WO2007053005A1

WO2007053005A1 - System of floor tiles, and floor tiles as part of this system

Info

Publication number: WO2007053005A1
Application number: PCT/NL2006/000374
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Wind
Original assignee: Jan Wind
Priority date: 2005-11-04
Filing date: 2006-07-18
Publication date: 2007-05-10
Also published as: EP1948884A1; NL1030351C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system of floor tiles, wherein each floor tile consists of a sandwich of a top layer (116) , a bottom layer (117) and spacers (118) forming a connection between the top layer and the bottom layer. Between the top layer and the bottom layer can be guided an airflow which can realize ventilation and heating of a building. The system further comprises connecting means for carrying an airflow between the top layer and the bottom layer, and means for generating the airflow.

Description

SYSTEM OF FLOOR TILES, AND FLOOR TILES AS PART OF THIS SYSTEM

The invention relates to a system of floor tiles, wherein each floor tile comprises a sandwich of a top layer, a bottom layer running substantially parallel to the top layer, and spacing means forming a connection between the top layer and the bottom layer. Floor tiles of this type are known, for instance in the form of a laminate floor, wherein the top layer consists of a thin layer of wood and the spacing means consist of a layer of chipboard or a comparable, relatively cheap material.

The system of floor tiles according to the invention has for its object, among others, of realizing an air ventilation system and/or heating system, wherein air is transported between the top layer and the bottom layer. The inventive system has for this purpose the feature that the spacing means comprise spacers which are embodied such that an airflow running at least almost parallel to the top layer is possible between the top layer and the bottom layer.

By applying the system according to the invention the concrete ground on which the floor tiles are placed can be given a much lighter form, since the sandwich construction of the floor tiles makes a significant contribution toward the required insulation of the floor.

With the system of floor tiles it is possible to realize a floor which can be walked on immediately, such as for instance a parquet floor, although the floor can if desired be provided with a floor covering, such as for instance carpet.

In a first preferred embodiment the system further comprises a number of feet for supporting the floor tiles on a ground surface. Using the feet the floor tiles can be laid as a floating floor so that space is created between the floor and the ground surface which can be used in useful manner, for instance for laying of conduits.

According to an elegant development hereof, each foot is provided with one or more fastening elements, which are adapted to co-act with the spacers of the floor tiles. The fastening elements are preferably adapted to be at least partially received in the spacers. This can be achieved in that the spacers and/or the fastening elements have a corresponding, preferably generally conical form. In a further preferred embodiment each foot is provided with a locking element which is movable between a release position and a locking position for the purpose of locking one or more floor tiles to be placed on the foot. The locking elements make it possible to release and remove individual floor tiles. The space between the floor and the ground surface is hereby readily accessible, for instance for maintenance of the conduits present there.

A favourable embodiment whereby the system of floor tiles can be connected to a hot-air heating system or a ventilation system in simple manner has the feature that the system also comprises connecting means for carrying an airflow between the top layer and the bottom layer.

According to a practical development of the foregoing favourable embodiment, the system further comprises means for generating the airflow, which are adapted for connection to the connecting means.

A further favourable embodiment has the feature that the system also comprises outflow means for causing air to flow out of the space between the top layer and the bottom layer into a space situated above the top layer.

A further favourable embodiment has the feature that the system also comprises closing means for closing a floor tile on at least one side, so that air can be prevented from flowing away in an undefined or undesired manner.

A further favourable embodiment has the feature that the top plate and/or the bottom plate are provided with a layer manufactured from a conductive material. A good distribution of the heat can be realized in this manner. A thermal connection can moreover thus be realized with a bearing structure located under the floor tiles, so that heat can be stored in this bearing structure or in storage media arranged on this bearing structure. The conductive layer can further serve a useful purpose by shielding electromagnetic fields.

