COVERING, FUNCTIONAL ELEMENT FOR A COVERING, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A COVERING

Abstract

In order to control the temperature of a covering, the process of laying a heating line under the individual covering elements is known. However, this leads to various disadvantages. A functional body for a covering is provided which can be temperature-controlled, has an increased stability and is inexpensive to produce. This is achieved in that a bottom side of the functional body can be deposited on a substrate and a top side thereof can be joined together with the covering. The covering may for example be a floor covering, but may also be a wall covering or a cover element, in particular a tile, a glazed tile, a panel or the like for applications for indoor and outdoor regions. A temperature-control means is arranged on or in the top side of the functional body.

Claims

1. A functional body (10) for a covering (11), in particular a floor covering or a wall covering or for a cover element, such as, for example, a tile, a glazed tile or a panel, having a bottom side (13) which can be deposited on a substrate, a top side (12) which can be joined together with the covering (11), and a temperature-control means arranged on or in the top side (12).

2. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a size and a shape of a base area of the functional body (10) at least virtually corresponds to a size and a shape of a base area of the covering (11), or in that a size of the base area of the functional body (10) corresponds to a fraction of the size of the base area of the covering (11).

3. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional body (10) is composed of a heat-insulating material selected from the group consisting of a foam, polystyrene, a plastic, wood fibers, stone wool, glass wool, mineral wool, vacuum insulation panels, and combinations thereof.

4. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer border on the top side (12) of the functional body (10) has a sealing means, namely a sealing surface or a sealing lip, which is preferably self-adhesive and can be brought together with the covering.

5. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising reinforcing elements and/or reinforcement elements composed of plastic, metal or the like that are integrated, preferably incorporated or molded, in the functional body (10), wherein the reinforcing elements and/or reinforcement elements are arranged in corner regions and/or side regions and/or in a cross-like manner over the total area of the functional body (10) and/or areally over the functional body (10) and wherein at least one region, preferably an edge region and/or a corner region (21), in particular all four corner regions (21) of a rectangular functional body (10), of the functional body (10) has a reinforcement, wherein the reinforcement is a, in particular moldable, material such as, for example, resin, mortar or the like, and said reinforcement extends over a total height of the functional body (10) in the functional body (10).

6. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the functional body (10) can be set down with a respective reinforcement on a raised floor support (22), wherein a functional body (10) can be set down with four corner regions (21), which have a reinforcement, on four raised floor supports (22) and/or can be set down with a reinforcement of a central region of the functional body (10) on at least one raised floor support (22).

7. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature-control means is arranged between the covering (11) and the top side (12) of the functional body (10), or in that the temperature-control means is integrated in a top side (12) of the functional body (10), wherein the top side (12) of the functional body (10) is adhesively bonded to the covering (11).

8. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top side (12) of the functional body (10) has at least one, in particular winding or meandering, channel (14) or a honeycomb-like pattern or a profiling with a waffle structure in order to receive the temperature-control means, wherein the channel (14) or the pattern extends over the entire top side (12), wherein the temperature-control means is a heating wire, a pipe for guiding a heating means or cooling means, or the like, which is arranged in the channel (18) or the pattern.

9. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 8, wherein two first ends or connections of the heating wire or of the pipes are led away over a periphery of the functional body (10) and have means, in particular plug-in connectors, clamps, crimp connections, solder connections, valves or the like, for connection to a further cable or to a further pipe, preferably further heating wires or pipes of adjacent functional bodies (10).

10. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bottom side (13) of the functional body (10) has at least one, in particular winding or meandering, channel (18) or a honeycomb-like pattern in order to receive cables of the temperature-control means, wherein the bottom side (13) of the functional body (10) has a symmetrical channel structure in order to receive cable portions of identical length, such that plug-in connections of adjacent functional bodies (10) project to the same extent beyond the respective functional body (10).

11. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein side regions of the functional body (10) have cutouts (19) in order to receive means, in particular plug-in connectors, clamps, crimp connections, solder connections, valves or the like, for connection of a plurality of heating wires or pipes of adjacent functional bodies (10).

12. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature for a covering (11) with a temperature-control means (master) can be set by means of a control unit and coverings (11) (slave) which are also coupled to the covering (11) or to the temperature-control means adapt to said temperature, wherein the temperature of individual coverings (11) or of groups of coverings (11) can be controlled individually by way of the control unit, and/or in that the control unit is connected to at least one sensor means which is integrated in the functional body (10) and/or the covering (11), wherein the temperature of the functional body (10) and/or of the covering (11) can be controlled in dependence on a measurement value of the sensor means, and/or in that the at least one sensor means can be a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor or a pressure sensor, and/or in that further components can be integrated in the functional body (10) and/or in the covering (11), such as, for example, speakers, illuminants, power sockets, network sockets and the like, said components being able to be actuated, in particular individually or in groups, via corresponding lines beneath the covering (11).

