Patent Description:
It is common today to use prefabricated building elements when building both large and small buildings. Different types of building elements such as wall elements, floor elements, stair elements, etc. are then produced in factories that are adapted for the production of different building elements, and the established building elements are transported to the construction site where they are installed as respective parts of a building being built there.

The prefabricated building elements are usually made of concrete. Concrete is known for transferring sound well, and one therefore wants to reduce the sound that occurs somewhere in a building, propagates through the concrete structure in the building and causes disturbances, irritation and problems for people who live, work or visit the building.

Document <CIT> discloses a building connection according to the preamble of independent claim <NUM>.

The object of the present invention has thus been to provide a building connection in which the transfer of sound between two building elements is eliminated or at least reduced in relation to known connections between building elements of concrete.

This object is achieved with a building connection as defined in claim <NUM>, uses of the building connection as defined in claims <NUM> and <NUM>. Further, preferred embodiments of the building connection are defined in the dependent claims <NUM> - <NUM>.

There is thus provided a building connection comprising a first building element and a second building element which are arranged at a distance from each other where the first building element is connected to the second building element by at least one connecting device. The connecting device comprises a load transfer element arranged in the first building element, and a support box which is molded into the second building element and comprises an inner bottom wall surface and a support box opening facing the first building element. The connecting device further comprises a first sound-absorbing element which is arranged on the inner bottom wall surface of the support box, and a support plate which is arranged on top of the first sound-absorbing element. Furthermore, the load transfer element protrudes from the first building element and into the support box through the support box opening, and a filling area, comprising the support box and an area between the first building element and the second building element, is molded with a filling material.

The installation order of the load transfer element and the support box in the first and the second building element, respectively, may be; the load transfer element is installed in the first building element and then the support box is molded in the second building element. Alternatively, the installation order may be the reverse; the support box is molded in the second building element and then the load transfer element is installed in the first building element.

The first building element is typically a floor element, a landing or another substantially horizontally lying building element, while the second building element is typically a wall element, a stair shaft or another substantially vertically standing building element.

With this building connection, the connecting device will be able to transfer loads between the two building elements and at the same time the transfer of sound, especially step sound, is eliminated or at least greatly reduced.

The load transfer element is preferably movable, or telescopically, arranged in a load transfer element box, where the load transfer element box is molded into the first building element. This makes it possible to insert the first building element, which typically comprises a floor element or landing, between two or more other building elements which are set up, while the movable, or telescopic, load transfer element is in a retracted position in a load transfer element box which is molded into the first building element. When the first building element is in the right position, the movable, or telescopic, load transfer element is pulled out of the load transfer element box and to its extended position where it projects into the support box in the second building element.

The first sound-absorbing element preferably covers substantially the entire inner bottom wall surface of the support box. Furthermore, the first sound-absorbing element preferably comprises an upper surface where the support plate substantially covers the entire upper surface. That is, the support plate covers substantially the entire horizontal extent of the upper surface of the first sound-absorbing element.

The first sound-absorbing element is preferably formed in a rubber material, but may also be formed in another material which provides sufficient sound attenuation, especially step sound, and at the same time withstands the mechanical stress that occurs when the weight of the first building element is transferred via the at least one load transfer element.

The first sound-absorbing element comprises an upper surface and a lower surface where the upper surface and / or the lower surface is formed with a plurality of protruding elements where the protruding elements are separated from each other.

The protruding elements may have many different designs. For example, they may be formed as knobs projecting up from the upper surface of the first sound-absorbing element and / or protruding down from the lower surface of the first sound-absorbing element. The knobs may have a cross-sectional shape that is square, rectangular, circular, polygonal or another shape. Alternatively, the protruding elements may have a cross-sectional shape which is elongate and substantially rectangular and which extends over a larger part or almost the entire surface in which they are arranged. The protruding elements may optionally have a design which is a mixture of different shapes, e.g. a mixture of the shapes mentioned above, such as rectangular protruding elements extending along the edges and smaller, knob-shaped protruding elements within them. A person skilled in the art will of course understand that there are also many other possibilities for designing the protruding elements.

