OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] As stated in the title of this specification, the present invention relates to an
inspectable technical floor which, apart from comprising an easy to assemble floor
structure, also comprises pieces or tiles which can be extracted vertically, which
means that it will not be necessary to dismount a complete row of tiles when a single
piece needs to be removed owing to any technical need, for example, to conduct inspections,
change pieces or tiles, make repairs, etc.
[0002] The floor that is obtained is simpler and has application to spaces with better quality
demands in their finishing, mechanical strength and comfort, though their assembly
and removal is simple and faster.
PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Inspectable technical floors and dismountable floors in general are used in constructions
of offices, shops, stage scenery, and also in homes.
[0004] These floors comprise a base structure of profiles on which are then coupled the
different respective tiles or pieces.
[0005] Among dismountable floors can be mentioned Invention Patent No. P-200502130 wherein
there stands out an elevated base structure with certain characteristic means of coupling
between the different component profiles of the structure, also standing out being
some legs adjustable in height.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The inspectable technical floor constituting the object of the invention comprises
a base structure formed from a cross-linking of horizontal profiles: some primary
and others secondary, all of them defining gaps where the tiles will be positioned
in a complementary fashion by means of a vertical coupling.
[0007] These profiles present a cross-section in the form of an inverted "T", characterised
in that its cross-member includes some longitudinal ribs in its twos sections, which
act to ensure the seating and fastening of the tiles that are located vertically,
and at the same time as the tiles rest against the vertical slots of the cross-linking
of profiles.
[0008] Another characteristic of the invention is that the lower faces of the tiles incorporate
some perimetric slots complemented with the longitudinal ribs, and at the same time
some pieces of an elastic structure have also been provided in those lower faces with
central segments which fit into the slots in order to secure a fastening by elastic
connection in the said longitudinal ribs.
[0009] Another characteristic of the invention are some cavities existing in the corners
of the lower face of the tile in order to span the cross of the longitudinal ribs.
[0010] Moreover, the secondary profiles arranged perpendicularly between pairs of primary
profiles include certain characteristic lower cuts made in the arm and cross-member
of said secondary profiles, in order thereby to facilitate the coupling of these on
the primaries.
[0011] To achieve this, the end sections of the arms of the secondary profiles include some
small notches in order to ensure their engagement in the longitudinal ribs of the
primary profiles.
[0012] Other characteristics of the invention refer to some perpendicular ducts located
in the lower face of the tiles to permit the passage of cables and pipes and, in general,
any other kind of supply. These ducts are complemented with certain facing windows
located in the arms of the cross-linking of profiles.
[0013] Another characteristic of the invention is that the vertical arms of the support
profiles incorporate certain pressure elements against the side edges of the tiles
which reinforce the attachment and immobilisation of them.
[0014] On their lower faces, the tiles incorporate some perimetric steps where the longitudinal
slots are to be found for facilitating the assembly and removal of the tiles, in such
a way that when the tiles are fitted in the gaps demarcated between the arms of the
cross-linking of profiles, the ribs are fitted in a complementary fashion in the said
longitudinal slots of the tiles, with their free surface remaining approximately flush
with the support surface of the arms of the primary and secondary profiles.
[0015] The corner segments of the tiles where the perimetric steps of the tiles meet via
their lower face can incorporate certain sections of longitudinal slots which are
a continuation of said slots, thereby achieving greater stability in the seating of
the tiles.
[0016] It can also be stated that the central part of the tiles can rest via their lower
face directly on the floor, in which case this face is coplanar with the supporting
faces of the support profiles, thereby avoiding having to use wedges or supports such
as those provided for and cited previously.
[0017] Another feature is that the complementary coupling between ribs and slots can be
a pressure-free coupling, which will facilitate the assembly and removal of the tiles.
[0018] Considering this last embodiment, the technical floor is obviously simpler and has
application to spaces that are less demanding in terms of finishing, mechanical strength
or comfort, though their assembly and removal is simpler and faster, as has been mentioned.
