WO2006073321A1

WO2006073321A1 - A fixing system for finishing profile and decorative profile joints

Info

Publication number: WO2006073321A1
Application number: PCT/PT2006/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodrigues Fernando Carvalhais
Original assignee: Carvalhais Produçao De Perfis, Lda.
Priority date: 2005-01-07
Filing date: 2006-01-06
Publication date: 2006-07-13

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fixing system for finishing profile and decorative profile joints, comprising a covering element (3) and a male element (2) and female element (1) provided with ridges (7, 11) which allow the two said elements to be fitted together and fixed coaxially or obliquely to one another. It is characterised by a male element or pillar (2) with a shaft (8) whose top end forms a cup-shaped element (10); a covering element (3) which has in the central part of its lower side a fitting element (12) formed by two claw-like projections (13), inside of which there is a substantially convex 'bed'; and in that the shaft of the male element (2) can have more than one height; the fitting element (12) of the covering element (3) being fitted in place with the possibility of rotating on top of the male element (2), making it possible to adjust the assembly of the system in the case of floors that are uneven or have different thicknesses, thus improving the ability of the system to be assembled with the two said elements in an oblique position.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"A FIXING SYSTEM FOR FINISHING PROFILE AND DECORATIVE PROFILE JOINTS"

Scope of the invention

The present invention relates to a fixing system for finishing profile and decorative profile j oints , more particularly a reusable , self-adjusting fixing system that can be used with multithickness surfaces for expansion j oints and profile or decorative j oints , for use with wall coverings , ceilings , partitions or floor panels . More specifically, the obj ect of the present invention is to provide a solution for parquet , laminate and stratified flooring, as well as expansion j oints , uneven surfaces and end pieces .

Prior art

Various systems and devices for finishing floor panel joints are already known. These include in particular patents EP 321 634 , GB 2238557 , US 3667177 and EP 1176268.

Patent EP 321 634 relates to a device for bridging j oints consisting essentially of an L-shaped base profile screwed to the floor and a covering profile fixed to the base profile . One of the members of the L-shaped base profile faces upwards inside the j oint and the covering profile fits onto such member of the L-shaped profile , covering the said j oint and being subsequently fixed by means of a screw. This device is difficult to adjust in height .

Patent GB 2238557 relates to sealing members that form j oints between adj acent sheets of hygienic wall cladding material , and comprise first and second longitudinally extending components with means for securing them together at an adjustable spacing, so that marginal positions of one component urge the sheets against margins of the other component . A sealing member which seals a panel against the floor/ceiling and which comprises spaced components , and another at right angles thereto, is also described .

Patent US 3667177 relates to a j oint for thin wall panelling and elements for these j oints . A retainer is positioned with a base flange behind a wall panelling member as it is being installed . The retainer has a receiving area formed from upstanding arms to receive and engage a tongue of a T-shaped moulding cap which is applied after the work is completed. The combination of these two parts can be used for all types of panel j oints including inside and outside corners , butt j oints , j oints between wall and ceiling and wall and floor, and j oints between the edge of panelling members and the wall surfaces to which they are attached . Tile-tub j oints and tile-wall j oints are also formed with the j oint of this invention .

Patent EP 1176268 relates to a fixing system for profiles for covering j oints , which consists of fitting together two profiled elements with means for fitting them together . It is essentially characterised in that the fitting together of the two elements is carried out in such a way as to allow them to be fixed coaxially or obliquely to one another . The fact that they can be fixed axially or obliquely makes it possible to adj ust the covering profile of the joint to uneven flooring, which has so far not been achieved .

All the systems and devices described above , in order to cover all situations of unevenness between j oints that are encountered by assemblers , are either simply not suitable or require additional elements , normally base profiles with various heights .

The fundamental obj ective of the present invention is thus to devise a fixing system for profiles for covering j oints which permits a considerable clearance, being self-adjustable and reusable .

For this purpose , the fixing system for profiles which is the subj ect of the invention consists of three parts , i . e . a base element , a connecting pillar and a j oint covering element . Brief description of the drawings

The description that follows is based on the drawings attached hereto, which represent without any restrictive character :

In figure 1 the system when duly assembled with the covering element in a horizontal position;

In figure 2 the same system but with the covering element in an oblique position; and

In figure 3 the system when assembled but with a higher connecting pillar .

Detailed description of the invention

As may be observed from the drawings attached hereto, the system of the invention consists of a female base element 1 , a male element or pillar 2 and a covering element 3.

