EP3748103A1 - Floor covering with at least one connecting element - Google Patents

Abstract

In the case of a floor covering with at least two planar floor covering elements (1, 2) and with at least one connecting element (7) with which the two floor covering elements (1, 2) laid adjacent to one another are connected to one another, each floor covering element (1, 2) in the contact surface (4) has at least one recess (8, 9), the at least one recess (8, 9) in the floor covering element (1, 2) each having an anchoring area and a connecting area connecting the anchoring area to the side surface (6). In the case of the at least two floor covering elements (1, 2) laid adjacent to one another, at least one recess (8, 9) in the first floor covering element (1) is aligned with the connection area with the connection area of an associated recess (8, 9) in the second floor covering element (2) arranged and aligned. The at least one connecting element (7) is arranged in the two recesses (8, 9) of the first and second floor covering elements (1, 2) which are arranged in alignment with one another. The connecting element (7) has an anchoring section (11) at two opposite end regions (10), which are connected to one another by a connecting section (12), each anchoring section (11) of the connecting element (7) in the associated anchoring area of the recess ( 8, 9) of the first and second floor covering elements (1, 2) on the relevant undercut surface (21) is fixed in a form-fitting manner.

Description

The invention relates to a floor covering with at least two planar floor covering elements, each of which has a usable surface and can be laid on a substrate with a support surface opposite the usable surface, and with at least one connecting element with which the two adjacent flooring elements are connected to one another.

Numerous different floor coverings are known from practice in which a plurality of planar floor covering elements are arranged adjacent to one another on a substrate or on a floor covering substructure erected on the substrate and cover the substrate. The individual floor covering elements can each be fixed independently of one another on the substrate or a corresponding substructure, in that the individual floor covering elements are glued, for example, to the substrate with a suitable adhesive. However, it is also known from practice and is advantageous for many areas of application that the individual floor covering elements are laid loosely on the substrate and are not fixed to the substrate. A loose arrangement of the individual floor covering elements on the sub-floor, which is also referred to as a floating installation of the floor covering elements, can easily be removed from the sub-floor again at the appropriate time for example exchanged or replaced by another floor covering.

In particular when the individual floor covering elements are laid loosely, it is regularly of great advantage if the individual floor covering elements are connected to one another. The composite effect of the interconnected flooring elements can reliably prevent individual flooring elements from slipping and thereby also prevent gaps or joints from developing between adjacent flooring elements during normal use of the flooring, through which the intended use of the flooring as well as its overall aesthetic impression can be affected.

In parquet floors in particular, where individual parquet elements such as planks or parquet strips are laid on the sub-floor, a reliable connection of adjoining individual flooring elements is often not only advantageous, but also necessary in order to produce a sufficiently resilient flooring with the help of the composite effect individual flooring elements do not move unintentionally during normal use of the flooring. For a floating installation of the individual flooring elements, a reliable connection of the adjoining flooring elements is of particular importance, since the individual flooring elements are solely due to the bond effect to the flooring caused by the respective connection of the adjoining flooring elements joined together and retained as a composite on the substrate.

The connection of adjoining floor covering elements takes place in many cases through the formation of a tongue and groove connection. In the tongue and groove connection, a tongue which protrudes laterally on a side surface of a first floor covering element and is usually strip-shaped is inserted into a groove adapted to it and formed on an associated side surface of a second floor covering element. The tongue-and-groove connection is positive-locking perpendicular to the subsurface and produces a force-locking or clamping connection of the adjacent floor covering elements in a plane parallel to the subsurface.

Tongue and groove connections are also known in which a form-fitting engagement of the spring element with the adapted groove of the adjoining floor covering element can be brought about by a suitable shape of the spring element and the groove adapted to it, also in a direction running parallel to the subsurface with undercuts . With the currently common manufacturing processes, the individual flooring elements and in particular the tongue-and-groove connections required to connect the adjacent flooring elements can be produced with sufficient precision and with low manufacturing tolerances, so that even a large-area flooring can be made from the individual flooring essentially without gaps and joints Can join flooring elements.

However, the composite effect produced with such tongue and groove connections also has disadvantages. For example, it is not possible to remove a single floor covering element which is not located on the edge of the floor covering in a simple manner from the composite of the individual floor covering elements in order to repair or replace it, for example. Even with most of the floor covering elements located on the edge, it is not possible to detach the relevant floor covering element or it is only possible by damaging a laterally arranged tongue and groove connection. In particular, when the tongue-and-groove connection is complex, the joining of individual floor covering elements is also perceived as laborious and time-consuming.