[0019] Below, in order to facilitate a better understanding of this specification and forming
an integral part thereof, some figures are attached in which, on an illustrative rather
than limiting basis, the object of the invention has been represented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020]
Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of the inspectable technical floor forming the object of
the invention. It basically consists of a cross-linking of profiles and some tiles
fitting into the gaps defined by those profiles.
Figure 2.- Shows a perspective view of one of the tiles from its lower face.
Figure 3.- Shows a detailed view in cross-section of the coupling between the different component
pieces of the inventive floor.
Figure 4.- Shows a perspective view of the inspectable technical floor.
Figure 5.- Shows a front view of that represented in the previous figure.
Figure 6.- Shows a perspective view of a tile forming part of the floor represented in the
previous two figures.
Figure 7.- Shows a view in cross-section of a base profile forming part of a cross-linking
of profiles which support the tiles of the inventive floor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MANNER OF EMBODIMENT
[0021] Considering the numbering adopted in figures 1 to 3, the inspectable technical floor
is defined on the basis of a horizontal support structure which comprises a cross-linking
of primary profiles 1 and other secondary 2 profiles which are fastened via their
ends to pairs of adjacent primary profiles.
[0022] This cross-linking of profiles 1 and 2 defines some gaps, in which fit the various
tiles 3.
[0023] To achieve this, the support profiles 1 and 2 comprise a cross-section in the form
of an inverted "T" where the two sections of its cross-member incorporate some longitudinal
ribs 4 complementary with some perimetric slots 5 located in the lower face of the
tiles 3 in proximity to its edges, in such a way that the tiles 3 are in principle
seated on the ribs 4 via the bottom of said slots 5.
[0024] In turn, the tiles 3 also incorporate some elastic pieces 6 with a segment which
fits into the slots 5 in order to secure the fastening of the tiles 3 to the ribs
4 by means of elastic connection.
[0025] Moreover, where the slots 5 of the tiles 3 meet, there exist some corner cavities
7 in order to span the cross of the longitudinal ribs 5 of rounded cross-section.
[0026] The end sections of the secondary profiles 2 contain some cuts 8 which leave free
a lower free-edge segment of the arms of the said secondary profiles 2 in order to
facilitate their coupling to the primaries. To achieve this, these lower free-edge
segments of the arms contain some small notches 9 for engaging and fastening to the
ribs 4 of the primary profiles 1.
[0027] The tiles 3 are fitted via their narrow side faces in the gaps demarcated by the
arms of the primary 1 and secondary 2 profiles, in such a way that those narrow faces
present a gentle convergence downwards in order to obtain a better fit and finish
of the tiles 3, so that the said tiles 3 act as a stop via the some upper segments
10 of their narrow lateral faces.
[0028] The tiles 3 incorporate via their lower face some central ducts 11 complementary
with passage windows 12 established in the arms of the primary 1 and secondary 2 profiles
in order to facilitate the installation of cables and pipes and any other supply.
Those passage windows 12 are also made in the longitudinal ribs 4.
[0029] The tiles 3 also incorporate small support wedges 13 emerging from their lower face,
these wedges 13 normally being of an elastic material in order to prevent excessive
weight on the cross-linking of profiles 1 and 2, above all when larger surface tiles
are being laid.
[0030] The ducts 11 can be enclosed by means of pieces in the form of a cross 14 fitted
against the lateral faces of those ducts 11.
[0031] Moreover, the tops of the vertical arms of the support profiles 1 and 2 incorporate
in their two faces some thin bulging segments 15 against which the lateral edges of
the tiles 3 press, said segments 15 becoming deformed when the tiles 3 are laid, the
segments remaining flush with the lateral faces of the vertical arms of the support
profiles 1 and 2.
[0032] The pressure exerted by the bulging segments provides further reinforcement for the
attachment of the tiles 3.
[0033] Turning now to figures 4 to 7, the inventive floor presents a simpler structure with
an easier and faster assembly.
[0034] To achieve this, the elastic pieces are done away with and the ribs 4 are coupled
directly into the slots 5 without any pressure.