The advantage of designing the upper surface and / or the lower surface of the first sound-absorbing element with a plurality of protruding elements, and thereby open areas between the plurality of the protruding elements, is that the protruding elements may be compressed and expand into the areas between the protruding elements. Therefore, the area between the plurality of protruding elements is preferably large enough to allow the plurality of protruding elements to expand outwardly and fill the space between the protruding elements when the first sound-absorbing element is subjected to load from the load transfer element via the filling material and the support plate in the support box.

The load transfer element is arranged in the support box enclosed by the filling material, i.e. the load transfer element is arranged with filling material around it on all edges. The filling material may, for example, be a cement-based mortar. In this case, it means that the load transfer element is not in direct contact with the support box or support plate located on the first sound-absorbing element.

The support box is preferably formed with a plurality of side walls which are inclined relative to the inner bottom wall surface This means that the side walls form an angle that is less than <NUM> degrees with the bottom wall and the inner bottom wall surface. The side walls preferably incline inwards from the bottom wall and upwards towards the roof wall of the support box.

Furthermore, the side walls of the support box are preferably formed with inner side surfaces which are smooth. This means that the side walls do not have any kind of elements protruding from the surfaces or any depressions in the surfaces that the filling material may get stuck in. This means that when the filling material in the support box hardens / dries, and thus may shrink somewhat, the filling material will not stick in the side surfaces of the side walls.

It also means that when a load is transferred from the first building element to the second building element via the load transfer element, and the first sound-absorbing element is compressed a certain distance, the hardened filling material will be able to move freely relative to the plurality of side surfaces of the support box. When this happens, a small gap is formed between the filling material and the inner side surfaces, since the inner side surfaces are inclined, which also contributes to damping the sound transfer between the first building element and the second building element.

The support box is preferably made of a plastic material, for example HDPE (high density polyethylene). The connecting device comprises the support box in order to avoid getting concrete against concrete when the filling material is placed in the filling area. If one only had a recess or pocket in the second building element into which the load transfer element was to be inserted, it would have become concrete against concrete when the filling area, ie among other things the area in the recess / pocket around the load transfer element, is filled with filling material. This works poorly when the first sound-absorbing element is compressed by the load transfer element and the filling material is forced to follow the load transfer element. The connecting device therefore comprises the support box, which is preferably molded into the second building element and is formed of plastic or another material to which the filling material will not adhere to in an appreciable degree.

The connecting device further preferably comprises a second sound-absorbing element which is arranged in a first end surface of the first building element facing the second building element, which second sound-absorbing element encloses an opening in the load transfer element box from which the load transfer element projects and has an extension in the first end surface of the first building element so that the second sound-absorbing element at least covers the filling area which abuts the first building element. There be no filling material will be abutting the first end surface of the first building element outside the second sound-absorbing element. Thus, there will be no concrete-to-concrete contact between the first building element and the second building element and the transfer of sound, and especially step sound, between the two building elements is eliminated or at least reduced to a minimum.

The building connection preferably comprises a sealing element which is arranged between and abuts against the first building element and the second building element, and extends at least on the underside of and up on the sides of the opening of the load transfer element box. Preferably, the sealing element abuts the second sound-absorbing element, so that direct contact between the filling material and the concrete in the first building element is avoided. This sealing element will act as bottom and side walls in the filling area located in the space between the first building element and the second building element, so that liquid filling material may be poured into the filling area without flowing out below the gap between the first building element and the second building element.

Furthermore, the area, or gap, between the first building element and the second building element, on the upper side of the filling area, or the filling areas when the first building element and the second building element are connected to two or more connecting devices, comprises a seal. This seal will prevent various liquids, dirt and the like from falling into the space or gap between the first building element and the second building element. The seal may advantageously be laid so that it more or less aligns with an upper surface of the first building element. The seal may, for example, be of silicone or another suitable material.

The building connection described herein may be used for joining a first building element and a second building element. For example, the building connection may be used when the first building element is a landing and the second building element is a wall, or when the first building element is a floor element and the second building element is a wall.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:.

It should first be noted that the various features of the illustrated embodiment of the invention have the same reference numerals in all the figures. A specific reference number thus refers to the same technical features in all the figures.

