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(11) | EP 1 990 480 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Removable supports for indoor and/or outdoor floorings |
| (57) Removable supports for indoor and/or outdoor floorings consist of bases (1) with
generally reticular configuration which comprise: orthogonal and parallel sections
(2) integrated to the top surface and comprising top ends (3) for connecting, supporting
and constraining on complementary longitudinal seats (4) arranged on flat finishing
means (5); bottom cell-like sections (6) for load distribution and spacing; side and
opposite male (7) and female (8) connections for the joint-wise connection with mating
and complementary connections of other equal supports.
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[0002] It is known that current floorings, such as for example the ones for outdoor use for balconies, gardens, environmental furnishings, swimming pools and the like are generally made with monolithic systems, with natural stone finishing, ceramic tiles or wood.
[0003] It is also known that while performing their function, such floorings are very expensive both for the initial laying thereof and for the maintenance operations in the event of restoration of worn or broken parts, due to the fact that their structure is of the removable type.
[0004] In particular, outdoor floorings for gardens, balconies, verandas, gazebos, wellbeing centres, spas, swimming pools, platforms, yards, wharves, piers and so on, made with solid wood planks which are secured by exposed screws or by special recessed mounting plates screwed on floating sections, exhibit the drawback of consisting of fixed structures that require additional works with the use of floating sections to be arranged on the laying surfaces, require the activity of specialised fitters and in the event of fixing and/or maintenance work on broken or worn elements, requires the removal of the structures up to reach the parts to be replaced. The above with clearly high cost both for the first laying and for all the following maintenance works.
[0006] This object is achieved by removable supports for floorings according to claim 1. Further advantageous features are the object of the dependent claims.
[0007] In particular, the advantages achieved with the present finding essentially consist in the fact that said supports, generally and preferably but not in a limited manner made by moulding or injection with resistant but inexpensive plastic material, are easily and quickly positioned in a constrained connection on said solid wood planks or the like, making the planks themselves easily and quickly connectable to each other in making floors by the reciprocal side connections provided on the supports themselves, without the need of qualified personnel's work, without the need of any additional work and without the use of floating sections on the laying surfaces. Likewise, all the works of maintenance and/or replacement of worn or broken parts can be carried out in an easy, quick and inexpensive manner.
[0008] The above thanks to the resolvability of the supports themselves and to their adaptability to any type of surface, both for indoor and outdoor use. The bottom cell-like structure of the supports according to the present invention ensures quick and natural disposal of humidity and/or water.
[0009] The invention is described in detail, according to embodiments thereof only by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
fig. 1 shows a front view of a first example of a support according to the invention,
fig. 2 shows a plan top view of the same support of figure 1,
fig. 3 shows a plan bottom view of the same support of figure 1,
fig. 4 shows a front view of a second example of a support according to the invention,
fig. 5 shows a plan top view of the same support of figure 4, and
fig. 6 shows a plan bottom view of the same support of figure 4.
[0010] With reference to the figures, each removable support S for outdoor and/or indoor floorings consists of a base 1 with generally reticular configuration on the top surface of which at least two sections 2 are integrated, orthogonal and longitudinal to the base itself and parallel to each other, which are provided with top connecting elements 3 intended for coming into positioning and joint-wise engagement and constraining relation with complementary longitudinal seats 4, arranged along the longitudinal side edges, and in case below and in longitudinal direction 4', of flat finishing means 5, such as solid wood planks or the like.
[0011] Sections 2 and the corresponding and complementary longitudinal jointing seats 4 may be only lateral or lateral and central single or dual 4', depending on the width of the flat finishing means 5 and of the corresponding supports S. Likewise, the top connecting elements 3 of the sections 2 arranged in the central zones, may be single or dual opposite 3', while in the case of only side arrangements the sections 2 are aligned to two opposite parallel edges of the base 1 and the corresponding top connecting elements 3 are single.
