of the arms of the cross connecting element according to the "tongue-groove" principle.

Brief description of the drawing

Figure 1. Cross connecting element – spatial view (3D) and cross-section of the ends of the arms

Figure 2. The procedure for connecting square plates using a cross connecting element

Figure 3. Presentation of the completed connection of 4 panels and placement of the next cross connecting element

Figure 4. View of joining two arms of cross connecting elements - spatial view (3D)

Description of the method of realization of the invention

This invention can be realized in several ways, which have in common that the connecting element always has the shape of a cross whose arms (1) are flat long slats. These arms should be inserted into the grooves (3) along the edges of the panels (2) which are joined to form the floor covering.

Figure 1 shows a connecting element in the shape of a cross whose arms (1) are of equal length. This type of connecting element is intended for connecting panels in the form of a square, which is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The opposite arms of the cross connecting element have differently shaped ends: on one side there is a short tongue - "feather" (4) of reduced arm thickness (on approximately 1/3 of the thickness) shown on detail "A", and on the other side a recess - "groove" (5) which exactly corresponds to the thickness of the "feather" (d) and its length (c) as shown on detail "B".

The condition for using this invention in the form of a cross connecting element (1) is that each panel (2) to be connected to the same panel has grooves (3) in the middle of the edge on each of the 4 sides. The depth of this groove must correspond to half the width of the arm of the cross connecting element (1). One cross-connecting element should connect 4 equal plates that should be mounted one by one on the arms of the cross-connecting element.

Assembly begins (phase 1 in Figure 2) by placing the first cross connecting element (1) in the grooves on the corner of one panel (2). This can be done by lightly hitting the side of the arms of the connecting element (1) with a rubber mallet. In this way, both mutually perpendicular arms (1) of the connecting element must lie in the groove (3) all the way to the end, whereby it is fixed exactly on the corner of one plate (2), and its arms protrude from the edge of the plate up to half of its width.

The next plate should be placed next to the cross connecting element fixed in this way (phase 2 in Figure 2) and fixed in the same way so that the remaining width of one connecting arm (1) goes all the way into the groove (3) at the corner of the other plate. Both plates are now leaning against each other, and one arm of the connecting element is simultaneously in the grooves of both plates up to half of their sides, but it is not visible. The same procedure is repeated until a total of 4 panels are mounted on all 4 arms of the cross connecting element that connects them (picture 3).

In the next phase (picture 4), the second cross connecting element (1) is taken, which, according to the "tongue-groove" principle, is connected with one of its arms to the already fixed first cross element (1) on one of the 4 sides (picture 3). With this process, which is repeated as necessary until a flat covering is formed with the plates connected in this way, a network of connected cross-connecting elements is created.

Although it is not visible, 4 cross connecting elements (1) in fact cover each panel (2) along all its sides, completely filling the slots (3) in the edges of the panel. At the same time, the joint of the arms according to the "tongue-groove" principle is located exactly at half the length of the side edge of the panel. That place was chosen as the most favorable in terms of bearing the load, in contrast to the corners of the board, which were experimentally proven to represent the most unfavorable loaded place where 4 boards are assembled by their corners. That's why the rigid cross connecting element, whose strongest point is the intersection of the arms, is placed as a support exactly at that most unfavorably loaded point.

The resulting network of connected cross-connecting elements represents a structural solution that can achieve increased rigidity of the panel covering, for example on the floor. At the same time, the leveling of the joint of 4 plates is achieved with certainty. The existing unevenness of the substrate under the cladding formed in this way no longer represents a significant problem, because the cladding now behaves as a rigid unit. Its elasticity depends solely on the elasticity of the material from which the connecting elements are made, preferably metal.

Method of application of the invention

The invention discussed here can be applied without special conditions, that is, by persons of average skill with ordinary hand tools. The connecting element is suitable for placing panels equally in open and closed spaces. The base on which the panels are placed using cross connecting elements should be flat. After completing the covering of the substrate with panels, it is possible to use the paved surface immediately, because no materials that need to dry or harden are used.

Considering that the connecting elements are not visible from the upper surface of the finished covering, because they are hidden in the grooves on the edges of the panels, their aesthetic impression is not important, so they can be made of cheaper materials of any color. It is important that the arms of the cross connecting elements are undamaged and without additional protrusions, especially at the ends. This is important so that a tight connection can be achieved according to the "tongue-groove" principle and that the arms in the form of slats can have a tight fit in the grooves made in the edges of the panels.

