WO2023223088A1

WO2023223088A1 - Coupling device for self-supporting plates in raised floors

Info

Publication number: WO2023223088A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/057156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Federico GIACOMINI
Original assignee: Impertek S.R.L.
Priority date: 2022-05-20
Filing date: 2022-08-02
Publication date: 2023-11-23

Abstract

A coupling device (1) for self-supporting plates (2a, 2b) in raised floors, constituted by an anchor shaped like a non- symmetrical crossed double T provided with means (5) for temporary engagement with two of the plates (2a, 2b) which are arranged side by side and rest by gravity on adapted raised supports.

Description

COUPLING DEVICE FOR SELF-SUPPORTING PLATES IN RAISED

FLOORS

The present invention relates to a coupling device for self-supporting plates in raised floors.

Currently, it is known to provide raised floors, which lie on top of supports that can be placed directly on any type of surface, without necessarily being fixed to the ground, appropriately spaced apart to ensure the correct positioning of the flooring and provide the right structural contribution to it, the outflow being ensured by the gap between the tiles and the slope of the underlying surface.

The flooring chosen can be made of wood, ceramic, porcelain stoneware or any other material that is self-supporting with the thickness chosen; it can be of various different sizes mutually juxtaposed as desired.

When ceramics and stones are used, the plates are placed directly on the supports or on a structure created for this purpose, letting their weight hold them firmly on their seat.

The supports can be formed by a base, a body that can be elongated, and a head; said head can have various shapes depending on the chosen flooring, capable of accommodating either a beam or up to four corners of the plates that compose the floor.

The base has a circular shape with a diameter of generally 200 mm so as to ensure a weight distribution over a large area if it placed directly on sheathing.

Depending on the type of support, the base may have either a built-in or stand-alone internally threaded ring, where a screw is housed which ensures height adjustment of the support.

These two elements form what will be referenced as the body of the support.

Depending on the installation requirements, it is possible to rise in height by placing extensions under the base, between said base and the body of the support, or between the body and the head.

The upper part of the screw has different types of seats for the head, depending on whether the head can oscillate or remain fixed.

This occurs because the surface on which the supports are rested may have gradients capable of ensuring optimal water draining, while the finished floor must be horizontally planar.

The different slope is therefore corrected up to a 5% gradient by the oscillation of the head if the head can oscillate, otherwise by leveling elements placed under the base if the slope is greater or if the head is fixed.

The supports are adjustable in height indeed to cover with a single product the height variations produced by the gradient, by a possible presence of depressions or of any other unevenness of the underlying surface.

Currently, a problem is observed in anchoring the tiles of a raised floor, for example on the upper floors of buildings, since the tiles can be lifted by wind.

Wind acts on the floor on the upper face.

When the wind finds obstacles (for example balustrades, walls, discontinuities in the floor), vortices form.

These vortices create areas of negative pressure above the floor, therefore lifting the tiles.

These vortices are indeed what causes the negative pressure in specific points and can lead to the lifting of the tiles.

The magnitude of the vortices, and therefore the magnitude of the generated negative pressure, depend therefore on the wind speed and on the shape of the ground struck by the wind, that is, on the presence of obstacles and on their size.

Solutions that provide for using screws adapted to fix the flooring to the underlying support from above are known, but they are unsightly since the screw heads protrude from the plates, also in view of the possible interposition of adapted plastic parts; moreover, the screw heads might be subject to easy breakage or be a tripping hazard for walking.

Solutions using particular supports or particular trays that are glued under the flooring are also known.

A solution is also known in which the lower part of the tile is coated with a bituminous membrane, a reinforced double-adhesive tape being applied to the two sides above the membrane (see what is reported at the link: https://king.dpssolving.com/shock-king-plus/); this solution was created to counteract medium-intensity winds.

The drawback of this solution is that it requires to be applied on site, and in order to apply the membrane to the tile stably it has to be left alone overnight.