[0035] In this embodiment that we are concerned with, the corners of the tiles also incorporate
via their lower face a cavity 7 with some slotted sections 5' which are a continuation
of the slots 5 located in correspondence with some perimetric steps 16, these also
being defined in the first embodiment shown in figures 1 to 3, though in the latter
they are of less height owing to the incorporation of the support wedges 13.
[0036] In the second embodiment described, the coupling between slots and ribs is a pressure-free
coupling, which facilitates the vertical assembly and removal of the tiles by means
of gravity alone. In turn, the tiles of this second embodiment rest directly on the
floor with the exception of the perimetric step 6 where the slots 5 are to be found
complemented with the ribs 4, in which case its lower face is coplanar with the supporting
faces of the support profiles 1 and 2.
1. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, which, comprising a base structure in a horizontal plane formed from a cross-linking
of horizontal profiles which support a set of tiles, is characterised in that the base structure comprises primary profiles (1) with a cross-section in the form
of an inverted "T" and secondary profiles (2) of the same cross-section, which are
coupled via their end sections to pairs of adjacent primary profiles (1), the tiles
(3) being fitted via their narrow lateral faces against the slots of the profiles
(1 and 2), at the same time as they rest against at least elements which project from
the cross-members of said primary (1) and secondary (2) profiles.
2. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to claim 1, characterised in that the cross-members of the profiles (1 and 2) comprise longitudinal ribs (4), at least
as means of seating of the tiles (3) via their lower faces.
3. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to claim 2, characterised in that the lower face of the tiles (3) include some perimetric slots (5), the bottoms of
which sit on the longitudinal ribs (4).
4. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the lower face of the tiles (3) includes some elastic pieces (6) with some segments
for fastening to the longitudinal ribs (4) by elastic connection, these segments for
fastening lying in the direction of the perimetric slots (5).
5. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the fit between the ribs (4) and the slots (5) is a pressure-free fit, with assembly
of the tiles taking places solely by gravity.
6. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to either of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that where the perimetric slots (5) meet there exist corner cavities (7) in order to span
the cross of the longitudinal ribs (4) of the primary (1) and secondary (2) profiles.
7. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the lower face of the tiles (3) incorporate centred ducts (11) which are complemented
with some facing windows (12) made in the arms of the primary (1) and secondary (2)
profiles; all this in order to allow the passage of cables, pipes and/or any other
kind of supply.
8. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to claim 6, characterised in that it comprises a piece in the form of a cross (14) which fits in the centred ducts
(11) by way of a cover in order to create some enclosed tubular ducts.
9. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the secondary profiles (2) comprise some end cuts (8) made in at least the cross-members
of those profiles, releasing a lower edge of the arms which comprises a small notch
(9) complementary with the longitudinal ribs (4) of the primary profiles (1) in order
to facilitate the fastening of the secondary profiles (2) on the primary profiles
(1).
10. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the tiles (3) incorporate support wedges (13) in their lower faces which are connected
to the floor.
11. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the central part of the tiles (3) rest directly on the floor via their lower face,
said central part being coplanar with the lower face of the cross-members of the base
profiles (1) and (2).
12. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the free edges of the arms of the profiles (1 and 2) are arranged slightly below
the upper surface of the tiles (3).
13. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to any of the previous claims, characterised in the tiles (3) make contact against the arms of the primary (1) and secondary (2)
profiles via an upper segment (10) of their narrow lateral faces.
14. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the tops of the vertical arms of the support profiles (1 and 2) incorporate thin
deformable bulging segments (15) which press against the lateral edges of the tiles
(3).
15. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to any of claims 3 to 14, characterised in that the tiles (3) incorporate perimetric steps (16) where the slots (5) are found and
which are complemented with the cross-members of the primary (1) and secondary (2)
profiles.
16. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to claim 15, characterised in that the perimetric steps (16) possess the same height as the cross-members of the primary
(1) and secondary (2) profiles.
17. INSPECTABLE TECHNICAL FLOOR, according to claims 9 and 15, characterised in that the perimetric steps (16) possess a height lower than the cross-members of the primary
(1) and secondary (2) profiles.