13. The functional body (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional bodies (10) are protected by a metal layer or a plastics layer or a shell, in particular a metal or plastics shell.

14. A covering (11), in particular a floor covering or a wall covering or a cover element, such as, for example, a tile, a glazed tile or a panel, a fiber-cement plate, a gypsum plasterboard or a decoupling membrane, one side of which can be joined together with a functional body (10), the functional body (10) having a bottom side (13) which can be deposited on a substrate, a top side (12) which can be joined together with the covering (11), and a temperature-control means arranged on or in the top side (12).

15. A method for producing a covering (11), in particular a floor covering or a wall covering or a cover element, such as, for example, a tile, a glazed tile or a panel, a fiber-cement plate, a gypsum plasterboard or a decoupling membrane, one side of which can be joined together with a functional body (10), the functional body (10) having a bottom side (13) which can be deposited on a substrate, a top side (12) which can be joined together with the covering (11), and a temperature-control means arranged on or in the top side (12), comprising applying a flowable adhesive to a structured functional body (10), in which the temperature-control means is integrated, and the covering (11) is deposited on said functional body (10) which has been provided with adhesive.

16. The method for producing a covering (11) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the covering (11) is deposited on the top side (12) of the functional body (10), said top side being provided with adhesive, and on a seal which runs around the functional body (10), and the functional body (10) is rotated together with the covering (11) in order to dry the adhesive, such that the adhesive dries on a bottom side of the covering (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a view of a top side of a functional body;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a section through a side region of the functional body as per FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a view of a bottom side of the functional body;

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a view of a covering with a functional body on two raised floor supports; and

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a functional body with a covering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a functional body 10. Said functional body 10 can be assigned to virtually any desired covering 11. Said covering may be a floor covering or a wall covering or a cover element, such as, for example, glazed tiles, tiles, panels or the like. A feature of the functional body 10 is that its size and its shape are at least virtually identical to a size and a shape of the covering or of the tile or of the glazed tile. However, said functional body can also be smaller, such that a plurality of functional bodies 10 are assigned to one covering. In a deviation from the square shape illustrated in FIG. 1, the functional body 10 can also have another shape.

[0041] The square functional body 10 has a top side 12 and a bottom side 13. While the bottom side 13 of the functional body 10 can be deposited on a substrate, the top side 12 can be joined together with the covering 11. In general, the functional body 10 is connected to the covering by means of an adhesive. In this case, the functional body can be used as a heat-insulating means for the covering 11. In particular, the choice of material for the functional body 10 provides good thermal insulation. The material provided is thus, for example, polystyrene, foam, plastic, wood fibers, stone wool, glass wool or mineral wool, vacuum insulation panels or the like. The functional body 10 extends at least virtually over the total area of the covering 11 so that the covering 11 is thermally insulated in a uniform manner.

[0042] The present invention also provides that a temperature-control means can be assigned to the top side 12. In this case, said means may for example be a heating wire which is laid in a winding or meandering manner on the top side 12 and specifically in such a way that the entire top side 12 is covered in a thermally uniform manner. This arrangement of the heating wire on the top side 12 likewise makes it possible for the heat energy to be transferred homogeneously to the covering 11. If the heating wire is laid on the top side 12 of the functional body 10, the adhesive is applied between the wires on said top side 12, and therefore the heating wire is enclosed in a sandwich-like manner between the covering 11 and the functional body 10.

[0043] The exemplary embodiment of a functional body 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a winding channel 14. Said channel 14 is used to integrate the heating wire in the functional body 10, specifically in such a way that said wire still lies in the region of the top side 12. During the adhesive bonding of the functional body 10 to the covering 11, the channel 14 is likewise filled with adhesive in order to obtain uniform heating of the covering 11. In addition to the winding channel illustrated here, it is also conceivable for a meandering channel, a honeycomb structure or a profiling with a waffle structure to be arranged in the top side 12. In all of the exemplary embodiments, the temperature-control means or the heating wire is integrated in the pattern or the structure and the resulting intermediate spaces are filled with adhesive.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment of the functional body 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, an encircling groove 15 is assigned to a side region of the top side 12. Said groove 15 or depression, which is illustrated in cross section in FIG. 2, is used to the effect that the functional body 10 can be fixedly connected to the covering 11 in an areal or uniform manner. In particular during the adhesive bonding operation, the groove 15 can be filled with adhesive, thus guaranteeing that at least the encircling side region of the functional body 10 is adhesively bonded to a bottom side of the covering 11.

[0045] The top side 12 has protruding webs 16 between the channels 14, said webs being used, on the one hand, as an adhesive contact area and, on the other hand, for stabilization. Further elements 17 can be provided on said webs 16, said elements being configured for example in the form of protruding nubs which are used as adhesive contact areas. The elements 17 can also be configured in the form of recesses in order to receive a greater amount of adhesive, which is used for making contact with the covering 11.

