[0001] The invention relates to a trimmer construction for a floor which is built up from
plate-shaped elements which rest on supporting elements, such as supporting walls,
the construction being provided with a trimming joist which is provided with at least
one bearing surface for at least one trimmed plate-shaped element and which transmits
bearing forces applied thereto by a trimmed plate-shaped element to a support element.
[0002] With such a known trimmer construction for, for instance, providing a stairwell in
a floor, the trimming joist is lengthened at its two ends with, each time, a bearing
element with a supporting surface, while each supporting surface is laid on the upper
side of an adjoining plate-shaped element, the trimming joist, and thus the trimming
joist forms, as it were, a suspended bridge, serving as a bearing part for at least
one trimmed plate-shaped element, i.e. a plate-shaped element which is shorter than
the span. The bearing forces applied by the trimmed plate-shaped element to the trimming
joist are transmitted to the supporting wall via the adjoining trimmed plates on which
the bearing elements rest. In particular with large openings to be provided in a floor,
such a trimmer construction may lead to forces on the trimmed plates such that to
that end, particularly heavily constructed trimmed plates must be used.
[0003] It is an object of the invention to enable the trimmed plates to be made of relatively
light design, also when relatively large openings are to be provided in a floor.
[0004] This is achieved according to the invention when the trimming joist is provided,
at at least one of its extremities, with a longitudinal girder, abutting in T-shape,
having, each time, a bearing end resting on a supporting element and a supporting
end which is provided with a stop element, directed substantially towards the trimming
joist, with a stop surface, while a trimmed plate-shaped element rests on the bearing
surface by an edge area of a first plate side, and, at a distance from that edge area,
abuts against the stop surface of the stop element by a second plate side opposite
the first plate side. Due to these features, a self-supporting construction is obtained
which is independent of adjoining plate-shaped elements and therefore does not load
them. This is effected by designing the longitudinal girder, as it were, as two aligned
lever arms which are fixedly connected to the trimming joist functioning as the rotary
axis, while the trimming joist is prevented from pivoting downwards by the pressing
down of the plate-shaped elements resting thereon, by the stop surfaces of the stop
elements contacting the upper side of the trimmed plates. In this manner, a relatively
simple and light but reliably supporting trimmer construction is obtained, while further
not only the trimmed edge is formed by a profile, viz. by the trimming joist, but
also the contiguous edges of the opening formed in the floor, viz. by the longitudinal
girders. This latter holds when the trimming joist is provided with two longitudinal
girders abutting against it in T-shaped configuration, which design will generally
be preferred. However, it is also conceivable to provide the trimming joist on one
side with a known bearing or suspending element as discussed hereinabove. In particular,
such a solution could be opted for when a side edge of the opening to be formed adjoins
a transverse wall on which the bearing or suspending element can rest.
[0005] As the trimmer construction no longer rests on an adjoining trimmed plate, this could
even be omitted entirely. When an adjoining trimmed plate is indeed present, in a
further advantageous manner, without problems, a weakening such as a longitudinal
groove can be provided in the area of the trimmed plate where, in the known construction,
the bearing elements rested on the trimmed plate. This also holds for transverse grooves,
provided that the trimmed plate is constructed to that end in a suitable manner by
giving, for instance, in accordance with a previous proposal of the present applicant,
the reinforced lower shell of a hollow-core plate a thickness such that the transverse
forces and bending forces to be absorbed by the lower shell at the location of the
grooves can be transmitted to the supporting wall without problems. Thus, with the
trimmer construction according to the invention, in contrast with the earlier discussed
known construction, pipes to be concealed in the floor can be laid around and adjacent
to the opening provided in that floor.
[0006] Floors as referred to are often formed from standard prefab elements such as hollow-core
plates. The desired width of a stairwell will often not correspond to a width-size
defined by one or a number of prefab elements. In order to obtain the desired size,
it is known to form an opening which is wider than the desired opening and to reduce
the thus obtained opening to the desired size by providing a filling piece in the
opening in a more or less floating manner. With such a trimmer construction having
a width which is smaller than the total of the widths of the trimmed plate-shaped
elements, it is proposed according to a further embodiment of the invention, that
the trimming joist has a length which corresponds to the width referred to, and at
least one of the trimmed plates adjoining a longitudinal girder is reduced in width
over at least the length over which the longitudinal girder extends along that plate,
the arrangement being such that the total of the then remaining widths of the trimmed
plates at the location of the trimmer construction is substantially equal to the length
of the trimming joist, while a space between the longitudinal girder and an adjacent
non-trimmed plate-shaped element is filled up. This can be done by, for instance,
a filling piece. This construction has the further advantage that the filling piece
can be included in a surrounding frame and thus can be better fitted and secured all
around. Also, the edges of the opening formed in the floor then remain bounded by
smooth profiles.
