Modular panels for making an installable/removable temporary floor and method for making said floor

Description [0001] The present patent application relates to modular panels for obtaining a mountable / demountable temporary floor and a method for making said floor.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to modular panels that are designed to arrange them in adjacent positions connected to each other so as to form a temporary floor to protect and cover the surface of the inner or outer area / space intended, for example, to organize an event , such as a sporting event, artistic or musical event (concert) or other similar event / occasion; the presentation below will contain a clear reference to this without loss of general information.

[0003] It is known that in order to protect the grass surface of a sports stadium, e.g. a football stadium, a walking floor is placed on the surface during the event, generally a music event, so as to prevent damage to the surface by the people involved in the event as a result walking on her.

[0004] This type of floor is generally mountable / demountable and is equipped with a plurality of modular panels that can be joined together to form a walking floor that covers the protected surface. In practice, before the event, the panels are placed on the surface, next to each other, in contact with each other, and are connected to each other in such a way that they can be dismantled after the event so as to reveal the surface below.

[0005] European patent EP 0 861 351 B1 describes a floor, for example, provided with flat, reinforcing panels for laying on a ground, where a pair of parallel rectilinear edges of each panel is fitted, one with built-in female locking elements and the other with corresponding male elements locking, protruding from the panel plane, for detachable hooking, in a vertical direction to the panel plane, with female blocking elements of the adjacent panel, so that they cannot be detached from the female locking elements in the horizontal plane of the panel. The first male and female panel locking elements are made in the form of prismatic studs provided with wings, and the second of the corresponding prismatic recesses. They are made such that, when engaged, they form a limited relative rotation about an axis parallel to the adjacent sides of the panels, in such a way that they are hinged in an interconnected manner.

[0006] If, on the one hand, the previously described panels are advantageous because they form a temporary floor that adapts to the changing inclinations of the surface on which it rests and they can be mounted / disassembled quickly and cheaply, on an axis parallel to the adjacent sides of the panels in such that they are hinged in an interrelated manner.

[0007] If, on the one hand, the panels described above are advantageous because they form a temporary floor that adapts to the changing inclinations of the surface on which it rests and can be mounted / disassembled quickly and cheaply, on the other hand they have a technical disadvantage consisting of protruding prismatic pins that are subject to fracture / damage. Naturally, when a single prismatic panel pin is damaged, the use of the entire panel is at risk, resulting in replacement and disposal costs.

[0008] Furthermore, the German document DE 196 00 318 C1 discloses a floor plate having on its circumference recesses that receive top-fitting joints to attach other panels; document DE 203 02 434 U1 discloses a garden path element consisting of several panels joined together by connectors; U.S. Patent Application US 2013/167458 A1 discloses a modular floor system comprising a plurality of floor tiles and joints with opposing contact surfaces; US Document US2005 / 241243 discloses a set of modular resin elements comprising separate base plates for the elements; U.S. Application No. 5971655A discloses a decking connection structure comprising an upward hook and a socket, the upward hook being placed in the socket.

[0009] In this regard, the Applicant has carried out an in-depth study to identify a solution that on the one hand retains the advantages of the previously described panels, in other words their increased adaptability to the surface on which they rest and easy assembly / disassembly, on the other overcoming the technical problem of these panels.

[0010] This object is achieved thanks to the present invention because it relates to a temporary modular floor and a method for producing said modular floor as defined in the appended claims.

[0011] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a non-limiting embodiment, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view, with enlarged parts for clarity, of an installable temporary modular floor made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, with enlarged parts for clarity, of a panel forming part of the modular modular floor shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic top view, on an enlarged scale, of a joining plate for panels forming the modular modular floor shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section II of the modular panel shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross section of II-II of the modular panel shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a schematic bottom view of the connecting plate shown in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of the connecting plate shown in Figure 3;

Figures 8 to 12 show vertical cross-sections, with enlarged parts for clarity, two adjacent panels and a corresponding joining plate, which illustrate the operations carried out by the method of producing a floor according to the principles of the present invention;

• Figure 13 shows the angle of inclination of the panel which is connected to the adjacent panel by means of a connecting plate;

Figure 14 is a top view of a connecting plate made according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 15 is a bottom view of the connecting plate shown in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a section III-III of the connecting plate shown in Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a section IV-IV of the connecting plate shown in Figure 15;

• Figure 18 is a perspective view of the connecting plate shown in Figure 15;

Figure 19 is a top view, with enlarged parts for clarity, floor parts and modular flat pre-assembly used in a variation of the method according to the present invention.