The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view of a part of a possible embodiment of a prefabricated building; Fig. 2 shows a schematic top view a floor element provided with floor tiles according to the invention;

Fig. 3A shows a schematic side view of a floor element provided with floor tiles according to the invention; Fig. 3B shows a schematic side view of an alternative floor element provided with floor tiles according to the invention;

Fig. 4A shows schematically a possible embodiment of a floor tile according to the invention;

Fig. 4B shows this embodiment in side view; Fig. 5A shows schematically an alternative embodiment of a floor tile according to the invention;

Fig. 5B shows this embodiment in side view;

Fig. 6A shows schematically a further alternative embodiment of a floor tile according to the invention; Fig. 6B shows this embodiment in side view;

Fig. 7 shows a schematic section of a possible embodiment of a floor tile with outlet grating;

Fig. 8A shows in more detail a cut-away top view of a preferred embodiment of a floor tile according to the invention; Fig. 8B shows the floor tile of figure 8A in side view;

Fig. 9 shows in more detail a preferred embodiment of a foot as component of the system according to the invention;

Fig. 10 shows a view in which the floor tile of figure 8A, B supports on the foot of figure 9; and Fig. 11 shows a bottom view of the floor tile of figure 10 with connecting means for the means for realizing the airflow in the floor tiles.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view of a part of a possible embodiment of a prefabricated building according to the invention, consisting of four elongate floor elements 1a,1b,1c,1d and three square floor elements 2a,2b, 2c, the corner points of which are supported by columns 3a, 3b, .. and which together form a basic floor for the prefabricated building. Columns 3a, 3b, .. are preferably anchored directly in the ground but can, if desired, also be placed on a foundation plate or in a foundation frame or on a prefab foundation. A prefabricated building erected in this manner can be easily extended by placing additional columns and additional floor parts. This can take place during construction, for instance if the future resident desires a larger house with an extra space in the form of a balcony, a bay window, a lean-to, or for instance an office space, but it can also take place afterward. It is exceptional that the prefabricated building can also be extended without additional columns having to be placed for this purpose, by coupling additional floor parts to floor elements 1a,1b,1c,1d and/or floor elements 2a,2b,2c.

Floor element 2b is here provided with a tubular building element 4 which comprises a central provision 5 consisting of a heating boiler, ventilation unit, a power supply and the like. Together with tubular building element 4 floor element 2b forms a backbone from which the prefabricated building derives a significant part of its strength. All floor elements 1a,1b,1c,1d,2a,2b are further connected directly or indirectly to central provision 5 via ducts through which heated or, if desired, cooled air and/or conduits to the various rooms can be guided.

Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of a floor element 2 provided with floor tiles 6a, ..,6f according to the invention. In the embodiment shown here floor tiles 6a, ..,6f rest on elevations 7, whereby they in fact float above floor element 2 so that space is available under the floor tiles for laying conduits and the like. Exceptional is that floor tiles 6a, ..,6f consist of a sandwich of a top layer and a bottom layer separated by spacing means, so that the ventilation, the heating and optionally the cooling of the prefabricated building can take place from central provision 5 via mutually connected floor tiles of this type. There are different types of floor tile for this purpose. Floor tile 6a is for instance provided with a lower connection 8, via which air can be blown in. Floor tiles 6c and 6f are provided with a side connection 9a, 9b respectively, via which air can be blown in. It is for instance possible to blow air of 22 degrees Celsius into side connection 9a and air of for instance 18 degrees into side connection 9b, wherein a strip 10 is arranged between floor tiles 6b, 6c on one side and floor tiles 6e,6f on the other, whereby a predetermined temperature distribution can be realized over the floor. Floor tile 6d is provided with an outlet grating 11 via which air can be blown into a space above the floor element, and with a ventilation slot 12 via which air can likewise be blown into a space above the floor element.

Figure 3A shows a schematic side view of a floor element 2 provided with floor tiles 6 according to the invention. Floor element 2 is manufactured from concrete and provided with a reinforcement 13 and with elevations 7 on which floor tiles 6 rest. Elevations 7 are preferably manufactured from an elastic material or are provided with an elastic top layer, whereby contact sound can be avoided.

It is also possible to embody floor element 2 with ribs 14 running in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, wherein corners of floor tiles rest on intersections of ribs. A floor embodied in this manner is strong and light, and materials in which heat can be stored can, if desired, be placed in the recesses of ribs 14.

Fig. 3B shows a schematic side view of an alternative floor element 2 provided with floor tiles 6 according to the invention. In this embodiment floor element 2 takes a flat form and floor tiles 6 are provided with studs 15 with which they rest on floor element 2. Studs 15 are preferably manufactured from an elastic material or are provided with an elastic layer, whereby contact sound can be avoided.

