Curved connector for ceramic mesh pieces

Abstract

  The invention relates to an element suitable for connecting two pieces of ceramic floor tiles when it is sought to establish an angle between one piece and the next in such a way that the joining of several pieces with an angle between them allows the development of curved installation sections. The invention comprises a body of flexible material wherein this body comprises two independently movable plates but joined to each other by a joining point, preferably central, on which they can pivot with respect to each other.FIG. 3 

Description

Full specification CURVED CONNECTOR FOR CERAMIC MESH PIECESAs its name indicates the invention relates to an element suitable for connecting two pieces of ceramic floor tiles, particularly when it is desired that an angle be defined between one piece and the next in such a way that the joining of several pieces with an angle between them allows the development of curved installation sections. This possibility of defining curves is especially useful in the field of mesh parts for, for example, collective showers, swimming pools or industries that generate liquid waste in a room, among others, and require large sump areas.The technical field to which the invention belongs is that of ceramic floor pieces.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are different technical solutions for connectors, usually for the curved configuration of plastic meshes, as set out in the following:Patent EP3617426 relates to a part comprising elements for connecting to other like pieces and adopting, with respect to adjacent pieces, an arrangement in parallel or defining an angle. The element basically comprises two surfaces, an upper (1) and a lower (2) located at different heights, anti-slip means (4), and at least one suction channel (5) through which the water overflowing from the pool is expelled, as well as adjustable fixing means (7, 7') to allow both the distance and the angular position between adjacent elements to be varied in a coplanar manner between adjacent elements, where it can be used as an information channel as a result of the variation in colour or shape of the anti-slip means.Patent ES2641729T3 also refers to a modular structure that allows the interconnection of a series of pieces resulting in a straight or curved construction. Said element includes a main body along a first line and defining a first plane that corresponds to the passage surface of the grids; numerous teeth that protrude from the main body and that have been developed in the first plane; and a connector connected to the main body and adapted to connect the element to other elements.Another solution is presented by Japanese patent 2005-54409 with a series of pieces inserted together configuring floor tiles and allowing a certain movement with respect to each other, thus a square floor tile or one with a certain degree of curvature can be configured. None of the meshes shown in the cited patents could be made of ceramic material, but, preferably, they are made of plastic. Plastic, especially when used on aggressive materials such as bleach, chlorine (common in cleaning or swimming pools) tends to discolour and degrade, looking dirty or discoloured. The same also happens when it is subjected to the constant action of the sun.That is why for the realization of a mesh, ceramic is ideal because it is resistant to discolouration and does not degrade with continuous exposure to the sun. However, the clearances and flexibilities required by the pieces in the cited patents do not occur in materials such as ceramic. To achieve the configuration of curves with ceramic materials, it is necessary that during installation the curve is configured by fixing with bonding material, a solution that cannot be applied to the meshes because the floor tiles must be loose to be able to access the lower channel to which they drain. These floor tiles stay in place without bonding material when they are of a considerable size and weight, however, for the configuration of a curve involving is a concatenation of small-sized pieces, each tile portion must be capable of being fastened to an element.The Technological Report of Patents Ref. 101894 / P9754 issued the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office shows the following results that are not qualified as affecting the novelty or the inventive activity of the object of the present invention.  Patent EP0754816A1 discloses a mesh bar configured as a plug-in joining element, intended to cover channels, wells or similar, openings of buildings. The mesh is made up of several parallel bars, each of which is configured as a one-piece snap joint. Each element is formed as connecting members with pairs of profiled shapes on each side of a central longitudinal plane and in the installation position defining only a single transverse axis. The pairs of profiles are connected to each other in the transverse direction. In the connection element they are configured, on the one hand, as an insertion element and, on the other hand, as a complementary snap space. Patent US2004003549A1 relates to the structure and method of construction of a pool mesh. The pool has straight and curved edges and a channel is built into the pool deck near the edge, including the curves. The mesh is made of several mesh bars extending along the direction of the edge of the pool, including curves. The multiple mesh bars are assembled in both the longitudinal and lateral direction according to the dimensions of the channel. Once assembled in a mesh in a raised position, holes are drilled through all the assembled mesh bars in a lateral direction to the edge of the pool and rods are inserted through the drilled holes and fixed there against any movement in any direction. The mesh thus assembled is then lowered into the pool channel so that it is at substantially the same level as the surface of the pool deck and the water level of the pool. Patent US2008163415A1 relates to a structure for installing mesh in swimming pools with straight and curved sections. The pool has an upper channel made of concrete. The bars of the mesh follow the concept of being parallel to the wall of the pool. A plurality of spaced support elements is placed on the channel at predetermined intervals and fixed to the top of the concrete. A pre-assembled mesh of longitudinal bars is placed and fixed on the support elements. Pre-assembled mesh bars are held together by side strips. In the curved section, the individual bars of the mesh are placed one by one on the support elements and bent into the respective curves of the channel. The individual bars of the mesh are received between the spaces of the knobs of the support elements and snap-fitted into them. Patent FR2846994A1 relates to a mesh comprising a series of crosspieces spaced apart from each other and located side by side and connected by a single fixing shaft. The crosspieces and the shaft are moulded in a single piece in a plastic material allowing a slight bending of the shaft. Each crosspiece is a section comprising at its top a narrow rectangular rim that constitutes a support surface. The rim has a tapered area. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONWith the intended invention, each special piece of ceramic or floor tile is attached to its adjacent pieces forming a larger body that is held in place without the need for additional bonding material. On the other hand, the connector allows each tile to be quadrangular, since the curve or angle is produced by the action of the connector and not by the shape of the tile, thus avoiding bevel or triangle cuts that are much more complicated to plan and execute.To this end, the invention comprises a body of flexible material wherein this body comprises two independently movable plates but joined together at a joining point, preferably central, on which they can pivot with respect to each other.The plates, preferably because they have dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the section of the floor tiles between which they are arranged, once installed do not protrude from the continuous upper surface that is made when the floor tiles are put together, remaining hidden between such floor tiles.Each of these plates has a joining means for attachment to the floor tiles. These joining means are suitable means to be inserted into holes present in the side of the floor tiles on at least one of the faces that, once installed, will face each other.In a preferred embodiment, the joining means comprise a series of pins that project horizontally from the outside of the plates. These pins can adopt any geometry as long as it is complementary to the geometry of the holes in the floor tiles. The pins are inserted into the holes in the floor tiles, joining them and in turn marking and defining the angle and separation between the two. To ensure such a joint, the pins can have means that increase the friction and pressure of the pins inside the holes in the floor tiles. These means can be non-return fins, thickening rings, radial projections or in general any element that increases the section of the pins at some point and therefore favours friction and pressure between the pins and the holes wherein they are housed. In a possible embodiment, the device is made of plastic material, which gives it some flexibility and resistance.A device like the one described, arranged between each pair of floor tiles, allows several to be joined together forming an assembly that, due to its size and weight, can be kept immobile in its location without the need for bonding material. At the same time, the elasticity of each plate with respect to the other enables the angle of a tile to be varied and adjusted with respect to adjacent tiles, allowing enabling said assembly of floor tiles to be adjusted to the space they must cover, whether straight or curved.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESTo complete the disclosure being made herein, and for the purpose of aiding better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a figure is attached as an integral part of the description, wherein the following is represented in an illustrative and non-limiting manner:Fig. 1 shows the connector (2) comprising two plates (5) with a joint (8) between them, each plate having extensions towards the outside of the device which we will call pins (6), these pins being suitable for inserting into the holes (not shown) of the floor tiles and being retained there by the action of fins (7) arranged on the pins. Fig 2 shows the connector (2) next to a tile (1) wherein the holes (4) are visible; the pins on the rear face of the connector, not shown, are to be inserted into these holes.Fig. 3. This figure shows the tile (1) to which the connector (2) is attached, the holes (4) of the tile (1) where the rear pins (6) of the connector are inserted. In this case, only one tile is seen to be able to appreciate the other elements of the connector (2).PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTIONThe following is an embodiment of the invention that is not limiting but merely explanatory.The invention relates to a connector (2) of plastic material comprising two independent plates (5) joined together by means of a joining point (8) on which they pivot with respect to each other.The plates (5) have a width less than the height of the floor tiles (1) between which they are arranged.Each plate (5) has a series of pins (6) suitable for being inserted into holes (4) on the side of the floor tiles (1) on the faces that will face each other.The connector (2) is arranged between two adjacent floor tiles (1) and the pins (6) are inserted into the holes (4) arranged on the sides of these tiles (1) integrating both and at the same time defining the angle of separation between both.The pins are secured inside the holes (4) thanks to a series of non-return fins (7) which increase friction preventing the pins (6) from coming out of the holes (4) where they are housed.

