Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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DEVICE FOR JOINING PARQUET-TYPE PLAQUES OR PIECES
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
As stated in the title of this descriptive
specification, the present invention relates to a device
for joining parquet-type plaques or pieces, with which
notable advantages are contributed compared to previous
floors of this type and which includes means of tongue-
and-grooving between the different pieces.
It is an aim of the invention to achieve a novel
form of laying plaques or tiles and preferably parquet-
type pieces that is simple though which nevertheless
presents a high level of finish and termination.
It is also an aim of the invention to endow this
type of parquet with an additional technical advantage
which would permit the generation of a greater number of
modulations and therefore similar decorative effects to
those which it is possible to achieve with non-tongue-
and-grooved parquet pieces, as is the case of
compositions in herring-bone.
PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION
There currently exist a wide range of forms and
systems of laying a floor based on tiles that can be
fitted together, but a solid type of join is not achieved
and, when it comes to longer lasting floors, the pieces
are not optimally intermeshed, or at least they do not
present a structure for the tiles or plaques and the
joining of pieces in general which, in accordance with
the present invention, leads to a form of laying parquet
and similar displaying major advantages compared to the
current systems of laying, above all in terms of the ease
and intuitiveness of installation, fitting of the pieces,
and the inclusion of joints.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The device in qiuestion is based on the classical
pieces or tiles constituting the floor or parquet, but.
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endowed with certain characteristic means of securing
which is explained below.
The means of securing consist of certain angular
projections located in at least one of the sides of the
piece, and which collaborate with certain extensions or
flanges to which they are backed onto via their lower
face, in order to be interconnected in a tongue-and-
grooved fashion and also intermeshed with the recipient
housings of the adjacent piece and which are found on the
opposite side of the pieces.
On this opposite side or edge provision is made for
the existence of some recesses at an angle, provided in
association with a lower flange which will in turn remain
beneath the flange or extension of the edge carrying the
angular projections, according to a tongue-and-groove
connection in a coplanar movement of the pieces. In order
to achieve total securing, one piece is displaced
slightly and in the perpendicular direction to that first
movement with respect to the other piece so that the end
of the angular projection by way of a hook penetrates
into the end elbow of the angular recess of the other
piece or plaque.
Provision is also made for the upper or visible face
.of these parquet type plaques or pieces and similar to
have a plaque of any type of pavement (ceramic,
synthetic, natural etc.) backed onto them.
In the second case, in other words, when the pieces
have another plaque of pavement backed onto them, some
separation joints are preferably included, for which the
edges include a corresponding machining. The joint has an
inverted profile in the form of a "T", the central piece
of which is located between the adjacent plaques and the
cross-piece is included in separate openings of the
parquet type plaques or pieces, with these openings being
effected higher than the paracentral extension or
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connection flange, in other words, very close to the
upper face of the parquet-type piece.
The other two opposite sides of the parquet-type
plaques or pieces are joined in a tongue-and-groove
fashion but differently from the above, due to one of the
edges having at least one mortise comprising two flanges
collateral to it and able to be introduced in other
depressions of the opposite edge of the other piece or
plaque in a longitudinal fitting.
Provision has also been made so that, in the event
of fitting the parquet-type pieces according to a linear
composition, in other words, when the joints are arranged
continuously, in order to prevent sliding, a depression
has been included in the form of a corner piece, which is
applied to the angular zone of two pieces at their
meeting point, with the pieces being thus perfectly
intermeshed together. One tab of the corner piece and
part of the other will remain inserted in the recess of
the flange of one of the pieces and the rest of this tab
in the depression of the flange of the plaque which
occupies a diagonal position, being covered with the
plaque which closes the joining of the four pieces.
All the corner pieces remain hidden, of course, when
the tongue-and-grooving of the pieces is carried out in
the formation of the parquet-type floor.
