EP1373657B1 - Floor with floating support - Google Patents

Abstract

Flooring made up of a set of touching parallel floorboards is supported by a set of mutually parallel load-spreading plates placed on the ground via a resilient underlayer on which they rest. The flooring is remarkable by the fact that the floorboards are stuck to the plates by means of beads of elastically-deformable adhesive such as polyurethane placed on the top faces of the plates, preferably in respective longitudinal grooves formed in the top face of the plates.

Description

The present invention relates to a floating support floor.

It relates more particularly to a parquet composed of a set of contiguous parallel slats, which is supported by a set of load distribution plates parallel to each other, placed on the ground via a resilient sub-layer on which they rest. .

This type of parquet is well known.

In general the slats are assembled edge-to-edge to each other by a tongue and groove interlocking system, possibly with gluing of the tongue in the groove.

Traditionally, there are two main categories of parquet thus formed.

A first category, called "solid parquet", includes slats, or individual blades of small width, solid wood.

The other category, called "laminated parquet", is composed of slats of greater width, multilayer structure. Specifically, such a batten is composed on the top of a noble wood facing, glued on a central core of plywood or ordinary wood, itself glued on a base plate of ordinary wood.

The solid wood floors are placed on joists arranged transversely to the direction of the slats.

A laminated parquet is sometimes placed on plates, whose width is significantly greater than that of the joists, these plates being oriented at 45 °, or substantially at 45 °, relative to the longitudinal direction of the slats.

The role of these plates is to absorb, by distributing them, the loads to which the floor is subjected during use, so as to avoid breaks in the tabs connecting two adjacent slats.

This problem of solicitation and rupture of the tongues is obviously more important for laminated slats, the width of which is in general a multiple of the width of a solid slat, which multiplies proportionally the torque to which the tongue must resist.

The floors thus formed are placed on the load distribution plates, without bonding (floating installation).

In some applications, particularly for the production of sports floors, the plates are placed on the ground, not directly, but with the interposition of a resilient underlay, for example foam or synthetic felt.

This gives a soft and elastic floor, particularly suitable for the practice of certain sports such as handball and basketball for example.

As a result of variations in the humidity of the ambient air, this type of parquet is subject to cyclical phenomena of expansion and surface shrinkage, which is likely to eventually cause breaks in tongue and groove interlocking systems. and / or to reveal undesirable interstices between adjacent slats.

This problem is related to a bad distribution of the internal tensions which can, for important parquet surfaces, cause the inconvenience mentioned above.

It is also known from the document U.S. 4,682,459 , a floating support floor according to the preamble of claim 1, composed of a set of parallel slats contiguous and supported by a set of load distribution plates parallel to each other, placed on the ground via a sub-base. resilient layer.

These slats are glued to the plates by means of a layer of mastic adhesive.

This layer makes a complete bonding of the slats on the plates, unsuitable to guarantee flexibility and elasticity of the slats and to solve the difficulties mentioned above.

The invention relates to a laminated parquet, floating installation.

An object of the invention is to propose a solution to the aforementioned problem, this thanks to an extremely simple arrangement, which does not strike, or practically not, the cost price of the parquet, and which can be implemented easily at the time of his pose.

This object is achieved, according to the invention, thanks to the fact that in the aforementioned parquet said slats are glued to the plates by means of beads of glue of elastically deformable material, which are housed in longitudinal grooves dug in the upper face of the plates.

• la colle est du polyuréthane ;
• lesdites rainures ont une section sensiblement rectangulaire, dimensionnée de telle façon qu'après écrasement et durcissement du cordon de colle, celui-ci occupe partiellement l'espace intérieur de la rainure dans laquelle il est logé ;
• la plaque est munie d'une rainure médiane unique ;
• lesdites plaques sont orientées de manière à former un angle aigu par rapport à la direction longitudinale des lattes ;
• cet angle a une valeur de l'ordre de 45° ;
• les lattes sont assemblées les unes aux autres par un système d'emboîtement à languette et rainure, éventuellement avec collage.

