Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR SOCLE FOR PLASTERBOARD WALLS AND THE LIKE
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a modular socle
for plasterboard walls and the like.
More in detail, the present invention relates to a
modular socle to be incorporated in plasterboard walls
for partitioning interiors, use to which the following
description will make explicit reference without however
losing in generality.
BACKGROUND ART
As known, plasterboard walls for partitioning
interiors substantially consist a series of rectangular
plasterboard panels which are fixed in vertical position
and closely side-by-side to one another on a rear
supporting framework which, in turn, is rigidly anchored
to the surrounding masonry structure.
More in detail, the plasterboard panels are usually
fixed in a rigid, non-removable manner to a supporting
framework consisting of a series of metal-material
vertical uprights which are arranged in vertical
position one beside the another, regularly spaced out
along a same lying plane, and are rigidly anchored to
the floor, the ceiling and/or to one another so as to
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form a rigid flat structure capable of stably supporting
the plasterboard panels.
In order to ensure the structural continuity
between the plasterboard wall and the floor underneath,
the panels adjacent to the floor are furthermore fixed
to the supporting framework with the lower side/edge of
the panel in abutment/resting on the floor, so that the
small slit which is formed between the single
plasterboard panels and the floor underneath may be
rapidly sealed with a small amount of plaster, silicone
and/or other filler for building use, and then possibly
stably covered with a skirting board made of wood or the
like.
Unfortunately, this type of structural continuity
between the plasterboard wall and the floor causes major
problems when changes must be made to the wiring which
is incorporated inside the wall during the construction
thereof.
In fact, moving a switch, a power socket or a
junction box nearly always requires removing one or more
plasterboard panels, with all the drawbacks that this
implies.
The plasterboard panels indeed are fixed to the
rear supporting framework in a non-removable manner,
therefore detaching a plasterboard panel very often
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leads to an irreparable breaking of the whole panel
and/or to the damaging of the rear supporting framework.
Furthermore, detaching a plasterboard panel is a
relatively complicated operation which produces a large
amount of dust and processing residues.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Aim of the present invention is to to eliminate the
drawbacks associated with the structural continuity
between the plasterboard wall and the floor.
In compliance with the above aims, according to the
present invention there is provided a modular socle for
plasterboard walls and the like as specified in Claim 1
and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of
the dependent claims therefrom.
According to the present invention there is also
provided a curtain wall as specified in Claim 16.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a
non-limitative embodiment thereof, in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic and perspective view,
with parts in section and part removed for clarity, of
the lower part of a plasterboard wall incorporating a
modular socle made according to the teachings of the
present invention;
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- Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the lower
part of the plasterboard wall shown in figure 1; whereas
- Figure 3 is a schematic and perspective view,
with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of
the lower part of a plasterboard wall incorporating a
second embodiment of the modular socle shown in Figures
1 and 2.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, reference number
1 indicates as a whole a modular socle specifically
structured to be incorporated in a plasterboard curtain
wall 100 or the like.
More in detail, the curtain wall 100 preferably
comprises:
- a rigid rear supporting framework 101 having a
reticular structure, which is preferably made of metal
material, extends vertically, and is structured to be
stably anchored to the floor p and optionally also to
the ceiling (not shown) of the room to be partitioned or
coated; and
- one or more series of preferably substantially
rectangular-shape, curtain panels 102 which are
preferably made of plasterboard and are rigidly fixed
onto the rear supporting framework 101 so as to be
locally substantially coplanar and closely side-by-side
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arranged to one another, thus to cover/coat the rear
supporting framework 101 preferably substantially
without interruption.
In the example shown, in particular, the supporting
5 framework 101 preferably consists of a series of
vertical uprights 103 (only one is shown) preferably
made of metal material, which are arranged in vertical
position one beside the other, more or less regularly
spaced out along a same vertical laying plane, and are
rigidly fixed/anchored to the floor p and optionally
also to the ceiling (not shown) of the to-be-partitioned
or -coated room, so as to form a rigid reticular
structure capable of stably supporting the curtain
panels 102.
Preferably, the vertical uprights 103 are moreover
rigidly connected to one another by means of a series of
horizontal stiffening crosspieces.
More in detail, in the example shown the supporting
structure 101 preferably consists of a series of metal-
material, rectilinear rods or beams 103 which are
arranged in vertical position, at a predetermined and
preferably also approximately constant distance from one
another, and have the two axial ends rigidly fixed one
to the floor p and the other to the ceiling (not shown)
of the to-be-partitioned or -coated room.
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Preferably, in turn, the single curtain panels 102
are arranged in abutment at same time on two or more
vertical uprights 103, with the side edges in pairs
locally substantially either parallel or perpendicular
to the floor p, and are fixed in a rigid, non-removable
manner to the same vertical uprights 103 preferably by
means of self-tapping screws of known type (not shown).
