U.S. patent application number 09/788902 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-04 for device for forming expansion joints between fields of floor covering laid on a raw floor.
Invention is credited to Schluter, Werner.
Application Number | 20010025461 09/788902 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7632430 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010025461 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schluter, Werner |
October 4, 2001 |
Device for forming expansion joints between fields of floor
covering laid on a raw floor
Abstract
A device for forming expansion joints between the fields of a
floor covering laid on a raw floor, comprises limiting sections
that are tied to the edges of the floor covering limiting the
joint, as well as to the corresponding fastening mortar. The two
limiting sections are joined with each other in a sliding manner
parallel with the fields of the floor covering. The two limiting
sections have approximately U-shaped cross sections. In their
sliding connection, in which the two limiting sections are directed
against each other, they jointly have a cross section in the form
of a double "T".
Inventors: |
Schluter, Werner; (Iserlohn,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 Northern Boulevard
Roslyn
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
7632430 |
Appl. No.: |
09/788902 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/396.05 ;
52/395; 52/396.04; 52/649.1; 52/699; 52/715 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 15/02005 20130101;
E04F 15/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/396.05 ;
52/395; 52/396.04; 52/699; 52/715; 52/649.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/38; E04C
005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 25, 2000 |
DE |
100 08 944.5 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for forming expansion joints between fields of floor
covering laid on a raw floor with fastening mortar, comprising: at
least two limiting sections adapted to be tied to each of the edges
of the floor covering defining the joints, and in the corresponding
fastening mortar, each section being identical to the other and
having an approximately U-shaped cross section with two lateral
legs and a middle bridge section, wherein when one section is
turned by 180.degree. against the other, one of the legs of each
section engages an open pocket formed in an opposite leg of the
other section to slidingly join the two sections together.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the two limiting
sections jointly form a cross section in the form of a double "T"
when the sections are turned 180.degree. against the other.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the bridge sections and
the legs-of the limiting sections form at least one chamber for
receiving fastening mortar, said chambers being open toward a
fastening side.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pockets are formed
in an area between the bridge section and the lateral legs on at
least one side of each limiting section, said pockets each being
engaged in a sliding manner by the legs of the other limiting
section.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of the legs
engaging the pockets is formed by two layers on an end side.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein a section of each
lateral leg that engages one of the pockets is shaped curved
inwards by the thickness of the corresponding opposite leg.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a device for forming expansion
joints between fields of floor covering laid on a raw or uncoated
floor. Limiting sections are tied to each of the edges of the floor
covering defining the joint, as well as in the associated fastening
mortar, so that the two limiting sections are connected with each
other in a sliding manner and extend parallel with the fields of
the floor covering.
[0003] 2. The Prior Art
[0004] Expansion joints are used as field-limiting joints, among
other things, in locations where tiles, natural stone, terrazzo
mosaic coverings, tiling finishes and similar coverings installed
on mortar beds, or glued layers have to be laid on raw floors, for
example concrete floors. These joints are required especially in
conjunction with floors with large surface areas, such as in
shopping centers, large market places, or in connection with
industrial floors. Expansion joint constructions of this type are
expected to absorb the movements of the floor covering caused by
tensile, pressure and/or shear stress in a safe and controlled
manner. At the same time, the joints further transmit the forces
caused by the wheels of forklift trucks or floor transporter
vehicles and acting on the construction of the joint. In these
situations, the edges of the floor covering have to be protected
within the zone of such field-limiting joints.
[0005] Panel-laying techniques where joint zones are exactly fixed
in advance are commonly used. This means that the plates are first
laid from one side up to the fixed axis of the joint. The joint
constructions are then installed in a second step of the
installation process, and the field of plates is finally tied to
the joint constructions or sections of the joint.
[0006] A device for forming expansion joints between fields of
floor covering is known from DE 43 41 224 C2. Strip-like limiting
sections are tied to the edges of the floor covering limiting the
joints. A hollow, elastic section strip is supported between the
two spaced-apart limiting sections for covering the space of the
joints. This device permits only minor movements of the coated
areas against each other.
[0007] A joint arrangement comprising two vertical strips extending
parallel next to each other with a lateral spacing, and a bridge
element located between the vertical strips for incorporation in a
field-limiting joint of a floor covering laid on a bed of mortar,
is discussed in German Patent No. DE 196 45 637 C1. In this case,
the upper longitudinal edges of the vertical strips extend in the
plane extending on the top side of the floor covering. The vertical
strips, which are provided with a large number of breakthroughs and
which extend up into the bed of mortar, are joined with each.other
along their upper longitudinal edges by a bridge, forming one
single piece. This bridge has a closed surface area and serves as
the bridge element. The breakthroughs located in the upper
longitudinal strip of the vertical strips extending at the level of
the floor covering have smaller cross sections than the
breakthroughs located in the lower strip disposed at the level of
the bed of mortar.