[0007] The trimmer construction according to the invention further makes it possible, in
an advantageous manner, to provide an opening which is not contiguous to a supporting
wall, but is provided at a distance therefrom in the floor surface. According to a
further embodiment of the invention, this can be realized when the bearing end is
fixedly connected to a second bearing end forming part of a second longitudinal girder,
abutting, T-shaped, against a second trimming joist with a second bearing surface
and having a second supporting end opposite the second bearing end, which supporting
end is provided with a second stop element, directed substantially towards the second
trimming joist, with a second stop surface, while a second trimmed plate-shaped element
rests on the second bearing surface by an edge area of a first plate side, and, at
a distance from that edge area, abuts against the second stop surface of the second
stop element by a second plate side located opposite the first plate side. Thus, a
double-design construction is obtained, while two trimmed plates in alignment with
each other with, between them, the double-design construction, form, so to speak,
a continuous floor plate with an opening situated at a distance from both ends. Here,
again, it is possible to situate the trimmer construction along a sidewall extending
in the direction of the plate, thus enhancing the design flexibility when constructing
standard prefab elements, since an opening which is independent of the walls supporting
the floor and independent of the direction in which the plates extend can be provided
with the advantages associated with the invention. In this construction too, in a
similar manner to that described hereinabove, it is possible to have the width of
the opening deviate from the total of the widths of the trimmed plates.
[0008] Although two longitudinal girders, with or without an accessory profile, can be mutually
coupled and fixedly connected, so that the starting point could be two equal elements,
it is further preferred, with such a construction, that the first and the second longitudinal
girder consist of a one-piece, continuous girder.
[0009] The invention also relates to a trimmer accessory to be utilized with a trimmer construction
as described hereinabove and provided with a trimming joist with a bearing surface
for at least one plate-shaped element, the trimming joist being equipped at at least
one of its extremities with provisions for attaching a longitudinal girder, abutting,
in T-shape, having, each time, a bearing end and a supporting end with provisions
for fastening a stop element, directed substantially towards the trimming joist, with
a stop surface for a trimmed plate-shaped element. These provisions can have any suitable
form and design and be industrially fitted and form a permanent connection, for instance
be welding connections, or consist of an industrially or otherwise prepared connection
to be fitted on the building site and which is detachable, for instance mountable
coupling means. Naturally, welding can also take place on the building site or the
respective connection can be provided in a different manner. Further, as a rule, it
will be preferred that the trimming joist supports a longitudinal girder at both ends.
When a longitudinal girder is present at one end of the trimming joist only, then,
preferably, the other end of the trimming joist is provided with provisions for supporting
the trimming joist, through provisions suitable to that end, such as a bearing element
or a suspension lug, on an adjacent element, such as a side wall or a plate.
[0010] As already noted, the trimmer construction according to the invention does not need
to rest on an adjacent floor plate. However, in order to obtain a good abutment between
the trimmer construction and the adjacent floor plate, it may be preferred according
to a further embodiment of the invention, that the longitudinal girders consist of
U-profiles, having their open U-side facing away from the trimming joist. This construction
also has its advantages when using filling pieces, as discussed hereinabove.
[0011] In order to, on the one hand, place a trimmed plate on the bearing surface of the
trimming joist without many problems and, on the other hand, to provide a bending-stiff
trimming joist, it is proposed, according to a further embodiment of the invention,
that the trimming joist be formed by an L-shaped profile of which one leg forms the
bearing surface and the other leg is provided with a reinforced head.
[0012] When mounting the trimmer construction, first, the trimmer accessory can be placed
and supported before the trimmed plate-shaped element is provided. If, however, according
to a further embodiment of the invention, at least one of the longitudinal girders
carries a locking element at its supporting end, at a distance from the stop element,
the trimmer accessory can first be slid onto the trimmed plate-shaped element, i.e.
between stop element and locking element as far as on the bearing surface of the trimming
joist, and thereupon this structure can be placed on the supporting walls in the manner
of a non-trimmed plate-shaped element. The locking element can then be fitted in such
a way that it can be removed after the trimmed plate with the trimmer accessory slipped
onto it has been placed, because this locking element is only an assembling accessory
and has no more function in the final construction.
