Patent Publication Number: US-2017362819-A1

Title: Profiled rail system for covering the end of a flooring

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to German Utility Model Application no: 
     DE 20 2016 003 728.6, filed Jun. 15, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a profiled rail system for covering at least one end of a flooring, the profiled rail system comprising at least one base profile at it least one covering profile. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     From the state of the art profiled rail systems are known comprising three profiled rails, namely a base profiled rail for fastening to the underground, covering profiled rail comprising a covering wing, overlapping the end of the flooring and a mounting profiled rail for connecting both together. The covering profiled rail is connected to the mounting profiled rail. To achieve an adjustability for the covering profiled rail, namely for pivoting the same, the mounting profiled rail is moveable with respect to the base profiled rail. This allows adapting the covering profiled rail to the individual requirement of the individual floorings. This profiled rail system has been found extremely useful in practical applications and serves as starting point for the present invention. 
     It would be beneficial to provide a profiled rail system as mentioned above having a simple mounting ability and being reliable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The profiled rail system according to the present invention is used for covering at least one flooring end. The number of flooring ends being covered is principally irrelevant. In the case of covering only one end the present profiled rail system has the function of a boarder cover. In the case of covering more than one flooring end the present profiled rail system functions as a cover for expansion gaps or flooring transitions. The profiled rail system comprises at least one base profiled rail and at least one cover profiled rail being connected with each over by means of at least one mounting profiled rail. Preferably the at least one base profiled rail is fastened to an underground or subfloor, may be by means of gluing or screwing. For minimizing of noise transmission at least one noise damping material can be provided in between. Alternatively the at least one base profiled rail can underlap the flooring for fixing to it. The at least one covering profiled rail comprises at least one covering wing for covering the at least one flooring end. In the case of boarder covering one covering wing is sufficient. For covering expansion gaps or flooring transitions at least two covering wings are provided. The at least one covering profiled rail can be fixed to the at least one mounting profiled rail. The way of fixing is not important. For example it is intended to provide screwing or clipping, for additionally achieving an adjustability in height between the at least one covering profiled rail and the at least one mounting profiled rail. In simple embodiments, namely in such one which don&#39;t need any height adjustability, the covering profiled rail can be clipped, glued or made as a single part with the mounting profiled rail. The at least one base profiled rail comprises holding means for fixing the at least one covering profiled rail, which are realised in a simple embodiment by means of gluing. By this way a required rigid attachment between both profiled rails is realised. This attachment preferably should resist pulling forces, to allow preloaded pressing of the at least one covering wing on the at least one covering end. For simplifying mounting of the profiled rail system between the at least one base profiled rail and the at least one mounting profiled rail at least one elastic body is provided. This elastic body holds the at least one mounting profiled rail in a certain, well defined position, when unloaded. This well defined position preferably is defined in a way that the at least one covering wing resides about parallel to the flooring. It is still possible to pivot the at least one covering profiled rail, nevertheless due to elastic forces of the at least one elastic body the covering profiled rail will be moved to said predefined position if possible. This significantly simplifies mounting of the profiled rail system, as the at least one covering profiled rail will be held in the above cited neutral position, if unloaded. Consequently it will be mounted in the correct position. During mounting of the profiled rail system the at least one covering profiled rail will be pressed with preload against the at least one base profiled rail and by this against the at least one flooring end. It can happen due to special mounting situation that the at least one covering profiled rail has to be pivoted away from the defined position. The elastic body will allow this pivoting due to its elastic deformability. In an unloaded position the at least one elastic body will hold the mounting profiled rail in its neutral position, in which the at least one covering wing being arranged from example parallel to the flooring. It has to be indicated that the term “unloaded position” not necessarily indicates a fully relaxed situation of the at least one elastic body. The at least one elastic body can be preloaded between the at least one base profiled rail and the at least one mounting profiled rail. In this case the unloaded position will be defined as the position which is realised by the at least one elastic body, if no further forces apply to the profiled rail system. Due to the elastic connection between the at least one mounting profiled rail and the at least one base profiled rail the advantage is realised that seizing of the at least one covering wing at the flooring is prohibited for sure. Such seizing often occurs, if the covering profiled rail is mounted on the mounting profiled rail with extremely high force. By this way deformations can occur on the flooring at the position were the covering wing touches the flooring. This can cause inhibition of the movement of the flooring below the at least one covering wing. Nevertheless such movement is necessary, as the extension of the flooring will change by changing temperature or humidity. A profiled rail system according to the present invention will ensure this movability even in difficult mounting situations to ensure the flooring is swimming all the time. For the elastic body the materials polyurethane, polyethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, caoutchouc and rubber are preferred. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one elastic body at least partially is provided below the mounting profiled rail. In this case the at least one elastic body provides a bed for the mounting profiled rail. Preferably this bed is formed in a way to ensure the at least one mounting profiled rail extending about perpendicular to the plane of the flooring and the holding means of the base profiled rail being mountable. This very much simplifies mounting, as due to the usually used long profiled rails inserting the profiled rails by means of sliding is rather difficult. Additionally the at least one elastic body can be very easily mounted to the base profiled rail. 
