A combined set comprising covering elements and attachment members and a method for mounting said combined set

Abstract

 A combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements made of a synthetic material and a series of attachment members, which attachment members are provided for attaching said covering elements to a support, said covering elements having an upper and a lower surface and a first and second longitudinal edge, and wherein when attached on said support, a gap extends between said first and second longitudinal edges of two subsequently mounted covering elements, said longitudinal edges are integrally formed with said upper and lower surface and extend each time over their whole surface substantially linearly and continuously from an upper surface border to a lower border, and wherein a first respectively a second opening is applied, adjacent to said first respectively second longitudinal edges in said lower surface, in order to form each time a cavity therein, said first respectively said second opening giving access to at a first, respectively a second anchoring lip designed and dimensioned so as to match with said attachment member.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements made of a synthetic material and a series of attachment members, wherein each attachment member of said series is provided for attaching two adjacently placed of said covering elements to a support, said covering elements having an upper surface and a first and second longitudinal edge, said longitudinal edges being integrally formed with said upper surface and extend each time over their whole surface substantially linearly and continuously from an upper surface border to a lower border of said covering element, said covering elements further comprising a first, respectively a second, anchoring lip designed and dimensioned so as to match with said attachment member in order to realise said attaching, and wherein when attached on said support, a gap extends between said first and second longitudinal edges of two subsequently mounted covering

[0002] The invention also relates to a method for mounting such a combined set.

[0003] Such a combined set is known from WO00/56996. The known combined set is for example used for outside floor covering. In order to mount the known combined set, a support is placed on the ground or wall and the attachment members are fixed on the support. Thereafter, the covering elements are applied and fixed to the support by means of the attachment members. Each covering element comprises a first and a second anchoring lip located at a distance corresponding to one third of the width of the covering element with respect to the first and second longitudinal edge. The anchoring lips are formed by protrusions extending downwards from an underside of the upper surface. In order to maintain the gap between two adjacent covering elements the attachment member is provided with an upstanding protrusion, which extends in the gap when the covering elements are attached on the support. Each attachment member always connects two adjacent covering elements to each other.

[0004] A drawback of the known combined set is that the anchoring lips are rather fragile due to their construction as a protrusion. As they further are applied at a distance corresponding to one third of the width of the covering element with respect to the first and second longitudinal edge, it is necessary to have attachment members of corresponding width. Consequently the attachment members have a certain width, which causes a cantilever effect on the anchoring lip when mounting the attachment member on the anchoring lip. This often leads to a breaking of the anchoring lip, thereby rendering the covering element useless. As moreover the attachment members have a certain width and need to have an upstanding protrusion, they are complex and expensive to manufacture.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to realise a combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements and a series of attachment members which are more easy and less expensive to manufacture and of which the anchoring lips are less fragile.

[0006] For this purpose, a combined set according to the invention is characterised in that said covering element comprises at an underside thereof a lower plane surface wherein a first respectively a second opening is applied adjacent to said first respectively second longitudinal edge, said first and second opening giving access to a first respectively a second cavity, said first respectively said second cavity having a cavity wall which is partially formed by said first respectively said second longitudinal edge, said first respectively said second opening giving access to said first, respectively said second anchoring lip, which are applied in said first respectively said second cavity and form an integral part of said lower surface. As the underside is now formed by a plane surface and as the anchoring lips are applied in the cavities and form an integral part of the lower surface a more rigid construction of the anchoring lips is obtained. Due to the fact that the openings are adjacent to the lateral edges and give access to the anchoring lips, the attachment members have only a small width, thereby reducing not only the cantilever effect, but also the amount of material used for manufacturing them. A less expensive attachment member is thus obtained.

[0007] A first preferred embodiment of a combined set according to the present invention is characterised in that said attachment member comprises a footplate on which two resilient hooks are mounted, which hooks extend in a height direction with respect to said footplate, said hooks being mounted at a predetermined distance from each other and point in opposite direction with respect to each other. A resilient hook forms a reliable locking of the attachment member on the anchoring lip.

[0008] A second preferred embodiment of a combined set according to the present invention is characterised in that said attachment member comprises a perforation provided for receiving a fixing member in order to fix said attachment member to said support, said perforation being applied in such a manner that its location corresponds to the one of said gap when said covering elements are attached on said attachment elements. In such a manner the fixing member is easily accessible from the gap between two adjacent covering elements and there is no need to remove the covering element to access the fixing member.