With reference to figures 1 and 2, the modular
socle 1 instead comprises:
- at least one rectilinear supporting longitudinal
member 2 which is shaped substantially like a plate-like
splint and is adapted to be rigidly fixed to the
supporting framework 101, between the floor P and the
curtain panel 102 immediately adjacent to the floor p,
with the two lateral sides 3 and 4 one locally tangent
to the floor p and the other locally tangent to the
lower side 102a of the curtain panel 102, so as to be
locally substantially coplanar with the immediately
superjacent curtain panel 102; and
- and at least one skirting board 5 which extends
parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the longitudinal
member 2, and is fixed in a rigid and stable, though
easily removable manner, onto the exposed front face 6
of the longitudinal member 2, so as to locally
substantially skim the surface of floor p, preferably
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substantially for the whole length of the longitudinal
member 2.
More in detail, the skirting board 5 is preferably
fixed in an easily removable manner to the front face 6
of the supporting longitudinal member 2, within a
longitudinal concave seat 7 which extends on front face
6 parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the
longitudinal member 2, preferably substantially for the
whole length of the same longitudinal member 2, so as to
be immediately adjacent to the lateral side 3 of the
longitudinal member 2 which is intended to be arranged
in abutment on floor p.
In other words, with particular reference to figure
2, the supporting longitudinal member 2 is adapted to be
stably fixed onto the supporting framework 101, between
floor p and the curtain panel 102 immediately adjacent
to floor p, with the rear face 8 abutting on the
supporting framework 101, so as to join/connect the
curtain panel 102 to the floor p underneath, preferably
substantially in a seamless manner for the whole length
of the supporting longitudinal member 2.
The skirting board 5 is instead housed in easy
removable manner into the longitudinal concave seat 7
extending on the front face 6 of the longitudinal member
2, next to the lower lateral side 3 of the longitudinal
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member, so as to be arranged locally skimming the
surface of floor p when the supporting longitudinal
member 2 is fixed to the supporting framework 101 of the
curtain wall 100.
Preferably, the supporting longitudinal member 2 is
further fixed onto the supporting framework 101 in a
non-removable manner by means of self-tapping screws.
In the example shown, in particular, the overall
length of the supporting longitudinal member 2 is
preferably either greater than or equal to the nominal
distance between two consecutive vertical uprights 103
of the supporting framework 101 of curtain wall 100, so
as to be arranged with the rear face 8 at same time in
abutment on at least two consecutive vertical uprights
103 of supporting framework 101.
More in detail, in the example shown, the width of
supporting longitudinal member 2 preferably, though not
necessarily, ranges between 3 and 20 cm (centimeters);
and the length preferably, though not necessarily,
ranges between 50 and 100 cm (centimeters).
With reference to figures 1 and 2, the modular
socle 1 moreover comprises a linear light source 9,
which is structured to emit light when electricity
powered, and is located substantially at the bottom of a
longitudinal rectilinear groove 10 which extends on
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front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2
parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the longitudinal
member, preferably substantially for the whole length of
the same longitudinal member 2. Furthermore, the
longitudinal rectilinear groove 10 is immediately
adjacent to the longitudinal concave seat 7
accommodating the skirting board 5, so that the light
source 9 can illuminate the space in front of and/or
surrounding the skirting board 5.
Preferably, the longitudinal groove 10 furthermore
directly communicates with the longitudinal concave seat
7 accommodating the skirting board 5, so that the light
source 9 can directly illuminate the upper edge of the
skirting board 5.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, additionally the
supporting longitudinal member 2 consists of a front
rectilinear, plate-like section bar 12 and of a rear
rectilinear, plate-like section bar 13, which are stably
coupled to each other in a rigid manner, preferably by
gluing; and the rectilinear skirting board 5 is fixed in
a rigid and stable, though easily removable manner
directly onto the front plate-like section bar 12, on
the opposite side with respect to the rear plate-shaped
section bar 13.
More in detail, the front plate-like section bar 12
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is made of a metal material and extends parallel to the
longitudinal axis L of the longitudinal member 2
substantially for the whole length of longitudinal
member 2, so as to form at least the part of the front
5 face 6 of the longitudinal member which is intended to
receive the skirting board 5 in abutment.
In other words, the front plate-like section bar 12
is structured to form the longitudinal concave seat 7
accommodating the skirting board 5, and optionally also
10 the longitudinal groove 10 accommodating the light
source 9.
