WO2020248082A1

WO2020248082A1 - Floor tile for providing coverings on the floor of sports facilities

Info

Publication number: WO2020248082A1
Application number: PCT/CH2019/000018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans WÜRGLER
Original assignee: Noventa Ag
Priority date: 2019-06-14
Filing date: 2019-06-14
Publication date: 2020-12-17
Also published as: ES2945815T3; EP3983624B1; EP3983624A1

Abstract

A floor tile (1) which comprises an upper side (2) and an underside (3) and, as seen from the upper side (2), is designed in the form of a triangle or quadrilateral and has three or four sides (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) around the periphery, wherein means (13) for connecting to a further floor tile (1) are fitted on each side (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), the floor tile (1), as seen from the upper side (2), has a cell structure with a multiplicity of adjacent cells (4), which are separated by intermediate walls (5), wherein the cells (4), as seen from the upper side (2), are each in the form of a polygon and the intermediate walls (5), on their underside (3), are designed for bearing on the floor (10), and wherein the cells (4), on the upper side (2), comprise cover elements (6), which are connected to the intermediate walls (5) and can be flexed elastically towards the underside (3); wherein the cells (4), on the upper side (2), each have a surface area FZ enclosed by the intermediate walls (5) and the cover elements (6), on the upper side (2), each have a surface area FD, and wherein the ratio of FD: FZ is at least 50%.

Description

Floor tile for the production of coverings on the floor of sports facilities

The invention relates to a floor tile for the production of coverings on the floor of sports facilities according to the preamble of claim 1.

Floor coverings for indoor and outdoor sports facilities, which are composed of floor tiles, preferably plastic tiles, are particularly suitable for the efficient and inexpensive renovation of outdated sports fields. Such modular floor coverings are used in particular for tennis, football and basketball courts. However, many of these flooring products offer little to no shock absorbing properties, resulting in increased fatigue and increased stress on ligaments, joints and discs from walking, running, jumping or other activities on the flooring. To ensure that the top surface of the floor is strong enough to provide "ball bounce" properties and sufficient friction, synthetic floor tiles are made from a rigid or semi-rigid material.

A modular floor tile for producing a floor covering for sports fields is from the document US 2016/0222674 A1 CERNY ET AL. known. This known modular floor plate has a surface with a large number of ribs or structural elements. A one-piece support system in the form of a grating is formed by the ribs or structural elements. Furthermore, the base plate comprises primary support elements, one of which is arranged in each opening of the grating between the rib elements. Each primary support element comprises a central support post, which rests on the floor even in the unloaded state of the base plate, and a plurality of flexible arms which are connected to the grating, the arms extending outwards from the central support post. When a load is applied to the top surface of the beam system, the arms flex and the beam system is pressed against the ground relative to the central support posts. The flexing action of the arms absorbs some of the impact associated with the load applied to the top of the floor tile, thereby reducing the impact of a person's foot on the floor. In the nodes of the support system designed as a grating, secondary support elements are arranged, which in the unloaded state of the base plate above

Confirmation copy Floor surface are raised. The vertical downward movement of the carrier system with a load acting on the carrier system is first dampened by the flexural arms of the primary support elements and finally limited by the secondary support elements when they come to rest on the floor. This known floor tile, however, has the disadvantage that the bendable arms which connect the primary support elements to the ribs of the floor tile form a complicated structure which leads to a complex production of the floor tile. In addition, the downward movement of the floor tile is abruptly stopped by the secondary support elements when these secondary support elements impact the floor.

The invention aims to remedy this. The invention is based on the object of creating a floor tile with damping properties that are gentle on the joints and that can be produced simply and inexpensively.

The invention achieves the stated problem with a floor tile for the production of coverings on the floor of sports facilities, which has the features of claim 1.

The advantages achieved by the invention are essentially to be seen in the fact that thanks to the floor tile according to the invention:

- the plate-shaped or shell-shaped and elastically bendable cover elements produce a sufficient spring force and no abrupt end of the spring travel is generated;

- A shock-absorbing floor covering for sports facilities can be produced which, due to its cell structure with plate or shell-shaped and elastically deflectable cover elements, ensures simple and inexpensive production of the floor covering compared to known floor tiles with spring elements, which each have several arms and support posts; and

- the floor covering does not require any additional top layer.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be commented on as follows: In a preferred embodiment of the floor tile, the ratio FD: FZ is at least 70%, preferably at least 80%. The plate or shell-shaped cover elements form thin plates or shells which are bent when a load is applied and which, even with a relatively small thickness, can have a higher flexural rigidity than linear arms which are subjected to bending loads.

