WO2008062492A1

WO2008062492A1 - A system and a method of dry laying of covering elements for floors or walls and a support for said system

Info

Publication number: WO2008062492A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000806
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro Fogli; Davide Carra
Original assignee: Gruppo Concorde S.P.A.
Priority date: 2006-11-20
Filing date: 2007-11-15
Publication date: 2008-05-29
Also published as: RU2447248C2; EP2084343A1; AU2007322995A1; CA2669203A1; RU2009123515A; US20100088982A1

Abstract

The system comprises at least one laminar element (103; 104) with a first face of contact with a laying surface (F) and a second face of contact with at least one covering element (R). Strips (121) defining joints between covering elements (R) are arranged around the edges and corners of the covering elements (R) to define and fill the joints between mutually adjacent covering elements. Corner elements for mutual connection of said strips are further provide to retain the strips around the respective covering element.

Description

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"A system and a method of dry laying of covering elements for floors or walls and a support for said system"

DESCRIPTION

Technical field The present invention relates to methods and systems for laying covering elements for floors and walls, such as in particular, but not exclusively, tiles made of various materials.

More in particular, the present invention relates to improvements to systems of dry laying, i.e., ones that do not require application of binding pastes or other adhesive products for anchoring the covering elements to a base.

State of the art

In the present description and in the annexed ciaims, by covering is meant as a whole a structure, obtained by setting covering elements, such as floor tiles, wall tiles, slabs or the like, alongside one another, for covering any structure, whether this be vertical, inclined, or horizontal. Consequently, by covering is meant both a covering for floors and a covering for vertical wails. In the production of said there is normally used a binding paste, with which the tiles or other covering elements are bonded to the surface of the structure to be covered. Between the tiles, or other covering elements, set adjacent to one another, empty spaces, referred to as "joints", are left, which are then filled with a suitable material. The floors and coverings thus made can be removed only by breaking the covering elements and moreover call for specialized staff for laying thereof. A further drawback of this system of laying is represented by the fact that the floor becomes practicable after laying of the covering only when the binding paste has started to grip, which takes a rather long time during which no other work, for example, finishing, can be carried out in the same environment. - — --- ^■' There have consequently been studied systems of dry laying, in which the covering elements do not require bonding on the surface of the structure, but are rather applied with the aid of locking supports. Examples of systems of dry covering of this type are described in the WO-A-02/077389, WO-A-

03/040491 and WO-A-2005/052279. These known systems present considerable limitations and drawbacks. In fact, they are based upon the use of covering elements that are individually equipped with a rear support in the form of a frame or the like, with systems of mutual fitting or locking between adjacent elements. Provided along the edges of the support are strips that form the joint gaps between adjacent covering elements. It is necessary to provide each individual covering element with a respective frame or support for laying thereof. The covering element and frame or support are bonded together by the manufacturer. These elements, provided with said supports are then laid dry, the individual frames being fitted to one another, said frames being for this purpose equipped with interlocking elements projecting underneath the rear surface of the covering element bonded on each support.

The mounting or laying of the elements equipped with the respective supports is a relatively complex operation. Furthermore, having to equip each covering element with its support via bonding entails a considerable increase in costs and also in the encumbrance and weights of the material to be transported. -

The type of interlocking between supports designed to form an individual covering is such that, in the case where it is necessary to replace a damaged covering element, said replacement requires dismantling of at least part of the covering, since it is not possible to remove the individual damaged covering element. Nor is it possible to replace covering elements individually, for example, for modifying the aesthetic appearance of the covering.

Furthermore, since each covering element must be equipped with its own support, which has, along two sides, strips forming the joints, to each format of tile or other covering element there must correspond a respective support format. It is thus necessary to produce as many different supports as there are formats of the covering elements that are to be equipped with the - supports themselves for dry laying: Objects and summary of the invention

According to one aspect the present invention provides a support for dry laying of covering elements and a corresponding system of dry laying of covering elements that will alleviate or overcome either totally or in part at least some of the aforesaid drawbacks. ~ ό ~

According to some embodiments, the invention envisages a system for dry laying of covering elements for walls or floors, comprising at least one laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with at least one covering element, characterized in that it comprises: strips defining joints between covering elements, which can be applied along the edges of the covering elements; corner elements for mutual connection of said strips, so that said strips are retained around the respective covering element. According to some embodiments, the planar laminar element is a flexible or pliable layer of a suitable material, preferably an acoustically insulating material, which is placed on the surface to be covered, and on which the covering elements are simpiy piaced, the iaminar element filling a gap between the surface to be covered and the covering elements. According to some embodiments, the system comprises a plurality of plane laminar elements provided along their edges with members for interlocking between adjacent plane laminar elements, such that a continuous or substantially continuous layer is formed between the surface to be covered and the covering elements. According to some embodiments, the plane laminar elements are further preferably provided with a plurality of locking seats for respective anchoring members for mutual anchorage between plane laminar elements and covering elements. In such embodiments, the covering elements, such as tiles or the like, are individually anchored to an underlying layer formed by the mutually interlocked plane laminar elements. Each covering element, such as a tile, can be removed independently of the other elements, by removing the anchoring element(s) from the corresponding locking seats provided in the plane laminar elements.

To obtain a high degree of flexibility, the strips are separate from the plane laminar elements; be. - they constitute elements^" separate ^'from the laminar elements themselves. They are anchored around the covering elements via the corner elements for mutual connection. The shape and/or size of the covering elements becomes in this way altogether independent of the shape and/or size of the plane laminar elements. Furthermore, there are obtained multiple possibilities of laying of the covering elements according to - -

different patterns, without constraints as regards the shape and arrangement of the plane laminar elements.

Also the corner anchoring elements are advantageously separate from the plane laminar elements for the same purposes. Some advantages of the present invention can, however, be achieved even though the corner anchoring elements are fixed to the plane laminar elements.

In a possible embodiment, the corner elements have a plurality of arms that converge towards a central area of the corner element, said arms having members of constraint for respective strips defining the joints between adjacent covering elements.

In a preferred embodiment, there are provided interlocking members for interlocking between strips and corner elements, for example, engagement members, which enable, for example, stretching of the strips by eiasticaily lengthening them. In one embodiment, the strips have recesses at least in the proximity of the ends, in which projections of said comer elements engage.

