WO2006114458A1

WO2006114458A1 - System for covering floors and/or walls with ceramic elements

Info

Publication number: WO2006114458A1
Application number: PCT/ES2006/000168
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaime GÓMEZ GONZÁLEZ
Original assignee: Gomez Gonzalez Jaime
Priority date: 2005-04-27
Filing date: 2006-04-07
Publication date: 2006-11-02
Also published as: ES2268968A1; ES2268968B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for covering floors and/or walls with ceramic elements, in which the covering operations are considerably simplified. For said purpose, the system employs sections which have a length that is adapted to the dimensions of the tiles or alternatively which are produced in the form of longitudinal strips in order to form a lattice frame that is suitable for flooring or wall-covering procedures. The aforementioned sections consist of an elongated body of rigid material, comprising a flat base with an orthogonal wall extending longitudinally therefrom, said wall being divided into two half-walls by means of a longitudinal groove. According to the invention, the half-walls are topped with flexible, elastic head sections and the inner face of each half-wall and the associated head section is grooved. The invention also comprises a cover which is designed to be inserted into the groove in the section, which comprises a longitudinal body that is grooved on both sides thereof and which is topped with a cap that projects out on both sides. The base of the section can be equipped with a flap on either side.

Description

"SYSTEM FOR THE COATING OF SOILS AND / OR WALLS

ABASE OF CERAMIC ELEMENTS "

DESCRIPTION

Object of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for coating floors and / or walls based on ceramic elements, which provides essential novelty characteristics and notable advantages over the known and used means for the same purposes in the current state of the technique.

More particularly, the invention proposes the development of a system whereby it is possible to form floors and walls with the use of ceramic tiles, in an easy, comfortable and fast manner, with improved performance and with increased safety of use. The system foresees the use of plastic material profiles specifically designed for use in the proposed construction system, where the profiles constitute the fixing and retention means in place of the ceramic tiles without the need for additional works and without using glue or other tile fixing products.

The field of application of the invention is comprised within the industrial sector dedicated to the manufacture, installation and assembly of floor and wall cladding elements both industrially and individually, including the DIY sector.

Background and Summary of the Invention

The usual tendency of manufacturers of any type of article is known in general to provide finished products that are more comfortable and easy to use by users, provided that this does not detract from the benefits provided by that article in question. In the specific case of the construction sector, and more particularly when it comes to covering floors, the existence of a system described by Spanish Patent no. P-200400555, of the same applicant, under which the possibility of conducting a

i SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) modular cladding on pavements, with the use of profiles that are designed so that together they adopt an elongated hexagonal configuration to determine two parallel major sides, and two ends each formed by two inclined minor sides, forming a right angle, of those that one of these sides less presents in a position close to the longitudinal axis, an external projection that acts as a connecting tongue, and the other minor side presents, in a symmetrical position with respect to the central longitudinal axis, a recess with complementary shape. In this way, the profile sections can be mutually coupled at their ends with the help of the respective tongue and recess formations, to form square areas capable of housing the lining elements inside. The retention of these is carried out by virtue of the provision of a projection or partition that extends in coincidence with the aforementioned longitudinal axis of each of the profile sections that delimit the coupling area of the cladding element.

The use of a system of the type proposed by the aforementioned patent document, was already an important advance in terms of simplification and speed of application of the floor covering elements.

However, the investigations carried out by the applicant have allowed the development of the new system that will be described in the following, through which the installation and assembly characteristics of this type of coatings are further improved, together with really interesting practical features.

Thus, an object of the present invention consists in the development of a system that allows carrying out the realization of a registrable modular cladding with ceramic elements, applicable to floor and walls, of a simpler and more practical conception than current systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system that takes advantage of a reticular lattice obtained from continuous profiles, and by means of which it is possible to make the floor or wall covering also simple, fast and safe.

2

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) These objects have been fully achieved by means of the system that will be described in the following, whose main characteristics are included in the characterizing part of the attached claim 1.

