Abstract:
The covering comprises a large number of strips of timber fixed by means of clips or other components to a supporting framework fixed to the surface to be covered and is characterized in that the edges of the greater sides of the strips are partially asymmetrical, having an arrangement of mating projections and recesses and being capable of engaging in one another while leaving an intermediate gap and in such a way that the projecting upper edge of one of the profiles overlaps mating projections of the adjacent strip situated therebelow, preventing the base on which is fixed the covering or the accessories for the fixing thereof from being seen from the visible face of the covering.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/ES2005/000091, filed Feb. 28, 2005, which claims priority to Spanish Application No. P200400507 filed Mar. 3, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention relates to a timber covering for exteriors and interiors which has significant characteristics of novelty and inventive step. 
   Timber coverings for exteriors and interiors are known, which are intended to provide a surface which is more attractive than that found in some cases and formed merely by general constructional coverings, such as cement or concrete coverings, or slabs with an unattractive finish or structural top slabs. Said timber coverings are placed on the top slab or original covering using a type of boarding which involves the provision of a supporting, levelling framework and a large number timber components, basically in the form of flattened strips in a transverse or longitudinal disposition arranged in parallel with slight spacing so as to produce a finish of much better quality. The timber components are normally produced from timbers which are resistant to the environment so that the resulting flooring requires far less maintenance. 
   There should be a specific gap between the strips forming the timber covering to allow the passage of rainwater or cleaning water toward the original covering, which will have a conventional drainage means. However, the need to provide said gaps between strips is detrimental to the appearance, so users of the covering see, through said gaps, unattractive components of the original covering or components for fixing the strips to the supporting framework, for example the clips which are conventionally fixed to the supporting framework and which, when mating with grooves in the strips, allow the positioning and centring thereof. 
   On the other hand, the present invention protects, to a greater extent, the anchoring parts such as supporting battens, clips and screws from damage caused by the passage of time and, moreover, they are easy to clean since they do not allow the passage of small impurities such as twigs, flowers, leaves, pieces of paper, etc. 
   Another additional advantage of the timber covering for exteriors and interiors according to the present invention is that, if it is used for covering walls and roofs it allows the wall to be left with a rough finish, as the base on which it is mounted cannot be seen through the covering, this representing a saving in time and cost. 
   The invention is defined by the contents of claim  1 . Claims  2  to  8  relate to specific embodiments of the invention. 
   The timber covering according to the present invention is characterised in that it achieves the aforementioned objects in that the mutually opposed lateral edges of the strips have an asymmetrical structure so that one of the edges has a lip or projecting region adjacent to a recessed region, whereas the adjacent strip profile has a shape which mates therewith, in other words a recessed profile which mates with the projecting profile of the first strip and a projecting region or profile which mates with the recessed region of the first strip. This allows assembly of the strips of covering so that they are provided with the necessary play between themselves, which is sufficiently small to allow only the passage of water and, owing to the overlap between the projecting profile of a strip and the adjacent strip, viewing of the floor does not reveal the base, or rear portion thereof, and this is the claimed object. 
   Therefore, production of the strips in accordance with the present invention will comprise the production of asymmetrical mating profiles in each of the lateral edges of said strips, so as to allow the assembly thereof in the aforementioned manner. 
   The precise structure of the edges of the strips can vary widely, and merely has to fulfil the characteristics of asymmetry of each of the lateral strips and mutually overlapping disposition. 

   
     The accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as an explanatory, non-limiting example, will assist understanding thereof. 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified perspective view of an assembly of strips of a timber covering for exteriors and interiors according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross section of the covering through the sectional plane indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a section through the sectional plane indicated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the covering for exteriors and interiors according to the invention with a partial section. 
       FIGS. 5 to 10  are sections of coverings according to the invention showing alternative embodiments of the edges of the strips. 
   

   As shown in the drawings, the present invention relates to a timber covering for exteriors and interiors which, in  FIG. 1 , is shown as a surface covering formed by a series of timber strips such as those indicated by reference numerals  1 ,  2  and  3 , disposed in parallel with reduced gaps between each two thereof, such as  4  and  5 , and fixed to a supporting framework of which can be seen the longitudinal beams  6  and  7  which have grooves such as the grooves  8  and  9  of the rail  2  intended to fit in the wings of clips for fastening to the framework, as shown in  FIG. 2 , which illustrates a clip  10  fixed to a cross beam of the support  11  and provided with wings  12  and  13  which are introduced in the grooves of two adjacent strips designated by the reference numerals  14  and  15 . 
