COVERING ELEMENT FOR RAISED FLOOR SYSTEMS, AND RAISED FLOOR SYSTEM

Abstract

A covering element for raised floors, comprising a decorative component made of ceramic material, said decorative component having a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side and a thickness greater than 12 mm, wherein the covering element comprises a reinforcing component arranged underneath the bottom surface of the decorative component.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A covering element for raised floors comprising: a decorative component made of ceramic material and having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side; and a reinforcing component arranged underneath the bottom surface of the decorative component, wherein the decorative component has a thickness greater than 12 mm.

17. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the reinforcing component is configured to produce a compressive tensioned state in the decorative component.

18. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the reinforcing component comprises a metal plate.

19. The covering element according to claim 18, wherein the reinforcing component comprises at least one protective lining for the metal plate.

20. The covering element according to claim 19, wherein the protective lining comprises an enamel, a paint or a sealing membrane.

21. The covering element according to claim 16, wherein the decorative component has a thickness greater than 15 mm and preferably equal to 20 mm.

22. A raised floor system for covering an underlying surface comprising: a covering element; and at least one supporting element, wherein the covering element comprises a decorative component made of ceramic material, wherein the decorative component has a top side, a bottom side opposite to the top side, wherein the decorative component has a thickness greater than 12 mm, wherein the covering element comprises a reinforcing component arranged underneath the bottom surface of the decorative component, and wherein the at least one supporting element is configured to support the covering element in a raised position with respect to the surface to be covered, forming a cavity with the surface to be covered.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein one or both of the covering element and the supporting element are configured in such a way that in an installed configuration, a passageway is formed between adjacent covering elements so as to allow access to the cavity.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the covering element and the supporting element are configured to be associated with each other in a removable manner free from fixing means.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the at least one supporting element is configured to support a perimetral portion of the covering element.

26. The system according to claim 22, wherein the reinforcing component is configured to produce a compressive tensioned state in the decorative component.

27. The system according to claim 22, wherein the reinforcing component comprises a metal plate.

28. The system according to claim 22, wherein the metal plate comprises a thickness of between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm.

29. The system according to claim 22, wherein the reinforcing component comprises at least one protective lining for the metal plate.

30. The system according to claim 22, wherein the decorative component of the covering element comprises a thickness greater than 15 mm and preferably equal to 20 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a covering element according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0043] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the plane II-II of FIG. 1.

[0044] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the detail III according to FIG. 2.

[0045] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the detail IV according to FIG. 2.

[0046] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the plane II-II of FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the plane II-II of FIG. 1 according to a third embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 7 is an axonometric view of a raised floor system according to the invention.

[0049] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the raised floor system according to FIG. 7 in which the covering elements are shown transparently in broken lines.

[0050] FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail of the cross-sectional along the plane IX-IX of FIG. 7.

[0051] FIG. 10 is a side view of a supporting element of the raised floor system.

[0052] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the support element according to FIG. 10.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a covering element 1 provided with a decorative component 2. The decorative component 2 comprises a body 3 made of fragile material, for example ceramic material, preferably porcelain stone, and having a top side 4 and an opposite bottom side 5. Basically, in the example shown, the decorative component 2 is substantially formed by a porcelain stone ceramic tile.

[0054] The top side 4 of the decorative component 2 comprises a decoration 6, for example a printed design, preferably formed by means of digital inkjet printing.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 3, the decorative component 2 comprises a base lining 7 configured to cover at least partially the top side 4 of the decorative component 2 and being designed to receive on it the decoration 6, for example an enamel. Furthermore, the decorative component 2 comprises a protective lining 8 which covers at least partially the top side of said decorative component 2 and is designed to be applied on top of the decoration 6, for example a glaze or a granulated film. The protective layer 8 is advantageously transparent or translucent.

[0056] In the example shown in the figure, the covering layer has a square shape and has one side with a length L, preferably greater than 40 cm, for example 60 cm (6060 cm format). Moreover, according to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the decorative component 2 comprises a thickness S greater than 12 mm, preferably greater than 15 mm, for example 20 mm or more.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 the covering element 1 comprises a reinforcing component 10 arranged underneath the decorative component 2. Preferably, the reinforcing component 10 has substantially the same form and/or horizontal dimension (in plan view) as the decorative component 2. Furthermore, the decorative component 2 and the reinforcing component 10 are superimposed so that, during use, the reinforcing component 10 is substantially hidden by the decorative component 2. Preferably, the reinforcing component 10 is fixed to the bottom side 5 of the decorative component 2 by means of an adhesive, for example an epoxy, polyurethane or hot-melt glue.

[0058] Preferably, the reinforcing component 10 comprises a metal plate 11, for example made of galvanized steel. Furthermore, the reinforcing component 10 comprises one or more protective coatings 12, each designed to cover at least partially, or better entirely, the metal plate so as to protect it from corrosion. In particular, according to the example shown, the reinforcing component 10 comprises a metal plate 11 of the PPGI (Pre-Painted Galvanized Iron) or PPGL (Pre-Painted GlavaLume) type. This abbreviation is understood as meaning metal (not necessarily steel) plates which are galvanized (covered with a zinc or aluminium layer) and painted. Basically, the metal plate 11 is lined on one or both its surfaces with a first layer of zinc, optionally a chrome-plated layer, and one or more protective coatings 12 of paints or sealing membranes, for example polymer material consisting of epoxy resin, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyvinyls or polyolefins.

[0059] According to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the decorative component 2 has a thickness A of between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm, for example 0.25 mm.

