Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
.,
- Surface-installation Floor
The invention relates to a surface-installation
- floo~ according to the preamble of Claim 1.
In cavity floors which comprise a multiplicity of
essentially rectangular, identical floor panels which are
arranged in a layer, in a predetermined grid pattern, on
a support arrangement, spaces for receiving installation
line, being left in the process, certain degrees of
loading typically result in bending, which can lead to
the joints between the floor panels gaping. This has an
adverse effect on the appearance.
EP-A-0 641 903 discloses a surface-installation
floor which comprises floor panels which are provided on
the periphery with a stepped rebate and are laid on
supports in chessboard form such that the stepped rebate,
which projects on all sides, is arranged at the bottom.
The interspaces present in the chessboard-like
arrangement are taken up in this case by floor panels
which, rather than having a peripheral rebate, have
plant~r side walls and rest on the projecting stepped
rebates of the adjacent rebated floor panels.
Consequently, although continuous joints between the
floor panels are avoided, a floor of this type requires
two sorts of floor panels, the non-rebated floor panel
having to be of a thickness which allows it to withstand
the required loading as well, while the rebated floor
pane:Ls have to be designed in a correspondingly thicker
manner in order to achieve a planar surface, since they
addit:ionally have to support the non-rebated floor panels
from beneath.
In large rooms of, for example, lengths and
widths of more than 15 m, standard evenness and angle
tolerances of the subfloor, for example of a concrete
floor, which can be compensated are presently not more
than approximately 45 mm (standardized). These relatively
large deviations mean that metallic supports according to
EP-A-0 641 903, which have a fleece-like shank with an
integrally designed foot and a screwed-in screw-bolt with
an abutment disc, pose problems as regards vertical
alignment, especially since these supports each support
two ,~butting rebated floor panels together, as a result
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
of which the horizontal levelling, which is important for
the uniform abutment of cavity-floor panels or other
floor abutments, is also adversely effected.
The object of the invention is to provide a
surface-installation floor according to the preamble of
Claim 1 which, despite the avoidance of continuous
joint:s, manages with just one type of floor panel, which
is not excessively thick, for a certain laying pattern,
it being possible for evenness tolerances of the subfloor
to be readily compensated for.
This object is achieved in accordance with the
characterizing part of Claim 1.
Further configurations of the invention can be
gathered from the following description and the
subc:Laims.
The invention is explained in more detail
hereinbelow with reference to exemplary embodiments
illustrated schematically in the attached drawings, in
which:
20Figure 1 shows a plan view of part of the
surf~ce-installation floor with one embodiment of a
laying pattern,
Figure 2 shows a corner region of a floor panel
for l-he la'ying pattern of Figure 1,
25Figures 3 and 4 show two embodiments of the
region of the joint between two floor panels, in a
sect:ion of the surface-installation floor of Figure 1,
Figure 5 shows a plan view of part of a surface-
installation floor with a further embodiment of a laying
pattern,
Figure 6 shows a plan view of a floor panel for
the laying pattern of Figure 5,
Figure 7 shows a plan view of part of the
surface-installation floor with a third embodiment of a
laying pattern,
Figure 8 shows a plan view of a floor panel for
the Laying pattern of Figure 7,
Figures 9 and 10 show front and side views of a
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
border support for the surface-installation floor,
Figure 11 shows, in perspective, one embodiment
of a support for the surface-installation floor,
Figures 12 to 14 each show additional embodiments
of supports for the surface-installation floor,
Figures 15 to 17 show side views of a further
embocliment of a support for a surface-installation floor
and parts of this support,
Figures 18 to 20 show particularly preferred
embodiments of supports for the surface-installation
f 100I-, and
Figure 21 shows a rotation-prevention means for
the ;upports according to the embodiments of Figures 18
to 2t).
The surface-installation floor illustrated in
Figure 1 comprises a layer made up of a multiplicity of
ident:ical, rectangular or, as is illustrated, in
particular sc~are floor panels 1, which are arranged in
a predetermined grid pattern, in accordance with grid
lines 2', 2" which intersect at right angles, on a
support arrangement formed from supports 3, receiving
spaces 4 for installation lines being left in the
process.
