COVERING ELEMENT FOR A FLOOR COVERING

Abstract

A covering element for a floor covering comprising an upper surface having a relief structure, wherein the relief structure comprises excavations having a depth decreasing towards at least one perimetric edge of the covering element.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A covering element for a floor covering, the covering element comprising: an upper surface having a relief structure; and a plurality of edges, wherein the relief structure comprises a plurality of excavations comprising a bottom surface and a depth, and wherein the depth of the excavations decreases towards at least an edge of the covering element.

17. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the excavations comprise a depth that decreases from a first edge of the covering element towards an opposite edge of the covering element.

18. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the excavations comprise a depth that decreases from a central portion of the upper surface towards the edges of the covering element.

19. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the excavations are interconnected with each other.

20. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the relief structure further comprises tops placed substantially at a same height, and wherein the tops define a walkable plane.

21. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the covering element is at least partially made of a ceramic material.

22. The covering element according to claim 21, wherein the upper surface comprises a glaze covering.

23. The covering element according to claim 16 further comprising a support and a covering that covers the upper surface, and wherein the relief structure is provided in the support.

24. The covering element according to claim 16 further comprising a support and a covering that covers the upper surface, and wherein the relief structure is provided in the covering.

25. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the excavations have a maximum depth greater than 0.5 mm.

26. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the relief structure comprises a wood pattern, a stone pattern or a cement pattern.

27. The covering element according to claim 16 further comprising a lower surface comprising a second relief structure that is substantially specular to the relief structure of the upper surface.

28. A set comprising a plurality of covering elements according to claim 16.

29. The set according to claim 28, wherein in a flanked configuration of two covering elements, the excavations of the respective relief structures are interconnected with each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a covering element 1.

[0036] FIG. 2 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane II-II of FIG. 1.

[0037] FIG. 3 is an enlargement of the cross section indicated by F3 in FIG. 2.

[0038] FIG. 4 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane II-II of FIG. 1 in an alternative embodiment.

[0039] FIG. 5 is an axonometric view of a covering element according to a further embodiment.

[0040] FIG. 6 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane VI-VI of FIG. 5.

[0041] FIG. 7 is an enlargement of the cross section indicated by F7 in FIG. 6.

[0042] FIG. 8 is an enlargement of the cross section indicated by F8 in FIG. 6.

[0043] FIG. 9 is an axonometric view of a raised floor covering comprising a plurality of the covering elements of FIG. 1.

[0044] FIG. 10 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane X-X of FIG. 9.

[0045] FIG. 11 is an axonometric view of a set comprising at least a pair of covering elements according to the example shown in FIG. 1.

[0046] FIG. 12 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane XII-XII of FIG. 11.

THE BEST EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0047] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a covering element 1. The covering element 1 is rectangular in shape and is substantially flat. The covering element 1 has an upper surface 2 and a lower surface 3, as well as longitudinal side edges 4 and transverse side edges 4′. The upper surface 2 forms a decorative surface of the covering element 1.

[0048] In the preferred example shown in the figures, the covering element 1 comprises a support 5 made of ceramic material, for example porcelaneous stoneware. It should be noted that there is no reason why, in other examples, the support 5 should not be made of other materials, for example polymer materials such as PVC, artificial stone, natural stone, laminate or fibre-cement.

[0049] The upper surface 2 has a relief structure 8 comprising recesses or excavations 9 and protrusions 10. The excavations 9 are open on the side edges 4 of the covering element 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the excavations 9 are transverse grooves. The excavations 9 substantially define channels, each having a first and a second end 11, 12, wherein said second end 12 is located substantially on a longitudinal side edge 4 of the covering element 1. Additionally, said second end 12 is located at a lower level than said first end 11. Thus the water or any other fluid that may be deposited on the upper surface 2 of the covering element 1 would run off by gravity from said upper surface 2 in the run-off direction D from the first end 11 to the second end 12 of the excavations.

[0050] In the example of FIG. 1, the run-off direction D extends from one longitudinal edge 4 towards the opposite longitudinal edge 4.

[0051] FIG. 2 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane II-II of FIG. 1.

[0052] The covering element 1 has a thickness S of between 5 and 30 mm, preferably 20 mm.

[0053] The excavations 9 have a depth P that decreases towards one of the side edges 4 of the covering element 1; that is to say, the depth P of the excavations 9 is smaller at the first end 11 and greater at the second end 12. For example, the bases of said excavations have an inclination that descends towards a perimetric edge 4 of the covering element 1, that is to say from the first to the second end 11, 12. Said inclination is indicated in FIG. 1 by the angle I.

[0054] The depth P may reach maximum values of more than 0.5 mm, or preferably more than 0.8 mm, for example more than 1 mm. In particular, the depth of the excavations may have a fall, that is to say the difference between the depths of the first and second end 11, 12, of more than 0.5 mm, or preferably more than 0.8 mm, for example more than 1 mm.

