Leveling device for floor covering elements that can be laid side by side

Abstract

Leveling device (1) for floor covering elements (2) that can be laid side by side, comprising a plate-shaped support element (3) which forms a support surface (5) for two or more floor covering elements on a first outer surface (4), wherein each floor covering element (2) can be placed on the support element (3) with an edge region (6) of the respective floor covering element (2) overlapping the support surface (5) of the support element (3) and next to an adjacent floor covering element (2) and fixed to the support element (3) on the first outer surface (4) with an adhesive material (7), and wherein the leveling device (1) comprises at least one pressing device (16) with which two adjacent floor covering elements (2) resting on the support element (3) can be pressed flush with each other on the first outer surface (4), characterized in that the plate-shaped support element (3) has at least one undercut recess (8),wherein the undercut recess (8) extends from the first outer surface (4) towards a second outer surface (10) opposite the first outer surface (4), such that an adhesive material (7) penetrating from the first outer surface (4) into the undercut recess (8) and subsequently curing can be positively locked in the undercut recess (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a leveling device for floor covering elements that can be laid side by side, comprising a plate-shaped support element which forms a support plane for two or more floor covering elements on a first outer surface, wherein each floor covering element can be placed on the support element with an edge region of the respective floor covering element overlapping the support plane of the support element and next to an adjacent floor covering element and fixed to the support element on the first outer surface with an adhesive material, and wherein the leveling device has at least one pressing device with which two adjacent floor covering elements lying on the support element can be pressed flush with each other on the surface of the first outer surface.

[0002] Such leveling devices are known in various forms from practical experience. They can be used to arrange and, if necessary, connect several floor covering elements laid side by side on a substrate in such a way that a level floor covering can be formed with the floor covering elements, in which the individual floor covering elements are arranged flush with the surface with a usable area facing away from the substrate.

[0003] For this purpose, the plate-shaped support elements can be laid in a grid defined by the floor covering elements on a suitable substrate, usually a bed of gravel or crushed stone, in such a way that two or more adjacent floor covering elements can rest with an edge area of ​​the respective floor covering element on a support plane formed by the first outer side of the support element.Before the relevant floor covering elements are placed on the first outer surface of the support element, a suitable adhesive material, such as a construction adhesive, is applied to the first outer surface of the plate-shaped support element facing away from the substrate, and then the two or more floor covering elements are placed with their respective edge areas onto the first outer surface, so that the contact edge area is fixed to the first outer surface of the support element with the adhesive material and a bond is created between the adjacent floor covering elements.

[0004] The individual flooring elements may have slightly different thicknesses at their edges, perpendicular to their usable surface. Furthermore, the substrate on which the slab-shaped support elements and subsequently the flooring elements are laid may have minor irregularities, which could result in the usable surfaces of two adjacent flooring elements not being flush with the surface.Flush installation of the floor covering elements can be facilitated by applying a sufficient amount of adhesive material to the first outer surface of the support element and pressing floor covering elements of varying thicknesses into the adhesive material at different distances from the support surface of the plate-shaped support element formed by the first outer surface, so that the usable surface of the floor covering elements facing away from the first outer surface is flush with the surface.

[0005] To facilitate or ensure the flush pressing of adjacent floor covering elements onto the plate-shaped support element, particularly when using an adhesive with a longer curing time, suitable pressing devices are often used. These pressing devices typically have a displacement shaft that extends from the second outer side through the plate-shaped support element and projects from the first outer side between the respective edge areas of the adjacent floor covering elements.A pressure element can be attached to the displacement shaft against the respective working surface of the flooring elements and pressed towards the first outer edge, so that the edge areas of the flooring elements gripped by the pressure element are pressed flush with the surface into the adhesive material and fixed in place until the adhesive has cured. In this way, the flooring elements laid side by side on the subfloor can be leveled to create a flush floor covering.

[0006] However, it has been observed that with many plate-shaped support elements commonly used in practice, the flooring elements detach unexpectedly and often prematurely from the outer surface of the support element, frequently before the expected service life of the flooring has elapsed. This impairs and progressively weakens the bond between the adjacent flooring elements. Furthermore, penetrating moisture and dirt can disrupt the originally flush alignment of the neighboring flooring elements, resulting in visible and tactile steps in the floor covering.

[0007] It is therefore considered an object of the present invention to design a leveling device with the features listed above in such a way as to enable the most permanent possible bonding effect of the leveled floor covering elements while ensuring simple manufacture and use of the leveling devices.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention in that the plate-shaped support element has at least one undercut recess, wherein the undercut recess extends from the first outer side towards a second outer side opposite the first outer side, so that an adhesive material penetrating from the first outer side into the undercut recess and subsequently curing can be positively locked in the undercut recess.

[0009] For plate-shaped support elements without such an undercut recess, the first outer surface typically has a flat bearing surface or several upwardly projecting projections with bearing surfaces for floor covering elements, so that the adhesive material adheres to the flat bearing surface solely by means of the adhesive force exerted by the adhesive itself. Over time, or due to the mechanical stress typically occurring on a floor covering, the adhesive force can decrease during the expected use of the floor covering until individual floor covering elements detach from their associated plate-shaped support element and the bond is interrupted.

[0010] The undercut recess not only enables the adhesive material to adhere forcefully to the first outer surface of the plate-shaped support element, but above all a form-fitting interlocking of the plate-shaped support element with the portion of the adhesive material penetrating the undercut recess, thus creating a permanent and also considerable mechanically resistant bond between the adhesive material and the plate-shaped support element.

[0011] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the undercut recess extends from the first outer surface to a second outer surface opposite the first, and its clear width increases, at least section by section, with increasing distance from the first outer surface. Since the clear width of the undercut recess increases with increasing distance from the first outer surface, the undercut recess can be produced using a conventional tool in an injection molding process, without requiring movable tool elements or multiple processing steps such as subsequent demolding or reworking of the undercut recess.The undercut recess extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface forms a continuous recess in the plate-shaped support element, through which the adhesive material can penetrate and expand behind or on the second outer surface, so that after the adhesive material has cured, a form-fitting fixing of the adhesive material, for example rivet-like, takes place in this continuous recess.

[0012] Preferably, the undercut recess is designed as a slot extending along the first outer surface. A slot-shaped undercut recess can be easily covered, for example, with a bead of adhesive material, thus providing a positive-locking bond between the adhesive material and the first outer surface of the support element along its entire length. This facilitates the rapid and reliable preparation of the plate-shaped support elements and the reliable fixing of the individual flooring elements.

[0013] According to an optional embodiment of the invention, the at least one undercut recess forms a continuously widening undercut slot extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface. A continuously widening undercut slot facilitates the demolding of the plate-shaped support element, which is produced in a suitable tool using an injection molding process. Furthermore, the continuously widening undercut slot creates an undercut, regardless of the penetration depth of the adhesive material, and thus provides a positive-locking connection between the adhesive material penetrating the undercut slot and the plate-shaped support element.This not only facilitates the production of the plate-shaped support element, but also makes the bonding of the individual floor covering elements to the plate-shaped support element easier and more reliably feasible.

[0014] The undercut recess expediently extends over more than half the largest diameter of the bearing surface of the plate-shaped support element and preferably over more than 75% or, more preferably, over more than 90% of the largest diameter of the bearing surface of the plate-shaped support element.

[0015] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the plate-shaped support element has several slot-shaped undercut recesses, at least two of which are arranged parallel to each other. Furthermore, at least two undercut recesses may have an intersecting orientation. The mechanical dimensional stability of the plate-shaped support element can be improved by means of retaining webs that extend transversely across a bridge section of an undercut recess, either on the first outer surface or on the second outer surface, and connect the areas of the plate-shaped support element adjacent to the bridge section of the undercut recess.

