Modular element for sectional floorings in elastic material

Abstract: A modular element in elastic material for forming a sectional flooring includes a plurality of hollow cylindrical bodies (1) arranged in staggered rows so as to form a square grid, each cylinder (1) being connected to the adjacent cylinders by means of vertical ribs (2). The cylinders (1') arranged along two adjacent edges of the element are shorter than the other cylinders (1) with which they are aligned at the top, and have therein engaged in the lower portion connecting pegs (4), arranged along the two other edges of the element, the overall height of the assembled body formed of the peg (4) and of the external cylinder (1') being equal to the height of the other cylinders (1). A coupling is thus obtained between the various elements so as to form a continuous flooring wherein the seams are not visible.

Description: The present invention relates to sectional floorings in plastic material, rubber and the like, and particularly to a modular element for the composition of such floorings. As it is known, there are different types of floorings in elastic material such as rubber, PVC, or other types of non-rigid plastic, which are used in situations wherein, owing to a number of reasons, the underlying floor has to be covered. A typical example are the areas where the floor is constantly wetted, such as swimming-pools, showers and the like, and therefore an additional flooring is required which is water-resistant, removable, anti-skid, etc.. A similar use thereof may be made in workshops, laboratories, etc., wherein the floor may little by little become coated with oil or other substances upon which the room users risk to slip. The known floorings used for such purposes generally have a perforated structure allowing water, oil, dust, etc. to go through, so that they settle on the underlying floor and leave the additional flooring usable for the user. For the sake of movability and adaptation to the room shape, such floorings are usually formed of a plurality of modular elements arranged side by side and mutually restrained, so as to form a single assembly. An example of such a flooring is found in US-A-4 807 412 which discloses intercoupled plastic mat members provided on each side with a set of integrally shaped coupling members. A drawback of known modular elements is that the seam between adjacent modules is evident, so that the visual effect of a continuous flooring is not achieved. Another drawback results from the element thickness which forms a step along the perimeter of the additional flooring, at the risk of stumbling thereon when entering the area provided with such a flooring. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a modular element overcoming such drawbacks. This object is achieved by means of an element having the features disclosed in claim 1. A first advantage of this modular element is to allow the connection between the various flooring elements without the seams being visible, thus achieving an improved aesthetical effect. Another advantage of the present element is to include a modular ramp along the edge of the additional flooring, so as to eliminate the step resulting from the thickness of said element. These and other advantages and features of the element according to the present invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an element according to the present invention; Figs 1a and 1b are vertical sectional views respectively taken along the lines a-a and b-b of Fig. 1; Fig.2 is a top plan view of four elements connected to form a square; Fig.2a is a vertical sectional view taken along the line c-c of Fig.2; Figs. 3 and 4 are top plan views of two types of modular elements forming the external ramp; Fig.5 is a sectional view taken along the line d-d of Fig.3 and Fig.4. Referring to Figs. 1, 1a and 1b, there is seen that a modular element according to the present invention includes a plurality of cylindrical bodies 1 hollow from one end to the other arranged in staggered rows so as to form a square grid (9 x 9 in the illustrated example). Each cylinder 1 is connected to the adjacent cylinders by vertical ribs 2 extending in the lower portion of cylinder 1. Cylinders 1', arranged along two adjacent edges of the element, have an inner profile 3' which in its lower portion is differently shaped from the inner profile 3 of the other cylinders 1. Furthermore, such external cylinders 1' are shorter than cylinders 1 with which they are aligned at the top, whereby they are spaced of a height "h" from the element bearing surface which is defined by the lower bases of cylinders 1. Along the other two edges of the modular element, connecting pegs 4 are arranged, also hollow and with axial symmetry, which are shaped so as to engage with the lower portion of the inner profile 3' of the external cylinders 1', in order to allow the connection between the various elements forming the flooring. In particular, with reference also to Figs.2 and 2a, pegs 4 are substantially formed of a base 4a, having a height "h", and of a truncated cone-shaped body 4b ending in a hemispherical top 4c. The latter has a larger diameter than body 4b and forms therewith an undercut 4d engaging in a respective abutment formed in profile 3', while the lower base of cylinder 1' leans on base 4a of peg 4. Thus each connecting peg 4 is fitted inside a respective external cylinder 1' and is aligned at the bottom with cylinders 1 of the two connected modular elements. As it is clear from the aforesaid drawings, this kind of coupling between the modular elements is accomplished without the seams being visible. In fact, peg 4 fits in the lower portion of cylinder 1' and locally restores the flooring height by compensating with its own base 4a for the shorter height of cylinder 1'. Furthermore, since peg 4 reaches only a half of cylinder 1', its presence may be detected only from the top plan view (as in Fig.2), but is practically invisible when the flooring is normally watched by the user with a reduced visual angle. Finally, referring to Figs.3, 4 and 5, the modular ramp is now illustrated which completes the flooring formed by the above-described elements. Said ramp is formed of right-angled elements (Fig.3) and straight elements (Fig.4) mutually restrained by an end side lug 5 engaging in a respective end seat 6 formed in the adjacent element. As it can be seen from the section of Fig.5, common to both types of elements, the ramp consists of a plane 7 inclined at about 45° and supported by a plurality of vertical ribs 8. The ramp is subsequently fixed along the flooring perimeter by means of inserts 9 suitable to engage in the inner profiles 3, 3' of cylinders 1, 1'. Said inserts 9 are located on the lower side of a horizontal end portion 10 radiusing with plane 7. In this way a continuity between the floor and the plane of the additional flooring is achieved through the ramp, thus eliminating the step and the risk of stumbling thereon. Obviously, at the inner right angles a ramp angular element is used which is inversely shaped with respect to that illustrated in Fig.3, namely with support ribs 8 along the smaller radius edge and inserts 9 along the larger radius edge. Furthermore, it is possible to produce single inserts, similar to inserts 9, provided with a flat head which closes the cavity of cylinder 1 having such insert fitted therein. By using differently colored inserts, it is thus possible to create on the flooring ornamental motifs and/or signs, which can then be changed or removed at any time. It should be noted that, since also the connecting pegs 4 are hollow, the inserts may be fitted also in cylinders 1' connecting two adjacent elements. It is clear that the above described and illustrated embodiment of the element according to the invention is just an example liable to several modifications. In particular, the number, spacing and shape, both inner and outer, of cylinders 1, 1' may be freely modified, as long as also the shape of connecting pegs 4 and/or inserts 9 is accordingly adjusted. It is also evident that the element may be made of any elastic material, even metallic, which allows the reversible coupling between the various elements.