[0009] A third preferred embodiment of a combined set according to the present invention is characterised in that said covering elements have an alveolar structure comprising longitudinal tunnels extending between said upper and lower surface of said covering element, said first and second opening being at least partially applied within a volume described by said tunnel. In such a manner, a good combination of the alveolar structure and the opening, forming the cavity, is obtained.

[0010] A fourth preferred embodiment of a combined set according to the present invention is characterised in that said longitudinal edge has a length shorter than a thickness of said covering element, said lower border of said longitudinal edge forming part of said opening. In such a manner the attachment member can be applied in the same plane as the lower surface of the covering element and they both rest integrally on the support.

[0011] Preferably said anchoring lip is provided with locking means for locking said attachment member. This enables a reliable fixation of the covering element.

[0012] Preferably said synthetic material is a composite material comprising a polymer mixed with cellulose. Such a composite material is very suitable for extrusion techniques. The use of cellulose provides a natural aspect to the covering elements.

[0013] The method according to the present invention is characterised in that a first attachment member of said set, provided to engage into said first opening, is fixed to said support, a second attachment member is engaged into said second opening of one of said covering elements and attached to said anchoring lip, the latter covering element being moved towards said first attachment member, which is attached to the anchoring lip in said first opening by a shifting movement of the covering element, said second attachment member being thereafter fixed to said support. The shifting movement enables an easy mounting and demounting of the covering elements.

[0014] The invention will now be described in more details with reference to the annexed drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the combined set according to the invention.

[0015] In the drawings:

figures 1 to 7 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a combined set and the different method steps for mounting this combined set;

figure 8 shows a covering element as part of the combined set;

figures 9 to 16 illustrate other embodiments of the combined set according to the present invention; and

figures 17 and 18 illustrate a further embodiment of the combined set according to the present invention.

[0016] In the drawings, a same reference sign has been allocated to a same or analogous element.

[0017] The combined set according to the present invention comprises at least two covering elements 6-1 and 6-2, as illustrated in figure 7. The covering elements are intended as floor or wall covering, in particular for a terrace or a deck. The covering elements are made of a synthetic material. In particular the synthetic material is a composite material comprising polymer preferably in combination with cellulose. Polyethylene, polyvinylchloride and polypropylene are suitable polymers for the composite material. It is also possible to add a filler to the composite material. Preferably, the covering elements are manufactured by extrusion of the composite material. Such composite material has the advantage that it does practically not require any painting and that it is resistant to various weather conditions. The cellulose can originate from wood or from vegetables and offers the possibility to give a natural look to the covering element, despite the fact that it is not a 100 % natural product.

[0018] As illustrated in figure 8, the covering element 6 has an essentially rectangular shape and comprises an upper and a lower surface. The upper surface is preferably provided with a groove pattern in order to form an antiskid. The underside forming the lower surface is formed by a plane surface, which is flat shaped. The covering elements further comprise a first 15 and a second 16 longitudinal edge which extend over their whole surface substantially linear and continuous from the upper surface border to a lower border of the covering element. In the example shown in the figures 1 to 16 the longitudinal edges are integrally made with the upper and lower surface of the covering element. In the embodiment shown in the figures 17 and 18 the longitudinal edges 15 and 16 have a length shorter than a thickness of the covering element so that they are only integrally formed with the upper surface. The longitudinal edges extend each time from the upper surface border to the lower border in a continuous and rectilinear manner. Contrary to other covering elements known from the prior art, the longitudinal edge of the present covering elements is, as if to say, flat and without protrusions on which attachment members could grip. The absence of protrusions is advantageously as it simplifies the extrusion process. Moreover, the absence of such protrusions also avoids that the latter could break off the covering element and weaken the fixation of it on the support. As is shown in figure 8, the longitudinal edges are over the whole height substantially perpendicular with respect to the upper and lower surface of the covering element.

[0019] In the embodiment shown in the figures 1 to 15 and 17 and 18, the covering elements have an alveolar structure, comprising longitudinal tunnels extending between the upper and lower surface of the covering element. In the embodiments illustrated in the figures 1 to 13 and 17 and 18, three adjacent tunnels are provided, which extend longitudinally. The tunnels are each time separated by a wall. It will however be clear that the invention is not limited to three tunnels and that more or less tunnels can be present. In the embodiments illustrated in figures 14 and 15 the tunnels have a triangular shape. The latter shape has the advantage that less material is required as the separations between the adjacent tunnels can be made thinner, without affecting the rigidity of the covering element. The alveolar structure offers the advantage to provide a rigid structure without using too much material. The alveolar structure also offers the advantage that the covering elements have a relatively light weight, which makes them easy to handle.

