WO2012007801A1

WO2012007801A1 - Method for making a covering element for a surface and element obtained by this method

Info

Publication number: WO2012007801A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/000028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Otello Dalla Rosa
Original assignee: Coatex Srl
Priority date: 2010-07-13
Filing date: 2011-01-04
Publication date: 2012-01-19
Also published as: ITVI20100193A1; IT1401020B1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method for making an element (2) for covering a surface (3) comprising the following steps: preparing a first layer (4) comprising magnetic material; preparing a second layer (5; 5') suited to be joined to the first layer (4); applying an adhesive substance (6) that can be activated at a given temperature to the surface (4a, 5a) of at least one between the first layer (4) and the second layer (5; 5'); joining the first layer (4) to the second layer (5; 5') with the adhesive substance (6) by heating the adhesive substance (6) to its activation temperature (Tl) while maintaining for the first layer (4) a temperature below the critical temperature (Tmax) of the magnetic material. The invention also concerns a covering element (2) and a covering system (1).

Description

METHOD FOR MAKING A COVERING ELEMENT FOR A SURFACE AND ELEMENT OBTAINED BY THIS METHOD.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns the technical field of covering and/or facing elements for surfaces.

In particular, the present invention refers to a method for making a covering element for surfaces like floors, ceilings and external faces, for example for making technical surfaces for sports activities, like those used for athletics tracks, indoor stadiums, gyms, much frequented places like dance halls, airports, shopping centres etc.

More particularly, the present invention refers to a method for making elements for covering and/or facing surfaces that frequently need to be replaced or removed.

The invention also concerns the covering element obtained with said method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

In the production of walking surfaces, and in particular for finishing walking surfaces in outdoor and indoor sports structures, for example athletics tracks, floors of gyms or indoor stadiums, it is common to use covering materials arranged over an underlying base usually consisting of a more or less smooth surface made of concrete or screed.

More generally, in civil building or industrial building construction, the use of covering elements is known, which are applied in the form of a walking layer, like a floor, or of covering elements used for decorative purposes, like tiles laid on the inner or outer walls of a building.

Said covering elements can be of various types, like for example ceramic tiles, wooden elements used for parquet or plank floorings, elements made of plastic materials like linoleum or materials comprising fibres, like moquette, which are applied to the base surface through suitable glueing methods in order to obtain the most effective bonding results.

Thus, for example, when tiles are going to be laid, the use of a concrete layer is widespread, while when a parquet, linoleum or moquette flooring is going to be laid, a layer of a suitable bonding agent is used.

In some cases the covering surfaces must be replaced due to wear or to the need to adapt them to different uses, as it happens for example in sports structures where the floor is periodically replaced due to wear or more frequently due to the need to prepare the surface for different sports activities. Thus, for example, at short intervals it may be necessary to lay a smooth parquet flooring for a volleyball match and successively a flooring made of a compound known as tartan or another type of flooring for a basketball match.

When said surfaces are replaced because they have worn out, it is necessary to lift the surface layer in order to break the bonding agent layer and detach it from the surface to which it adheres, then to remove the glue residues from said surface and then to glue the new replacement surface on it.

When, on the other hand, said surfaces are periodically replaced in order to prepare the correct flooring for the different sports activities mentioned above, it is preferred to lay panels bearing the desired surface from time to time, in order to be able to remove them at the end of the activity and replace them with other panels bearing a surface that is suitable for the successive activity.

Said operations require special attention, in order to ensure that said adjacent panels adhere perfectly to each other. Furthermore, large spaces must be available for storing said panels when they are not in use, and considerable physical efforts are required to lay and remove them.

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks described above.

In particular, it is one object of the present invention to make a covering element for surfaces that allows quicker laying operations compared to the elements used in the covering systems of known type.

It is another object of the present invention to make a covering element for surfaces that allows quicker removal operations compared to the elements used in the covering systems of known type.

It is a further object of the present invention to make a covering element for surfaces that makes it possible to speed up the operations needed to replace the coverings, in particular the floors of sports structures, compared to the covering systems of known type.

It is another object of the present invention to make a covering element for surfaces that makes it possible to reduce the efforts required of the operator for the removal operations, in particular for removing the floors of sports structures, compared to the covering elements of known type.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is based on the general consideration that it is possible to manufacture an element for covering surfaces using magnetic material.

According to a first embodiment, the subject of the invention is a method for manufacturing a covering element for surfaces according to claim 1, that is, a method for manufacturing an element for covering surfaces comprising the following steps:

- preparing a first layer comprising magnetic material;

- preparing a second layer suited to be joined to said first layer;

- applying an adhesive substance that can be activated at a given temperature on the surface of at least one between said first layer and said second layer;

- joining said first layer to said second layer using said adhesive substance, by heating said adhesive substance to its activation temperature, and mamtaining for said first layer a temperature that is lower than the critical temperature of said magnetic material.

Advantageously, joining said first layer to said second layer using said method makes it possible to maintain for the covering element the magnetic properties of the first layer without any deterioration.

The step of applying an adhesive substance preferably includes the use of an adhesive substance comprising a solvent.

Even more preferably, said solvent consists of water.

In the case of use of an adhesive substance comprising a solvent, the method preferably includes a step of drying the adhesive substance before the step of joining the first layer to the second layer.

The drying step preferably takes place in an environment with controlled temperature.

Said drying step advantageously makes it possible to glue together two, even non breathable layers, the first and the second one.

The activation temperature is preferably included between 50°C and 100°C, more preferably it is equal to 100°C.

Even more preferably, in the method of the invention the step of joining the first and the second layer is performed continuously, making them pass between two rollers.

The manufacture of the covering element advantageously takes place through a quick and controlled process.

The step of heating the adhesive substance to its activation temperature is preferably performed by heating at least one of the two rollers. Alternatively, the step of heating the adhesive substance to its activation temperature is performed by heating it in an environment with controlled temperature before joining the first layer to the second layer through their passage between the two rollers.

Again alternatively, the step of heating the adhesive substance to its activation temperature is performed through heat emission means before joining said first layer to said second layer by making them pass between said two rollers.

More preferably, said heat emission means comprise an infrared lamp.

Advantageously, the activation of the adhesive substance takes place in a controlled and quick way.

Preferably, the adhesive substance drying step is regulated by adjusting the roller speed.

The adhesive substance application step preferably includes its application to the surface of the second layer and successive coupling with the first layer comprising magnetic material.

According to another embodiment, the subject of the present invention is a covering element obtained through the method described above.

According to a further embodiment, the subject of the present invention is a system for covering surfaces comprising a covering element obtained through the method described above.

The present invention discloses a system for covering surfaces comprising a covering element suited to be applied to said surface, wherein the covering system comprises means suited to generate a mutual magnetic adhesion force between the surface and the covering element.

Advantageously, the covering element can be easily applied to the surface by exploiting the magnetic adhesion force and easily removed with no need to perform operations that may modify the elements of the system.

The covering system preferably comprises magnetic material associated with one between said surface and said covering element, and comprises magnetic or ferromagnetic material associated with the other one between said surface and said covering element.

The covering element preferably comprises said magnetic material.

Even more preferably, the covering element comprises a first layer facing towards the surface and comprises one between the magnetic material and the ferromagnetic material, a second exposed layer opposite the first layer and an intermediate layer comprising an adhesive substance.

The first and the second layer preferably comprise non breathable materials. The adhesive substance preferably comprises a solvent, even more preferably said solvent comprises water.

The magnetic material preferably comprises a magnetic film.

Even more preferably, the magnetic material is flexible.

Advantageously, the magnetic material is easy to apply.

The ferromagnetic material preferably comprises a plasto ferrite film.

The present invention also discloses, in particular, a covering element that can be applied to a surface comprising magnetic material or ferromagnetic material.

Advantageously, the covering element is easy to apply and even more advantageously easy to remove with no need to break it.

The covering element preferably comprises a first layer suited to be placed in contact with the surface and comprising the magnetic material or the ferromagnetic material, a second exposed layer opposite the first layer and an intermediate layer comprising an adhesive substance.

The first and the second layer preferably comprise non breathable materials.

More preferably, the adhesive substance comprises a solvent, and even more preferably said solvent comprises water.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnetic material comprises a magnetic film.

Furthermore, the magnetic material is preferably flexible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, objects and characteristics, as well as further embodiments of the present invention, are defined in the claims and will be illustrated in the following description, with reference to the enclosed drawings; in the drawings, coiresponding or equivalent characteristics and/or components are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular:

- Figure 1 shows a covering system using a covering element manufactured according to the method that is the subject of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a detail of the covering system shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail of the covering system shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows the cross section of Figure 3 according to section plane III-III;

- Figure 5 shows a detail of Figure 3;

- Figure 6 shows the cross section of Figure 5 according to section plane V-V; - Figure 7 shows another detail of Figure 3;

- Figure 8 shows the cross section of Figure 7 according to section plane VII- VII;

- Figure 9 schematically shows a first method for manufacturing the element shown in Figure 5;

- Figure 10 shows a variant embodiment of Figure 9;

- Figure 11 shows a variant embodiment of Figure 10;

- Figure 12 shows another variant embodiment of Figure 9;

- Figure 13 shows a variant embodiment of Figure 12;

- Figures 14 and 15 schematically show another method for manufacturing the element shown in Figure 5;

- Figure 16 shows a variant embodiment of Figure 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Although the present invention is described below with reference to its embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and illustrated in the drawings. On the contrary, the embodiments described and illustrated herein clarify some aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims.

The present invention has proven to be particularly advantageous when applied to systems for covering walking surfaces, and even more advantageous when applied to covering systems that need frequent removals and replacements for varied reasons, for example in the case of athletics tracks or indoor stadiums. It should however be noted that the possible applications of the present invention are not limited to covering walking surfaces. On the contrary, the present invention can be conveniently applied whenever it is necessary to cover surfaces, and therefore not only walking surfaces like floors but also different types of surfaces like walls or ceilings, or in the cases where it is necessary to cover furmshing elements or to apply fmishing and decorative elements, or again to apply sound-absorbing elements.

The application of the present invention is particularly useful in all the cases where it is frequently necessary to replace the covering part, as is evident also from the following description.

Figure 1 shows a covering system 1 using a covering element 2 manufactured according to the method that is the subject of the invention.

In particular, the covering system 1 is used to cover the floor of a room S by means of covering elements 2 in the form of adjacent strips. The shape of said covering elements 2 is not to be considered binding in any way, on the contrary, in variant embodiments of the invention said covering elements can assume any other desired shape, for example they can form a tiling surface with substantially square or rectangular elements, or come in different shapes and colours when a more or less decorative appearance is required.

The covering system 1 includes, therefore, a plurality of covering elements 2 resting on a base surface indicated by 3 and better visible in Figure 2, in which one edge of a covering element 2 is shown in raised position.

The covering element 2, as explained later on in the description, is actually flexible and can be deformed if not even advantageously rolled up.

However, in variant embodiments of the invention the covering element may be of a rigid type and therefore not deformable, as shown instead in Figure 2.

The covering element 2, shown in particular in Figures 5 and 6, comprises a first layer 4 suited to be placed in contact with the base surface 3, a second exposed layer 5 that constitutes the walking surface of the floor, and an intermediate layer 6 consisting of an adhesive substance.

It should be noted that the figures are provided only by way of example and the dimensions of the various layers shown therein are not to scale for the sake of clarity.

The first layer 4 of the covering element 2 consists of a magnetic film and is therefore characterized by a given adhesion force and a given magnetic attraction force. Said parameters are proportional to the thickness of the film 4 and therefore the value of said thickness will be selected from time to time based on the application in question and the desired degree of adhesion.

Besides having magnetic adhesion and traction properties, said magnetic film 4 is advantageously flexible and therefore easy to handle both during manufacture of the covering element 2, as is better illustrated below, and as an integral part of the covering element 2. Said magnetic film 4 comprises, in fact, a rubber component and a ferritic component that are suited to grant said physical characteristic of flexibility, in addition to the above mentioned magnetic properties.

The second layer 5 of the covering element 2 makes up the walking surface of the floor and in the case described herein consists of a linoleum sheet. Said material is widely used for making resilient floors that are very common in hospitals, schools and public buildings. In variant embodiments of the invention it is possible to use sheets of other types of resilient materials suitable for the purpose, like for example regenerated leather, leather, imitation leather, rubber, PVC, moquette, tartan, polyurethane resins or other rigid or flexible materials normally used for floors.

Even said linoleum layer 5 is advantageously flexible and therefore easy to handle both during manufacture of the covering element 2, as will be explained in greater detail below, and as an integral part of the covering element 2.

The intermediate layer 6 of adhesive material joining the first layer 4 and the second walking layer 5 preferably consists of a polyurethane-based adhesive substance comprising a solvent, more particularly a solvent comprising water. More preferably, the solvent consists of water only.

In alternative embodiments of the invention the adhesive substance may be of a different type, both with and without a solvent. For example, said adhesive substance may consist of an acrylic glue, a vinyl glue or a polyvinyl glue, wherein said glues preferably comprise a solvent, and said solvent more preferably consists of water.

The covering element 2 as a whole is flexible and can be rolled up exceeding a minimum radius that is determined, in particular, by the physical characteristics of the magnetic film 4 that comprise, among others, a minimum bending radius. Said flexibility allows said covering element 2 to be advantageously rolled up on itself, as is explained in greater detail here below.

The base surface 3, shown in particular in Figures 7 and 8, comprises a first layer 7 consisting of the screed, a second layer 8 made of a ferromagnetic material and an intermediate layer 9 consisting of an adhesive substance.

It should be noted that also in this case the figures are provided only by way of example and the dimensions of the various layers shown therein are not to scale for the sake of clarity.

The screed 7, as known, is constituted by a concrete layer that provides a surface that is sufficiently level to favour the laying of the floor.

The second layer 8 in ferromagnetic material preferably consists of a plasto ferrite sheet.

In addition to having ferromagnetic properties, said plasto ferrite sheet 8 is advantageously flexible and therefore easy to handle while being laid on the screed 7. Said plasto ferrite sheet 8 comprises in fact a rubber component and a ferritic component that are suited to grant said physical characteristic of flexibility in addition to specific ferromagnetic characteristics.

The intermediate layer 9 of adhesive material joining the plasto ferrite sheet 8 to the screed 7 preferably consists of a polyurethane-based adhesive substance comprising a solvent, more particularly a solvent comprising water. More preferably, the solvent consists of water only.

The system 1 described above allows the covering elements 2 to be easily laid on and removed from the base surface 3 and also to be easily replaced.

In particular, once the base surface 3 and the covering element 2 have been completed, for example following the method described here below, the operations necessary to carry out the covering simply require that the covering elements 2 are placed beside each other on the base surface 3.

At the moment when the magnetic film 4 of the covering element 2 is placed in contact with the plasto ferrite film 8 of the base surface 3, a magnetic adhesion force is generated between the two parts. Said adhesion force guarantees the adhesion of the covering element 2 to the base surface 3 in such a way as to counteract the stress to which the covering element 2 is subjected, which is typical of a floor and mainly caused by treading, thus avoiding any movement of the covering element 2 with respect to the base surface 3, in particular along directions that substantially lie on the plane defined by the floor. The selection of the thickness and of the surface extension of the magnetic film 4 is important to determine the required adhesion force.

The thicker and larger the magnetic film 4, the higher the adhesion force generated, said force being suited to prevent mutual movements between the covering element 2 and the base surface 3 on the plane defined by the floor.

At the same time, if on the one hand mutual adhesion against the effects of treading and the other types of stress to which the covering element 2 is subjected is guaranteed, on the other hand it is equally easy to remove the covering element 2 from the base surface 3.

Said removal will be effectively carried out by raising one edge of the covering element 2, as shown for example in Figure 2, and pulling it upwards and away from the base surface 3.

Even more advantageously, the covering element is rolled up on itself and thus easily transported when it must be disposed of or stored for future use.

Analogously and advantageously also for the mentioned laying of the covering element 2, this may have the shape of a roll and its application may consist only in unwinding it on the base surface 3.

It is evident, however, that independently of the shape selected for the covering element 2, its removal is carried out comfortably, by moving it away along a substantially

direction with respect to the base surface 3 to which it adheres.

A first method for making the covering element 2 of the type shown in Figure 5 is described with reference to Figure 9.

Said method uses a roller system including roller Rl and roller R2 and provides for glueing the magnetic film 4 onto the linoleum layer 5. More generally, the method described makes it possible to glue two non breathable layers together, that is, layers made of materials provided with a chemical-physical structure that does not allow humid air to pass through them.

Both the magnetic film 4 and the linoleum layer 5, in fact, are made of non breathable materials.

The first step consists in the application of a layer of adhesive substance 6 comprising a solvent, for example a water-based polyurethane glue, onto a surface 5a of the linoleum layer 5 upstream of the two rollers Rl and R2.