[0016] When the leveling device is used as intended, all undercut recesses of the plate-shaped support element are covered with an adhesive material, preferably with a bead of adhesive material extending over the undercut recess, before the floor covering elements are placed on the support element and pressed against the adhesive material, which thereby partially penetrates the undercut recess and creates a positive connection with the support element.

[0017] Particularly with flooring installed in uncovered outdoor areas or in wet rooms of a building, rainwater or moisture from the surface can penetrate into joints or gaps between adjacent flooring elements. If moisture or water were to accumulate on the outer surface of the first, slab-shaped support element, prolonged exposure to the edges of the flooring elements resting on the support element could lead to undesirable discoloration or material changes.To prevent damage to the floor covering from standing water on the first outer surface of the plate-shaped support elements, it is advantageous to provide that the plate-shaped support element has several drainage openings extending over more than half the length of the first outer surface and projecting from the first outer surface through the plate-shaped support element to the opposite second outer surface. A sufficiently large number of drainage openings, distributed over a wide area of ​​the plate-shaped support element, ensures the rapid and reliable removal of standing water and other moisture or water accumulation.

[0018] Preferably, the plate-shaped support element has at least one drainage slot extending over more than half the length of the first outer surface and projecting from the first outer surface through the plate-shaped support element to the opposite second outer surface. The drainage slot can have a constant or decreasing clear width from the first outer surface to the second outer surface. The drainage slot is advantageously arranged and designed to enable effective drainage of the first outer surface of the plate-shaped support element. A drainage slot can also extend over a wide area of ​​the support surface of the support element, similar to an undercut recess, and may, for example, run parallel to a slot-shaped undercut recess.A drainage slot, located adjacent to and parallel to an undercut recess, can promote effective drainage in the vicinity of the undercut recess and the resulting bonding of a floor covering element to the plate-shaped support element, thereby significantly increasing and improving the durability of the bond.

[0019] In order to enable effective drainage across the entire bearing surface of the plate-shaped support element, it is optionally provided that the plate-shaped support element has at least two drainage slots intersecting in a cross shape or several drainage slots arranged in a cross shape.

[0020] Intersecting slot-shaped undercut recesses or intersecting drainage slots are particularly advantageous in the case of a plate-shaped support element, the first outer surface of which forms a cross-shaped support plane or is cross-shaped.

[0021] Continuous undercut recesses and drainage openings or slots further facilitate particularly rapid and reliable installation of the flooring, and especially the bonding of flooring elements to the slab-shaped support elements. The adhesive is typically applied as a viscous mass to the first outer surface and then covered by the flooring elements. During a curing process, the adhesive must harden and dry. The continuous undercut recesses and drainage openings promote effective ventilation of the adhesive during the curing process, thus ensuring particularly rapid and reliable curing.

[0022] As with slot-shaped undercut recesses, it can advantageously be optionally provided that at least one retaining web is formed on the second outer surface, extending over a drainage slot and connecting areas of the support element adjacent to the drainage slot on opposite sides of the drainage slot. By arranging the retaining web extending over a drainage slot on the second outer surface, the desired drainage of the first outer surface is not obstructed by retaining webs projecting from the first outer surface and separating areas from one another.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support element may have outwardly projecting interlocking ridges on its second outer surface, which allow the support element to be secured in a substrate, particularly an uneven substrate such as a gravel bed or a bed of crushed stone or chippings. The interlocking ridges expediently project several millimeters or more from the second outer surface to ensure reliable anchoring of the plate-shaped support element in a layer of crushed stone or in another uneven or initially unstable substrate.