     Alternatively or additionally the at least one elastic body can be laterally positioned to the mounting profiled rail. In this position the at least one elastic body protects the joint between the at least one mounting profiled rail and the at least one base profiled rail from invading dust and dirt, which is produced very often during drilling holes for mounting. Such dust or dirt can decrease movability of the profiled rails with each other. Therefore protection against this dust or dirt is advantageous. 
     Further alternatively or additionally the at least one elastic body is at least partially provided above a foot being provided on the at least one mounting profiled rail. By this way the at least one elastic body pushes the at least one mounting profiled rail against the base profiled rail and hereby provides the required prestress of the at least one covering wing against the flooring. By this way at least part of the height adjustability of the profiled rail system can be realised. In simple applications this type of height adjustability can be sufficient. Alternatively an additional height adjustability can be realised by allowing movability in the connection between the at least one covering profiled rail and the at least one mounting profiled rail. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention the at least one elastic body is formed in a way that the at least one mounting profiled rail being completely separated from the at least one base profiled rail. By this way it is ensured that any conjunction between the at least one mounting profiled rail and the at least one base profiled rail is realised by the at least one elastic body only. By this way oscillations transferred across this conjunction are damped, hereby realising an additional step and/or room noise damping. Additionally the profiled rails are hereby protected against abrasion due to loads. 
     For the at least one elastic body use of at least one polymer foam is preferred. This polymer foam can be easily produced and it is cheap due to the small amount of material being necessary. Additionally polymer foam has the advantage that is comprises structural inhomogeneity and hereby providing an enhanced noise damping. In the case, if at least one of the profiled rails are made of polymer, it is advantageous to produce the at least one elastic body together with the at least one base profiled rail and/or the at least one mounting profiled rail as a single piece. By this way the profiled rails can be produced in one working step together with the at least one elastic body, hereby additionally skipping a mounting step. In the case, the at least one elastic body being formed together with the at least mounting profiled rail and the at least one base profiled rail as a single piece, additional mounting means and mounting steps are avoided. By this way only the at least one covering profiled rail has to be mounted on the at least one mounting profiled rail. Additional mounting steps are not necessary anymore. 
     As a further alternative or additionally it is advantageous, if the at least one elastic body is formed by at least one elastomer. Elastomers provide a very good elastic deformation and hereby allow pivoting the covering profiled rail with a large angle. 
     Additionally it is advantageous, if the at least one elastic body being dust leakproof between the at least one base profiled rail and the at least one mounting profiled rail. By this way the conjunction between profiled rails are optimally protected. 
     In order to prevent the at least one elastic body being pushed away from its normal position by means of pivoting the covering profiled rail, it is advantageous, if the at least one elastic body being provided in at least one recess of the base profiled rail and/or the mounting profiled rail. Preferably these recesses are formed as hollow cylinders, to provide an optimal seat of the at least one elastic body when formed as a cylinder. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages and characteristics of this invention will be explained in the detailed description below with reference to the associated figures that contain several embodiments of this invention. It should however be understood, that the figure is just used to illustrate the invention and does not limit the scope of protection of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of the present invention and 
         FIG. 4  shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross section of a profiled rail system  1 , comprising a base profiled rail  2 , a covering profiled rail  3  and a mounting profiled rail  4 . The base profiled rail  2  is mounted by means of non shown mounting means, in particular screws with an underground  5 . The base profiled rail  2  comprises mounting means  6 , being realised by means of vertically extending webs, being deviated to the interior at the top end. Between holding means  6  a foot  7  of the mounting profiled rail  4  is provided. This foot  7  is made sufficiently broad, to realise a top abutment for the holding means  6  of the mounting profiled rail  4 , in order to safely hold the mounting profiled rail  4  on the base profiled rail  2 . 
     The mounting profiled rail  4  provides a mounting channel  8  for receiving further holding means  9  in form of a screw. These holding means  9  connect the covering profiled rail  3  with the mounting profiled rail  4 . By means of more or less deep turning of the holding means  9  a certain height adjustability of the covering profiled rail  3  is realised. The covering profiled rail  3  provides two vertically aligned guiding webs  13 . Alternatively only one guiding web  13  can be provided. These guiding webs  13  guide the covering profiled rail  3  during fastening of the holding means  9  and support side forces due to length changes of the floorings. 
