U.S. patent application number 09/927226 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-23 for device for bridging expansion joints in walls or floors of buildings.
This patent application is currently assigned to Schluter-Systems KG. Invention is credited to Schluter, Werner.
Application Number | 20020059764 09/927226 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8170061 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020059764 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schluter, Werner |
May 23, 2002 |
Device for bridging expansion joints in walls or floors of
buildings
Abstract
A device for bridging expansion joints (7) which separate
adjacent surfaces in walls or floors (6) of buildings is provided.
The device comprises two anchoring profiles or members (1) having
an approximately L-shaped cross section. Each anchoring profile
comprises a fastening leg (11) and a terminating leg (12) disposed
perpendicular to the fastening leg. Each anchoring profile also has
a bridging profile or member (2 and 3, respectively) hinged on the
terminating leg (12). The bridging profiles engage one another in a
sliding, form-locking manner. In this connection, one leg (33) of a
bridging profile (3) is provided with protruding elements (36)
spaced from each other at least on the end engaging the other
bridging profile (2). Means (4) are also provided for securing the
two bridging profiles (2 and 3) engaging one another into an
installed position.
Inventors: |
Schluter, Werner; (Iserlohn,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 Northern Boulevard
Roslyn
NY
11576
US
|
Assignee: |
Schluter-Systems KG
|
Family ID: |
8170061 |
Appl. No.: |
09/927226 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/396.04 ;
52/396.05; 52/468 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 15/02027 20130101;
E04B 1/6804 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/396.04 ;
52/396.05; 52/468 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/68; E04F
015/14; E04B 001/686; E04D 001/36; E04C 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 12, 2000 |
EP |
00122106.8 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for bridging an expansion joint which separates
adjacent surfaces comprising: (a) at least two anchoring members
having an approximately L-shaped cross section, each of said
members comprising a fastening leg for securement beneath the
adjacent surfaces and a terminating leg perpendicular to said
fastening leg; (b) at least two bridging members, each bridging
member being hinged to one of said terminating legs and having a
portion engaging and interlocking a corresponding portion of
another of said bridging members, in a sliding, locking manner,
wherein one of said bridging members has a leg provided with spaced
protruding elements on the portion engaging and interlocking the
other bridging member; and (c) means for securing the engaged
bridging members to each other in an installed position.
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein each bridging member has
at least two legs forming a U-shaped pocket facing and interlocking
the legs of the other bridging member.
3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said at least two legs
of one bridging member comprises a first outer leg and a second leg
forming an engaging end with another bridging pocket, said first
outer leg being shorter than the second leg forming the engaging
end.
4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the terminating leg of
each anchoring member has (i) an outer side opposing the fastening
leg of said anchoring pin and (ii) a hinge pin spaced from a top
edge of the terminating leg, said hinge pin extending in the
longitudinal direction of the terminating leg, each bridging member
having a partly cylindrical hinge socket molded onto an end side
pivotally-mounting said bridging member on a corresponding hinge
pin.
5. The device according to claim 4 wherein each hinge pin is molded
with a spacing bridge in a cylindrical recess of each terminating
leg, whereby the hinge socket of one of said bridging members
lockingly engages said recess of an adjoining anchoring member.
6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the terminating leg of
each anchoring member has a top end provided with a flange for
protecting an edge of an adjacent surface.
7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the terminating leg has
spacing means on a side facing the surface to be protected, said
spacing means being adapted to form a joint between the edge of the
surface and the terminating leg.
8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the spacing means
comprises a molded-on spacing strip extending in the longitudinal
direction of the terminating leg.
9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the protruding elements
comprise ribs, said other bridging member has at least two legs
forming a pocket for receiving said leg of said one of said
bridging members, one of said at least two legs having an inner
side having a receiving groove, and said means for securing the
bridging members in the installed position comprises at least one
groove formed between the ribs for receiving connecting means
provided in said receiving groove and insertable in said at least
one groove in a protruding manner.
10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the connecting means
comprises at least one cylindrical element which is removable from
the receiving grooves and said at least one groove formed between
the ribs.
11. The device according to claim 10 wherein said at least one
cylindrical element comprises a notched pin.
12. The device according to claim 10 wherein said connecting means
comprises a deformable sealing cord.
13. The device according to claim 10 wherein said connecting means
comprises a cylindrical pin made of a material which can be
deformed transversely in relation to its longitudinal
direction.
14. The device according to claim 1 wherein each anchoring member
has a hinge pin formed on an angle on an end side of the
terminating leg for pivotably mounting said bridging member to the
terminating leg in an approximately parallel direction.
15. The device according to claim 1 wherein the protruding elements
of said leg comprise ribs.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 of
European Application No. 00122106.8 filed Oct. 12, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a device for bridging expansion
joints in walls or floors of buildings. The device comprises two
approximately L-shaped anchoring profiles or members each having a
fastening leg and a terminating leg extending perpendicular in
relation to the fastening leg, and a bridging profile or member
hinged to the terminating leg, the legs engaging one another in a
sliding, form-locking manner.