In the intermeshed composition of the pieces, in
other words, when they are located in a quincunx, the
blocking corner pieces are not required because the array
is kept very stable and blocked. When in particular the
pieces have a rectangular shape, the larger sides are the
ones to bear the means of angular engagement and the
lesser sides bear the other type of engagement. In these
rectangular pieces, an intermeshed composition can be
carried out half-piece, with the pieces centred or in a
quincunx, or an intermeshed composition can be carried
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out in quarter-piece or other variations that might be
desired, since it all depends on the number of angular
projections and recesses existing.
In another form of embodiment, the parquet which the
invention proposes is made up of pieces that include some
connection projections in one of their edges and
specifically in the lower third of their thickness, and
recipient recesses in the opposite edge of an adjacent
piece and also made in a flange in an extension of the
same lower third of the thickness of the piece. The
projections are located below a continuous flange
emerging from the central third of the thickness of the
piece and this flange will in turn be housed in a
recipient groove of the opposite edge of the adjacent
piece in a linear or intermeshed composition of the
pieces.
The upper face or strip of the pieces can carry a
ceramic or similar plaque backed onto it by means of
glue. It is also considered that there could exist
sealing joints interposed between the ceramic plaques,
said joints in that case having an inverted "T" cross-
section so that the central piece is located between the
adjacent plaques and the cross-piece is introduced into
the respective slots cut perimetrically in the upper
third of the thickness of the wooden or similar piece.
Above the perimetric slot, the wooden or similar piece
will have a facing in order to permit the accurate fit of
the joint, with this facing corresponding to the upper
half of the central piece of that joint. The ceramic
plaques will of course have the dimensions corresponding
to those of the visible face of the lower piece.
The connection projections between the pieces are
located in two consecutive sides thereof and the
corresponding recesses exist in the two opposite sides to
the previous ones. The shape of the recesses and
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projections is identical to each other and have the form
of a obtuse angle triangle, the projections thus being
obliquely or diagonally shaped but in such a way that the
orientation of those located on one of the sides is
inverted with respect to those located on the other
adjacent side.
This arrangement determines that the coupling
between pieces can be done by coplanar sliding of the new
piece to be fitted with a diagonal movement. So, the new
installed piece will not be able to be removed unless it
is displaced in the same diagonal direction as it was
introduced, since it will otherwise remain intermeshed.
It is no longer necessary to make compound displacements
in order to connect these pieces or tiles as used to
occur with the configuration of recesses or projections.
commented on earlier.
Another characteristic shown by this second form of
embodiment lies in the fact that the flange of the
central third of the thickness of the piece is
continuously extended along both consecutive sides, with
the particular feature moreover that its upper face ends
in the form of a ramp descending towards the free edge
and slightly projecting beyond the connection projections
located beneath it.
Each of the opposite edges to said flanges in
extension of the central third of the thickness has a
recipient groove of complementary cross-section made in
it, in order to optimise the fit between pieces.
The clips or "U" shaped engagement elements are also
used for achieving a better intermeshing of every two
contiguous pieces in the same row, for which the lower
face of the pieces have some angular notches cut in them
which affect only the lower third of the thickness, one
of which sections is arranged close to and parallel to
the adjacent sides and is made from the other opposite
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sides. The other section which completes the angular
shape of the recipient notch of the "U" shaped clip
affects solely the edge of the end zones. When the two
adjacent pieces have been fitted, the clip is perfectly
installed and remains flush with the edge without
obstructing the fitting of the new piece, whether the
composition is linear or intermeshed.
Provision has also been made for the upper or
visible face of the wooden or similar pieces to be
covered with a ceramic or similar plaque stuck with
adhesive. In this case, hermetic sealing joints can be
fitted between the plaques, such joints having the form
of an inverted "T" shape in cross-section, and in this
case the upper third of the thickness of the piece has a
perimetric facing in order to reduce the surface and
which permits the joint to be fitted between the two
adjacent plaques. The joints have the general form of an
inverted "T" and the cross-member is housed in separate
perimetric grooves made for the purpose in this upper
third of the thickness of the pieces.
