CONNECTING AND PLUGGING ELEMENT FOR MODULAR FLOOR CONSTRUCTION

ELEMENT DE RACCORDEMENT ET DE CHEVILLAGE POUR LA CONSTRUCTION DE PLANCHERS MODULAIRES

English Abstract

A connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction
comprising a linear element having a substantially U-shaped cross section
defined by two lateral walls connected by an arched surface, and further
having two head walls each connecting the two lateral walls on opposing
sides of the linear element. The connecting and plugging element is
preferably made of a thermoplastic material, and the two lateral walls and
one of the head walls may have free edges that extend to form an enlarged
bearing base with holes for connecting to the floor base and also with
couplers or relieves for connecting to reinforcing bars or to adjacent
connecting and plugging elements.

Claims

CLAIMS
What we claim is:
1. A connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction
comprising:
a linear element having a substantially U-shaped cross section comprising
two lateral walls and an arched surface connecting the two lateral walls;
and two head walls, each of the two head walls connecting the two lateral
walls on opposing sides of the linear element.
2. The connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction
of claim 1, wherein the connecting and plugging element fur modular floor
construction is made of a thermoplastic material.
3. The connecting and plugging element for modular flour construction
of claim 1, wherein one or more free edges of the connecting and plugging
element for modular floor construction are provided with an enlarged
bearing base.
4. The connecting arid plugging element for modular floor construction
of claim 3, wherein the enlarged bearing base comprises extensions
protruding from the free edges in lateral and outward directions.
5. The connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction
of claim 4, wherein there are three extensions, two of which protrude from
the lateral walls and one of which protrudes from one of the two head walls.
6. The connecting and plugging element fur modular floor construction
of claim 3, wherein the enlarged bearing base comprises holes for affixing
the connecting and plugging element for modular flour construction to a
floor slab.
7. The connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction
of claim 1, further comprising means for connecting the connecting and
plugging element for modular floor construction to concrete reinforcing bars.
8. The connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction
of claim 7, wherein the means for connecting comprise relieves on the
surface of the connecting and plugging element for modular floor
construction.
9. The connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction
of claim 7, wherein the means for connecting comprise couplers on the
-1-

surface of the connecting and plugging element fur modular flour
construction.
10. The connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction
of claim 1, wherein the surface of the connecting and plugging element for
modular flour construction has a ribbed design.
-2-

Description

CA 02497362 2005-02-14
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Connecting and Plugging Elerryent for Modular Floor Construction
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENT1ON
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present patent application concerns building components, and, more
sp~ifically, a plugging and connecting element for modular floor
construction.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Modular elements for the construction of raised or aerated floors are
generally dome-shaped and have an upper surface supported by four or more
legs divided by arch-shaped openings. These modular elements are
juxtaposed and connected to each other to produce a continuous grid
structure. Reinforcing iron rods, such as an electro-welded net or ribbed
bars,
are positioned over such grid structure, and concrete is then poured. It is
then
possible to obtain a monolithic floor slab, aerated in the lower part and
suitable for inserting pipes, ducts, cables and similar building components
within the aerated space.
These rr~duiar elements have modular dimensions and, once installed, fill a
surface determined by multiples of the modular dimension. Often, the
floors to be produced have surface dimensions that are not precise multiples
of the modular elements, leaving one or more floor strips uncovered.
Connecting elements to fill the uncovered area are known in the prior art and
are shaped substantially like a box with an open side. Because of their
configuration, these connecting elements cannot carry the weight of a person,
so are not suited for walking on. Furtl~r, the connecting elements in the
prior art are affixed to the modular elements by means of deep lateral
notches, preventing their ability to slide and to be adjusted in position in
the
event they are too wide or too narrow for the application at hand.
Otl~r connecting elements in the prior art consist of blocks of expanded
material, typically expanded polystyrene, having a square or rectangular
base and lateral walls cunnected to an upper arch-shaped surface matching
the arch-shaped openings of the modular elements. A connecting element
-1-

CA 02497362 2005-02-14
of this type is inserted inside an arch-shaped opening of the last modular
elements in order to achieve complete coverage of the floor surface.
The above described connecting elements are preferably positioned in a
central area of the floor, that is, modular elements are placed in positions
40 starting from the floor edges and are the then joined with the connecting
elements in the middle of the floor.
Other types of connecting and plugging elements are also known in the prior
art, and are generally manufactured with expanded materials generating high
storage volumes, material requirements, and costs. Further, these connecting
45 and plugging elements typically have smooth surfaces and no means for
connecting to each other during positioning and/or during the pouring of the
concrete, therefore, these connecting and plugging elements can slide during
application making them totally or partially useless.
50 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction is
provided comprising a linear element having a substantially U-sloped cross
section defined by two lateral walls connected by an arched surface, and
further having two head walls each connecting the two lateral walls on
55 opposing sides of the linear element. The connecting and plugging element
is preferably made of a thermoplastic material, and the two lateral walls
and one of the head walls may have free edges that extend to form an
enlarged bearing base with holes for connecting to the floor base and also
with couplers or relieves for connecting to reinforcing bars or to adjacent
f0 connecting and plugging elements.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting element to be
used in the manufacture of aerated or elevated floors that plugs the arch-
shaped openings of the modular elements and does not slide while the
formwork is being or during pouring of the concrete.
65 It is another object of the present invention to provide a connecting
element
to be used in the manufacture of aerated or elevated floors, on which
operators can walk safely.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from a reading of the following description, and may be realized by means
70 of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
-2-

