Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02337713 2001-02-21
DEVICE FOR FORMING EXPANSION JOINTS BETWEEN
FIELDS OF FLOOR COVERING LAID ON A RAW FLOOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for forming
expansion joints between fields of floor covering laid on a
raw or uncoated floor. Limiting sections are tied to each of
the edges of the floor covering defining the joint, as well
as in the associated fastening mortar, so that the two
limiting sections are connected with each other in a sliding
manner and extend parallel with the fields of the floor
covering.
2. The Prior Art
Expansion joints are used as field-limiting joints,
among other things, in locations where tiles, natural stone,
terrazzo mosaic coverings, tiling finishes and similar
coverings installed on mortar beds, or glued layers have to
be laid on raw floors, for example concrete floors. These
joints are required especially in conjunction with floors
with large surface areas, such as in shopping centers, large
market places, or in connection with industrial floors.
Expansion joint constructions of this type are expected to
- 2 -
CA 02337713 2001-02-21
absorb the movements of the floor covering caused by tensile,
pressure and/or shear stress in a safe and controlled manner.
At the same time, the joints further transmit the forces
caused by the wheels of forklift trucks or floor transporter
vehicles and acting on the construction of the joint. In
these situations, the edges of the floor covering have to be
protected within the zone of such field-limiting joints.
Panel-laying techniques where joint zones are
exactly fixed in advance are commonly used. This means that
the plates are first laid from one side up to the fixed axis
of the joint. The joint constructions are then installed in
a second step of the installation process, and the field of
plates is finally tied to the joint constructions or sections
of the joint.
A device for forming expansion joints between
fields of floor covering is known from DE 43 41 224 C2.
Strip-like limiting sections are tied to the edges of the
floor covering limiting the joints. A hollow, elastic
section strip is supported between the two spaced-apart
limiting sections for covering the space of the joints. This
device permits only minor movements of the coated areas
against each other.
- 3 -
CA 02337713 2001-02-21
A joint arrangement comprising two vertical strips
extending parallel next to each other with a lateral spacing,
and a bridge element located between the vertical strips for
incorporation in a field-limiting joint of a floor covering
laid on a bed of mortar, is discussed in German Patent No. DE
196 45 637 C1. In this case, the upper longitudinal edges of
the vertical strips extend in the plane extending on the top
side of the floor covering. The vertical strips, which are
provided with a large number of breakthroughs and which
extend up into the bed of mortar, are joined with each other
along their upper longitudinal edges by a bridge, forming one
single piece. This bridge has a closed surface area and
serves as the bridge element. The breakthroughs located in
the upper longitudinal strip of the vertical strips extending
at the level of the floor covering have smaller cross
sections than the breakthroughs located in the lower strip
disposed at the level of the bed of mortar.
The one-component section employed in this joint
arrangement has the drawback that the upper, rigid connection
with a bridge prevents an adequate pushing and compensating
motion from taking place within the area of the joint. This
poses the risk that the profiles may get torn from the edges
of the floor coating. The further drawback is that in the
- 4 -
CA 02337713 2001-02-21
presence of substantial vertical stresses acting on the joint
section, which has an inadequate surface area to support the
sections on the substrate, causes the sections to be torn off
on their sides, lower themselves down into the joint and
consequently lose their protective function versus the edges
of the floor covering.
Constructions according to German Patent No. DE 197
53 937 A1 satisfy the requirements that devices for forming
expansion joints are expected to meet in practical
applications with respect to an adequately sliding joint.
That case has two angle sections, with one angle section
having pockets with parallel surfaces. These pockets are
engaged in a sliding manner by legs correspondingly arranged
on the other angle section. These sections, however, can be
installed below the floor covering only with molded-on
fastening legs and are consequently not suited for the laying
technique addressed in the present case. Such constructions
can be usefully installed only when at least one angle
section is already installed in the course of the first phase
of the covering laying process. However, it is difficult to
then tie this angle section to the edges of the expansion
joint, since these edges are produced only during the second
phase of this construction work.
- 5 -
CA 02337713 2001-02-21
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to
provide a device for forming expansion joints that permits
tying to the edges of the already laid plates with adequate
tying of the limiting sections to the fastening mortar, and
provides for a large space in which the fields of the floor
covering can move.
The invention comprises two limiting sections
having an approximately U-shaped cross section and identical
constructions, which engage one another in a sliding manner.
This arrangement of the limiting sections leads to a device
that is closed at the top and at the bottom. The underside
forms an adequate support surface.
In a preferred embodiment, the chambers formed
around the bridges and the legs of the limiting sections are
filled in the laying process with the fastening mortar, so
that the upper legs of the limiting sections are supported by
the fastening mortar, and are consequently tied to the fields
of the floor covering, safely securing them to a high degree
against vertical stress.
- 6 -
CA 02337713 2001-02-21
These devices can be joined in a simple manner with
the edges of the floor covering limiting the moving joints,
by securing the devices via the fastening mortar. The
fastening mortar, which is preferably provided with a joint
in the form of a cut, recess or notch, is arranged below the
device, so that such mortar supports the device as well.
In another preferred embodiment, the corresponding
limiting sections can be manufactured in a simple way by
metal sheet rolling or metal sheet folding. It is therefore
possible to use sections made of metal sheet material that
can be economically produced not by the extrusion process,
such as sections made of stainless steel sheet materials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and features of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It
is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed
as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits
of the invention.
CA 02337713 2001-02-21
In the drawings, wherein similar reference
characters denote similar elements throughout the several
views:
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a device for
forming expansion joints according to the invention; and
FIG. 2 shows a corresponding perspective sectional
view of such a device after its unilateral installation in
the structure of a floor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The device shown in FIG. 1 comprises two limiting
sections 1 basically having a U-shaped cross section and
identical constructions. After having been installed in an
arrangement in which the two sections are turned against each
other by 180Q, the two sections 1 engage each other in a
sliding manner and form a cross section having the shape of a
double "T". A space-keeping filling insert 2 is glued in
between the inwardly curved bridges 11. The curved
components of bridges 11 each form an outwardly open chamber
3. In the area of the transitions from bridge 11 to lateral
bridges 12, pockets 14 are formed by chamfering or rolling
_ g _
CA 02337713 2001-02-21
methods, and each engage the corresponding leg 13 of the
other limiting section in a sliding manner. Engaging legs 13
are shaped in two layers by the corresponding bend or
corresponding fold 13a. The corresponding two-layer section
is shaped curved inwards around a pocket 14 by the thickness
of the metal sheet the leg 12.
The device shown in FIG. 1 is shown again in FIG. 2
in an installation situation. A mortar layer 5 is applied to
a raw floor 4, for example a concrete floor, and a plate
floor covering 6 or the like is applied to raw floor 4. The
device as defined by the invention is installed on one side
on layer 5 and plate floor covering 6 by means of limiting
section 1. The entire device is supported on a mortar stilt
applied to raw floor 4, as well as on a corresponding bed,
which has a joint 8 in the form of a notch. The fastening
mortar denoted by reference numeral 7 serves for the tie-up.
Mortar 7 fully or completely penetrates chamber 3 formed by
the limiting section 1 and cures in said section. For
additionally bracing the fastening mortar, it is possible to
provide for breakthroughs 15 in bridge 11, which may also be
combined with undercut contours. As shown in the
representation in FIG. 2, on the other side of the device as
- 9 -
CA 02337713 2001-02-21
defined by the invention, the other limiting section 1 is
joined with the adjoining structure of the floor.
Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the
present invention have been shown and described, it is
obvious that many changes and modifications may be made
thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
- 10 -