Said application is performed by means of a nozzle U that dispenses the adhesive substance 6 upstream of the rollers Rl and R2.

The latter rotate and convey the tensioned magnetic film 4 and linoleum layer 5 with the adhesive substance 6 that advance towards the rollers Rl and R2 at a predetermined speed depending on the rotation speed of the rollers Rl and R2. In particular, the advance speed of the linoleum layer 5 with the adhesive substance 6 applied by the nozzle U is such that in the lapse of time from the application of the adhesive substance 6 to the moment when it reaches the area between the two rollers Rl and R2 it dries up, that is, the solvent of the adhesive substance, in this case water, evaporates.

The lapse of time will depend on the adhesive substance 6 used, and in particular on the concentration of solvent contained therein, as well as on the climatic conditions in which it dries up. To obtain precise control of the evaporation process, drying can take place in an environment with controlled temperature and humidity, and if necessary in a ventilated environment, for example an oven F as shown in Figure 10.

Once the solvent has evaporated, the polyurethane part of the adhesive substance 6 remains on the surface 5a of the linoleum layer 5.

The upper roller Rl to which the magnetic film 4 adheres is heated and the contact with the magnetic film 4 causes the latter to heat up.

When the heated magnetic film 4 comes into contact with the polyurethane component of the adhesive substance 6 between the two rollers Rl and R2, the heat is transferred to the polyurethane component of the adhesive substance 6 that is heated to an activation temperature Tl in the molten state, for example a temperature included between 50°C and 100°C, preferably equal to 100°C.

The passage between the two rollers Rl and R2 thus places the molten polyurethane component 6 in contact with the magnetic film 4 and the successive cooling produces the desired glueing effect between the linoleum layer 5 and the magnetic film 4 so as to obtain the desired covering element 2 downstream of the rollers Rl and R2.

The temperature Tl is selected, as already explained, in the range included between 50°C and 100°C, more preferably it is equal to 100°C.

It is necessary to consider that the magnetic film 4 has characteristic parameters, like a maximum temperature Tmax, or critical temperature, above which the magnetic film 4 loses, completely or partially and irreversibly, its magnetic characteristics, even if it is successively brought back to normal ambient temperatures. Said temperature Tmax can for example be approximately 100°C. Therefore, the above mentioned heating step intended to heat the adhesive substance 6 to the temperature Tl must be such as to guarantee that the magnetic film 4 does not reach the critical temperature Tmax. According to an effective method for obtaining the above, for example, the temperature of the roller Rl is maintained at a value below Tmax.

According to a variant embodiment of the method described above, as shown in Figure 11, instead of being obtained by means of the heated roller Rl, the heating of the layer of adhesive substance 6 is obtained by using heating lamps I, for example infrared lamps, arranged in proximity to and in front of the two rollers Rl and R2. The heating step used to heat the adhesive substance 6 to the temperature Tl must be such as to guarantee that the magnetic film 4 does not reach the critical temperature Tmax, because of the reasons explained above. In the method described above, the drying step with the evaporation of the solvent of the adhesive substance 6 is particularly advantageous, as the layers to be glued together, that is, the magnetic film 4 and the linoleum layer 5, are both non breathable layers. The attempt to glue said layers together by applying an adhesive substance comprising a solvent without previously drying it would in fact be useless, as the non breathable nature of the layers would not allow the adhesive substance to dry and therefore the desired glueing effect with the adhesive substance gripping the surfaces of the two layers would not be achieved.

If one of the two layers to be glued together is made of a breathable material, as shown for example in Figure 12 where a breathable layer of moquette is indicated by 5', the step of drying the adhesive substance 6 through the evaporation of the solvent can be omitted. For the rest of the process, the description provided above with reference to the embodiment of Figure 9 applies, that is, the upper roller Rl to which the magnetic film 4 adheres is heated and allows the successive transfer of heat to the adhesive substance 6 in order to heat it to an activation temperature Tl in the molten state. The passage between the two rollers Rl and R2 thus places the molten adhesive substance 6 in contact with the magnetic film 4 and the successive cooling produces the desired glueing effect between the moquette layer 5' and the magnetic film 4 so as to obtain the desired covering element 2 downstream of the rollers Rl and R2.

