WO2010003667A1

WO2010003667A1 - Insulating flooring system

Info

Publication number: WO2010003667A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/004969
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio Ciocca; Pierluigi Scavini
Original assignee: S.P.M. Di Scavini Pierluigi & C.
Priority date: 2008-07-11
Filing date: 2009-07-09
Publication date: 2010-01-14
Also published as: ITMI20081272A1; EP2319148A1

Abstract

An insulating flooring system is disclosed, comprising supporting plates (1). consisting of a flat base (3) and of vertical spacers (4), and closing plates (2) applied to the tops of the spacers (4), so that between the plates (1) and (2) a space (7) is formed for the passage of cables and of pipes (6), the plates (1, 2) being formed by moulding of a rigid plastic material.

Description

INSULATING FLOORING SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to an insulating flooring system.

The insulating floorings to which the invention refers are of the type in which the floor is kept at a distance from the ground, so that an air space is created between the ground and the floor, providing heat and sound insulation and allowing the passage of cables and of pipes.

Currently existing insulating floors are normally produced using so called honeycomb foundations, that is internally hollow elements, which are placed side by side and interlocked with each other and on which concrete is then poured to obtain directly the floor surface or a slab on which to apply a tiled floor or the like.

Such flooring, once installed, becomes a "enbloc" fixed structure.

The drawbacks of such a structure, which does not allow the inspection of the pipes beneath it or any other type of intervention, are obvious. Furthermore, said pipes remain in direct contact with the ground or with a slab, if present, increasing the risks of deterioration thereof.

There also exist floors of the floating type, in which the floor surface consists of tiles of aluminium (or of another material) which rest on suitable pedestal spacers which keep them distanced from the ground.

These floating floors are easily dismantled and thus allow an easy inspection of the pipes below. However, wide gaps remain between the side-by-side tiles, through which dirt and debris of all types can easily pass, calling for frequent cleaning operations, which require the complete dismantling of the floor.

Object of the invention is to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks by providing a flooring system that can be easily assembled and dismantled, that ensures a good heat and sound insulation, that offers a good protection for the incorporated pipes and cables, that is simple and cheap to produce without having to make use of specialised labour and that is easy to manoeuvre because it is extremely lightweight, thus limiting the shipping costs. This object is achieved by the insulating flooring system according to the invention which has the characteristics listed in appended independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

The insulating flooring system according to the invention essentially comprises a plurality of lower supporting plates consisting of a flat base and of various spacers, and a plurality of flat upper closing plates, applied to said spacers.

Tiles, boards and the like can be attached to the upper plates.

Both the supporting plates and the closing plates are advantageously made in a single moulding of a plastic material, in particular of rigid polyurethane, ABS and the like.

The closing plates have a surface that is equal to, a sub-multiple of or a multiple of the surface of the supporting plates and are applied thereto by means of screwing, gluing or sealing.

Holes can be provided in the flat base of the supporting plates to serve for the possible anchorage of said base to the ground and for releasing the Random gas developed by the ground.

The spacers are advantageously disposed along the periphery of the base of the supporting plates, which are preferably square in shape, and they can vary in number and in height, according to needs.

Cables and pipes of various types can easily be laid on the bases of the supporting plates, without coming into direct contact with the ground or with the underlying concrete slab, if present.

Further characteristics of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description that follows, referring to a purely exemplifying and therefore nonlimiting embodiment thereof, illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein: - Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective top view of a portion of flooring according to the invention not completely assembled, or with parts removed, to allow the inner structure to be seen;

- Figure 2 is a perspective top view of a supporting plate forming part of the flooring of Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 1 , the flooring system according to the invention is essentially composed of lower plates, which henceforth will be called supporting plates 1 , and of upper plates, which will be called covering or closing plates 2.

Both such plates are advantageously formed by moulding of a plastic material, in particular of rigid polyurethane, ABS or the like.

The supporting plate 1, seen better in Figure 2, is obtained in a single moulding and is composed of a flat base 3 and of a plurality of spacer elements 4, which are erected vertically from the base 3 and which can vary in height, according to needs.