Fig. 4A shows schematically a possible embodiment of a floor tile 6 according to the invention. Floor tile 6 consists of a top layer 16 and a bottom layer 17, not shown in this figure, between which spacers 18 are placed, here embodied as blocks. Materials for top layer 16, bottom layer 17 and spacers 18 can be chosen depending on the application. Top layer 16 will generally be manufactured from a relatively inexpensive wood product or plastic product, as it is generally provided with a floor covering such as carpet. Top layer 16 can however also consist of for instance hardwood, so that floor tiles 6 together form a parquet floor. If heat leakage to the underlying floor element 2 must be avoided, bottom layer 17 can be manufactured from an insulating material such as plastic. Conversely, bottom layer 17 can also be manufactured from a heat-conducting material such as aluminium or steel if it is precisely heat transfer to underlying floor element 2 that is desired in respect of heat stored therein, or if floor tiles 6 must together form an electromagnetic shield. Spacers 18 can be manufactured from any conceivable material as long as they can be readily fastened to top layer 16 and bottom layer 17 and are dimensionally stable. Fig. 4B shows this embodiment in side view, with top layer 16, bottom layer 17 and spacers 18.

Fig. 5A shows schematically an alternative embodiment of a floor tile 6 according to the invention, wherein top layer 16 is offset relative to bottom layer 17 so that they can be laid in bond and edges 19a, 19b are created which can be glued to spacers 18 of adjacent floor elements. Fig. 5B shows this embodiment in side view, with top layer 16, bottom layer 17, spacers 18 and edge 19a.

Fig. 6A shows schematically a further alternative embodiment of a floor tile 6 according to the invention, wherein top layer 16 is provided all around with a rebate or groove and tongue 20 so that floor tiles can be laid in bond and glued to each other.

In the embodiment shown here top layer 16 is provided with an opening 21 through which can be fed for instance cables running under floor tiles 6 for the purpose of connecting for instance computers and audio equipment. Finally, spacers 18 are placed slightly inward such that a strip 10 can be inserted between two rows of spacers of adjacent floor tiles 6, as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6B shows this embodiment in side view, with top layer 16, bottom layer 17, which is formed by two metal plates 17a, 17b which are fixed to each other and which together also form a rebate whereby they can be laid in bond and with which an excellent electromagnetic shielding is obtained, and spacers 18, rebate or groove and tongue 20, and strip 10.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic cross-section of a possible embodiment of a floor tile 6 which is placed on a floor element 2 via an elevation 7. An inner wall 22 to which floor tile 6 connects can also be seen. Inner wall 22 is periodically provided with an outlet grating 11 consisting of a metal profile via which air from the space between top layer 16 and bottom layer 17 can be carried into the space above floor tile 6. Spacers 18 do not here form an obstruction. A schematically indicated valve 23 is provided to enable control of the airflow.

Fig. 8A shows a cut-away top view of a preferred embodiment of a floor tile 106 according to the invention. Fig. 8B shows a cross-sectional side view of floor tile 106. Floor tile 106 is provided with a top plate 116 (also referred to as top layer) and a bottom plate 117 (also referred to as bottom layer) which are held at a mutual distance by spacers 118 placed therebetween. The corners of top plate 116 protrude over the corners of bottom plate 117. In the shown preferred embodiment this is realized by choosing substantially the same dimensions for plates 116 and 117 and providing top plate 116 with sharp corners and bottom plate 117 with rounded corners. Floor tile 106 is constructed from sections 106a-106i of substantially the same dimensions. Each section per se forms a small floor tile. Larger floor tiles of various shapes and dimensions can be realized using these sections. Spacers 118 take a hollow form and have a generally conical form.

Fig. 9 shows in more detail a preferred embodiment of a foot 107 as component of the system according to the invention. Foot 107 serves to support floor tiles 106 on the ground surface, whereby the floor tiles can be laid in floating manner. Foot 107 is therefore an alternative to elevations 7 of figure 2, ribs 14 of figure 3A and studs 15 of figure 3B, and fulfills a comparable function.