[0013] When an opening in a floor built up from plates is not to be arranged in a manner
so as to be contiguous to a supporting wall, but at a distance therefrom, this can
be realized with a trimmer accessory according to the invention when a bearing end
is connected to a bearing end of a second trimmer accessory, of mirror-symmetrical
design, with the longitudinal girders of both trimmer accessories extending in line
and functioning as one whole or being designed as one whole. Thus, a trimmer accessory
can be formed which, in fact, consists of two longitudinal girders connected by two
trimmed girders for determining the opening to be created in the floor, while the
parts of the longitudinal girders extending beyond the trimmed girders ensure the
desired strength and stability by means of the stop elements resting on the trimmed
plates. When, for instance, abutment against a sidewall is involved, a longitudinal
girder suffices Which extends along both trimmed girders, which are further provided
with fastening provisions for resting on a neighboring element such as a sidewall.
[0014] With reference to embodiments represented in the Figures, the trimmer construction
and the trimmer accessory according to the invention will presently be further elucidated,
albeit exclusively by way of non-limitative example. In the drawing:
Fig. 1 schematically shows, in perspective, an elevational view of a first embodiment
of the trimmer construction according to the invention;
Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross section of the trimmer construction according to
Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 schematically shows, in perspective, a detailed view of the trimmer construction
of Fig. 1 with grooves provided in the floor for pipes, ducts and the like; and
Fig. 4 schematically shows, in perspective, a further variant embodiment of the trimmer
construction according to the invention.
[0015] In Fig. 1, a trimmer construction 1 is represented with which it is possible to create
an opening 20 in a floor 2 for, for instance, the provision of a stairwell. Generally,
the floor is formed by prefab plate-shaped elements 3 laid side by side, resting,
by extremities 3a and 3b on supporting walls (not shown). Preferably, the plate-shaped
elements 3, as shown, are designed as hollow-core plates manufactured from concrete.
[0016] The opening 20 is formed by three trimmed plate-shaped elements 7, deviating from
the plate-shaped element 3 only in that they have been shortened over the required
length for forming the opening 20. At the location of the opening 20, the front edges
of the trimmed plate-shaped elements 7 are covered by a trimming joist 5. As shown
in Fig. 2, the trimming joist 5 is in the form of a substantially L-shaped profile
with a leg 6 forming a bearing surface for the trimmed plate-shaped elements 7, and
a leg 17 provided with a reinforced head 18. The reinforced head 18 gives the profile
rigidity, but also allows the trimmed plate-shaped element 7 to be positioned on the
leg 6 without much maneuvering, the element 7 then resting with the plate side 14,
the bottom side, on the leg 6 of the trimming joist 5.
[0017] Further, at its two extremities, the trimming joist 5 is connected to longitudinal
girders 8 extending transversely thereto, which, thus, each abut, T-shaped, against
the trimming joist 5 and which, as shown in Fig. 1, substantially consist of a U-profile,
whose open U-side faces away from the trimming joist 5. The connection between the
trimming joist 5 and the longitudinal girders 8 is not shown in detail but can be
realized in any suitable manner. For instance, a welding connection can be considered,
or detachable coupling means. The longitudinal girders 8 each have a bearing end 9
for resting on a supporting wall and a supporting end 10 provided with a plate-shaped
stop element 11. With its plate surface, the plate-shaped stop element 11 extends
substantially at right angles to the longitudinal girder 8 and parallel to the leg
6, and is further situated such that it stops against the plate side 15, the upper
side, of a trimmed plate-shaped element 7, when this is borne on the leg 6 of the
trimming joist 5. The stop element 11 can be connected to the supporting end fixedly
as well as detachably. The whole of trimming joist 5 and longitudinal girders 8 with
stop elements 11 forms a trimmer accessory 21.
[0018] When the trimmer accessory 21 has been fitted, with the longitudinal girders 8 resting
by their bearing ends 9 on the supporting walls and the trimmed plate-shaped elements
7 resting on the trimming joist 5, the force applied by the trimmed plate-shaped elements
7 to the trimming joist, which force wants the trimmer accessory 21 to pivot downwards
about its which force wants the trimmer accessory 21 to pivot downwards about its
bearing ends 9, is absorbed by the stop elements 11 contacting against the plate side
15, so that the trimmed plate-shaped elements 7 together with the trimmer accessory
21 in the fitted condition continue to form a rigid horizontal arrangement. Thus,
with the aid of the trimmer accessory 21, a self-supporting trimmer construction 1
is obtained which is independent of the plate-shaped elements 3 adjoining the trimmer
construction 1. Further, the plate edges bounding the opening 20 are smoothly finished
with profiles.
