Support plates and arrangement for laying floor slabs

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a support plate for square or rectangular floor slabs, in particular tiles, for laying in the corner areas of adjacent floor slabs resting on rails of a rail substructure, with a base plate which forms a slab-side support surface for the corner areas of the floor slabs and a rail-side base surface, wherein four webs projecting vertically from the slab-side support surface are provided, which form a joint cross with four support areas for the floor slabs lying between the respective webs, according to the preamble of claim 1.The invention further relates to an arrangement of square or rectangular floor panels, in particular tiles, on a rail substructure formed by rails, wherein the floor panels are arranged adjacent to one another and resting with their corner regions on the rails, and joint spacers are provided in the adjacent corner regions of the floor panels, according to the preamble of claim 6.

[0002] For the installation of floor slabs made of wood, concrete, porcelain stoneware, ceramic, or natural stone, it is known to lay the floor slabs either directly into prepared paving gravel or on supports arranged in a grid. If greater installation heights are desired or required, for example, in raised floor applications, it is also known to install floor slabs on a rail substructure, which in turn can be installed on supports, such as pedestals. Such a construction is shown in DE 10 2017 002 390 A1 as the closest prior art. Constructions with supports but without rails were described in US 2002 / 0121583 A1 and DE 20 2013 010 315 U1.In addition, joint spacers are used to install the floor panels. These are inserted between the adjacent corner areas of the floor panels and serve as spacers, as well as sealing tapes ("compression tapes"), which are placed between the rails and the floor panels.

[0003] In practice, structures of this type have a number of disadvantages. For example, they are not suitable for laying natural stone slabs, as natural stone slabs have varying thicknesses that cannot be compensated for using conventional installation techniques, thus creating unacceptable tripping hazards. In addition, the floor slabs supported on them are not secured against suction, which can be problematic in strong winds, for example, when floor slabs are lifted out of their supports. Although clamps are known that can be inserted into an upper clamping groove in the rails to secure the floor slabs against suction, these clamps do not prevent relative movement between the floor slabs and the clamps, making the structure appear unstable and causing unwanted noise. A further disadvantage is that the floor slabs lie tightly against the rails due to the sealing strips used, meaning water cannot drain off laterally in these areas.A further problem arises at the end edges of conventional structures, where the floor slab installation level ends. Additional clamps are provided to secure the floor slabs along these end edges, ensuring the joints are aligned. Thus, a multitude of different components such as rails, clamps, and the like are required to construct these structures, complicating the planning and implementation of such construction projects.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to improve the arrangement of square or rectangular floor slabs, in particular tiles, on a rail substructure formed by rails and to facilitate their planning and construction. These objects are achieved by the features of claim 1 and claim 6.

[0005] Claim 1 relates to support plates for square or rectangular floor slabs, in particular tiles, for laying in the corner areas of floor slabs lying next to one another and resting on rails of a rail substructure, with a base plate which forms a slab-side support surface for the corner areas of the floor slabs and a rail-side base surface, wherein four webs are provided which project vertically from the slab-side support surface and which form a joint cross with four support areas for the floor slabs lying between the respective webs.

[0006] According to the invention, it is proposed that in each of the four support areas between the webs, a receiving space for adhesive is provided, designed as an opening in the base plate, and a bolt-shaped clamping extension protrudes from the rail-side base surface. An opening preferably takes up one to two-thirds of the area of ​​a support area located between two webs. If the support plate is placed on a rail and a base plate is placed on top, an opening forms a closed receiving space with the rail and the base plate, the volume of which is determined by the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening and the thickness of the base plate. This receiving space is filled with adhesive, preferably with a two-component adhesive, before the base plate is placed on top.For this purpose, for example, special dispensing guns are known, with which the two components can be pressed evenly and in the correct mixing ratio through a mixing tube and applied ready for processing into the receiving space. The 2-component adhesive cures, as is well known, not through the evaporation of a solvent, but through a chemical reaction that can easily take place in the receiving space. Curing takes approximately 24-48 hours, during which time it is advantageous to fix the materials to be joined in their respective positions. In this case, the mutual fixation of the position of the base plate resting on the rail is easily accomplished. The base plate of the support plate also serves as a spacer, keeping the base plate at a defined distance from the rail, which promotes the curing of the 2-component adhesive and the joining of the base plate and rail.

[0007] The clamping extension protruding from the rail-side base surface enables a clamped fit to the rail. The rails conventionally used for rail substructures generally have a clamping groove running longitudinally along the rail, which is used both for attaching clamps and the like and as a drainage channel for water drainage. According to the invention, the support plate is provided with a corresponding clamping extension that can be inserted into the clamping groove of the rails of the rail substructure, as will be explained in more detail below. The clamping extension fixes the support plate to the rail, thereby facilitating the subsequent application of the adhesive and the installation of the floor panels.

[0008] The adhesive connection offers several advantages over conventional designs. The adhesive connection created between the supporting floor panel and the rail initially secures the floor panel against suction in the vertical direction. This security is improved by the clamping extension, which also fixes the support plate in the vertical direction. The adhesive connections created between the floor panels and the rails also stabilize the entire structure, especially in the transverse direction to the rails. Cross rails are usually provided in the transverse direction to stabilize the rail substructure. These cross rails can generally be dispensed with using the design according to the invention. It does not appear absolutely necessary to actually glue every floor panel to the rails, but rather only those floor panels that run in the area of ​​the end edges of the superstructure, where the installation level of the floor panels ends.