[0024] Advantageously, it is optionally provided that the pressing device has a displacement shaft extending along a displacement axis with a pressing element that is displaceable along the displacement shaft and projects radially or transversely to the displacement axis, wherein the displacement shaft has a locking element projecting radially or transversely to the displacement axis at a locking end, and that the plate-shaped support element has a pressing device recess on its second outer side, which is adapted to the displacement shaft and the locking element of the pressing device in such a way that the displacement shaft can be inserted from the second outer side through the pressing device recess and projecting through the support element and can be locked in the pressing device recess with its projecting locking element.The projecting locking element can be formed from one or more projecting locking tongues. It is also conceivable, and advantageous in many applications, for the locking element to be formed by a projecting locking flange. The locking flange can have a circular circumferential edge. The locking flange can also have, for example, a triangular, square, or polygonal circumferential edge, or any other shape. To prevent unwanted rotation of the displacement shaft during displacement of the pressure element, the locking element is preferably not rotationally symmetrical about the displacement axis and can be fixed in the pressure device recess in a rotationally fixed manner. The locking element can also have laterally projecting locking tabs for a wedge system.

[0025] Before a plate-shaped support element is placed on a substrate with its second outer surface facing down, at least one pressure device is guided from the second outer surface through the pressure device recess with its displacement shaft and secured in the pressure device recess with its projecting locking element. This prevents unintentional lateral slippage or displacement along the displacement axis of the pressure device during the placement of the plate-shaped support element on the substrate.

[0026] Particularly when several clamping devices are to be simultaneously arranged and fixed to the plate-shaped support element, handling them during the laying of the plate-shaped support element on the substrate is cumbersome and inconvenient, should a clamping device unintentionally detach from the second outer surface and potentially fall off the support element. To facilitate handling during the laying of the plate-shaped support element on the substrate, it is advantageous to provide a retaining element on or in the clamping device recess, with which the clamping device, arranged in the clamping device recess with the fixing element, can be fixed to the plate-shaped support element.The retaining element can, for example, be a locking bar that is displaceably mounted on the second outer side of the plate-shaped support element and can optionally release the pressure device recess or be displaced laterally over or into the pressure device recess in order to secure a previously arranged fixing element of a pressure device in the pressure device recess.

[0027] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is optionally provided that the retaining element has a detent element for a snap-fit ​​connection of the pressing device to the plate-shaped support element. The detent element can be a detent tongue projecting into or beyond the recess of the pressing device, which can be deformed during the insertion of the fixing element into the recess of the pressing device in such a way that the fixing element can, for example, be manually inserted or pressed into the recess of the pressing device in order to subsequently engage behind the fixing element in the recess of the pressing device or to fix the fixing element in the recess of the pressing device by means of a positive engagement with a detent recess in the fixing element.The locking element can be designed in such a way that a releasable fixing or, after a one-time fixing of the fixing element in the pressure device recess, a fixing that cannot be released without damage is effected.

[0028] It can optionally be provided that the pressing device on the displacement shaft has a laterally projecting retaining element which, after the displacement shaft has been inserted from the second outer side, laterally protrudes and rests against the first outer side, preventing displacement of the displacement shaft towards the second outer side. When the pressing device is inserted into the pressing device recess from the second outer side, the displacement shaft is pushed through the recess until the displacement shaft extends away from the first outer side on the opposite side.During insertion, the laterally projecting retaining element can be springily pressed against the displacement shaft to guide the locking element, along with the displacement shaft, through the pressure device recess. It then laterally protrudes against the first outer surface of the plate-shaped support element, forming a stop that prevents the displacement shaft from being moved back towards the second outer surface. It is also conceivable that the laterally projecting retaining element is circumferentially asymmetrical and, for example, has a laterally projecting contact element, and that the pressure device recess has a correspondingly asymmetrical through-opening.With a suitable orientation of the retaining element in the circumferential direction, the retaining element together with the displacement shaft can be passed through the through-opening of the pressure device recess, in order to then be rotated in the circumferential direction and then, lying against the first outer side, prevent the displacement shaft from being moved back towards the second outer side.

