BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a composable paving tile structure,particularly
for making floorings and the like.
[0002] As it is known,there are presently commercially available resilient floors, which
are made starting from vinyl,rubber,linoleum and the like materials, in the form of
tiles or rolls, or several different size.
[0003] The mentioned floors,which may be defined as conventional,are to be realized by skilled
personnel, by using suitable adhesive materials and by precisely levelling the concrete
oearing surface.
[0004] More specifically the floorings of the above mentioned type can not be laid in moist
environments, since the used adhesive materials are not effective to satisfactorily
bind the tiles to the bearing floor surface,with consequent distortions of the tiles
themselves,in particular as the latter are of the "roll" type.
[0005] Thus, the resilient known tiles can not be applied directly on the ground,on basements
or in open spaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly the task or the present invention is to overcome the tnereinabove mentioned
drawbacks, by providing such a composable paving tile structure, for making floorings
and the like, which, while being made from resilient materials,may be easily and quickly
applied even in moist environments, without the need of using any adhesive materials.
[0007] Within that task, it is a main object of the present invention to provide such a
paving tile which is effective to be.applied by unskilled personnel, by means of simple
operations.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide such a paving tile which may be formed
with any desired surface finishings,for fitting the desired environment architecture.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a paving tile structure
which may be produces starting from easily commercially available materials and which
is highly competitive from an economical standpoint.
[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention the above task and objects,as well
as yet other objects which will become more apparent thereinafter,are achieved by
a composable paving tile for making floorings and the like,characterized in that it
comprises a plastics material plate like element provided with a top floor surface
ana an under reinforcement ana bearing cell structure,said cell structure being peripherically
encompassed by a perimetrical edge provided with mating female and male elements effective
to mutually engage with male and female elements of an adjoining paving tile respectively.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the paving tile structure according to
the present invention will become more apparent thereinafter from the following description
of an embodiment whereof,being illustrated by way of an indicative example in the
accompanying drawings,where:
fig.1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a tile portion,as seen from
the exposed surface whereof;
fig.2 is another perspective view schematically illustrating a tile portion,as seen
from the bottom whereof;
fig.3 illustrates a female coupling element included in the paving tile according
to the invention;
fig.4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a male coupling element facing
a corresponding female coupling element,for coupling two adjoining paving tiles; and
fig.5 schematically illustrates a flooring which may be constructed by using the paving
tiles according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] With reference to the drawings,the composable paving tile for making floorings and
the like, according to the present invention,which is indicated overally at 1, comprises
a plate like element 2,which is made from a plastics material, consisting, preferably,
of a polyvinylchloriae-stabilizing material -mineral filler mixture.
[0013] Preferably, though not necessarily, the paving tiles have a square shape,with size
which may range from 25x25 to 60x60 cm,and with thicknesses which may range from 6
to 12 mm.
[0014] To this respect it should be noted that the tile may be made with any desired geometrical
shapes, provided that it is effective to be laid on a flat surface.
[0015] More specifically,the above mentioned plate-like element 2 is provided,on the top
surface whereof,with a load bearing surface 3 which,advantageously is provided with
a raised pattern 4,of any desired design, since the making mold affords the possibility
of interchanging the embossing elements whereof.
[0016] On the lower or bottom side whereof,the plate-like element 2 is provided with a cell
structure 5, formed by interlacing strips arranged with their small sides on a horizontal
plane.
[0017] It will however be clear that the tile bottom, which provides a reinforcement and
bearing function, may be realized with other geometrical shapes, such as in the form
of circles,diamonds,rectangles and so on, the inventive idea being that of having
such a structure effective to support and stiffen the plate like element 2, in such
a way as to hold it spaced from the tile bearing surface or ground.
[0018] On the periphery thereof, the mentioned cell structure is bound or encompassed by
a perimetrical edge 10,having substantially the same heigth as said strips forming
the cell structure, which edge is joined to the strips themselves.
[0019] More specifically the perimetrical edge 10 defines male and female coupling elements,which
may be mutually engaged in order to join adjoining paving tiles 1.
[0020] According to a preferred embodiment,the male coupling elements consist of pins 11,
provided with a respective enlarged head 12, and perpendicularly projecting from the
edge 10 in such a way as to extend in a parallel plane to the paving tile lying plane.
[0021] The mentioned coupling male elements 11, may be inserted into the corresponding coupling
female elements, consisting of notches 15, also defined on the edge 10,ana are providea,at
the bottom whereof,with a lead-in tapered portion 16 joining with a circular zone
17, with the interposition of tooth members 18, which allow for a pin 11 to be snap
engaged and held in its engaging position,with its enlarged head being prevented from
exiting the circular opening 17.
[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the male coupling elements are formed on two
adjoining sides of the paving tile 1, whereas the female coupling elements are provided
on the two other adjoining sides.
[0023] Obviously any other suitable arrangement may be usea,effective to provide an insertion
type of coupling.
[0024] The thus constructed paving tiles are of the auto-assembling type and may be applied
without using any adhesive materials, thereby they may be laid also on moist environments,
by unskilled personnel.
[0025] From the above disclosure,it will be clear that the invention fully achieves the
intended objects.
[0026] In particular the fact is to be pointed out that the paving tile according to the
invention may be easily and quickly coupled to adjoining like tiles, thereby affording
the possibility of making stable floorings without using any adhesive materials.
[0027] In practicing the invention, the used materials, though the best results have been
obtained by using the thereinabove mentioned materials,as well as the contingent shapes
and sizes may be any according to requirements.
1- A composable paving tile for making floorings and the like,characterized in that
it comprises a plastics material plate like element provided with a top floor surface
and an under reinforcement and bearing cell structure,said cell structure being peripherically
encompassed by a perimetrical edge provided with mating female and male elements effective
to mutually engage with male and female elements or an adjoining paving tile respectively.
2- A composable paving tile for making floorings and the like,according to the preceding
claim, characterized in that said plate like element is provided with a rised pattern.
3- A composable paving tile for making floorings and the like, according to claim
1,characterized in that said cell structure comprises a plurality of interlacing strips.
4- A composable paving tile for making floors and the like,according to claim 1, characterized
in that said cell structure is effective to space said plate like element from the
tile bearing surface.
5- A composable paving tile for making floorings ana the like,according to claim l,characterized
in that said male elements comprise pin members provided with enlarged heads and projecting
substantially perpendicularly from said perimetrical edge ana extending substantially
parallely to the paving tile lying plane.
6- A composable paving tile for making floorings and the like,according to claim l,characterized
in that said female-elements comprise downwardly open notches formed on said perimetrical
edge,said notches being provided,at the bottom whereof,with tapered lead-in portions
ending with respective circular portions, tooth members being provided effective to
snap engage with said pins.
7- A composable paving tile for making floorings and the like,according to any preceding
claims and substantially as disclosed and illustrated for the intended objects.