In one embodiment each locking seat of the members for mutual anchorage between plane laminar elements and covering elements is formed by a through opening that traverses the thickness of the plane laminar element. The anchoring members can each comprise an insert that can be fitted in a respective seat of the plane laminar element and have means of constraint to a covering element, which can comprise a biadhesive tape.

Further features of the system of dry laying according to the invention are set forth in the annexed claims and will be better understood from the description and the annexed drawings, which shows a possible non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

According to a further aspect, the invention regards a method for dry laying of a floor or covering formed by a plurality of covering elements, comprising-the following-steps: ^{" ~ " " ~} - laying and fitting together, on at least one part of a surface to be covered, a plurality of plane laminar elements equipped with interlocking members, which fit together along their edges, and anchoring members for anchorage of the covering elements; applying along the edges of said covering elements strips defining the - -

joints between said covering elements;

- applying to said plane laminar elements a plurality of covering elements equipped with said strips, anchoring them to said plane laminar elements via said anchoring members. According to a further aspect, the invention envisages a support for dry laying of covering elements for floors or walls, comprising a plane laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, and set along the edges of which are members for interlocking with adjacent plane laminar elements, and set on the second face of which are strips defining a joint between adjacent covering elements, said support being characterized in that it comprises at least one locking seat for a member for anchorage between the covering element and the plane laminar element.

According to a different aspect, the invention envisages a support for dry laying of covering elements for floors or walls, comprising a plane laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, set along the edges of which are members for interlocking with adjacent plane laminar elements, and set on the second face of which are strips defining a joint between adjacent covering elements, said support being characterized in that said strips are set so as to cross one another in a substantially central area of said plane laminar element, dividing said plane laminar element into a plurality of areas, and in that associated to each of said areas into which the plane laminar element is divided are members for anchoring the covering elements to the plane laminar element. With supports of this type, dry laying of covering elements is much simplified. It is not necessary to bond a support on each covering element, but rather it is possible to keep the covering elements, such as tiles or the like, separated from the supports themselves. The latter can be laid on the

- surface- to- be- covered7 and the covering-elements^" are rtherTinseftea irrthe^"" spaces delimited by the strips forming the joints and associated to the laminar supports. The covering elements can be easily detached from the supports with a simple movement substantially orthogonal to the laying surface. This makes possible simple and fast replacement of individual covering elements without dismantling the covering itself. This results in a - -

greater ease in replacing damaged covering elements, but also a considerable simplicity in replacing, for example, parts of a covering, for modifying the exterior appearance of the covering as a whole. This enables, for example, modification of a floor of a shop or other sales outlet, a public establishment, an environment for trade fairs and exhibitions, show-rooms or the like.

Furthermore, since it is not necessary to bond individual supports to individual covering elements, the system of production becomes much less costly. The manufacturer of tiles or other covering elements can produce traditional covering elements and possibly supply his own customers with the supports for dry laying that may be combined to any one of the covering elements in the catalogue. Transport of the material becomes simpler and the production of said materials less expensive.

Also possible is the separate production of supports for dry laying by specialized firms, which supply said supports to the end customer or to the person who carries out laying, who may then combine to said supports any covering element of his own choice, produced by a manufacturer different from the manufacturer of the supports.

Further advantageous features and embodiments of the supports according to the invention are set forth in the annexed claims and will be described in greater detail in what follows with reference to non-limiting embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings.

The invention also concerns a system of dry laying that uses the aforesaid supports, as well as a floor or covering comprising a plurality of supports of the type described above with corresponding covering elements anchored to the structure to be covered using said supports.

According to a different aspect, the invention regards a method for dry laying of a floor or a covering formed by a plurality of covering elements,

-eharacterized-by-the following-steps: - - - - ^~ > laying and fitting together, on at least one part of a surface to be covered, a plurality of plane laminar elements equipped with interlocking members that fit together along their own edges, with strips defining the joints between covering elements on a face of said elements facing the opposite side with respect to said surface and with anchoring members for anchorage of the covering elements;

> applying to said supports a plurality of covering elements, anchoring them to said plane laminar elements via said anchoring members, each covering element being constrained to a plurality of adjacent plane laminar elements.

Further advantageous features and embodiments of the method according to the invention will be described in greater detail in what follows and are set forth in the annexed claims. Brief description of the drawings The invention will be better understood from the ensuing description and the annexed drawings, which show a practical non-limiting embodiment of the invention. More in particular, in the plates of drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a laminar element on the side where the covering elements rest; Figure 2 is a cross section according to H-Il of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a plan view from beneath according to Ill-Ill of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlargement of the detail indicated by IV in Figure 2; Figure 5 a side view of a member for anchorage between the laminar element and the covering element; Figure 6 is a top plan view according to Vl-Vl of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a strip for definition of the joint gaps between covering elements;

Figure 8 a side view according to VIII-VIII of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross section according to IX-IX of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a cross-shaped corner element for mutual connection between the strips in a side view;

Figure 11 is a top plan view according to Xl-Xl of Figure 10;

Figures 12 and 13 are top plan views of corner connection elementswith-three arms and two arms? respectively;- — - Figure 14 is a top plan view of a covering element surrounded by four strips with four respective corner elements for mutual connection;

Figure 15 is a view from beneath of a set of six laminar elements assembled; and

Figure 16 is a view from above of a portion of covering or floor obtained - -

with the system according to the invention;

Fig.17 is a top plan view of a portion of a floor or wall covering made with tiles and joints according to Figures 7-9 and corner connection elements according to Figures 10 to 13 in a different embodiment of the invention; Fig.18 is a cross-section according to line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a top plan view of a support according to the invention in a possible embodiment;

Figure 2OA is a cross section according to A-A of Figure 19; Figure 2OB is an enlargement of an anchoring member for anchoring the covering element to the support;

Figure 21 is a portion of a floor on which the supports have been prearranged for subsequent application of the covering elements;

Figure 22 is the same floor as that of Figure 21 , on which four covering elements have been laid; Figure 23 is a top plan view of a spacer element to be combined with the supports of Figure 19 for use with a different format of tile or covering element;

Figure 24 is a cross section according to XXIV-XXIV of Figure 23; Figure 25 is a portion of a floor with applied thereon supports according to Figure 19 and spacers according to Figures 23 and 24 for dry laying of covering elements of larger dimensions;

Figure 26 is the portion of floor of Figure 25 with two covering elements laid;

Figure 27 is a top plan view of a different spacer to be used in combination with the supports of Figure 19;

Figure 28 is a cross section according to XXVIIi-XXVIII of Figure 27; Figure 29 is a portion of a floor with laid thereon supports according to Figure 19 with spacers according to Figure 27; and Figure-30-is the portion of floor of^"Figure^'29^"with^'axovering^~element^"raicl^" thereon.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

A first embodiment of a system according to the invention will be described here below with reference to Figures 1-16.