CA 02497362 2005-02-14
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary
75 embodiments of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It
is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention
may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the
invention.
Fig. 1 is a first perspective view of a connecting and plugging element
80 according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a second perspective view of a connecting and plugging element
according to the present invention.
Fig. 2a is a detail view of an extension with couplers of a head wall of the
connecting and plugging element of Fig. 2.
85 Fig. 3 is a side view of a connecting and plugging element according to the
present invention abutted against a foundation wall.
Fig. 4 is a side view of two connecting and plugging elements according to
the present invention abutted against reinforcing bars.
Fig. 4a is a detail view of the a coupler on the extension of a head wall of a
90 connecting and plugging element according to the present invention joined
to a reinforcing bar.
Fig. 5 is a side view of three connecting and plugging elements according to
the present invention joined to each other and to a foundation wall.
95 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF
THE INVENTION
Detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention are provided herein.
It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied
in various forms.
100 Therefore, the specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as
limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the
art how to employ the present invention in virtually any detailed system,
structure, or manner.
Turning now to Figs. 1-2, a connecting and plugging element (P) comprises
105 a linear element with a substantially U-shaped cross-section, matching the
shape of the arch-shaped opening of a modular element (M). The linear
-3-

CA 02497362 2005-02-14
elements has two lateral walls (P1) and an arched surface (P2) connecting
the two lateral walls, the lateral walls (P1) being typically inclined while
the
arched surface (P2) has a shape corresponding to the opening in modular
110 elements (M). The lateral walls (Pl) are connected, on opposing sides, by
head walls (P3) that are substantially vertical. Connecting and plugging
element (P) made be manufactured from a thermoplastic material.
The free edges of connecting and plugging element (P) may have extensions
(P4) protruding outwards laterally in a horizontal direction, so as to form an
115 enlarged bearing base.
In one embodiment, extensions (P4) of the free edges are present on three
sides of connecting and plugging elements (P), that is, on lateral walls (Pl )
and one head wall (P3), while there is no extension on the opposite head
wall (P3).
120 Various holes (P4f) may be present on extensions (P4), in order to enable
the
affixing of connecting and plugging element (P) to the lower floor slab.
Moreover, on extension (P4) of one head wall, relieves or couplers (P4a)
may be present of a shape suitable for securing connecting and plugging
element (P) to one or more concrete reinforcing bars, in order to prevent
125 connecting and plugging element (P) from sliding toward the inside of
modular element (M). On head walls (P3), on arched surface (P2) and/or on
lateral walls (Pl ), stiffening ribs (Pa) may be present, in order to provide
connecting and plugging element (P) with sufficient mechanical strength to
withstand the weight of a walking person.
130 Connecting and plugging element (P) is suitable for positioning on a lower
floor slab and, because of its shape and mechanical properties, and because
it can be prevented from sliding sideways, connecting and plugging element
(P) performs its function in a variety of situations that occur in the
manufacture of aerated or elevated floors of dimensions different from entire
I35 multiples of modular elements (M).
Connecting and plugging element (P) needs only inserting in the arch-
shaped bole of the last modular element (M) of the floor grid, so to extend to
the edge of the floor.
Fig. 3 illustrates an application of connecting and plugging element (P)
140 when a foundation wall is present. If that situation, connecting and
plugging
element (P) may be positioned against the foundation wall, with the edge of
head wall (P3) that is extension-free abutting against the foundation wall.
-4-

CA 02497362 2005-02-14
Figs. 4-4a show an application of connecting and plugging element (P) in
conjunction with reinforcing bars (Ar) that are used to produce beams of the
145 same thickness as the floor. If the beam has not been poured yet, when
beams and floor slab are poured at the same tip, connecting and plugging
element (P) may be positioned so to have the couplers (P4a) on extension
(P4) of head wall (P3) mate with reinforcement bars (Ar).
Connecting and plugging element (P) may also be positioned between two
150 modular elements (M) in different areas of the floor surface, so to
connect
two modular elements (M) that are spaced apart.
Fig. 5 shows three aligned connecting and plugging elements (P), positioned
with their heads walls next to each other and having the extension-free edge
of tale head wall of one element secured to couplers (P4a) on the extension
155 of the head wall of the adjacent element.
While the invention has been described in connection with the above
described embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention
to the particular forms set forth,, but on the contrary, it is intended to
cover
such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within
160 the scope of the invention.
_5_

Representative Drawing