[0060] Preferably, the metal plate 11 is configured to produce a compressive state in the decorative component 2 starting from the bottom side 5 thereof. In this way, since the decorative component 2 is in a compressive state, a major improvement in the impact resistance is obtained since the compressive state prevents the spreading of cracks. The inventors have surprisingly found that the reinforcing component 10 is able to achieve a significant improvement in the bending strength of the covering element. In order to achieve this objective the metal plate 11 is firstly tensioned (stretched or elongated) by means of a mechanical or thermal stretching action and is then arranged underneath the decorative component 2 while it is still in the elongated state. Then the stretched condition is released, by interrupting the mechanical stress or cooling the metal plate 11, so as to cause compression of the decorative component 2.

[0061] According to a preferred embodiment, the metal plate 11 has a thermal expansion coefficient greater than the thermal expansion coefficient of the decorative layer 2. Owing to this solution the metal plate 11 may be stretched by means of heating so as to expand in a substantially uniform manner in every direction. After the plate 11 has been arranged underneath the decorative component 2 it may cool so as to contract and cause compression of the decorative component 2.

[0062] In fact, a preferred method for implementing the invention comprises the steps of: preparing a decorative component 2, for example a ceramic tile; optionally brushing the bottom side 5 of the decorative component 2; preparing the reinforcing component 10, for example a metal plate 11, preferably a PPGI or PPGL plate; heating the decorative component 2 and the metal plate 11, for example up to a predetermined temperature T of at least 40 C. above room temperature; applying a glue on the bottom side 5 of the decorative component 2 and/or onto a surface of the reinforcing component 10 designed to be arranged facing the bottom side 5 of the decorative component 2; arranging the reinforcing component 10 underneath the decorative component 2; pressing together the decorative component 2 and the reinforcing component 10, for example by means of a static press or a calender.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment in which the reinforcing component 10 comprises a fibreglass layer 13, for example a cloth, a mesh or a matting of fibreglass.

[0064] In particular, FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the reinforcing component 10 may comprise a rigid element 130 and a fibreglass layer 13 so that the fibreglass layer 13 is arranged between the decorative component 2 and the rigid element 130. Preferably, the rigid element 130 is made of fragile material, for example natural stone, cement, ceramic, glass or glass ceramic, for example the same material as the decorative component. For example, the rigid element 130 consists of a ceramic tile, for example a porcelain stone tile.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the covering element 1 comprises a soundproofing component 14 arranged underneath the decorative component 2, for example underneath the reinforcing component 10. Preferably, the soundproofing component 14 is made of fibre plaster, fibre plaster being understood as meaning a solid material which is obtained from a mixture comprising plaster powder mixed with fibres. Preferably, the fibres are made of cellulose, however, the fibres may also be of another kind, for example glass or carbon fibres or mineral, vegetable or polymer fibres. The inventors have found that, with fibre plaster, it is possible to provide a low-thickness soundproofing component 14 and the thickness and the weight of the covering element 1 may therefore be reduced. The soundproofing component 14 has preferably a thickness B of less than 30 mm, for example less than 20 mm and for example equal to about 10 mm.

[0066] FIGS. 7 to 11 show a raised floor system 15 for covering an underlying surface 16 comprising a covering element 1, as described above, and at least one supporting element 17 configured to support the decorative element 2 in a raised position with respect to the underlying surface 16 to be covered, forming a cavity 18 with the said underlying surface 16. As shown in FIG. 11, the system 15 comprises a plurality of covering elements 1 and a plurality of supporting elements 17.

[0067] As shown from the figure, the system 15, and in particular the covering elements 1 and/or the supporting elements 17, are configured so that, during use, i.e. in an installed configuration, a passageway 19 is formed between the adjacent covering elements 1 so as to allow access to the said cavity 18. Preferably, the covering elements 1 are free from seals, edging or fillers. In this way, the floor system 15 allows the water, for example from rain or other precipitations, to flow into the cavity 18.

[0068] In the example shown in the figures, the supporting element 17 is designed to support one or more covering elements 1, for example four covering elements 1. Moreover, the supporting element 17 is configured to support a perimetral portion of the covering element 1, for example a corner.

[0069] In particular, the system 15 comprises a plurality of supporting elements 17 substantially separate and independent of each other, so as to define substantially a plurality of support feet. In other words, according to this preferred embodiment, the system 15 is without a support frame such that the design of the covering for a specific application is particularly simple since it consists essentially in calculating the number of supporting elements 17 needed.

[0070] Moreover, according to the example shown, the covering element 1 and the supporting element 17 are configured so that they can be associated with each other in a removable manner free from fixing means. In other words, the covering element 1, during use, simply rests on the supporting element 17.

[0071] In the example shown, the supporting element 17 has a substantially cylindrical or frustoconical form and has a top support surface 20 designed to support at least a portion of the bottom surface of the covering element 1. Advantageously, the top support surface 20 of the supporting element 17 comprises an embossed design 21 designed to improve adhesion between the covering element 1 and the top supporting surface 20 of the supporting element 17.

[0072] Moreover, the supporting element 17 may comprise at least one spacer 22 configured to be arranged between the edges of two adjacent covering elements 1 so as to define the passageway 19 between the covering elements 1. The spacer 22 is defined by one or more tongues which extend perpendicularly from the top supporting surface 20. Advantageously, in the example shown, the spacer 22 comprises four tongues arranged essentially in the form of a cross so as to facilitate also centring and positioning of the covering elements 1. In fact, owing to the spacer 22 thus configured, the supporting element may be positioned so as to support the corners of four covering elements 1 which may be arranged with the edges perfectly parallel to each other.

[0073] Preferably, the supporting element 17 is made of plastic, for example polypropylene, polyethylene or polyamide.

[0074] The present invention does not limit in any way the embodiments described above, but the said covering elements and systems may be made in accordance with different variants without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.