A first component of the system of dry laying of elements (such as tiles or the like) for covering a floor, a wall or the like, formed by a laminar element is shown in detail in Figures 1 to 4. The laminar element, designated by 103, comprises edges 103B, provided along which are interlocking members for interlocking between adjacent plane laminar elements. In one embodiment, the plane laminar element 103 has an approximately square development, as illustrated in the drawing, but this is not strictly binding. The shape of the plane laminar elements may also be rectangular or polygonal with a number of sides other than four. One and the same system of laying can also have plane laminar elements of different shapes, for example, for applying a covering according to complex patterns, or else on surfaces having an irregular shape.

Designated by 103X and 103Y are, respectively, the rear face and the front face of the plane laminar element 103. The face 103X is designed to rest on the floor or on the wall that is to be covered with the system according to the invention, whereas the rear surfaces of the covering elements, such as tiles or the like, come to rest on the face or surface 103Y.

In one embodiment provided on the surface 103X are antislip systems designated by 105. In one embodiment, the antislip elements 105 form a grating projecting from the rear surface 103X of the plane laminar element 103. The grating 105 can be made, for example, of plastic material with a high coefficient of friction, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or the like.

In one embodiment, the interlocking members set along the edges 103B of the plane laminar element 103 comprise appendages 103E and recesses or cavities 103F having a shape complementary to that of the appendages 103E. In one embodiment, the appendages have an approximately circular development. In one embodiment, set along two concurrent sides of the plane laminar element 103 are cavities or recesses 103F, whilst set along the other two sides are appendages 103E. The appendages 103E and recesses- or cavities 103F can be shaped so as to form undercuts to provide a more effective mutual fitting.

The plane laminar element 103 is equipped with anchoring members for anchorage between the plane laminar element 103 and the covering elements designed to be applied on a complex of plane laminar elements 103 fitted together. In one embodiment, the plane laminar elements 103 have a - -

plurality of locking seats 107 for anchoring members for mutual anchorage between the plane laminar elements 103 and the covering elements. In one embodiment, the locking seats 107 are circular, as illustrated in the drawing, but it should be understood that also different shapes may be used, for example, oval seats, or else polygonal seats, such as triangular or square ones, preferably with rounded corners, or shapes of other kinds. Advantageously, the edge of the seat 107 is rounded, as may be seen in particular in the enlargement of Figure 4, where the edge of the seat 107 is designated by 107A. In other words, the edge 107A has in cross section an approximately convex circular profile.

Preferably, the locking seats 107 are uniformly distributed along the entire development of the plane laminar element 107; for example, it is possible to envisage from two to ten, preferably from four to six, seats 107 parallel to each side of a square plane laminar element 103. The anchoring members, designated by 109, can be inserted in a stable way (see Figures 5 and 6) within the locking seats 107. In plan view the anchoring members 109 have a development complementary to that of the locking seats 107. In the example illustrated, the anchoring members 109 thus have a circular development in plan view. The edge 109A of the anchoring members 109 has a shape, which is complementary to the shape of the edges 107A of the locking seats 107. If the edge 107A of the locking seats 107 has a convex rounded shape, as illustrated in the example shown, the edges 109A of the anchoring members 109 have a concave rounded shape. A reverse arrangement is not ruled out, i.e., with interlocking members 109 having convex edges and seats 107 with concave edges 107A. Preferably, the seats 107 are through seats, i.e., they traverse the entire thickness of the plane laminar element 103, even though the possibility that said seats have a depth smaller than the thickness of the plane laminar element is not to be ruled- out: In the preferred embodiment,; the anchoring members 109 thus have a thickness equal to the thickness of the plane laminar elements 103, except possibly for the thickness of the antislip material 105.

The anchoring members 109 can be inserted in the seats 107 by snap action and remain stably anchored in said seats thanks to the concave and - -

convex conformation of the edges 107A and 109A, respectively.

In an advantageous embodiment, applied on the top face of the anchoring members 109, designated by 109Y, is a length of bi-adhesive tape 111, possibly protected with a protective sheet 111X (Figure 5). The protective element or sheet 111X protects the top face of the bi-adhesive tape 111 and is removed when the anchoring member 109 has been inserted in the corresponding seat 107 and the covering element must be applied in the way that will be described hereinafter.

A further component of the laying system according to the invention is represented by strips 121 that, when the system is laid, define the joints between adjacent covering elements, applied, via the anchoring members 109, to a set of plane laminar elements 103 joined together.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the strips according to the invention. In one embodiment, the strips 121 are made of elastic material. This enables an easier application of the strips, according to the procedures described herein. Preferably, the strips 121 are made of an impermeable . material, for- example,- synthetic rubber- or the like, which guarantees water tightness between adjacent covering elements.

In one embodiment, the strips 121 have longitudinal sides 121 A and a top wall 121 B. Defined between the longitudinal sides 121 A and the top wall

121B are hollow spaces 121C, 121D, the hollow spaces 121 D being set at the ends of the strips 121. Advantageously, in one embodiment, the ends of the strips 121 are defined by edges converging in a vertex 121 E to facilitate mounting of the strips themselves. The vertex 121 E defines an angle of approximately 90°.

In a preferred embodiment, the spaces or cavities 121 D set at the ends of the strips 121 are delimited at least frontally by respective walls 121 F, inclined from the top downwards and from the end towards the central part of

- the strip, to which there corresponds a similar inclination of the extemal sharp^~ edges or vertices 121 E mentioned above.

