Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements to the insulation plates, in particular
to plates for the use in the building sector, for being applied on external walls
of buildings to obtain thermal insulation.
State of the Art
[0002] In the building sector, systems are increasingly used for thermal insulation to reduce
energy consumption, reducing the heat loss from heated environments towards the outside
and / or the entrance of heat inside air-conditioned environments. At this end, plates
in expanded polystyrene are typically used, which are applied with an adequate glue
on the external surface of the wall.
[0003] In some cases, these plates present edges or lateral profiles for the reciprocal
joint. More in particular, these plates present a rectangular shape with two sides
converging on a corner, along which grooves are obtained, whilst along the two complementary
sides projections are obtained in the form of linear projections complementary to
the channels. With this conformation, the plates can be fixed to each other when they
are installed, thus obtaining a better effect of thermal insulation. The channels
and the projections have a substantially rectangular cross section. The cross dimensions
of the channels and of the projections are such as to need a coupling with forcing
of the plates. The forcing is as more necessary as more precise is the profile of
male and females. However, the precision of the profiles is fundamental to avoid any
thermal bridge, which would make the thermal insulation effect worse. To obtain an
adequate thermal insulation effect it is therefore necessary to force the joint. This
entails difficulties in the installation phase, with the risk of breakages of the
projections and / or of the edges along which the joint channels are obtained, also
due to the fragility of the materials used for producing the plates, typically expanded
polystyrene. The forcing for obtaining an adequate joint can furthermore cause the
displacement of the plate or of the plates, causing the detachment of the plate from
the glues and / or interacting on the setting process of the glue, thus jeopardizing
the set.
[0004] An example of plate is illustrated, for instance, in the patent document
CH 562 377. In this document an insulation plate is illustrated, presenting a back face, that
must be put against the wall to be covered, and a front face. On the opposite lateral
faces of this plate there are projections and respective complementary joining channels
for the projections of adjacent plates. In particular, these projections present two
opposite flanks and an end portion obtained between the two flanks. The first flank,
i.e. that facing the back face, comprises a section constituted by a first rectilinear
segment parallel to the faces of the plate, and a second convex segment that extends
from this first segment towards the back face, and then turns towards the front face
of the plate. The second flank, i.e. that facing the front face, is obtained from
a rectilinear segment of continuation of the front face. The end portion of the projection
is constituted, starting from the first flank, by a curvilinear segment concave towards
the outside of the projection, and by a subsequent curvilinear convex segment, which
forms part of the convexity of the first flank.
[0005] This conformation of the projection presents many problems. A first problem relates
for instance to the fact that each projection presents a cross section decreasing
from the end towards the base, and it therefore results particularly weak against
bending stresses.
[0006] Furthermore, the presence of the convexity on the first flank of the projection does
not allow to apply indifferently a projection inside a complementary channel of a
plate, already fixed to the wall, or the channel on the projection of the plate already
fixed. Actually, considering that the plates are fixed to a wall through gluing of
the back faces, when it is necessary to put a new plate adjacent to an already glued
plate, the coupling will occur necessarily by inserting the projection of the plate
to be fixed in the complementary channel of the fixed plate, whilst the contrary will
not be possible, i.e. making the channel of the plate to be fixed match on the projection
of the already fixed plate, as the convexity present on the first flank, that is the
back one, creates a "necking" of the space towards the wall that prevents the insertion
thereof.
[0007] Therefore, coupling will always occur by inserting a projection in the channel of
an already fixed plate. This causes a further problem, linked to the presence of the
glue on the wall. When one desires to couple a plate to a plate already glued to the
wall, it is necessary to arrange the glue on the back face of the plate and to insert
the projection in the channel of the fixed plate. Once the second plate has been coupled
and turned towards the wall, the glue of this second plate offers resistance, creating
a moment on the second plate tending to counter-rotate the plate itself pivoting on
the concave segment of the end portion of the projection, with the plate consequently
tending not to remain against the wall.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] According to an aspect, the present invention relates to an insulation covering panel
or plate in expanded material of the above mentioned type, provided with channels
and projections for the reciprocal joint of the plates or panels installed on a wall,
which overcomes, completely or partially, one or more of the drawbacks of the traditional
plates.
