EP2210995B1

EP2210995B1 - Covering system for covering surfaces by tiling

Info

Publication number: EP2210995B1
Application number: EP08852242.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Antonio ALAVES ALCANTARA
Original assignee: Alaves Montajes Y Realizaciones SL
Current assignee: Alaves Montajes Y Realizaciones SL
Priority date: 2007-11-21
Filing date: 2008-10-17
Publication date: 2016-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-17
Also published as: WO2009065979A1; EP2210995A4; ES1066639Y; EP2210995A1; ES1066639U; ES2569579T3

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a covering system for covering surfaces by tilling, enabling covering of floors, walls or vertical surfaces as well as inclined surfaces. The covering system has application for covering any type of surface, being fixed to the surface by the interposition of two-sided adhesive intermediate components, so that one side of the intermediate component sticks to the surface and the other side sticks to the base plate, enabling the covering system to be used for covering surfaces that are horizontal, vertical, inclined, etc.
The object of the invention is to provide a modular covering system, simple and fast to fit and with the possibility of changing the tiles and achieving multiple combinations.
The covering system is applicable for use in trade fair sites, events halls, theatres, stages, TV sets, access ramps, public facilities, sports centres, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various systems are known for making removable floors based on covering systems by tilling. Some of them are constituted by a support element on which a ceramic element is fixed, allowing the inter-coupling of the tiles acting as the supports thereby enabling simple fitting and removal of the flooring.
In other cases, the flooring plates have means of inter-coupling to intermediate components, in the form of pins, which constitute the means for guiding and fitting the tiles.
In other cases, the ceramic elements or tiles are located on a framework which has collateral inter-coupling mechanism to fix it to other similar frameworks.
In all these cases, the removable floors currently known are permanent, that is the design cannot be changed.
The removable flooring systems are also often structured in such a way that the inter-coupling mechanisms are complex and therefore expensive to manufacture. They cannot be used to cover vertical or inclined surfaces.
Specifically, the documents of the background closest to the proposed invention are DE202007000798 U1 , DE 4018377 A1 , DE 20309317 U1 and US 2007/193133 A1 of these refer to removable floors or flooring with the common feature that they are complex with respect to the mechanisms they use for inter-coupling between tiles or plates that constitute the flooring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The covering system that is revealed in this patent is designed to solve the problems described above, more specifically it has application for surfaces of floors or walls, whether horizontal, inclined or vertical, etc. Said covering system for covering surfaces by tilling comprises a base plate, obtained by injection of high impact polypropylene and with a rectangular shape. The base plate has a multitude of thread-like projections making up a grid-like pattern on the side considered as the under side and increasing rigidity. The top side of the base plate has a shallow recess with respect to its perimeter and bounded by a raised rim for positioning a removable decorative laminate of vinyl or similar material, which may have a variety of finishes. This removable decorative laminate is fixed to the base plate by an adhesive incorporated into the laminate, with the adhesive protected by wax paper or similar, which is removed at the time of installing or fixing the decorative laminate to the base plate. The base plate has a rough surface on the side to which the laminate is to be applied in order to improve the fixing of said decorative laminate to the said base plate.
The base plate has a small skirt around its perimeter with grooves and ridges that determine a means of drainage or water evacuation. Two sides or contiguous borders of the base plate are furnished with circular tabs with double reinforced closures that determine a means of joining onto respective reinforced studs on the two opposing sides or contiguous borders of the plates by "clipping" stablishing a collateral join between plates. This method of assembly of the plates is faster, simpler and more effective than the others methods used and known.
The fixing of the base plates onto the surface to be covered, whether horizontal, vertical or inclined, is achieved by small intermediate components, which are moveable, and are arranged as necessary. They have a special adhesive tape on both sides so that they may be fixed by one side to the surface to be covered by other side to the base plate. In this way, the covering system can provide a covering for horizontal, vertical and inclined surfaces.
The base plate also has a hole at one of the corners through which a tool can be introduced through the under side that can push the decorative laminate upwards, enabling its substitution by another laminate with different decorative motifs.
Therefore, the covering system of the invention can both be fitted and removed at any moment quickly, simply and efficiently and also enable carrying out a change of decoration, or, in other words, a change of ornamental motif on the surface to be covered. It is equally applicable to interiors and exteriors by virtue of the fact that the base plate is of injection-moulded polypropylene, making it resistant by virtue of the grid-like pattern on its under side.
As is evident, the covering system of the invention can cover or line any type of surface and/or wall, including ramps, so it has application in trade fair sites, hotels, conference halls, events rooms, multi-purpose halls, theatres, flooring in marquees, stages, passage ways, dancing areas, platforms, TV studios, access ramps, schools, universities, sports centres, ramps for the disabled, skirting, covering for columns, etc. Its fitting is rapid and simple, without the need for tools, and due to the arrangement of adhesive components located between the surface to be covered and the base plates.
The covering obtained, based on the covering system of the invention, is versatile, light, long lasting and also removable, providing an optimal alternative to covering floors, platforms, etc., which traditionally would be covered by fitted carpet, wood, PVC, etc. In addition to being modular, it also allows making covers, that is holes for cables, connections, pillars, etc.
It is also noteworthy that the covering system is made from a fire-resistant material, resistant to water, humidity and static.
Lastly, it should be noted that by virtue of the simplicity, easy of fitting and removing and the properties of the materials, the covering system provides high performance at much lower costs than coverings currently being used. The width of the covering system can be variable, making it ideal for surfaces that are not completely flat, as the base plate made from polypropylene has a certain flexibility, which is ideal for those surfaces that are not totally flat. It can also be cut if the surface to be covered is triangular or irregular.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to complement the description below and with the aim of improving understanding of the characteristics of the invention and a practical embodiment, a series of illustrative and non-limiting figures is appended as an integral part of the description. The figures show the following:

Figure 1. Shows a representation of a general exploded view of the covering system for covering surfaces by tilling that is the object of the invention. It shows the base plate, the upper decorative laminate and the lower components that are inserted to fix the said tile to the surface to be covered. The tool is also shown in front of a hole through which it can be inserted in order to raise, and therefore remove, the decorative laminate that is shown above the base plate.
Figure 2. Shows a view of the bottom of the base plate that forms part of the covering system of the invention that is represented in figure 1.
Figure 3. Shows a plan view of a part of the surface covered by the covering system of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the figures referred to above, the covering system of the invention comprises a base plate (1) that is a component obtained by injection of high impact polypropylene and with a rectangular shape. On its under side it presents a grid based on thread-like structures (2) in both diagonal and transverse directions, giving sufficient rigidity to the base plate (1). On its top side there is a rough surface (3) delimited by a raised rim around the perimeter (4) that enables the fixing of a decorative laminate (5) using adhesive. The laminate can be of vinyl or any other suitable material and can be replaced at any time in order to change the decoration of the covering that is applied. The decorative laminate (5) can have many finishes and is fixed by virtue of an adhesive layer on one of its sides to the rough surface (3) of the base plate (1) by simply removing the wax paper that protects the adhesive of the decorative laminate (5).
The base plate (1) has a small skirt around its perimeter on which there are many grooves (6) facilitating drainage, if the base plate (1) and therefore the covering system of the invention is exposed to the weather.
Also, there is an orifice (7) in one of the corners of the base plate (1), through which the end of a suitable tool (8) can be introduced from below, pushing upwards onto the decorative laminate and removing it, so that it can be replaced by a laminate with a different decorative motif.
One of the important features of the base plate (1) is that two sides or contiguous borders of the base plate are furnished with circular tabs (9) with double reinforced closure, interlocking to complementary reinforced protruding studs (10) established on the two opposing sides or contiguous borders of the said base plate (1), stablishing a collateral join between plates that constitute a system of joining by "clipping", in such as way that in the join of the base plates by mutual lateral coupling, the studs (10) engage with the circular tabs (9).
The covering system is fixed to the surface to be covered by means of small intermediate components (11) for fixing of the base plates onto the surface to be covered that include special adhesive tape on both sides so that they may be fixed by one side to the surface to be covered and by other side to the base plate.
In addition, these intermediate components (11) present hollows (12) conceived to remain totally level resulting in symmetrical holes for the base plate (1), enabling multiple combinations.
Finally, these intermediate elements or fixing components (11), in addition to the hollows (12), present a margin or a perimeter supporting border (13) for attaching these components (11) to the said under side of base plate such that the intermediate components (11) remain totally within the external boundary of the under side of the base plate.

Claims

Covering system for covering surfaces by tiling, enabling covering of floors, walls or vertical surfaces as well as inclined surfaces, the system comprising a base plate (1), the under side of which has a network of thread-like projections (2) for increasing rigidity , while the top side defines a shallow recess (4) with respect to its perimeter for fixing a removable decorative laminate (5) with adhesive, with the property that two sides or contiguous borders of the base plate (1) are furnished with circular tabs (9) with double reinforced closures, interlocking to complementary reinforced studs (10) on the two opposing sides or contiguous borders establishing a collateral join between plates, characterised in that the system further comprises small intermediate components for fixing of the base plates onto the surface to be covered, the small intermediate components (11) being furnished with adhesive tape on both sides so that they may be fixed by one side to the surface to be covered and by other side to the base plate, and in that the small intermediate components (11) present hollows (12) and a perimeter supporting border (13) for attaching to the said base plate, such that the intermediate components remain totally within the external boundary of the under side of the base plate.
Covering system for covering surfaces according to claim 1, characterised in that the base plate (1) presents a rough surface (3) for the application of the decorative laminate in order to improve the fixing of said decorative laminate (5) to the said base plate (1).