[0020] The use of an alveolar structure for the covering elements according to the present invention is however not essential. According to another embodiment illustrated in figure 16, the covering element has a plain structure and a lesser thickness than the alveolar structure in order to limit the weight of the covering element when it has a plain structure.

[0021] As illustrated in the figures, the covering element comprises a first 8, respectively a second 9 opening applied adjacent to the first 15, respectively the second 16, longitudinal edge. The openings 8 and 9 are applied in the lower surface and give each time access to a first respectively a second cavity. In the respective cavities there is applied a first (11-R), respectively a second (10-L) anchoring lip, designed and dimensioned so as to match with an attachment member 3. The anchoring lips are integrally formed with the lower surface of the covering element in order to obtain a structural relational therewith, thereby providing a reliable and non-fragile construction. Although a sole anchoring lip for each cavity or opening 8,9 is sufficient, as illustrated in figures 9 and 10, it is also possible to have two anchoring lips per cavity or opening as illustrated in the figures 1 to 7, 11 to 18.

[0022] As the anchoring lips are applied in the cavities, they are accessed by the opening giving access to the cavity. Each of the first and second cavities has a cavity wall, which is partially formed by the longitudinal edge adjacent to which the cavity is applied. So the inner side of a fraction of the longitudinal edge forms a fraction of the cavity wall. Another fraction of the cavity wall is formed by a fraction of the inner side of the lower surface. The cavities and the anchoring lips are thus close to the longitudinal edges, thereby causing that the width of the attachment member remains small and that the cantilever applied by the attachment member on the anchoring lip, when mounting the covering element, remains small.

[0023] As illustrated in figure 1, beside the first 11-R and second 10-L anchoring lips, it is possible to have a third anchoring lip 11-L or 10-R. The third anchoring lip and the first and second anchoring lips are mirror symmetrically applied with respect to a centre of the opening. In such a manner, the lips oppositely face each other.

[0024] The anchoring lip is preferably extruded with the covering element and provided with locking means for locking the attachment member. In the embodiment of the figures 1 to 7 and 17 and 18, the locking means are tooth and groove shaped. The anchoring lip has an inclined frontal face 17 (see figure 2) leading to a tooth 18, followed by a groove 19. The inclined frontal face 17, which preferably makes an angle situated between 110° and 150° with the lower surface of the covering element, facilitates the co-operation between the attachment member 2 or 3 and the anchoring lip 10 or 11 upon application of the attachment member on the anchoring lip. Once the front of the attachment member has reached the top of the inclined frontal face, it will engage in the tooth 18 and groove 19, thereby providing a reliable fixing.

[0025] When an alveolar structure is used, the openings 8 and 9 and their respective cavities are at least partially applied within a volume described by the tunnel. In the embodiment where tunnels are present, the cavities extend in the tunnels adjacent the longitudinal edges. The tunnels, comprising the cavities, have a first and a second section 7-1 and 7-2 separated by a section wall 20. The first section 7-1 forms a closed loop configuration and is substantially L-shaped. The opening 8, 9 is applied in the second section 7-2. The first section bridges the second one. The section wall 20 rigidifies, as if to say, the structure of the second section and thereby provides a reinforcement for the anchoring by avoiding that they could become movable. The L shaped structure of the first section rigidifies the covering element and assures that, in case where two anchoring lips are present, they are correctly applied on the under surface of the covering element.

[0026] In the embodiment shown in figure 16 the covering element comprises three instead of two cavities. The additional or third cavity 8' is asymmetric with respect to the middle axis of the covering element. It should be noted that the presence of such an additional cavity is not limited to covering elements having a plane structure, but can also be applied to covering elements having an alveolar structure. Although the asymmetric application of the additional cavity is not essential, it nevertheless has the advantage of creating more flexibility for placing the covering elements. Indeed it is sometimes necessary, when the last element has to be placed, that a smaller dimension than the standard one is required. To this purpose it is than necessary to cut a stroke from the covering element. The presence of the additional cavity than enables to cut the stroke even at a location where the first or second cavity is applied, without affecting the possibility to attach the covering element, as the additional cavity can be used. The asymmetric application of the additional cavity provides the possibility by turning the covering element to find an appropriate way to attach the covering element while still providing a gap between subsequent covering elements.