WO202 1024019A1 is also known which relates to a support for raised floors, comprising at least one supporting head provided with partitions which are arranged orthogonally and intended to identify the areas where the modular elements of the floor will rest, which comprises one or more clips suited to be inserted in said orthogonal partitions and provided with one or more tabs suited to constrain said modular elements of the floor to said partitions, and wherein said clips are thicker than 0.4 mm.

This solution, however, has drawbacks: in fact, the interconnection occurs by using multiple components which must mutually interact, and it is also necessary to mill the tiles (the modular elements) along the edges in order to be able to pass the clips; these millings weaken the tiles, since they are provided proximate to the edge, which are the part that rests on the support, and therefore these millings, provided indeed on the edges, can weaken the very resting of the tiles on the supports.

Furthermore, on the upper part of the clip there are two slots or seats or cuts adapted for the insertion of a tool required to obtain the translation of the clip during the insertion and extraction of said clip, operations which are not easy to perform due to possible jamming also due to the forming of residues between the tiles over time.

Furthermore, the clips must be inserted in the partitions at right angles, each comprising a protruding portion oriented toward the center, and in which the protruding portion is thinner than the orthogonal wall, so that it is adapted for the insertion of said clip so that the outer surface of its vertical walls is aligned with the vertical walls of the orthogonal wall so as not to change the width of the groove or joint between two floor elements.

This operation is not easy and, in any case, requires the provision of specially shaped supports, and this also increases overall costs.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the highlighted technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art and therefore devising a device which, associated with self-supporting plates in raised floors, allows to keep the plates in their place even in the presence of strong wind.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a device that does not upset the functional characteristics of this type of laying and is not visible once installed.

Another object is to obtain a device that can be laid and/or removed quickly and without the need to have special tools.

Yet another object is to obtain a device that can mutually connect all the plates, creating a single flooring by using a type of laying that entails resting the plates on the heads of the supports, arranged at their four corners.

Another object is to obtain a device that can be used regardless of the type of understructure and/or system used to support the raised flooring.

Yet another object is to obtain a device that can be used in combination with other types of structural connections between plates in order to create points of easy inspection/points for starting removal within a flooring.

Still another object is to obtain a device that can be installed at any time, whatever the type of format of the plates. Another object is to be able to install the device even at a later time, after the complete flooring has been laid, without altering the time requirements of classic raised floor laying.

Another object is to obtain a device that does not alter aesthetically the flooring obtained.

Another object is to obtain a device that can be applied with any type of support and self-supporting plate, without the need to use particular machines or tools, and is free from jamming.

Not least object is to obtain a device that is structurally simple, has low provision costs and can be provided by means of ordinary known plants.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a coupling device for self-supporting plates in raised floors, characterized in that it is constituted by an anchor shaped like a non-symmetrical crossed double T provided with means for temporary engagement with two of said plates which are arranged side by side and rest by gravity on adapted raised supports.

Advantageously, the device comprises means for temporary locking thereof between said two plates arranged side by side.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of particular but not exclusive embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a lateral perspective view of the device;

Figure 2 is a front view of the device;

Figure 3 is a side view of the device;

Figure 4 is a top view of the device;

Figures 5 to 8 are views of the steps for arranging the device between two plates arranged side by side;

Figure 9 is a sectional view, taken along the plane IX-IX, of the device of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an elevated perspective view of the device;

Figures 11 to 14 are lateral perspective views of the steps for arranging the device between two plates arranged side by side;

Figure 15 is a view of the device arranged between two plates arranged side by side and placed on a raised support of a known type;

Figure 16 is a view, similar to Figure 3, of a different embodiment;

Figure 17 is a view, similar to Figure 9, of the previous solution.

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

With reference to the figures, a coupling device for two self- supporting plates 2a, 2b arranged side by side and spaced at a suitable distance or gap DI, used to obtain raised floors, is designated by the reference numeral 1.

The device is constituted by an anchor, preferably made of steel, shaped like a non- symmetrical crossed double T so as to form a stem 3, which has a substantially parallelepiped shape with a square plan and is twisted through 90°, at the ends of which there are a first head 4 and a second head 5.