   The characteristic of the present invention is that the strips have partially asymmetric mutually opposed edges of mating shape, forming a respective projecting region or wing  16 ,  FIG. 2 , which defines a step or recess  17 , in such a way that the opposing edge has a substantially mating structure by means of a projecting wing or rib  18  and a recessed region  19  disposed in reverse to the other strip, in other words partially mating with one another so that the projecting profiles  16  and  18  partially overlap so that viewing of the coating from the visible face, which is the upper portion of the covering in the illustrated case, does not reveal the base on which the flooring is mounted, for example the clips  10  or the ground  20  on which the flooring is mounted, etc. Between the two opposing edges of the strips  14  and  15  is a separating gap  21  of reduced size which, although it readily allows the passage of water does not allow the passage of normal impurities such as parts of plants, papers, butts, etc. to facilitate cleaning of the flooring. 
   In accordance with the present invention, each of the strips will have unequal, partially asymmetric, lateral edges since, although the grooves such as  22  and  23  for introduction of the fastening clips are obviously symmetrical, the upper portions of said edges are asymmetrical, as shown in the drawings,  FIG. 2  showing that, although one of the lateral edges is incorporated, in the case of the strip  15 , by the projecting region  18  in the lower portion and the recessed region  19  in the upper portion, the projecting wing  18 ′ on the other side is situated on the upper portion and the recessed portion  19 ′ is situated on the lower portion so as to be able to receive the adjacent strip, as illustrated. 
   The present invention also extends to the specific structure of the fastening clips  10 , with the object of achieving better centring without play between the strips and the clips, both horizontally and vertically, as shown in particular in  FIG. 4 . The clip  10  provided with the arms  12  and  13  is fixed by means of screws  24  or other equivalent components to the framework and has, at the external edges of the arms  12  and  13 , respective pairs of projecting tips such as  25  and  26 , in the case of the arm  12 , and  27  and  28  in the case of the arms  13 , to reduce to a great extent or suppress the lateral play between the adjacent strips represented by the numerals  13  and  14  in the figure, allowing the lateral play of the strips to be eliminated. With the object of reducing or eliminating play between the strips along the vertical regions thereof, the present invention provides that the arms of the clips have reliefs or domes such as those represented by reference numerals  29  and  30  in  FIG. 3 , to reduce or eliminate the vertical play of the strip within the grooves for the clips. 
   As mentioned hereinbefore, the precise shape of the lateral edges of the strips can vary between wide limits, examples being shown in  FIGS. 5 to 10 . 
   Thus, for example, in  FIG. 5 , two adjacent strips  31  and  32  have mating profiles substantially in the form of a projecting  33  and recessed  34  acute angle, which are disposed so as to produce the aforementioned overlap between the upper wing  35  and the vertex of the projection  33  in order to fulfil the characteristics of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6  shows an embodiment in which the strips  36  and  37  have a zigzag profile, in other words a double angle, by means of which each of the edges has a projection and a recess respectively mating with those of the adjacent strip, the projection  38  and recess  39  being shown in the case of the strip  36  and the lower projection  40  and recess  41  in the case of the strip  37 , mating with  39  and  38  respectively of the strip  36 . In this case also, the upper edge  42  will overlap the projection  38 . 
   In  FIG. 7 , the adjacent strips  43  and  44  have mating profiles formed by undulating lines  45  and  46  respectively with the same overlapping characteristics as mentioned hereinbefore. 
     FIG. 8  shows a version in which the strips  47  and  48  have mating profiles on their straight and curved edges, in the first case with a planar surface  49  and a curved projection  50  and in the second case with mating profiles which are concave  51  and planar in the upper portion  52 . 
     FIG. 9  shows an embodiment in which the mating profiles are simply straight and inclined together, it being shown that the strips  53  and  54  have, on their opposing edges, merely inclined planar regions  55  and  56 , the overlap between the upper edge  57  of the strip  54  and the face of the inclined plane  55  being achieved as in the other cases. 
   The example of  FIG. 10  relates to a profile having mating straight and inclined regions in which the strips  58  and  59  have, on their respective opposing edges, an intermediate inclined plane  60 , an upper vertical straight region  61  and a lower vertical straight region  62 , whereas the opposing strip has the inclined intermediate plane  63  and upper and lower straight regions  64  and  65  opposing the planes  61  and  62  of the strip  58 . As in the other cases, the projecting edge, in other words  61  of the strip  58  will overlap the projecting profile of the planar region  65  of the strip  59 . 
   It will be appreciated that the examples of specific forms of the opposing edges of the strips can vary within wide limits, providing that the basic characteristics of the present invention, which are apparent from the foregoing description and the following claims, are achieved. 
   It is also obvious that, although the figures show, in particular, embodiments of floor coverings, the same considerations will apply if the covering is used for vertical panels or roofs.