Foot 107 comprises a leg 108 for placing on a ground surface such as floor element 2. Situated on leg 108 is a plate 109 on which a number of, for instance four, fastening elements 110 are arranged. Fastening elements 110 are adapted for co-action with spacers 118 of floor tile 106. In the shown preferred embodiment fastening elements 110 are adapted to be at least partially received in spacers 118. For this purpose the fastening elements 110 have a form corresponding with spacers 118, which is likewise generally conical. This is illustrated in figure 10, which shows how floor tile 106 supports on foot 107.

The system of floor tiles 106 and feet 107 is preferably adapted such that floor tiles 106 can each be removed individually from a floor once it has been laid. Each foot 107 is provided for this purpose with locking means for locking floor tiles 106. The locking means consist of a locking element 111 which is provided with projections 112. Locking element 111 is provided with a control element 113 with which locking element 111 can be moved between a release position and a locking position. Locking element 111 is placed rotatably in line with leg 108. The release position is shown in figure 9. Each floor tile which is surrounded by released feet can now be removed vertically. In the locking position (shown in figure 10) projections 112 point toward fastening elements 110. The angular displacement between the release position and the locking position amounts to about 45 degrees. In the locking position projections 112 of a foot 107 are situated between bottom plate 117 and top plate 116 (in particular below the sharp corners) of the adjacent floor tiles 106, and thereby prevent removal of these floor tiles.

Figure 11 shows a bottom view of floor tile 106 of figure 10. Floor tile 106 is provided on the underside with connecting means 120 for the means for generating the airflow through the floor tiles. The connecting means comprise a sealing ring 120 which is arranged in a passage in bottom plate 117. The sealing ring is flexible and ensures a sealing connection of conduits such as a conduit 121 , 122 for the supply of air. In this manner the desired airflow between bottom plate 117 and top plate 116 can be realized.

The connected conduits must be connected at the other end thereof to a central provision for the supply of air, for instance central provision 5 as described above. Central provisions suitable for this purpose are per se known in practice. Some non-limitative examples hereof are: a heating boiler, a ventilation unit, a cooling unit or air-conditioning. Any suitable energy source can in principle be connected hereto. The space between the floor tiles and the ground surface is available for placing of conduits. In addition to said conduits for the supply of air, the space can also be utilized for other conduits such as conduits for power supply, water, but also for data traffic and so forth.

The material of the floor tiles can in practice be adapted to the intended application of the floor. The top plate can for instance be of MDF and serve as sub-floor. If desired, the top plate can be provided with a finishing layer such as natural stone, wood, plastic or floor covering. Alternatively, the floor tile can be manufactured wholly or partially from transparent material. By way of completion, lighting can be arranged in the space under the floor tiles to illuminate the floor tiles from below.

It is noted for the sake of completeness that the invention is not limited to the described and shown embodiments, but also extends to all possible combinations of these embodiments.

Claims

1. System of floor tiles, wherein each floor tile comprises a sandwich of a top layer, a bottom layer running substantially parallel to the top layer, and spacing means forming a connection between the top layer and the bottom layer, characterized in that the spacing means comprise spacers (118) which are embodied such that an airflow running at least almost parallel to the top layer is possible between the top layer (116) and the bottom layer (117).

2. System as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a number of feet (107) for supporting the floor tiles (106) on a ground surface.

3. System as claimed in claim 2, wherein each foot (107) is provided with one or more fastening elements (110), which are adapted to co-act with the spacers (118) of the floor tiles (106).

4. System as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fastening elements (110) are adapted to be at least partially received in the spacers (118).

5. System as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spacers (118) and/or the fastening elements (110) have a corresponding, preferably generally conical form.

6. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein each foot (107) is provided with a locking element (111) which is movable between a release position and a locking position for the purpose of locking one or more floor tiles (106) to be placed on the foot.

7. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least one of the floor tiles (106) comprises connecting means (120, 121 , 122) for connection of means for generating the airflow.

8. System as claimed in claim 7, wherein the system further comprises means for generating the airflow, which are adapted for connection to the connecting means (120, 121 , 122).

9. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein at least one of the floor tiles also comprises outflow means for causing air to flow, during operation, out of the space between the top layer (116) and the bottom layer (117) into a space situated above the top layer.

10. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the system also comprises closing means (10) for closing one or more floor tiles (106) on at least one side.