Abstract
A new surface covering system (1) comprising a panel (10) and a base (20), suitable for covering at least a portion of a surface of a building or at least being part of a portion of such surface is presented, wherein the panel (10) and the base (20) are provided with complementary mechanical means (30), (40) for removably fixing or securing the panel (10) on the base (20).
Claims
1. A surface covering system, comprising: a panel; and a base, wherein said panel and said base are provided with complementary mechanical means for removably fixing or securing the panel on the base.
2. The surface covering system of claim 1, wherein said complementary mechanical means comprise cavities and protrusions being substantially complementary in shape.
3. The surface covering system according to claim 1, wherein said complementary mechanical means are positioning means for positioning said panel onto said base.
4. The surface covering system according to claim 1, wherein said complementary mechanical means provide locking in a direction parallel to said base as well as in a direction perpendicular to said base.
5. The surface covering system according to claim 1 wherein the material making up said panel is chosen from the group consisting of carpeting, PVC, linoleum, caoutchouc, rubber, cork, powders, wood, paper, rock materials, laminates, and ceramics.
6. A floor, wall, ceiling or other surface of a building comprising one or more surface covering systems according to claim 1.
7. An installation method for a surface covering system according to claim 1 comprising: a. placing a base onto a surface to be covered, said base having a side facing said surface to be covered, and mechanical means on the opposite side; b. mounting a panel having mechanical means complementary to said mechanical means of said base, onto said base thereby removably fixing or securing said panel to said base.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional schematic of various embodiments in accordance with the invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention in perspective view.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in perspective view.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows another alternative embodiment of the present invention in cross sectional and perspective view.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows various embodiments of the complementary mechanical means, in perspective (a), (b), (c3), or top (c2) or cross sectional (c1) view, in accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment in accordance with the present invention, in perspective view, wherein the base is incorporated in the surface to be covered.
[0025] FIG. 7 shows an even further embodiment in accordance with the present invention in perspective view.
[0026] FIG. 8 shows further various embodiments of the complementary mechanical means, illustrating (a) a horizontal lock, and (b) a combination of a horizontal and a vertical lock, in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Throughout the description the use of complementary mechanical means for removably fixing or securing of elements is discussed. Indeed when one mechanical means for removably fixing or securing is foreseen in a first element, the second element to which the first element must be removably fixed or secured is provided with another mechanical means which is complementary in nature, hence said mechanical means are denoted complementary mechanical means throughout the description. Removably is meant to be the opposite of permanent (e.g. by use of glue). Removably may include a smooth way of fixing or securing but alternatively also a click approach. Moreover, removably is also referring to the modular aspect of the surface covering system created. A kind of plug-and-play is generated due to the complementary mechanical means provided with the system. Hence, different type of panels provided with the mechanical means can be easily removed, replaced or installed elsewhere or being replaced by others. Explicitly exluded from the present invention as mechanical means is velcro-type fasteners.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows various embodiments in accordance with the invention. Each of the embodiments depicted by FIG. 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 1e respectively, represent either two or three parts 5 showing the layer connecting structure of a surface covering system 1 in cross sectional view. While FIG. 1b, 1c and 1e show a basic scheme with a panel 10 and a base 20 with complementary mechanical means 30, 40, FIG. 1a and 1d both show an alternative scheme wherein the panel 10 comprises a core part 50 and a décor layer 60. Actually designating which part 5 belongs to the panel 10 and which part 5 belongs to the base 20 is arbitrary as long as it is clear that at least two parts 5 are removably fixed or secured by use of the complementary mechanical means 30, 40. In case multiple parts 5 are present (as in FIG. 1a and 1d) they can be further removably fixed or secured, again by complementary mechanical means 30, 40 (which not necessarily have to be the same as previous ones mentioned) or by known adhesive means like glue. FIG. 1 shows embodiments where the base 20 is essentially completely covered by the corresponding portion, represented by matching panel, on top of it, whenever the parts 5 are fixed or secured, meaning that there is no space in between while considering a cross section.
[0029] The panel 10 in itself may be suited on one end to serve as décor 80 (FIG. 1b, 1c and 1e) or a designed décor layer 60 may be exposed (FIG. 1a and 1d). In case one of the panel's surfaces serves as décor 80, the panel 10 is e.g. developed by means of additive manufacturing as commonly known, and thereby all functionalities of the panel 10 are represented by the core part 50. Typical panel materials, i.e. materials used for the core part 50 are e.g. (bio)composites, wood or wood fibers and plastics, whereas typical décor or décor layers are made of carpeting, PVC, linoleum, caoutchouc, rubber, cork, powders, wood, paper, rock materials, laminates, or ceramics. Any of these may be fiber reinforced or reinforced by any other method as known in the art.