[0029] Many floor coverings, which are formed by adjacent floor covering elements laid on the subfloor, have joints between the adjacent floor covering elements. To facilitate the uniform formation of such joints and thus promote an aesthetically pleasing joint pattern of the floor covering, one embodiment of the invention provides that at least one separating rib projecting from the plate-shaped support element is arranged on the first outer surface, with which a minimum distance between two adjacent floor covering elements resting on the support element can be defined. Several separating ribs, spaced apart from one another or merging into one another, can also be provided, for example forming a joint cross.

[0030] When used as intended, the leveling device is typically designed so that all components of the pressure device that protrude beyond the usable surface of the floor covering can be detached from and removed from the plate-shaped support element. For this purpose, the displacement shaft of the pressure element often has a weakened area directly adjacent to or near the fixing element, which allows or facilitates the breaking off and removal of the section of the displacement shaft protruding from the first outer edge. However, this can also lead to the displacement shaft of the pressure device breaking off if a floor covering element that is not yet permanently positioned on the plate-shaped support element is handled carelessly or unintentionally moved, rendering the pressure device unusable.

[0031] To prevent such unintentional breakage of the displacement shaft during the installation of a floor covering, it may be provided that the at least one projecting separating web is designed and arranged on the first outer side of the plate-shaped support element in such a way that the separating web prevents a displacement of a floor covering element resting on the first outer side parallel to the first outer side over the pressure device projecting from the first outer side, which would lead to undesirable damage to the pressure element.

[0032] The following are exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are schematically and exemplarily represented in the figures. It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a plate-shaped support element of a leveling device, wherein a first outer side is visible, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the plate-shaped support element of the leveling device, in which a second outer side opposite the first outer side is visible, Fig. 3 an enlarged cross-sectional view through a section of the area shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 plate-shaped support element shown along a line III-III in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 a sectional view through a section of the Fig. 3 shown partial area of ​​the plate-shaped support element with a pressure device which is fixed in a pressure device recess in the plate-shaped support element, Fig. 5 a sectional view through a section of the Fig. 3 shown partial area of ​​the plate-shaped support element with a differently designed pressure device, which is fixed in the pressure device recess in the plate-shaped support element, Fig. 6 An enlarged cross-sectional view of the leveling device, also shown in Fig. 3 shown partial area of ​​the plate-shaped support element with an adhesive material applied, among other things, to an undercut recess and with two floor covering elements which lie flush with the surface of the plate-shaped support element with their respective edge areas and are pressed onto the adhesive material by a pressure element of the pressure device, and Fig. 7 a perspective and schematic view of a plate-shaped support element with four pressure devices and with four separating ribs arranged to form a joint cross and formed on the first outer side.

[0033] One in the Fig. Leveling device 1 for floor covering elements 2 that can be laid side by side, shown in different versions 1 to 7, which in Fig. Figure 6 shows a plate-shaped support element 3. The plate-shaped support element 3 forms a support plane 5 on a first outer surface 4 for two or more floor covering elements 2, wherein each floor covering element 2 is placed on the support element 3 with an edge region 6 of the respective floor covering element 2 overlapping the support plane of the support element 3 and next to an adjacent floor covering element 2, and can be fixed to the support element 3 on the first outer surface 4 with an adhesive material 7, as shown in Figure 6. Fig. 6 is shown as an example and is explained in more detail below.

[0034] The plate-shaped support element 3 has a cruciform base and, accordingly, a cruciform first outer surface 4. Several undercut recesses 8 are distributed across the first outer surface 4, each having two sections 9 running at right angles to each other, with the undercut recesses 8 being oriented parallel to each other in sections. Each undercut recess 8 extends from the first outer surface 4 to a second outer surface 10 opposite the first outer surface 4, which is Fig. 2 is shown. In each undercut recess 8, its clear width 11 increases at least section by section with increasing distance to the first outer surface 4.

