Method for making aluminium section fittings for floors

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for making aluminium section fittings for floors.

[0002] As is known, in making large area surface floors, section fittings for joining the floor portions are conventionally used.

[0003] For example, are herein used the so-called dilating joints to compensate for any deformations caused by temperature and moisture variations, and are further used other joints to connect floor portions arranged at different levels.

[0004] The document WO 01/20101 A1, which is the most pertinent prior art document, discloses substantially the preamble of claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to provide such a section fitting making method allowing to make section fittings having improved aesthetic and functional characteristics, that is constructional and aesthetic characteristics greatly improved with respect to those of existing section fittings.

[0006] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a method allowing to make faced or "ennobled" aluminium section fittings.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a method allowing to easily and quickly make section fittings which, owing to their specifically designed constructional features, are very reliable and safe in operation.

[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a method which can be carried out starting from easily commercially available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a method for making aluminium section fittings for floors according to claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dilating section fitting for floors;

Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the dilating section fitting of the preceding figure, including the coating according to the invention;

Figure 3 is yet another perspective view of a portion of a floor, showing the dilating section fitting in its assembled condition;

Figure 4 is yet another perspective view of a hanging section fitting;

Figure 5 is yet another perspective view of the hanging section fitting shown in the preceding figure, including the coating according to the present invention; and

Figure 6 is yet another perspective view of a floor portion showing a hanging section fitting in an assembled condition thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the method for making aluminium section fittings for floor according to the present invention, has been specifically designed for making, by coating operations, aluminium section fittings for floors, such as dilating section fittings, of the type shown in figures 1-3, hanging section fittings, of the type shown in figures 4-6, C section fittings, stepped section fittings, as well as yet other application section fittings.

[0012] More specifically, the method according to the present invention, comprises a starting step of making a raw section fitting, by a die extruding operation, thereby providing an extruded section fitting having any desired or target shape and cross section.

[0013] The figures show, by way of an example, a dilating section fitting 1 and a hanging section fitting 3.

[0014] Then, as a second or further operating step, the method provides to coat the extruded section fitting by a coating natural and/or pre-composite coating veneer.

[0015] To perform the above coating step, are herein preferably used coating veneers having a thickness of 4/10 mm, and made of any desired veneer material, such as: maple, walnut, cherry tree, beech-wood, wengé, teak, ebony, bamboo, zebrano and so on.

[0016] Alternately, it is possible to coat the above aluminium section fittings also by using synthetic materials, such as coating papers and PVC, polypropylene and so on.

[0017] More specifically, it is herein preferred to use a premium flexible paper material, having a thickness of. 1/10 mm, with a wood-like pattern, in several colors and essences, but also with fancy and different finishings (colors, metals, fibers and so on).

[0018] In the figures, the natural wood or paper coating layer has been generally indicated by the reference number 2.

[0019] A third operating step of the inventive method provides to bond or connect the extruded section fitting and wood veneer material by glueing them, by a PUR based hotmelt adhesive material, that is an inactivated mixture of polyurethane, which is hot applied on the extruded section fitting, at a temperature of about 100/140°C.

[0020] The above adhesive material, differently from those based on EVA and containing thermoplastics resin, will cross-link thereby providing a unfusible polyurethane molecule.

[0021] An example of a preferred adhesive comprises that adhesive material commercially called EP 12 602.00, made by the company Jowatherm-Reaktant.

[0022] The inventive method further comprises a fourth operating step to perform a painting operating cycle, carried out by applying an insulating acrylic primer and two further coats of a transparent mat anti-scratching polyurethane "diamond" material.

[0023] The insulating acrylic primer comprises preferably a two-component polyurethane paint, that is a hydroxylated and an isocyanatic part.

[0024] By the above painting cycle, a product having a trampling resistance class corresponding to AC4 is thereby made.

[0025] A last operating step of the inventive method comprises applying a transparent protective film, generally indicated by the reference number 4 in the figures.

[0026] Thus, by applying the above transparent or clear protective film, it is possible to protect the decorated or patterned part of the section fitting, to prevent the latter from being damaged in shipment and cutting operations.

[0027] The used protective film, in other words, will provide a mean for preserving the aesthetic properties of the above made section fitting.

[0028] It has been practically found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0029] In fact, the invention provides a method allowing to easily and inexpensively make floor aluminium section fittings having improved technical and aesthetic characteristics.

[0030] In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, according to requirements.

Claims

1. A method for making extruded aluminium section fittings (1, 3) for floors, said method comprising the steps of:

a) making an aluminium raw section fitting by an aluminium die extruding operation, to provide an aluminium section fitting having any desired shape and cross-section;

b) coating said section fitting by a coating veneer consisting of either a natural and/or pre-composite or synthetic material, such as paper, PVC and polypropylene;

c) glueing by a hotmelt adhesive material the section fitting and coating veneer;

characterized in that said method comprises the further steps of:

d) applying to the coating veneer a protective paint; and

e) applying to the painted veneer a further temporary transparent protective film, and

f) that said hotmelt adhesive material is an inactivated polyurethane mixture based hotmelt adhesive material, which is hot applied on said section fitting at a temperature of about 100/140°C, causing said adhesive material to cross-link to provide unmeltable polyurethane molecules.