[0030] The base 20 may be a stand-alone part, rigid or flexible, to be mounted onto the surface to be covered, or else, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the base 20, 20′ may be incorporated in the surface 2 to be covered thereby represented by the surface top layer, i.e. being exposed before any surface covering is applied. As depicted in FIG. 6, the mechanical means 40, 40′ can be provided as either cavities within or protrusions onto the respective base 20, 20′. In case of mounting the base 20 onto the surface 2 to be covered, a base material, shape and size are particulary chosen or designed, such that an adhesive between the base 20 and the surface may no longer be necessary. Typical base materials are e.g. (bio)composites, wood or wood fibers and plastics, whereas typical shapes used are rectangular, square or triangular formed plates or mats or blocks or panels or any other 3D structure having a substantially plane surface on one side to be attached to the surface 2 to be covered, and having an opposing surface comprising mechanical means on the other side in order to match complementary mechanical means of one or more corresponding panels. Furthermore, having the base 20 already integrated in the surface 2 to be covered, which is typically achieved by means of additive manufacturing as known in the art, an adhesive has become completely redundant. The base material being part of the surface 2 to be covered may be e.g. (bio)composites, wood or wood fibers and plastics, but also concrete, or chape, or PUR (polyurethaan).
[0031] The perspective view of FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the surface covering system 1 wherein the complementary mechanical means 30, 40 are represented as 3D shapes, more particularly a grid structure is shown with ribs 40 protruding from the base 20 and whereby corresponding inverse ribs or sleeves 30 are provided in the core part 50 of the panel 10. According to FIG. 2, the panel 10 is a two-layer squared structure comprising also a décor layer 60. Further this embodiment illustrates a plurality of panels 10, laid out next to each other in a contiguous way, in particular with no connection between their standing edges 55 being required as they are removably fixed or secured via the base 20.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment, illustrating that the panels 10 do not need to be the same in shape but contiguous in shape to achieve covering of a surface by laying out the suitable panels 10 adjacent to each other. As depicted here, the panels 10 can be rectangular, squared, triangular or other polygon-formed plates or mats or blocks or panels or any other 3D plate-like structure having a décor layer 60 or a surface acting as décor 80 on one side to be exposed, and having a surface comprising mechanical means 30 on the other side in order to match complementary mechanical means 40 of a corresponding base 20. Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the panels 10 may have different sizes, in other words representing large or either small pieces of base covering.
[0033] Note here in FIG. 3 also the dimensions or shape of the mechanical means 30, 40. The complementarity of the mechanical means 30, 40 must be such that when placed together lead to removably fixing or securing, however no movement of the panel 10 along the base surface is possible, i.e. a lock parallel to the base is generated. In other words due to protrusions 40 extending from the base 20 and fitting cavities 30 provided in the core part 50 of the panel 10, in shape or size and position, the panel 10 and the base 20 are connected by means of the complementary mechanical means 30, 40. A panel 10 is fixed or secured to the base 20 due to a pressure force applied onto the composite layer structure of the surface covering system 1. The complementary character does not imply that the mechanical means 30, 40 entirely map in shape and size e.g. as shown in FIG. 1, where no spaces are observed between the layer connections or mechanical means 30, 40 when the parts 5 are fixed or secured. A perfect mapping of the positions of the complementary mechanical means 30, 40 however, is always mandatory in order to fix or secure the parts 5 together and generate smoothly covered surfaces. FIG. 3 demonstrates a non-entirely mapping embodiment, while the protrusions 40 extending from the base 20 show a rail structure, whereas the cavities 30 foreseen in the core part 50 of the panel 10 represent a grid structure. The protruding rails 40 correspond to sleeves 30a along the same surface direction of the grid matrix in the core part 50, although spaces are left when the panels 10 are fixed or secured, due to sleeves 30b in a surface direction perpendicular to the direction along rails 40, respectively sleeves 30a, of the non-entirely mapping mechanical means 40, 30. Therefore when stipulating that the base 20 is essentially completely covered by the corresponding portion on top of it (when the parts are fixed or secured), the panels 10 are not floating above the base 20 except for some supports. More specifically, there is no space in between (when considering a cross section) except for either the non-entirely mapping aspects of the mechanical means 30, 40 and/or for some predetermined spaces foreseen in the base 20 and/or core parts 50 of the panels 10 suitable for placing electric or other connections. These other connections referred to, can for instance provide for other utilities than electricity, such as (part of) isolation, heating or air conditioning infrastructures, or even acoustic (e.g. sound) or waterproof functionalities can be interpreted here.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment wherein the mechanical means 40 are protrusions on a base 20, being a basemat, i.e. preferably made out of flexible material such as rubber. In the cross sectional view of FIG. 4a, as well as in the perspective view of FIG. 4b, the composite structure of the surface covering system 1 is clearly depicted, comprising respectively a basemat and panel elements A and B, which in turn both have a coreboard as core part 50 and a décor layer 60. The protrusions 40 are cylindrically shaped and extending perpedicularly from the base 20, and further map being complementary with corresponding cylidrical holes 30, provided in the respective coreboard 50 of the panel elements A and B. The cylindrical shapes of the protrusions 40 match with the cylinder holes 30 in shape, size and position, such that when a pressure force is applied onto the different layers defining the composite structure, the complementary mechanical means 30, 40 as well as the layers' surfaces are fully connected and hence no spaces are left between any of the different layers nor of the complementary mechanical means 30, 40.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 5, showing various embodiments of the complementary mechanical means 30, 40, in perspective view (a), (b), (c3), or top view (c2) or either cross sectional (c1) view, in accordance with the present invention, the removable aspect of the complementary mechanical means 30, 40, including a smooth way of fixing or securing, may comprise a click approach.