The base element 1 has a horizontal portion 4 and a vertical U-shaped part , with legs 5 and 6. The horizontal portion, of an adequate length, is placed on the floor underneath the panels and the U-shaped part is placed below the j oint that is to be covered . The inside of the legs 5 and 6 of the U-shaped part has rounded ridges 7.

The pillar 2 comprises a shaft 8 whose bottom end forms a head 9 in the shape of a button, the top of which is horizontally flat and the bottom of which is convex, and whose top end forms a cup-shaped element 10. The peripheral edge of the head formed between the flat horizontal part and the convex part has at least one rounded ridge 11.

The covering element 3 has on its lower side a fitting element 12 which engages with the top of the pillar 2. This fitting element 12 has two claw-like proj ections 13 , inside of which there is a substantially convex "bed" that makes it possible to fit these elements together . The edges of the cup at the top of the male element 2 are configured in such a way as to allow them to rotate inside the fitting element 12 , also acting as stoppers whenever there is any inclination of the covering element 3.

As may be observed, the covering element 3 can be completely flat (figures 1 and 2) or its component members can have a certain inclination (figure 3 ) . In the latter case , the said fitting element 12 proj ects not directly from the covering members but from a substantially parallelepiped part 14.

As may be understood from figures 1 to 3 , the male element or pillar 2 is inserted inside the female or base element 1 and the way in which they are fitted together is determined by the depth of insertion, which is chosen depending on how the covering element is to be fixed, i . e . whether it is to be fitted coaxially or obliquely. Thus , if a certain height is intended to be overcome , the male element 2 and the female element 1 will have to be fitted together using the upper ridges in the legs 5 and 6 of the U-shaped part of the base element 1

(figure 3 ) . If the opposite applies , the pillar 2 is totally inserted inside the base element 1 (figure 1) .

Figure 2 illustrates an intermediate situation.

As can be seen in figures 2 and 3 , the upper part of the pillar 2 , once it has been inserted inside the bed of the fitting element 12 (with a pre-established clearance) , permits mobility by rotation of the covering element 3 , which confers greater flexibility to adj ust to floorings with different levels and/or to overcome coverings with different thickenesses . This characteristic increases the possibility of overcoming floors that are uneven or have different thicknesses .

The characteristics of the fitting together of the female or base element 1 and the male element or pillar 2 and simultaneously the top of the pillar 2 with the covering element 3 make it possible to cover practically all situations encountered by assemblers of this equipment . Furthermore , the fact that the pillar 2 can have at least two different heights also makes assembly more flexible .

This system therefore allows for assembly with a perfect finish, it is very versatile and multipurpose , and extremely easy to assemble . In addition, this very simple assembly system allows the equipment to be dismantled without causing any type of damage to its component parts . Also, the versatility of assembly, based on the oblique or axial fitting together of the male and female components and on the possibility of rotating the covering element , allows assemblers to use this system for any type of flooring or other situations where it is necessary to cover j oints between various materials .

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art , this system can be applied to a wide variety of situations and can be used for flooring as well as walls and roofs . Various materials can also be used for the flooring, walls or roofs , from wood panels to sheets made of any other material , such as ceramic .

Claims

1. Fixing system for finishing profile and decorative profile j oints , comprising a covering element 3 and a male element 2 and female element 1 provided with rounded ridges 7 , 11 which allow the two said elements to be fitted together and fixed coaxially or obliquely to one another , characterised in that : - the male element or pillar 2 has a shaft 8 whose top end forms a cup-shaped element 10 ;

- the covering element 3 has in the central part of its lower side a fitting element 12 formed by two claw-like proj ections 13 , inside of which there is a substantially convex "bed" ; and

- the shaft of the male element 2 can have more than one height ; the fitting element 12 of the covering element 3 being fitted in place with the possibility of rotating on top of the male element 2 , making it possible to adjust the assembly of the system in the case of floors that are uneven or have different thicknesses , thus improving the ability of the system to be assembled with the two said elements in an oblique position .

2. Fixing system for finishing profile and decorative profile j oints , according to claim 1 , characterised in that the covering element 3 can be completely flat or can have its component members with a certain inclination, the fitting element 12 proj ecting from a substantially parallelepiped part 14.

3. Fixing system for finishing profile and decorative profile j oints , according to claim 1 , characterised in that the edges of the cup at the top of the male element 2 are configured in such a way as to allow them to rotate inside the fitting element 12 , also acting as stoppers whenever there is any inclination of the covering element 3.