[0012] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached figures, so as to enable an expert to make and use it. Various modifications of the described embodiments will be immediately clear to experts, and the described general principles may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention as set out in the appended claims. Consequently, the present invention cannot be considered limited to the described and illustrated embodiments, but must have the widest range of protection ensured in accordance with the principles and features described and claimed herein.

[0013] With reference to Figure 1, a mountable / demountable temporary floor (in other words one that is easy to remove) that can be walked on (shown only partially) and preferably used for sporting events, musical events or other similar events / occasions , is intended to be arranged on the surface S, which is to be protected so that it is temporarily covered / veneered, is fully marked with number 1. Floor 1 is intended to be installed / assembled, before the event, resting on the surface S (ground) so as to cover / veneer the surface S and protect it from walking, and then is dismantled after the event so as to reveal / reveal the previously covered surface S . Floor 1 can advantageously be used to protect, for example, a surface in a sports stadium (not shown), such as, for example, a S-covered grass surface or a wooden parquet floor or other similar surface that requires temporary protection during an event and / or is not suitable , in safety, walking on it by a significant / significant number of people.

[0014] It is understood that the floor 1, object of the present invention, is not limited to the specific use at events, but can be used in other situations where it is necessary to cover the surface temporarily to protect it against walking on it or against other elements related to the surface, such as, for example, irrigation systems and / or heating systems directly below the surface.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the floor 1 comprises a plurality of tiles or panels 2, square or rectangular, which are arranged side by side, adjacent to each other and substantially coplanar with each other, in other words resting on the corresponding sides of the adjacent panels 2 , provided with at least one recess 3 on each of the four sides, which specifies with a corresponding recess 3 made on one side of the adjacent panel 2, socket 4. Floor 1 also contains a plurality of connecting plates, each of which is intended to be connected in a stable but easy to disassemble manner, with a corresponding socket 4, which is preferably rectangular, so as to create a connection between two adjacent panels 2 in to create a floor 1.

[0016] With reference to Figure 2, each panel 2 is substantially flat, square or rectangular and has a plate-like body 6 whose flat upper surface defines (with other panels) the upper floor for walking the floor 1 and the outer peripheral frame 7, which it protrudes above the outer edge of the perimeter of the plate-like body 6 in a preferably perpendicular direction to the plane on which the plate-like body is located and which is intended to be used, to be placed on the surface S to be covered / protected.

[0017] According to the preferred embodiment shown for example in Figures 1 and 2, each panel 1 preferably has two recesses 3 on each of the four sides, which are spaced apart from each other along the common side by a fixed distance D. If the panel 2 is square, as shown in the example of Figures 1 and 2, pairs of recesses 3 made on four sides, preferably have the same distance D between the joints. In this way, when the two panels 2 are aligned and placed next to each other, during assembly, a pair of recesses 3 on one side of the panel 2 conveniently adapts itself to a pair of recesses 3 on any of the four sides of the adjacent panel 2, creating the appropriate sockets 4 without having to panels 2 had to be in any particular direction, which simplifies their assembly. It is understood that there may be more than two depressions 3 on each side. It is also understood that if the panel 2 is rectangular, the number and / or distance of the depressions 3 made along the long sides may be different from the number and / or correspondingly from the distance between the depressions 3 made along the shorter sides of panel 2.

[0018] Instead, the connecting plates 5 are hooked "vertically" relative to the lying plane of the floor 1, which during use is substantially horizontal, since it generally corresponds to the resting surface S.

[0019] The connecting plates are rectangular and intended for manual hooking, in a stable but easy to disassemble manner (as shown in Figures 8-12 and as described in detail below), on the respective rectangular seats 4 along the direction A, which is substantially perpendicular to the plane on which the plate-like body 6 lies; they are provided with snap-on coupling elements 8, which in turn are intended to be operated during attachment, so as to create a snap-fit ​​connection between the connecting plate 5 and two adjacent panels 2, which are provided with recesses 3 forming a socket 4, so as to make a connection between said panels 2.

[0020] According to the invention shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6, each connecting plate 5 comprises a rectangular flat sheet 9, which, when in use, i.e. after connecting the connecting plate to the recess 3, lies on the same plane as the body 6 similar to the panel plate 2 such that the upper surface of the connecting plate 5 is substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the panel 2 forming the surface of the walking floor 1.

