WO2021229485A1

WO2021229485A1 - Support for raised floors with shaped base and fixing brackets

Info

Publication number: WO2021229485A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/054089
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gabriele Favero
Original assignee: Eterno Ivica Srl
Priority date: 2020-05-15
Filing date: 2021-05-13
Publication date: 2021-11-18
Also published as: CN115552085A; US20230212859A1; EP4150174A1

Abstract

The invention is a support for raised floors, comprising a base (B) suited to be rested on the ground, a head (T) on which the floor panels can be rested, a lower bracket (S) suited to constrain a riser (A) to said base (B), an upper bracket (P) suited to constrain said riser (A) to said head (T). Said lower bracket (S) comprises a plane portion (SI) suited to be rested on the ground under said plane portion (B1) of said base (B), an end (S3) shaped with a tooth or raised part or tab (S31) suited to be inserted in a corresponding opening or seat (B32, B42) created in said plane portion (B1) of said base (B) which comprises at least one rectilinear edge (B3) tangential or in any case close to said raised portion (B2).

Description

SUPPORT FOR RAISED FLOORS WITH SHAPED BASE AND FIXING

BRACKETS

DESCRIPTION

The present patent concerns the supports used for raised floors, and more specifically it concerns a new support for raised floors with bases and possibly with fixing brackets for vertical elements.

At present, to make raised floors on supporting surfaces in general, first of all properly spaced supports are laid, on which successively the panels making up the floor, or the joists making up an underlying structure for supporting the floor panels, are directly rested.

The supports for raised floors are usually constituted by a base resting on the ground, a substantially cylindrical or tubular intermediate body which extends upwards from said supporting base and a head on said intermediate body, said head having a flat upper surface on which the panels or the elements making up the floor are laid.

In particular, the size of said flat upper surface of the head is usually such as to allow the comers or part of the panels to be rested thereon side by side, thus forming the floor.

Supports are also known which are provided with damping and sound insulation elements which are positioned on said upper surface of the head. Said damping elements comprise, for example, layers of elastic material having a thickness of a few millimeters.

Supports whose height is not adjustable are known, in which said base, said intermediate body and said head are a single element.

Supports are also known in which, to compensate the differences in gradient between the ground, which often must be inclined to ensure the drainage of rainwater, and the raised floor, which must be horizontal, the lower surface of said head is convex and suited to oscillate in a corresponding concave seat created on the top of said intermediate body.

The adjustment or compensation of the inclination between the panels of the raised floor and the ground is thus carried out by adjusting the inclination of the head in the concave seat in the intermediate body.

Supports are also known, instead, in which the head is configured to be coupled with said intermediate body in such a way that it cannot oscillate but only rotate around the longitudinal axis of the intermediate body.

Supports with adjustable height are also known, in which said base and said intermediate body are configured to be screwed on each other in an adjustable manner, consequently varying the overall height of the support.

Supports with adjustable height are also known which, in addition to said intermediate body, comprise also a further body serving the function of an extension, having a generically tubular shape, too, and provided with a thread or other constraining means for the coupling with said intermediate body and said head, and for the adjustment of the overall height of the support.

The height of the supports is adjusted by acting on said intermediate body or on said extension body through a screwing/unscrewing action or in any case by acting on said constraining means.

In the case of supports with adjustable height, said head is usually holed axially, so that the operator can insert a screwing tool therein through said hole.

For the adjustment of major differences in height, there are further additional bodies suited to be interposed and to be coupled with said base and/or said intermediate body and/or said extension body and/or said head.

The flat upper surface of the head of the known supports may comprise vertical partitions, usually four and substantially orthogonal to said flat upper surface, arranged radially towards the centre of the circular shape of said upper surface, that is, arranged on the axes of symmetry of the surface itself to define the four straight angles for the positioning of the corners of the floor panels.

The supports are distributed on the surface to be floored: the base is rested on and in some cases fixed to the ground, said intermediate body is coupled with said base and said head is coupled with said intermediate body.

