EP0780517A1

EP0780517A1 - Floor covering

Info

Publication number: EP0780517A1
Application number: EP96203502A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Göte Eriksson
Original assignee: Ernol AB
Current assignee: Ernol AB
Priority date: 1995-12-20
Filing date: 1996-12-11
Publication date: 1997-06-25
Also published as: SE9504562D0

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a floor covering which is composed from a number of tiles (1) which at least restrictedly displaceably rest on a substrate. The tiles are mutually interconnected by connecting devices (4, 6). Gaps are provided between adjacent tiles (1), the gaps being closable against spring force. Each tile (1) has an upper tread surface (3) which, along its periphery, has a downwardly directed edge portion (2) which rests on the substrate. A part of the spring force is generated by the edge portion (2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a floor covering which is composed of a number of tiles which rest at least restrictedly displaceably on a substrate and which are mutually interconnected by connecting devices.

BACKGROUND ART

Floor coverings of the type mentioned by way of introduction are known in numerous different versions. Normally, the tiles of which the floor covering is composed are produced from plastic material, often by injection moulding.
Floor coverings of the type under consideration here are employed in many different practical applications, for example in patios, courtyards, or on balconies or the like where the primary purpose may be decorative or be to eliminate the cold feeling of the subjacent floor. Other fields of application may be industrial premises, exhibition halls and the like, where the primary purpose may be decorative or be to render the concrete floor less hard to walk or stand on.
While different types of plastic materials and manufacturing techniques may be employed, they all share the common feature that the tiles are not entirely dimensionally stable under varying temperature conditions and, in certain cases, also under varying humidity conditions. Inspection measurements have shown that a tile of 30 x 30 cm undergoes a linear expansion of 1.8 mm at a temperature increase of 40°C. The consequence of this will be that a floor of a linear 3 m will expand in a linear direction of 1.8 cm at the same temperature difference.
Those attempts which have hitherto be made to compensate for the temperature linear expansion of the floor covering have been limited to laying the floor covering with spacing to the surrounding walls, and possibly the employment of floor lining which covers the space between the floor covering proper and the adjacent wall.
Trials have also been carried out using compressible strips or beads which are inlaid in a diamond pattern so that the floor covering is divided up into smaller diamonds each containing 9, 16, 25 or 36 diamonds if the individual tiles are square. These strips have been produced in such a manner that they are compressible in their width or transverse direction.
Even though the compressible strips and spacers in to surrounding walls have proved capable, to some degree, of solving the problem of linear expansion in the floor covering, this alleviation of the problem must be bought at the cost of a floor covering which, in the alternative involving the strips cannot be given any optional appearance and which, in addition, is extremely complicated to lay.
In such cases where the floor covering is fixed to a subjacent floor, for example by a heavy item of furniture standing on the floor covering, the above-outlined trial solutions are hardly of any assistance. Thus, if, as a result of loading from above, the floor covering is regionally or pointwise fixed to the subjacent floor and, for example by concentrated solar radiation, heating takes place between the fixation points of the floor covering, the floor covering will expand with the result that it lifts from substrate in the form of a blister or bubble. Such problems can be solved neither with broad floor linings or compensation strips laid linearly in the floor covering.

PROBLEM STRUCTURE

The present invention has for its object to design the floor covering intimated by way of introduction in such a manner that it will be dependent neither upon uniform expansion of the entire floor covering nor local expansions as a result of local heating. Hence, the present invention has for its object to realise a floor covering which wholly obviates the problem involved in expansion, which is simple and economical to manufacture, which eliminates the need for spacers against adjacent walls, and also compensation strips inlaid in the floor covering itself. Finally, the present invention has for its object to realise a floor covering which is simple to lay and which, when laid in place, displays a high level of interconnection between adjacent tiles so that these do not run the risk of being separated from one another.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the floor covering disclosed by way of introduction is characterized in that there are provided, between adjacent tiles, gaps which are closable against spring action.
Further advantages will be attained according to the present invention if the floor covering is also given one or more of the characterizing features as set forth in appended Claims 2 to 10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which:

Fig. 1: shows four tiles included in the floor covering according to the present invention, seen from beneath;
Fig. 2: shows the encircled area of Fig. 1 on a larger scale;
Fig. 3: shows the left-hand tile section of Fig. 2 seen in the direction of the arrow A, and it should be pointed out that, in Fig. 2, the tiles are seen from beneath while, in Fig. 3, the tile is seen the right side up;
Fig. 4: shows the right-hand tile section of Fig. 2 seen in the direction of the arrow B, the tile section of Fig. 4 being shown the right side up;
Fig. 5: is a cross section corresponding to the section marking C-C in Fig. 2, the tiles of Fig. 5 being interconnected with one another and shown the right side up; and
Fig. 6: is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 5 in which, however, the section is located along the section marking D-D in Fig. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 shows four tiles 1 which are included in a floor covering according to the present invention and which are placed with spacing to one another, but in those positions which they are to assume when they are interconnected. It will be apparent from this Drawing figure that each tile has a surrounding edge portion 2 which is strip-shaped and which, in Fig. 1, extends in a direction towards the observer of the Drawing figure from the periphery of a tread surface 3. While the edge portion 2 has been described as strip-shaped and is shown in Fig. 1 as unbroken throughout the entire periphery of the tile 1, it falls within the scope of the present invention that the edge portion may have a number of recesses, grooves or apertures, for example to allow the passage of water.
Although the tread surface 3 is shown in Fig. 1 as fully covering, it is often in practice provided with a broken pattern and, on its underside (in Fig. 1 facing towards the observer) with a number of spacers, rigidifying ribs or the like which at least partly abut against the substrate 17 on which the floor covering rests when in use. This implies that the lower edges of the edge portions 2 and the lower end surfaces on the spacers etc., are flush with one another.
The design of the spacers etc., the broken pattern of the tread surface 3 (if any) or the like are not germane to the present invention and will not, therefore, be described in greater detail here.
In its most generic form, the present invention may be described such that the connecting devices which are employed for interconnecting adjacent tiles are designed so as to give a certain play, such that adjacent tiles may move towards and away from one another.
Furthermore, the connecting devices include a spring function which displaces adjacent tiles away from one another as far as possible within the maximum movement range defined by the connecting device.
As a result of this design of the subject matter of the present invention, gaps will be formed between adjacent tiles, and these gaps are closable against the spring action in the tiles. An expansion in one tile caused by local heating of it may therefore be absorbed by the gaps which surround the heat tile.
Fig. 2 shows the encircled area of Fig. 1 on a larger scale and from the underside of the two tiles 1. The edge portions 2 of both of the tiles are strip shaped and extend approximately at right angles from the tread surfaces 3 of the tiles.
It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that the edge portions 2 on their outsides are provided, on the one hand, with recessed projections 4 with through-going recesses 5 and, on the other hand, spacers 6 whose outer ends 7 are intended to abut against the edge portion 2 of an adjacent tile 1 when the tiles are interconnected. For engagement in the recesses 5 of the projections 4, the adjacent tile has a stud 8 which is produced in the edge portion 2 in that this edge portion has been provided with grooves 9 which are upwardly directed and open from its lower edge and are disposed on either side of the stud 8. In addition to the grooves 9, the edge portions may have further grooves, recesses or apertures, for example to allow the passage of water.
Figs. 5 and 6 show cross sections through interconnected tiles, partly in the region of a spacer 6 and partly in the region of a projection 4. It will be clearly apparent from these Drawing figures that, in the interconnected state of the tiles, there is a gap 10 between adjacent tiles and, in particular, between the outsides of the downwardly directed edge portions 2 of the tiles. It will also be apparent that the spacer 6 is provided only in the lower region of the edge portion 2 on the one tile, and that it abuts with its end surface 7 against the outside of the edge portion 2 on the adjacent tile.
It will further be apparent from Fig. 6 that the stud 8 on the one tile is located interiorly in the recess 5 in the projection 4 on the adjacent tile. It will here be seen that, when the gap 10 is of full width (as is the case in Fig. 6), the inside 11 of the stud 8 abuts against the outer defining surface 12 (Fig. 2) of the recess 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the space which is formed between the outside 13 of the stud and the inner defining surface 14 of the recess 5 - and which, according to the present invention, is maintained by spring force - is equal to the width of the gap 10.
In order to hold the gap open when the tiles are not in the expanded state, use is made, as was intimated above, of spring force which is preferably at least partly realised by the edge portions 2. In order to improve such spring force and permit greater room for movement, it is appropriate that either the edge portion which carries the spacer or the edge portion against which the spacer abuts (or possibly both) be provided with weakened portions in the region of the spacer. In the illustrated embodiment, this weakening of the grooves 9 is achieved in that they are placed adjacent the spacers. An alternative solution would, however, also be to reduce the material thickness in the edge portion 2 either within that region where the spacer 6 is secured or in that region against which the spacer abuts. Naturally, it is also possible to provide grooves on both sides of the spacers 6.
As an alternative to the above-described embodiment in which at least a part of the spring force is generated by the edge portions 2, solutions are conceivable in which the edge portions are substantially rigid and the spring force is generated by specifically provided spring means which may be disposed to interconnect movably arranged spacers with the rest of the tile or which may per se be designed as spacers.
In order to prevent vertical displacement between adjacent tiles, i.e. in order to prevent the tiles from separating from one another, the spacers 6 are provided with engagement means 15 which engage with the downwardly directed edge portion 2 of an adjacent tile. It will be apparent from Figs. 3, 4 and 5 that these engagement means comprise a lower and projecting heel 15 on the end surface 7 of the spacer 6. On the opposing tile, the downwardly directed edge portion has a recessed area 16 where its height is reduced such that a certain space is created to the substrate 17. Hereby, the engagement means 15 (designed as a projecting portion) will snap into the recessed area 16 of the edge portion 2 and thereby engage against its lower edge such that a vertical displacement of the tiles is prevented or at least impeded.
In order to reinforce the interconnection between adjacent tiles in the vertical direction, the stud 8 is also provided with engagement means co-operating with the recessed projections 4 in order thereby to prevent relative vertical displacement between the tiles. It will be apparent from Fig. 4 that the stud 8 is provided in its free end with barb-like means 18 which, on insertion of the stud 8 into the recess 5, are intended to snap in behind the projection 19 interiorly in the recess 5. The projections 19 are clearly shown by broken lines in Fig. 3.
In the foregoing, the catch means for interconnecting adjacent tiles have been described as formed by the recessed projections 4 and the studs 8 insertible therein. As an alternative to this design and construction solution, mention my be made of an embodiment in which the edge portion 2 of a tile is provided with a T-shaped projection, in which the cross or head of the T is located a distance from the outside of the downwardly directed edge portion. This distance ought to be greater than the material thickness in the downwardly directed edge portion of an adjacent tile so that the foot of the T-shaped projection may thereby be passed through a slot or a groove in the downwardly directed edge portion such that the cross or head of the T is located interiorly in the adjacent tile.
The present invention should not be considered as restricted to that described above and shown on the Drawings, many modifications being conceivable without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended Claims.