[0027] The combined set according to the present invention further comprises a series of attachment members 3. The latter comprise a footplate 30 on which at least one resilient hook 4 is mounted. Although the figures shows each time single hooks, it could also be possible to have a set of adjacent hooks on a same footplate. The attachment member is further provided with a perforation 21 applied on the footplate. Through this perforation a fixing member 5, preferably formed by a screw, is applied in order to fix the attachment member to a frame 1. The frame is for example formed by a series of beams made of wood, steel or a synthetic material and provided to be applied on a support, on which the covering elements have to be applied. The perforation is applied in such a manner that its location corresponds to the one of a gap between two adjacent covering elements when they are attached on said attachment elements, as will be described hereinafter.

[0028] As is illustrated in figure 1 there is also provided a further attachment member 2 having a single hook 4. This further attachment member serves to attach a first covering element of a series of subsequent covering elements, for example one that starts close to a wall. As the further attachment member has only a single hook it will align with the longitudinal edge and there is no need to cut a part of the attachment member 3.

[0029] The attachment member either has a single hook 4 or two hooks. The hook or hooks extend in height direction with respect to the footplate. The hook preferably has a swan-neck's shape. In the embodiment shown in the figures 1 to 7 and 17 and 18, the hooks have a first segment 22 extending substantially perpendicular to the footplate 3. The first segment is followed by a second segment 23 extending over an angle α with respect to the first segment. The angle α being situated between 30° and 60° and preferably 45°. The second segment is followed by a third segment 24, extending substantially parallel with respect to the footplate. The third segment 24 is followed by a fourth segment 25, which is downwardly inclined with respect to the third segment. The first and fourth segment are shorter than the second and third segment. The second segment has a longer length than the third segment. When two hooks are applied on a same footplate, they are mounted on a predetermined distance from each other in order to match with the distance between two anchoring lips as will be described hereinafter. The two hooks either point in a same direction, as illustrated in figure 9, or point in an opposite direction as illustrated in the figures 1 to 7.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in figure 9, the two hooks have not a same configuration. Hook 26, has the pattern of a lamppost and is provided for engaging into an anchoring lip 27. The latter preferably extends over a whole length of the covering element and forms, as if to say, a rail on which the hook 26 can be shifted. The hook is mounted on the rail by introducing it along a transversal side of the covering element and sliding it over the rail until the hook is at the desired place. As illustrated in figures 9 and 10, the hook 26 can be either left or right oriented.

[0031] In the embodiment illustrated in figure 11 the hook 32 has a curved shape and the hook 31 is formed by two legs, each leg being half mushroom shaped. The leg 31-1 and the leg 31-2 being mirror symmetrical with respect to a central axis a extending between those legs. The hook 31 being provided to match with the anchoring lips 33-1 and 33-2. The latter being formed by upstanding posts 33-1 and 33-2 extending on the left hand side of the covering element from the lower surface inwards the opening and integrally made with the covering element. The hook 31 is provided to click into aperture formed by the posts 33 by an upwards movement of the attachment member.

[0032] The embodiment illustrated in figure 12 distinguishes over the one illustrated in figure 11 by the use for attachment member 3 of a lamppost shaped hook 26 instead of the half mushroom shaped one 31 and a half mushroom shaped one 31 instead of a curved shaped one 32. Also the attachment member 2 is half mushroom shaped instead of a curved one. Moreover the leg shaped posts 33 are now on the right hand side. For mounting of the anchoring elements in this embodiment only a vertical movement is required.

[0033] The embodiment illustrated in figure 13 distinguishes over the one illustrated in the figures 11 and 12 by the fact that all the hooks are formed by two legs 31 and all the anchoring lips by upstanding posts 33.

[0034] The mounting of the embodiment of the combined set according to the present invention and illustrated in the figures 1 to 7 will now be described with reference to those figures. The first step is the application of a first attachment member 4 on the support frame 1. The first attachment member is mounted on the support frame placed for example near a wall of a house where a terrace is to be constructed. The attachment member is fixed by means of the fixing element 5, for example by screwing.