[0021] Each connecting plate also includes an outer peripheral frame that surrounds the outer edge of the perimeter of the sheet 9 and projects above its bottom surface so that it is positioned substantially perpendicular to the sheet, and preferably reinforcing safety edges that extend perpendicular to the sheet 9 and develop preferably in directions parallel and / or perpendicular to the axis L.

[0022] The peripheral frame 10 of the connecting plate 5, in use, is generally located close to the walls 11 (vertical in Figure 2) of the recesses 3, which from the side delimit the rectangular socket 4, with the bottom edge / corner resting / adjacent to the bottom wall 12 of the recesses 3 forming a nest 4. [0023] According to the invention shown, for example, in Figures 3 to 6, the snap-on coupling elements 8 of each rectangular connecting plate 5 comprise two pairs of side teeth 13 that protrude from the outer surfaces of the two parallel sides of the frame 10 of the peripheral connecting plate 5, which are intended, so that during use, snap-on connect with the two corresponding pairs of holes 14 made on the parallel walls 11 of the sockets 4 (Figure 2).

[0024] According to the invention shown, for example, in Figures 3 to 6, two pairs of teeth 13 are placed on the respective larger sides opposite the mirror plate 5 mirroring / symmetrically relative to each other in relation to the longitudinal axis L, so that each tooth 13 on the larger side coincides with the opposite tooth 13 on the other larger side, along a common axis perpendicular to the axis L.

[0025] In the example shown, two teeth 13 on each major side of the connecting plate 5 are located approximately at the longitudinal ends opposite the connecting plate, so that opposite and aligned pairs of teeth 13 at the ends engage in respective pairs of holes 14 in the relative two recesses 3 , arranged side by side to form a nest 4.

[0026] In the illustrated example, each seat 4 comprises two pairs of holes 14, each of which is made on a relative recess 3, so as to hold opposing aligned teeth 13 at the end of the connecting plate. The inner walls 11 of each cavity 3 preferably have an inner part which, when in use, is perpendicular to the L axis of the connecting plate and two side parts parallel to the L axis, facing each other, where two holes 14 are made in which the teeth 13 are held.

[0027] According to the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 5, the teeth 13 may have a perpendicular cross-section relative to the roughly triangular axis L. Instead, as shown in Figure 3, the through mesh or slot 15 may be made on the top sheet 9, next to each tooth 13, i.e. at the periphery edge which runs straight, preferably parallel to the L axis and which is dimensioned so that during use, during joining, part of the peripheral frame supporting the tooth 13 flexes flexibly towards the inside of the connecting plate under the pressure of the tooth 13, and then flexibly returns to the initial position when the tooth 13 engages with the hole 14. It is understood that the four slots 15 conveniently define four respective flexible wings on the peripheral frame, which supports the teeth 13 and allows the teeth to make a limited movement (by a few millimeters) transversely to the L axis, which results in joining in the corresponding hole 14.

[0028] It is also understood that the slits 15 can be made, alternatively or additionally, on a plate-like body 6 directly above the openings 14. In this case, during joining, the wall portion 11 next to the slits 15 above the opening 14 tends to bend under the pressure of tooth 13, further supporting its attachment in the hole 14.

[0029] According to the preferred embodiment shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 2, the recesses 3 are located on the outer edge of the perimeter of the panel 2 and are provided with round through holes made on the bottom walls 12 of the recesses 3 which are to be coupled to the respective mandrels or cups 18 connecting plates 5. The round through holes 16 and respective cups 18 are in turn preferably intended to be joined by respective clamping screws 17 (shown in Figures 8, 11 and 12) which form a stable and substantially rigid attachment of the connecting plates to the panels 2.

[0030] According to the preferred embodiment shown, for example, in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, the connecting plate comprises two goblets 18, which protrude beyond the bottom surface of the sheet 9 along the relative axes perpendicular to the sheet, so as to position, during use, suitable free ends resting / adjacent to the respective flanges 19 on the bottom wall 12 of the recesses 3. In the illustrated example, the two cups 18 of the connecting plate are arranged parallel to each other, at a predetermined distance from each other in such a way that they lie on a plane parallel to the axis L, while each flange 19 is positioned on the bottom wall 12 of the recess 3, in position coaxial with the round hole 16 so that it can be passed through during use by means of the clamping bolt 17. The flange 19 may also advantageously have a substantially self-centering conical shape to facilitate the positioning of the cup 18 in the central recess of the flange 19, so as to make the connecting plate 5 match the correct position in the recess 3 and at the same time align the internal channel, preferably but not necessarily threaded, cup 18 with round hole 16.