Said base generally comprises a plane portion resting on the ground and a tubular portion, normally cylindrical, which extends upwards from said plane portion and is intended to be coupled with said intermediate body or with said additional bodies, if any, or directly with said head.

Said plane portion resting on the ground can be holed, so that it can be constrained to the ground.

Said plane portion of the base is usually circular and this causes some drawbacks if the support’s base must be positioned in proximity to an obstacle, for example a vertical wall or a step. Furthermore, the raised floor to be made often comprises also one or more steps, formed by panels arranged vertically to form the risers of the steps.

Said risers must be constrained to the ground and to the upper horizontal panels which make up the floor.

For this purpose, L-shaped brackets are known, for example made of a metallic material, which are used to fix a riser to a support. More specifically, for example, each riser is constrained to at least one support by means of a first bracket constrained between the lower edge of the riser and the base of the support and by means of a second bracket constrained between the upper edge of the riser and the head of the support. In order to be able to position the riser and the support correctly, therefore, the support must be very near the riser and this is not possible due to said enlarged plane portion of the base.

To overcome this drawback the operators currently provide for cutting a part of the base manually, in such a way as to create a rectilinear side beside which the riser will be positioned.

Said operation slows down the assembly work and requires the use of tools such as hacksaws or similar tools.

The assembly procedures are even more complicated if the base of the support needs to be positioned at the level of a corner; in this case the operator must even shape said base in such a way as to create two rectilinear sides at 90° with respect to each other.

In order to overcome said drawbacks, a new type of base for supports for raised floors has been designed and carried out, which comprises an especially shaped plane portion suited to be rested on the ground.

The main object of the present invention is to simplify the procedures for the assembly of raised floors, thus optimizing the time required to lay said floors.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new base for supports for raised floors which can be installed in any assembly condition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a base for supports which can be installed with no need to use tools to modify its configuration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a base for supports to which the lower brackets can be securely fixed, reducing any imprecision in the floor laying operations.

These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new base for supports for raised floors, comprising at least one plane portion suited to be rested and fixed to the ground, and a raised portion, usually tubular and preferably cylindrical, joined to and extending upwards from said plane portion, and wherein said plane portion is shaped with at least one edge which is at least partially rectilinear and tangential or in any case close to said tubular portion.

In the preferred embodiment, said plane portion has a substantially circular shape without a circular segment, wherein said tubular portion, which is preferably cylindrical, is substantially concentric with said plane portion, and wherein the chord or secant which defines said missing circular segment is tangential or in any case close to said tubular portion.

In the preferred embodiment, said plane portion comprises also a rectilinear cut or notch, orthogonal to said chord of the circular segment and defining a further detachable circular segment on said plane portion.

In a further solution, said plane portion has a substantially circular shape without two circular segments, wherein said tubular portion, which is preferably cylindrical, is substantially concentric with said plane portion, and wherein said two circular segments are defined by respective chords which are orthogonal to each other. In this way, said plane portion has at least one straight angle, suited to be positioned, for example, at the level of a comer or of an angle.

The new base can be used on any type of support for raised floors, and in particular on supports comprising said base, a possible intermediate body and a possible additional body, and an upper head, oscillating or not, on which the floor panels can be directly or indirectly rested.

The support for raised floors may also comprise fixing brackets for vertical elements such as, for example, the risers of steps or vertical panels.

More specifically, the new support comprises at least one lower bracket suited to constrain the lower edge of a riser to said base of the support, and/or at least one possible upper bracket suited to constrain the upper edge of a riser to said head of the support, and wherein said constraint is obtained without using screws or other fixing means.

Said lower bracket comprises a plane portion suited to be rested on the ground under said base, that is, suited to be interposed between the ground and said base.

Said lower bracket comprises a first end shaped with tabs or projections facing sideways and intended to be oriented upwards for the engagement of the lower edge of a riser, and a second opposite end shaped with a tooth or raised part suited to be inserted in a corresponding opening or seat created in the plane portion of said base.

