Tile flooring

The present invention relates in general terms to a flooring and more specifically to a flooring according to the preamble of claim7(see DE-A-2 225 892).

According to the state of the art, tiles are laid side by side until the entire surface to be floored is covered. The flooring thus obtained, which is advantageous from various points of view, has a disadvantage, however, which is revealed when it has to be removed in part, for example in order to gain access to cables, pipes and the like, which were laid at the same time as the flooring, or in order to lay these subsequently. The disadvantage is that removal of the tiles is laborious and inevitably involves the destruction of many if not all the tiles to be removed, with the consequent necessity of replacing them.

The problem underlying the present invention is to devise a flooring of the type indicated, which has structural and functional characteristics which make it possible to overcome the abovementioned disadvantage.

This problem is solved by a flooring according to claim7.

With reference to the attached figures, reference number1generally indicates a flooring according to the present invention.

The flooring1comprises a plurality of tiles, all indicated by2, which are square in the example and arranged regularly essentially side by side in rows at right angles. Each tile2has four corners3and four sides4.

The flooring1also comprises a plurality of plate-shaped supports, all indicated by5, which are square in the example. Each plate-shaped support5has a centre6and four sides7.

The plate-shaped supports5are arranged below the tiles2in a regular manner and essentially quincuncially in relation to the plurality of tiles in such a manner that the centre6of each plate-shaped support5is situated below the corners3of four adjacent tiles2.

In the example, the plate-shaped supports are made by moulding an appropriate elastomer, for example rubber.

Fixing means8, which will be described below, are provided for fixing the tiles2to the plate-shaped supports5in a removable manner.

The plate-shaped supports5are side by side in mutual contact side to side. In the sides in mutual contact, a joint9is provided, which stably retains the adjacent plate-shaped supports in relation to one another. The joint9comprises a hammer-shaped projection10, which is formed halfway along a side7of a plate-shaped support, and a hammer-shaped recess11which mates with the projection10and is formed halfway along a side7of the adjacent plate-shaped support.

Each plate-shaped support5has projections and recesses in equal number, and specifically two projections and two recesses, one on each side, so that all the plate-shaped supports are identical with one another.

On its lower surface5a,each plate-shaped support5has a plurality of channels12distributed in two groups of channels which are parallel to the sides and intersect one another at right angles and are advantageously dimensioned for the passage of cables, pipes and the like, which are indicated diagrammatically by13.

On its upper surface5b,each plate-shaped support has a raised portion14shaped like a Greek cross with arms15converging into the centre6which have an essentially rectangular section.

The raised portion14constitutes a filler or a bead between adjacent tiles.

The raised portion14of each plate-shaped support is preferably in mutual contact with the raised portions of the adjacent plate-shaped supports. That is to say the arms15have free ends16, opposite the centre6, which touch with their tip the free ends of the arms of the adjacent plate-shaped support.

A covering generally indicated by17is fitted onto the raised portion14. Preferably made from a sheet of metal material, for example brass, of fine thickness, it has an upturned U-shaped section and takes the form of a cross18, which has arms19of short length and covers the raised portion14in its zone positioned in the centre6, and of four strips20which are each of sufficient length that they extend between the arms20of adjacent crosses, tip to tip with the ends of the arms19of the crosses18. Reference number21indicates feet which project in a cantilevered manner from the arms and from the strips, rest on the plate-shaped support and are surmounted by the tiles.

The tiles2have a reinforcing core22which takes the form of a plate made of a ferrous material, for example common steel, and have on an upper surface2aa covering23which takes the form of a sheet of a valuable material, for example a sheet of stainless steel, turned down over the reinforcing core, forming an edge24which surrounds the reinforcing core along its periphery on a lower face2bof the tile.

The tile2rests with its lower surface2bon the upper face5bof four adjacent plate-shaped supports5which are situated below the tile2.

The edge24rests in a rabbet25formed in the plate-shaped supports along the arms15of the raised portions.