[0031] According to the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7, the connecting plates 5 and the depressions 3 are also provided with retaining elements, which are intended to prevent the connecting plate 5 when being connected to cavities 3, it did not move inside the seat 4 along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L.

[0032] According to the preferred embodiment shown, for example, in Figures 1,2, 5, 6 and 7, the retaining elements may comprise two pairs of protruding elements, in other words teeth 23, preferably rectangular, which are arranged on the connecting plate, preferably on respective longitudinal ends opposite the connecting plate, i.e. next to the two smaller sides of the plate, and are designed so that, when in use, they adhere to the respective pair of arms 24 (shown in Figures 1 and 2) positioned on the bottom wall 12 of the recess 3.

[0033] According to the preferred embodiment shown for example in Figures 1 and 2, two arms 24 protrude above the bottom wall 12 and are positioned next to the circular opening 16 and the collar 19 forming opposing strips, in symmetrical positions relative to the center of the recess plane 3. Each arm 24 it may comprise, for example, a substantially T-shaped profile which has a smaller plate-like part. In use, the support surface of the tooth 23 of the plate-like body 6 and the greater part of the plate-like body that extends centrally from the relatively smaller part of the plate-like body along the perpendicular direction, intended to strengthen the arm 24, is based on this.

[0034] In the illustrated example, smaller parts of the plate-like body of the two arms 24 in the recess 3 may lie in the same plane that is preferably parallel to the inner part of the walls 11 bounding the recess 3 so that they are positioned so that during use rest on the internal surfaces of the teeth 23.

[0035] To assist the assembly, the connecting plate 5 and the depressions 3 can advantageously be dimensioned such that the width of the recess 3, measured along the direction perpendicular to the L axis, rounds the width of the connecting plate measured along the direction perpendicular to the L axis and that the total length of the two side by side depressions 3, measured along the direction parallel to the L axis, round off the length of the connecting plate, measured along the direction parallel to the L axis.

[0036] The two holes 14 of the cavity 3, intended to accommodate the teeth 13, are made on two respective walls 11 of the cavity 3, and are located parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis L of the plate 5, in symmetrical positions with respect to the median plane of the cavity 3, so that they are facing each other.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, the holes 14 have a substantially rectangular shape and height measured along a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall 12, which is greater than the height of the tooth 13 measured along the direction perpendicular to the sheet 9. In this way, the tooth 13 can make millimeter movements vertical, perpendicular to the bottom wall 12 of the recess 3, inside the opening 14, remaining trapped inside the opening. Each hole 14 preferably has a width measured along a direction parallel to the axis L, which is greater than the thickness of the tooth 13 measured along the same direction. In this way, the tooth 13 can perform millimeter longitudinal movements inside the hole 14, remaining wedged inside the hole. The holes 14 may also preferably have rounded upper tops opposite the bottom wall to facilitate detachment of the teeth 13 from the holes 14.

[0038] The panels 2 and the connecting plates 5 can advantageously be made of plastic by means of injection molding, thermoforming or a similar process. The plates 2 and the connecting plates 5 can preferably be made of, for example, a polypropylene copolymer.

[0039] The method of making floor 1 is described below with reference to Figures 8 to 12. In particular, the working steps carried out to connect the two panels 2 with a single joining plate 5 to explain the present invention will be illustrated and described. It is understood that the same steps are also repeated in the same way for joining the remaining joining plates used to make the floor 1.

[0040] With reference to Figure 8, the method comprises the steps of arranging at least one pair of panels 2 resting on the surface S (horizontal in Figure 8) in such a way as to position the side of the adjacent panel 2 which preferably rests / adheres to / at side of the second panel 2, bringing the recesses 3 together and forming a seat 4; placing the joining plate 5 over a seat 4 consisting of two adjacent cavities 3, preferably holding the joining plate 5 on an almost parallel plane to the panels 2; displacement of the connecting plate 4, preferably keeping it in a plane parallel to the panels 2, along the direction A, which is substantially perpendicular to the panels 2, so that the cups 18 rest on the flanges 19 and at the same time two pairs of teeth 13 enter respective pairs of holes 14 in two adjacent cavities 4 (Figure 12). When joining the joining plate 5 in the slot 4, the teeth 13 bend slightly towards the interior of the joining plate 5 due to the parts of the wings in the frame 10 and the snap connection in the respective holes 14, which causes the connection between these two panels 2. In this phase, the teeth 23 of the plate 5 connecting are positioned adjacent to the arms 24, opposing their longitudinal movement.