Even in this embodiment, the heating step used to heat the adesive substance 6 to the temperature Tl must be such as to guarantee that the magnetic film 4 does not reach the critical temperature Tmax, because of the reasons explained above. Again, omitting the step of drying the adhesive substance upstream of the rollers Rl and R2 means allowing the moquette layer 5' to be conveyed towards the rollers Rl and R2 at a higher speed compared to the case in which a linoleum layer 5 is used, as described above. In this case, therefore, productivity, intended as the quantity of covering element 2 that comes out of the rollers Rl and R2 in the unit of time, results to be increased.

Figure 13 shows a variant embodiment of the method illustrated in Figure 12 to glue a breathable layer of moquette 5' onto a magnetic film 4.

The first step consists in the application of a layer of adhesive substance 6 to a surface 4a of the magnetic film 4 upstream of the two rollers Rl and R2 by means of a nozzle U. The latter rotate and convey the tensioned breathable moquette layer 5' and magnetic film 4 with the adhesive substance 6 at a predetermined speed depending on the rotation speed of the rollers Rl and R2. The passage between the two rollers Rl and R2 places the adhesive substance 6 into contact with the breathable layer of moquette 5'. The assembly made up of the magnetic film 4, the adhesive substance 6 and the breathable moquette layer 5' is then passed downstream of the two rollers Rl and R2 in an environment with controlled temperature and humidity, like for example an oven F. In this step, the adhesive substance 6 is brought to an activation temperature Tl in the molten state and at the same time any solvent component of the adhesive substance 6 evaporates, advantageously passing through the breathable moquette layer 5'.

The heating step used to heat the adhesive substance 6 to the temperature Tl must be such as to guarantee that the magnetic film 4 does not reach the critical temperature Tmax, because of the reasons explained above.

The successive cooling achieves the desired glueing effect between the breathable moquette layer 5' and the magnetic film 4 so as to obtain the desired covering element 2 downstream of the rollers Rl and R2.

In an alternative embodiment of the methods described above with reference to Figures from 9 to 11, the layer of adhesive substance 6 can be applied to the magnetic film 4 rather than to the linoleum layer 5, and successively the adhesive substance is heated up to the temperature Tl by means of the roller Rl, as in the analogous example described above.

The heating step used to heat the adhesive substance 6 to the temperature Tl must in any case be such as to guarantee that the magnetic film 4 does not reach the critical temperature Tmax.

A variant embodiment of the method for making the covering element 2 of the type shown in Figure 5 is described with reference to Figures 14 and 15.

The first step consists in the application of a layer of adhesive substance 6 comprising a solvent, for example a water-based polyurethane glue, to a surface 5a of the linoleum layer 5.

Said application can be carried out manually, using spatulas or sprayers, or automatically, using rollers, according to one of the techniques known in the sector.

The semi-finished product 10 obtained in this way and shown in Figure 12 is left to dry for a given lapse of time, in climatic conditions that are such as to allow the evaporation of the solvent of the adhesive substance, water in the case at hand. The lapse of time will depend on the adhesive substance used, and in particular on the concentration of solvent contained therein, as well as on the climatic conditions in which it is left to dry. To obtain precise control of the evaporation process, drying can take place in an environment with controlled temperature and humidity, and if necessary in a ventilated environment.

Once the solvent has evaporated, the thermoplastic polyurethane part of the adhesive substance 6 remains on the surface 5a of the linoleum layer 5.

At this point the semi-finished product 10, consisting of the linoleum layer 5 with the polyurethane component of the adhesive substance 6, and the magnetic film 4 are conveyed towards two adjacent rotating rollers Rl, R2, as shown in Figure 13. The roller Rl is heated and the contact with the magnetic film 4 causes the latter to heat up. When the heated magnetic film 4 comes into contact with the polyurethane component of the adhesive substance 6 between the two rollers Rl and R2, the heat is transferred to the polyurethane component of the adhesive substance 6 that is heated to an activation temperature Tl in the molten state. The passage between the two rollers Rl and R2 thus places the molten polyurethane component 6 in contact with the magnetic film 4, and the successive cooling produces the desired glueing effect between the linoleum layer 5 and the magnetic film 4 so as to obtain the desired covering element 2 downstream of the rollers Rl and R2.

