U.S. patent application number 11/919318 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-29 for covering device for floor coverings.
Invention is credited to Franz Neuhofer, JR..
Application Number | 20090266021 11/919318 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36594932 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090266021 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neuhofer, JR.; Franz |
October 29, 2009 |
Covering device for floor coverings
Abstract
A covering device for floor coverings with a profiled cover (1)
is described, which is provided with a footing (2) for fastening
the profiled cover (1) in a floor bracket (5) and a covering flange
(4) that protrudes from this footing (2) on both sides, and with an
optional profiled compensation element (7) that can be attached to
the covering flange (4) by means of a form-fitting tongue and
groove joint. In order to use the conventional profiled covers (1),
it is proposed that the compensation profile (7) forms a seating
groove (9) for one of the free longitudinal edges (8) of the
covering flange (4) for the tongue and groove connection.
Inventors: |
Neuhofer, JR.; Franz; (Zell
am Moos, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ROSLYN
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
36594932 |
Appl. No.: |
11/919318 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
April 20, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AT2006/000158 |
371 Date: |
October 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/468 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 19/061 20130101;
E04F 19/065 20130101; E04F 19/062 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/468 |
International
Class: |
E04F 19/00 20060101
E04F019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 29, 2005 |
AT |
A738/2005 |
Claims
1. Covering device for floor coverings with a profiled cover, which
is provided with a footing for fastening the profiled cover in a
floor bracket and a covering flange that protrudes from this
footing on both sides, and with an optional profiled compensation
element that can be attached to the covering flange by means of a
form-fitting tongue and groove joint, wherein the profiled
compensation element (7) forms a seating groove (9) for one of the
free longitudinal edges (8) of the covering flange (4) for the
tongue and groove joint.
2. Covering device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the profiled
compensation element (7) is provided with that least one supporting
leg (12) on the inner side facing the footing (2) of the profiled
cover (1).
3. Covering device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
supporting leg (12) can be engaged in a retaining recess (13, 14)
on the underside of the covering flange (4) or of the footing (2)
of the profiled cover (1).
4. Covering device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
supporting leg (12) is directed toward the floor.
5. Covering device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the covering
flange (4) of the profiled cover (1) is provided on at least one
side in the area of the longitudinal edge (8) engaging in the
seating groove (9) with a retaining recess (10) for a retaining lug
(11) in the area of the edge of the corresponding wall of the
seating groove (9) of the profiled compensation element (1).
Description
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a covering device for floor
coverings with a profiled cover, which is provided with a footing
for fastening the profiled cover in a floor bracket and a covering
flange that protrudes from this footing on both sides, and with an
optional profiled compensation element that can be attached to the
covering flange by means of a form-fitting tongue and groove
joint.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] In order to adjust the height of a profiled cover to match
the height of different floor elements, where said cover is
inserted into a floor track in the gap between two floor elements
by means of a footing and overlaps the floor elements on both sides
of the gap by means of a covering flange protruding bilaterally
from the footing, it has already been proposed (WO 03/04092 A1)
that a profiled compensation element be attached to the underside
of the covering flange to mate with the profiled cover on the side
of the lower floor element. For this purpose, the profiled
compensation element is provided with an undercut groove, into
which a tongue on the underside of the covering flange engages in a
form fitting manner, with said tongue being parallel to the footing
of the profiled cover. The main disadvantage of this known covering
device for floor coverings is that the profiled cover can only be
used as a cover for an expansion joint between two floor elements
of equal height without the profiled compensation element when the
tongue projecting from the underside of the covering flange is
removed in a special operation beforehand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Consequently, the object of the invention is to design a
covering device for floor coverings of the type described above in
such a way that a standard profiled cover suitable for bridging the
expansion joints between two floor elements of equal height can be
combined with a profiled compensation element in a simple way in
order to bridge the step between two floor elements of different
heights or to be able to seal the edge of a floor covering.
[0004] The invention fulfils this aim by virtue of the fact that
the profiled compensation element forms a grooved seat for one of
the free longitudinal edges of the covering flange for the tongue
and groove joint.
[0005] As the connection between the profiled compensation element
and the profiled cover is not on the underside of the covering
flange, but involves one of the two longitudinal edges of the
covering flange, there is no need for special measures to connect
the profiled compensation element with the profiled cover to a
profiled transition or joint element. All that is required is to
press the profiled compensation element with its peripheral seating
groove onto the longitudinal edge of the profiled cover. The
overlap of the outer groove wall of the seating groove of the
profiled compensation element over the outer side of the
longitudinal edge of the profiled cover also results in an
advantageous equalisation of tolerance so the usual measures
required to secure a common firm joint between the profiled cover
and profiled compensation element becomes superfluous. Furthermore,
a tongue and groove joint, where the tongue is formed by the
longitudinal edge of a covering flange, ensures simple structural
relationships which permit the profiled covers and the profiled
compensation elements to be designed as extruded profiles,
resulting in favourable manufacturing conditions by means of
extrusion.