The cavities or sockets 121 D serve as anchorage for the strip to a corner element for mutual connection between a number of strips that converge in a vertex of a covering element. The comer connection elements can have various shapes, as illustrated in Figures 10 to 13. With initial reference to Figures 10 and 11, according to one embodiment, a first type of corner connection element, designated by 131 , has an approximately cross-shaped or X-shaped development with arms 131 A of the cross substantially equal to one another and set at right angles with respect to one another. Made on each arm 131 A is an appendage 131 B projecting upwards. The appendage 131 B is shaped in a way complementary to the space or socket 121 D made at each end of the strips 121. More specifically, the appendages 131 B have an approximately prismatic development with two inclined sides 131 C and 131 D. The side 131 C is located in a position closer to the centre of the corner anchoring element and is inclined, from the top downwards and from the inside towards the outside of the anchoring element itself. Said side 131 C co-operates with the side or wall 121 F of the cavity or socket 121 D of the corresponding strip. There is thus obtained a system of anchorage with an undercut, i.e., with an engagement between the appendages 131 B and the strips 121 thanks to the inclination of the walls 131 C and 121 F.

The strips 121 at rest have a dimension that can be slightly smaller than the side of the covering element for which the strip is intended. There may consequently be strips 121 of different dimensions according to the dimension of the covering elements that are to be laid with the system according to the invention. If the covering elements are square, for example, of 20x20 cm or of 30x30 cm, to lay them strips 121 will be used that are all the same as one another and of dimensions such as to reach, when applied to the covering elements, the length of approximately 20 or 30 cm respectively. If the covering elements are, instead, rectangular, for example, 15x30 cm, strips of two different lengths will be used.

Since it may be necessary to have available a number of strips different from four that converge in one and the same point, the corner anchoring elements can have a shape^~ different from that of the elements^" 131^" of Figures 10 and 11. For example (Figure 12), corner-anchoring elements 141 can be provided comprising just three arms designated by 141 A, set at 90° and 180° as illustrated in Figure 12. Each arm 141 A has an appendage or projection 141 B having a shape that is substantially the same and with similar functions as those of the projections or appendages 131 B of the corner anchoring - -

elements 131.

Figure 13 shows a further corner anchoring element designated by 151, which comprises just two arms 151 A set at 90°, each equipped with an appendage or projection 151 B having a shape that is substantially the same as that of the projections 131 B and 141 B of the corner anchoring elements

131 and 141 respectively.

The corner anchoring elements 131 , 141 and 151 serve for applying around the covering elements the strips 121 , which form the joints between adjacent covering elements. Shown in Figure 14 is a covering element, for example, a tile, as a whole designated by R, around which four strips 121 have been applied one along each side of the covering element R. In the example shown, the covering element R is square and hence the strips 121 that surround it are the same as one another. On the other hand, as has been mentioned, the system can be used for laying covering elements R also having a different shape, in which case strips 121 can possibly be used, which have different lengths according to the length of the sides of the covering element R.

Two respective strips 121 converge at each vertex V of the covering element R, which strips are anchored to corresponding corner anchoring elements. In the example shown, four cross-shaped corner-anchoring elements 131 are provided. As may be understood from Figure 14, each strip

121 is stretched along the respective edge of the covering element R and anchored via the sockets or cavities 121 D to corresponding appendages

131 B of the opposed corner anchoring elements 131 , set at the respective vertices V of the covering element R.

Lying of the covering or floor with the system so far described is performed in the way described in what follows. Applied in adequate number on the surface to be covered are plane laminar elements 103, fitted together

-by-means of the- cavities- 103F and the appendages^~103E made along^~the edges. Each plane laminar element 103 can be already equipped in its own seats 107 with the anchoring members 109, each of which is still protected at the top by the sheet 111X that covers the bi-adhesive 111. What is obtained is a substantially continuous surface that covers the entire wall or the floor on which the covering elements R are to be laid, without striplike elements defining the joints between the covering elements R. Consequently, it may be understood that, once the plane laminar elements 103 have been laid on the surface thus obtained, a covering can be laid that is made with covering elements R having any shape and size, arranged according to any pattern, for example, partially at 90° and partially in diagonal with respect to the surrounding walls. There are thus no constraints on the choice of the covering element R and on the distribution of said elements. The plane laminar elements 103 have a universal use and can be used with any shape and size of the covering element R itself. Laying is carried out by applying to a first covering element R or to a first set of covering elements R the strips 121 using the corner anchoring elements 131 or 141 or 151. For example, a single covering element R can be provided, as shown in Figure 14, by possibly replacing the two corner anchoring elements 131 with corresponding corner anchoring elements 141 or 151 if the element R is to be laid along a wall or in a corner of a floor. When the covering element R has been equipped with its strips 121 , it is applied in the desired point of the floor, the lengths of protective film 111X being removed from the corresponding anchoring members 109 on which the covering element R is applied. The number of anchoring members 109 to be provided for application of the covering element R depends upon the shape and size of the latter.

Once this operation has been performed, between the opposite arms of two corner anchoring elements 131 that have arms 131 A projecting from the covering element R, there can be inserted, so that it bears upon the corresponding strip 121 , a subsequent covering element R, around which via further comer anchoring elements 131 , 141 or 151 the respective strips 121 are fixed. The process continues in the same way up to completion of the covering of the floor or wall. Obviously before setting the next covering element R up against the strip 121 that has already been laid; the ^"protective elements 111X must be removed from the bi-adhesive 111 of the corresponding anchoring members 109.

Proceeding in this way, it is possible to obtain a complete covering of the floor or wall, also with complex arrangements of covering elements, as illustrated in particular in the example of Figure 16. In this example, there has - -

been obtained a floor with a frame of covering elements R1 , along the walls, with sides parallel and orthogonal to the walls themselves. Further covering elements R2 laid in diagonal configuration have been set within the frame, also using elements R3 cut in half. Set between adjacent covering elements R1, R2 and R3 are strips 121 that define the joint gaps. In the points of convergence of four vertices of four adjacent covering elements R2, cross- shaped corner anchoring elements 131 will be provided, whilst at the vertices, designated by V3, where an element R2 is located positioned adjacent to a covering element R1 , there will be set a corner anchoring element of the type designated by 151. The strips 121 that surround the covering elements R1 are, instead, fixed with comer anchoring elements with three arms of the type 141 , except in the points where the elements R1 are located, positioned in the corners of the floor, where an element with four arms 141 is used.

It may be understood from what has been described above how with the system according to the invention it is possible to obtain an extreme versatility in the laying of covering elements R, R1 , R2, R3 of various shapes using basic elements that are always the same: the plane laminar elements 103, the corner anchoring elements 131 , 141 and 151 , and the anchoring members 109. Only the strips 121 can be provided with variable dimensions according to the dimensions and shape of the covering elements. Furthermore, with the system according to the invention there are practically no constraints on the arrangement of the covering elements on the plane, as exemplified in Figure 16.