In essence, the system proposed by the invention provides for the development and use of profiles with a design specially designed for this specific application, in which each profile consists of an elongated body of plastic material in which an elongated, substantially flattened base is distinguished , from which it emerges integrally with it, a wall perpendicular to the base, in a centered position and coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the base, which in general is prismatic in shape, and which ends superiorly in a portion of the head that is returned, is that is, of greater width or thickness than said wall, constructed of a flexible material, and therefore capable of yielding elastically. The latter appears divided by a superiorly open groove, which affects almost the entire height of the wall, and which divides the latter and the head-turned portion into two halves, one on each side of the longitudinal plan. The inner faces of each half and the returned head portion, show the formation of a striatum. In addition, the base of the profile is projected on both sides by means of a respective longitudinal skirt, the skirts of both sides being constructed with a flexible material.

Together with the aforementioned profile, the system includes a longitudinal placket that in cross section shows a "T" shaped configuration, whose body has a groove on the surface of each of its sides, the width of the placket body being dimensions such that it admits to be introduced in the slit of the longitudinal wall of the profile, and retained in such position by virtue of the striated respectively faces of the inner faces of the lateral halves of the profile and of each side of the body of the placket.

In a preferred embodiment, the profiles adopt dimensional characteristics such that they can be placed in the form of sections that surround each ceramic tile perimeter.

In another preferred embodiment, the profiles are sized so as to form a reticular lattice through long sections that cross

3

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) orthogonally to each other in predetermined positions established according to the dimensions of the ceramic tiles, for which purpose, the profile sections have complementary recesses at the crossing points.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, when the system is used for floor covering, laminated portions constituting seating elements of the ceramic tiles are also used, suitably sized for their arrangement in the interior space between profiles, and so that the tile sits on such seating elements, to thereby provide adequate support to the tile and prevent its breakage when a load is applied thereon.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, when the system is applied to the cladding of walls with ceramic elements, the reticular lattice formed on the basis of the profiles of the invention is applied to the wall and fixed thereto with the aid of some conventional fixing product, such as silicone or the like.

Finally, according to another preferred feature of the invention, the plastic material used in the manufacture of the profiles of the invention consists of PVC, rigid for the hard parts of the profiles (longitudinal base and wall, body of the flaps), and flexible PVC for the non-rigid and susceptible parts of elastic transfer (side skirts of the base of the profile, thickened head portions of the profiles).

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the detailed description that follows in a preferred embodiment, given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view, in extreme elevation, of a profile conceived in accordance with the invention including the upper end cap, and capable of being used as a recordable profile for ceramic cladding elements;

4

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Figure 2 represents a schematic view of a floor covered with ceramic elements, formed with the help of profiles such as that of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates an example of the application of the profile of Figure 1 in the extreme position of a shot against a wall or the like;

Figure 4 shows a detail of a meeting corner of two sections of profile like that of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a representative view of the system of the invention in its application to its use in technical soil;

Figure 6 illustrates a schematic view, in extreme elevation, of a profile according to another embodiment of the invention, conceived for the formation of a lattice framework applicable to floor covering;

Figure 7 is a schematic view, in extreme elevation, of a profile equivalent to that of Figure 6, designed for the formation of a lattice framework intended for wall tiling operations;

Figures 8 and 9 are schematic views, in perspective, of a crossing point of two profiles of Figures 6 or 7, respectively in the separate and coupled positions;

Figure 10 shows a schematic representation, in extreme elevation, of a flooring installation made using the profile of Figure 6;

Figure 11 represents a schematic view, in extreme elevation, of a tiling installation made based on the profile of Figure 7, and

Figure 12, finally, illustrates a schematic representation of a floor portion in the cladding phase, with a portion thereof devoid of ceramic elements for a better appreciation of the latticework obtained with the profile of Figure 6.