[0035] If a quantity of adhesive material 7, for example a bead of adhesive material 7, is applied to the first outer surface 4 above an undercut recess 8, and a floor covering element 2 is then placed on the adhesive material 7 and pressed against the first outer surface 4 of the plate-shaped support element 3, adhesive material 7 can penetrate from the first outer surface 4 into the undercut recess 8 and at least partially fill the undercut recess 8, which widens increasingly towards the second outer surface 10. When the adhesive material 7 subsequently hardens, it is positively locked in the undercut recess 8, as shown in Fig. 6 is indicated.

[0036] The plate-shaped support element 3 has two drainage slots 12 extending over more than half the length of the first outer surface 4 and projecting from the first outer surface 4 through the plate-shaped support element 3 to the opposite second outer surface 10. The two drainage slots 12, which run crosswise to each other and intersect at the center of the first outer surface 4, facilitate the efficient drainage of moisture and water that accumulates on the first outer surface 4 and can drain away from the first outer surface 4 through the drainage slots 12.

[0037] On the second outer surface 10, several retaining webs 13 are formed, extending over the drainage slots 12 and also over the undercut recesses 8. For example, a retaining web 13 extends over a drainage slot 12 and connects areas of the plate-shaped support element 4 adjacent to the drainage slot 12 on opposite sides of the drainage slot 12. Similarly, a retaining web 13 extends only or also over an undercut recess 8 and connects areas of the plate-shaped support element 4 adjacent to the undercut recess 8 on opposite sides of the undercut recess 8.

[0038] The plate-shaped support element 3 has outwardly projecting interlocking ribs 14 on its second outer surface 10, with which the support element 3 is secured in a manner that is only in Fig. The gravel bed 15 shown in Figure 6 can be defined as an example of a substrate. The retaining ribs 13 can also be designed as interlocking ribs 14 and, like the interlocking ribs 14 running along a circumferential edge of the second outer surface 10, penetrate into the gravel bed 15 or into another uneven or deformable surface of a substrate and prevent unwanted lateral slippage of the plate-shaped support element 3 relative to the gravel bed 15 or to another substrate.

[0039] The leveling device 1 also has several pressure devices 16, which are shown by way of example in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are shown in more detail. Each pressure device 16 has a displacement shaft 18 extending along a displacement axis 17, with a pressure element 19 that is displaceable along the displacement shaft 18 and projects transversely to the displacement axis 17, wherein the displacement shaft 18 has a fixing element 21 at a fixing end 20, also projecting transversely to the displacement axis. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the displacement shaft 18 has an external thread 22 and the pressure element 19 has an internal thread 23 adapted to it, so that the pressure element 19 can be displaced along the displacement shaft 18 by rotating it along the displacement axis 17 and brought to a desired distance from the first outer surface 4.

[0040] The displacement shaft 18 has a weakening section 24 immediately adjacent to the fixing element 21, which forms a predetermined breaking point, so that the displacement shaft 18 can be easily separated from the fixing element 21 by bending and removed from the fixing element 21 and the plate-shaped support element 3 from the first outer side 4.

[0041] The plate-shaped support element 4 has a pressure device recess 25 on its second outer side, which is adapted to the displacement shaft 18 and to the fixing element 21 of the pressure device 16 in such a way that the displacement shaft 18 can be inserted from the second outer side 10 through the pressure device recess 25 and projecting through the plate-shaped support element 3 and can be fixed in the pressure device recess 25 with its projecting fixing element 21.

[0042] A [part] can be inserted, for example, into or on the pressure device recess 25. Fig. The retaining element 26 shown in Figure 4 is arranged with which the pressing device 16, arranged with the fixing element 21 in the pressing device recess 25, can be fixed to the plate-shaped support element 3. It is also conceivable that a laterally projecting retaining element 27 is asymmetrically designed in the circumferential direction and, for example, a Fig. 5 shows a mounting element 28 mounted on the displacement shaft 18 and projecting laterally, and that the pressure device recess 25 has a through opening 29 adapted to it and also asymmetrically formed in the circumferential direction.

