Expansion joint for building works

Described is an expansion joint (1) for building works comprising: a first and a second fastening flap (2, 3) rigidly connectable to corresponding structural elements (4, 5) and elongated in a longitudinal direction; an elastic connector (7) connected to the fastening flaps (2, 3) and interposed there for filling a space (6) between the structural elements (4, 5), and for allowing a relative movement of them; at least one profile (8) hooked to one of the fastening flaps (2, 3) from the side opposite the elastic connector (7), the profile (8) forming a channel elongated in the longitudinal direction; at least one illuminating element (9) positioned inside the channel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application relates to and claims priority from Italian Ser. No. BO2012S000508 filed on Sep. 21, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIGURE SELECTED FOR PUBLICATION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an expansion joint for building works. More specifically, the invention relates to an expansion joint for building works, designed for being inserted inside spaces (gaps) formed inside horizontal or vertical structural closing elements (forming floors or ceilings or walls).

2. Description of the Related Art

The expansion joints in the structures are detachment points inserted at predetermined distances (normally every 30 m) in relation to the type of material, for following the expansions and contractions which the materials undergo following seasonal heat variation phenomena.

The purpose of the expansion joint is to allow the maximum movement caused by the heat variations, settlement of some parts of the building or between building bodies built at different periods in time.

Various types of expansion joints are available on the market, classified according to their use in the vertical or horizontal structures or according to the types of material.

In general, an expansion joint for building works comprises:

a first and a second fastening flap rigidly connected to corresponding structural elements and elongated in a longitudinal direction;

an elastic connector connected to the fastening flaps and interposed there for filling (at least partially) the space (or gap) between the structural elements, so as to allow a relative movement of them.

The joints require quite complex processing and, with regard to the expansion joints applied to floors, are mounted on an existing screed or on a load-bearing structure at the time it was made.

However, a limitation of these joints is that they do not have further functions, other than the above-mentioned structural function.

Moreover, these joints, on view, constitute a discontinuity which, in certain contexts, penalizes the appearance of the element (floor, ceiling or wall) in which they are inserted.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved expansion joint for building works

ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to provide an expansion joint for building works that overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a multi-purpose expansion joint which is aesthetically very pleasing.

These aims are fully achieved by the expansion joint according to the invention as characterized in the appended claims.

More specifically, the expansion joint according to this invention comprises (integrated therein) a channel forming a luminous groove.

More specifically, the expansion joint comprises at least one profile fastened (i.e. firmly connected, hooked) to one of the fastening flaps from the side opposite the elastic connector, the profile forming a channel elongated in the longitudinal direction, and at least one illuminating element positioned inside the channel.

The expansion joint also comprises two profiles forming luminous grooves, each hooked to a corresponding fastening flap, and positioned parallel to each other, from the opposite sides to the elastic connector.

It should be noted that this invention also provides a method for mounting an expansion joint.

The method comprises the following steps:

rigidly connecting a first and second fastening flap to a corresponding first and second structural element separated by a space, the fastening flaps and the space being elongated in a longitudinal direction;

interconnecting the fastening flaps by an elastic connector interposed in the space to allow a relative movement of the structural elements;

fastening (i.e. firmly connecting, or hooking) to at least one of the fastening flaps, from the side opposite the elastic connector, a profile forming a channel elongated in the longitudinal direction and containing an illuminating element.

Moreover, this invention provides an illuminating body for building works, comprising a profile elongated in a longitudinal direction, having a bottom wall and two side walls and forming a channel, and at least one illuminating element positioned inside the channel.

According to the invention, one of the side walls of the profile in the illuminating body comprises coupling means, for fixing the profile to a fastening flap of an expansion joint designed to connect two structural elements, the profile being connectable to the expansion joint outside the space.

The illuminating body has the advantage that it can be mounted quickly and easily, without the need for any specific processing and without the need to make catches or other housings in the structural element in which the luminous groove is to be made.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The numeral1in the accompanying drawings denotes an expansion joint according to this invention.

The joint1comprises a first fastening flap2and a second fastening flap3.

The fastening flaps2,3are elongated in a longitudinal direction.

The first fastening flap2is designed for being rigidly connected to a first structural element4; the second fastening flap3is designed for being rigidly connected to a second structural element5.

The structural elements4and5constitute two portions of a structural element (more specifically, a horizontal or vertical structural closing element, that is, a floor or a ceiling or a wall) interrupted along a longitudinal direction.

This interruption forms a space6(that is, a gap) between the first and second structural elements4,5.

It should be noted that the space or gap is, in turn, elongated along the longitudinal direction.

The numeral7denotes an elastic connector connected to the fastening flaps2,3.