[0004] 2. The Prior Art
[0005] A prior device is known from EP 0 356 268 B1. The anchoring
profiles of this known device, which have an about L-shaped cross
section, are firmly screwed with their fastening legs to the
substrate, with a suitable spacing from each other for forming a
bridging of large expansion joints in buildings, and are then
covered with mortar or flooring plaster. The terminating legs,
which extend perpendicular to the fastening leg, define in this
connection with their outer sides the expansion joint to be
bridged, and with the top side of the terminating legs form a gauge
for building up the wall or floor. Bridging profiles in the form of
joint-like connections are hooked into each of the terminating
legs, whereby a pocket-shaped bridging profile receives the other
bridging profile in its pocket in a sliding manner in a slanted
direction. The device is capable in this way to absorb the
movements of the floor or wall fields separated from each other by
a joint. Due to the sliding connection and the articulation of the
bridging profiles, this device is capable of absorbing movements at
different levels. Because of the deep design of their pockets and
the required engaging section, however, these profiles can be
produced with very strong walls only by an extrusion process.
Because of the required high wall thickness, these devices are not
suitable for application in floors or walls that are covered with
ceramic tiles by the so-called thin-bed method in relatively thin
adhesive or contact layers. In this method, perforated lateral
fastening legs are embedded in the thin bed of the adhesive or
contact layer.
[0006] The problem of the invention consists in proposing a device
of the type specified above for use in walls or floors that are
covered with ceramic tiles laid by the thin-bed laying method, so
that thin-walled bridging and anchoring profiles are required. It
has to be assured in this connection that when such devices are
installed, their installed position is fixed, so that later tensile
stresses or movements of expansion of the separated fields of such
tile or slate covers can be absorbed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The problem is solved with a device in accordance with the
invention. In order to obtain thin-walled pockets with adequate
depth and a correspondingly long engaging end of a pocket leg, it
is proposed that the engaging pocket leg of a bridging profile or
member be provided with protruding elements located at its engaging
and interlocking end. These projecting elements extend in the
longitudinal direction of the profile with a spacing from each
other. In addition, means are provided for securing the two engaged
bridging profiles to one another in an installed position. Such
securing of the installed position prevents the two bridging
profiles engaging one another from being pushed together to an
excessive extent when they are installed because they could not
absorb in such a position the required expansion movements of the
fields of the tile covering. Owing to the design of the engaging
end of a pocket legs it is possible to embody this leg as a whole
in a thin-walled manner in conformity to the design of the other
pocket leg. The pocket legs therefore can be designed largely with
almost the same thickness.
[0008] In accordance with one embodiment, the upper leg can be
designed shorter than the other leg engaging the pocket. Greater
pocket depths can be realized in this way in a favorable manner in
the extrusion process.
[0009] Variations of the articulated support holding the bridging
profiles on the anchoring profiles or members are specified by the
features of further embodiments where on the outer side of the
terminating leg of each anchoring profile opposing the fastening
leg, a hinge pin is arranged with a spacing from the top edge of
the terminating leg. The hinge pin extends in the longitudinal
direction of the terminating leg. The bridging profile is
pivot-mounted on the hinge pin with a partially cylindrical hinge
pan or elongated socket molded onto the end side. The hinge pin may
be molded in a cylindrical recess onto the terminating leg with a
spacing bridge. The hinge socket engages the recess in a
form-locked manner.
[0010] Measures are specified in another embodiment for protecting
the edges of the tile covering to be defined by the anchoring
profiles. In accordance with this embodiment, the top end of the
terminating leg of each anchoring profile is provided with a
bushing or widening to protect an edge of an adjacent covering.
[0011] In order to obtain constant joint configurations between the
terminating legs of the anchoring profiles and the adjacent edges
of the tile covering, space-keeping means are provided in another
embodiment as a molded-on spacing strip extending in the
longitudinal direction of the terminating leg.
[0012] Special means for fixing the installed position are proposed
according to a further embodiment. In this embodiment, one or
several grooves are formed between the ribs for receiving
connecting means inserted in the groove in a protruding manner.
This projecting connection means is correspondingly provided in a
corresponding receiving groove located on the inner side of a leg
of the pocket on the other bridging profile. Preferably cylindrical
elements can be employed in the form of notched pins that can be
destroyed or deformed, or in the form of deformable seals for the
securing connection.