The cover elements can be convexly curved towards the top in the shape of a shell. This has the advantage that the introduction of force when a load occurs on the top of the cover elements is preferably carried out in the middle of the cover elements.

The cover elements can have recesses in the corners of the polygonal cells. This results in the advantage that there is no accumulation of material at the corners of the polygonal cells, which would constitute a considerable disadvantage, in particular when the floor tile is manufactured using injection or die-casting techniques. This also prevents rainwater from collecting.

The cover elements can - as viewed from the top - comprise a central recess. The central recess has the advantage that rainwater does not collect and run off on the upper side of the plate-shaped or shell-shaped cover elements. In addition, the central recess has the effect that the plate-shaped or shell-shaped cover elements become more flexible.

The cover elements can also include pins or knobs on the top.

The pins can increase the slip resistance (grip) of the floor tile, in particular also in wet conditions in the case of outdoor arrangements of the floor covering. In addition, in sports fields for ball games, in particular in tennis courts and hard courts, conditions analogous to ball rebound and spin of balls are generated.

The cover elements can - viewed from the top - have a center and the pins or knobs can be evenly distributed around the center on one or more circles. Each cover element advantageously comprises at least six pins or knobs. The pins or knobs can expediently be arranged on the mid-perpendicular of the partition walls. The pins have a height H which is expediently at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 0.7 mm. The height H of the pins is expediently at most 1.0 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm.

The cover elements have a curvature with a height h which is expediently a maximum of 1.8 mm, preferably a maximum of 1.2 mm.

The cover elements can expediently be elastically deflectable by at least 0.7 mm, preferably by at least 1.0 mm, against the underside. The cover elements can expediently be elastically deflectable against the underside by a maximum of 1.8 mm, preferably by a maximum of 1.2 mm.

In a particular embodiment of the floor tile, the cells - viewed from the top - each have the shape of a regular polygon. When viewed from the top, the cells can each have the shape of an equilateral hexagon. The advantage of this arrangement is that in each case in a node, i. in one corner of the cell, only meet three partition walls, so that the accumulation of material can be minimized. The equilateral hexagon expediently has an internal dimension of at least 30 mm, preferably at least 32 mm, between two parallel sides. The equilateral hexagon expediently has an internal dimension of at most 40 mm, preferably at most 38 mm, between two parallel sides. Typically the inside dimension can be 35 mm.

The cells can be designed as a prism, preferably as a straight prism.

The floor tile can be square and have four sides, the cells advantageously being arranged such that seven cells are arranged next to one another in the direction of a first side. The advantage of this embodiment is that there is a smooth transition from tile to tile for a standard tile dimension of 10 inches x 10 inches, ie the suspension of the edge cells is not disturbed by additional partition walls because the connection is made at a node. Furthermore, when several floor tiles are joined together, a flowing visual transition of the hexagonal cells of the individual floor tiles, so that a uniformly harmonious surface of the floor covering results.

In a special embodiment of the floor tile, the seven cells lined up in a row in the direction of the first side are arranged with parallel partition walls of the equilateral hexagon arranged next to one another.

The cells arranged in the direction of a second side, which is perpendicular to the first side, can each have two cells on the outside, which are centrally separated from two opposite corners of the hexagon.

The cover elements can have a thickness that increases in relation to the partition walls. This enables a substantially constant tension to be achieved in the cover elements.

The thickness of the cover elements in the area of the partition walls is expediently at least 1.8 mm, preferably at least 2.0 mm. The thickness of the cover elements in the area of the partition walls is expediently at most 2.5 mm, preferably at most 2.2 mm. Typically the thickness in this area is 2.1 mm.

The thickness of the cover elements in a central area of the cell viewed from the top is expediently at least 0.8 mm, preferably at least 1.0 mm. The thickness of the cover elements in a central area of the cell viewed from the top is expediently at most 1.4 mm, preferably at most 1.2 mm. Typically, the thickness in this area is 1.1 mm.

The floor tile is advantageously formed in one piece. This enables the floor tile to be manufactured by injection molding or die casting.