In the embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the supporting plate 1 is square- shaped, which is the preferred shape, but it is obvious that it can also take on other shapes, in particular a rectangular shape, and that it can be of different sizes. If it is to be standardised, the supporting plate 1 can for example measure 30 x 30 cm, or 60 x 60 cm, which is the case illustrated in Figure 2.

The total number of the spacers 4 is nine, four L-shaped spacers 4 being disposed at the four corners of the flat square base 3, four rectangular spacers 4 being disposed at the centre point of the four sides of the base 3 and one square spacer 4 being disposed at the centre.

Also provided on the base 3 are air holes 5 for the escape of Random gas which is released from the ground.

The closing plates 2 consist of flat plates, which rest on the spacers 4.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the size of the closing plates 2 is 30 x 30 cm, so that four plates 2 are needed to cover a supporting plate 1 having a size of 60 x 60 cm, but it is obvious that the dimensions of the plates 2 may be equal to or multiples of those of the plate 1.

The upper closing plates 2 may be screwed, glued, sealed or interlocked with the supporting plates 1.

In their turn, tiles may be glued or wooden boards or the like may be nailed to the plates

2.

Electrical cables and pipes for the passage of fluids, such as gas, water and cooling or heating fluids can be laid, between the spacers 4, in the space 7 which is created between the base 3 of the supporting plates 1 and the closing plates 2.

In Figure 1 one of said pipes 6 is shown by way of example.

The flooring system according to the invention is rapidly and simply laid dry.

In fact it is sufficient to lay the supportingi plates 1 dry on a flat surface, placing them side by side to each other and, possibly, placing anchorages in some of the holes 5, to lay the cables and the pipes 6 and then to apply the closing plates 2, to which tiles or wooden boards (not shown in the figures) may possibly be connected.

The flooring system according to the invention has important characteristics and various advantages with respect to the systems of the prior art.

It presents a high degree of insulation, to both heat and sound, it is impermeable, it is ventilated, it can be heated by blowing air into the gap 7 between the base 3 of the supporting plates 1 and the closing plates 2, it allows the Random gas developed by the ground to escape through the holes 5 in the plates 1 and it allows the pipes 6 to be laid so to prevent them from resting on the ground or on a concrete slab, when present.

Both the closing plates 2 and the underlying supporting plates 1 can be removed for any underfloor inspections.

The system is very light and can bear high loads. Furthermore the plates 1 and 2 are flameproof and can be regenerated.

From the aforegoing description, the advantages of the invention are evident, but it must not be taken as limited to the particular embodiment previously described and illustrated in the appended drawings in that numerous modifications of detail within the reach of a person skilled in the art can be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An insulating flooring system comprising lower supporting plates (1), consisting of a flat base (3) and of spacers (4), and upper closing plates (2) applied on said spacers (4), an air space (7) for the passage of cables and of pipes (6) being created between the base (3) of the supporting plates (1) and the closing plates (2).

2. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that said supporting plates (1) are rectangular in shape, and preferably square, said closing plates (2) having a surface that is equal to, a multiple of or a submultiple of that of the supporting plates (1).

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each supporting plate (1) comprises four L-shaped spacers disposed at its four corners.

4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each supporting plate (1) further comprises four spacers arranged on its periphery, at the centre point of each side thereof, and a further central spacer.

5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the base (3) of at least some of said supporting plates (1) holes (5) are provided for the air and for a possible anchorage of the plates (1) to the ground.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said plates (1, 2) are obtained by a single moulding of a plastic material, particularly of rigid polyurethane, ABS, or the like.

7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said closing plates (2) are screwed, glued, or in any case fixed to the tops of said spacers (4) of the supporting plates (1).

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that tiles are glued or wooden boards or the like are nailed to said closing plates (2).

9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is laid dry.

10. An assembly method for a flooring system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:

- dry laying on flat surface of the supporting plates (1), side by side with each other;

- laying of cables and of pipes (6) on the flat bases (3) of the plates (1) between the spacers (4);

- application on the supporting plates (1) of closing plates (2), to form a floor surface;

- possible attachment to the closing plates (2) of tiles, wooden boards or the like.