[0035] Once the first attachment member 2 is fixed, a second attachment member 3 is taken, as well as a first covering element 6-1. The second attachment member is introduced into the second opening 9 of the covering element via the space between the anchoring lips 11-L and 10-L, as indicated by arrow a. Once the hook 4 extends inside the cavity 7-2 and the footplate 3 touches the lower surface of the covering element, the attachment member is shifted towards the right, as indicated by arrow b in figure 2. The shifting movement to the right and the resilient property of the hook causes the latter to climb along the slope of the frontal face 17, to slide over the tooth 18 and to click into the groove 19. In such a manner, the second attachment member is fixed to the anchoring lip 10-L.

[0036] After having attached the second attachment member, the covering element 6-1 is lowered towards the first attachment member and the frame 1, so as to engage the first attachment member into the first opening 8, as illustrated in figure 3. Once the first attachment member is inside the first opening and the footplate contacts the underside of the covering element, a shifting towards the right of the covering element is done, as indicated by arrow d in figure 4. As can be seen on figures 2 and 4, in both cases of the first and second attachment member, a shifting movement to the right side is realised in order to have the attachment member fixed to the anchoring lip. By shifting the covering element towards the right, the right longitudinal edge of the covering element comes substantially in line with the border of the frame 1.

[0037] Once the attachment members are anchored to the anchoring lips, the covering element is put in place, so that the fixing member 5 can now be brought towards the opening of the second attachment member (figure 5) and fixed to the support (figure 6). After having placed the first covering element, the second one is placed in an analogous manner, now using the second hook on the second attachment member, as illustrated in figure 6. As illustrated in figure 7, a gap 31 extends between the first and second longitudinal edges of two subsequently mounted covering elements. Because the hooks are offset with respect to the opening for the fixing member, the latter is offset from the longitudinal edge and extends in the gap when the covering element is mounted on the fixing member. Figure 7 also illustrates that, when mounted, the hooks of the attachment members are under the covering element inside the cavities and there is no protrusion extending in the gap between subsequently mounted covering elements. The connection between the covering elements and the attachment members is thus realised offset from the gap 30, because the anchoring lip is situated offset from the gap.

[0038] When the embodiments illustrated in the figures 8, 9 and 10 are used, the mounting of the attachment member 2-1 is realised in an analogous manner as described for the figures 1 to 7. The hook 26 is applied by inserting the latter via a transversal edge of the covering element in the cavity 9. The hook 26 is slit over the rail 27 so that he engages with the rail. Thereafter, the mounting takes place in an analogous way as that for the embodiment illustrated in the figures 1 to 7.

[0039] In the embodiment illustrated in figure 11 the curved shaped hooks being shifted on the anchoring lips. The legs 31 being pushed into the opening 9, so that they click with the posts 33. In the embodiment illustrated in figure12 the lamppost shaped hook is slide on the anchoring lip. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 13 the legs are clicked onto the posts.

[0040] The combined set according to the present invention offers the advantage that the longitudinal edges are an integral part of the covering element, so that it is not necessary to apply some separate beams on the edges forming the border of the terrace or wall, in order to obtain an esthetical final work.

[0041] As the attachment members grip on the anchoring lip, which preferably has a length of at least 1.0 cm and preferably 2 cm, a sufficient contact surface between the anchoring lip and the hook is obtained, thereby leading to a reliable fixing of the covering element. As moreover the anchoring lips are close to the longitudinal edges the total width of the attachment member is less than 10 cm, preferably between 5 and 8 cm. It is also possible to create a more important contact surface between the anchoring lip and the hook. This is favourable when larger covering elements are used which require a larger contact surface due to more important mechanical forces applied on it. Moreover the expansion and shrink of the larger attachment members due to temperature fluctuations is more important which also imposes a larger contact surface. The present invention enables a more important contact surface without affecting the aesthetical aspect of the covering element, as the attachment is realised at the underside. In comparison to the known covering elements, the width of the covering element could be doubled thereby still enabling a reliable attachment. Moreover, as the hook is resilient, thermal fluctuations are better absorbed and they do not affect the attachment of the hook to the anchoring lip.

[0042] Since only the fixing member 5 is present in the gap, the latter can be kept small, even less than 4 mm, as no attachment members extend in the gap.