The first head 4 is shaped substantially like a parallelepiped and is L- shaped so as to form a first wing 6 with a rectangular plan shape with a first free end 7 directed toward said second head 5, and a second wing 8 which is arc-shaped with a second free end 9 directed toward said second head 5.

In the particular embodiments shown, the first wing 6 has a length LI that is substantially equal to the length L2 of said second wing 8 and a thickness or height SI that is greater than the thickness or height S2 of the second wing 8, so as to form, for the first head 4, an off-axis center of gravity which is imbalanced toward said first wing 6.

As an alternative, the lengths LI and L2 can also be mutually different.

The width LAI, LA2 of said first head 4 and said second head 5 are substantially equal to the thickness S3 of said stem 3.

The second head 5 has a substantially parallelepiped shape with a polygonal, for example rectangular or square, base; in the particular embodiments shown, the second head 5 has a side D the dimensions of which are substantially equal to or smaller than those of said thickness or height SI, S2 of said first and second wings 6, 8 of said first head 4.

Again, in the particular embodiments shown, the second head 5 has instead a length LU that is smaller than the sum of the lengths LI, L2 of the first wing 6 and of the second wing 8.

Given the shape twisted through 90° of the stem 3, the first head 4 and the second head 5 are arranged on planes which are mutually offset by 90°.

In the solution shown in Figures 1 to 15, the second head 5 has a substantially parallelepiped shape with a square base, with a side D3 the dimensions of which are equal to the side D.

The device is used in the provision of raised floors in which multiple plates 2a, 2b arranged side by side, which rest by gravity on adapted raised supports 13 of a known type, are used.

The various plates are therefore rested on the heads of the supports, arranged for example at the four corners of said plates, and their own weight ensures the stability of the flooring.

Specifically, two plates 2a, 2b are arranged side by side at a distance or gap DI that is slightly greater than the maximum width D2 of the twisted stem 3, which is also greater than the side D of the second head 5.

The gap DI is usually of approximately 4 mm.

A milling is provided on each one of the plates 2a, 2b, at each side 10 that will be mutually facing upon installation, along part of the thickness so as to form at least one seat I la, 11b that has a substantially C-shaped plan configuration and has a height H that is greater than the height of said second head 5 and a depth P that is greater than half the length LU of the second head 5.

The number and placement of the seats I la, 11b may be the most disparate according to specific requirements.

For example, one to three seats I la, 11b may be created based on the wind resistance that one wishes to obtain.

The seats I la, 11b can be created for example with a normal milling process performed by a standard grinding wheel.

The device stably connects two plates 2a, 2b which are arranged side by side and rest by gravity on adapted raised supports by having means for the temporary engagement of the two plates which are constituted by the second head 5.

Use of the device 1 entails in fact that it is arranged as shown in Figures 5, 10 and 11, with the second head 5 arranged parallel to and above, therefore in line with, the gap DI that is present between the two plates 2a, 2b; the device 1 is then allowed to fall by gravity between the two plates 2a, 2b, as shown in Figures 6 and 12; in this manner, in view of the dimensions of the various elements, the second head 5 is arranged in front of the seats I la, 11b.

The device 1 is then rotated through 90°, as shown in Figures 7 and 13; by doing so, the second head 5 is arranged inside the two seats 1 la, 1 lb, mutually engaging the two plates 2a, 2b.

Subsequently, due to gravity and to the shape of the first head 4, which has an off-axis center of gravity since the first wing 6 has larger dimensions than the second wing 8, the device, as shown in Figures 8, 9, 14 and 15, rotates through approximately 180° along its own vertical axis, arranging itself slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so as to reduce the probability that it might rotate and slide out of its seat as a result of vibrations of the flooring caused by walking. The device can also comprise, for greater safety, means for locking it temporarily between the two plates 2a, 2b arranged side by side, the locking means being constituted by a substantially U-shaped curved bar 12, with a width approximately equal to said gap DI, which, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, is made to fall onto the underlying second head 5, thus reducing drastically the possibility that the device 1 might rotate and slide out of the seats I la, 1 lb as a result of vibrations of the flooring caused by walking.