Said lower bracket, if correctly positioned, is thus positioned in a stable manner with respect to said base, which in its turn can be fixed to the ground according to the known technique. Said lower bracket, in fact, is constrained between the ground and the base, said first end rests on the edge of said plane portion of the base, while said second end is coupled in said opening or seat made in said plane portion of the base.

Analogously, said upper bracket comprises a plane portion suited to be rested on the upper surface of said head, and a first end shaped with tabs or projections facing sideways and intended to be oriented downwards for the engagement of the upper edge of a riser.

Furthermore, said plane portion preferably comprises one or more holes or seats for the insertion of said partitions extending upwards from said upper surface of said head.

Said upper bracket, if correctly positioned, is thus positioned in a stable manner with respect to said head. Said upper bracket, in fact, is constrained between the head and the panels of the floor, while the partitions of said head, inserted in said holes of the upper bracket, prevent the latter from moving accidentally.

In particular, said upper bracket comprises at least two holes made in said plane portion, so that at least two of said partitions can be inserted therein, making the orientation of the bracket stable.

The characteristics of the new base and of the brackets are highlighted in greater detail in the following description, making reference to the drawings which are attached hereto by way of non-limiting example.

Figure 1 shows a top view of a possible embodiment of the new base (B), while Figure 2 shows a view of the same base (B) from below.

Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the base (B) shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The new base (B) comprises a plane portion (Bl) suited to be rested and fixed to the ground. Said plane portion (Bl) can be provided with one or more holes for the insertion of fixing means suited to fix the base (B) to the ground.

Said plane portion (Bl) has an upper surface (Bl 1) from which a raised portion (B2) extends upwards, said raised portion (B2) being preferably tubular and more preferably cylindrical, and suited to be connected with the other parts of a support for raised floors such as, for example, an intermediate body and/or the upper head (T) on which the floor panels rest (Figure 8).

Said plane portion (Bl) has at least one rectilinear edge (B3) which is close and preferably tangential to said tubular portion (B2).

Said rectilinear edge (B3) can be usefully placed beside a vertical obstacle, for example a step, a wall or a riser, to obtain a step of the raised floor.

For example, said plane portion (Bl) has a substantially circular shape, without a circular segment defined by said rectilinear edge (B3), which thus is substantially a chord of the circular shape.

In a preferred solution, said plane portion (Bl) comprises also at least one partial rectilinear notch or precut or cut (B4), for example traced on its underside (B12) shown in Figure 2, and wherein said notch (B4) defines a detachable circular segment (B41).

Said rectilinear notch (B4) is preferably orthogonal to said rectilinear edge (B3), in such a way that, once said detachable circular segment (B4) has been removed, a straight angle, useful to position the base (B) in proximity to a corner, is defined on said plane portion (Bl).

Even said rectilinear notch (B4) is tangential or in any case close to said tubular portion (B2).

The figures also show how said plane portion (Bl) may comprise even openings or seats (B32, B42) for the engagement or coupling of fixing brackets (S) shown in Figures 4 and 5, respectively in a side sectional view and in a three- dimensional view.

Said fixing brackets (S), for example, can be used to constrain a riser (A) to said base (B) to obtain a step.

Said fixing bracket (S) comprises a plane portion (SI) suited to be rested on the ground under said plane portion (Bl) of said base (B), a first end (S2) shaped with tabs or projections (S21, S22) for the engagement of the lower edge of a riser (A), indicated by a broken line in Figure 4, a second opposite end (S3) shaped with a tooth or raised part or tab (S31) suited to be inserted in one of said openings or seats (B32, B42) of said base (B).

For example, said tab (S31) is bent in the shape of a C.

Said openings or seats (B32, B42) are preferably and conveniently created in said plane portion (Bl) of the base (B) in a diametrically opposite position with respect to said rectilinear edge (B3) and said notch (B4), if any, since said brackets (S) must be positioned with said first end (S2) resting on said rectilinear edge (B3) or on said notch (B4), if any.

Furthermore, said base (B) preferably comprises, on said rectilinear edge (B3), a recess (B31) suited to accommodate said first end (S2) of said bracket (S). In this way, the bracket (S) is positioned in a stable manner with respect to the base (B).