The floor panels 1 are provided at the four
corners with bevels 5 at 45O and are also provided with
a stepped rebate 6 on the periphery. As a result, one
surface 7' of the floor panel 1 is greater than the grid
~imPnsion~ by half the rebate width, on all sides, while
the opposite, smaller surface 7" of the floor panel 1 is
smalLer than the grid ~;men~ion, by half the rebate
width, on all sides.
In practice, the bevels 5 intersect the grid-line
cross 2', 2" at 45O. The bevels 5 thus generally extend
over a relatively small corner region, such that the
centre of the bevels 5 are arranged so as to correspond
to the grid pattern.
In both directions of the grid-line cross 2', 2",
the floor panels 1 are arranged in an interlocking
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
manner, with overlapping joints, with the larger surface
7' and the smaller surface 7" alternately directed
upwards. This avoids bending under loading and resultant
gaping of the joints between the floor panels 1, as a
resuLt of which the overall appearance is one of a
continuous surface.
In this context, the floor panels 1 with stepped
rebat:es 6 projecting at the bottom are expediently
supported by in each case one support 3 adjacent to their
four corners, while the floor panels 1 which are borne or
can be taken up directly, with stepped rebates 6
projecting at the top, are only supported by the floor
pane:Ls 1 with the stepped rebates 6 projecting at the
bottom .
First of all, in the manner of a chessboard,
every second floor panel 1, namely all those with the
large surface 7' upwards, can readily be taken up,
without any disruptive effect, for subsequent
installation or inspection purposes. If required, it is
also then possible for the rest of the floor panels 1 to
be taken up.
Since the floor panels 1 which, with reference to
the laying pattern of Figure 1, are identical are
beve:Lled at 45O at all four corners and have a stepped
reba-te 6 on all sides, the panels being laid in an
interlocking manner with overlapping joints, there are no
occurrences of bending under loading and resulting gaping
of the joints between the floor panels 1, with the result
that the impression of a closed surface is achieved.
The surface-installation floor illustrated in
Figure 5 likewise comprises a multiplicity of essentially
square floor panels 1 which, in this embodiment, all
have, at one side edge, a stepped rebate 6' which is
directed to one side and, at the other three side edges,
a stepped rebate 6" which is directed to the other side,
the stepped rebates 6', 6" being on the periphery in each
case and having the same width at all locations.
The floor panels 1 are laid in a line such that,
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
in each line 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, the stepped rebate 6' which
is located at only one side edge is located in each case
at the same side of the floor panels 1, this side running
transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction
of the line. The floor panels 1 are laid in a line with
the stepped rebate 6' alternately upwards and downwards,
the stepped rebate 6' in the respective line 8a, 8b, 8c,
8d being located at the side border which is remote from
the stepped rebate 6' of the next floor panel 1 of this
line. The floor panels 1 of one line rest with their
stepped rebates 6" which project at the top, in the
longitudinal direction of the line, on the stepped
rebates 6" which project at the bottom, and extend in the
longitudinal direction, of the floor panels 1 of adjacent
lines 8a, 8c. In the transverse direction with respect to
the respective line 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, the stepped rebates
6" which project at the top, in the longitudinal
direction, of the floor panels 1 of the respective line
rest on the stepped rebates 6" which project at the
bottom, in the longitudinal direction, of the floor
paneLs 1 of the same line.
The floor panels 1 with stepped rebates 6"
projecting at the bottom on three sides are expediently
supported by in each case one support 3 adjacent to two
corners between two adjacent sides with stepped rebates
6" projecting at the bottom, while the floor panels 1
which can be taken up in a line, with stepped rebates 6"
projecting at the top, are supported by the floor panels
1 wit:h the stepped rebates 6" which project at the bottom
on three sides.
The floor panels 1 of the lines 8b, 8d can be
taken up directly in line form.