[0055] The protrusions 10 of the relief structure comprise peaks (or vertices) 13 located substantially at the same height, forming a floor. In practice, the peaks 13 are located at the same height Q relative to the lower surface 3 of the covering element 1.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows an enlargement of the cross section indicated by F3 in FIG. 2.

[0057] The covering element 1 comprises a covering 6 of the upper surface 2, particularly a covering that can cover the upper surface of the support 5.

[0058] The covering 6 comprises a background covering 14 and a protective covering 15 placed on top of the background covering 14. The background covering 14 comprises, for example, a uniformly coloured glaze capable of covering the colour of the support 5 and providing a background colour for a pattern 7. The protective covering 15 is preferably a transparent or translucent glaze which protects the pattern 7 while still providing visibility. Additionally, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the pattern 7 comprises a print, for example a digital print, applied on the background covering 14 and under the protective covering.

[0059] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the relief structure 8 is formed in the support 5 and appears through the covering 6.

[0060] FIG. 4 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane II-II of FIG. 1 in an alternative embodiment.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the lower surface 3 of the covering element 1 comprises a second relief structure 8′. In the illustrated example, the second relief structure 8′ is substantially specular to the relief structure 8 of the upper surface 2.

[0062] FIG. 5 is an axonometric view of a covering element 1 according to an alternative example, in which the run-off direction D extends from a central portion of the covering element 1 to the side edges 4, in a substantially radial manner.

[0063] In the illustrated example, the relief structure 8 is formed by a plurality of protrusions 10 of substantially cylindrical shape, equidistant from one another, while the excavations 9 are defined by the spaces between said protrusions. The bases of said excavations 9 are inclined from the central portion to the side edges 4 of the covering element 1.

[0064] It should also be noted that, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the excavations 9 are interconnected with one another with fluid communication; that is to say, a fluid can flow freely from one excavation 9 to another. In fact, according to the example, the spaces between the protrusions 10 form a grid of excavations 9 allowing the water to run off.

[0065] FIG. 6 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane VI-VI of FIG. 5.

[0066] The excavations 9 have a depth P that decreases from a central portion of the upper surface 2 towards opposite side edges 4 of the covering element 1. In other words, the base 13 of each of the excavations 9 has an inclination I descending towards a respective perimetric edge 4 of the covering element 1. Here again, the first end 11 of each of the excavations 9 is placed near the central portion of the covering element 1, while the second end 12 is located on a respective side edge 4.

[0067] FIG. 6 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane II-II of an alternative covering element of FIG. 1.

[0068] FIG. 9 is an axonometric view of a raised floor covering 17 comprising a plurality of the covering elements 1 of FIG. 1.

[0069] The raised floor covering 17 comprises supporting elements 18 capable of keeping the covering elements 1 raised relative to an underlying surface 19 so as to form a cavity 20 where the water running off the covering elements 1 can be collected.

[0070] FIG. 10 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane X-X of FIG. 9.

[0071] The side edges 4 of two adjacent covering elements 1 are located at a distance S from one another so as to define a passage space 21 allowing access to the cavity 20, so that the water can flow from the upper surface 2 to the cavity 20.

[0072] FIG. 11 is an axonometric view of a set 21 comprising at least a pair of covering elements 1 and 1′ according to the example shown in FIG. 1.

[0073] By way of example, in FIG. 12 the covering elements 1.1′ of the set 21 are laid on the underlying surface 19, by means of suitable adhesives for example.

[0074] The covering elements 1, 1′ of the set are such that, when two of said covering elements 1, 1′ are adjacent, the relief structures 8 are in fluid communication with one another.

[0075] FIG. 12 is an enlargement of the cross section taken through the plane XII-XII of FIG. 11.

[0076] The side edges 4 of two adjacent covering elements 1′, 1″ are separated by a drain F formed by a filler. In other embodiments, the side edges 4 of the covering elements 1′, 1″ may be placed in contact with one another, substantially without any drain F.

[0077] In the example, the set 21 comprises a first covering element 1′, whose excavations 9′, in the form of transverse grooves, each comprise a first and a second end 11′, 12′ open at the longitudinal edges 4. Similarly, a second covering element 1′ comprises excavations 9″, in the form of transverse grooves, each having a first and a second end 11″, 12″ open at the longitudinal edges 4.

[0078] The first end 11″ of the excavations 9″ of the second covering element 1″ is located at a level substantially higher or lower than the level at which the first end 11′ of the excavations 9′ of the second covering element 1′ is located, so that the water can flow in the direction of advance D, in a substantially continuous way, between the relief structures 8 of the covering elements 1′,1″ of the set 21.

[0079] The present invention is not in any way limited to the embodiments described above, and said covering elements and systems may be constructed according to different variants without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.