It is therefore regarded as an object of the present invention to design a floor covering with at least one connecting element so that the floor covering from the individual floor covering elements can be laid quickly and the individual floor covering elements can be reliably connected to one another. In addition, it should be possible to detach a single flooring element from a composite of flooring elements without damaging the flooring or the composite made up of the multiple flooring elements having to be broken up from one edge of the flooring until the flooring element in question can be removed.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that each floor covering element has at least one recess in the bearing surface, which, starting from a connection between the usable surface and the bearing surface Side surface of the floor covering element extends away from the side surface, the at least one recess in the floor covering element each having an anchoring area and a connection area connecting the anchoring area to the side surface, and wherein the anchoring area has at least one undercut surface that extends laterally beyond the connection area relative to the connection area the two adjacent flooring elements laid at least one recess of the first flooring element with the connection area is aligned with the connection area of an associated recess of the second flooring element, and that the at least one connection element from the respective contact surface of the first and second flooring element in the two are aligned with each other arranged recesses of the first and second floor covering element is arranged, the connecting element on two opposite sides each end region has an anchoring section and the two anchoring sections are connected to one another with a connecting section, and each anchoring section of the connecting element is positively fixed in the associated anchoring area of the recess of the first and second floor covering element on the relevant undercut surface. The connecting element according to the invention connects two adjoining floor covering elements through the positive engagement of the respective end area or anchoring section in the associated anchoring area of the two floor covering elements connected thereby. The connecting element is from the support surface opposite the usable surface in the aligned recesses of the two adjacent floor covering elements are introduced and are therefore not visible from the usable surface. Due to the respective positive engagement of the connecting element in the two recesses of the floor covering elements adjoining each other, the two floor covering elements are reliably fixed to one another and connected to one another in a form-fitting manner. A reliable and resilient composite effect can also be created with comparatively small connecting elements. A complex tongue-and-groove connection which regularly extends over the entire length of the floor covering elements and which, moreover, only produces a clamping and not a form-fitting connection, is not required.

The two adjacent floor covering elements do not have to be displaced parallel to the subsurface in order to be able to establish the connection of the two floor covering elements with the connecting element. Rather, it is possible in a simple manner to move one of the two floor covering elements perpendicular to the sub-floor and thus parallel to the side surface of the floor covering element in question towards or away from the sub-floor and thereby connect or detach it from the connecting element and the adjoining floor covering element . As a result, it is easily possible to detach a single flooring element or several flooring elements from the bond created with the respective connecting elements from a floor covering assembled from numerous floor covering elements and to remove it from the floor covering without adjacent floor covering elements also having to be separated from the composite effect. Both that Laying and subsequent replacement of individual flooring elements is possible in a simple manner and without a special tool.

The connection area of the recess in the floor covering elements can be, for example, a straight channel or a groove extending from the support surface into the floor covering element. In comparison with the transition area, the anchoring area can for example extend deeper into the floor covering element or extend laterally further in at least one direction than the connection area. The anchoring area can, for example, be a cuboid or hemispherical depression, the dimensions of which have a greater clear width than the connecting area, especially in a transition area to the connecting area, so that a laterally overlapping area is possible due to the preferably larger anchoring area in the transition area from the connecting area to the anchoring area The undercut surface extending beyond the connection area is formed.

It is also conceivable that the connection area of the recess is only comparatively short and extends from the side surface of the floor covering element to the anchoring area which is only slightly spaced from the side surface of the floor covering element. The connection area in the recess essentially serves to make the anchoring area accessible from the side surface, so that the connection element is inserted into two adjacent recesses of the adjacent ones Engage flooring elements and connect the two anchoring areas to one another. The anchoring areas can accordingly also reach up to the respective side surface, so that the connection area essentially consists of an opening in the side wall, which allows the anchoring area to be accessible from the outside.

For example, the recess could be formed by a circular blind hole, the base area of which is predominantly arranged within the floor covering, so that the side wall intersects the base area of the blind hole. The portion of the blind hole made from the support surface in the floor covering element then corresponds to the anchoring area, while the lateral opening of the blind hole in the side surface of the floor covering element corresponds to the connection area of the recess.

The undercut surface can be oriented at an angle to an inner wall of the connecting region of the recess. It is also possible that the connection area gradually widens and merges continuously into the anchoring area so that the undercut surface can be designed as a section of the inner wall of the recess in which the clear width of the recess increases starting from the connection area.

The connecting element has one on each of the two anchoring sections Form-fitting that is adapted to the undercut surface and engages with the undercut surface in a form-fitting manner. The formation can be, for example, a formation projecting laterally or from the support surface towards the usable surface, such as a latching nose or a latching hook. The formation can also be a suitably designed thickening or widening of the end area, which is adapted to a shape of the anchoring area of the recess and is designed larger than the connecting area of the recess, so that the connecting element with the thickening or widening at the end area can be introduced into the anchoring area of the recess and set therein.

It is also conceivable that the connecting element has a plurality of laterally protruding latching noses or latching lamellae in one or both anchoring sections, which optionally come into engagement with a plurality of undercut surfaces extending laterally beyond the connection area of the recess.

The dimensions of the connecting element and the recesses in the adjoining floor covering elements are expediently matched to one another so that the two adjoining floor covering elements with the connecting element are pressed together and connected to one another in close contact with one another and thus without gaps. For this purpose, the connecting element can optionally be made of an elastic material and the distance between the two anchoring sections of the connecting element is slightly less than the distance between the two anchoring areas of the associated recesses in the Adjacent floor covering elements so that the connecting element undergoes a certain deformation when it is introduced into the two recesses and thereby a force that presses the two floor covering elements against one another is generated.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, it is provided that each floor covering element has side surfaces along the side edges that are designed without undercuts. The floor covering element can, for example, have a square or rectangular bearing surface and an identically designed usable surface. The side edges then each extend perpendicularly from the support surface, protruding from the support surface, up to the usable surface. Side surfaces designed without undercuts can ensure that each floor covering element can be detached from the floor covering and consequently also from the connecting elements initially still in engagement with the floor covering element by moving the side surfaces designed without undercuts relative to the adjoining side surfaces of the adjoining floor covering elements. The individual connecting elements do not have to be accessible for such a pulling out of a floor covering element.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, it is provided that the connecting element is arranged completely within the two mutually associated recesses of the first and second floor covering element. The connecting element can fill the two recesses completely or one have a smaller volume than the two recesses and optionally be arranged and fixed in the recesses at a distance from the bearing surface of the floor covering elements. The connecting elements are therefore either flush or offset inward in the recesses of the floor covering elements and in any case do not protrude beyond the support surface. The laying of the floor covering elements on the subsurface is therefore not impaired by the connecting elements.