<FIG> show an embodiment of the building connection <NUM> where a first building element <NUM> is securely connected to a second building element <NUM> with at least one, but preferably a plurality of connecting devices <NUM>. As indicated in the figures, the first building element <NUM> is at a distance from the second building element <NUM>. This distance, or gap, is not large, but it is large enough that there is no direct contact between the first building element <NUM> and the second building element <NUM> which would give a good transfer of sound between the two the building elements. Typically, the second building element <NUM> will be a vertical wall element of one type or another, while the first building element will typically be a building element which extends outwards in the horizontal direction, such as a landing or a floor element, and which is attached to the second building element by means of one or more connecting devices <NUM>. The weight of the first building element <NUM> and possible load on the first building element <NUM>, such as furniture, persons, etc., is transferred via the connecting devices <NUM> to the second building element <NUM>. As sounds propagate easily through concrete structures, the present building connection <NUM> is designed to eliminate transfer of sound, in particular step sound, between the first and second building elements <NUM>, <NUM>, or at least reduce transfer of sound between the first and second building elements <NUM>, <NUM> to a minimum.

The first building element <NUM> has an upper surface <NUM>, a first end portion <NUM> towards the second building element <NUM> and a first side surface <NUM> facing the second building element <NUM>. The second building element <NUM> comprises a first side surface <NUM> facing the first side surface <NUM> of the first building element <NUM>.

Each connecting device <NUM> comprises a load transfer element <NUM> which is arranged in the first building element <NUM> and projects from the first side surface <NUM> of the first building element <NUM> in an established building connection <NUM> as indicated in <FIG>.

The load transfer element <NUM> may be molded into the first building element <NUM> so that it is firmly anchored in the first building element <NUM>. Alternatively, the load transfer element <NUM> may be movably arranged in a load transfer element box <NUM> between a retracted position, where preferably the entire load transfer element <NUM> is positioned inside the load transfer element box <NUM> and an extended position, wherein the load transfer element <NUM> is partially pulled out of the load transfer element box <NUM>.

The load transfer element box <NUM> is formed with a first end portion with an opening <NUM> as indicated in <FIG>, and is preferably fixedly attached in the first building element <NUM>. The load transfer element box <NUM> may for instance advantageously be molded into the first building element <NUM> during the production of the first building element <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> of the load transfer element box <NUM> is preferably flush with the first side surface <NUM> of the first building element <NUM> so that when the load transfer element <NUM> is pulled out of the load transfer element box <NUM>, the load transfer element <NUM> protrudes from the first building element <NUM>.

The load transfer box <NUM> also has a second end portion <NUM> located inside the first building element <NUM> and the load transfer box <NUM> preferably has an inner length which is at least as long as the length of the load transfer element <NUM> so that the entire load transfer element <NUM> may be pushed into the load transfer element box <NUM>.

The second building element <NUM>, which will normally, but not necessarily, be a vertically standing building element, comprises a support box <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The support box <NUM> is preferably fixedly attached in the second building element <NUM>, for example by the support box <NUM> being molded in during the production of the second building element <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the support box <NUM> is formed with a bottom wall <NUM> having an inner bottom wall surface <NUM>, a first side wall <NUM> having a first inner surface <NUM>, a second side wall <NUM> having a second inner surface <NUM>, a third, or rear, side wall <NUM> having a third inner surface <NUM> and a roof wall <NUM> having an inner roof wall surface <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the support box <NUM> is preferably formed with one or more rib elements <NUM>. The rib elements are preferably arranged on the outside of the support box <NUM> as indicated in the figures. The rib elements <NUM> give extra mechanical strength to the support box <NUM> and contribute to the support box <NUM> being securely fixed in its position in the second building element <NUM>.

The support box <NUM> further has a support box opening <NUM> as indicated in <FIG>, into which the load transfer element <NUM> projects, when the building connection <NUM> is completed. The support box opening <NUM> is preferably flush with the first side surface <NUM> of the second building element <NUM> facing the first building element <NUM>.

The support box <NUM> may also comprise a lid <NUM> which may be attached to the support box <NUM> so that the support box opening <NUM> is covered, for example during production and / or transport of the second building element <NUM>. The lid <NUM> may be provided with one or more fastening elements <NUM>, such as pins or the like, which cooperate with complementary shaped fastening elements, such as openings or holes, on the support box <NUM>. The lid <NUM> may also be formed with a gripping device <NUM> which may be used when the lid is to be removed. The gripping device <NUM> may, for example, be a hole in the lid <NUM> which is large enough for a person to insert one or more fingers through it.