[0006] If larger loads are anticipated on a device bridging a floor
step or trimming a floor covering, the profiled compensation
element can be provided with at least one supporting leg on the
inner side facing the footing of the profiled cover for
transferring part of the load. Essentially, there are two different
support options for the supporting leg, namely on the profiled
cover or on the floor. While the supporting leg is directed toward
the floor in the case of support on the floor side, if the
supporting leg is supported on the profiled cover it can engage
with a retaining recess on the underside of the covering flange or
of the footing of the profiled cover. In both cases, the profiled
compensation element gripping around the longitudinal edge of the
profiled cover can be sufficiently supported to resist load-related
torque.
[0007] Simply seating the longitudinal edge of the covering flange
in the seating groove of the profiled compensation element includes
the possibility of unintended relative movement between the
profiled compensation element and the covering flange perpendicular
to its longitudinal edge. To secure this tongue and groove joint,
the covering flange of the profiled cover on one side in the area
of the longitudinal edge engaging in the grooved seat can be
provided with a retaining recess for a retaining lug in the area of
the edge of the corresponding wall of the grooved seat of the
profiled compensation element. This measure provides an additional,
snap-fit type engaging retaining connection for preventing the
unintentional release of the tongue and groove joint.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0008] The drawing illustrates embodiments of the invention. In the
drawing
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a covering device for floor coverings in
accordance with the invention in a simplified cross-section and
[0010] FIGS. 2 to 4 show representations corresponding with FIG. 1
of different embodiments of the covering device in accordance with
the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The profiled cover 1 of the covering device shown in various
embodiments is provided with a footing 2 consisting of two clamping
webs 3 extending longitudinally with respect to the profiled
element and a covering flange 4 extending on both sides of the
footing. The profiled cover 1, together with the clamping webs 3 of
the footing 2, is placed into a floor bracket 5 in the form of a
floor track in the embodiments, indicated by dash-dotted lines, and
on at least one side it laps over a floor element 6 with its
covering flange 4. If the profiled floor element 1 is employed to
bridge an expansion joint between two floor elements of equal
height, the covering flange 4 laps over the floor elements 6
extending on both sides of the expansion joint. However, if a
difference in height must be bridged in accordance with the
embodiments, a profiled compensation element 7 can be connected to
the profiled cover 1. This profiled compensation element 7
accommodates the longitudinal edge 8 of the covering flange 4 of
the profiled floor element 1 in a grooved seat 9, producing a
tongue and groove joint between the profiled compensation element 7
and the covering flange 4 of the profiled floor element 1, without
having to make provision for a special tongue on the covering
flange 4. This means a considerable simplification in terms of
construction, because standard profiled covers can be used. To
prevent the tongue and groove joint from releasing unintentionally,
in the area of the longitudinal edge 8 engaging with the grooved
seat 9, the covering flange 4 of the profiled cover can be provided
with a retaining recess 10 for a retaining lug 11 in the area of
the edge of the corresponding wall of the grooved seat 9 of the
profiled compensation element 7. As the covering flange 4 of the
profiled covers is often provided with grooves to improve its
anti-slip qualities, these grooves can be utilised for the
engagement of the tongue and groove joint, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2
and 4.
[0012] While FIG. 1 shows a simple profiled compensation element 7
that simply extends the longitudinal edge 8 of the covering flange
1 [sic!] downward, the profiled compensation element 7 in
accordance with FIG. 2 is provided with an additional supporting
leg 12 directed toward the floor such that the forces experienced
when the covering device is subjected to a load can be transferred
into the floor better. Such a supporting leg 12 can also be
supported on the profiled cover 1 in accordance with FIG. 4, for
instance in a retaining recess 13 on the underside of the covering
flange 4.
[0013] Apart from the fact that the embodiment in accordance with
FIG. 3 shows a profiled compensation element 7 with two supporting
legs 12, one of which extends towards the floor and the other
toward the footing 2, the supporting leg extending toward the
footing 2 is supported in retaining recesses 14 in the longitudinal
webs 3, with the retaining recesses 14 not necessarily having to
take the form of a continuous retaining groove, but possibly having
the form of single retaining holes, which rules out the
longitudinal displacement of the profiled compensation element 7
with respect to the profiled cover 1.
* * * * *