[0013] A device according to a further embodiment is proposed for
bridging an expansion joint in the corner of a building, the
function of this device being identical with the function of a
device as defined by the invention in a plane. In this embodiment,
the hinge pin is formed on an anchoring profile on an end-side
angling on the terminating leg, for pivotably tying the bridging
profile to the terminating leg in an approximately parallel
direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose
of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
[0015] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote
similar elements throughout the several views:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a cross section on an enlarged scale through a
device as defined by the invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional representation of the
installation of this device within the zone of the expansion joint
in a floor laid with tiles; and
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional representation of an
installation of a special device for bridging an expansion joint in
the corner area between the floor and the wall of a building.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 show two anchoring profiles or members 1
having an approximately L-shaped cross-section. The anchoring
profiles are preferably produced from an aluminum or brass alloy in
an extrusion process. Each profile has a fastening leg 11 and a
terminating leg 12. The fastening legs 11 have a thickness of less
than 1.5 mm, as a rule, and are provided with breakthroughs. The
terminating legs 12 are each basically molded perpendicular to
fastening leg 11. Each terminating leg comprises a hinge pin 14
that is located in a molded cylindrical recess or well 13. Hinge
pin 14 is directed outwards with a spacing that extends in the
direction of the profile. Disposed on hinge pins 14 are pocket-like
bridging profiles 2 and 3 which form a joint with hinge pins 14.
Each bridging profile or member 2, 3 has a respective hinge pan or
elongated socket 24, 34 correspondingly configured to and receiving
a respective hinge pin 14 by which the bridging profile is hinged
on a terminating leg of an adjacent anchoring profile.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows the device used to form a joint between
covering tiles to be installed and terminating legs 12. Spacing
means are provided in the form of the molded-on strips 17 shown in
FIG. 1. In addition, the upper area of terminating legs 12 have
widenings or flanges 16 to protect the edges of the laid tiles.
[0021] The two pocket-like bridging profiles 2 and 3 each have a
portion that engages and interlocks a corresponding portion of
another bridging profile as they slide against each other. Each
bridging profile has pocket legs 22, 23 and 32, 33 respectively
which form the respective pockets 21, 31. Each bridging profile
engages the corresponding pocket legs 22, 33 in a form-locking
manner with its pocket. Thus, pocket leg 33 of bridging profile 3
engages pocket 21 of bridging profile 2 with its engaging end 33a.
The outer thin-walled pocket leg 32 of bridging profile 3 is kept
shorter than the other pocket leg 33 of bridging profile 3, which
engages pocket 21 of bridging profile 2 via engaging end 33a. Ribs
36 are formed on one side of engaging end 33a spaced apart from
each other. The ribs reinforce pocket leg 33 only by sections, so
that the leg can be pushed into pocket 21 in a form-locking manner.
In this way, pocket legs 32 and 33 may have the same thickness to
the greatest possible extent and be made as thin as possible. Thus,
pocket leg 22 has about the same thickness as the other pocket leg
23 forming pocket 21 of bridging profile 3 and engages the pocket
31 of other bridging profile 3 in a sliding and form-locking manner
as well. Bridging profile 2, too, is attached with its hinge socket
24 to its corresponding hinge pin 14 in an articulated manner. The
hinge pin is formed on spacing bridge 15 in recess 13 of
terminating leg 12 of the anchoring profile 1.
[0022] To fix the bridging profiles into a predetermined
installation position, a receiving groove 35 is formed between the
ribs 36 on pocket leg 33,. The receiving groove conforms to a
corresponding receiving groove 25 located on the inner side of
pocket leg 23. To install the device in a fixed position, after the
installation position has been reached, cylindrical elements 4 are
inserted into these grooves when disposed one on top of the other.
Such cylindrical elements may include notched pins or cylindrical
sealing cords, and elements made of a material that can be
destroyed or deformed in a yielding manner under pressure and/or
tensile stress.
[0023] An example of the installed bridging device is shown in FIG.
2. The schematic representation indicates the two floor fields 6,
between which a floor joint 7 is provided that may be filled with a
filler material in this area. The device according to FIG. 1 is
installed for bridging the joint 7. Anchoring profiles 1 are in
this connection installed on the floor with their fastening legs 11
underneath the surfaces or ceramic tiles 8, using the thin-bed
coating method, with the height of the tiles being coordinated with
the clear height of the terminating leg. The applied adhesive or
mortar is indicated by reference numeral 9. The cylindrical
elements shown in FIG. 1 for securing the installed position are
removed in the position shown.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an expansion joint with
the bridging device located in the corner area of a building. The
floor is again denoted by reference numeral 6. The expansion joint
is denoted by reference numeral 7, and the wall by reference
numeral 10. A special anchoring profile 101 is required for this
embodiment. This anchoring profile is based on the same principle
as before. On the end of the terminating leg 112 of this anchoring
profile, an outwardly directed angling 102 is provided. This
angling, in a corresponding manner, comprises the hinge pin 14, on
which the described bridging profile 3 is hinged. The embodiment of
the bridging device on the side of the floor corresponds with the
embodiment according to FIG. 2.
[0025] While only two embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes
and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended
claims.
* * * * *