Provided in the embodiment illustrated in Figure
7 is a multiplicity of essentially scIuare floor panels 1
which all comprise two sc~uare panel parts which are
offset by a predetermined distance with respect to one
another in the diagonal direction, as a result of which
a top stepped rebate 6' is formed at two adjacent side
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
edges and a bottom stepped rebate 6" is formed at the
other two adjacent side edges, the stepped rebates 6', 6"
being on the periphery in each case and having the same
width at all locations. The panel parts are of the same
size and usually, but not necessarily, of the same
thickness (which also applies to the two embodiments
described above).
The floor panels 1 are laid in a flush manner
such that the respectively top stepped rebate 6', which
runs over two side borders, of one floor panel 1 rests on
the respectively bottom stepped rebates 6", which run
over two side borders, of two floor panels 1 which are
localed adjacent to the side borders with the stepped
rebale 6'. On the side which is to be adjoined by the
next row of floor panels 1 in each case, the bottom
stepped rebates 6" of a row of floor panels 1 which has
been laid in the manner described above form a continuous
abutment strip for this next row of floor panels 1.
In this case, the floor panels 1 are expediently
supported in each case by one support 3 adjacent to a
corner between the two sides on which the stepped rebate
6" which projects at the bottom is located.
In accordance with requirements, the different
laying patterns according to Figures 1, 5 and 7 can be
used one beside the other in sub-regions; for example,
the embodiment in Figure 5 can be used in halls or
corr:Ldors and the embodiments of Figures 1 and 7 can be
used in adjoining rooms. Depending on requirements, they
may also be used together with floor sub-regions which
are formed by means of pourable screed (supported or
unsupported). In particular, regions which can be taken
up in line form according to Figure 5 are provided within
fixed regions laid according to Figure 7, while, if
appropriate, regions according to Figure 1 adjoin the
latter. In transition regions between different laying
patterns or other regions, it is necessary to insert
floor panels which have been adapted correspondingly on
the circumference.
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
If appropriate, it is possible to form a
plurality of blocks of supported floor panels 1 which are
stabilized in the horizontal direction by border supports
20.
The border supports 20 may be configured, for
example, in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in
Figures 9 and 10. Provided for the purpose is an angle 21
which is reinforced via struts 22 and is provided in its
upright leg 21a with two vertical slots 23 which serve
for receiving an adjustment plate 24 in a vertically
adjustable manner. Said adjustment plate has two welded-
on sc:rew-bolts 25 which extend through the slots 23 and
are fastened on the leg 21a via nuts 26. The essentially
horizontal leg 21b of the angle 21 is provided, adjacent
to its border which is remote from the leg 21a, with
sunken feet 27 and, on the opposite border, which is
adjac:ent to the leg 21a, with one or more relatively
stiff spring elements 28, for example made of hard
rubber. The horizontal leg 21b also has a bore 29 for
fastening the angle 21 in the subfloor by means of a
screw and a connector (not illustrated).
The border supports 20, or the adjustment plates
24 thereof, absorb the horizontal forces from the floor
panels 1 supported by them in the horizontal direction
and dissipate these forces into the subfloor, with the
resu]t that it is neither necessary for room-boundary
walls to do this nor is there any risk, when taking up
take--up floor panels 1, of displacement of floor panels
1 of that part of the respective laying pattern which is
not taken up, which would result in the latter floor
pane]Ls not maintaining their position and in all the
associated floor panels 1 having to be relaid at a later
stage rather than just those which have been taken up
being reinserted.
Border supports 20 are also expedient in order to
define an expansion joint, for example, every 15 to 20 m.
As can be seen from Figure 3, the stepped rebates
6, 6', 6" are each expediently provided with bevels 9 or
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
rounded sections at the edges of the respective
horizontal rebate section 6a.
It is also possible, as is illustrated in Figure
4, for the stepped rebate 6, 6', 6" of the floor panel l
to run obliquely, in particular one of the two oblique
surf ces 6b of the stepped rebate 6, 6', 6" forming a
largl_r angle with the horizontal than the other oblique
surfilce 6c, with the result that, in contrast to the
embodiment of Figure 3, abutment takes place only in the
region of the horizontal rebate section 6a.