In addition to the above, the front plate-like
section bar 12 is furthermore provided with a series of
large sized pass-through openings 12a, which are
suitably spaced apart along the portion of the front
plate-like section bar 12 which is intended to receive
the skirting board 5 in abutment, preferably for the
whole length of section bar 12. The pass-through
openings 12a are additionally dimensioned so as to be
completely covered by the skirting board 5.
In other words, the pass-through openings 12a are
located on the portion of the front plate-like section
bar 12 that forms the longitudinal concave seat 7, and
have a maximum width w which is slightly smaller than
the height h of the skirting board 5.
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More in detail, in the example shown, the pass-
through openings 12a are preferably aligned one after
the other parallel to the longitudinal axis of the front
plate-like section bar 12, i.e. parallel to the
longitudinal axis L of the longitudinal member 2.
Preferably, each of the pass-through openings 12a
is further substantially rectangular and preferably also
has an area/extension greater than 1,5 cm2 (square
centimeters).
With particular reference to figure 2, the skirting
board 5, in turn, is fixed in a rigid and stable, though
easily removable manner directly onto the front plate-
like section bar 12, preferably by means of a series of
permanent magnets 14 which are preferably, though not
necessarily embedded in the body of skirting board 5.
The rear plate-like section bar 13, instead, is
made of an easily pierceable material, extends parallel
to the longitudinal axis L of longitudinal member 2
substantially for the whole length of longitudinal
member 2, so as to form the rear face 8 of longitudinal
member 2, and is stably coupled to the front plate-like
section bar 12 so as to plug/obstruct the pass-through
openings 12a of the front plate-like section bar 12.
Preferably, the rear plate-like section bar 13 is
furthermore structured/shaped so as to form the two
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lateral sides 3 and 4 of the supporting longitudinal
member 2.
With reference to figures 1 and 2, in the example
shown, in particular, the front plate-like section bar
12 preferably consists of a metal plate of suitable
thickness and with a ribbon-like structure, which is
appropriately folded/shaped so as to form/delimit the
longitudinal concave seat 7 that houses the skirting
board 5, and also the longitudinal groove 10 that houses
the light source 9.
The rectilinear skirting board 5 instead preferably
consists of a wood splint or the like.
Alternatively, the rectilinear skirting board 5 may
also consist of a metal-material, rectilinear section
bar which incorporates a resistor therein.
With particular reference to Figure 2, the rear
plate-like section bar 13 preferably instead consists of
a composite-material splint 13 having the front face
suitably shaped to have a profile complementary to that
of the front plate-like section bar 12.
More in detail, in the example shown the composite-
material splint 13 preferably consists of a solid and
compact block 15 of polymeric material foam, which is
shaped so as to substantially under approximate the
shape of the composite material splint 13; and of a
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protective surface shell 16 which is made of a hard,
rigid composite material, preferably also fireproof
and/or heat-resistant, and which has a nominal thickness
preferably less than 3 mm (millimeters), and preferably
covers at least the surface portion of polymeric
material foam block 15 which is directly coupled to
and/or faces the front plate-like section bar 12.
The polymeric material foam block 15 is furthermore
made of a polymeric material foam having a nominal
density higher than 15 kg/m3 (kilograms per cubic
meter).
The protective surface shell 16 in turn has a
nominal thickness preferably lower than 1 mm
(millimeter), and extends along the whole surface of the
polymeric material foam block 15 that concurs in forming
the exposed front face 6 of the supporting longitudinal
member 2, preferably without interruption.
In the example shown, in particular, the polymeric
material foam block 15 is preferably made of sintered
expanded polystyrene or other similar thermoplastic
aromatic polymer foam, with nominal density preferably
ranging between 20 and 60 kg/m3 (kilograms per cubic
meter).
Preferably, the protective surface shell 16 instead
comprises: at least a first inner layer 17 which is made
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of powders and/or grit of mineral stone embedded in a
matrix of a preferably epoxy-type resin, and which
covers the surface of the polymeric material foam block
15; and a surface layer 18 which is made of gypsum
and/or plaster and/or cement and/or other building
material suitable for covering, embedded in a matrix of
a preferably epoxy-type resin, and which completely
covers the layer 17 of powder and/or grit of quartz or
other mineral stone material embedded in a resin matrix.
In the example shown, in particular, the protective
shell 16 preferably comprises a series/plurality of
overlapping inner layers 17, each of which comprises
powders and/or grit of quartz or other mineral stone
material with a particle size preferably ranging between
0,1 to 0,3 mm (millimeters), embedded in a matrix of
preferably epoxy-type resin; whereas the surface layer
18 completely covers the outermost layer 17.
Preferably, though not necessarily, the outer layer
18 and the inner layer(s) 17 are furthermore applied by
spraying onto the polymeric material foam block 15.
Finally, with reference to figures 1 and 2, the
light source 9 preferably comprises a series of light
emitting diodes 19, traditionally named LEDs, which are
located on the upper face of a supporting and powering
board 20 which, in turn, is rigidly fixed onto the front
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plate-like section bar 12 with the diodes 19 turned
towards the mouth of the longitudinal groove 10 present
on front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2.
In the example shown, in particular, the board 20
5 is ribbon-
shaped and is preferably fixed in rigid manner
on a rectilinear section bar 21 with U-shaped cross-
section, which is made of metal material and, in turn,
is rigidly fixed onto the front plate-like section bar
12. Moreover, the diodes 19 are preferably distributed
10 in a substantially uniform manner on the upper face of
board 20, preferably substantially for the whole length
of the ribbon-shaped board 20.
Furthermore, the length of the ribbon-shaped board
is preferably substantially equal to the length of
15 the longitudinal groove 10 present on the longitudinal
member 2, i.e. to the length of the front plate-like
section bar 12.
With reference to figure 2, preferably the light
source 9 is moreover provided with a light diffuser lid
20 22 which is made of polycarbonate, Plexiglas or other
transparent or semitransparent material, and is placed
to close the mouth of the rectilinear section bar 21
with U-shaped cross-section, so as to be backlighted by
the diodes 19.
Preferably, the light diffuser lid 22 is also
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structured/dimensioned so as to diffuse the light
outside the supporting body 2 in a substantially uniform
manner.
The assembly of modular socle 1 provides, during
assembly of curtain wall 100, to rigidly fix the
supporting longitudinal member 2 on the rear supporting
framework 101 preferably by means of self-tapping
screws, with the lower lateral side 3 abutting on floor
p; and then to rigidly fix, preferably by means of self-
tapping screws, the single curtain panels 102 on the
supporting framework 101 so as to complete the curtain
wall 100, while arranging the single curtain panels 102
directly in abutment on the supporting longitudinal
member 2 underneath.
The metal material, front plate-like section bar 12
supports the weight of the curtain panels 102 abutting
on the longitudinal member 2.
Once assembly of curtain wall 100 has been
completed, the assembly of modular socle 1 provides to
fix in a rigid and stable, though easily removable
manner, the skirting board 5 onto the front face 6 of
supporting longitudinal member 2, inside longitudinal
concave seat 7.
The skirting board 5 can be fixed onto the front
face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2 with the aid
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of the permanent magnets 14 which directly attach onto
the front plate-like section bar 12. Alternatively, it
is also possible to fix the skirting board 5 onto the
front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2 by
means of nails which engage in pass-through manner the
body of the skirting board 5 and then directly stick
into the rear plate-like section bar 13 after having
crossed the pass-through openings 12a of the front
plate-like section bar 12.
Obviously, in a different embodiment, the skirting
board 5 may also be fixed onto the front face 6 of
supporting longitudinal member 2 by means of toothed
tabs that cantilevered protrude from the back of the
skirting board 5 or other snap locking mechanisms.
The presence of modular socle 1 provides several
advantages.
Firstly, the modular socle 1 allows to easily
access the void space inside the curtain wall 100
without removing the curtain panels 102, so as to
rapidly modify the wiring possibly incorporated in the
curtain wall 100.
In fact, in order to access the void space inside
the curtain wall 100 it is sufficient to manually remove
the skirting board 5 and then pierce the supporting
longitudinal member 2 at one of the many pass-through
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openings 12a of the front plate-like section bar 12.
Once the changes to the wiring have been completed,
it is possible to plug and hide the pass-through hole
made in the supporting longitudinal member 2 by
replacing the skirting board 5 on the front face 6 of
supporting longitudinal member 2, inside the
longitudinal concave seat 7.
Additionally, if the modular socle 1 is provided
with a light source 9, it can also illuminate the area
in front of/surrounding the skirting board 5, with all
the advantages this implies.
Last, but not less importantly, since the modular
socle 1 is nearly entirely made of polymeric material
foam, it is particularly light-weight and shock-
resistant, and therefore may be installed very easily,
without particular canniness.
It is finally apparent that changes and variations
can be made to the above-described modular socle 1
without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
For example, with reference to figure 3, in a
different embodiment, the front plate-like section bar
12 may be structured so as to form the entire front face
6 of the supporting longitudinal member 2, and the two
lateral sides 3 and 4 of the longitudinal member.
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In addition, the ribbon-shaped board 20 of light
source 9 may be fixed directly onto the surface of the
front plate-like section bar 12.
In other words, the light source 9 may be free from
the rectilinear section bar 21 and the light diffuser
lid 22.
Moreover, in a different non-shown embodiment the
rear plate-like section bar 13 could also be made of
plastic, cork or soft wood, such as balsa.