[0043] In the embodiment shown in the figures 17 and 18 the longitudinal edges 15 and 16 have a length shorter than a thickness of the covering element. The lower border 34-L, 34-R of the longitudinal edge forms part of the opening 8, 9. In such a manner the attachment member can fit under the longitudinal edge and its footplate is in line with the lower surface of the covering element. This signifies that as well the attachment member as the lower surface of the covering element both rest on the support, thereby avoiding a vibration of the floor when walking thereon. Moreover as the lower border 34-L and 34-R is part of the opening giving access to the cavity, entering the attachment member becomes easier. Once the attachment member is fixed on the support, the covering element can be mounted by sliding the anchoring lip along the attachment member.

Claims

1. A combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements made of a synthetic material and a series of attachment members, wherein each attachment member of said series is provided for attaching two adjacently placed of said covering elements to a support, said covering elements having an upper surface and a first and second longitudinal edge, said longitudinal edges being integrally formed with said upper surface and extend each time over their whole surface substantially linearly and continuously from an upper surface border to a lower border of said covering element, said covering elements further comprising a first, respectively a second, anchoring lip designed and dimensioned so as to match with said attachment member in order to realise said attaching, and wherein when attached on said support, a gap extends between said first and second longitudinal edges of two subsequently mounted covering elements, characterised in that, said covering element comprises at an underside thereof a lower plane surface wherein a first respectively a second opening is applied adjacent to said first respectively second longitudinal edge, said first and second opening giving access to a first respectively a second cavity, said first respectively said second cavity having a cavity wall which is partially formed by said first respectively said second longitudinal edge, said first respectively said second opening giving access to said first, respectively said second anchoring lip, which are applied in said first respectively said second cavity and form an integral part of said lower surface.

2. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said attachment member comprises a footplate on which two resilient hooks are mounted, which hooks extend in a height direction with respect to said footplate, said hooks being mounted at a predetermined distance from each other and point in opposite direction with respect to each other;

3. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said attachment member comprises a footplate on which two resilient hooks are mounted, which hooks extend in a height direction with respect to said footplate, said hooks being mounted at a predetermined distance from each other and point in a same direction with respect to each other.

4. A combined set as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said attachment member comprises a perforation provided for receiving a fixing member in order to fix said attachment member to said support, said perforation being applied in such a manner that its location corresponds to the one of said gap when said covering elements are attached on said attachment elements.

5. A combined set as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said longitudinal edge has a length shorter than a thickness of said covering element, said lower border of said longitudinal edge forming part of said opening.

6. A combined set as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said anchoring lip is provided with locking means for locking said attachment member.

7. A combined set as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said locking means are tooth and grove shaped.

8. A combined set as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said covering elements have an alveolar structure comprising longitudinal tunnels extending between said upper and lower surface of said covering element, said first and second cavity being at least partially applied within a volume described by said tunnel.

9. A combined set as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said longitudinal tunnels located adjacent to said longitudinal edges comprise a first and a second section separated by a section wall, said first section having a closed loop configuration, said first and second cavity being applied in said second section.

10. A combined set as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said first section is substantially L-shaped and bridges said second section.

11. A combined set as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 to 10, characterised in that said synthetic material is a composite material comprising a polymer mixed with cellulose..

12. A combined set as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 11, characterised in that a third anchoring lip is provided, said third and said first respectively said second anchoring lip being mirror symmetrically applied with respect to a centre of said opening.

13. A combined set as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that said hook is swan-neck shaped.

14. A combined set as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that said hook is lamppost shaped.

15. A combined set as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that said hook has a curved shape.

16. A combined set as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that said hook is formed by two legs, each leg being half mushroom shaped..

17. A combined set as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 16, characterised in that said covering element comprises a third opening applied in said lower surface, said third opening giving access to a third cavity.

18. A combined set as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that said third opening is asymmetrical with respect to a middle axis of said covering element.

19. A method for mounting a combined set according to any one of the claims 1 to 18, characterised in that a first attachment member of said set and provided to engage into said first opening, is fixed to said support, a second attachment member is engaged into said second opening of one of said covering elements and attached to said anchoring lip, the latter covering element being moved towards said first attachment member, which is attached to the anchoring lip in said first opening by a shifting movement of the covering element, said second attachment member being thereafter fixed to said support.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that said first attachment member is attached to said anchoring lip by a shifting movement.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that said first attachment member is attached to said anchoring lip by a pivotal movement.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that said first attachment member is attached to said anchoring lip by clicking.

Drawing