In a third form of embodiment, the parquet, though
it has a structure similar to the previous embodiment
mentioned and which has the oblique projections of the
lower third of the piece in two of its adjacent sides,
along with complementary oblique recipient recesses in
the other sides, and flanges and slots in the central
third of the thickness, presents the advantageous
characteristic mentioned earlier in the section on object
of the invention. This consists of the fact that the
number of different compositions of the parquet can be
increased without tongue-and-grooving, as with herring-
bone formations in the case of rectangular pieces.
To achieve this, according to the invention there
are two types of pieces involved in the formation of the
parquet, both of them being symmetric with respect to a
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perpendicular plane parallel to one of their sides and
with mirror symmetry. All the pieces have the flanges,
slots, oblique recesses and oblique projections, in a
symmetrical arrangement, and therefore the herring-bone
formation is achieved by alternating pieces of one type
with those of the other type in order to be able to fit
the new piece in a position rotated through 90 with
respect to the one previously fitted of the type.
The same type of pieces cannot be used for producing
herring-bone formations.
In this case that has been commented on and which is
of preferred embodiment, the herring-bone formation is
carried out with pieces of both types in equal
dimensions. Provision is also made for the length of one
type of piece to be a multiple of the width of the piece
of the other type and the width of the former to be a
divisor of the length of the latter. So, the pieces of
one of the types can be square and those of the other
type rectangular of lesser side having half the value of
the side of the square, and the larger side being double
among other combinations.
In order to facilitate the understanding of the
characteristics of the invention and forming an integral
part of this descriptive specification, some sheets of
drawings are attached containing figures in which, on an
illustrative rather than limiting basis, the following
have been represented:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of the joining
of parquet-type plaques or pieces in a linear
composition, with the device forming the object of the
invention and with one of the plaque being shown in
exploded form.
Figure 2.- Is a view similar to figure 1 in a half-
piece intermeshed composition, with the same plaques.
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Figure 3. - Is a plan view of one of the plaques or
pieces of parquet.
Figure 4.- Is a lower plan view of the same plaque.
Figure 5.- Is an elevation view of the same plaque
as in figure 3.
Figure 6.- Is a plan view of that shown in figure 2.
Figure 7.- Is a lower plan view of the same figure
2.
Figure 8.- Is an elevation view of figure 7.
Figure 9.- Is a view similar to that of figure 1 in
a form of embodiment in which the parquet-type plaques or
pieces include a ceramic or similar pavement as their
visible face and there exist separation joints between
plaques.
Figure 10.- Is a plan view of the detail A of figure
9.
Figure 11.- Is a cross-section though the line of
cut B-B of figure 9.
Figure 12.- Is a lower plan view of that shown in
figure 9 but in a half-piece intermeshed composition.
Figure 13.- Is a perspective view of one of the
pieces of the parquet forming the object of the
invention, in a second form of embodiment.
Figure 14.- Is a perspective view of the same piece
of parquet of figure 13, from the lower face.
Figure 15.- Is a plan view of that shown in figure
13.
Figure 16.- Is an elevation view of that shown in
figure 15.
Figure 17.- Is a profile view of that shown in
figure 15.
Figure 18.- Is a lower plan view corresponding to
figure 14.
Figure 19.- Is a plan view of the fitting of four
pieces of the parquet.
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Figure 20.- Is an elevation view of that shown in
figure 19.
Figure 2I.- Is a lower plan view of that shown in
figures 19 and 20.
Figure 22.- Is an exploded elevation view in order
to observe the coupling of two pieces of the parquet.
Figure 23.- Is view similar to.figure 22 once the
coupling has been carried out.
Figure 24.- Is a lower plan view of the fitting of
four pieces of parquet, in an intermeshed composition.
Figure 25.- Is a plan view of a portion of
intermeshed parquet constructed according to the third
form of embodiment of the invention.