It is optionally provided that each anchoring section of a connection element has at least one engagement element which is designed to protrude laterally over the connection section in the direction of the usable surface and / or parallel to the side surface. A positive engagement of the engagement element with the anchoring area in the recess can be effected in a simple manner by an engagement element protruding at least in one direction over the connecting section. In this case, the engagement element can, for example, only protrude over the connecting section in the direction of the usable surface, or only protrude laterally parallel to the side surface over the connecting section. For a particularly stable and mechanically loadable variant, it is provided that the engagement element protrudes over the connecting section both in the direction of the usable surface and parallel to the side surface in both lateral directions. The engagement element can be, for example, a locking element already mentioned above or a laterally protruding formation. The engagement element can also be through a thickened or widened end region of the Connecting element are formed. Each anchoring section can optionally also have several engagement elements, each of which bear against the same undercut surface and can engage with it, or engage with several undercut surfaces that are formed in the recesses in the transition area from the connection area to the anchoring area.

According to a preferred embodiment of the concept of the invention it is provided that each anchoring section of a connecting element has at least two resiliently fixed engagement elements on the connecting section, which are clampingly fixed in the anchoring section of the associated recess. The resiliently designed engagement elements can ensure that two adjacent floor covering elements are pressed against one another with a spring force generated by the connecting element and are thereby connected to one another particularly reliably and without gaps. The engagement elements resiliently fixed on the connecting section or formed thereon can also ensure that the connecting element is fixed and retained in the relevant recess in a clamping manner, whereby the laying of the floor covering is facilitated.

According to one embodiment of the inventive concept, it is provided that each anchoring section of a connecting element has a cross-sectional area aligned parallel to the contact area with an approximately circular outer contour, and that each anchoring area of a recess in the floor covering element has a shape adapted to it.

A recess with a circular cross-sectional area can be produced in a simple manner, for example, through a hole in the floor covering elements. The recess in the floor covering element can consequently be produced cost-effectively, for example, by a blind hole and an adjoining milled groove for the connection area. By adapting the shape of the anchoring section of the connecting elements, the cavity available in a circular recess can be used in an advantageous manner for the most reliable anchoring of the connecting elements in the relevant cavity.

In order to facilitate the introduction of a connecting element into the two associated recesses of the floor covering elements to be connected, it is optionally provided that an upper side of the connecting element facing away from the bearing surface of the floor covering elements has a convexly curved surface. The surface can for example have a bevel running along the upper side edges. It is also conceivable that the convexly curved surface has a continuous curvature or rounded upper side edges. In this way, it can be avoided that a connecting element can tilt when it is inserted into a recess and this makes it more difficult to introduce the connecting element into the recesses.

According to one embodiment of the inventive concept, it is provided that an opening surface of the recess formed in the contact surface is in the floor covering element is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the recess aligned parallel to the contact area. By means of a recess which tapers towards the contact surface, it can be achieved that a connecting element arranged in the recess is retained in the recess, for example by an inwardly protruding opening edge. The dimensions of the connecting element and the inwardly protruding opening edge can be adapted to one another in such a way that the connecting element has to be deformed somewhat when the connecting element is pressed into the recess in order to overcome the inwardly protruding opening edge of the recess. The connecting element is then retained in the recess by the inwardly projecting edge of the opening. If a floor covering element is detached from the composite, which may be desired, the retaining force generated by the inwardly protruding opening edge must be overcome when it is pulled from the connecting element.

By suitably adapting the shape of the connecting element and the inwardly protruding opening edge, it can be ensured that the connecting element not only reliably fixes the floor covering element in all directions parallel to the subsurface, but also generates an additional retention force that creates an undesirable Displacement of the flooring elements perpendicular to the substrate prevented. In this way, it can be avoided in a simple manner that individual floor covering elements laid loosely on the subsurface shift slightly upwards due to normal use of the floor covering and thereby form an uneven surface of the floor covering.

In an advantageous manner, it is optionally provided that an underside of the connecting element facing the support surface of the floor covering elements has a convexly curved surface. The convexly curved underside of the connecting elements, like the upper side, can have a lateral bevel or rounded edges. Advantageously, the underside of the connecting elements and the inwardly protruding opening edges of the recesses in the floor covering elements can have a shape that is adapted to one another in such a way that the connecting elements are received in the recesses essentially without play and a positive fit of the anchoring sections of the connecting elements acting in all directions in the associated anchoring areas of the recesses is effected. This form fit can be established or released by overcoming a retaining force through a suitable design of the anchoring sections with resilient engagement elements, in order to fix the connecting elements in the recesses or to release them from the recesses again. A particularly reliable composite effect of the floor covering composed of the floor covering elements can be achieved by a form fit of the anchoring sections of the connecting elements in the associated recesses of the floor covering elements acting in all directions.

