WO2004090257A1

WO2004090257A1 - A ceramic element for floors and/or coverings

Info

Publication number: WO2004090257A1
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000166
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franco Gozzi
Original assignee: System S.P.A.
Priority date: 2003-04-11
Filing date: 2004-03-31
Publication date: 2004-10-21
Also published as: ITMO20030103A1; ITMO20030103A0; TWI276726B; EP1613820A1; TW200502472A

Abstract

The ceramic element comprises a top layer (2) delimited by edges which define a visible border of the element, a bottom layer (3) delimited by shaped edges (30) which define a shaped border which is formed by a plurality of projecting tabs (31) regularly alternated with recesses (32) predisposed so that each side of the element (1) can be coupled with a side or a portion of a side of a further element (1), by a snug coupling in which a single projecting tab (31) of the element is inserted snugly in a corresponding recess (32) of an adjacent element. The tab (31) is predisposed to come into contact with the recess (32) at relative sides of the elements (1). The shaped edges (30) define a border line which, for each side, is flat and comprised in a strip formed by two united border lines which strip is arranged parallel to a corresponding border (20). Geometrical tangents at any point of the sides form, with a longitudinal axis of the strip arranged parallel to the border (20), angles of 45° or less.

Description

Description A Ceramic Element for Floors and/or Coverings

Technical Field

The invention relates to a ceramic element for floors and/or coverings. Specifically, though not exclusively, the element is usefully applied in the field of laying floors or coverings made of large-size and slim slabs. Background Art With this type of slab, large but slim, with a thin depth in comparison to the other dimensions thereof, there is a certain degree of flexional elastic deformability, and laying is not easy due to difficulties in levelling. Also, the reciprocal nearing of the slabs for composition of any decorations present requires a certain ability and special attention on the part of the layer. In the field of wooden floors the prior art teaches elements, generally small blocks, the sides of which exhibit projecting parts in the form of tabs, regularly alternated with recessed parts which are predisposed so that at the sides the

1 elements can be coupled with the tabs inserting and jointing into the corresponding recessed parts. A similar type of element for wooden floors is described in document US 4090338.

This kind of element, however, is not usable if made of materials which do not possess the characteristic of elastic deformability which is typical of wood, the elastic deformability making possible the necessary adjustments during mounting. An aim of the present invention is to obviate the limitations and drawbacks in the prior art.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a ceramic element for floors and/or coverings which is characterised in that it has large dimensions with respect to its depth, and which can be laid very easily and precisely without requiring any special ability on the part of the layer.

An advantage of the invention is that the slabs are automatically levelled during laying.

A further advantage of the invention is that a floating floor can be laid simply and precisely.

These aims and advantages and more besides are all attained by the present invention, as it is characterised in the appended claims. Disclosure of Invention

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows of some preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the invention, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting examples in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of the invention; figure 2 is a schematic section made according to line I-I of figure 1; figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a portion of flooring made by coupling the elements of the invention; figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a portion of flooring during a laying operation; figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a portion of flooring during a laying operation, in a further embodiment.

With reference to the figures of the drawings, 1 denotes a ceramic element for floors and/or coverings which is composed of a top layer 2, delimited by edges 20 which define a visible border, and a bottom layer 3 , delimited by shaped edges

30 which define a shaped border which is formed by a plurality of projecting tabs

31 which are regularly alternated with recesses 32. The top layer 2 and the bottom layer 3 are, in the illustrated embodiment, constituted by a first and a second thin slabs of ceramic material which are glued together by a layer of glue 4. The top layer 2 is formed by a first thin layer of high-quality ceramic material which is destined to be the in-view surface of the element, and which can be variously decorated. The bottom layer 3 is normally formed by a second thin layer of ceramic material, which is of poorer aesthetic quality as it is simply a support and is therefore not in view. Reinforcing fibres can be inserted into the glue layer, which fibres have the aim of increasing the overall mechanical characteristics of the element 1. The proj ecting tabs 31 , alternated regularly with the recesses 32, are predisposed so that each side of the element 1 can be coupled with a side or a portion of a side of another of the elements 1, by a snug coupling in which a single projecting tab 31 of the element 1 is inserted snugly in a corresponding recess 32 of another and adjacent element 1. The projecting tabs 31 are predisposed to contact with the recesses 32 at least at the relative sides thereof.

The shaped edges 30 defining the shaped border also define a line which, for each side, is flat and comprised within a strip made up of two borders which strip is arranged parallel to the corresponding edge 20. The geometrical tangents at each point of the borders form, with the longitudinal axis of the strip arranged parallel to the edge 20 of the elements 1, angles of 45° or less.