5

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Description of a Preferred Embodiment

As indicated above, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be carried out in the following with the help of the attached drawings, through which the same are used numerical references to designate the same or similar parts. Thus, in the first place according to Figure 1, a schematic representation of a profile conceived in accordance with the present invention can be seen, together with its upper end cap. As referenced, the profile is indicated in general with reference 1, while the placket is indicated by general reference 2. Profile 1 consists of an elongated body, constructed of rigid plastic which, as said, can be of the PVC type, being constituted by a lower base 15 extended according to the longitudinal direction, substantially flattened, of a predetermined thickness and width, from which a central wall 3 normally emerges, also extended according to the longitudinal direction of the body, divided by a slit 4 in two halves 3 a, 3b symmetrical with respect to the central vertical plane, each of said wall halves having a longitudinal groove 5 extended to the full height of the respective inner face of each of them. In addition, at the upper end of said wall 3, it is provided the incorporation of an elastic head portion also divided into two halves 6 ^a , 6b by the same slit 4, in correspondence with both wall halves 3 a, 3b, this elastic head portion being constructed based on a flexible, non-rigid, and elastically recoverable material, such as flexible PVC as mentioned above.

Also, as seen in the same Figure 1, the base 15 of the profile has lateral portions 7 that project coplanarly with the base 15, of the same reduced thickness as the latter, and which constitute skirts of predetermined width extended to the total length of the profile.

The profile set is completed with the placket 2 mentioned above, which generally adopts a "T" shape consisting of an elongated prismatic body 2a, topped off by a cap 2b projecting on both sides of the body 2a, and presenting this Finally, a 5 'groove on both side faces, of complementary configuration with the groove 5 of the inner faces of both wall halves 3a, 3b of the profile body. The thickness of the body 2a of the placket is approximately equivalent to

6

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) the width of the groove 4, in order to be able to introduce the first in the second, where it is housed and retained thanks to the action of both respective striated 5, 5 'respective, and from where said placket 2 can be extracted whenever sufficient traction action is exerted thereon.

With a configuration such as the one described above, it is extremely simple, comfortable and quick to carry out a floor covering or the like. In Figure 2 a schematic representation of a floor obtained with the use of the system of the invention can be seen, in which the different ceramic tiles 8 are supported on frames formed by four profiles such as that of Figure 1, arranged in correspondences with the four sides of each tile, and with the flaps 2 interlocked in the profiles, so that on the upper surface of the floor, only those flaps 2 are appreciable (as explicitly represented in the aforementioned Figure) ; The small width of the placket and the possibility of manufacturing it with the colors you want (remember that it is a piece of plastic obtained by molding), facilitates its incorporation in a little appreciable way, and can even be a reason for helping ornamentation global. As will be understood, with a configuration such as that described, not only is the formation of the soil easy and quick, but also in case of the need to remove or replace any of the tiles 8, for reasons of repair, breakage or any other another cause, it is enough to remove the covers 2 that surround that concrete tile, so that once the repair or replacement operation has been carried out, they can be repositioned in place, for the maintenance of the integrity of the assembly.

As will be understood, the positioning of the tiles 8 is carried out against the wall portions 3 a, 3b, as appropriate, resting on the base 15 and on the skirt 7 of the corresponding side. The thickness of the base 15 and the skirts 7, determines a space that allows the installation of a padding consisting of a seat sheet that prevents the tile can be supported only by its perimeter margin. This situation can be seen in the representation of Figure 3, in which the floor 9 is shown, the profile 1 located on it, and following the skirt 7, the provision of a seating element 10, on which it directly supports said tile 8.

7

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) In addition, Figure 3 is also illustrative of the case in which a tile 8 is immediately adjacent to a wall 11. In this situation, the use of a profile 1 is provided which on one side lacks the corresponding base portion and of its associated skirt, so that it has a flat face that allows it to be perfectly attached to the surface of said wall 11. The placket 2 performs exactly the same functions already described, with its upper hat also resting laterally against the same wall.