According to one embodiment of the inventive concept, it is optionally provided that the recess in the floor covering element is milled out with the aid of a spherical milling cutter. The spherical milling cutter plunging into the recess perpendicular to the support surface can be in the anchoring area of Milling out an inwardly protruding opening edge or an undercut in a side wall of the recess in a simple manner by means of a lateral offset caused during the milling process. The recess can also be produced within a comparatively short milling time with a special milling tool, the shape and cutting of which is specially adapted to the shape of the recess. The special milling tool can, for example, resemble a spherical milling cutter, the shaft of which is also designed with cutting edges at least in an area facing the spherical cutting edges and adjoining it. If the special milling tool penetrates the floor covering element from the bearing surface parallel to the bearing surface during a milling process with the shank, the anchoring area is milled out by the spherical cutting edges and the connecting area of the recess is milled out by the cutting edges formed along the shank. By laterally displacing the submerged milling tool, inwardly projecting opening edges or lateral undercuts can also be produced in the side walls of the recess.

The floor covering according to the invention can also be laid on a soft or elastic substrate such as, for example, on footfall sound insulation or on an old carpet. In the case of a flexible subsurface, especially with relatively small connecting elements, the case could arise that a connecting element is not pressed into the associated recess during the joining of adjacent flooring elements, but rather by the flooring elements into the flexible subsurface is pressed in, making it difficult to lay the floor covering quickly and reliably. To prevent undesired penetration of the connecting element into a flexible subsurface, provision is optionally made for a pressure plate protruding laterally over the underside of the connecting element to be arranged on an underside of the connecting element facing the bearing surface of the floor covering elements. The pressure plate should expediently have a sufficiently large base area so that the pressure plate cannot simply be pressed into the flexible substrate, but rests on a surface of the flexible substrate and presses the connecting element fixed thereon into the recesses in the associated floor covering elements. The pressure plate can, for example, have a circular, oval or rectangular cross-sectional area parallel to the bearing surface of the floor covering elements. The pressure plate can have a thickness of, for example, one millimeter. It is also possible for the thickness of the printing plate to be smaller and, for example, only 0.5 mm, or else greater and, for example, 1.5 mm or 2 mm or even more.

For example, in order to be able to compensate for slight unevenness in the subsurface on which the floor covering elements lie, or in order to achieve footfall sound insulation that is perceived as pleasant, one embodiment of the inventive concept provides that on an underside of the connecting element facing the support surface of the floor covering elements and / or on an underside of the connecting element there arranged and laterally over the underside of the connecting element projecting pressure plate and / or flat damping elements made of an elastically deformable material are fixed on the bearing surface of the floor covering elements. The damping elements can be, for example, self-adhesive strips of felt or felt plates that are fastened with a separate adhesive. The damping elements can also be flat strips or plates made of foam rubber or of a suitable foam material. The individual floor covering elements expediently rest on the subsurface exclusively via such damping elements, as a result of which slight unevenness of the subsurface can be leveled out and, in addition, footfall sound absorption is effected.

It is advantageously provided that the connecting element is designed in one piece. The connecting element can be produced, for example, from a suitable plastic material with the aid of a conventional injection molding process. The manufacturing costs for such a connecting element are low, as is the weight of the connecting element itself. Resilient engagement elements can be produced in a simple manner by suitably shaping the integrally formed connecting element.

For many floor coverings, it can expediently be provided that the at least two floor covering elements each have a cuboid shape. The floor covering elements accordingly have a rectangular or square contact area and a usable surface that is congruent with this, as well as planar side walls directed perpendicularly from the contact area. Such floor covering elements can be quickly and inexpensively produce. In particular, it is possible in a simple manner to produce individual floor covering elements from a large floor covering panel by cutting into the individual floor covering elements.

A reliable composite effect of several cuboid floor covering elements can already be achieved in that a connecting element is arranged on each side surface and connects the adjacent floor covering element adjoining this side surface. In the case of elongated floor covering elements that have a significantly greater length than width, it can optionally be advantageous for the floor covering elements to have at least two recesses on each longitudinal side with two opposite longitudinal sides and with two opposite shorter transverse sides.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept it is provided that two floor covering elements are each connected to one another with a connecting device, the connecting device having two connecting elements that are aligned parallel and spaced apart and are fixed on a common pressure plate. By arranging two connecting elements on a common pressure plate, the assembly effort can be significantly reduced, since for a reliable connection of the individual flooring elements fewer or possibly only half of the connecting devices are required for fixing the individual flooring elements. The printing plate has a larger footprint and is easier to lay even on a not completely flat surface. The two fasteners, each on one A common pressure plate are arranged, can be connected more easily and reliably with the floor covering elements arranged above by pressing the floor covering elements against the connecting devices resting on the ground and thereby pressing the two connecting elements into the respectively assigned recess in the floor covering elements. Another advantage that is considered essential is the possibility of being able to connect three or four adjoining floor covering elements to one another by a single connecting device. Thus, with each connecting element, two floor covering elements can be connected to one another, with the two connecting elements connected to one another via a common pressure plate, up to four floor covering elements can consequently be connected to one another.

With a view to an improved composite effect, it is optionally provided that several floor covering elements with two opposite longitudinal sides and with two opposite shorter transverse sides have at least two recesses on each longitudinal side, with one recess in a floor covering element being arranged adjacent to one of the two transverse sides so that two aligned along their long sides and each with a transverse side adjacent to each other arranged floor covering elements can be connected to the two connecting elements of a connecting device which is arranged along the longitudinal sides of the two floor covering elements over the respective transverse sides. In this way, two floor covering elements abutting one another along a transverse side can not only be achieved by connecting elements be connected to each other, which overlap the transverse sides, but are also connected to each other by connecting elements that are arranged along the longitudinal sides and connected to a further floor covering element which rests on the longitudinal sides of the two floor elements adjoining each other with the transverse sides. As a result, the bond between the floor covering elements can be increased significantly with little effort.