The support for raised floors comprises a base (B) suited to be rested on the ground as described above, and at least one upper head on which panels for raised floors can be rested, said head being directly or indirectly constrained to said base (B), for example through one or more intermediate or additional bodies, and wherein said head can be fixed and/or rotate and/or oscillate with respect to said base (B).

The support comprises also at least one of said fixing brackets (S) as described above.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the lower bracket (S) only, while Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the same lower bracket (S).

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the upper bracket (P) only, while Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional view of the same upper bracket (P).

Figure 8 shows a possible embodiment of a head (T) of the new support.

Said head (T) has a substantially flat upper surface (Tl) on which the floor panels can be directly or indirectly rested. Partitions (T2) extend upwards from said upper surface (Tl), for example four radial partitions (T2), preferably detachable. Said upper surface (Tl) of the head (T) can possibly be provided with damping inserts.

Said head (T) can be of the fixed, rotary, oscillating or non-oscillating type. The lower fixing bracket (S) is preferably made of a metallic material.

Said tabs or projections (S21, S22), for example, are obtained by bending parts of said first end (S2) towards the same side, and they are intended to be oriented upwards in such a way as to form a U-shaped seat (S4) for the insertion and engagement of said lower edge (Al) of said riser (A).

Said tabs (S21, S22), for example, are shaped in such a way as to elastically retain the edge (Al) of the riser (A).

Said lower bracket (S) is thus positioned in a stable manner between the ground and the base (B).

The upper fixing bracket (P) (Figures 6, 7) is preferably made of a metallic material and comprises a flat part (PI) suited to be rested on the upper surface (Tl) of said head (T), and a first end (P2) shaped with first tabs or projections (P21, P22) for the engagement of the upper edge (A2) of a riser (A), indicated by a broken line in Figure 4.

Said first tabs or projections (P21, P22), for example, are obtained by bending parts of said first end (P2) towards the same side, and they are intended to be oriented downwards in such a way as to form a seat (P4) for the insertion and engagement of said upper edge (A2) of said riser (A).

Said first tabs (P21, P22), for example, are shaped in such a way that they elastically retain said upper edge (A2) of the riser (A).

According to the invention, said upper bracket (P) may also comprise, on said first end (P2), a further tab (P23) bent on the opposite side with respect to said first tabs (P21, P22) and suited to come into contact with the edge (FI) of an upper floor panel (F), as indicated by a broken line in Figure 6.

Said further tab (P23) is preferably aligned with said first more external tab (P21), so that said edge (FI) of the upper panel (F) can be aligned with said riser (A).

Said plane portion (PI) of said upper bracket (P) is furthermore provided with one or more holes (P3) suitable for the insertion of said partitions (T2) of said head (T), indicated by a broken line in Figure 7. Preferably, said upper bracket (P) comprises two of said holes (P3), aligned and suitable for the insertion of two corresponding aligned partitions (T2), in such a way that said upper bracket (P), once correctly positioned, can neither rotate nor move with respect to the head (T).

Therefore, with reference to the above description and to the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.

Claims

1. Support for raised floors, comprising a base (B) in its turn comprising at least one plane portion (Bl) suited to be rested and fixed to the ground, and a raised portion (B2) joined to and extending upwards from said plane portion (Bl), characterized in that said plane portion (Bl) of said base (B) has at least one rectilinear edge (B3) which is tangential or in any case close to said raised portion (B2).

2. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that said plane portion (Bl) has a substantially circular shape without at least one circular segment, and wherein said raised portion (B2) is tubular, preferably cylindrical and substantially concentric with said plane portion (Bl), and wherein said rectilinear edge (B3) is the chord that defines said at least one circular segment and is tangential or in any case close to said tubular portion (B2).

3. Support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said plane portion (Bl) comprises also at least one rectilinear cut or notch (B4) defining a further detachable circular segment on said plane portion (Bl).

4. Support according to claim 3, characterized in that said notch (B4) of said plane portion (Bl) is orthogonal to said rectilinear edge (B3).