The shaped edges 30 which define the shaped border of the back side 3 are preferably curved. In particular, each shaped edge 30 delimiting the back side 3, constituted by a succession of projecting tabs 31 which are regularly alternated with recesses 32, has a curved sinusoid shape which is geometrically determined by a period- amplitude parameter ratio defining the curve itself.

The curve, on each side of the element 1, is comprised in a strip made up of a union of two elements 1 which strip is arranged parallel to the corresponding edge 20 and is characterised by parameters defined so that the geometrical tangents of the curve in the points of change of concavity thereof form, with the longitudinal axis of the strip arranged parallel to the corresponding edge 20, angles of 45° or less. This geometrical detail is very important because it determines the play available and necessary during the mounting operation in order to couple the elements 1 with no difficulty. This situation is illustrated in figure 4, which shows how a fourth element 1 can be coupled to three elements 1 already assembled with no obligation of rigorously respecting the direction of introduction indicated by arrow A. The inclination of the tangents at less than 45° means that the union-contact between the sides of the projecting tabs 31 and the recesses 32 of the fourth element 1 with the sides of the recesses 32 and the tabs 31 of the elements 1 already assembled is made only when the introduction of the fourth element 1 has been completed. The elements 1 , which in the illustrated embodiment are square, can be coupled using a simple process, which is rapid and which enables an exact centring and positioning of the elements to one another without any need for external auxiliary means. In particular, the coupling can be achieved with absolute precision because the coupling of the shaped edges 30 of the bottom layers 3 produces an automatic and precise positioning of the edges 20 of the top layers 2. By correctly sizing and positioning the top layer 2 with respect to the bottom layer 3, each edge 20 (of the top layer 2) can be positioned with respect to the corresponding shaped edge 30 (of the bottom layer 3) so that following the coupling of the back edge 3 with the shaped edge 30 of a further element 1, a predetermined distance is identified between the two reciprocally-facing edges 20 of the two elements 1.

This distance defines what in normal ceramic tile laying are the spaces between the tiles. In the present invention this space is created automatically by effect of the tile laying without the need for any external auxiliary means (spacers and so on).

In a further embodiment of the invention the shaped edges 30 identifying the shaped edge define not a sinusoid wave shape but a simple broken line which, for each side of the element 1, is constantly flat and comprised in a strip which is arranged parallel to the corresponding edge 20. In this case it is the straight sides of the proj ecting tabs 31 and the corresponding recesses 32 which form, with the longitudinal axis of the strip arranged parallel to the edge 20, angles of 45° or less.

Claims

Claims.

1). A ceramic element for floors and/or coverings, comprising a top layer (2) delimited by edges which define a visible border of the element, a bottom layer (3) delimited by shaped edges which define a shaped border (30) which is formed by a plurality of projecting tabs (31) regularly alternated with recesses (32) predisposed so that each side of the element (1) can be coupled with a side or a portion of a side of a further element (1), by a snug coupling in which a single projecting tab (31) of the element (1) is inserted snugly in a corresponding recess (32) of an adjacent element, wherein the tab (31) is predisposed to come into contact with the recess (32) at least at sides of two or more of the elements (1); the shaped border (30) exhibiting a border line which is flat and, when two elements are fitted together, creating a strip between two of the elements (1) which strip is arranged parallel to borders (20) of the top surfaces (2) of the elements (1); geometrical tangents at any point of the border line forming, with a longitudinal axis of the strip arranged parallel to the borders (20), angles of 45° or less.

2). The element of claim 1, wherein each shaped edge (30) delimiting the bottom layer (3) and constituted by a succession of projecting tabs (31) regularly alternated to recesses (32) has a sinusoid wave conformation.

3). The element of claim 2, wherein each edge (20) of the top layer (2) is positioned with respect to a corresponding shaped edge (30) of the bottom layer (3) in.such a way that following a coupling of the bottom layer (3) with a shaped edge (30) of a further element (1), a predetermined distance is identified between the edges (20) of the two coupled elements (1) which face one another.

4). The element of claim 2 or 3, wherein the sinusoid wave shape is geometrically determined by a large period-amplitude ratio defining the sinusoid wave curve shape.

5). The element of claim 2 or 3, wherein the top layer (2) and the bottom layer (3) are constituted by a first and a second thin slab of ceramic material which are glued together by a layer of glue (4); the top layer (2) being formed by a first thin slab of high-quality ceramic material which is destined to be a surface of the element (1) which is in view and which may be decorated; the bottom layer (3) being formed by a second thin layer of ceramic material of a quality sufficient to constitute a support.

6). The element of claim 5, wherein the layer of glue (4) can contain reinforcing fibres having a function of increasing overall mechanical characteristics of the element (1).

7). The element of claim 5, wherein the parameters defining the sinusoid wave curve are determined in such a way that the geometrical tangents of the curve in points of change of concavity of the curve form, together with the longitudinal axis of the strip arranged parallel to the edge (20), angles of 45° or less.