[0046] The depth or milling depth of the groove 15 can be 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 2 mm. It is necessary for the depth of the channel 14 to be dimensioned in such a way that the heating wire to be inserted can be arranged at least virtually completely in the channel. A preferred depth or milling depth is 2 mm to 6 mm, preferably 5 mm. If the elements 17 are configured in the form of protruding nubs, said nubs project in particular 2 mm to 5 mm, preferably 3 mm, beyond the webs 16.

[0047] A channel 18 is likewise arranged on the bottom side 13 of the functional body 10. Said channel is used to stow connections or cables of the heating wires which lie on the bottom side 13. It is in particular possible for extension cables or connecting elements to be stowed in the channel 18 or in the cutouts 19. Said cutouts 19 are preferably assigned only to the bottom side 13, in order to keep the contact area between the bottom side 13 and the covering 11 to a maximum. As a result of this shape of the functional bodies 10, it is possible for a multiplicity of identical functional bodies 10 to be joined together at a respective covering 11, specifically without significant free spaces arising between the functional bodies 10 or the coverings 11. Provision can also be made for further plug-in connections or control elements for control of the temperature-control means to be able to be positioned in a central aperture 20, which is connected to the channel 18. The channel 18 which is arranged on the bottom side 13 can also be provided with an adhesive in order to hold the heating wire in place.

[0048] According to the invention, a reinforcement which is not visible here can be integrated in the corner regions 21 of the functional body 10. Said reinforcement is positioned in an aperture which preferably extends from the top side 12 as far as the bottom side 13. A moldable substance such as, for example, mortar or resin is suitable as the material. In this case, the reinforcements are to be positioned or formed in such a way that they occupy as small a region as possible of the area of the top side 12. Only in this way is it possible to realize a homogeneous distribution of the heating wire on the top side 12.

[0049] If the bottom side 13 of the functional body 10 is not intended to be deposited directly on a substrate, but rather is to be arranged at a spacing above the substrate by means of raised floor supports 22, the reinforcements in the corner region 21 serve as bearing points for the raised floor supports 22 (FIG. 4). In this case, the raised floor supports 22 are to be assigned to the corner regions 21 in such a way that they can receive a plurality of functional bodies 10 lying next to one another. The reinforcement in the corner regions 21 also makes it possible for the covering 11 to absorb an increased load, specifically without the functional body 10 being deformed in the regions of the reinforcement.

[0050] By way of a further reinforcement or further reinforcing elements in the functional body 10, it is possible to stabilize the functional body 10 in such a way that particularly thin coverings 11 or tiles can also be positioned on a substrate by means of raised floor supports 22.

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a functional body 10. In this case, the bottom side 13 has a uniform pattern of nubs 23. Particularly in the case where the bottom side 13 of the functional bodies 10 is set down on a substrate, the nubs 23 can be used to increase the static friction between the bottom side 13 and the substrate. Moisture can also flow away or circulate between the nubs 23 in a more effective manner, and therefore said nubs 23 provide a drainage action. In addition to the shape of the nubs 23 illustrated here, other shapes such as, for example, webs or polygons are also conceivable.

[0052] The functional body described here is also characterized by a particularly simple and advantageous production method. In the production method, provision can be made for the functional body 10 per se to be formed in a first step. In this case, a base body is initially formed or molded, in particular by machine or by hand, and/or cut to a size and shape that corresponds to the covering 11, and the channel 14 is optionally milled or cut therein. In a further step, the corner regions 21 can be prepared, in particular cuts can be made, in such a way that the moldable material, in particular a mortar or a resin, can be molded into the empty spaces. In a further step, the temperature-control means or the heating wire can be laid in the channel 14. Thereafter, a corresponding adhesive means can be applied to the entire top side 12 of the functional body 10 and the covering 11 can then be placed on the top side 12. As soon as the adhesive means has at least partially dried, the functional body 10, together with the covering, can be turned over and the connecting or coupling means of the temperature-control means or the cables can be stowed, and possibly fixed, in the channels 18 on the bottom side 13 of the functional body 10. As a result, it is possible for a unit to be produced from a covering with a functional body in a kit-like manner by way of a few steps, wherein the functional body can control the temperature of the covering, provides it with additional stability, and also offers the possibility of positioning even thin coverings on a substrate by means of raised floor supports.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0053] 10 Functional body [0054] 11 Covering [0055] 12 Top side [0056] 13 Bottom side [0057] 14 Channel [0058] 15 Groove [0059] 16 Web [0060] 17 Element [0061] 18 Channel [0062] 19 Cutout [0063] 20 Aperture [0064] 21 Corner region [0065] 22 Raised floor support [0066] 23 Nub