[0036] The panel 10 shown in FIG. 7 has a surface side serving as décor 80 made visible in the drawing, whereas the other panel side provided with complementary mechanical means 30 is not depicted in this perspective view. The mechanical means 40 mounted onto the base 20 at particular positions in a kind of ordered matrix structure, are partially visible. These mechanical means 40 comprise protrusions, e.g. a set of 4 protrusions per mechanical means 40, are used to fit within the cavities provided in the panel surface (not shown).
[0037] In FIG. 8 further embodiments of complementary mechanical means 30, 40 are illustrated schematically. With FIG. 8a, a horizontal lock is shown, meaning that the panel 10 can no longer be moved in a horizontal (parallel to the base 20) direction, still can easily be lifted in a vertical (perpendicular to the base 20) direction. A combination of a horizontal/parallel and a vertical/perpendicular lock is shown in FIG. 8b.
[0038] Further aspects of the invention are now discussed.
[0039] The technique as described according to the present invention of a surface covering system 1 comprising a panel 10 and a base 20, suitable for covering surfaces, and characterized by the fact that the panel 10 and the base 20 are provided with complementary mechanical means 30, 40 for removably fixing or securing the panel 10, may also be applied to surfaces in a building representing e.g. the doors of a built-in cupboard. Moreover, the surfaces to be covered with the surface covering system 1 according to the invention, could be the inner or outer walls of a cupboard, or of another interior closet-alike object, or even of a vehicle for special purposes.
[0040] Being applicable to the embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, an installation method for generating a surface covering system 1 according to the present invention is described comprising of the following steps: [0041] Optionally clearing, cleaning and substantially smoothing the surface 2 to be covered; [0042] Placing a base 20 onto the surface 2 to be covered, preferably having a substantially plane surface on one side facing the surface 2 to be covered, and provided with mechanical means 40 on the opposite surface; [0043] Mounting a panel 10, having mechanical means 30 complementary to the mechanical means 40 of the base 20, onto the base 20 thereby removably fixing or securing the panel 10 to the base 20.
[0044] Referring particularly to FIGS. 1a, 1d, 2, 3 and 4, the panel 10 is a two-layer structure comprising a core part 50 and a décor layer 60. For these specific embodiments, the description of the installation method can be extended with constituting the panel 10 before it is mounted as a whole, or either can be amended while mounting the panel 10 by assembling layer per layer, i.e. first the core part 50 is mounted onto the base 20, followed by the décor layer 60 being mounted onto the core part 50. The mounting of the décor layer 60 onto the core part 50 can either be done by using again complementary mechanical means 30, 40, or by using an adhesive such as glue.
[0045] Referring particularly to FIGS. 1b, 1c and 1e, the panel 10 is represented as a one-layer structure having a décor surface side and an opposing surface side comprising complementary mechanical means 30. In this case the panel 10 is possibly developed by additive manufacturing as known from the art, and hence an additional step describing the additive manufacturing of the panel 10 as one part can be added to the installation method, before step of mounting the panel 10 onto the base 20.
[0046] Referring particularly to FIG. 6, illustrating part of a building area, the base 20 can be incorporated in the surface 2 to be covered, e.g. realized by additive manufacturing. In this particular case, an amendment in the installation method is required, whereas the step of placing the base 20 onto the surface is no longer necessary, and hence this step can be deleted, taking into account that the surface 2 to be covered is then provided with the mechanical means 40 as exposed.