The cover elements can have radially extending depressions on a surface directed towards the underside of the floor tile. These recesses form segments of the cover elements, which provide soft, 3-dimensional cushioning when the sports shoe hits the top of the floor tile ensure that joints and intervertebral discs are protected from hard blows.

In a particular embodiment, the floor tile can have four sides and comprise spring clips on two mutually perpendicular sides and plug-in elements that can be snapped into the spring clips on the opposite sides. The spring clips and the plug-in elements form a snap connection system for connecting several floor tiles for lowering a surface on the floor of a sports facility and are preferably designed so that the floor tiles according to the invention can also be combined with other, already known floor tiles. The spring clips can also be designed to be elastically deformable in both directions parallel to the respective sides.

The spring clips and plug-in elements enable a resilient displacement of the floor tiles relative to one another in two axial directions parallel to the top.

The partition walls can be formed recessed from the top with respect to the cover elements.

The floor tile can advantageously be made from a flomopolymer or copolymer, preferably from a polypropylene.

The rigidity of the plate or shell-shaped cover elements is expediently designed so that at maximum load the limit stress of the material from which the floor tile is made is a maximum of 35 N / mm ² .

The invention and developments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the partially schematic representations of an exemplary embodiment.

Show it:

1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration of an individual cell of the embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the underside of the floor tile;

3 shows a sectional illustration of an individual cell of the embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of an individual cell of the embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention shown in FIG. 1;

5 shows a perspective illustration of an individual cell of the embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the underside of the floor tile; and

6 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the floor tile according to the invention.

The embodiment of the floor tile 1 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6 has an upper side 2 and an underside 3 and, viewed from the upper side 2, has a cell structure with a large number of adjacent cells 4 which are separated by partition walls 5. The partition walls 5 are formed on the underside 3 of the floor tile for installation on the floor 10 of an indoor or outdoor sports facility.

The cells 4, viewed from the top 2, by way of example and not by way of limitation, each have the shape of an equilateral flexagon, so that in the nodes of the partition walls 5, i.e. in the corners 17 of the cells 4 result in minimal accumulations of material. In alternative embodiments, the cells 4 can also have the shape of another regular polygon.

The cells 4 comprise cover elements 6 connected to the intermediate walls 5 on the upper side 2 of the floor tile 1, which are convexly curved in the shape of a shell towards the upper side 3 and are elastically bendable towards the lower side 3 of the floor tile 1. The cover elements 6 have a curvature with a flea h which, depending on the embodiment, can be between a maximum of 1.2 mm and a maximum of 1.8 mm. The Partition walls 5 between the individual cells 4 are recessed from the top 2 of the floor tile 1 opposite the cover elements 6.

Alternatively, the cover elements 6 can also be plate-shaped and flat with the top 2 of the floor tile 1.

The cells 4 each have an area FZ enclosed by the partition walls 5 on the upper side 2 of the floor tile 1, while the cover elements 6 each have an area FD in the area of the upper side 2, the ratio of FD: FZ, by way of example and not limiting, is approx. 80%. The plate or shell-shaped cover elements form thin plates or shells which are bent when a load is applied and which, even with a relatively small thickness, have a higher flexural rigidity than linear arms which are subjected to bending loads. The cover elements 6 are elastically deflectable by at least 0.7 mm, preferably by at least 1.0 mm and by at most 1.8 mm, preferably by at most 1.2 mm against the underside 3 of the floor tile 1.

The cells 4 are designed as a straight prism, the equilateral hexagon between two parallel sides having an internal dimension 18 of 35 mm. In alternative embodiments of the floor tile 1 according to the invention, the internal dimension 18 between two parallel sides of the equilateral hexagon can be at least 30 mm, preferably at least 32 mm and at most 40 mm, preferably at most 38 mm.

The cover elements 6 have recesses 15 in the corners 17 of the polygonal cells 4, so that there is no accumulation of material at the corners 17 of the polygonal cells 4. This prevents rainwater from collecting.

Furthermore, the cover elements 6, viewed from the top 2 of the floor tile 1, comprise a central recess 16, which serves to prevent rainwater from collecting on the upper side of the plate-shaped or bowl-shaped cover elements 6 and which at the same time reduces the rigidity of the bowl-shaped cover elements 6. The partition walls 5 point from the underside 3 of the floor tile 1 penetrating indentations 19 so that the partition walls 5 rest only in the area of the nodes, ie in the area of the corners 17 of the cells 4 on the floor 10 of a sports facility.