The anchoring members 109 enable removal of individual covering elements R, R1 , R2, R3 in the case where it were to become necessary to make a replacement owing to breaking or simply because it is desired or necessary to change the aesthetic appearance of the floor or wall. For this purpose, it is sufficient to pull the covering element R-R3 away, for example, using- suction-cup- means7^~detaching- frorτr the ^~respective^~ seat ^~T07^~ the^~ anchoring member or members 109 that are attached on the rear surface of the covering element to be removed. It is sufficient to overcome the force with which the anchoring members 109 are fixed in the seats 107 in order to achieve removal of the corresponding covering element. Spare anchoring members 109 are then inserted in the seats 107 left empty, the protective film 111X is removed from the portions of bi-adhesive 111 , and a new covering element can be inserted in the space left empty by the covering element that has been removed.

Figures 17 and 18 show a further embodiment of the invention. The same reference numbers are used to designate the same or corresponding elements. More specifically, Figure 17 shows a portion of a surface, such as a floor or a wall, with a covering formed by covering elements R, e.g. tiles or the like. The tiles are surrounded by joints formed by strips 121. Four strips 121 converge in each vertex of the covering elements R. As described in connection with Figures 1-17, the strips 121 are preferably made of resilient material, such as rubber and are kept under traction along each edge of the corresponding tile or covering element R. This is achieved by means of cross-shaped corner anchoring elements 131 (not shown in these Figures), which substantially correspond to the corner anchoring elements 131 shown in the preceding Figures and described herein before.

As shown in the cross section of Figure 18, the covering elements R rest on one or more plane laminar elements 104. In this embodiment the plane laminar element(s) is/are formed by a simple layer of suitable material, without locking seats for the anchoring elements which serve for mutual anchorage between the laminar element(s) and the covering elements. The covering elements are simply placed on the laminar element, which form an insulating or filling layer between the surface to be covered, in this case a floor F, and the covering elements R. The laminar element 104 can be made of rubber or the like, and can have suitable acoustic insulating features. The covering system of Figures 17 and 19 is mounted quite in the same way as the system described in connection with Figures 1-16, except that the plane laminar elements are placed on the floor without interlocking them to one another. In some embodiments, a single laminar element is placed on the-floor F.-The covering-elements- R-are-then-simply-placed on^~the^~plane^~ laminar element(s) along with the joint-forming strips 121 , which are placed around the covering elements R quite in the same way as disclosed above. The joints formed by the strips made of rubber or other suitable material keep the covering elements R in place. Each covering element can thus be disassembled independently of the other surrounding corresponding elements R.

A further embodiment of the invention is disclosed herein below reference being made to Figures 19-30.

Illustrated in Figure 19 is a support 1 for dry laying of covering elements according to a possible embodiment of the invention.

In one embodiment, the support 1 has a substantially plane laminar element 3, which, in this embodiment, has a substantially square development. As may be seen in particular in Figures 2OA and 2OB, the plane laminar element 3 has strips 5 arranged to form a cross, substantially orthogonal to the sides 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D of the plane laminar element 3. As will emerge clearly from what is set forth hereinafter, the strips 5 define the joints between adjacent covering elements, i.e., they are designed to fill the empty spaces that separate the edges of the covering elements themselves.

In an advantageous embodiment, the strips 5 divide the plane laminar element 3 into four approximately equal areas or sectors, in each of which are set members for anchoring the covering elements to the support 1.

In an advantageous embodiment, the anchoring members comprise, preferably for each area into which the plane laminar element 3 is divided, a locking seat 7 (see in particular Figure 20A) within which an anchoring member 9 (illustrated in isolation in Figure 20B) can be restrained.

In an advantageous embodiment, the anchoring member 9 has a substantially circular development. It can advantageously have a thickness S equal to the thickness of the plane laminar element 3. In this way, when the anchoring member 9 is retained into the corresponding seat 7, it is set with its rear face 9A and front face 9B substantially flush with the corresponding rear face 3X and front face 3Y of the plane laminar element 3. The seat 7 is consequently a through seat. It should on the other hand be understood that, in a different embodiment, the seat 7 can have a depth smaller than the thickness S- oHhe plane-laminarelement 3 and-accordingly the- anchoring member 9 will have a thickness smaller than the thickness S, substantially equal to the depth of the seat 7.

To constrain the anchoring member 9 and the plane laminar element 3 together, according to a possible embodiment of the invention joint systems can be used. In a possible embodiment of the invention, for this purpose the - -

edge of the seat 7 has a conformation defining an undercut, in which the corresponding edge of the anchoring member 9 is restrained.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the figures, the seat 7 has an internal edge 7A, the cross section of which has a convex profile, to which a corresponding concave peripheral profile 9C of the anchoring member 9 is constrained. Also possible is a complementary conformation, i.e., with an anchoring member 9 having a convex peripheral edge that is constrained to a concave edge of the seat 7.

The mutual anchorage between the components 3 and 9 is obtained via deformation of the sharp edge 9S and constraint of the convex profile 7A in the concave profile 9C. It should be understood that the diameter of the anchoring member 9 is substantially the same as the diameter of the seat 7, even though this does not appear from Figures 2OA and 2OB, since therein the two components 3 and 9 are represented at different scales. There may of course be a slight difference of diameter between the two components, to have, for example, a degree of play between the convex profile 7A and the concave profile 9C. The dimensions will be in any case such as to guarantee mutual fitting of the two components 3 and 9 for the purposes described herein. In a different embodiment (not shown), the anchorage may be obtained via elastic members, such as tabs or the like, provided on one and/or the other of the elements 3 and 9.

In an alternative, even though less advantageous, embodiment the mutual joining between the components 3 and 9 may be obtained via an adhesive, for example, with a bi-adhesive tape set between the rear surface 9A of the anchoring element 9 and a bottom wall of the seat 7, which, in this case, would not be a through seat, but rather would have a depth smaller than the thickness S of the plane laminar element 3. - Set on the front face 9B of the anchoring element^~9 is^~an^~an^'chorage^" means 11 for anchoring to a covering element. Said anchorage means 11 can be formed, for example, by a length of a bi-adhesive film or tape, applied to the face 9B and provided with a layer of adhesive on the top face, i.e., the face that faces the opposite side with respect to the anchoring member 9, possibly protected by a removable protective film, sheet, or lamina F, which is removed at the moment of laying of the covering elements.