[0019] As the trimmer construction 1 is independent of the adjoining plate-shaped element
3, i.e. for absorbing the forces, no use needs to be made of those adjoining plate-shaped
elements 3, when designing these latter, it does not need to be taken into account
whether a trimmer construction 1 is present or not . These elements can therefore
be designed in a standard manner and be equipped in the usual manner with provisions
such as grooves for accommodating pipes to be concealed in the floor 2, more in particular
also in the direct proximity of the opening 20 provided in the floor 2 with the trimmer
construction 1, as shown in the exemplary embodiment represented in Fig. 3. Here,
the adjoining plate-shaped element 3 is provided with a recess in the shape of a cross
groove 24 near the end edge, which, at the location of the opening 20, merges into
a longitudinal groove 25, to which a cross groove 27 is contiguous, terminating in
the longitudinal edge at the location of the trimming joist 5, all this in a manner
such that a cross groove 28 provided in the end edge of the trimmed plate-shaped element
7 is situated in alignment with the cross groove 27 as also shown in Fig. 2. Thus,
by providing a suitable passage 29 in the body part of the longitudinal girder 8,
a pipe channel extending all around the opening 20 can be formed.
[0020] It is noted that in the exemplary embodiments represented a trimmed plate-shaped
element 7 along which a longitudinal girder 8 extends, is provided over its length
with a recess 22 for receiving the longitudinal girder 8, which, hence, comes to lie
with its top surface in the upper plane of the floor 2. By opting for a differently
designed longitudinal girder or by selecting the U-shape of the longitudinal girder
such that it can be slid onto the plate-shaped element, if desired, the required space
can be designed such that the provision of a recess in a plate-shaped element can
be dispensed with.
[0021] On the other hand, this recess can also be enlarged, thus creating the possibility
to obtain an opening 20 having a width smaller than the total of the widths of a number
of trimmed plate-shaped elements 7, as will be further elucidated with reference to
Fig. 4. The length of the trimming joist 5 is then geared to the desired width of
the opening 20, which is larger than the total of the widths of the two trimmed plate-shaped
elements 7 but smaller than the total of the widths of the three trimmed plate-shaped
elements 7. By now providing one of the trimmed plate-shaped elements 7 with a recess
22 of a width substantially equal to the difference between the total of the widths
of the three trimmed plate-shaped elements 7 and the length of the trimming joist
5, the trimmer accessory 21 can be placed in the manner proposed by the invention
with its longitudinal girders 8 along the edges of the trimmed plate-shaped elements
7. The thus created space 30 between a longitudinal girder 8 and an adjoining plate-shaped
element 3 can then be filled by, for instance, pouring concrete or placing a prefab
element.
[0022] Additionally, it is noted here that also a recess can be provided in the other trimmed
plate-shaped element 7 placed in the other extremity of the trimming joist 5. This,
in turn, gives more freedom in positioning the opening 20 in a floor built up from
standard elements according to a fixed pattern.
[0023] For realizing the trimmer construction 1, the trimmer accessory 21 can be placed
at the location provided to that end with its bearing ends 9 on the supporting wall
and further be horizontally supported or shored-up, whereupon the trimmed plate-shaped
element 7 can be laid on the one side on the supporting wall and on the other side
on the trimming joist 5. Due to the stop element 11 contacting against the top surface
of the trimmed plate-shaped element 7, a stable construction is obtained, whereupon
the support or shore can be removed. Providing a support or shore can be dispensed
with when at least one of the longitudinal girders 8 is provided at its supporting
end 10 with a plate-shaped locking element 12, represented in Fig. 2, extending parallel
to the stop element 11 and connected to the U-leg of the longitudinal girder 8 located
opposite the U-leg bearing the stop element 11. The trimmer accessory 21 can then
be slid onto the trimmed plate-shaped element 7 until the front edge of that trimmed
plate-shaped element 7 rests on the leg 6 of the trimming joist 5. Hereafter, the
trimmed plate-shaped element 7 with slid-on trimmer accessory 21 can be taken up in
the manner of a non-trimmed plate-shaped element and be laid on the provided place
on the supporting walls, whereupon the trimmer construction 1 can be finished without
a shore or support being necessary.
[0024] In the exemplary embodiments, providing an opening adjoining a supporting wall and
at a distance from a sidewall is represented. In the event an opening is contiguous
to a sidewall, at that location, the longitudinal girder can be dispensed with and
be replaced with a suspending or bearing provision on the trimming joist, with which
it bears on or against this sidewall. When the opening is not situated contiguous
to the wall, this can be realized by designing the construction doubly, in a mirror
symmetrical manner. In that situation, Fig. 1 or Fig. 4 could be viewed as a cross
section halfway the opening provided in the floor at a distance from the supporting
wall. Naturally, such an opening can again be contiguous to a sidewall, while, then,
one of the longitudinal girders can be dispensed with through replacement by bearing
or suspending provisions on the, in that case, two trimming joists.