2. A method, according to claim 1, characterized in that said coating step is performed by using natural coating veneer materials having a thickness of 4/10 mm made of natural coating material essences, such as maple, walnut, cherry tree, beechwood, wengé, teak, ebony, bamboo and zebrano.

3. A method, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said coating step is performed by using a synthetic premium flexible paper coating veneer material, having a thickness of 1/10 mm, with wood-like patterns, in several colors and essences, as well as with different fancy and finishings.

4. A method, according to claim 1, characterized in that said hotmelt adhesive material comprises an adhesive compound commercially available, under the trade name EP 12 602.00, from the company Jowatherm-Reaktant.

5. A method, according to claim 1, characterized in that said painting step is performed by using an insulating acrylic primer and two coats of a mat clear anti-scratching polyurethane "diamond" material.

6. A method, according to claim 5, characterized in that said insulating acrylic primer comprises a two-component polyurethane paint material including an hydroxylate part and an isocyanate part.

7. A method, according to claim 1, characterized in that said painting step provides a painted section fitting meeting the trampling resistance requirements of the AC4 class.

8. A method, according to claim 1, characterized in that said protective transparent or clear film is adapted to protect said section fitting from damages susceptible to occur in shipment and cutting operations.

9. An aluminium section fitting (1, 3) for floors, said section fitting being coated with a coating veneer consisting of either a natural and/or pre-composite or synthetic material, such as paper, PVC and polypropylene, the coating veneer being glued onto the section fitting by means of a hotmelt adhesive material, characterized in that said aluminium section fitting is made by a method according to claims 1 to 8, said hotmelt adhesive material being an inactivated polyurethane mixture based hotmelt adhesive material, which has been hot applied on said section fitting at a temperature of about 100/140°C, causing said adhesive material to cross-link to provide unmeltable polyurethane molecules, the coating veneer being coated with a protective paint and the painted veneer being coated with a further temporary transparent protective film.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zur Herstellung von stranggepressten Aluminium-Profilanschlussstücken (1, 3) für Böden, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfasst:

a) das Herstellen eines Aluminium-Rohprofilanschlussstücks durch einen Aluminium-Matrizenstrangpressvorgang, um ein Aluminium-Profilanschlussstück bereitzustellen, das eine(n) beliebige (n) gewünschte (n) Form und Querschnitt hat,

b) das Beschichten des Profilanschlussstücks durch ein Beschichtungsfurnier, das entweder aus einem natürlichen und/oder aus einem Vorverbund- oder synthetischen Material, wie beispielsweise Papier, PVC und Polypropylen, besteht,

c) das Verkleben des Profilanschlussstücks und des Beschichtungsfurniers durch ein Schmelzklebstoffmaterial,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verfahren die folgenden weiteren Schritte umfasst:

d) das Aufbringen eines Schutzanstrichs auf das Beschichtungsfurnier und

e) das Aufbringen eines weiteren zeitweiligen transparenten Schutzfilms auf das angestrichene Furnier, und

f) dass das Schmelzklebstoffmaterial ein Schmelzklebstoffmaterial auf Grundlage eines inaktivierten Polyurethangemischs ist, das bei einer Temperatur von etwa 100/140°C heiß auf das Profilanschlussstück aufgebracht wird, was bewirkt, dass sich das Klebstoffmaterial vernetzt, um unschmelzbare Polyurethanmoleküle bereitzustellen.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Beschichtungsschritt ausgeführt wird durch die Verwendung von natürlichen Beschichtungsfurniermaterialien, die eine Dicke von 4/10 mm haben, hergestellt aus natürlichen Beschichtungsmaterialarten, wie beispielsweise Ahorn, Walnuss, Kirschbaum, Buchenholz, Wengé, Teak, Ebenholz, Bambus und Zebrano.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Beschichtungsschritt ausgeführt wird durch die Verwendung eines synthetischen hochwertigen flexiblen Papier-Beschichtungsfurniermaterials, das eine Dicke von 1/10 mm hat, mit holzartigen Mustern, in unterschiedlichen Farben und Arten, sowie mit unterschiedlichen Dessins und Veredelungen.

4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Schmelzklebstoffmaterial eine Klebstoffverbindung umfasst, die unter dem Handelsnamen EP 12 602.00 von der Firma Jowatherm-Reaktant im Handel erhältlich ist.

5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Anstrichschritt ausgeführt wird durch die Verwendung einer isolierenden Acrylgrundierung und zwei Schichten eines matten klaren Kratzschutz-Polyurethan-"Diamant"-Materials.

6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die isolierende Acrylgrundierung ein Zweikomponenten-Polyurethan-Anstrichmaterial umfasst, das einen Hydroxylat-Teil und einen Isocyanat-Teil einschließt.