Set along the edges 3A-3D of the plane laminar element 3 are members for interlocking between adjacent plane laminar elements. In an advantageous embodiment, said interlocking members comprise appendages 3E arranged along the consecutive edges 3B and 3C of each plane laminar element 3 and cavities 3F having a shape complementary to that of the appendages 3E and provided on the other two consecutive edges 3A and 3D.

In an advantageous embodiment, the appendages 3E have an expanded shape (in the example illustrated in the figures, with an approximately circular profile) for housing into the cavities 3F of similar conformation in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the plane laminar elements 3 on the plane iaying surface, after their installation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the appendages 3E have (see Figure 20A) a thickness S equal to the thickness of the plane laminar element 3 so as to be advantageously obtained by simple cutting or dinking of a plane semifinished element. In this case, the cavities 3F will be through cavities, open along the corresponding edge 3A or 3D of the plane laminar element 3. Not to be ruled out, however, is the possibility of the appendages 3E having a different thickness, and preferably one smaller than the thickness S of the central part of the plane laminar element 3. In this case, the seats or cavities 3F may not be through ones and may have a depth smaller than the thickness S and be open towards the front surface 3Y of the plane laminar element to enable fitting of the appendages 3E in the cavities 3F via relative movement of the supports 1 in a direction substantially orthogonal to each plane laminar element 3.

Illustrated in Figure 21 is a portion of a plane surface P, typically a floor, where a covering must be provided, using the supports 1 for dry laying as described with -reference-to Figures ^"19; 2OA and 2OB. More in partioularr Figure 21 illustrates the portion of floor P adjacent to a corner A between walls M1 and M2. It is to be understood that what will be described hereinafter may also apply to the production of coverings of vertical or inclined walls, instead of floors.

Applied on the plane surface of the floor P to be covered are supports 1 - 0 -

of the type illustrated in Figure 19. As may be noted in Figure 21 , by locking together the supports 1 by means of the appendages 3E that enter into the cavities 3F, a grating (with a square mesh in the example illustrated) is formed on the surface P, said grating being made of the strips 5, set end-on, 5 of the individual supports 1. Set along the walls M1 and M2 are portions of supports 1 cut along the strips 5. More in particular a first portion 1X is provided in the corner between the walls M1 , M2 with a dimension equal to one quarter of the support 1 , cut on the outside of the strips 5, in such a way that there remain on the portion 1X the two portions of strip 5 that come to

10 bear head-on with the strips 5 of the adjacent portions designated by 1 Y and obtained by cutting of corresponding supports 1 in half. The portions 1Y are obtained by cutting respective supports 1 in half along one or the other of the two strips 5.

The dimension of the supports 1 corresponds to one of the possible

15 formats of the covering elements. For example, the supports 1 illustrated in the figures can have sides L 30 cm in length. Consequently, the grating

_* . . formed by the strips 5- of the various supports 1 set end-on will have square meshes with sides having a length L = 30 cm. Inserted within each of said meshes is a covering element R as illustrated as a whole for four of the

20 meshes formed by the supports 1 in Figure 22. As may be noted in said figure, also along the walls M1 and M2 there are provided meshes having a square shape and sides L x L = 30 x 30 cm via the use of portions 1X and 1Y.

The covering elements R are anchored to the supports 1 by means of

25 the bi-adhesive 11. Each covering element R is anchored to four areas of four adjacent supports 1 via four portions of bi-adhesive tape 11 applied to four corresponding anchoring members 9. Along the walls M1 and M2 the anchorage will be in part on areas of entire supports 1 and in part on portions 1XrIYv ^" - ^{' ~~}

30 The laying of a covering for a floor P or a wall using the supports 1 is extremely practical and fast. In fact, in a first step the individual supports 1 are applied, being fitted to one another by means of the appendages 3E and the cavities 3F, providing a supporting structure, completed along the walls M1 , M2 by portions 1X, 1Y of supports 1. Once this has been done, the - -

individual covering elements R are applied in the meshes formed by the strips 5 set end-on with respect to one another of the various supports 1 and of the respective portions 1X, 1Y via simple removal of the protective film F of the bi-adhesive. The individual supports 1 can be produced and sold complete with the anchoring members 9 already inserted and fitted in the seats 7 and provided with the bi-adhesive 11. Not ruled out, however, is the possibility of these components 3, 9, 1 1 being sold separately; for example, the anchoring members 9 equipped with the bi-adhesive 11 can be sold separate from the plane laminar elements 3, and the person who carries out laying of the covering will insert the individual components 9 in the seats 7 before proceeding to application of the tiles or covering elements R. Furthermore, also the bi-adhesive 11 might not be applied previously on the anchoring members 9 but rather sold separately, for example, in sheets from which individual pre-cut portions of bi-adhesive 11 can be detached by the user, who will then apply them to the anchoring member 9 possibly already inserted in its seat 7, or else stH! to ^, be inserted in the latter. Since- the anchoring members 9 and the plane laminar elements 3 cannot be obtained by dinking, i.e., cutting the anchoring members 9 from the plane laminar element 3, on account of the concave and convex profiles 7A and 9C, but rather must be produced separately, the manufacturer could offer on the market a product at a lower cost, in which the assembly of the anchoring members 9 on the plane laminar elements 3, as well as possibly also the application of the bi-adhesive 1 1 , are entrusted to the end user. In a modified embodiment, the anchoring members 9 could be without bi-adhesive 11 and made for receiving, for example, a glue to be applied to areas or points directly by the user. For example, a simple silicone sealant could be used, to be applied using a normal silicone gun on the surface 9B of the anchoring-members-9^~inserted^"in the seats ^~7τ^~ Whatever the manner with which the anchoring member 9 is inserted in the respective seat 7 of the plane laminar element 3 and with which the covering element or tile R is fixed (using bi-adhesive, glue, or the like) to the anchoring members 9, it is always possible to remove one or more tiles or covering elements R individually to replace them, for example, in the case of - -

breakage or when it is desired to change the appearance of the covering. In fact, for this purpose it is sufficient to exert an adequate traction force on the covering element R in a direction orthogonal to the plane P of the floor or of the wall on which the covering has been applied. Said traction force will bring about detachment of the anchoring members 9 from the corresponding plane laminar elements, via release of the connection formed by the shaped edges 7A and QC. It will then be convenient to detach, for example, with the aid of a cutter, the individual anchoring members 9 that remain adherent to the rear face of the covering element R that has been removed. Said element is then replaced simply by inserting new anchoring members 9 into the seats 7 that have remained free within the mesh from which the covering element R has been removed. Said new anchoring members 9 can in fact be produced for being sold also as spare pieces or additional components with respect to the laminar elements 3. The covering elements R, which have been removed in order to carry out modification of the aesthetic appearance of the covering, can be reused > . at a later, date.