Its application is not strictly necessary for wind resistance purposes.

In order to be able to remove the curved bar 12 it is sufficient to slide it out with any tool (for example an ordinary screwdriver or tile lifter), then push the device 1 (the anchor) downward at the first wing 6 of the first head 4, grip the second free end 9 of the second wing 8, which exits from the gap DI that is present between the two plates 2a, 2b, rotate and then finally slide out the anchor.

As an alternative to the use of the seats I la, 11b provided on the sides of the plates 2a, 2b it is possible to use supports, such as a tray made of aluminum, which is glued below each plate and on which seats similar to the seats I la, 11b are formed for the insertion of the second head 5.

The seats I la, 11b can be created on the tile directly by molding or in any case during its production step.

It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a device having been obtained which, once associated with self-supporting plates in raised floors, allows to keep the plates in their place even in the presence of strong wind.

The device can be used with any type of laying and is not visible once installed.

The device can be laid and/or removed quickly and without the need to have particular tools or to use particular machines and allows to mutually connect all the plates, creating a single flooring by using a type of laying that entails resting the plates on the heads of any type of understructure and/or system used to support the raised flooring.

The device can also be installed when the flooring is completely finished, making sure to place all the devices (anchors) in all the seats I la, 1 lb previously created on the plates 2a, 2b.

If the device is made of stainless steel, it will withstand the weather and be in Class Al as regards reaction to fire.

The device, besides being used regardless of the type of known support used, may also be used in combination with other types of structural connections between plates in order to create points of easy inspection/points for starting removal inside a flooring, and can be installed at any time, even at a later time, after the complete flooring has been laid, without being limited by any type of format of the plates.

Since the use of the device is independent of the structure that lies below the flooring, it can be applied with both fixed and adjustable supports and therefore can be installed starting from a very low minimum height.

Furthermore, the device is easily adaptable to any plate format, even the hexagonal one.

The plates 2a, 2b always remain only resting on the head of a known support, but by virtue of the device, a rigid and stable structure is created which does not allow the individual plates to detach and cause damage.

For greater retention safety, it is possible to consider the use of a baseboard or to fix the perimetric plates directly to the flooring retaining wall, so as to obtain an even more rigid structure.

The seats I la, 11b have such a height H that they do not compromise the solidity of the plate or possibly allow the anchor to slide out too easily.

Figures 16, 17 show a different embodiment in which the second head 5 is inclined with respect to the axis of the stem 3.

In the solution shown in Figures 16 and 17, the second head 5 has a substantially parallelepiped shape with a rectangular base, with a side D3 the dimensions of which are greater than the side D. This inclination entails, once the coupling device 1 has been associated with the self-supporting plates 2a, 2b, a lifting of the second free end 9 of the first head 4, as highlighted in Figure 17.

As in the first embodiment, the first head 4 has an off-axis center of gravity, since the first wing 6 has greater dimensions than the second wing 8; with the inclination of the second head 5, the anchor is no longer in "precarious" balance on one edge, but the larger resting surface and the counterweight ensure a greater stability thereof during its cycle of use, including the moment of installation.

Moreover, the curved bar 12 has a U-like shape that has been narrowed with respect to the previous embodiment, in order to ensure greater adherence of the curved bar 12 to the anchor.

In particular, the curved bar 12 has a U-like shape with the wings 12a, 12b mutually closer in order to be arranged, when installed, adjacent to said stem 3 as shown in Figure 17.

Moreover, the thickness of the curved bar 12 can be slightly increased with respect to the first embodiment in order to reduce any movements of the anchor during its life cycle.

Advantageously, the curved bar 12 has a thickness approximately equal to the gap DI .

While the functionalities remain the same, they are improved.

The inclination of the second head 5 improves the capacity of the device (the anchor) to remain in its seat in the presence, for example, of strong vibrations, without the use of the curved bar 12.

The installation is not compromised because the inclination of the second head 5 does not compromise the insertion of said device 1 in its seat; on the contrary, knowing that the second free end 9 of the second wing 8 must protrude along the gap between the two plates 2a, 2b, it is a signal that indicates the correct position of said device.