[0009] An insulation covering plate in expanded material for use in the building sector,
according to the present invention, comprises a back face, to be arranged towards
the wall to be covered, a front face and lateral surfaces, inside which linear projections
and channels are formed. These projections and channels are arranged and shaped in
a complementary manner, so as to constitute elements for reciprocal joint of adjacent
plates. In particular, the projections present a first flank facing the back face
of the plate, and a second flank facing the front face of the plate: the first flank
presents a substantially flat surface portion, nearly parallel to said front and back
faces of the plate, whilst the second flank presents a portion of inclined surface
relative to said back and front faces. The inclined surface portion has a curved shape,
with concavity facing the outside of the projection. The flat surface portion of the
first flank is radiused to the surface with curved shape of the second flank by means
of a third intermediate surface. The cross section of said projections being of width
increasing from the free end towards their base.
[0010] As stated, the third surface is a radiusing surface, i.e. a surface that, as it is
well known, has the purpose of avoiding the creation of sharp edges or corners between
two incident surfaces. This third surface consequently extends from the flat surface
portion of the first flank towards the second flank.
[0011] As stated, according to an aspect of the present invention, the insulating plate
according to the present invention comprises, along the four sides, joining profiles
and joining channels complementary to said profiles, wherein the shape of the profiles
and of the channels is a insertion facilitating shape, with opposite flanks not parallel
to each other, so as to facilitate the insertion of each projection inside the complementary
channel of an adjacent plate when the plates are installed. In an embodiment of the
present invention the plate comprises a back face, a front face and lateral surfaces,
inside which linear projections and channels are formed, said projections and said
channels being arranged and shaped in a complementary manner so as to constitute joining
elements for the reciprocal joint of adjacent plates. The projections present a first
flank with a surface portion substantially flat and nearly parallel to the front and
back faces of the plate, and a second flank with a surface portion inclined relative
to said back and front faces. The inclined flank has preferably a curved shape, for
instance it can be constituted by, or it can comprise, a cylindrical surface portion
with the concavity facing the outside.
[0012] As regards what mentioned above, the second flank advantageously has (preferably,
is constituted by) a surface with curvilinear and concave cross section.
[0013] Adequately, the second flank faces the front face and the first flank faces the back
face of the plate.
[0014] According to the present invention, the projections advantageously present a first
flat surface forming at least partially a first flank of the projection, a second
curved surface, with a concavity facing the outside, forming at least partially a
second flank; a third radiusing surface between said first surface and said second
surface, with a convexity facing the outside and delimiting the front portion of the
projection.
[0015] Preferably, the second flank of said projections presents a concave cylindrical surface
with a nearly constant bending radius forming with the front face of the plate a substantially
right angle.
[0016] Preferably, the concave cylindrical surface is tangent to a convex cylindrical surface
forming the front portion of said projection.
[0017] Furthermore, the substantially flat surface portion of said projections can adequately
be nearly orthogonal to the respective lateral surface of the plate.
[0018] The channels present a cross section substantially reproducing in a reverse manner
the shape of the cross section of the projections.
[0019] The plate can be advantageously of the thermal insulating type.
[0020] Further advantageous characteristics and embodiments of the plate according to the
present invention are indicated in the attached claims, which form an integral part
of the present description, and will be described in greater detail hereunder with
reference to non limiting examples of embodiment.
Brief description of the drawings
[0021] The invention will be better understood by following the description below and the
attached drawing, which shows a non-limiting practical embodiment of the present invention.
More particularly, in the drawing:
figures 1 and 2 show two axonometric views from the front and from the back of a panel
or plate according to the present invention;
figures 3 and 4 show a front view and a back view of a panel according to the present
invention;
figures 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E show cross sections of a panel according to the present
invention in various embodiments;
figure 6 shows an enlarged detail in cross section of a panel according to the present
invention;
figure 7 shows a panel glued to a wall and a second panel with glue on the back face
during the step of coupling to the first panel.
Detailed description of embodiments of the invention
[0022] In the drawings, a plate according to the present invention is indicated as a whole
with the number 1. It presents a front surface or face 3 and a back surface or face
5 that, in the illustrated example, has a substantially rectangular development. The
plate 1 furthermore presents lateral surfaces 7, 9, 11, and 13, along which are obtained
systems for the reciprocal joint of more insulation plates or panels 1 reciprocally
flanking to form a thermal insulation. Each plate 1 is made for instance in expanded
polystyrene or other adequate insulating material.