Alternatively, as shown in Figure 16, instead of using a heated roller Rl, it is possible to make the semi-finished product 10 pass in an oven F with controlled temperature in order to heat the polyurethane component of the adhesive substance 6 to the desired activation temperature Tl.

According to a variant embodiment of the method of the invention, in the first step the layer of adhesive substance 6 comprising a solvent can be applied to the magnetic film 4 instead of to the linoleum layer 5.

The semi- finished product 10 obtained in this way will in this case consist of the magnetic film 4 with the thermoplastic polyurethane component of the adhesive substance 6. The semi-finished product and the linoleum layer 5 are then conveyed towards the two rotating rollers Rl, R2, as described above. The thermoplastic polyurethane component of the adhesive substance 6 will thus be heated to the desired activation temperature Tl, taking care to guarantee that the magnetic film 4 does not reach the critical temperature Tmax.

The passage between the two rollers Rl and R2 thus places the molten polyurethane component 6 in contact with the linoleum layer 5, and the successive cooling produces the desired glueing effect between the linoleum layer 5 and the magnetic film 4 so as to obtain the desired covering element 2 downstream of the rollers Rl and R2.

It should be noted that in the embodiments of the method described above the covering element 2 that is obtained downstream of the rollers Rl and R2 constitutes a semi-finished product ready to be used for further processing, that is, a stable product that can be immediately transported and/or used and/or stored with no need for further processing or fmishing steps.

In the embodiments of the invention described above the covering element, as already explained, is advantageously flexible and can be conveniently rolled up. However, in variant embodiments of the invention the covering element can be of a rigid type, for example a ceramic tile instead of linoleum, or it can be made of marble or wood as in the case of parquet or plank floorings.

It has thus been shown that the present invention achieves the set objects. In particular, it achieves the object to make a covering element for surfaces that allows quicker laying and removal operations compared to the covering systems of known type.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments shown in the figures, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein; on the contrary, further variants of the embodiments described herein fall within the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the claims.

Claims

1. Method for making a covering element (2) for a surface (3), characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

- preparing a first layer (4) comprising magnetic material;

- preparing a second layer (5; 5') suited to be joined to said first layer (4);

- applying an adhesive substance (6) that can be activated at a given temperature on the surface (4a, 5a) of at least one between said first layer (4) and said second layer (5; 5');

- joining said first layer (4) to said second layer (5; 5') with said adhesive substance (6) by heating said adhesive substance (6) to its activation temperature (Tl) while mamtaining for said first layer (4) a temperature below the critical temperature (Tmax) of said magnetic material.

2. Method according to claim 1), characterized in that said step for applying an adhesive substance (6) requires the use of an adhesive substance comprising a solvent.

3. Method according to claim 1), characterized in that said solvent is water.

4. Method according to claim 2) or 3), characterized in that it comprises a step for drying said adhesive substance (6) comprising solvent before said step intended to join said first layer (4) to said second layer (5; 5').

5. Method according to claim 4), characterized in that said drying step takes place in an environment with controlled temperature.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said activation temperature (Tl) is included between 50°C and 100°C, and more preferably is equal to 100°C.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step for joining said first layer (4) to said second layer (5; 5') takes place in a continuous manner with their passage through two rollers (Rl, R2).

8. Method according to claim 7), characterized in that said step for heating said adhesive substance (6) to its activation temperature (Tl) is carried out by heating at least one of said two rollers (Rl , R2).

9. Method according to claim 7), characterized in that said step for heating said adhesive substance (6) to its activation temperature (Tl) is carried out via heating in an environment with controlled temperature before joining said first layer (4) to said second layer (5; 5') with its passage through said two rollers (R1, R2).

10. Method according to claim 7), characterized in that said step for heating said adhesive substance (6) to its activation temperature (Tl) is carried out via heat emission means before joining said first layer (4) to said second layer (5; 5') with its passage through said two rollers (Rl, R2).

11. Method according to claim 7) when dependent on claim 2), characterized in that the duration of said drying step is adjusted by adjusting the speed of said rollers (Rl, R2).

12. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step for applying said adhesive substance (6) includes its application to the surface (5a) of said second layer (5) and successively the operation for joining it to said first layer (4) comprising magnetic material.

13. Covering element (2) obtained with the method implemented according to any of the preceding claims.

14. System (1) for covering a surface (3) comprising a covering element (2) carried out according to claim 13) and suited to be applied to said surface (3).