The elastic connector7is interposed between the fastening flaps2,3to allow a relative movement of the structural elements4,5or to compensate any volumetric variations of them.

Moreover, the function of the elastic connector7is to partially fill the space6(gap), forming a substantially continuous outer surface, to connect the two structural elements4,5in their area of interruption.

In the example illustrated, the elastic connector7comprises two coupled connecting elements for sliding one (male) inside the other (female).

However, the elastic connector7comprises a layer of elastic material (for example, an elastomer) suitably shaped (according to known technology in the expansion joints sector), or any other prior art configuration in the expansion joints sector.

According to the invention, the expansion joint1also comprises at least one profile8hooked (fixed) to the fastening flaps2,3.

The profile8is coupled to the fastening flap2or3outside the space6.

For this reason, the profile8is coupled to the fastening flap2or3from the side opposite the elastic connector7; in effect, preferably, at least one portion of the fastening flap2or3is interposed between the elastic connector7and the profile8.

The profile8forms a channel elongated in the longitudinal direction and houses at least one illuminating element9positioned inside the channel.

For this reason, the joint1forms a luminous groove elongated along the longitudinal direction; the luminous groove runs parallel to the elastic connector7and is positioned alongside it.

It should be noted that the joint1also comprises two profiles8, each forming a relative luminous groove and connected to a corresponding fastening flap; consequently, the two profiles8are positioned on opposite sides to the elastic connector7.

Preferably, the joint1comprises a plurality of illuminating elements9, preferably consisting of LEDs.

Alternatively, the illuminating element9could comprise a neon or another light source.

Preferably, the joint1comprises a base10, resting on a bottom wall11of the profile; the illuminating bodies9are rested on the base10.

The fastening flaps2,3are connected to the elastic connector7in such a way as to form a flat, planar surface, flush with an outer surface of the structural elements4,5.

If the structural elements4,5are part of a floor, the flat outer surface is treadable.

Preferably, each of the fastening flaps2,3has a separator12forming a surface13which, when the joint1is mounted, is positioned flush with the outer surface of the structural elements4,5and of the elastic connector7.

According to the invention, the profile8is connected to the fastening flap2or3in such a way as to form a flat surface flush with the flat surface of the flaps (if the structural elements4,5are part of a floor, the flat outer surface of the profile8is treadable).

Preferably, the joint1comprises a transparent covering element14(that is, designed to let the light pass) connected to the profile8to close it above (that is, to close an opening opposite the bottom wall11).

It should be noted that, in addition to the bottom wall11, the profile8has two side walls15, for forming the open channel.

The joint8is connected to the respective fastening flap in such a way that the opening of the channel faces the outside of the structural elements4,5.

The covering element14is coupled to the profile8for closing the opening, in such a way as to form an outer surface positioned flush with the outer surface of the structural elements4,5(and with the outer surfaces13of the fastening flaps2,3and with the outer surface of the elastic connector7).

Preferably, the profile8has two undercuts16forming a housing positioned close to the opening facing towards the outside (that is, an upper opening, if the joint is coupled to a floor) of the profile8.

The housing is shaped to receive the covering element14.

The covering element14is preferably made from plastic material (for example, Plexiglas).

Preferably, the covering element14has inclined side walls in such a way as to give the covering element a trapezoidal cross-section.

Moreover, preferably, the side walls of the covering element form respective recesses. Preferably, in addition or alternatively, the ends of the side walls15of the profile8(the ends forming the housing) define respective recesses.

The tapered shape of the covering element14facilitates the mounting of the covering element14on the profile8.

The presence of the recesses facilitates the fixing of the covering element14on the profile8, allowing the introduction of silicon or other fixing fluids in the gaps formed by the recesses, interposed between the side walls of the covering element14and the ends of the side walls15of the profile8.

Preferably, one of the side walls15of the profile8and a corresponding side wall of the respective fastening flap are near to one another.

Preferably, the side wall15of the profile8and the corresponding side wall of the respective fastening flap near to one another are shaped to match one another to form a fitting.

Preferably, the side wall15of the profile8has a protrusion17elongated longitudinally; preferably, a side wall of the fastening flap forms a corresponding longitudinal groove18.

The protrusion17of the profile8and the groove18of the fastening flap are shaped in such a way that the protrusion17is inserted in the groove18, when the profile8is hooked to the fastening flap.

This coupling has certain advantages.

First of all, it gives mechanical strength to the profile8; this is especially important when the joint1is used in a floor, which is walked or driven on (by persons or vehicles, such as automobiles or trolleys); in effect, this solution allows the profile8to be driven on by heavy vehicles (for example, trolleys or automobiles).