[0023] In some embodiments the systems of reciprocal joint of adjacent plates comprises
linear projections 14, 15, obtained respectively on a short lateral surface 9 and
on a long lateral surface 11. Channels 17, 19 are obtained on the remaining two surfaces.
The projections 14, 15 and the channels 17, 19 present shapes complementary to each
other, so that, by arranging alongside more plates 1 towards each other, the linear
projections 14 insert in corresponding channels 17 of adjacent plates and the linear
projections 15 insert in channels 19 of adjacent plates.
[0024] As it is visible in particular in the cross section of figure 6, each linear projection
presents in cross section a profile characterized by a flat surface portion 21, substantially
parallel to the two front and back faces or surfaces 3, 5, and therefore orthogonal
to the lateral surface 11, 9 on which the projection is obtained, defining a first
flank of the projection. On the opposite side of the projection 14, 15, it presents
a second flank formed by a curved surface portion 23 and more exactly in the illustrated
example a surface with a cross section shaped as an arc of circumference with the
concavity facing the outside and forming, in the point of intersection with the face
3, a substantially right angle α. The concave surface portion 23 is radiused to the
substantially flat surface portion 21 by means of an intermediate substantially semi-cylindrical
surface portion 25, i.e. a surface extending from the flat surface 21 towards the
second flank with concave surface 23, as it is clearly apparent from the figures.
In the example being described, according to the typical method of radiusing two incident
surfaces, the radiusing intermediate surface 25 is tangent at the ends to the surfaces
21 and 23 that it connects. Practically, the projection occupies a space comprised
between the lying plane of the substantially flat surface 21 and the lying plane of
the front face, whilst it leaves free (i.e. it does not occupy) the space comprised
between the lying plane of the flat surface 21 and the lying plane of the back face.
[0025] Figure 6 also shows the complementary shape of the channel 17, 19. This channel presents
a substantially flat surface 31, a substantially cylindrical surface 33 with shape
complementary to the surface 23 of the projection 14, 15, and a bottom surface 34
with a substantially cylindrical development complementary to the surface 25 of the
projection 14, 15.
[0026] With a similar configuration of the projections and of the channels , the installation
of the insulation plates is extremely simpler, as, instead of having to force a projection
with parallel flat faces inside a channel also with parallel flat faces, the projection
forms, together with the channel, curved insertion facilitating surfaces, which facilitate
the insertion by joining of a plate adjacent to another plate. At the same time, the
opposite flat surfaces 21, 31 form an abutment, thanks to which the behavior of the
installed plates is substantially identical to that of the traditional plates, wherein
the joining projections have parallel flat faces.
[0027] Furthermore, the cross section of the projections is of width increasing from the
free end towards the base, thus giving a particular bending strength to the projections.
[0028] As it is understood from figures 5A-5E, the panels or plates 1 can be made in different
thicknesses. In order to use plates of various thicknesses in the same wall joining
adjacent plates, for example when the wall presents a variable thickness, it is advantageously
provided that the projections 14, 15 and the channels 17, 19 are all obtained substantially
at the same distance from the front face, whilst the difference in thickness between
a plate and the other entails a variation of the distance between the projections
of the channels relative to the back face. In this way it is possible to install a
plurality of adjacent plates of variable thicknesses, forming a uniform outer surface.
[0029] The front face 3 of the panels can present, as shown in figure 2, a series of cuts
3A, for example parallel to each other and orthogonal to the longer side of each plate
1, which are used to improve the behavior of the plate in case of thermal expansions.
[0030] The back face 5 of the plate can be advantageously provided (see figure 4) with areas
forming lozenge-shaped profiles 5A, 5B, characterized by different surface characteristics,
to allow an easier application of the glue to discrete areas. Preferably in the illustrated
example the glue will be applied along the areas 5A, whilst the areas 5B will remain
devoid of glue.
[0031] From an operative point of view, fixing of the plates to the wall occurs in the following
manner. A first plate 1 provided with glue on the back face is fixed to the wall.