The fixing means8comprise a screw26which extends between each corner3of the four corners of respective adjacent tiles2, which are situated above a plate-shaped support, and the plate-shaped support itself, said screw extending through holes26aand26bformed in the tile and in the plate-shaped support respectively.

The fixing means8preferably comprise a metal insert27which is associated with the plate-shaped support and is equipped with a thread28engaged in a screwing manner by the screw26.

In the example, the inserts27, in which the screws26of the four corners are in screwing engagement, in other words the inserts of each plate-shaped support, constitute a single piece in the form of a square metal plate29accommodated in a recess30formed in the lower face5aof the plate-shaped support.

A variant embodiment of the invention is described with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, in which the elements which remain the same have kept the same reference numbers.

The flooring1comprises fixing means31formed by a press-button32which extends between each corner of the four corners of adjacent tiles which are situated above a plate-shaped support.

The press-button comprises a mushroom-shaped element33, which projects from a base34associated with the plate-shaped support, and a seat35formed in the tile. Advantageously, the bases of each plate-shaped support constitute a single piece in the form of a square metal plate36accommodated in a recess37formed in the plate-shaped support.

A further variant embodiment of the invention is described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, in which the elements which remain the same have kept the same reference numbers.

The flooring1comprises fixing means38constituted by an adhesive element39which takes the form of a cord of self-adhesive material40which is accommodated in the region of the arms of the Greek cross-like raised portion.

A further variant embodiment of the invention is described with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9, in which the elements which remain the same functionally and structurally have kept the same reference numbers. The flooring1comprises tiles41, each of which comprises a reinforcing core42and, on the opposite faces41aand41b,a first covering43and a second covering44respectively.

The first covering43takes the form of a sheet of stainless steel while a material with low thermal conductivity is selected for the second covering. In the example, the second covering is a sheet of valuable wood.

Each tile41is provided with screw fixing means and can be fixed to the plate-shaped supports by one or the other of the two faces41aand41balternatively.

In use, when it is necessary to gain access to cables already laid or to run cables, it is necessary only to remove two rows of adjacent tiles in order to gain access to one row of plate-shaped supports which can in turn be removed.

By reversing this procedure, the flooring can be relaid again completely.

It should be noted that with every change of season it is possible to turn the tiles over simply by unscrewing and screwing in again the screws of the fixing means so as to expose the more suitable covering.

The main advantage of the flooring according to the present invention lies in the fact that it lends itself to being rapidly removed locally as required and to being completely reinstated again using the same tiles which have been removed any number of times so as always to assume the identical appearance again.

A further advantage of the flooring according to the present invention lies in the fact that it can be laid rapidly.

A further advantage lies in the fact that it has great resistance to penetration of water, during cleaning, thanks to the presence of the cross-like raised portions provided in the plate-shaped supports.

A further advantage of the flooring according to the invention rests in the fact that it lends itself to being made so as to achieve an aesthetic quality also thanks to appropriate selection of materials for the tiles and the coverings of the raised portions.

The flooring according to the invention also lends itself to being adapted to different climatic conditions, for example to winter and to summer, by laying the tiles with whichever of the two coverings is indicated from case to case.

The flooring according to the invention is also structurally simple and robust which is an advantage in particular for a manufacture which is intended to have a long service life. The fixing means not only secure the tiles firmly to the plate-shaped supports but also secure the tiles firmly in relation to one another by means of the plate-shaped supports, rendering the flooring a whole.

It is also favourable from the environmental point of view and in particular is effective in overcoming noise pollution thanks to its good capacity for deadening impacts, vibrations and noise, both airborne and from footsteps.

The flooring according to the invention also lends itself to being made with tiles of various shapes.

It is also possible to replace a single tile rapidly, for example if damaged.

Clearly, for the purposes of meeting contingent and specific requirements, an expert in the field will be able to make numerous modifications and variations to the flooring described above, all nevertheless contained within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the claims below.