As already mentioned throughout the present description, an important feature of the present invention is the total absence of adhesives or other tile fixing products. Indeed, as seen in the

Figure 1, the upper head portions 6a, 6b are of a thickness greater than that of the wall portions to which they are linked, so that they protrude with respect to the outer faces of the wall. As such head portions consist of an elastically flexible material, it can be compressed between adjacent tiles, or as shown in Figure 3, where appropriate between a wall of the enclosure in which the installation is performed, and a ceramic tile , thus leaving both head portions limited in thickness to a value equivalent to that of the wall 3. The recovery force derived from this imprisonment of said head portions 6a, 6b, performs a pushing action on the tiles of such magnitude which has been revealed as sufficient to keep the set of tiles immobilized in their respective positions. The covers 2, once housed in the grooves 4 of the profiles, guarantee the maintenance of the thrust force a plane parallel to the base 15 of each section of profile.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation, on the upper floor, of a corner joint formed by two contiguous sections of profile of a space intended to contain one of the tiles. As can be seen, the encounter of two profiles with the ends finished off by 45 ° cuts with respect to the central longitudinal axis, forms corners at right angles and guarantees the total closing of said corners with the help of the flaps 2, and in the manner already described.

Similarly, Figure 5 illustrates an application of the system of the invention particularized to the case of a technical floor 9 ', in which the profile 1 is sandwiched between two adjacent tiles 8, of porcelain material, with the placket 2 inserted into the

8

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) slit 4 of profile 1, with both portions 6a, 6b of elastic head exerting their pushing action on the tiles 8 of their corresponding side, and with the laminated seating portions 10 and support of the tiles 8 extending after the skirts 7 On each side.

If the representation of Figure 6 is now taken into account, an end elevation view of an alternative embodiment of profile V can be seen, designed with characteristics equivalent to those described for profile 1 of Figure 1, but designed for use in the form of long strips that allow a reticular lattice to be formed by arranging a number of parallel profiles properly spaced, orthogonally crossed with others of equal characteristics, in predetermined positions for the formation of quadrangular spaces adapted to the size of the ceramic tiles used.

In this alternative embodiment of the profile V, its base 15 'lacks side skirts, while its orthogonal portions 3 a, 3b constituting the emerging central wall, are formed in the same manner as in the first profile described, and finished off also with portions 6a, 6b of elastic flexible material head. The version intended for the flooring application is specifically the one represented in the aforementioned Figure 6; the cross-linking obtained with the profile thus designed is intended for its positioning directly on the ground, without the need for adhesives or other products subject to it; however, the profile V shown in Figure 7, of identical characteristics to that shown in Figure 7, of identical characteristics to that shown in Figure 6, also incorporates a notch referenced with 12, made in the part bottom of its base 15 ', and constituting a housing for the provision of a bonding product, such as silicone or the like, thus resulting in this profile especially indicated for the formation of a lattice that can be adhered by means of said adhesive product to a wall for coating it in tiling operations or the like, as will be seen later.

In both mentioned versions of application to flooring operations or to tiling applications, the covers 2 used have the same characteristics already described for the cover 2 usable together with the profile 1.

9

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Figures 8 and 9 are illustrative of the formation of the repeated framework with the use of the profiles 1 'shown in both Figures 6 and 7 already mentioned. For this, the profiles are machined so that they can be crossed in the preset positions, for which purpose, as it appears in Figure 8, one of the profiles has a recess 13 in the upper half of its emerging wall, while the another profile 1 'that crosses orthogonally with the first one, is devoid of a base portion of length equivalent to the width thereof, and its longitudinal wall 3 has been provided with a recess 13' complementary to the previous one. Thus, both profiles can be coupled to each other, as shown in Figure 9, forming a perfect intersection at 90 °, and without this, in any way, increasing the height at such crossing points.

A crosslink obtained through the use of versions of profiles such as those indicated by the regency 1 ', adopts the aspect shown schematically in Figure 12. As can be seen, the successive intersections give rise to the provision of quadrangular spaces, dimensioned by so that in each of them a tile can be attached.

In accordance with the foregoing, Figures 10 and 11 illustrate respectively schematic representations representative of the use of the system of the invention with cross-links obtained with profiles 1 'as shown in Figures 6 and

7. In Figure 10, the profile 1 'appears between two consecutive tiles 8, the latter being supported on the base 15' of said profile, and with the space between the tiles and the floor 9 filled with self-leveling paste 10 '. On the other hand, in the case of the representation of Figure 11, the crosslinking obtained with the profiles 1 'is fixed to a wall 11 with the help of an adhesive product 14 that fills the recess 12 that has formed in the lower part of the base 15 'of each profile, the tiles 8' (or tiles) being held in position by incorporating the covers 2 inside the grooves of the profiles, as already described in relation to the previous Figures .