In addition, with the connecting elements according to the invention and in particular with the connecting devices with two connecting elements each arranged on a common pressure plate, it is possible to press the adjacent floor covering elements against one another and thereby make gaps or joints that could form at the interfaces between two floor covering elements as small or disappear as possible allow. This can largely be achieved by a suitable arrangement of the individual recesses in the floor covering elements relative to the respective transverse sides and longitudinal sides and relative to one another in connection with the respective undercuts and the spring action of the resilient engagement elements of the connecting elements. In particular, when using the connecting devices which combine two connecting elements, an advantageous positioning of the floor covering elements fixed thereon can be brought about in all three spatial directions.

It is regarded as a further essential advantage of the invention that the floor covering elements can have different and almost arbitrarily predetermined contact surfaces. Due to the side walls that are designed without undercuts individual flooring elements can be inserted into a composite of flooring elements from above or perpendicular to the subsurface. It is not necessary to push individual floor covering elements laterally, which conventionally have to be connected to neighboring floor covering elements by a tongue and groove connection. In this way, floor covering elements with any shape of the base can be connected to one another and, for example, numerous floor covering elements with an individual or matching shape can be joined together to form a star-shaped or wave-shaped mosaic. It is also conceivable to provide a circumferential frame with mitered side edges around an inner area of the floor covering along room walls, wherein the individual floor covering elements in the inner area can either have a cuboid shape or a shape deviating therefrom.

The floor covering elements can be parquet elements such as, for example, wooden floorboards or strip parquet elements that are partially or completely made of wood. The floor covering elements can also be flat plastic elements or, for example, laminate elements, ceramic elements or stone elements, which are joined together with the connecting elements and connected to one another.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht von zwei Bodenbelagselementen, die aneinander angrenzend auf einem Untergrund verlegt sind,
• Figur 2 eine Schnittansicht eines Teilbereichs, der in Figur 1 dargestellten Anordnung von zwei Bodenbelagselementen längs der Linie II-II in Figur 1,
• Figur 3 eine Schnittansicht der Figur 1 dargestellten Anordnung von Bodenbelagselementen längst einer Linie III-III in Figur 1,
• Figur 4 eine Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Verbindungselement,
• Figur 5 eine Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungselements,
• Figur 6 eine Ansicht einer Unterseite eines Bodenbelagselements mit den erfindungsgemäß vorgesehenen Ausnehmungen,
• Figur 7 eine Schnittansicht durch einen Teilbereich des in Figur 6 gezeigten Bodenbelagselements längs der Linie VII-VII in Figur 6,
• Figur 8 eine mit Figur 3 vergleichbare Schnittansicht, wobei die Ausnehmungen und das Verbindungselement jeweils anders ausgestaltet sind,
• Figur 9 eine Ansicht einer Unterseite des Bodenbelagselements mit einer wie in Figur 8 ausgebildeten Ausnehmung,
• Figur 10 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines abweichend ausgebildeten Verbindungselements, welches an einer dem Untergrund zugewandten Unterseite eine seitlich vorspringende Druckplatte aufweist,
• Figur 11 eine Seitenansicht des in Figur 10 dargestellten Verbindungselements,
• Figur 12 eine Schnittansicht durch das in den Figuren 10 und 11 abgebildete Verbindungselement, welches in einer Ausnehmung in einem Bodenbelagselement festgelegt ist,
• Figur 13 eine Ansicht einer Unterseite des in Figur 12 dargestellten Bodenbelagselements mit einer an das in den Figuren 10 bis 12 dargestellte Verbindungselement angepassten Formgebung,
• Figur 14 eine Schnittansicht durch ein Bodenbelagselement mit zwei in jeweils einer zugeordneten Ausnehmung angeordneten Verbindungselementen, wobei sowohl unter den Verbindungselementen als auch unter dem Bodenbelagselement jeweils flächige Dämpfungselemente angeordnet sind,
• Figur 15 eine Ansicht einer Unterseite eines Bodenbelagselements mit einer abweichend zu den vorausgehend gezeigten Ausführungsbeispielen ausgebildeten Ausnehmung,
• Figur 16 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Verbindungseinrichtung mit zwei auf einer Druckplatte festgelegten Verbindungselementen, und
• Figur 17 eine Draufsicht auf einen Ausschnitt eines Bodenbelags mit mehreren Parkettelementen, die mit Hilfe von mehreren Verbindungseinrichtungen miteinander verbunden sind.

Some exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are explained in more detail below, which are shown as examples in the drawing. It shows:

• Figure 1 a perspective view of two floor covering elements that are laid adjacent to one another on a sub-floor,
• Figure 2 a sectional view of a portion shown in Figure 1 illustrated arrangement of two flooring elements along the line II-II in Figure 1 ,
• Figure 3 a sectional view of the Figure 1 illustrated arrangement of flooring elements along a line III-III in Figure 1 ,
• Figure 4 a plan view of a connecting element according to the invention,
• Figure 5 a side view of a connecting element according to the invention,
• Figure 6 a view of an underside of a floor covering element with the recesses provided according to the invention,
• Figure 7 a sectional view through a portion of the in Figure 6 floor covering element shown along the line VII-VII in Figure 6 ,
• Figure 8 one with Figure 3 comparable sectional view, wherein the recesses and the connecting element are each configured differently,
• Figure 9 a view of an underside of the floor covering element with a like in Figure 8 trained recess,
• Figure 10 a perspective view of a differently designed connecting element, which has a laterally protruding pressure plate on an underside facing the substrate,
• Figure 11 a side view of the in Figure 10 shown connecting element,
• Figure 12 a sectional view through the in the Figures 10 and 11 pictured connecting element, which is fixed in a recess in a flooring element,
• Figure 13 a view of a bottom of the in Figure 12 flooring elements shown with a to the in the Figures 10 to 12 shown connecting element adapted shape,
• Figure 14 a sectional view through a floor covering element with two connecting elements each arranged in an assigned recess, with flat damping elements being arranged both under the connecting elements and under the floor covering element,
• Figure 15 a view of an underside of a floor covering element with a recess formed differently from the exemplary embodiments shown above,
• Figure 16 a perspective view of a connecting device with two connecting elements fixed on a pressure plate, and
• Figure 17 a plan view of a section of a floor covering with several parquet elements, which are connected to one another with the aid of several connecting devices.

In Figure 1 an arrangement of two floor covering elements 1, 2 is shown as an example, which are loosely laid on a substrate 3. The two floor covering elements 1, 2 are, for example, wooden floorboards that are assembled to form a wooden parquet. In the Figure 1 only two floor covering elements 1, 2 are shown for illustration. A floor covering is usually composed of a larger number of floor covering elements 1, 2, the individual floor covering elements 1, 2 being arranged and cut to size so that the substrate 3 is completely covered.

The two floor covering elements 1, 2 have a cuboid shape, the floor covering elements 1, 2 having an in Figure 1 non-visible contact surface 4 lie flat on the substrate 3. The floor covering elements 1, 2 have a usable surface 5 opposite the support surface 4. The usable surface 5 can be coated with a decorative layer, for example in the case of parquet flooring.

The two floor covering elements 1, 2 each have flat, undercut-free side surfaces along their side edges and projecting perpendicularly from the support surface 4 to the usable surface 5. The two floor covering elements 1, 2 are laid with an offset in the longitudinal direction adjacent to one another on the substrate 3 so that two facing side surfaces 6 of the two floor covering elements 1, 2 touch in a contact area and the two floor covering elements 1, 2 adjoin one another without gaps.

The two floor covering elements 1, 2 are connected to one another in the contact area with a connecting element 7 that is not visible from the usable surface 5. The connecting element 7 is in the two sectional views in Figures 2 and 3 in its assembly position in recesses 8, 9 adapted therein in the adjacent floor covering elements 1, 2. The two floor covering elements 1, 2 are reliably connected to one another by the connecting element 7. A conventional tongue and groove connection is not required.

The connecting element 7 is in the Figures 4 and 5 shown separately. The connecting element 7 has an anchoring section 11 in each case at two opposite end regions 10. The two anchoring sections 11 are connected to one another by a connecting section 12 that is narrower or thinner than the anchoring sections 11. In each anchoring section 11, two engagement elements 13 resiliently arranged on the connecting section 12 are formed. An underside 14 of the connecting element 7 is essentially planar. An opposite upper side 15 of the connecting element 7 has a convexly curved surface with rounded side edges.

The two engagement elements 13 protrude laterally in all directions with the exception of the underside 14 Connecting section 12 of the connecting element 7 and thereby form protrusions in all directions.

In Figure 6 is a bottom 16 of the in the Figures 1 to 3 floor covering element 1 shown. Figure 7 shows a sectional view of a partial area of the floor covering element 1 with a recess 17 formed therein. The recess 17 has a connecting area 18 adapted in terms of its dimensions to the connecting section 12 of the connecting element 7 and an anchoring area 19 spaced from the side surface 6. The connecting area 18 can be produced, for example, by milling a groove and connects the anchoring area 19 to the side surface 6. The anchoring area 19 has a larger cross-sectional area parallel to the side surface 6 than the connecting area 18. The anchoring region 19 can, for example, have a substantially hemispherical shape, the recess 17 as well as that in FIGS Figures 2 and 3 The recesses 8, 9 shown have an opening edge 20 that is flush with the support surface 4 and protrudes inward. An undercut surface 21 is formed in a transition area from the connection area 18 to the anchoring area 19 which widens relative thereto.

To connect the two floor covering elements 1, 2, the two floor covering elements 1, 2 with the adjacent side surfaces 6 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the associated recesses 8, 9 in the floor covering elements 1, 2 are aligned and aligned with one another. Fleeing in these two Recesses 8, 9 arranged in relation to one another, the connecting element 7 is introduced from the support surface 4. The engagement elements 13 have to be somewhat deformed when they are pressed into the recesses 8, 9 in order to be able to move past the inwardly protruding opening edge 20. As soon as the connecting element 7 is completely pressed into the recesses 8, 9, the inwardly protruding opening edge 20 engages behind the rounded side edge on the underside 14 of the connecting element 7 and causes the connecting element 7 to be locked in the two recesses 8, 9 The two floor elements 1, 2 are not only positively connected to one another in all directions in a plane parallel to the substrate 3, but are also positively fixed to one another in a direction perpendicular to the substrate 3.

The engaging elements 13 formed in the two anchoring areas 19 of the connecting element 7 engage behind the respectively assigned undercut surface 21 in the relevant anchoring area 19 of the recesses 8, 9, 17 and thereby form a form-fitting connection between the two floor covering elements 1, 2 laid adjacent to one another.

In the Figures 8 and 9 are examples of a floor covering two floor covering elements 1, 2 laid adjacent to one another, each different from the one in the Figures 6 and 7 illustrated recesses 17, which are connected to one another with a connecting element 7 adapted to the differently configured recesses 8, 9. The respective anchoring area 19 of the two recesses 8, 9 is a blind hole educated. The two connecting areas 18 of the two recesses 8, 9 are each designed as a groove-shaped milled recess. The connecting element 7 has cylindrical anchoring sections 11 which are connected to one another with a connecting section 12 in the form of a rod. The connecting element 7 has an essentially planar top 15 and a likewise planar bottom 14. Both the top 15 and the bottom 14 each have a lateral bevel 22 along the respective circumferential edges in order to avoid undesirable tilting when the connecting element 7 is introduced into the recesses 8, 9, if possible.

In the Figures 10 to 12 a differently configured connecting element 7 is shown as an example. The connecting element 7 has a pressure plate 23 on its underside 14. The pressure plate 23 is formed in one piece with the connecting element 7. The engaging elements 13 formed in the anchoring sections 11 are each separated from the pressure plate 23 via a gap 24 in order to be able to be deformed when the connecting element 7 is pressed into the recesses 8, 9 and thus to produce the desired clamping effect.

The pressure plate 23 could rest on the support surface 4 of the floor covering elements 1, 2 and consequently be arranged so as to protrude towards the substrate 3. With regard to the largest possible contact surface of the floor covering elements 1, 2 with the substrate 3, it is advantageous if the recesses 8, 9 have an in Figure 13 have additional pressure plate region 25, which are shown as an example and are adapted to the shape of the pressure plate 23. The pressure plate 23 of the connecting element 7 can be arranged completely within the two pressure plate areas 25 of the associated recesses 8, 9, so that an underside 26 of the pressure plate 23 facing the substrate 3 is flush with the support surface 4 of the floor covering elements 1, 2, as is shown, for example, in FIG Figure 12 is shown.

The anchoring area 19 of a recess 8, 9 has an inwardly protruding opening edge 20 with an additionally provided pressure plate area 25 in the recess 8, 9 at the transition from the pressure plate area 25 to the anchoring area 19.

With an in Figure 14 The exemplary embodiment shown only by way of example and schematically has flat damping elements 27 attached to the undersides 26 of the pressure plates 23 of the connecting elements 7. The damping elements 27 are self-adhesive felt plates with which slight unevenness of the substrate 3 can be leveled out. In addition, the damping elements 27 bring about an advantageous and pleasant impact sound damping. Flat damping elements 27 are also fastened to the underside 16 of the floor covering element 1 in an inner region of the support surface 4 that is spaced apart from the side edges 6.

In Figure 15 Another embodiment variant of a recess 9 in the floor covering element 1 is shown as an example, of which the underside 16 is visible with the support surface 4 pointing upwards. The recess 9 has a pressure plate area 25 with a semicircular base. The anchoring area 19 of the recess 9 is essentially formed by a blind hole, the majority of which is arranged within the floor covering element 1 and laterally slightly overlaps the side surface 6 of the floor covering element 1, so that the side surface 6 intersects a circular base area 28 of the blind hole. An opening 29 formed in the side surface 6 through the sectional plane with the blind hole forms the connecting area 18 of the recess 9 and makes the anchoring area 19 of the recess 9 generated by the blind hole accessible from the side surface 6. The anchoring region 19 accordingly has undercut surfaces 21 arranged laterally parallel to the support surface 4 and no undercut surfaces extending perpendicularly from the support surface 4 to the useful surface 5.

In Figure 16 a connection device 30 with two connection elements 7 which are fixed on a common pressure plate 23 is shown schematically. The two connecting elements 7 are aligned in parallel and arranged next to one another on the pressure plate 23 at a distance from one another. The length of an individual connecting element 7 can be, for example, 3 to 4 centimeters, the distance between the connecting elements 7 arranged next to one another can be, for example, between 3 and 6 centimeters. A base area of the pressure plate 23 can be between 5 and 20 square centimeters. Both the respective dimensions of the connecting elements 7 and the dimensions of the pressure plate 23 and the distance between the connecting elements 7 can, for example, depend on the size of the individual flooring elements 1, 2 may also be smaller or larger than the size information given above.

Each of the two approximately bone-shaped and similar to those in the Figures 2 to 5 and the connecting elements 7 shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 have two engagement elements 13 resiliently connected to the connecting section 12 at the opposite ends in the anchoring sections 11. The resilient engagement elements 13 are designed in terms of their shape in such a way that the floor covering elements 1, 2 connected to them are pressed or pulled in all three spatial directions by the resilient engagement elements 13 into a desired position within the assembly of floor covering elements 1, 2.

In Figure 17 a section of a floor covering with several floor covering elements 1, 2 is shown as an example. The flooring elements 1, 2 are each cuboid parquet elements with straight side surfaces on the shorter transverse sides 31 and on the longer longitudinal sides 32. To illustrate an advantageous arrangement of several connecting devices 30, which are used to connect the individual flooring elements 1, 2 to one another, are the at an in Figure 17 The top view of an upper side of the floor covering elements 1, 2 shown on the underside thereof and therefore concealed connecting devices 30 with the two connecting elements 7 in each case are indicated by dashed lines. Each floor covering element 1, 2 with a rectangular base area has a recess 9 on the longitudinal sides 32 in the area of the transverse side 31. The distance of the recess 9 from the transverse side 31 corresponds approximately to half the distance between two connecting elements 7 of a connecting device 30. In addition, further recesses 9 are formed along the longitudinal sides 32 of the floor covering elements 1, 2 in the middle between the two opposite transverse sides 31. With such floor covering elements 1, 2 or with such an arrangement of the individual recesses 9 in the floor covering elements 1, 2, along the aligned longitudinal sides 32 of two floor covering elements 1, 2 abutting with their transverse sides 31, can be connected to one another with connecting devices 30 so that The pressure plate 23 of a connecting device 30 extends over both transverse sides 31 and one of the two connecting elements 7 arranged next to one another on the pressure plate 23 engages in the recess 9 of the associated floor covering element 1, 2 from the longitudinal side 32. In this way, three floor covering elements 1, 2 are connected to one another via a single connecting device 30. Due to the spring action of the resilient engagement elements 7, which are fixed in the respective recess 9, the floor covering elements 1, 2 can be drawn together with respect to the adjacent longitudinal sides 32 as well as with respect to the adjacent transverse sides 31, and their positions within the composite are thereby advantageously predetermined .

Claims (15)

Floor covering with at least two flat floor covering elements (1, 2), each of which has a usable surface (5) and can be laid with a support surface (4) opposite the usable surface (5) on a substrate (3), and with at least one connecting element (7) ), with which the two floor covering elements (1, 2) laid adjacent to one another are connected to one another, characterized in that each floor covering element (1, 2) has at least one recess (8, 9, 17) in the support surface (4), which is starting from a side surface (6) of the floor covering element (1, 2) connecting the usable surface (5) to the support surface (4), the at least one recess (8, 9, 17) in the floor covering element (1, 2) each has an anchoring area (19) and a connecting area (18) connecting the anchoring area (19) to the side surface (6) and wherein the anchoring area (19) has a relative v has an undercut surface (21) extending laterally beyond the connection area (18), that in the case of the two floor covering elements (1, 2) laid adjacent to one another, at least one recess (8, 9, 17) of the first floor covering element (1) with the connection area (18) is arranged in alignment with the connection area (18) of an associated recess (8, 9, 17) of the second floor covering element (2), and that the at least one connection element (7) is separated from the respective support surface (4) of the first and second floor covering element (1, 2) is arranged in the two mutually aligned recesses (8, 9, 17) of the first and second floor covering element (1, 2), the connecting element (7) at two opposite end regions (10 ) each has an anchoring section (11) and the two anchoring sections (11) are connected to one another with a connecting section (12), and each anchoring section (11) of the connecting element (7) in the associated anchoring area (19) of the recess (8, 9 , 17) of the first and second floor covering elements (1, 2) on the relevant undercut surface (21) is positively fixed. Floor covering according to claim 1, characterized in that each floor covering element (1, 2) has side surfaces (6) formed without undercuts along the side edges. Floor covering according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the connecting element (7) is arranged completely within the two mutually associated recesses (8, 9, 17) of the first and second floor covering elements (1, 2). Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each anchoring section (11) of a connecting element (7) has at least one engagement element (13) which extends laterally over the in the direction of the usable surface (5) and / or parallel to the side surface (6) Connecting portion (11) is formed protruding. Floor covering according to claim 4, characterized in that each anchoring section (11) of a connecting element (7) has at least two engagement elements (13) which are resiliently fixed to the connecting section (12) and which are clamped in the anchoring area (19) of the associated recess (8, 9 , 17) are specified. Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each anchoring section (11) of a connecting element (7) has a cross-sectional area aligned parallel to the contact surface (4) with an approximately circular outer contour, and that each anchoring area (19) has a recess (8, 9, 17) in the floor covering element (1, 2) has an adapted shape. Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an upper side (15) of the connecting element (7) facing away from the bearing surface (4) of the floor covering elements (1, 2) has a convexly curved surface. Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an opening area of the recess (7) formed in the contact surface (4) in the floor covering element (1, 2) is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the recess (7) oriented parallel to the contact surface (4) is at a distance from the footprint (4). Floor covering according to claim 8, characterized in that one of the bearing surfaces (4) of the floor covering elements (1, 2) facing underside (14) of the connecting element (7) has a convexly curved surface. Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on an underside (14) of the connecting element (7) facing the bearing surface (4) of the flooring elements (1, 2) a pressure plate protruding laterally over the underside (14) of the connecting element (7) (23) is arranged. Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (7) is constructed in one piece. Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on an underside (14) of the connecting element (7) facing the bearing surface (4) of the floor covering elements (1, 2) and / or on an underside (14) arranged there and laterally over the underside (14) of the connecting element (7) protruding pressure plate (23) and / or on the support surface (4) of the floor covering elements (1, 2) flat damping elements (27) made of an elastically deformable material are fixed. Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two floor covering elements (1, 2) are each connected to one another with a connecting device (14), the connecting device (14) having two connecting elements (7) which are aligned in parallel and spaced apart and which are arranged on a common pressure plate (23) are set. Floor covering according to claim 13, characterized in that several floor covering elements (1, 2) with two opposite longitudinal sides and with two opposite shorter transverse sides have at least two recesses (8, 9, 17) on each longitudinal side, one recess (8, 9, 17) is arranged adjacent to one of the two transverse sides in such a way that two floor covering elements (1, 2) arranged in alignment along their longitudinal sides and each with one transverse side adjacent to one another can be connected to one another with the two connecting elements (7) of a connecting device (). Floor covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor covering elements (1, 2) are parquet elements.

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