7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Anstrichschritt ein angestrichenes Profilanschlussstück bereitstellt, das die Trittbeständigkeitsanforderungen der Klasse AC4 erfüllt.

8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der transparente oder klare Schutzfilm dafür eingerichtet ist, das Profilanschlussstück vor Beschädigungen zu schützen, die wahrscheinlich bei Versand- und Schneidevorgängen auftreten.

9. Aluminium-Profilanschlussstück (1, 3) für Böden, wobei das Profilanschlussstück mit einem Beschichtungsfurnier beschichtet ist, das entweder aus einem natürlichen und/oder aus einem Vorverbund- oder synthetischen Material, wie beispielsweise Papier, PVC und Polypropylen, besteht, wobei das Beschichtungsfurnier mit Hilfe eines Schmelzklebstoffmaterials auf das Profilanschlussstück geklebt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Aluminium-Profilanschlussstück durch ein Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8 hergestellt ist, wobei das Schmelzklebstoffmaterial ein Schmelzklebstoffmaterial auf Grundlage eines inaktivierten Polyurethangemischs ist, das bei einer Temperatur von etwa 100/140°C, heiß auf das Profilanschlussstück aufgebracht worden ist, was bewirkt, dass sich das Klebstoffmaterial vernetzt, um unschmelzbare Polyurethanmoleküle bereitzustellen, wobei das Beschichtungsfurnier mit einem Schutzanstrich beschichtet ist und das beschichtete Furnier mit einem weiteren zeitweiligen transparenten Schutzfilm beschichtet ist.

Revendications

1. Procédé de fabrication de profilés en aluminium extrudés (1, 3) pour planchers, ledit procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes :

a) la fabrication d'un profilé brut d'aluminium grâce à une opération d'extrusion d'aluminium, afin d'obtenir un profilé d'aluminium ayant n'importe quelle forme et n'importe quelle section désirées ;

b) le revêtement dudit profilé par un placage de revêtement consistant en une matière naturelle et/ou pré-composite ou synthétique, telle que le papier, le PVC et le polypropylène ;

c) l'encollage du profilé avec une matière adhésive thermofusible et placage d'un revêtement;

caractérisé en ce que ledit procédé comprend les autres étapes suivantes :

d) l'application d'une peinture protectrice sur le placage de revêtement ; et

e) l'application d'un autre film protecteur transparent provisoire sur le placage peint, et

f) en ce que ladite matière adhésive thermofusible est une matière adhésive thermofusible à base de mélange de polyuréthane inactivé qui est appliquée à chaud sur ledit profilé à une température d'environ 100/140 °C, ce qui provoque la réticulation de ladite matière adhésive afin d'obtenir des molécules de polyuréthane non liquéfiable.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite étape de revêtement est réalisée en utilisant des matières de placage de revêtement naturelles ayant une épaisseur de 4/10 mm constituées d'essences formant matières de revêtement naturelles telles que l'érable, le noyer, le cerisier, le hêtre, le wengé, le teck, l'ébène, le bambou et le zebrano.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite étape de revêtement est réalisée en utilisant une matière de placage de revêtement en papier synthétique souple de première qualité ayant une épaisseur de 1/10 mm, avec des motifs ressemblant au bois, en plusieurs couleurs et essences, ainsi qu'avec différents décors et différentes finitions.

4. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite matière adhésive thermofusible comprend un composé adhésif disponible dans le commerce sous la marque commerciale EP 12 602.00, auprès de la société Jowatherm-Reaktant.

5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite étape de peinture est réalisée en utilisant une couche primaire isolante en acrylique et deux couches d'une matière de type « Diamant » en polyuréthane anti-rayure incolore mat.

6. Procédé selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ladite couche primaire isolante en acrylique comprend une peinture polyuréthane à deux composants comprenant une partie hydroxylate et une partie isocyanate.

7. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite étape de peinture donne un profilé peint qui est conforme aux exigences en matière de résistance au piétinement de la classe AC4.

8. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit film protecteur transparent ou incolore est conçu pour protéger ledit profilé contre les détériorations susceptibles de se produire lors des opérations de découpe et d'expédition.

9. Profilé en aluminium (1, 3) pour planchers, ledit profilé étant revêtu d'un placage de revêtement consistant en une matière naturelle et/ou pré-composite ou synthétique, telle que le papier, le PVC et le polypropylène, le placage de revêtement étant collé sur le profilé au moyen d'une matière adhésive thermofusible, caractérisé en ce que ledit profilé en aluminium est fabriqué grâce à un procédé selon les revendications 1 à 8, ladite matière adhésive thermofusible étant une matière adhésive thermofusible à base de mélange de polyuréthane inactivé qui a été appliquée à chaud sur ledit profilé à une température d'environ 100/140 °C, ce qui provoque la réticulation de ladite matière adhésive afin d'obtenir des molécules de polyuréthane non liquéfiable, le placage de revêtement étant lui-même revêtu d'une peinture protectrice et le placage peint étant revêtu d'un autre film protecteur transparent provisoire.

Drawing