5. Support according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said notch (B4) of said plane portion (Bl) is tangential or in any case close to said tubular raised portion (B2).

6. Support according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plane portion (Bl) is substantially circular in shape, without two circular segments, and wherein said two circular segments are defined by respective chords which are orthogonal to each other.

7. Support according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plane portion (Bl) comprises one or more openings or seats (B32, B42) for the engagement or coupling of fixing brackets (S) designed to constrain vertical elements or riser panels (A) for making steps.

8. Support according to claim 7, characterized in that said openings or seats (B32, B42) are created in said plane portion (Bl) in a diametrically opposite position with respect to said rectilinear edge (B3) and to said notch (B4), if present.

9. Support according to claim 7 and 8, characterized in that said plane portion (Bl) comprises a recess (B31) created in said at least one rectilinear edge (B3).

10. Support for raised floors according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one lower bracket (S) suited to constrain a riser (A) or a vertical element in general to said base (B).

11. Support for raised floors according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower bracket (S) comprises a plane portion (SI) suited to be rested on the ground under said plane portion (Bl) of said base (B), a first end (S2) shaped with tabs or projections (S21, S22) for the engagement of the lower edge (Al) of a riser (A), a second opposite end (S3) shaped with a tooth or raised part or tab (S31) suited to be inserted in a corresponding opening or seat (B32, B42) created in said plane portion (Bl) of said base (B).

12. Support according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said tabs or projections (S21, S22) of said lower bracket (S) are obtained by bending parts of said first end (S2) towards the same side, said tabs or projections (S21, S22) being intended to be oriented upwards and shaped in such a way as to form a U- shaped seat (S4) suited to elastically retain said lower edge (Al) of said riser (A). 13, Support according to claim 12, characterized in that said tab (S31) is bent in the shape of a C on the same side as said tabs or projections (S21, S22), that is, is intended to be oriented upwards and coupled from below in said corresponding opening or seat (B32, B42) created in said plane portion (Bl) of said base (B).

14. Support according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base (B) comprises a raised portion (B2) extending upwards from said plane portion (Bl) and suited to be connected to the other parts of said support for raised floors, and wherein said plane portion (Bl) of the base (B) comprises at least one rectilinear edge (B3) close or tangential to said raised portion (B2).

15, Support according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises: an upper head (T) on which floor panels can be rested, suited to be directly or indirectly constrained to said base (B) and comprising a substantially flat upper surface (Tl) on which said floor panels can be directly or indirectly rested, and one or more partitions (T2) extending upwards from said upper surface (Tl); an upper bracket (P) for constraining the upper edge (A2) of a riser (A) to said head (T), and wherein said upper bracket (P) comprises a flat part (PI) suited to be rested on said upper surface (Tl) of said head (T), a first end (P2) shaped with first tabs or projections (P21, P22) for the engagement of the upper edge (A2) of a riser (A), and wherein said flat part (PI) of said upper bracket (P) comprises one or more holes or seats (P3) in which said partitions (T2) of said head (T) can be inserted.

16. Support according to claim 15, characterized in that said first tabs or projections (P21, P22) of said upper bracket are obtained by bending parts of said first end (P2) towards the same side, said first tabs or projections (P21,

P22) being intended to be directed downwards and configured in such a way as to form a seat (P4) suited to elastically retain said upper edge (A2) of said riser (A).

17. Support according to claims 15, 16, characterized in that said upper bracket (P) comprises, on said first end (P2), a further tab (P23) bent on the opposite side with respect to said first tabs (P21, P22) and suited to come into contact with the edge (FI) of an upper floor panel (F). 18. Support according to claim 17, characterized in that said further tab

(P23) is aligned with said first more external tab (P21).

19. Support according to claim 18, characterized in that said upper bracket (P) comprises two of said holes or seats (P3), aligned and suitable for the insertion of two corresponding aligned partitions (T2). 20, Support according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:

• at least one lower bracket (S) suited to constrain a riser (A) or a vertical element in general to said base (B),

• and at least one upper bracket (P) suited to constrain the upper edge (A2) of a riser (A) to said head (T).