[0043] The retaining element 27 could also have a detent element for a detent connection of the pressure device 16 with the plate-shaped support element 3. The pressure device 16 could also have a laterally spring-projecting detent element on the displacement shaft 18, which, after the displacement shaft 18 has passed through it from the second outer surface 10, laterally protrudes against the first outer surface 4 and prevents the displacement shaft 18 from moving back towards the second outer surface 10.

[0044] On the first outer side 4, at least one separating web 30 projecting from the plate-shaped support element 3 can be arranged, with which a minimum distance for two adjacent floor covering elements 2 resting on the support element 3 can be defined. In the case of the Fig. 7 In the schematically depicted plate-shaped support element 3, four spaced-apart separating webs 30 are arranged and aligned such that the separating webs 30 form a joint cross and also protect the displacement shafts 18 of the pressure devices 16, which project and protrude on the first outer side 4, from being bent and broken off by the floor covering element 2 in the event of an unintentional displacement parallel to the first outer side 4, before all floor covering elements 2 are placed on the plate-shaped support element 3 and fixed in or on the adhesive material 7 with the pressure devices 16.

[0045] In Fig. Figure 6 shows an enlarged sectional view of a section of the leveling device 1, in which the plate-shaped support element 3 rests on a gravel bed 15 with its interlocking ribs 14 and retaining ribs 13 penetrating the gravel bed 15. Before placing the plate-shaped support element 3 on the gravel bed 15, all pressure elements 16 were inserted from the second outer side 10 into the respective pressure device recesses 25 and secured to the plate-shaped support element 3 with a retaining element 26, 27.

[0046] To lay the floor covering, first a bead of adhesive material 7, for example, a bead of adhesive material 7, is applied to all undercut recesses 8. Adhesive material 7 can also be applied to the first outer surface 4 in the area of ​​the pressure device recesses 25. Then, the floor covering elements 2 are placed with their respective edge regions 6 onto the first outer surface 4 of the plate-shaped support element 3 such that the edge regions 6 each abut a displacement shaft 18 of a pressure device 16. A gap between two adjacent floor covering elements 2 resting on the first outer surface 4 can be created by a Fig.6 non-visible separating ribs 30 are specified. Due to the floor covering elements 2 resting on the adhesive material 7 on the first outer surface 4, a portion of the adhesive material 7 is pressed from the first outer surface 4 into the undercut recesses 8, which widen towards the second outer surface 10, and after the adhesive material 7 has hardened, forms a positive-locking connection between the adhesive material 7 and the plate-shaped support element 3.

[0047] Before the adhesive material 7 cures, the pressure element 19 is screwed onto the displacement shaft 18 projecting between the two floor covering elements 2 and, by further rotation, is moved towards the first outer surface 4 until a pressure surface 31 of the pressure element 19 facing the floor covering elements 2 presses the two floor covering elements 2 flush against the adhesive material 7 and the first outer surface 4 of the plate-shaped support element 3. In this way, for example, edge areas 6 of different thicknesses of the floor covering elements 2 can be compensated for and a flush-mounted floor covering can be produced. Once the adhesive material 7 has cured, the pressure element 19 can be broken off with the displacement shaft 18 and removed from the floor covering elements 2 and the plate-shaped support element 3 located underneath.