A second plate 1', also provided with glue C on the back face, is put near the already
fixed first plate 1, making an its own side provided with channel 17 match with the
side of the fixed plate 1 provided with complementary projection 14. Coupling occurs
with a relative insertion / rotation movement of the projection in the channel, as
highlighted in figure 7. Practically, the projection is fixed, whilst the plate to
be fixed is rested with an own part of cylindrical surface 33 of the channel 17 on
the surface 23 of the fixed projection, which practically acts as rotation area for
the plate to be fixed. The rotation is completed by making the channel of the moving
plate overlap perfectly the fixed projection (the projection is inserted relatively
in the channel), with the flat surface 31 of the channel substantially into contact
with the flat surface 21 of the projection. The plate just coupled to the already
fixed plate is subjected to a resistance due to the glue that practically exerts a
counter-thrust, which tends to make it move away from the wall. The presence of the
flat surface 21 of the projection of the fixed plate advantageously allows to contrast
this counter-thrust.
[0032] Anyway, it should be noted that the plate to be coupled to the plate already positioned
on the wall can be coupled also by inserting the flank with the projection inside
the corresponding channel present on the fixed plate. Such a situation can occurs
in all the cases in which the effect of the counter-thrust due to the glue in negligible.
Practically, the plate can be coupled to a fixed plate indifferently relative to the
sides with projections or with the channels.
[0033] It is understood that the drawing only shows an example provided by way of a practical
demonstration of the present invention, which can vary in forms and arrangements without
however departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Any reference numbers
in the appended claims are provided for the sole purpose of facilitating reading of
the claims in the light of the description and the drawing, and do not in any manner
limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.
1. An insulation covering plate (1) in expanded material for use in the building sector,
comprising a back face (5), to be arranged towards the wall to be covered a front
face (3) and lateral surfaces (7,9,11,13), inside which linear projections (14,15)
and channels (17,19) are formed, said projections and said channels being arranged
and shaped in a complementary manner so as to constitute elements for the reciprocal
joint of adjacent plates, said projections (14,15) presenting a first flank facing
the back face of the plate and a second flank facing the front face of the plate,
said first flank presenting a surface portion (21) substantially flat and nearly parallel
to said back and front faces of the plate, said second flank presenting a surface
portion (23) inclined relative to said back and front faces, said inclined surface
portion (23) having a curved shape with concavity facing the outside of the projection
(14, 15), characterized in that said flat surface portion (21) of the first flank is radiused to the surface (23)
with curved shape of the second flank by means of a third intermediate surface (25),
the cross section of said projections (14,15) being of width increasing from the free
end towards their base.
2. An insulating plate as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said second flank of said projections (14,15) presents a concave cylindrical surface
(23) with a nearly constant bending radius forming with the front face of the plate
a substantially right angle.
3. An insulating plate as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said concave cylindrical surface (23) is tangent to a convex cylindrical surface
forming the front portion of said projection corresponding to said third intermediate
radiusing surface (25).
4. An insulating plate as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the substantially flat surface portion (21) of said projections (14,15) is about
orthogonally to the respective lateral surface (7,9,11,13) of the plate.
5. An insulating plate as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said substantially flat surface portion (21) is tangent to said third intermediate
surface (25).
6. An insulating plate as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said channels (17,19) present a cross section reproducing substantially in a reverse
manner the shape of the cross section of said projections (14,15).
7. A plate as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterized by being thermally insulating.
1. Dämmabdeckungsplatte (1) aus expandiertem Material zur Verwendung im Gebäudebereich,
die eine Rückseite (5), die in Richtung der abzudeckenden Wand anzuordnen ist, eine
Vorderseite (3) und seitliche Oberflächen (7, 9, 11, 13), innerhalb derer gradlinige
Vorsprünge (14, 15) und Kanäle (17, 19) gebildet sind, umfasst, wobei die Vorsprünge
und die Kanäle auf eine komplementäre Weise angeordnet und geformt sind, so dass sie
Elemente für die wechselseitige Verbindung von angrenzenden Platten bilden, die Vorsprünge
(14, 15) eine erste Flanke, die zur Rückseite der Platte zeigt, und eine zweite Flanke,
die zur Vorderseite der Platte zeigt, aufweist, die erste Flanke einen Oberflächenteil
(21), der im Wesentlichen flach und zu den Rück- und Vorderseiten der Platte annähernd
parallel ist, aufweist, die zweite Flanke einen Oberflächenteil (23), der bezogen
auf die Rück- und Vorderseiten geneigt ist, aufweist, wobei der geneigte Oberflächenteil
(23) eine gekrümmte Form mit einer Konkavität, die zur Außenseite des Vorsprungs (14,
15) zeigt, aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der flache Oberflächenteil (21) der ersten Flanke zu der Oberfläche (23) mit gekrümmter
Form der zweiten Flanke mittels einer dritten dazwischenliegenden Oberfläche (25)
gerundet ist, wobei der Querschnitt der Vorsprünge (14, 15) von einer Breite ist,
die von dem freien Ende in Richtung ihrer Basis zunimmt.