[0008] The one-component section employed in this joint arrangement
has the drawback that the upper, rigid connection with a bridge
prevents an adequate pushing and compensating motion from taking
place within the area of the joint. This poses the risk that the
profiles may get torn from the edges of the floor coating. The
further drawback is that in the presence of substantial vertical
stresses acting on the joint section, which has an inadequate
surface area to support the sections on the substrate, causes the
sections to be torn off on their sides, lower themselves down into
the joint and consequently lose their protective function versus
the edges of the floor covering.
[0009] Constructions according to German Patent No. DE 197 53 937
A1 satisfy the requirements that devices for forming expansion
joints are expected to meet in practical applications with respect
to an adequately sliding joint. That case has two angle sections,
with one angle section having pockets with parallel surfaces. These
pockets are engaged in a sliding manner by legs correspondingly
arranged on the other angle section. These sections, however, can
be installed below the floor covering only with molded-on fastening
legs and are consequently not suited for the laying technique
addressed in the present case. Such constructions can be usefully
installed only when at least one angle section is already installed
in the course of the first phase of the covering laying process.
However, it is difficult to then tie this angle section to the
edges of the expansion joint, since these edges are produced only
during the second phase of this construction work.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
device for forming expansion joints that permits tying to the edges
of the already laid plates with adequate tying of the limiting
sections to the fastening mortar, and provides for a large space in
which the fields of the floor covering can move.
[0011] The invention comprises two limiting sections having an
approximately U-shaped cross section and identical constructions,
which engage one another in a sliding manner. This arrangement of
the limiting sections leads to a device that is closed at the top
and at the bottom. The underside forms an adequate support
surface.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the chambers formed around the
bridges and the legs of the limiting sections are filled in the
laying process with the fastening mortar, so that the upper legs of
the limiting sections are supported by the fastening mortar, and
are consequently tied to the fields of the floor covering, safely
securing them to a high degree against vertical stress.
[0013] These devices can be joined in a simple manner with the
edges of the floor covering limiting the moving joints, by securing
the devices via the fastening mortar. The fastening mortar, which
is preferably provided with a joint in the form of a cut, recess or
notch, is arranged below the device, so that such mortar supports
the device as well.
[0014] In another preferred embodiment, the corresponding limiting
sections can be manufactured in a simple way by metal sheet rolling
or metal sheet folding. It is therefore possible to use sections
made of metal sheet material that can be economically produced
not-by the extrusion process, such as sections made of stainless
steel sheet materials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
[0016] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote
similar elements throughout the several views:
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a device for forming
expansion joints according to the invention; and
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a corresponding perspective sectional view of
such a device after its unilateral installation in the structure of
a floor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] The device shown in FIG. 1 comprises two limiting sections 1
basically having a U-shaped cross section and identical
constructions. After having been installed in an arrangement in
which the two sections are turned against each other by 180.degree.
, the two sections 1 engage each other in a sliding manner and form
a cross section having the shape of a double "T". A space-keeping
filling insert 2 is glued in between the inwardly curved bridges
11. The curved components of bridges 11 each form an outwardly open
chamber 3. In the area of the transitions from bridge 11 to lateral
bridges 12, pockets 14 are formed by chamfering or rolling methods,
and each engage the corresponding leg 13 of the other limiting
section in a sliding manner. Engaging legs 13 are shaped in two
layers by the corresponding bend or corresponding fold 13a. The
corresponding two-layer section is shaped curved inwards around a
pocket 14 by the thickness of the metal sheet the leg 12.
[0020] The device shown in FIG. 1 is shown again in FIG. 2 in an
installation situation. A mortar layer 5 is applied to a raw floor
4, for example a concrete floor, and a plate floor covering 6 or
the like is applied to raw floor 4. The device as defined by the
invention is installed on one side on layer 5 and plate floor
covering 6 by means of limiting section 1. The entire device is
supported on a mortar stilt applied to raw floor 4, as well as on a
corresponding bed, which has a joint 8 in the form of a notch. The
fastening mortar denoted by reference numeral 7 serves for the
tie-up. Mortar 7 fully or completely penetrates chamber 3 formed by
the limiting section 1 and cures in said section. For additionally
bracing the fastening mortar, it is possible to provide for
breakthroughs 15 in bridge 11, which may also be combined with
undercut contours. As shown in the representation in FIG. 2, on the
other side of the device as defined by the invention, the other
limiting section 1 is joined with the adjoining structure of the
floor.
[0021] Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many
changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *