EP3090850B1 - Means for attaching surface coating blades and use - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a blade fixing stirrup according to the preamble of claim 1 and the use of the stirrup according to the preamble of claim 6. Such a stirrup and its use are known from the document WO 2006 / 011173A1 . Such a stirrup and its use are intended to form a construction surface covering, such as a floor or cladding, the blades having a longitudinal groove on each longitudinal side essentially perpendicular to the exterior and interior faces.

It also relates to a covering surface, such as a terrace covering or cladding, which is composed of strips, in particular of wood or of composite material, comprising a longitudinal groove on each longitudinal side essentially perpendicular to the exterior and interior faces, blades juxtaposed essentially. parallel and mounted on joists.

Various means of fixing blades of the aforementioned type are known. The commonly used fixing means consists of a metal or plastic part which has a section essentially in the shape of a T, the head of the T engages in the grooves of opposite blades and the amount of the T serves as a guide for a screw. fixation in the joists.

The installation of this type of coating requires a lot of time and is therefore quite expensive. The present invention therefore seeks to reduce the time required to assemble planks for covering building surfaces; it seeks in particular to reduce the time required to assemble a decking or cladding. The invention seeks more particularly to reduce the assembly time by eliminating or significantly reducing the screwing time, in particular the screwing time of the means for fixing the boards to the joists.

The present invention provides a fastening assembly for slats intended to form a floor covering or cladding, the slats having a longitudinal groove on each longitudinal side substantially perpendicular to the exterior and interior faces, said fastening assembly comprising (i) a joist of essentially rectangular section, at least one of the longitudinal faces of which is essentially perpendicular to the mounting surface has a longitudinal groove, and (ii) a substantially U-shaped fixing bracket comprising a core and two branches, intended to span the joist, at least one of the branches comprising a lug projecting from the internal face of said branch and intended to interact with the groove

Advantageously, the lug interacts with the groove of the joist by snapping into said groove. This ratcheting effect can be obtained through the use of spring steel for the manufacture of said stirrup.

According to a preferred embodiment, the joist has a groove on two opposite faces. The grooves may have a trapezoidal cross section in order to prevent the accumulation of water; it can easily flow. Advantageously, the two branches of the stirrup each comprise a lug forming a projection on the internal face of said branch and intended to engage by snap-fastening in the groove formed in the sleeper.

The pins made in the branches of the stirrup can advantageously be formed by stamping. The hooks can be obtained by cutting and forming.

According to the invention, each hook comprises a segment approximately perpendicular to the core of the stirrup and a contiguous segment folded at substantially 90 ° relative to the preceding segment and terminated by a part slightly spaced outward by an angle of 0 to 35 °, preferably 15 to 30 °, according to the invention. This arrangement makes it easier to introduce the hook into the groove while ensuring adequate tightening on the stirrup and thus on the joist. Advantageously, the lateral side of the blade bears laterally against the substantially vertical segment of the hooks. The substantially vertical segment of the hooks can be inclined slightly towards the inside of the hook formed, for example by an angle of 5 to 30 °, preferably by an angle of 10 to 20 °. This embodiment makes it possible to obtain an elasticity of the blade supports which may prove to be advantageous for adjusting the gap between blades.

The hooks can also be arranged at a small longitudinal distance from each other, the distance being determined on the surface of the core of the stirrup, between the two vertical segments. The distance between two opposite hooks on a stirrup, in the longitudinal direction, makes it possible to obtain a desired gap between the blades after assembly.

For the placement of planks, in particular of wood or composite material, comprising a lateral longitudinal groove in each longitudinal side essentially perpendicular to the external surface, the stirrups are slid over the joists and they are placed against a previous plank so that the at least one of the hooks engages in the groove of the previous blade. The next blade is then deposited so that its groove interacts with the hooks of the stirrups and so on. The stirrups, preferably made of spring steel, are easily installed and are retained in position by the lugs and advantageously by stop corners known per se practiced in the branches of the U. In order to improve the fixing, some stirrups can be fixed by screwing but this operation is not mandatory. This results in easy and quick assembly. The blades are retained by the hook ends introduced into the longitudinal lateral grooves of the blades.

The fastening assembly of the invention is particularly suitable for mounting terrace floors and cladding. Assembly is quick and easy and requires little or no screws to fix the mounting brackets.

• La figure 1 est une coupe longitudinale au travers d'un étrier selon l'invention ;
• La figure 2 représente l'étrier de l'invention selon une vue de face (transversale) ;
• La figure 3 est une vue de profil (longitudinale) de l'étrier selon l'invention ;
• La figure 4 est une vue en plan d'un étrier selon l'invention ;
• La figure 5 est une coupe transversale au travers d'une lambourde selon l'invention ;
• La figure 6 est un assemblage faisant appel à l'ensemble de fixation selon l'invention ; et
• La figure 7 et montre une variante d'exécution d'un étrier selon l'invention.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment based on the appended figures in which

• The figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a stirrup according to the invention;
• The figure 2 shows the stirrup of the invention in a front view (transverse);
• The figure 3 is a side view (longitudinal) of the stirrup according to the invention;
• The figure 4 is a plan view of a stirrup according to the invention;
• The figure 5 is a cross section through a joist according to the invention;
• The figure 6 is an assembly using the fixing assembly according to the invention; and
• The figure 7 and shows an alternative embodiment of a stirrup according to the invention.

In the figures, identical reference marks represent identical or similar elements.

With reference to figures 1 to 4 , the fixing bracket 1 according to the invention has a section essentially in the shape of a U comprising a core 3 and two branches 5 and 7. Each of the branches 5 and 7 comprises a lug 9, 11 forming a projection on the internal face of said plugged. In addition, each branch 5, 7 also comprises a stop lug 13, 15 in the form of wedges. The core of the stirrup 1 has, at its upper surface, two hooks 17 and 19 arranged one next to the other but oriented in opposite directions. It can also include a hole 4.

The hooks 17, 19 each have a segment 17 ', 19' approximately perpendicular to the core 3 of the stirrup and a contiguous segment 17 ", 19" bent at substantially 90 ° relative to the previous segment 17 ', 19'. According to a preferred embodiment, the segments 17 "and 19" end with an end 17 "', 19"' slightly apart towards the outside by an angle of the order of 15 to 30 °.

The stirrup can be obtained by bending a U-shaped sheet of metal, preferably steel, more particularly spring steel, very particularly stainless spring steel. The pins 9 and 11 and the stop corners 13 and 15 are advantageously obtained by stamping, or cutting and stamping. The hooks are also obtained in a manner known per se by partial cutting, stamping possibly followed by adequate forming to arrive at the desired shape.

As can be seen in the figures 1 and 3 , the segment 17 ′, 19 'which is substantially vertical of the hooks 17 and 19 is slightly inclined towards the inside of the hook formed, for example by an angle of about 20 °. In the same figures, it can be seen that the hooks are arranged at a short longitudinal distance 21 from one another, on the surface of the stirrup core.

The figure 5 shows a joist profile 31 which is particularly suitable for the fixing assembly according to the invention. In the embodiment shown, it is a joist in extruded aluminum profile. One can, of course, provide the joists in other materials, such as wood, a composite material such as wood mixed with resin, polymer resin, or others. The joist has an essentially rectangular section, preferably square. In the case of an extruded metal profile, an axial reinforcement 33 can be provided, if necessary. The joist comprises, on the lateral longitudinal faces 35, 37 perpendicular to the longitudinal bearing 39 and mounting 41 surfaces, longitudinal notches 43 and 45.

With reference to the figure 6 , a terrace covering is produced using several joists 31 placed parallel to a distance of the order of 60 cm and covered with strips 51 laid transversely. To the figure 6 , various blade models, namely 51, 51 ′ and 51 ", are shown in cross section. The blades have a longitudinal groove 53 in each longitudinal side face. The blades are fixed to the joists using stirrups as described above. The stirrups can be slid longitudinally on the joists and / or inserted from above on the joists. As the stirrups are advantageously produced in spring steel, preferably in stainless spring steel, the pins 11 and 13 engage by snap-fastening in the notches 43 and 45 made in the joists The lugs 11 and 13 fix the stirrups in the direction perpendicular to the plane containing the core 3. The stop lugs, when there are any, fix the stirrups in their longitudinal position on the joists. If necessary, one or the other stirrup can still be fixed with a screw through the hole 4. The blades are held in position using the stirrup hooks, which engage ent in the lateral grooves and which clamp the blades on the core of the stirrups. According to the invention, the slightly raised end 17 "', 19'" of hook 17, 19 facilitates the engagement of the hooks in the corresponding grooves and makes it possible to exert an elastic pressure force on the blades in order to maintain them tightened on the stirrups themselves retained on the joists.

For the installation of a terrace covering, for example, the joists of in a manner known per se, the stirrups are slipped on the joists according to the invention and they are placed against a first blade already fixed so that at least one of the hooks engages in the groove of said blade. The next blade is then deposited so that its groove interacts with the opposite hooks of the stirrups and so on. This results in easy and quick assembly.

It will be readily understood that if the segments 17 ′ and 19 ′ of the hooks are slightly inclined towards the inside of the hook, an elasticity effect is obtained from the abutment of the blade against the hook which engages in its longitudinal groove. This improves the ease of mounting the blades in parallel and at a fairly uniform distance between blades.

It also follows from the above that if a distance is provided between two opposite hooks on a stirrup, in the longitudinal direction, it is possible to obtain a desired gap between the blades after assembly.

Note that the hole 4 can be used for the passage of a fixing means such as a screw, in case it would be preferable to fix one or the other stirrup on a joist. However, it has been found that the use of fixing screws is not necessary. In addition, it will be preferable not to practice drilling in the part of the core which remains visible between two boards so that the core protects the joists from the effects of rain and other harmful influences. To do this, any drilling 4 is preferably made in the parts of the core which are located under one or the other blade after assembly.

The assembly according to the invention can be carried out without screws and is easy and quick. In addition, the choice of a stainless steel stirrup protects the joist and contributes to an extended lifespan, in particular of the woods used, and therefore of the whole.

As can be seen in particular in the figure 6 , the stirrups can be suitable for various models of blades.

The figure 7 is a plan view similar to the figure 4 of a variant of the stirrup figures 1 to 4 , in which the core comprises cutouts of material 23 and / or 25. This embodiment of the stirrup is on the one hand lighter and, moreover, allows less spacious storage or stacking; which may prove to be advantageous for transport and / or storage.

Although the invention is explained in support of an example of a terrace covering, it is just as possible to assemble a cladding in a similar manner.

Claims (6)

1. Yoke for attaching surface coating blades (51) comprising a longitudinal groove (43,45) on each side which is essentially vertical to the external and internal faces of said coating blades, the said yoke being essentially U-shaped and comprising a web (3) and two flanges (5,7), at least one of which comprising a projection (9,11) projecting from the inner surface of said flange, the web (3) of said yoke bearing on its outer surface at least two hooks (17,19) arranged next to one another and oriented in opposite directions, characterized in that said hooks comprise a segment (17',19') approximately vertical to the web (3) of the yoke and a segment (17",19") contiguous with the previous segment (17',19') and folded at 90° thereto and terminated by an end segment (17"', 19"') spaced outwardly or raised by an angle of 0 to 35°, preferably of 15 to 30°.
2. Yoke according to claim 1 characterized in that both of its flanges (5,7) each comprise a projection (9,11) projecting from the inner surface of the relevant flange.
3. Yoke according to any of claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it consists in a spring steel metal sheet.
4. Yoke according to claim 1 characterized in that the segment (17',19') approximatively vertical to the web (3) of the yoke is inclined towards the inner side of the hook as formed by an angle of 10 to 20° to a vertical to the web.
5. Yoke according to any of claims 1 or 4 characterized in that one at least of the flanges (5,7) comprises a preferably wedge-shaped stop nose (13,15).
6. Use of the yoke according to any of claims 1 to 5 for the formation of a construction surface cover comprising coating blades (51), preferably made of wood or of a composite material, and comprising a longitudinal groove (43,45) on each side which is essentially vertical to the external (41) and internal (39) faces of said coating blades, said coating blades being arranged one next and parallel to each other, characterized in that said blades are attached onto a cross-beam (31) by sliding said yokes (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5 against a first already attached cover blade such that one at least of the hooks engages into the groove of said first cover blade, the next cover blade being then deposited such that its groove interacts with the opposite hooks of the yokes, the yokes being arranged at regular distance on the cross-beams (31) and the cover blades (51) being retained by the hooks (17,19) which are fastened to the yokes (1) and engage into the lateral longitudinal grooves (45).

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