Another advantage of this clip coupling is that the profile can be slidably hooked to the fastening flap, allowing an adjustment of the longitudinal position of the profile8relative to the fastening flap, before a final fixing of the profile8to the fastening flap.

With regard to the fastening flaps2,3, they preferably have the shape described below.

Preferably, each of the fastening flaps2,3has an L-shaped cross-section (and it is substantially a profile).

More specifically, each of the fastening flaps2,3has a first side19(long) and a second side20(short); the first and the second sides are preferably perpendicular to each other.

The first side19(long) can be anchored to the structural element4,5, to be positioned parallel to a surface formed by the structural element; this anchoring is obtained, for example, by screws21.

The second side20(short) has an end connected to the elastic connector7.

Preferably, the profile8is hooked to the second side20(short) of the relative fastening flap2or3.

It should be noted that the second side20of the fastening flap has two faces:

a first face faces towards the other fastening flap, that is, towards the empty space6(gap) between the structural elements4,5and delimits a portion of the space6;

a second face faces in the opposite direction, that is, towards the side opposite the gap.

The profile8is connected to the second face.

Preferably, an outer surface of one of the side walls15of the profile8is in contact with a corresponding surface (of the second face) of the second side20of the fastening flap2or3.

Preferably, the joint1comprises adhesive fixing means interposed between the side wall15of the profile8and a corresponding side wall of the fastening flap, defined by the second side20.

More specifically, the adhesive fixing means are interposed between the outer surface of the side wall15of the profile8and the corresponding surface (of the second face) of the second side19of the fastening flap2or3.

It should be noted that this invention also provides an illuminating body22for building works.

The illuminating body22for building works comprises:

the profile8;

the at least one illuminating element9positioned inside the channel formed by the profile.

The features of the illuminating body22are those described above; consequently, the illuminating body22is designed for being permanently (and rigidly) connected to one of the fastening flaps2,3of the expansion joint1.

For this reason, one of the side walls15of the profile8comprises coupling means for fixing the profile to a fastening flap2,3of the expansion joint1(designed to connect the structural elements4,5).

The illuminating body22is shaped in such a way that the profile8can be connected to the fastening flap2,3outside the space6(gap).

Preferably, the at least one side wall15has the protrusion17elongated longitudinally, slidably insertable in the corresponding longitudinal groove18of one of the side walls15of the fastening flap2or3.

Moreover, the illuminating body22comprises the transparent covering element14inserted in a housing formed by the profile8close to an opening (upper).

This invention also provides a method for mounting an expansion joint1for building works.

The joint1is mounted to make an elastic joint between two structural elements4,5of a building structure (for example, a floor or ceiling or wall) interrupted and separated by a space6elongated longitudinally.

If these structural elements4,5form part of a floor, the structural elements4,5comprise a support structure23, on which a layer of bedding mortar is formed (that is, a screed24also known as “concrete topping”).

A floor finishing layer25is laid above the screed24.

In light of this, the method for mounting the expansion joint1comprises the following steps:

rigidly connecting the first fastening flap2and a second fastening flap3to the first structural element4and to the second structural element5, respectively;

interconnecting the fastening flaps2,3by an elastic connector7positioned in the space6separating the structural elements4,5, to allow a relative movement of the structural elements;

hooking to at least one of the fastening flaps2,3, from the side opposite the elastic connector7, a profile8forming a channel elongated in the longitudinal direction and containing an illuminating element9(making a luminous grove elongated longitudinally parallel to the elastic connector7).

Preferably, the hooking comprises a fitting of portions shaped to match of a side wall15of the profile8and a corresponding side wall of the fastening flap (as described above).

Preferably, there is also a step of gluing two corresponding faces of the profile8and a corresponding side wall of the fastening flap.

In the embodiment illustrated, the bottom wall11of the profile is distanced from the first side19(long) of the corresponding fastening flap2or3.

In light of this, the method preferably comprises a step for filling the space between the bottom wall11of the profile8and the first side19(long) of the fastening flap2or3with epoxy resin (or another filler material designed to give structural strength to the profile8, for allowing heavy loads to transit on the profile8without damaging the joint1.

For this reason, there is a step for filling with epoxy resin a defined area between the profile8and a wall of the fastening flap2or3positioned transversely to another wall of the fastening flap2or3, the other wall being hooked to the profile8.

In an alternative embodiment, the bottom wall11of the profile8is in contact with (that is, it rests on) the first side19(long) of the corresponding fastening flap2or3, either directly or by means of a supporting leg.

Preferably, between the profile8and the finishing layer25inserts26made of sealing material (for example, silicon), having elastic properties, are inserted; to protect the profile and the finishing layer25.