[0041] Preferably, but not necessarily, the method also includes the step of connecting the mandrel of the clamping screws in the round holes 16 in the bottom wall 12 of the recesses 3, and screwing the screws into the internal channels of the cups 18 so as to fix the connecting plate 5 firmly to the two panels 2, creating a stable connection between said panels.

[0042] With reference to Figure 13, it should be emphasized that due to the teeth 23 which can move in relative openings and due to the clearance between the perimeter frame 10 of the plate and the inner walls 11 of the socket 4, the connecting plate can be moved longitudinally until the teeth 23 are placed adjacent to the arms 24, and will therefore be able to rotate partly around the axis, passing through two aligned teeth 23. In this way, the connecting plate 5 allows the panels 2 to be tilted relative to each other at the maximum fixed angle α without disconnecting the plate 5 from the socket. The predetermined angle of inclination α of adjacent panels 2 may preferably be from about 7 ° to about 12 °, preferably 10 °. As a result, floor 1 can conveniently adapt to irregular surface profiles.

[0043] With reference to Figure 19, the method may also comprise the steps of: manufacture of modular flat pre-assembled assemblies 30, before laying floor 1 on surface S (one of which is shown above, on the left in Figure 19), each containing a plurality of panels 2, preferably eight panels 2, arranged in two parallel rows connected by four panels 2, each of which forms a rectangular walking floor and many of the first internal connecting plates, indicated by the number 5 'in Figure 19, which securely fix the directed / connected sides of panels 2, forming a modular flat preliminary assembly 30, with the aid of fixing screws 17, and a series of second connecting plates, designated by the number 5 "in Figure 19, which are firmly connected and secured with the aid of fixing screws 17 in cavities 3, on the larger outer side and on the smaller outer side of the initial assembly. The other two larger and smaller sides of the preliminary assembly 30 have plate-free cavities 3.

[0044] The method also includes the step of assembling the side of the modular flat preliminary assembly 30 side by side, which has second connecting plates 5 "to the side of the adjacent modular flat initial assembly 30 having free recesses 3, so as to snap a pair of free ends of the second 5" connecting plates into in the recesses, without screwing the clamping screws 17 into a part of said plates, which enter into the recesses 3. The second 5 "connecting plates may advantageously be made so that they differ visually during disassembly. To this end, as shown, for example, in Figure 19, the second 5 "connecting plates may have a surface finish (e.g. smooth or with elevations) and / or a color (e.g. red) other than the finish and / or the color of the first 5 'panels respectively connecting.

[0045] Thanks to the said joining plates, the previously described floor allows on the one hand to increase the speed of assembly / disassembly of the panels, with consequent reduction of costs, and on the other hand significantly reduces the costs associated with the maintenance / disposal of panels in the event of breakage, since they are essentially limited to replacement connecting plates and this does not require the replacement of the entire panel, as is the case with currently adopted solutions.

[0046] Finally, it is obvious that modifications and changes can be made to the floor itself and to the method described and illustrated above, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0047] The embodiment illustrated in Figures 14 to 18 relates to a connecting plate 40 which is similar to the connecting plate shown in Figures 3 to 7, whose parts / components are distinguished, where possible, by the same reference numbers that distinguish the relevant parts / elements of the connecting plate described above. The connecting plate 40 differs from the connecting plate 5 in that the plate-like body 6 is divided into two substantially identical, rectangular half-portions 6a and 6b, which are centrally connected, i.e. along two sides connected by a central bendable part 41, which runs along the axis K perpendicular to the axis L, in the central surface of the plate-like supporting element 6, and is intended to allow the two half-parts 6a and 6b to rotate partly around axis W, relative to each other, to increase the set angle α between panels 2. The central bendable portion 41 may advantageously have a thin strip of deformable / bendable material that extends almost parallel to the upper surface of the two portions 6a and 6b along a substantially perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis L. It is understood that floor 1 and / or modular flat assembled units 30 may comprise one or more connecting plates and / or, additionally or alternatively, one or more connecting plates.

NZ: 29760 / PE / 19 EP 3 255 208 B1