Claims

[1] Leveling device (1) for floor covering elements (2) that can be laid side by side, comprising a plate-shaped support element (3) which forms a support surface (5) for two or more floor covering elements on a first outer surface (4), wherein each floor covering element (2) can be placed on the support element (3) with an edge region (6) of the respective floor covering element (2) overlapping the support surface (5) of the support element (3) and next to an adjacent floor covering element (2) and fixed to the support element (3) with an adhesive material (7) on the first outer surface (4), and wherein the leveling device (1) comprises at least one pressing device (16) with which two adjacent floor covering elements (2) resting on the support element (3) can be pressed flush with each other on the first outer surface (4), characterized by, that the plate-shaped support element (3) has at least one undercut recess (8), wherein the undercut recess (8) extends from the first outer surface (4) towards a second outer surface (10) opposite the first outer surface (4), so that an adhesive material (7) penetrating from the first outer surface (4) into the undercut recess (8) and subsequently curing can be positively locked in the undercut recess (8). [2] Leveling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the undercut recess (8) extends from the first outer surface (4) to a second outer surface (10) opposite the first outer surface (4) and that its clear width (11) increases at least section by section with increasing distance to the first outer surface (4). [3] Leveling device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by, that the undercut recess (8) is formed in a slit shape extending over the first outer surface (4). [4] Leveling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the at least one undercut recess (8) forms an undercut slot extending from the first outer side (4) to the second outer side (10) and continuously widening. [5] Leveling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the plate-shaped support element (3) has several drainage openings arranged extending over more than half a length of the first outer surface (4) and projecting from the first outer surface (4) through the plate-shaped support element (3) to the opposite second outer surface (10). [6] Leveling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the plate-shaped support element (3) has at least one drainage slot (12) extending over more than half the length of the first outer surface (4) and projecting from the first outer surface (4) through the plate-shaped support element (3) to the opposite second outer surface (10). [7] Leveling device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the plate-shaped support element (3) has at least two drainage slots (13) intersecting in a cross shape or several drainage slots (13) arranged in a cross shape. [8] Leveling device (1) according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized by , that on the second outer side (10) at least one retaining web (13) is formed which extends over a drainage slot (12) and connects areas of the support element (3) adjacent to the drainage slot (12) on opposite sides of the drainage slot (12). [9] Leveling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the support element (3) has outwardly projecting interlocking webs (14) on the second outer side (10) with which the support element (3) can be fixed in a substrate (15). [10] Leveling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the pressure device (16) has a displacement shaft (18) extending along a displacement axis (17) with a pressure element (19) that is displaceable along the displacement shaft (18) and projects radially, wherein the displacement shaft (19) has a radially projecting locking element (21) at a locking end (20), that the plate-shaped support element (3) has a pressure device recess (25) on its second outer surface (10) which is adapted to the displacement shaft (18) of the pressure device (16) in such a way that the displacement shaft (18) can be inserted from the second outer surface (10) through the pressure device recess (25) and projecting through the support element (3) and can be locked in the pressure device recess (25) with its radially projecting locking element (21). [11] Leveling device (1) according to claim 10, characterized by, that a retaining element (26) is arranged on or in the pressure device recess (25), with which the pressure device (16) arranged with the fixing element (21) in the pressure device recess (25) can be fixed to the plate-shaped support element (3). [12] Leveling device (1) according to claim 11, characterized by , that the retaining element (25) has a locking element for a locking connection of the pressure device (16) with the plate-shaped support element (3). [13] Leveling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 10 to 12, characterized by , that the pressure device (16) on the displacement shaft (18) has a laterally spring-protruding detent element which, after the displacement shaft (18) has passed through from the second outer side (10), laterally protrudes against the first outer side (4) and prevents displacement of the displacement shaft (18) towards the second outer side (10). [14] Leveling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that on the first outer side (4) at least one separating web (30) projecting from the plate-shaped support element (3) is arranged, with which a minimum distance for two adjacent floor covering elements (2) resting on the support element (3) can be specified. [15] Leveling device (1) according to claim 14, characterized by , that the at least one projecting separating web (13) is designed and arranged on the first outer surface of the plate-shaped support element in such a way that the separating web (13) prevents a displacement of a floor covering element (2) resting on the first outer surface (4) parallel to the first outer surface (4) over the pressure device (16) projecting from the first outer surface (4), which would lead to undesirable damage to the pressure device (16).

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