For the reconstruction of paneled floor coverings or repairs by replacing damaged panels, it is possible to disassemble the floor covering by removing individual panels so that the joints of the legs are separated according to the "tongue-groove" principle and the panels are separated from the legs. The same connecting elements can be used to reconnect new panels to each other or new panels to old ones.

Shortening individual legs by cutting, cutting or sawing should not be a problem, and this need may arise in the case of aligning the panels at the ends of the floor covering, for example on the composition of the floor covering and walls. It is important that all the grooves on the edges of the sides of the panels are filled with the arms of the connecting element, even the shortened ones, in order to ensure the rigidity of the panels at the edges.

The durability of the connecting elements should be at least equal to the durability of the cladding panels, but it is preferable that it be longer to enable repeated use in the same or another place.

Claims (10)

1. Cross-connecting element for installing panel coverings, characterized by the fact that the cross-connecting element has the shape of a rigid flat cross, preferably made of metal, with arms (1) in the form of slats that are intended to be fixed in grooves (3) made along the sides of the panels (2 ) for covering a flat surface so that the slats completely fill all the grooves. 2. Cross-connecting element for the installation of panel coverings according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the opposite arms (1) of the cross-connecting element have differently shaped ends: on one side, a short tongue - "feather" (4) thinner than the thickness of the arm (approximately 1/3 thickness) shown on detail "A", and on the other side an equally short recess - "groove" (5) which exactly corresponds to the thickness of the "nib" (d) shown on detail "B". 3. Cross-connecting element for installing panel coverings according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each leg (1) of the cross-connecting element is made in the form of a flat flat strip whose cross-section thickness (a) corresponds to the width of the groove (3) in the panel (2) for covering a flat surface, and the length of the strip section (b) corresponds to half the depth of the groove (3) in which the arms (1) are inserted. 4. Cross-connecting element for installing panel coverings according to claims 1-3, characterized by the fact that the length of individual arms (1) of the cross-connecting element corresponds to half the length of the side (s/2) of one panel so that the groove (3) in it would be completely fulfilled when the arms (1) of the two cross elements are connected. 5. Cross-connecting element for installing panel coverings according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the cross-connecting element (1) can additionally be used as an element for conducting electricity or as a heating element for electric underfloor heating, provided that the connecting element is made of suitable conductive/resistive material. 6. The procedure for assembling cross-connecting elements for the installation of panel coverings according to requirements 1-5, characterized by the fact that two cross-connecting elements are connected by the ends of their arms (1) according to the "tongue-groove" principle, continuing one on top of the other to create a network of connecting elements that interconnects, aligns and stiffens the panels (2) for covering a flat surface. 7. The procedure for assembling cross-connecting elements for the installation of panel coverings according to requirements 1-5, indicated by the fact that the connection of two cross-connecting elements (1) to each other according to the "tongue-and-groove" principle (4) with (5) as well as the connection of each arm of the cross-connecting of the element (1) with the plate (2) in the slot (3) is performed as a solid connection with a flap, in order to achieve the strength of the connection when loaded with forces in the horizontal and vertical directions. 8. The procedure for assembling the cross connecting elements for the installation of panel coverings according to requirements 1-5, indicated by the fact that the mutual connection of the legs (1) of the cross connecting elements according to the "tongue-groove" principle must be placed exactly at half the length (s/2) of the side edge plates (2), so that the intersection of the arms, as the strongest part of the cross connecting element, is located exactly at the place of composition of 4 plates (2) in order to align them. 9. The procedure for mounting cross-connecting elements for the installation of panel coverings according to requirements 1-5, indicated by the fact that the prerequisite for the use of cross-connecting elements is that each panel (2) to be connected to the same one has grooves (3) in the middle of the edge on each of 4 sides, and the depth of this groove must correspond to half the width of the leg (b/2) of the cross connecting element (1). 10. The process of dismantling and assembling the cross-connecting elements for the installation of panel coverings according to requirements 1-5, which is performed when disassembling the panel covering for the replacement of individual panels or the reconstruction of the panel covering as a whole, indicated by the fact that the cross-connecting elements (1) can be individually removed without destroying it from the groove (3) in the plates (2) by separating the two arms connected by the "pen-groove" principle and then reuse it as the first time.