Arranged on the inner bottom wall surface <NUM> of the support box <NUM> is a first sound-absorbing element <NUM>. The first sound-absorbing element <NUM> is formed with a lower surface <NUM> abutting the inner bottom wall surface <NUM> of the support box <NUM> and an upper surface <NUM> facing the interior of the support box. Preferably, the first sound-absorbing element <NUM> covers substantially the entire inner bottom wall surface <NUM>.

The first sound-absorbing element <NUM> may be made of different types of materials, for example of a rubber material, as long as it has the desired sound-absorbing properties and may withstand the mechanical stress due to the weight of the first building element <NUM> which the first sound-absorbing element <NUM> must absorb in an established building connection <NUM>.

The first sound-absorbing element <NUM> is preferably formed with at least one, but preferably a plurality of protruding elements <NUM> projecting from the lower surface <NUM> and / or from the upper surface <NUM> of the first sound-absorbing element <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in the <FIG> and <FIG>, the protruding elements <NUM> protrude from the lower surface <NUM>. Between the protruding elements <NUM>, space <NUM> is formed. When the first sound-absorbing element <NUM> is subjected to the load from the first building element <NUM> in a completed building connection <NUM>, the first sound-absorbing element <NUM> could be compressed somewhat. The protruding elements <NUM> will then be able to compress and then expand out laterally and into the spaces <NUM>. This means that the height of the first sound-absorbing element <NUM> will be reduced when it is loaded with the weight of the first building element <NUM> in a completed building connection <NUM>.

Arranged on top of the first sound-absorbing element <NUM> is a support plate <NUM>. The support plate <NUM> preferably has the same design as the first sound-absorbing element <NUM> seen from above. The support plate <NUM> thus substantially covers the upper surface <NUM> of the first sound-absorbing element <NUM>. The support plate may be made of different types of materials, for example a metal such as steel, or a plastic material which may withstand the load of the first building element <NUM> in in a completed building connection <NUM>.

The connecting device <NUM> preferably also comprises a second sound-absorbing element <NUM>. The second sound-absorbing element <NUM> is preferably arranged in a recess in the first side surface <NUM> of the first building element <NUM> facing the second building element <NUM>. The recess in the first building element <NUM> preferably has a depth which substantially corresponds to the thickness of the second sound-absorbing element <NUM> so that a first surface <NUM> of the second sound-absorbing element <NUM> substantially aligns with the remains of the first side surface <NUM> of the first building element <NUM>. The second sound-absorbing element may be made of a rubber material or another suitable material that has the desired sound-absorbing properties.

In the building connection <NUM> the first building element <NUM> is arranged at a distance from the second building element <NUM>, i.e. there is a small gap <NUM> between the two building elements <NUM>, <NUM>. In the gap <NUM> a sealing element <NUM> is preferably arranged as indicated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The sealing element <NUM> has a general U-shape and lies at the bottom of the load transfer element <NUM> and extends up on the sides of the load transfer element <NUM> at least up to the same height as the roof wall <NUM> of the support box <NUM>, but preferably slightly higher than this. The sealing element <NUM> preferably abuts in its entirety against the second sound-absorbing element <NUM>. Alternatively, it may be arranged exactly in the transition between the first surface <NUM> of the second sound-absorbing element <NUM> and the first side surface <NUM> of the first building element <NUM> so that a filling material <NUM> arranged in the gap <NUM> between the two building elements <NUM>, <NUM> does not come into contact with the first side surface <NUM> of the first building element <NUM>.

In a completed building connection <NUM>, the first building element <NUM> is connected to the second building element <NUM>, and the load transfer element <NUM> is pulled out of the load transfer element box <NUM> so that it projects into the support box <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. When the load transfer element <NUM> is in its extended position and projects into the support box <NUM>, a filling area <NUM> is formed as indicated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The filling area <NUM> thus comprises the area around the load transfer element <NUM> in the support box <NUM> and further outwards towards the second sound-absorbing element <NUM> in the gap <NUM> between the first building element <NUM> and the second building element <NUM>. In the gap <NUM> between the two building elements <NUM>, <NUM> the filling area <NUM> extends down to the sealing element <NUM> below the load transfer element <NUM>, out to the sealing element <NUM> on the sides of the load transfer element <NUM>, and in the smallest up to the roof wall <NUM> of the support box <NUM> at the top of the load transfer element <NUM> as indicated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