2. Dämmplatte gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweite Flanke der Vorsprünge (14, 15) eine konkave zylindrische Oberfläche (23)
mit einem annähernd konstanten Biegeradius, der mit der Vorderseite der Platte einen
im Wesentlichen rechten Winkel bildend, aufweist.
3. Dämmplatte gemäß Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die konkave zylindrische Oberfläche (23) tangential zu einer konvexen zylindrischen
Oberfläche ist, die den Vorderteil des Vorsprungs bildet, welcher der dritten dazwischenliegenden
rundenden Oberfläche (25) entspricht.
4. Dämmplatte gemäß einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der im Wesentlichen flache Oberflächenteil (21) der Vorsprünge (14, 15) ungefähr
orthogonal zu der jeweiligen seitlichen Oberfläche (7, 9, 11, 13) der Platte ist.
5. Dämmplatte gemäß einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der im Wesentlichen flache Oberflächenteil (21) tangential zu der dritten dazwischenliegenden
Oberfläche (25) ist.
6. Dämmplatte gemäß einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Kanäle (17, 19) einen Querschnitt aufweisen, der im Wesentlichen auf eine umgekehrte
Weise die Form des Querschnitts der Vorsprünge (14, 15) wiedergibt.
7. Platte gemäß einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie wärmedämmend ist.
1. Plaque de recouvrement d'isolation (1) en un matériau expansé destinée à être utilisée
dans le secteur de la construction, comprenant une face arrière (5) devant être disposée
vers le mur à recouvrir, une face avant (3) et des surfaces latérales (7, 9, 11, 13),
à l'intérieur desquelles des saillies linéaires (14, 15) et des canaux (17, 19) sont
formés, lesdites saillies et lesdits canaux étant disposés et formés de manière complémentaire
de sorte à constituer des éléments pour joindre mutuellement des plaques adjacentes,
lesdites saillies (14, 15) présentant un premier flanc donnant sur la face arrière
de la plaque et un second flanc donnant sur la face avant de la plaque, ledit premier
flanc présentant une partie de surface (21) sensiblement plane et presque parallèle
auxdites faces arrière et avant de la plaque, ledit second flanc présentant une partie
de surface (23) inclinée par rapport auxdites faces arrière et avant, ladite partie
de surface inclinée (23) présentant une forme courbée avec une concavité donnant sur
l'extérieur de la saillie (14, 15), caractérisée en ce que ladite partie de surface plane (21) du premier flanc est arrondie vers la surface
(23) dotée de la forme courbée du second flanc au moyen d'une troisième surface intermédiaire
(25), la section transversale desdites saillies (14, 15) possédant une largeur augmentant
de l'extrémité libre à leur base.
2. Plaque d'isolation selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ledit second flanc desdites saillies (14, 15) présente une surface cylindrique concave
(23) avec un rayon de courbure presque constant formant un angle sensiblement droit
avec la face avant de la plaque.
3. Plaque d'isolation selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que ladite surface cylindrique concave (23) est tangentielle à une surface cylindrique
convexe formant la partie avant de ladite saillie correspondant à ladite troisième
surface arrondie intermédiaire (25).
4. Plaque d'isolation selon l'une quelconque ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes,
caractérisée en ce que la partie de surface sensiblement plane (21) desdites saillies (14, 15) est à peu
près orthogonale à la surface latérale respective (7, 9, 11, 13) de la plaque.
5. Plaque d'isolation selon l'une quelconque ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes,
caractérisée en ce que ladite partie de surface sensiblement plane (21) est tangentielle à ladite troisième
surface intermédiaire (25).
6. Plaque d'isolation selon l'une quelconque ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes,
caractérisée en ce que lesdits canaux (17, 19) présentent une section transversale reproduisant sensiblement
de manière inversée la forme de la section transversale desdites saillies (14, 15).
7. Plaque selon l'une quelconque ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce qu'elle est une isolation thermique.