On the upper side 2, the cover elements 6 comprise pins 7 or knobs, whereby the slip resistance (grip) of the floor tile 1 is increased, in particular also in wet conditions in the case of outdoor arrangements of the floor covering. The pins 7 or knobs are, by way of example and not by way of limitation, arranged on a circle evenly distributed around the center 14 of the cover element 6, with each cover element 6 comprising six pins 7 or knobs, which are each arranged on the perpendicular verticals of the partition walls 5. The pins 7 have a height H which, in various embodiments of the floor tile 1 according to the invention, is at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 0.7 mm and at most 1.0 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm.

Furthermore, the cover elements 6 have a thickness that increases in relation to the intermediate walls 5, so that an essentially constant tension can be achieved in the cover elements. In the embodiment of the floor tile 1 according to the invention shown here, the cover elements 6 have a thickness of 2.1 mm in the area of the partition walls 5 and a thickness of 1.1 mm in a central area of the cell 4 viewed from the top 2. In other embodiments of the floor tile 1 according to the invention, the cover elements 6 can be designed so that the thickness of the cover elements 6 in the area of the partition walls 5 is at least 1.8 mm, preferably at least 2.0 mm and at most 2.5 mm, preferably at most 2.2 mm and in a central region of the cell 4 viewed from the top 2 is at least 0.8 mm, preferably at least 1.0 mm and at most 1.4 mm, preferably at most 1.2 mm.

In addition, the cover elements 6 are provided with radially extending depressions 8 on the surface facing the underside 3 of the floor tile 1, so that segments are formed which ensure soft, 3-dimensional cushioning when the sports shoe strikes the upper side 2 of the floor tile 1. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 - 6, the floor tile 1, viewed from the top 2, is, by way of example and not limitation, designed as a square and has four sides 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d on each side, with 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d means 13 for connecting the floor tile 1 to a further floor tile 1 are arranged. In particular, the floor tile 1 is designed to be square, the cells 4 being arranged in such a way that seven cells 4 are arranged next to one another in the direction of a first side 9a. The seven cells 4 lined up in a row in the direction of the first side 9a are arranged with parallel partition walls 5 of the equilateral hexagon arranged next to one another. The cells 4, which are arranged in the direction of a second side 9b which is perpendicular to the first side 9a, each have outside 2 centrally separated cells 4 from two opposite corners of the hexagon. For a standard tile dimension of 10 inches x 10 inches, there is thus a transition from floor tile 1 to floor tile 1 in such a way that the suspension of the cells 4 on the edge is not disturbed by additional partition walls 5, because the connection is made at a node.

The floor tile 1 is formed in one piece, the means 13 for connecting the floor tile 1 to a further floor tile 1 on two mutually perpendicular sides 9a, 9b comprising spring clips 11 and on the opposite sides 9c, 9d in these spring clips 11 snap-in elements 12. The spring clips 11 are in both directions relative to two mutually perpendicular sides 9a, 9b, i.e. parallel and perpendicular to the respective sides 9a, 9b designed to be elastically deformable in both directions, so that parallel to the upper side 2 of the floor tile 1 a resilient displacement of the floor tiles relative to one another in two axial directions is made possible.

The floor tile 1 is made of a polypropylene. In alternative embodiments, the floor tile 1 can also be made from another homopolymer or a copolymer.

Although various embodiments of the present invention are present, as described above, these are to be understood in such a way that the various features can be used both individually and in any desired combination. This invention is therefore not simply limited to the above-mentioned particularly preferred embodiments.

Claims

1. Floor tile (1) for the production of coverings on the floor (10) of sports facilities, the floor tile (1):

comprises a top (2) and a bottom (3);

viewed from the top (2) is designed as a triangle or square and has three or four sides (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) peripherally;

comprises on each side (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) means (13) for connecting the floor tile (1) to a further floor tile (1);

viewed from the top (2) has a cell structure with a plurality of cells (4) adjoining one another, which are separated by partition walls (5), wherein

the cells (4) viewed from the top (2) each have the shape of a polygon and the intermediate walls (5) are designed on their underside (3) to rest on the floor (10),

characterized in that

the cells (4) on the upper side (2) comprise cover elements (6) connected to the intermediate walls (5), which are plate-shaped or shell-shaped and are elastically bendable towards the lower side (3); in which

the cells (4), viewed from the top (2), each have an area FZ delimited by the partition walls (5) and the cover elements (6), viewed from the top (2), each have an area FD, and where

the ratio of FD: FZ is at least 50%.

