The present invention is comprised within the field of floorings and coverings and specifically those floorings and coverings covered with pebbles.

There are currently floorings and coverings comprising a cover of natural pebbles that are widely used in facings in building sites, stairs, columns, shower plates, walls, street floors, etc.

The origin of these natural stones or pebbles are mainly rivers or beaches, being more scarce every day due to the fact that many countries have already protected their extraction because of environmentally friendly issues, therefore it is increasingly difficult to obtain them.

It is therefore necessary to find an alternative to the extraction of natural pebbles.

The present invention relates to covering plates comprising one or more metallic pieces in the form of pebbles and to a manufacturing process for manufacturing them which, as it does not use natural pebbles, overcomes the previously described problems.

Thus, an aspect of the invention relates to a covering plate formed by one or more metallic pieces in the form of a pebble with different dimensions and conformations, the piece or pieces of which are fixed on a support of non-deformable material.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the support of non-deformable material is formed by a mortar from cement, the metallic piece or pieces in the form of pebbles being embedded in said mortar.

In another particular embodiment, the support of non-deformable material is formed by a resistant mesh, the metallic piece or pieces in the form of pebbles being fixed to the resistant mesh by means of an adhesive. This covering plate is fixed at the lower surface of the mesh to a cement baseplate.

Another particular aspect of the invention relates to a process for manufacturing the previously described covering plates which comprises, in the first place, manufacturing the metallic pieces in the form of pebbles (1).

In a particular embodiment, the metallic pieces in the form of pebbles (1) are manufactured from the injection casting of metallic material, said metallic material can be for example aluminum, ZAMAC or any metallic material known in the state of the art. The metallic material can come from recyclable materials, for example. Before the casting of said material, such material is optionally ground. It is then poured into molds with the selected shapes, for example, natural pebble shapes, they are thus manufactured in a perfectly calibrated manner and with the desired size and finishing, whether it is smooth, rough, shiny or matt or with colors.

In another particular embodiment, the metallic pieces in the form of pebbles (1) are manufactured from the die-cutting of metallic sheets with punching machines or by means of jet or laser cutting. The metallic pieces are eroded by means of their introduction in drums with gravel or sand by the application of vibration or movement, finally obtaining metallic pieces in the form of pebbles (1).

The metallic pieces in the form of a pebble (1) are then placed in a support or mold with the shape of a box, for example, with the dimensions corresponding to the covering plate that is to be obtained. In a particular embodiment, the metallic pieces are arranged in said support with an arrangement in the reverse direction to that which it will finally have in the covering plate.

Once the pieces have been arranged in the support, an adhesive (2) is applied by means of gluing machines, the resistant meshes (3) are then fixed on the metallic pieces, both being joined by means of the adhesive. The resistant meshes can be, for example, fiberglass, paper or metallic or wire meshes. The covering plates are then passed through a drying tunnel oven at a temperature comprised in a range between 40-170°C for 3 minutes. And they are finally extracted from the mold, obtaining as an end product covering plates which can be adhered to a cement support.

In a particular embodiment, the covering plate is formed by a single metallic piece in the form of a pebble (Figure 1), or by multiple pieces in the form of pebbles (Figure 2).

• Figure 1 shows a covering plate formed by a single metallic piece in the form of a pebble (1), an adhesive (2) and a resistant mesh (3).
• Figure 2 shows a covering plate formed by multiple metallic pieces in the form of pebbles (1), an adhesive (2) and a resistant mesh (3).

The following specific embodiments which are provided herein serve to illustrate the nature of the present invention, are included only for illustrative purposes and must not be interpreted as limitations to the invention which is claimed herein.

Thus, in an embodiment, the covering plate is shown in Figure 1, and comprises a single metallic piece in the form of a pebble (1') fixed on a resistant mesh (3) by means of an adhesive (2). Said metallic piece in the form of a pebble covers virtually the entire surface of the resistant mesh.

In another embodiment, the covering plate is shown in Figure 2 and comprises multiple metallic pieces in the form of pebbles (1), fixed on a resistant mesh (3) by means of an adhesive (2).