A design corresponding to Figure 3 or 4 serves to
ensure an improved flux of forces and to avoid point
moun1ing between a load-bearing floor panel l and a floor
pane:L l which is borne by the latter.
The floor panels l are expediently in one piece,
it being possible for them to be produced as cuboids,
whereupon the stepped rebates 6, 6', 6" are produced by
milling. However, the floor panels may also produced by
adhe:;ively bonding two panel parts of appropriate
~;mensions.
The floor panels l consist of mineral material
which is bound by a hydraulic binder, in particular by
calcium sulphate a-hemihydrate, and are, in particular,
fibrous gypsum panels, although it is also possible to
use other building materials such as calcium-
hydrosilicate-bound building materials.
If appropriate, the floor panels l may be
adhesively bonded to one another in the region where they
interlock.
Installations which serve as workplace power
supplies, for example electricity feeders, may be
inserted in openings which are provided or made in
appropriate floor panels l.
In order that the supports 3, despite evenness
tole~ances, can be levelled in a simple manner, with the
result that even large tolerances of a subfloor are
accommodated without difficulty, the supports 3 comprise
a spherical section lO which, either directly or via a
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
part provided with a surface which is complementary to
the ,pherical section 10, supports an associated floor
panei! 1 adjacent to a corner of the latter, which means
at the same time that each support 3 supports just one
floor panel 1, rather than a plurality of floor panels 1
at thLe same time, with the result that floor panels 1, or
sides of the latter, which are not supported by the
supports 3 are merely borne by other floor panels 1. At
the same time, this results in a lesser degree of fitting
outlay in relation to supports which are arranged at the
abutt:ing corners of the floor panels so as to bear a
plurality of the latter.
The spherical section 10 may be located on any
part of the support 3, for example its foot, its shank or
a separate abutment part can bear the spherical section
10 or be designed as such. If the associated floor panel
1 is supported via a part provided with a surface which
is complementary to the spherical ~ection 10, then said
part is preferably moveable with respect to the spherical
section 10 in order thus to be capable of automatic
alignment with respect to the plane of the floor panel 1.
The support 3 illustrated in Figure 11 comprises
a foot 11 with a central cutout 12 for receiving an
insertable shank casing 13 and the spherical section 10
with planar top side 14. The foot 11 expediently has a
top side 15 running conically towards the cutout 12 and
a large, low-level standing surface at the outer border.
Although the foot 11 in the exemplary embodiment
illustrated is round in plan view, it may likewise be,
for example, square or hexagonal in plan view. It
consists of a mineral, hydraulically set material based,
in particular, on calcium sulphate a-hemihydrate.
The shank casing 13 expediently consists of
paperboard or a comparable material serving as shuttering
and is inserted into the cutout 12, the insertion depth
being selected in accordance with requirements. For this
purpose, it is expedient if there is a friction fit
between the cutout 12 and the shank casing 13, with the
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
-- 10 --
result that the latter remains at the desired level
without any further auxillary means. A scale 16 which,
for example, has been printed on may serve as an aid for
retaining the desired insertion depth.
The spherical section 10 is placed on the shank
casing 13 with its arched part downwards and likewise
consists of a mineral, hydraulically set material based,
in particular, on calcium sulphate ~-hemihydrate and may
be provided with a central funnel 17.
First of all, the shank casing 13 may essentially
be filled with mortar, whereupon the spherical section 10
is p:Laced in position, with the result that some of the
mortt~r can penetrate into the funnel 17. Thereafter,
precise vertical and horizontal levelling can take place
before the mortar has set.
