Modular coating element for coating floors, walls and the like

A modular element for coating floors, walls and the like, comprises a thermoformable central layer, on an exposed face of which a top layer made either of a fabric or non fabric material is arranged, on the other face of the central layer being arranged a lower layer made of a material which can be coupled with a male portion of a tearable strip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the modular coating element for coating floors, walls and the like according to the present invention, comprises a central layer 1 , made of a thermoformable plastics material, preferably a closed cell foamed polyethylene material, of a high density and modified type. On the exposed face of the central element 1 a top layer 2 is applied, said top layer being made of fabric materials or non-fabric materials, either natural or synthetic, preferably comprising a woven and dyed wool felt material, preferably processed by any suitably anti-smearing process. On the bottom face of the central layer 1 is provided a bottom or lower layer 3 , made of a fabric material suitable to hold a male portion of a tearing or tearable strip, such as a Velcro strip, which is commercially well known. The three layers are connected by any suitable hot connection method, to be firmly bound to one another. The thus made laminate material is then thermoformed and die-cut by using suitably contoured metal molds, which are designed to hot impress to the laminate the marks or projecting and recessed patterns, to be permanently associated with the surface of the central element and, accordingly, to the fabric material of the exposed face thereof. On the non-exposed face of the laminate, a plurality of tearing or tearable strips 5 are provided, the other face thereof is so processed as to prevent any slipping on the smoother surfaces. If the modular element must be used for coating walls or for permanent applications, then on the Velcro strip a bi-adhesive layer could be provided. In order to make the modular coating element according to the present invention, it is possible to hot or flame connect the choosen material, to provide a thermoformable laminate, with its top layer 2 arranged on the outside, and having a variable thickness and being preferably either processed or not by anti-smearing solutions and anti-shrinking solutions, or by any other methods for providing it with a great anti-wear resistance, with aesthetic and texture features suitable for the intended applications. Inside the laminate a synthetic material, obtained from plate or roll material is provided, which can have different thicknesses, densities and compositions, and suitable for thermoforming and holding a desired thermoformed configuration. On the outside of the laminate, a bottom fabric material suitable to firmly hold the tearable strip is provided. After the coupling or laminating process, the hot coupled material, i.e. without any glues or binding material, is simultaneously printed, sealed and cut on its perimeter, by any suitable press 10 , thereby providing the desired pattern and/or configuration, to be coupled to further modular like elements, by the mentioned tearable strip or other suitable systems. As schematically shown in the figures, the tearable strip can be simply coupled to the bottom face of a modular element to operate as an anti-slipping element and, if desired, it can also be used in an overhang configuration, to easily allow the connection of a plurality of modular element. The invention as disclosed is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all of which will come within the scope of the invention. Moreover, all the constructional details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes can be any, depending on requirements. In this connection it should be apparent that the inventive article of manufacture can also be used, in addition to the above disclosed applications, as a coating carpet, as a coating for motor vehicle inner walls and as a wall coating in general. It is also apparent that the inventive article of manufactures can be coupled by the above disclosed coupling methods, or used individually.