Figure 26.- Is a plan view, similar to figure 25,
according to another distribution of herring-bone
assembly which follows a direction parallel to the side
of the contour.
Figure 27, 28 and 29.- Are respective views in plan,
longitudinal elevation and transverse elevation of one of
the pieces of parquet corresponding to one of the two
types, in accordance with this third form of embodiment
of the invention.
Figure 30.- Is a lower plan view of that shown in
figures 27 to 29.
Figure 31.- Is a perspective view of the same piece
of parquet of figures 27 to 30.
Figures 32, 33 and 34.- Are respective views in
plan, longitudinal elevation and transverse elevation of
one of the pieces of parquet of the other type, in
accordance with the invention.
Figure 35.- Is a lower plan view of the same piece
of parquet of figures 32 to 34.
Figure 36.- Is a perspective view of the same piece
of figures 32 to 35.
Figure 37.- Is an exploded perspective view of the
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same parquet as in figure 26, in order to observe the
intermeshed fitting of the pieces of the parquet.
Figure 38.- Is an enlarged view of the detail C of
figure 37.
Figure 39.- Is perspective view via the lower face
of the parquet of figure 25.
Figure 40.- Is a plan view of a portion of parquet
constructed with pieces of different dimensions: squares
and rectangles, corresponding to the two respective types
of pieces of parquet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERYtED FORM OF EMBODIMENT
Making reference to the numbering adopted in figures
1 to 12, the device for joining parquet type plaques or
pieces, which the invention proposes, permits the tongue-
and-groove fitting of these pieces in two perpendicular
coplanar movements, one of approach and the other of
lateral sliding for the fit. Figure 1 shows the joining
of plaques 1 in a linear combination (they are aligned in
two perpendicular directions, with the joints therefore
coinciding) and figure 2 shows a half-piece intermeshed
composition.
To achieve this, the plaques 1 have in one of their
larger sides some angular extensions 2 as an extension of
the lower face and corresponding to a third of the total
thickness of the piece, as can be seen in figure 5. On
the opposite side there exist respective recesses 3 at an
angle which have the same thickness (one third of the
total thickness of the piece 1), and of such a size that
permits the entrance of the angular extension 2 and its
subsequent lateral displacement so that the angular
pieces interconnect and secure the join. The angular
extensions or projections 2 remain backing on below the
central rim 4 of that edge and the recesses 3 eliminate
the wall of the lower flange 5 defined in the lower third
of the thickness of the plaque 1.
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The paracentral flange 4 (central in the case shown
in the figures, since, as we have said, the thickness is
approximately one third of that of the plaque 1),
projects with respect to the upper or visible face of the
plaque 1, this upper face being perfectly rectangular as
can be seen in the fitting of plaques 1. Said flange 4
will remain introduced in the groove 6 of the opposite
edge of an adjacent piece, as can be seen more clearly in
figures 7 and 8. The visible face is referenced with the
number 7 and the lower or hidden face with the number 8.
In figure 7 the connection in two perpendicular
movements can be seen for engaging the angular extensions
2 in the recesses 3. The furthermost recess 3 of those
existing also remains open at the contiguous edge owing
to the proximity to the corner of the plaque.
What has been mentioned so far in this section
permits connection between the plaques 1 via their
longitudinal or greater edges in this example of
rectangular plaques 1.
The connection via the lesser edges is also carried
out in a precise manner due to the existence in one of
them of the flanges 9 formed on one and the other side of
the mortise 10, in the same lower plane as the flange 5,
said flanges 9 being introduced in the mortised
depressions 11 of the opposite edge of an adjacent
plaque, to one side and the other of the trapezoid
projection 12 intermediate between them, in a linear
movement simultaneous to the lateral displacement for
entrance of the elbows of the angular projection 2 and
angular recess 3.