The shank casing 13 may also be a hollow cylinder
made of a mineral, hydraulically set building material
based, in particular, on calcium sulphate ~-hemihydrate
and, moreover, may have a wall thickness which is
sufficient for absorbing the envisaged loading without
being filled with mortar. Instead of a shank casing 13,
it is also possible to use a solid-cylindrical shank. In
this case, a cutout is provided at its top end for the
purpose of receiving the spherical section 10 such that
the latter can be rotated and tilted, this cutout, if
appropriate, receiving a mortar bed for the spherical
section 10 or else a bowl-like insert made, for example,
of ~ footstep-sound-insulating material such as a
plast:ic. If desired, the shank and the spherical section
10 can be fixedly connected to one another via mortar
introduced into the funnel 17.
A plate made of a footstep-sound-insulating
material such as a plastic or the like can be fastened on
the planar top side 14 of the spherical section 10.
The support 3 illustrated in Figure 12 comprises
a column-like foot 11, which may comprise a disc-like
basic element lla and an attachment llb. The basic
elem~_nt lla and attachment llb are expediently round
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
discs of preferably the same diameter (although it is
also possible to use discs of different shapes, for
example polygonal discs) and consist of mineral,
hydraulically set material, for example based on gypsum
5 and, in particular, on calcium sulphate ol-hemihydrate,
the hardness of which is advantageous in this case. Basic
elements lla can be added up to the planned height.
The attachment llb may bear at the top a plate-
like footstep-sound-insulation means 34 made of an
10 elasl omeric material. Moreover, the attachment llb bears
a sleeve 29 which is provided with an external thread and
may be provided at the top with a transverse wall, which
butts against the top side of the footstep-sound-
insulation means 34.
Screwed onto the sleeve 29 is a spherical section
10 which is provided with an internal thread in its
peripheral parts and, by virtue of rotation with respect
to the sleeve 29, is vertically adjustable with respect
to the attachment llb. The spherical section 10
expediently has a peripheral, possibly corrigated bead 35
for better actuation.
The support 3 illustrated in Figure 13 comprises
a foot 11 with a central cutout 12 which is provided with
a thread and is intended for receiving a screw-in,
hollow-cylindrical shank 13 having a corresponding
thread, and further comprises a spherical section 10 with
a pltmar surface 14. The spherical section 10 rests with
its ~;pherical surface on the correspondingly bevelled top
border of the shank 13 and is thus moveable with respect
to the latter, with the result that the planar surface 14
on the top side of the spherical section 10 can be
readily aligned horizontally. A footstep-sound insulation
can be placed in position on the planar surface 14 or
integrated in the latter.
The foot 11 is provided at the top with a
peripheral flange 36, which results in better handling
for vertical levelling. The foot 11 and shank 13 are
metal parts, as is also preferably the case for the
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
spherical section 10, although it is also possible for
the latter to be made of a mineral, hydraulically set
building material. In particular, these components are
cast:ings with the possible exception of the shank 13,
which, in particular, may also be rolled.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 14, the
spherical section 10 has its spherical section directed
upwards and is inserted into the shank 13 by way of a
stub-like continuation 37. The spherical section 10 bears
a co~lplementary attachment 38 which has a planar top side
39 and can be moved with respect to the spherical section
10, with the result that this attachment can be readily
aligned horizontally with the planar top side 39 by
virtue of a floor panel 1 butting against the latter.
The support 3 illustrated in Figures 15 to 17
comprises a column-like shank 40 which comprises two
shan]c elements 40a, 40b and bears the spherical section
10, which may bear a part 41 which is arched
correspondingly at the bottom and can be moved on the
spherical section 10. These parts all have a circular
cross-section and consist of mineral, hydraulically set
material based, for example, on gypsum and, in
part:icular, on calcium sulphate a-hemihydrate, the
hardness of which is advantageous in this case.
Connection to a subfloor may take place by means of
adhesive or mortar.
The two parts 10 and 41 may be arranged beneath
or above the shank elements 4Oa, 4Ob.
The spherical section 10 may also be designed
integrally with the shank element 40b.