2. Floor tile (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio FD: FZ is at least 70%, preferably at least 80%.

3. Floor tile (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover elements (6) are convexly curved in the shape of a shell against the upper side (2).

4. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cover elements (6) in the corners (17) of the polygonal cells (4) have recesses (15).

5. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cover elements (6), viewed from the top (2), comprise a central recess (16).

6. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cover elements (6) comprise pins (7) or knobs on the upper side (2).

7. Floor tile (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the cover elements (6) viewed from the top (2) have a center (14) and the pins (7) or knobs are evenly distributed around the one or more circles Center (14) are arranged around.

8. Floor tile (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that each cover element (6) comprises at least six pins (7) or knobs.

9. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the pins (7) or knobs are arranged on the perpendicular perpendicular of the partition walls (5).

10. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the pins (7) have a height H which is at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 0.7 mm.

11. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the pins (7) have a height H which is at most 1.0 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm.

12. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cover elements (6) have a curvature with a height h which is a maximum of 1.8 mm, preferably a maximum of 1.2 mm.

13. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the cover elements (6) are elastically deflectable by at least 0.7 mm, preferably by at least 1.0 mm against the underside (3).

14. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the cover elements (6) are elastically deflectable by at most 1.8 mm, preferably by at most 1.2 mm against the underside (3).

15. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the cells (4) viewed from the top (2) each have the shape of a regular polygon.

16. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the cells (4) viewed from the top (2) each have the shape of an equilateral hexagon.

17. Floor tile (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the equilateral hexagon between two parallel sides has an internal dimension (18) of at least 30 mm, preferably at least 32 mm.

18. Floor tile (1) according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the equilateral hexagon between two parallel sides has an internal dimension (18) of at most 40 mm, preferably at most 38 mm.

19. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the cells (4) are designed as a prism, preferably as a straight prism.

20. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the floor tile (1) is square and has four sides (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), the cells (4) being arranged so that in the direction of a first side (9a) seven cells (4) are arranged side by side.

21. Floor tile (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that the seven cells (4) lined up in a row in the direction of the first side (9a) are arranged with parallel partition walls (5) of the equilateral hexagon arranged next to one another.

22. Floor tile (1) according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the cells (4) arranged in the direction of a second side (9b) which is perpendicular to the first side (9a) each have two cells which are centrally separated from two opposite corners of the hexagon (4) have.

23. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the cover elements (6) have an increasing thickness towards the partition walls (5).

24. Floor tile (1) according to claim 23, characterized in that the thickness of the cover elements (6) in the region of the partition walls (5) is at least 1.8 mm, preferably at least 2.0 mm.

25. Floor tile (1) according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the thickness of the cover elements (6) in the region of the partition walls (5) is at most 2.5 mm, preferably at most 2.2 mm.

26. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that the thickness of the cover elements (6) in a central area of the cell (4) viewed from the top (2) is at least 0.8 mm, preferably at least 1.0 mm.

27. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that the thickness of the cover elements (6) in a central area of the cell (4) viewed from the top (2) is at most 1.4 mm, preferably at most 1.2 mm.

28. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that the floor tile (1) is formed in one piece.

29. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that the cover elements (6) have radially extending depressions (8) on a surface directed towards the underside (3) of the floor tile (1).

30. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that the floor tile (1) has four sides (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) and on two mutually perpendicular sides (9a, 9b) spring clips (11 ) and on the respective opposite sides (9c, 9d) in the spring clip (11) includes plug-in elements (12).

31. Floor tile (1) according to claim 30, characterized in that the spring clips (11) are additionally designed to be elastically deformable in both directions parallel to the respective sides (9a, 9b).

32. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 31, characterized in that the partition walls (5) are recessed from the top (2) with respect to the cover elements (6).

33. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 32, characterized in that the floor tile (1) is made from a homopolymer or copolymer, preferably from a polypropylene.

34. Floor tile (1) according to one of claims 1 to 33, characterized in that the rigidity of the plate-like or shell-shaped cover elements (6) is designed so that the limit stress of the material from which the floor tile (1) is made at maximum load , is a maximum of 35 N / mm ² .