Claims

A floor covering composed of a number of tiles (1) which rest at least restrictedly displaceably on a substrate (17) and which are mutually interconnected by connecting devices (4, 8, 6), characterized in that there are provided, between adjacent tiles (1), gaps (10) which are closable against spring force.
The floor covering as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each tile (1) has an upper tread surface (3) which, along its periphery, has a downwardly directed edge portion (2) which rests on the substrate (17); and that at least a part of the spring force is generated by the edge portion (2).
The floor covering as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the connecting devices include, on the one hand, spacer means (6) and, on the other hand, catch means (4, 8), said catch means being designed to permit restricted movement between adjacent tiles (1) in a direction towards and away from one another, said spacer means (6) being disposed, in unaffected tiles, to hold same at such mutual spacing (10) as said catch means (4, 8) permit at most.
The floor covering as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that said spacer means (6) comprise projections or heels which extend out from the edge portions (2) on a first tile (1) and abut against counter-located edge portions (2) on a second, adjacent tile (1).
The floor covering as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the edge portions (2) are, in the region of said spacer means, provided with weakened portions for generating the spring force, the edge portions (2) being produced from a slightly resiliently yieldable material.
The floor covering as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the edge portions (2) against which said spacer means (6) abut in the abutment regions are provided with weakened portions for generating the spring force, the edge portions being produced from a slightly resiliently yieldable material.
The floor covering as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the weakened portions are in the form of grooves (9) which extend from the lower edges of the edge portions (2) upwardly towards the tread surface (3).
The floor covering as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that said spacer means (6) have engagement means (15) which are disposed, by co-operation with the edge portion (2) of an adjacent tile (1), to prevent or impede mutual vertical displacement between the tiles.
The floor covering as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 8, characterized in that said catch means include recessed projections (4) on the edge portions (2) of the tiles (1), and also plugs (8) disposed in the edge portion (2) of an adjacent tile (1), said plugs (8) being insertible with loose fit into the recesses (5) transversely of the plane of extent of the tiles.
The floor covering as claimed in Claim 9, characterized in that said plugs (8) and said recessed projections (4) are provided with engagement means (18, 19) disposed to prevent or impede mutual vertical displacement between adjacent tiles (1).