Claims: A modular element for sectional floorings in elastic material, said element including a plurality of cylindrical bodies (1, 1') hollow from one end to the other and arranged so as to form a grid, each of said cylinders (1, 1') being connected to the adjacent cylinders by means of vertical ribs (2), characterized in that said cylinders (1, 1') are provided with a shaped inner profile (3, 3') and the external cylinders (1') arranged along two edges of said element are shorter than the other cylinders (1) with which they are aligned at the top, said element further including a plurality of pegs (4), arranged along the other two edges of the element, shaped so as to engage in the lower portion of the inner profile (3') of the external cylinders (1') of an adjacent modular element, the overall height of the assembled body formed of the peg (4) and of the external cylinder (1') being equal to the height of the other cylinders (1). A modular element according to claim 1, characterized in that the pegs (4) are hollow and formed of a base (4a), as high (h) as the difference in height between the cylinders (1) and the external cylinders (1'), and of a truncated cone-shaped body (4b) ending in a hemispherical top (4c) having a larger diameter than said body (4b) and forming therewith an undercut (4d) suitable to engage in a respective abutment formed in the profile (3') ofthe external cylinders (1'). A modular element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further includes a removable modular external ramp formed of right-angled elements and straight elements consisting of a plane (7) inclined at about 45° and supported by a plurality of vertical ribs (8), as well as a plurality of inserts (9) suitable to engage in the upper portion of the inner profiles (3, 3') of the cylinders (1, 1'), said inserts (9) being located on the lower side of an horizontal end portion (10) radiused with said plane (7). A modular element according to one or more of claims 1-3, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of single inserts provided with a flat head and suitable to removably engage in the upper portion of the inner profiles (3, 3') of the cylinders (1, 1').

Inventors: FRANZ ERMANNO, NIADA GIORGIO, FRANZ, ERMANNO, NIADA, GIORGIO
Applicants: 2000 SERVICE S A S DI NIADA RO, 2000 SERVICE S.A.S. DI NIADA ROBERTO & C.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: E04F15
IPC codes: E04F15