Moreover, according to a certain number of additional, nonlimiting features of the invention:

• the glue is polyurethane;
• said grooves have a substantially rectangular section, dimensioned such that after crushing and hardening of the adhesive bead, it partially occupies the interior space of the groove in which it is housed;
• the plate is provided with a single central groove;
• said plates are oriented to form an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the slats;
• this angle has a value of the order of 45 °;
• the slats are assembled to each other by a tongue and groove interlocking system, possibly with gluing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which will now be made, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent, by way of non-limiting example, a possible embodiment of this invention.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique, en perspective, avec arrachements, d'un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, à parquet contrecollé ;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des coupes partielles du parquet, selon le plan de coupe II-II de la figure 4, ces deux vues représentant le parquet, respectivement, avant et après la pose d'une latte sur une plaque de répartition de charge ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus schématique et partielle de ce parquet ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon le plan référencé V-V sur la figure 4.

On the drawings:

• the figure 1 is a schematic perspective view, with parts cut away, of a first embodiment of the invention, laminated parquet;
• the Figures 2 and 3 are partial cuts of the parquet, according to the sectional plan II-II of the figure 4 these two views representing the floor, respectively, before and after laying a lath on a load distribution plate;
• the figure 4 is a schematic and partial top view of this floor;
• the figure 5 is a sectional view according to the plane referenced VV on the figure 4 .

On the figure 4 the floorboards are represented in broken lines.

The parquet shown on the Figures 1 to 5 is a horizontal floor called "laminated", referenced 1, consisting of an assembly of joined slats 10.

As we see on the figure 5 each slat consists of three layers, namely a facing 11, a core 12, and a sub-plate 13.

As an indication, such a batten has a length of 2.40 m, a width of 180 mm and a thickness of 15 mm.

Traditionally, the upper face of the facing reproduces a frieze, which is a design of individual slats, which gives it the appearance of a classic parquet.

As shown in figure 5 two adjacent slats 10 are assembled by a conventional interlocking system, tongue 100 and groove 101, preferably with gluing of the tongue in the groove.

This floor 1 is placed on a set of load distribution plates 2.

These are wooden plates arranged parallel to each other, with a certain distance between them.

As an indication, these plates have a length of 2.50 m, a width of 0.50 m, and a thickness of 10 mm.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the plates are placed in staggered rows, as can be seen particularly on the figure 4 , to form rows whose orientation is such that they form an acute angle α with the longitudinal direction of the slats 10.

Preferably this angle is equal to or equal to 45 °.

As is well known, the plates 2 are placed indirectly on the floor 7, in this case on a horizontal concrete slab.

Indeed they rely on a resilient sub-layer 5, such as a synthetic foam, which itself rests on a vapor barrier film 6, for example polyethylene.

In the upper face of each plate 2 is hollowed a longitudinal central groove 3.

It is a groove of rectangular section, shallow; as an indication, this depth is of the order of a millimeter.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, a bead of adhesive 4, made of elastic material, for example made of one-component polyurethane, is placed in the groove 3.

This type of glue can be set up easily and quickly using a gun. The figure 1 shows a cord 4 being deposited in its groove.

The bead of adhesive initially has the shape of an approximately cylindrical bead, whose section is chosen so that it is smaller than the space available in the groove.

So, after crushing, as we see on the figure 3 , the adhesive bead - referenced 4 '- partially occupies the section of the groove, or substantially all this section.

After taking the glue, we therefore obtain both a support of the lower face of the slats 1 against the upper face of the plates 2, with gluing of each slat on several underlying plates at their central zone.

Thanks to this arrangement, the parquet is made cohesive, the different slats 10 being held against each other by their adjacent edges, thanks to the bonding.

However, the flexibility and elasticity of the adhesive joint, as well as the clearance existing between the seal and the groove in which it is housed, allow micro-displacement of the structure.