Since the second head 5 is already on the same plane as the milling and the flooring surface, the maximum retention surface in case of strong wind is guaranteed immediately.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the accompanying claims.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to the specific requirements.

The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or replaced with equivalents.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102022000010475, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A coupling device (1) for self-supporting plates (2a, 2b) in raised floors, characterized in that it is constituted by an anchor shaped like a non- symmetrical crossed double T provided with means (5) for temporary engagement to two of said plates (2a, 2b) which are arranged side by side and rest by gravity on adapted raised supports.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for locking said device temporarily between said two self- supporting plates (2a, 2b) arranged side by side and spaced at a distance or gap DI, said means being constituted by a substantially U-shaped or V- shaped curved bar (12) approximately as wide as said gap DI.

3. The device (1) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it is constituted by an anchor shaped like a non- symmetrical crossed double T so as to form a stem (3), which has a substantially parallelepiped shape with a square plan and is twisted by 90°, at the ends of which there are a first head (4) and a second head (5) which constitutes said temporary engagement means.

4. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first head (4) is shaped substantially like a parallelepiped and is L-shaped so as to form a first wing (6), with a rectangular plan shape with a first free end (7) directed toward said second head (5), and a second wing (8), which is arc-shaped with a second free end (9) directed toward said second head (5).

5. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first wing (6) has a length LI that is substantially equal to or different from the length L2 of said second wing (8) and a thickness or height SI that is greater than the thickness or height S2 of said second wing (8) so as to form, for said first head (4), an off-axis center of gravity which is imbalanced toward said first wing (6).

6. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the widths LAI, LA2 of said first and second heads (4, 5) are substantially equal to the thickness S3 of said stem (3), said second head (5) having substantially the shape of a parallelepiped with a polygonal base.

7. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second head (5) has a rectangular or square shape with a side D the dimensions of which are substantially equal to or smaller than those of said thickness or height SI, S2 of said first and second wings (6, 8) of said first head (4).

8. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second head (5) has a length LU that is smaller than the sum of the lengths LI, L2 of said first and second wings (6, 8), said first and second heads (4, 5) being arranged on planes which are mutually offset by 90°, said two self-supporting plates (2a, 2b) being laterally adjacent at a distance or gap DI that is greater than the maximum width D2 of said twisted stem (3) which is also greater than the side D of said second head (5).

9. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second head (5) has substantially the shape of a parallelepiped with a square base, with a side D3 the dimensions of which are equal to said side D.

10. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on each one of said plates (2a, 2b) there is, at each side (10) that will be mutually facing upon installation, a milling along part of the thickness so as to form at least one seat (I la, 11b) that has a substantially C-shaped plan configuration and has a height H that is greater than the height of said side D of said second head (5) and a depth P that is greater than half of the length LU of said second head (5).

11. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that during installation said second head (5) is arranged parallel to and above, therefore in line with, said gap DI that is present between said two self-supporting plates (2a, 2b) and is then allowed to fall by gravity between said two self-supporting plates (2a, 2b), then said device (1) is rotated through 90°, arranging said second head (5) inside said two seats (I la, 11b) and mutually engaging said two self-supporting plates (2a, 2b), then said device (1) rotates through approximately 180° along its own vertical axis, arranging itself slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane due to gravity and to the shape of said first head (4), which has an off- axis center of gravity since said first wing (6) has larger dimensions than said second wing (8).

12. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second head (5) is inclined with respect to the axis of said stem (3).

13. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second head (5) has substantially the shape of a parallelepiped with a rectangular base, with a side D3 the dimension of which are greater than said side D.

14. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inclination of said second head (5) with respect of said stem (3) entails, once the coupling device (1) has been associated with said self-supporting plates (2a, 2b), a lifting of said second free end (9) of said first head (4).

15. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said curved bar (12) is U-shaped with the wings (12a, 12b) mutually close in order to be arranged, when installed, adjacent to said stem (3).

16. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said curved bar (12) has a thickness approximately equal to the gap DI .