The shank element 40a, which is provided with an
axia:Lly extending, central, circular-cylindrical cutout
42, has, on the side which faces the shank element 40b,
three helically wound turns 43 which are arranged one
behind the other in a circumferential direction, extend
over 1200, are of the same pitch and start and end at the
same level. As far as the turns 43 are concerned, the
shank element 40b is of corresponding design, but has a
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
- 13 -
central guide stub 44 which is received by the opening
42, t:his resulting in inner guidance. The shank elements
40a, 40b are thus vertically adjustable with respect to
one another by way of rotation.
The turns 43 preferably have a rough surface,
whi ch, in particular, may be designed as sawtoothed
stepping .
The shank elements 40a, 40b may, if appropriate,
be enclosed by a sheathing, for example made of plastic,
which has been used as shuttering.
According to those exemplary embodiments of
supports 3 which are illustrated in Figures 18 to 20,
these supports each comprise a foot 11 which is made of
mineral material bound by a hydraulic binder, in
particular of calcium sulphate a-hemihydrate, and is
provided with a central, vertically extending cutout 12,
and further comprise two metallic parts which can be
screwed with respect to one another for vertical
adjustment and of which one part is inserted into the
cutout 12 of the foot 11 and is supported by the latter,
while the other part supports the associated floor panel
1, one of the two parts forming the spherical section 10.
Provided according to Figure 18 is a screw 19
which is produced in one piece, for example by rolling,
has ,~ hat 47, designed integrally therewith, and is in
engagement with a nut 18, designed as an abutment nut. At
the lop, the nut 18 has a flange 48 which rests on the
foot 11, while the cutout 12 receives the nut 18. The
flange 48 may have noses 49 which are bent in the
direction of the foot 11 and are received by cutouts 50
adjoining the cutout 12 laterally, in order thus to form
a rot:ation-prevention means for the nut 18. The hat 47 of
the screw 19 is arched slightly upwards, in order to form
the spherical section 10 by way of this arched surface.
The screw 19 is expediently secured against
rotalion by a rotation-prevention means 52, as is
illustrated in Figure 21. This means 52 is an
approximately U-shaped clamp with two arms 53 which can
CA 02227406 l998-0l-20
- 14 -
be pushed apart from one another in the outward direction
and delimit a cutout 54 corresponding to the internal
diameter of the thread of the screw 19. The rotation-
prevention means 52 is inserted into the thread turn of
the screw 19 adjacent to the nut 18, an upright section
55 being useful.
The hat 47 may also be produced separately and,
if appropriate, so as to project laterally to a desired
extent with respect to the screw 19 and may be fastened
on the screw 19, for example, by being pressed thereon.
According to Figure 19, the screw 19 is provided
with the spherical section 10, which in this case
conslitutes a round head for the screw 19, while a disc
56 with a central section 57 which is arched
corresponding to the round head is supported on the
latter. The disc 56 iS retained on the round head by
means of plugs 58 SO as to be pivotable and moveable on
all sides, and it has a peripheral border region 59 for
supporting an associated floor panel 1.
According to Figure 20, the flange 48 which is
fastened at the bottom of the nut 18 comprises the
spherical section 10, which is inserted into the cutout
12, with the result that the nut 18 iS pivotable on all
sides. The screw 19 has a planar abutment surface 60 for
an associated floor panel 1, it being possible for the
abutrnent surface 60 to be formed by a countersunk head
(as illustrated) or by a planar hat, disc or the like.
The radius of curvature of the spherical section
10 when the latter supports a floor panel 1 directly is
prefe!rably selected such that, with a mAximllm permissible
inclination of the support 3 of, for example, 10%, the
spherical section 10 still butts, at the border,
approximately tangentially against the floor panel 1.
As is indicated in Figure 18, it is possible, for
fireproofing reasons, to arrange around support 3 which
comprise metallic parts, a protective ring 61 made of
mineral material, for example of the same material as
that of the foot 11, the protective ring 61 being
CA 02227406 1998-01-20
divicled, in the longitudinal direction of the support 3,
into two halves which are set up on the subfloor around
the installed support 3, bearing a floor panel 1, with
the :result that a relatively small gap remains between
5 the top side of the protective ring 61 and the floor
pane:L 1.