It is not considered necessary to make the content of this description more extensive so that a person skilled in the art can understand its scope and the advantages derived from the invention, as well as develop and put into practice the object thereof.

10

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) However, it should be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, whereby it may be susceptible to modifications without implying any alteration of the basis of said invention, such modifications being able to affect, in particular, the form , to the size and / or manufacturing materials of the assembly or its parts.

eleven

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims

1.- System for covering floors and / or walls based on ceramic elements, especially for any type of floor or wall that must be covered with the use of ceramic tiles, with the help of profiles that can be positioned on the surface to be coated and intended to support and retain the cladding tiles, characterized in that the system comprises:

A profile (1, 1 ') of generally elongated shape, constituted by a rigid plastic body, which has a substantially flattened base from whose central portion emerges orthogonally to said base, a wall (3) divided into two halves (3a, 3b ), symmetrical with respect to a central longitudinal plane, by virtue of the provision of a slit (4) opened by the opposite edge of the base, each wall portion (3 a, 3b) being finished off at its free longitudinal edge by means of a respective head portion (6a, 6b) of flexible elastic material and of greater thickness than that of each half of the wall to which it is associated, and also presenting the internal faces of each semipared (3a, 3b) and head portion (6th,

6b) corresponding, the provision of a striatum (5) extended to all of said faces, and

A placket (2) constituted by a body of rigid plastic material, constituted as an elongated prismatic body (2a), topped by one of its edges by means of a cap (2b) that protrudes on both sides, both sides being longitudinal side faces of the body (2a) of the placket provided with a groove (5 ') complementary to the groove (5) of the inner faces of both halves (3 a, 3b) of the longitudinal wall of the profile body, and the body (2a) being also of the placket (2) of a thickness approximately equivalent to the width of said groove (4) made in the central longitudinal wall (3) of the profile (1).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the profile sections (1) are of length equivalent to the length of each side of the ceramic tile (8) used in the coating, and because the base of the profile (1) is projects laterally by means of a skirt (7) on each side, with the same length as the profile section itself (1).

3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the profiles (1 ') consist of long strips that can be used for the formation of a reticular framework by means of a number of profiles (1') that intersect orthogonally with other equivalents in predetermined positions , for the formation of quadrangular spaces of dimensions

12

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) adapted to the tiles (8, 8 ') to be incorporated, and because the bases (15') of the strip-shaped profiles lack any longitudinal skirt of lateral extension.

4. System according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the configuration of the profiles (1, 1 ') allows the insertion of each placket (2) in the groove (4) of each corresponding section of profile (1, V) , thereby causing deformation of the elastic head portions (6a, 6b) for adaptation to the width of the space between adjacent tiles (8, 8 '), so that the elastic recovery of such elastic head portions ( 6 ^a ,

6b) translates into a thrust nut on the tiles, forcing them to hold each other and to remain integrated in the assembly.

5. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it additionally comprises laminated seat elements (10), of thickness equivalent to that of the base itself (15) of the profiles, sized for positioning inside each grid delimited by profiles (1).

6. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the profiles (1 ') configured as elongated strips, have recesses (13, 13') in their walls (3) and / or in their base (15), made in addition for mutual coupling at the crossing points of the reticular structure.

7. System according to claims 1, 3 and 6, characterized in that the internal quadrangular spaces formed by the profiles of the reticular framework, allow the incorporation of a self-leveling paste (10 ') for seating the respective tiles in the application of the cross-linking to flooring operations.

8. System according to claims 1, 3 and 6, characterized in that the profiles (1 ') configured as longitudinal strips for the formation of the reticular framework, have a longitudinal recess (15') on the underside of their base (15 ') ( 12) intended to admit a bonding product (14), of the silicone type or the like, in the application of said crosslinking to the lining of a wall (11) with tiles (8 ').

9. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid material of the profiles is preferably rigid PVC, and the flexible material of

13

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Formation of the head portions (6a, b) preferably consists of PVC of flexible elastic nature.

14

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)