When the first building element <NUM> is to be attached to the second building element <NUM>, the load transfer element <NUM> will be pushed into the load transfer element box <NUM> so that the first building element <NUM>, such as for instance a landing or floor element, may be easily maneuvered into place between two or more vertically standing second building elements <NUM>. When the first building element <NUM> is arranged in a straight position, the load transfer element <NUM> is pulled out of the load transfer element box <NUM> so that the load transfer element <NUM> projects into the support box <NUM>, and the sealing element <NUM> is arranged on the underside and on to the sides of the load transfer element <NUM> so that the forming of the filling area <NUM> is completed. The filling area <NUM> is then filled with a filling material until the filling area <NUM> is completely filled with the filling material <NUM>. When the filling material <NUM> hardens and stiffens, a building connection <NUM> is formed between a first building element <NUM> of concrete and a second building element <NUM> of concrete where sound transfer, and in particular step sound, between the two building elements <NUM>, <NUM> is eliminated or at least reduced to a minimum.

When the filling material <NUM> is arranged in the filling area <NUM>, an upper seal <NUM> may be arranged in the gap <NUM> between the first building element <NUM> and the second building element <NUM> preferably near the upper edge of the first side surface <NUM> of the first building element <NUM>. The seal <NUM> preferably extends substantially along the entire width of the first building element <NUM>. This will prevent liquid, sand, gravel and other material from accumulating in the gap <NUM>. The seal <NUM> may, for example, be formed of a conventional silicone sealing material.

As mentioned above, the support box comprises a first side wall <NUM>, a second side wall <NUM> and a third side wall <NUM>. The first side wall <NUM> and / or second side wall <NUM> and / or third side wall <NUM> of the support box is preferably inclined relative to the bottom wall <NUM> and the bottom wall surface <NUM> of the bottom wall. This means that the angle between any inclined side walls is less than <NUM> degrees.

Furthermore, the first inner surface <NUM> of the first side wall <NUM> and / or the second inner surface <NUM> of the second side wall <NUM> and / or the third inner surface <NUM> of the third side wall <NUM> are preferably smooth, i.e. the inner surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the side walls have no shape for elements projecting from the inner surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or any recesses in the inner surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in which the filler material may adhere.

This means that when the filling material <NUM> in the support box <NUM> hardens / dries, and thus may shrink somewhat, the filling material <NUM> will not stick to the side surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the side walls.

It also means that when a load is transferred from the first building element <NUM> in an established building connection <NUM> to the second building element <NUM> via the load transfer element <NUM>, and the first sound-absorbing element <NUM> is compressed a certain distance, the hardened filling material <NUM> will be able to move freely vertically in relative to the support box's plurality of side surfaces. When this happens, a small gap is formed between the filling material and the inner side surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the support box <NUM> as the inner side surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are inclined, which also contributes to damping the sound transfer between the first building element <NUM> and the second building element <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A building connection (<NUM>) comprising a first building element (<NUM>) and a second building element (<NUM>) arranged at a distance from each other, the first building element (<NUM>) being connected to the second building element (<NUM>) by at least one connecting device (<NUM>), which connecting device (<NUM>) comprises a load transfer element (<NUM>) arranged in the first building element (<NUM>), and a support box (<NUM>) molded into the second building element (<NUM>) and comprising an inner bottom wall surface ( <NUM>) and a support box opening (<NUM>) facing the first building element (<NUM>), which connecting device (<NUM>) further comprises a first sound-absorbing element (<NUM>) arranged on the inner bottom wall surface (<NUM>) of the support box (<NUM>), and a support plate ( <NUM>) which is arranged on top of the first sound-absorbing element (<NUM>), which load transfer element (<NUM>) protrudes from the first building element (<NUM>) and into the support box (<NUM>) through the support box opening (<NUM>) and where a filling area (<NUM>) comprising the support box (<NUM>) and an area between the first building element (<NUM>) and the second building element (<NUM>) is molded with a filling material (<NUM>), characterized in that the load transfer element is arranged in the support box (<NUM>) enclosed by the filling material so that the load transfer element (<NUM>) is arranged with filling material around it on all edges.