[0025] It is self-evident that, within the framework of the invention as defined in the
accompanying claims, the exemplary embodiments discussed hereinabove and represented
in the drawings can be modified and varied in many ways. For instance, both the stop
element and the locking element can be designed differently, for instance L-shaped
or Z-shaped, while then, the longitudinal girder could consist of an L-profile, whose
horizontal leg could extend below the adjoining plate-shaped part. Also, several stop
elements can be provided on a longitudinal girder, which, if desired, could form a
long, one-part continuous covering plate. What can be considered, further, is to connect
the generally H-shaped trimmer accessory between the bearing ends forming the extremities
by a further profile, so that the opening in the floor would be surrounded entirely
by smooth profiles. In addition, it could be considered to replace two oppositely
located stop elements with a plate-shaped strip extending over the full width of the
trimmer accessory.
1. A trimmer construction for a floor which is built up from plate-shaped elements, which
rest on supporting elements, such as supporting walls, the construction being provided
with a trimming joist, provided with at least one bearing surface for at least one
trimmed plate-shaped element and which transmits bearing forces applied thereto by
a trimmed plate-shaped element to a supporting element, characterized in that the trimming joist is provided at at least one of its extremities with a longitudinal
girder abutting in a T-shape, with, each time, one bearing end resting on a supporting
element and one supporting end, which is provided with a stop element with a stop
surface, directed substantially towards the trimming joist, while a trimmed plate-shaped
element rests on the bearing surface by an edge area of a first plate side, and, at
a distance from that edge area, abuts against the stop surface of the stop element
by a second plate side located opposite the first plate side.
2. A trimmer construction according to claim 1, characterized in that with a trimmer construction having a width which is smaller than the total of the
widths of the trimmed plate-shaped elements, the trimming joist has a length which
corresponds to the width referred to, and at least one of the trimmed plates adjoining
a longitudinal girder is reduced in width over at least the length along which the
longitudinal girder extends along said plate, the arrangement being such that the
total of the widths of the trimmed plates then remaining at the location of the trimmer
construction is substantially equal to the length of the trimming joist, while a space
between the longitudinal girder and an adjoining, non-trimmed plate-shaped element
has been filled up.
3. A trimmer construction according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bearing end is fixedly connected with a second bearing end which forms part of
a second longitudinal girder abutting in T-shape against a second trimming joist having
a second bearing surface and, located opposite the second bearing end, a second supporting
end which is provided with a second stop element with a second stop surface, directed
substantially towards the second trimming joist, while a second trimmed plate-shaped
element rests on the second bearing surface by an edge area of a first plate side
and at a distance from that edge area, abuts against the second stop surface of the
second stop element by a second plate side located opposite the first plate side.
4. A trimmer construction according to claim 3, characterized in that the first and the second longitudinal girder consist of a one-part continuous girder.
5. A trimmer accessory to be utilized in a trimmer construction according to any one
of the preceding claims and provided with a trimming joist with a bearing surface
for at least one plate-shaped element, characterized in that, at at least one of its extremities, the trimming joist is equipped with provisions
for fastening a longitudinal girder abutting in the form of a T, having, each time,
a bearing end and a supporting end with provisions for fastening a stop element, directed
substantially towards the trimming joist, with a stop surface for a trimmed plate-shaped
element.
6. A trimmer accessory according to claim 5, characterized in that, at both extremities, the trimming joist is provided with provisions for fastening
a longitudinal girder abutting in the form of a T, having, each time, a bearing end
and a supporting end with provisions for fastening a stop element, directed substantially
towards the trimming joist, with a stop surface for a trimmed plate-shaped element.
7. A trimmer accessory according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the provisions consist of previously provided and/or prepared welding connections
and/or mountable coupling means.
8. A trimmer accessory according to any one of claims 5 - 7, characterized in that the longitudinal girders consist of U-profiles having their open U-side facing away
from the trimming joist.
9. A trimmer accessory according to any one of claims 5 - 8, characterized in that the trimming joist is formed by an L-shaped profile whose one leg forms the bearing
surface and whose other leg is provided with a reinforced head.
10. A trimmer accessory according to any one of claims 5 - 9, characterized in that at least one of the longitudinal girders, at its supporting end, bears a locking
element at a distance from the stop element.
11. A trimmer accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bearing end is connected to a bearing end of a second trimmer accessory of mirror-symmetrical
design, while the longitudinal girders of both trimmer accessories extend in line
with each other and function as one whole or are designed as one whole.