Claims

1. CURVED CONNECTOR FOR CERAMIC MESH PIECES characterised in that it is suitable for integrating two adjacent floor tiles (1) arranged between them and anchored to them and because the connector (2) comprises two independent plates (5) joined together by a flexible joint (8) suitable for pivoting one plate with respect to the other, wherein the plates have a width less than the height of the tiles between which they are installed, each plate comprising a plurality of pins (6) projecting towards the outside of the connector, these pins being directed to meet the side of the floor tiles and being suitable to be inserted into holes (4) existing in the opposite sides of the adjacent tiles.  2. CURVED CONNECTOR FOR CERAMIC MESH PIECES according to claim 1, characterised in that the pins (6) comprise friction and pressure fastening means (7).  3. CURVED CONNECTOR FOR CERAMIC MESH PIECES according to claim 1, characterised in that it is made of flexible material.  4. CURVED CONNECTOR FOR CERAMIC MESH PIECES according to claim 1, characterised in that the pins (6) are arranged to coincide with the floor tiles holes.  5. CURVED CONNECTOR FOR CERAMIC MESH PIECES according to claim 2, characterised in that the fixing means comprise radial projections. 6. CURVED CONNECTOR FOR CERAMIC MESH PIECES according to claim 5, characterised in that the radial projections are anti-return fins (7),   7. CURVED CONNECTOR FOR CERAMIC MESH PIECES according to claim 5, characterised in that the radial projections are thickening rings.

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