This phenomenon is illustrated on the figure 4 , on which the double arrow F symbolizes the expansions and retractions of the floor, in its own plane, transversely to the battens.

It is this dimensional variation of surface which generates the risks of rupture at the level of the longitudinal interlockings by system of tongues and grooves, and can also cause the appearance of interstices (spaces) between certain slats.

Thanks to the invention, these problems are eliminated, micro-displacements of the floor with respect to its base being possible as a result of the elasticity of the glue joints, which avoids the accumulation, within the floor, withdrawals observed between two adjacent slats.

Furthermore, there is a certain freedom of pivoting of the load distribution plates 2 relative to the resilient sub-layer 5, which contributes to the elimination of internal stresses in the parquet.

These micro-pivoting movements of the plates 2 in a horizontal plane are symbolized by the double-arrows G on the figure 4 .

It should be noted that by the document FR-2 317 062 we already know a wooden flooring applied to the glue, reduced expansion.

It is in no way a so-called "floating" parquet, such as that of the present invention.

On the contrary, the objective, in this known embodiment, is to obtain a substantially monolithic surface, by overcoming the possible curvature forces.

The glue applied to the trowel is intended to ensure a purely "altimetry" (anti-curl) stability of the floor.

If it is true that the adhesive can initially be deposited in the form of a fluted layer, the flutes crush at the time of laying, and the glue layer has a uniform thickness (see page 7, last paragraph).

It is stated (at the top of page 8) that this layer is elastically damped, and after curing, all movements of warping, lateral displacement or buckling are avoided.

• on a affaire à un parquet à pose flottante, les plaques de répartition de charges étant posées au sol par l'intermédiaire d'une sous-couche résiliente ; c'est cette sous-couche, et non la colle, qui assure l'amortissement du parquet ;
• les cordons de colle autorisent des micro-déplacements du parquet par rapport au soubassement, évitant le cumul des retraits entre les lattes adjacentes ;
• une certaine liberté de pivotement des plaques de répartition de charges par rapport à la sous-couche résiliente contribue en outre à l'élimination des tensions internes.

This known parquet therefore functions completely differently from that of the present invention, according to which:

• it is a floating floor, the load distribution plates being laid on the ground via a resilient underlay; it is this sub-layer, and not the glue, which ensures the damping of the floor;
• the glue beads allow micro-displacements of the floor relative to the base, avoiding the accumulation of withdrawals between the adjacent slats;
• a certain freedom of pivoting of the charge distribution plates relative to the resilient sub-layer further contributes to the elimination of internal stresses.

It would not be departing from the scope of the invention to provide, on the same plate, several parallel adhesive beads and / or cords arranged not along a continuous line but along an interrupted line (made of separate sections, or dotted line), rectilinear or not; it could be zig-zag or wavy, for example.

Claims (7)

1. Flooring with floating support, the flooring being made up of a set of touching parallel floorboards (10) and being supported by a set of mutually parallel load-spreading plates (2) laid on the ground via a resilient underlayer (5) on which they rest, said floorboards (10) being stuck to said plates (2) by means of elastically-deformable adhesive, characterized by the fact that said adhesive is formed of beads (4) which are disposed in longitudinal grooves (3) formed in the top faces of the plates (2).
2. Flooring according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said adhesive is polyurethane.
3. Flooring according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the fact that said grooves (3) are substantially rectilinear in section, being dimensioned in such a manner that after the bead of adhesive (4) has been flattened and has set, it occupies a fraction of the inside space of the groove (3) in which it is received.
4. Flooring according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the plate (2) is provided with a single middle groove (4).
5. Flooring according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that said plates (2) are oriented in such a manner as to form an acute angle (α) relative to the longitudinal direction of the floorboards (10).
6. Flooring according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the angle (α) has a value of about 45°.
7. Flooring according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the floorboards (10) are assembled to one another by a tongue-and-groove engagement system (100, 101), possibly together with glue.

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