Making special reference now to figures 9 to 12, we
see an example of embodiment with square plaques 1' which
possess in their upper or visible face a ceramic or
similar plaque 13, stuck to them by gluing. In this case
we can seen how the edges of the wood have been machined
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in an inverted "T" for the joint 14 of identical cross-
section, and the central piece of that joint is extended
until it is practically flush (or remains slightly tucked
in) with the visible face of the plaque 13. The joint 14
fits perfectly into the sides of the ceramic plaque 13
due to having small co-lateral oblique tabs which can be
seen in the drawings.
The joints 14 are finished in a double bevel in
order to solve the meeting points (see figures 9 and 10)
when the fitting of the plaques is done adapting a linear
composition. If the fitting is half -piece - intermeshing
(figure 12) the joints 14 are straight because they make
end to end contact against each other in the longitudinal
lines which are continuous and also in the transverse or
perpendicular sections between them.
In figures 1, 6 and 7 we see a linear composition of
plaques 1 and in figure 2 a half-piece intermeshed
composition since the pieces 1 are arranged centred in a
quincunx. With this geometry of plaques 1, a quarter-
piece intermeshing can also be carried out simply by
making the connection between plaques more out of phase
by selecting other connection recesses for the
engagements at an angle.
Finally, in the linear composition of plaques, both
of the type 1 and of the type 1', a perfect intermeshing
is achieved by locating the corner pieces 15 (figures 1,
6, 10) in the depressions 16-17 which, when they
coincide, form the recipient depression for that corner
piece 15. Such corner pieces become perfectly hidden when
the final piece is laid which closes the meeting of four
pieces or plaques 1 and 1'.
Making reference now to the numbering adopted in
figures 13 to 24, we can see that the parquet which the
invention proposes is formed in this second example of
embodiment with square-shaped pieces referenced in
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general with number 18. The visible face is referenced
with number 19 and the hidden face with number 20.
In the enlarged details of figures 16 and 17, it can
be seen that the thickness of the pieces 18 is divided
into three parts which can be equal or different. The
upper third is referenced with number 21, the central one
with number 22 and the lower with number 23.
The connection projections between pieces 18, made
between the lower face 20 and which occupy the lower
third 23, are referenced with the number 24 and are to be
found on two adjacent sides and below the flange 25 which
is continued along both adjacent or consecutive sides.
The upper face of this flange is referenced with 26 and
it shapes a ramp which facilitates the entrance of said
flange 25 in the groove 27 of the respective opposite
sides of the piece 18, as can be seen in the enlarged
detail of figure 16. The coupling of two adjacent pieces
is more clearly seen in figures 22 and 23, which
respectively show the position before and after the
coupling.
The recesses corresponding to the projections 24
located on the respective opposite sides and also
consecutive with each other are referenced with the
number 28, and there exist four recesses 28 and a further
four projections 24 in the contour of the pieces 18, in
facing positions.
The recesses are made in the edge of the flange 29
located in an extension of the lower third 23 of the
thickness of the piece 18, in two of the corresponding
consecutive sides, as is seen in the enlarged detail of
figure 16 which corresponds to an elevation view of
figure 15.
Note that the projections 24 and the complementary
recesses 28 all have the shape of an obtuse angle
triangle adopting an oblique arrangement in the same
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diagonal direction of the pieces 18, which means that the
pieces can only be coupled in this diagonal direction
since they enter perfectly centred. Both also have their
edges rounded for that same purpose.
Making special mention of figures 14 and 21, in
order to ensure the immobility of the pieces 18 of the
parquet, clips 30 are located in the angular notches 31
of perpendicular sections 32 and 33 which, in the
assembly of two pieces, shape the recipient housing for
the clip 30, the angular notches 31 affecting solely the
lower third 29 of the thickness of the piece. The
sections 32 are made solely in two of the opposite sides
of the pieces 18 and in proximity to the other two sides
thereof. The sections 33 affect just the edge of the end
zones of these same sides. In figure 21 one of the clips
is already fitted and it can be seen how a blocking is
produced in alignments of pieces in a linear composition,
while in figure 24 an assembly can be seen following an
intermeshed composition of the pieces 18. The central
part of the clips 30 do not project from the edge from
which the projections 24 emerge in order not to hinder
the fitting of the other adjacent piece.