     The covering profiled rail  3  comprises covering wings  10 , overlapping flooring ends  11  of floorings  12 . For simplifying mounting of the profiled rail system  1  elastic bodies  20  are provided below the foot  7  and/or laterally to the mounting profiled rail  4 . Preferably these elastic bodies  20  are made from a polymer foam, in particular from an elastomer and are by this way mechanically formable, in particular compressable. In the shown unload position the elastic bodies  20  hold the mounting profiled rail  4  in a vertical position, so that the covering wings  10  of the covering profiled rail  3  are aligned about in parallel with the flooring  12 . If an external force is applied, the mounting profiled rail  4  can be pivoted with respect to the base profiled rail  2 , but the elastic bodies  20  will produce respective restoring forces pushing the mounting profiled rail  4  in the drawn unload position. This facilitates mounting of the profiled rail system  1  very much. 
     Additionally the elastic body  20  being laterally positioned to the mounting profiled rail  4  provides a lateral seal of the profiled rail system  1 . This seal prevents dust from intruding into the connection between the mounting profiled rail  4  in the base profiled rail  2 . Such dust is for example produced during drilling for mounting the base profiled rail  2  to the underground  5 . For additionally improving the seal an additional cap like elastic body  20  is provided, laterally and top sided overlapping the mounting profiled rail  4 . This elastic body  20  is formed in a way that it can easily be penetrated by the holding means  9 . Due to this additionally elastic body  20  the sealing effect and noise damping is enhanced and/or the pivoting angle is enlarged. 
       FIG. 2  shows an alternative embodiment of the profiled rail system  1  according to  FIG. 1 , where like reference numerals entitle like parts. In the following only differences to the embodiment according to  FIG. 1  are described. 
     The profiled rail system  1  according to  FIG. 2  comprises the elastic bodies  20  above the foot  7  of the mounting profiled rail  4 . This makes mounting of the mounting profiled rail  4  on the base profiled rail  2  more difficult. On the other hand this embodiment has important improvements. The elastic bodies  20  now press against the foot  7  from top to bottom, hereby providing pre stress of covering wings  10  against flooring  12 . By this way the connection between the mounting profiled rail  4  and the base profiled rail  2  can be used for height adjustment of the profiled rail system  1 . Additionally the mounting profiled rail  4  will be spaced a part from the base profiled rail  2  even at the bottom, if holding means  2  are sufficiently secured. Hereby the mounting profiled rail  4  will contact the base profiled rail  2  only through the elastic body  20 . By this way noise damping is extremely enhanced, as noise cannot be transferred to the base profiled rail  2 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an alternative embodiment of the profiled rail system  1  according to  FIG. 1 , where like reference numerals entitle like parts. In the following only differences to the embodiment according to  FIG. 1  are described. 
     The embodiment according to  FIG. 3  provides an elastic body  20  which holds the mounting profiled rail  4  spaced a part from the base profiled rail  2  at all sides. By this way an optimal noise damping is achieved. At the same time an optimal dust sealing is realised, preventing dust or dirt from intruding into the connection between the mounting profiled rail  4  in the base profiled rail  2  for sure. Mounting of the elastic body  20  is relatively difficult in this case. Therefore it is preferred to produce the elastic body  20  together with the base profiled rail  2  as a single piece. By this way the difficult mounting step of the elastic body  20  on the base profiled rail  2  is omitted. 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment of the profiled rail system  1  according to  FIG. 1 , where like reference numerals entitle like parts. In the following only differences to the embodiment according to  FIG. 1  are described. 
     In the embodiment according to  FIG. 4  the foot  7  is rounded in a way to preferably achieve a cylindrical or oval surface  14  on its top side. This surface fits to a hollow cylindrical surface  15  of the base profiled rail  2 . By this way an extremely low force joint between both parts is realised. Between the base profiled rail  2  and the mounting profiled rail  4  two elastic bodies  20  are provided, each preferably having a cylindrical shape. Alternatively a triangular, squared or rectangular shape is intended. By this way the elastic bodies  20  can be realised by means of simple cords, especially rubber cords. The elastic bodies  20  are provided in recesses  16  of the base profiled rail  2  and the mounting profiled rail  4 . By this way the elastic bodies  20  are securely held in reception bowls, hereby preventing any displacement of the elastic bodies  20  from their seat. 
     It is intended to combine the shown and described embodiments in any combination. For example the embodiment according to  FIG. 4  can be provided with a cap like elastic body  20  according to  FIG. 1 . 
     Since some of the embodiments of this invention are not shown or described, it should be understood that a great number of changes and modifications of these embodiments is conceivable without departing from the rationale and scope of protection of the invention as defined by the claims.