[0012] Cell-like sections 6 extend downwards, integral to the bottom surface of the bases 1, whose functions are those of distributors of the overlying loads, levelling spacers with the underlying ground and quick and natural disposal of any formations of humidity and/or water that can build up underneath the floorings. On two opposite side edges the supports comprise male 7 and female 8 connections capable of connecting joint-wise with reciprocal, mating and complementary connections, of equal supports; such connections may be single or dual or multiple; in the case of dual or multiple compositions the arrangement of the male and female connections may be, without distinction, the ones along the one edge and the others along the opposite edge, or even alternating male/female along the two edges.
[0013] The flat finishing means 5, such as for example and in particular the solid wood planks, are fitted with at least two supports S in the proximity of the ends, and in case with other equal supports arranged in the median parts thereof, depending on their length.
[0014] With multiple planks fitted with the necessary supports S associated in a sequence and parallel to each other joint-wise by the reciprocal connection of the male connections 7 of the ones with the female connections 8 of the others, floorings of any type and size may be created in a simple, quick and inexpensive manner, with the great advantage of doing the same also for removing and replacement, in the event of works for maintenance and/or replacement of damaged parts or else.
1. Removable supports for floorings comprising:
a- a base (1) with generally cell-like configuration suitable for supporting flat finishing means (5), such as solid wood planks and the like;
b- engagement means operating with corresponding complementary means located on said finishing surfaces (5);
characterised in that:- said engagement means consist of at least two parallel sections (2) orthogonal to, and integrated with, the top surface of said base (1), and are provided with top connecting elements (3);
- said complementary means consist of longitudinal seats (4) arranged along the side edges and/or along the surface of said flat finishing means (5), such as solid wood planks and the like;
- said connecting elements (3) engage in a constraint and positioning joint in said longitudinal seats (4) arranged on the side edges and/or on the surface of said flat finishing means (5), in the desired positions, depending on the length of the finishing surfaces themselves;
- said base comprises bottom cell-like sections (6), load distributors and spacers, and side and opposite connections, respectively male (7) and female (8) for the joint-wise connection with adjacent removable supports.
2. Removable supports for floorings according to claim 1, characterised in that said orthogonal and parallel longitudinal sections (2) are integrated and arranged
along two opposite and parallel edges of the top surfaces of said bases (1) with the
corresponding single top connecting means (3), depending on the width of the flat
finishing means (5) that comprise complementary longitudinal seats (4) along the side
edges only.
3. Removable supports for floorings according to claim 1, characterised in that said orthogonal and parallel longitudinal sections (2) are integrated and arranged
both laterally along two opposite and parallel edges of the top surfaces of said bases
(1) and distributed in the central part of the same surfaces, parallel to the side
ones, with the corresponding top connecting means of the single (3) or dual (3') type,
depending on the width of the flat finishing means (5) comprising complementary longitudinal
seats (4), along the side edges only (4 or 4') and along said edges and in the central
parts depending on the above type of single or dual connection.
4. Removable supports for floorings according to the previous claims, characterised in that the sections (6), which extend downward from the bottom surface of said bases (1),
are cell-like distributors of the overlying loads, levelling spacers relative to the
underlying ground and drains of any formations of humidity and/or water.
5. Removable supports for floorings according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said male (7) and female (8) connections are single and arranged along two opposite
side edges of said base (1) and are connectable joint-wise with reciprocal, mating
and complementary connections, of other equal supports (S).
6. Removable supports for floorings according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said male (7) and female (8) connections are dual or multiple and arranged along
two opposite side edges of said base (1); the arrangement of said male and female
connections being without distinction the ones along one edge and the others along
the opposite edge or also alternating male/female along the two edges.
7. Removable supports for floorings according to claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said flat finishing means (5), such as solid wood planks, are fitted with at least
two supports (S) arranged in the proximity of the ends, with possible applications
of other equal supports arranged in the median parts thereof, depending on the length
of the planks themselves.