The clips 30 have their arms slightly converging in
order to facilitate the progressive insertion. The clips
30 on the sides of the recesses 28 are seated in a front
or facing machining of the lower flange 29 which cuts the
length of the tab precisely to the degree of the
thickness of the central part of that clip 30.
In the third form of embodiment of the invention,
according to figures 25 to 40, we can see that the
parquet is formed as shown in figures 25 and 26 with two
types of pieces in order to be able to produce
intermeshed or herring-bone assemblies where some
rectangular pieces, equal in their dimensions in this
case, adopt an arrangement rotated 90 with respect to
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the one which has previously been laid.
The pieces of tiles of one type are referenced with
number 34 and those of the other type with number 35, the
latter being highlighted by means of stippling.
The pieces 34 offer the geometry shown in figures 27
to 31, and the pieces 35 that shown in figures 32 to 36.
The pieces 34 and 35 are symmetric with respect to a
vertical plane, in other words, they have mirror
symmetry, as we will see further below.
The pieces 34 present a visible or upper surface 36
with straight edges and a lower one 37 with some oblique
projections 38 in two of their contiguous sides, and
complementary oblique recesse's 39 in the other two sides.
The oblique projections 38 have a thickness
corresponding to the lower third of the thickness of the
pieces 34, and they are backed on below the paracentral
flange 40 which emerges from the central zone of the
thickness of the piece, in just two of these contiguous
sides. In the other two opposite sides there exists a
corresponding slot 41 which will receive the flange 40 in
the tongue and groove coupling.
The recesses 39 are made in the flange 42 which
projects out in the lower third of the thickness of the
pieces 34 being extended along the corresponding adjacent
sides, these recesses being located below the paracentral
flange 40 in the corresponding section in which they
overlap when being laid and will in turn remain
introduced in the recesses 39. As the projections are
oblique in the same way as the recesses, the coupling is
carried out with a diagonal approach of the new piece to
be laid.
For their part, the pieces 35 possess the same
geometrical characteristics in terms of flanges (40, 42),
oblique recesses 39, oblique projections 38 and slots 41,
but with all of them arranged symmetrically, as can be
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deduced from making a parallel comparison of figures 27,
28 and 30 of pieces 34, with 41, 42 and 44 of pieces 35.
If, for example, we place figure 26 to the left of
figure 35, we can see how, as a consequence of the
symmetry they show, the oblique projections 38 and the
oblique recesses 39 of the piece 34 on the left have
inverted orientations with respect to those of the right.
As what is wished is to form the parquet by intermeshing
the pieces 34 and 35 in the form of a herring-bone, the
connection is perfectly made by rotating the pieces 35
through 90 in the clockwise direction. In the example of
embodiment shown in figures 25 to 36, where the pieces 34
and 35 intervene, the laying of the parquet is done as
seen in figures 37 and 38. As the pieces 34 and 25 have
two recesses and two projections in the respective
greater sides and just one recess and one projection
respectively and centred in the lesser sides (the length
of the pieces is double their width), the connection is
perfectly made due to each projection 38 and recess 39 in
the connection having the same orientation. In figure 39
this assembly can be seen from the lower face which is
where the projections and recesses are to be found. Using
just pieces of the type 34 or pieces of the type 35, this
connection in a herring-bone (intermeshed composition)
cannot be made, and a parquet can only be laid with
pieces connected.linearly in rows (linear composition).
Finally, in relation to figure 40, we can see a
parquet formed from square pieces of the same type as the
pieces 34 (therefore referenced with 34') and rectangular
pieces of the type of pieces 35 (therefore referenced
with 35') and which are only symmetric in terms of the
arrangement of tabs, slots, recesses and projections, but
not in terms of their dimensions. In this case, the
pieces 34' are double the length of the pieces 35' and
their width is half that of the sides of the latter.