The supports 1 so far described can be used for dry laying of covering elements also of different formats with respect to the format L x L of the support 1. For this purpose there can be provided spacers or inserts of the type illustrated as a whole in Figure 23 and designated by 21. These inserts or spacers 21 comprise a plane laminar element 23 provided with appendages 23E having a shape that is the same as the appendages 3E of the plane laminar elements 3, and cavities 23F that are the same as the cavities 3F of the plane laminar elements 3 of the supports 1. The spacers or inserts 21 have a rectangular shape of sides L x L/2. Parallel to the edges of smaller length L/2 is provided a strip 25 of cross section equal to the cross section of the strips 5 provided on the supports 1. - - - Illustrated- in- Figure25 is the laying- of-supports t-combined to spacers^" or inserts 21. Laying is obtained, in a way similar to what was described previously with reference to Figure 22, by placing a corresponding spacer or insert 21 along the sides of each element of support 1. The strips 5 and 25 of the supports 1 and of the spacers 21 consequently form a square-mesh lattice with mesh dimensions equal to 3/2L. When the support 1 has a dimension of 30 x 30, the meshes obtained with the use of said supports 1 and of the inserts or spacers 21 will have a dimension of 45 x 45 cm. Illustrated in Figure 26 is the portion of floor of Figure 25 with two covering elements or tiles R applied in two of the meshes formed by the strips 5 and 25. Anchorage of the covering elements R is obtained in the way described above.

In this embodiment, the spacers or inserts 21 are without anchoring members 9, but could be provided with anchoring members 9, just as the supports 1 are provided therewith. On the other hand, already with four anchoring members 9 for each mesh, as shown in Figure 25, an adequate fixing of each covering element R is obtained.

Formed in each mesh is a central empty area V having a square shape, in which no iaminar eiement is provided. This area is sufficiently smali as not to represent a drawback to proper laying of the covering material. On the other hand, in a modified embodiment of the invention, there may be envisaged the use of plane laminar inserts having a shape corresponding to the development in plan view of the area V, which come to fill also this portion of floor.

Along the walls that surround the floor P on which the covering is applied with the system illustrated in Figure 25 there are set other portions 1X or 1Y of supports 1 and portions 21X of the inserts or spacers 21 , obtained by cutting said spacers along the central strip 25.

Shown in Figure 27 is a different insert or spacer designated by 31 and formed by a plane laminar element 33 with appendages 33E and cavities 33F along the edges 33A, 33B, 33C and 33D. Provided along a centre line of the plane laminar element 33 is a strip 35 with a cross section equal to that of the strips 5 of the supports 1. The dimension of the inserts or spacers 31 is equal to LxL. They thus have the same development in plan view as the supports 1 , but have a single strip 35, instead of two, and in this embodiment are without^{^} anchoring members 9, even though it is possible also in this case to envisage one or two anchoring members 9 on each of the two halves in which the spacer or insert 31 is divided by the central strip 35.

Shown in Figure 29 is the use of supports 1 combined to inserts or spacers 31. The strips 5 and 35 set end-on with respect to one another form square meshes with side 2L If the support 1 has a dimension 30x30 cm, the square meshes that are thus obtained have a dimension 60x60 cm. A covering formed by covering elements R of dimensions 60x60 cm can thus be dry-laid on the floor P. Also in this case, empty areas V are obtained within each square mesh, which can be possibly filled, if necessary, with plane laminar inserts having a corresponding shape. It is also possible to envisage that said inserts will be provided with anchoring elements or members 9 in a way similar to what is envisaged for the supports 1.

As illustrated in the drawings, both the supports 1 and the inserts 21 and 31 can be provided, on the rear face 3X, 21 A and 31 A of an antislip covering, for example, a rubber layer, for a better adhesion to the underlying laying surface. The plane laminar elements 3, the inserts or spacers 21 , 31 , and the anchoring members 9 can be made of any suitable material, for example, moulded plastic, wood, etc. The production by moulding of plastic material having adequate capacity of elastic deformation enables the edges 7A and 9C to be made with the same operation of moulding, without any need for subsequent processing operations, and consequently proves particularly advantageous.

So far described have been supports of size 30x30 cm and corresponding inserts for dry laying of tiles or other covering elements of larger dimensions. It should be understood, on the other hand, that the same principles can be used for obtaining supports of different dimensions (for example, 45x45 or 60x60 cm) and also of different shapes, for example, rectangular, without ruling out the possibility of envisaging also supports for tiles or other covering elements of other shape.

It is understood that the drawings merely show one example provided purely as a practical embodiment of the invention, it being possible for said invention to vary in the forms and arrangements, without thereby departing from the^~~scope^~of^~the idea underlying the invention itself. The possible presence of reference numbers in the annexed claims has the purpose of facilitating reading of the claims with reference to the description and the drawings, and in no way limits the scope of protection represented by the claims.

Claims

1. A system for dry laying of covering elements for walls or floors, comprising at least one laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with at least one covering element, characterized in that it comprises: strips defining joints between covering elements, which can be applied along the edges of the covering elements; corner elements for mutual connection of said strips, so that said strips are retained around the respective covering element.

2. A system for dry laying of covering elements for walls or floors, comprising plane laminar elements with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, said laminar elements comprising along their own edges members for interlocking between adjacent plane laminar elements, characterized in that it comprises: - strips defining joints between covering elements, which can be applied along the edges of the covering elements; a plurality of locking seats made in said plane laminar elements, for respective anchoring members for mutual anchorage between plane laminar elements and covering elements.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises corner elements for mutual connection between said strips.

4. The system according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that said strips have a substantially rectilinear development.

5. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strips are separate from the plane laminar elements.

6. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said corner elements have a plurality of arms that converge towards a central area of the corner element, said arms having members of constraint for respective strips defining the joints between adjacent covering elements.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that at least some of said comer elements are substantially cross-shaped, with arms for anchorage of four strips that converge in the vertex of four adjacent covering elements.

8. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said corner elements for connection of the strips are separate from the plane laminar elements.

9. The system according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said corner elements for connection of the strips are fixed to the plane laminar elements.

10. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strips are made of impermeable material and form seals around the edges of the covering elements.

11. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strips are made of elastic material.

12. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises members for interlocking between strips and corner elements.

13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that said strips have recesses at least in the proximity of the ends, in which projections of said corner elements engage.

14. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said interlocking members are designed for fitting adjacent plane laminar elements via a relative movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the face of the plane laminar element.

15. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said interlocking members comprise cavities and appendages made along the edges of the plane laminar element, the cavities being open along the corresponding edge of the plane laminar element and at least towards the second face of the plane laminar element, for inserting in ^" said cavities corresponding appendages of adjacent laminar elements^"with^"a^~ movement substantially orthogonal to the laying surface.

16. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking seats for locking the anchoring members for mutual anchorage between plane laminar elements and covering elements are formed by through openings that traverse the thickness of the plane laminar element.

17. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said anchoring members comprises an insert that can be engaged into a respective seat of the plane laminar element and has means of constraint to a covering element.

18. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said anchoring members comprise an insert that can be engaged into the seat of the plane laminar element and has a thickness not larger than the thickness of the plane laminar element so that, when an anchoring member is mounted in the respective seat, it is set with its top surface flush with the second face of the plane laminar element.

19. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said iocking seats for the anchoring members comprise a shaped peripheral edge to form a shape fit with the edge of the corresponding anchoring member.

20. The system according to claim 19, characterized in that the edge of each locking seat for said anchoring members comprises an edge forming an undercut, into which the anchoring member is engaged, said anchoring member having a peripheral edge shaped accordingly so that it engages into the undercut formed in the peripheral edge of the seat.

21. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said anchoring members comprise an adhesive on one of their faces, for adherence to the covering element.

22. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking seats for the anchoring members have a convex peripheral edge, in which a concave peripheral edge of the corresponding anchoring member engages.

23. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, ^~ characterized in that it comprises on theiirst^~face^~an^~antislip^~~covering7 ^{~~ ~}

24. The system according to claim 23, characterized in that said antislip covering is set according to a grating pattern.

25. The system according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that said anchoring members comprise a bottom surface provided with a layer of antislip material.

26. A method for dry laying of a floor or covering formed by a plurality of covering elements, characterized by the following steps a. laying b. at least one laminar element on a surface to be covered; c. applying along the edges of said covering elements strips defining the joints between said covering elements; d. applying to said at least one plane laminar element a plurality of covering elements equipped with said strips.

27. A support for dry laying of covering elements for floors or walls, comprising a plane laminar element with a first face of contact with a laying surface and a second face of contact with a covering element, and along the edges of which are set interlocking members for interlocking with adjacent plane laminar elements, and on the second face of which are set strips defining a joint between adjacent covering elements, characterized in that it comprises at least one locking seat for an anchoring member for anchorage between the covering element and the plane laminar element.

28. The support according to claim 27, characterized in that said interlocking members are shaped for fitting adjacent supports via a relative movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to the face of the plane laminar element.

29. The support according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that said interlocking members comprise cavities and appendages arranged along the edges of the plane laminar element, the cavities being open along the corresponding edge of the plane laminar element and at least towards the second face of the plane laminar element, facing the covering element, for inserting in said cavities corresponding appendages of adjacent laminar elements with a movement substantially orthogonal to the laying surface.

30. The support according to claim 27, 28 or 29, characterized in that said-aHeast- one- locking^{^}seat for the-anchoring^{^}member is formed^~by a^~ through opening that traverses the thickness of the plane laminar element.

31. The support according to one or more of claims 27 to 30, characterized in that said anchoring member comprises an insert that can be anchored into said seat of the plane laminar element and having means for constraint to a covering element. - -

32. The support according to one or more of claims 27 to 31 , characterized in that said anchoring member comprises an insert that can be anchored into the seat of the laminar element and has a thickness not larger than the thickness of the plane laminar element, so that, when the anchoring member is mounted in the respective seat, it is set with its top surface flush with the second face of the plane laminar element.

33. The support according to one or more of claims 27 to 32, characterized in that said at least one locking seat for the anchoring member comprises a shaped peripheral edge to form a shape fit with the edge of the corresponding anchoring member.

34. The support according to claim 33, characterized in that the edge of the locking seat for the anchoring member comprises an edge forming an undercut, constrained to which is the anchoring member having a peripheral edge shaped accordingly so as to be constrained into the undercut formed in the peripheral edge of the seat.

35. The support according to one or more of claims 27 to 34, characterized in that said at least one anchoring member comprises an adhesive on one of its faces so as to adhere to the covering element.

36. The support according to one or more claims 27 to 35, characterized in that said strips defining the joint between adjacent covering elements are arranged to form a cross, substantially orthogonal to the edges of the plane laminar element and intersect approximately at the centre of the plane laminar element.

37. The support according to one or more of claims 27 to 36, characterized in that said strips defining the joint between adjacent covering elements divide the plane laminar element into at least four areas, each of which is equipped with at least one seat for a respective anchoring member.

38. The support according to, claim 37, characterized in that said strips- divide— the— support- into- four- areasr^~ each- having - a ^"dimension substantially corresponding to one quarter of the dimensions of the covering element.

39. The support according to one or more of claims 27 to 38, characterized in that said at least one locking seat for an anchoring member has a convex peripheral edge anchored to which is a concave peripheral edge of said anchoring member.

40. The support according to one or more of claims 27 to 39, characterized in that it comprises on the first face an antislip covering.

41. The support according to claim 40, characterized in that said at least one anchoring member comprises a bottom surface provided with a layer of antislip material.

42. A system for dry laying of covering elements, comprising a plurality of supports according to one or more of claims 27 to 41.

43. The system according to claim 42, characterized in that said system comprises a plurality of anchoring members.

44. The system according to claim 42 or 43, characterized in that it comprises spacers to be set between said supports.

45. The system according to claim 44, characterized in that said spacers each comprise a laminar element, provided on the edges of which are interlocking members complementary to the interlocking members of said supports.

46. The system according to Claim: 44 or 45, characterized in that said spacers comprise a strip designed to form at least part of a joint between adjacent covering elements.

47. A floor or covering comprising a plurality of supports according to one or more of claims 27 to 41 and a plurality of covering elements anchored to a structure via said supports.