[0009] The implementation of the joint spacer on the support plates with base plate designed according to the invention also enables the installation of natural stone. For this purpose, appropriately adapted leveling plates can be inserted into the support areas between two webs, as described, for example, in Austrian patent AT 509,463. The leveling plates are thinner than the base plate and their dimensions are selected so that they can be inserted between two adjacent webs, covering the area between these webs. If the leveling plate is inserted between two adjacent webs, the webs come into contact with the edges of the leveling plate, so that the leveling plates are held in place with a positive fit. In this way, several leveling plates can be arranged one above the other without jeopardizing the stability of the now higher support level.The number of leveling plates can now be selected so that different floor slab thicknesses can be compensated.

[0010] A further advantage of the design according to the invention is that the floor panels are supported at a distance from the rails by the support plates, so that water can drain off laterally.

[0011] According to one embodiment, it is proposed that the clamping extension, when rotated about an axis perpendicular to the base plate in a first direction of rotation, be brought into a clamping fit, which can be released upon rotation in the opposite direction. The installer can thus precisely adjust the support plate during placement on the rail by creating a clamping fit and can then loosen and correct it if the adjustment is incorrect.

[0012] In particular, it is proposed that the end face of the bolt-shaped clamping extension facing away from the rail-side base surface has a diameter that has a smallest value in a first measuring direction and increasingly increases in a measuring direction perpendicular to this. The support plate can thus initially be inserted into the clamping groove of a rail in such a way that the clamping extension with the smallest diameter of this end face is oriented perpendicular to the clamping groove. This diameter is of course matched to the width of the clamping groove and is slightly less than it. The clamping extension can therefore be easily inserted into the clamping groove. The support plate can then be rotated relative to the rail about a vertical axis so that the end face with an increasingly larger diameter is oriented perpendicular to the clamping groove until the end face is clamped firmly in the clamping groove.This clamp fit can be released again by turning in the opposite direction. An advantageous design of the support plate provides for a base plate with a rectangular contour, which is divided into four quadrants of equal size by the four webs. The clamping extension is preferably held in a central opening in the base plate and protrudes from the base plate in the opposite direction to the webs, with the direction of the smallest diameter of the end face of the clamping extension facing away from the rail-side base surface being oriented at an angle of 45° to the longitudinal axis of the base plate, and the largest diameter at an angle of 135° to the longitudinal axis. The support plate can thus be inserted into the clamping groove with its longitudinal axis rotated by approximately 45° to the longitudinal axis of the rail.During the alignment of the support plate with the rail, in which the longitudinal axis of the support plate is brought into a position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail, the front surface of the clamping extension is increasingly clamped in the clamping groove.

[0013] A specific design of the support plate provides for the bolt-shaped clamping extension to be held in a central opening in the base plate. For this purpose, it is particularly proposed that the end face of the bolt-shaped clamping extension facing the plate-side support surface extends below the support surface. This design facilitates the insertion of a cutting cable, should it be desired to cut through the adhesive bond.

[0014] The invention further relates to an arrangement of square or rectangular floor panels, in particular tiles, on a rail substructure formed by rails, wherein the floor panels are arranged adjacent to one another and resting with their corner regions on the rails and joint crosses are provided in the adjacent corner regions of the floor panels, wherein the joint crosses each have a base plate with a panel-side support surface for the corner regions of the floor panels and a rail-side base surface and are formed by four webs projecting vertically from the panel-side support surface.For this purpose, the invention proposes that in four support areas for the base plates located between the respective webs, an opening is provided in the base plate to form a receiving space for adhesive that can be closed with the rail and the base plate and that connects the respective supported base plate to the rail substructure, and that a bolt-shaped clamping extension of the base plate, protruding from the rail-side base surface, is inserted into a clamping groove in the rails.

[0015] As mentioned, an advantageous design of the support plate provides a base plate with a rectangular contour, which is divided into four quadrants of equal size by the four webs. The opening occupies one to two-thirds of the area of ​​each support area located between two webs. The clamping extension is preferably held in a central opening of the base plate and protrudes from the base plate in the opposite direction to the webs. The clamping extension, and in particular its end face facing away from the rail-side base surface, are designed as described above.

[0016] Regarding the advantages of such an arrangement, reference is made to the above explanations. It should also be noted at this point that the inventive design represents an additional advantage in that significantly fewer components are required than with conventional structures. Apart from the components of the rail substructure, only identical support plates are required, of which individual quadrants can be broken off if necessary to obtain suitable support plates for the edge area of ​​the installation level. Furthermore, the aforementioned leveling plates can be used as a second component.

[0017] As mentioned above, the rail structure can be installed on grid-like supports. One option for this is the applicant's screw bearings, as described in Austrian Patent No. 518,610.

[0018] These screw bearings feature an upper support section that is height-adjustable relative to a lower support section by means of a screw movement. The upper support section is provided with a cover plate on which the rails of the rail substructure can be mounted. For this purpose, the cover plate can also be equipped with fasteners for snap connections and the like to allow the rail to be releasably attached to the support.

[0019] The structure according to the invention also facilitates the insertion of cover panels in the area of ​​the end edges of the superstructures, where the installation plane of the floor panels ends. The cover panels must be arranged and fastened perpendicular to the installation plane. With a structure according to the invention, the cover panels can be glued to the underside of the floor panels in the area of ​​the end edges, if necessary using angle brackets, since the floor panels are also fixed vertically due to the bonding and therefore offer secure hold for the cover panels. The above-mentioned lower support parts can be provided with a base plate with recesses into which the cover panels can be inserted.

[0020] The invention will be explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1a perspective view of an embodiment of a support plate according to the invention seen from above, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the embodiment of a support plate according to the invention according to Fig. 1 seen from below, Fig. 3a a plan view of the embodiment of a support plate according to the invention according to Fig. 1 and 2 , Fig. 3b an elevation of the embodiment of a support plate according to the invention according to Fig. 1 and 2 , Fig. 3c a side view of the embodiment of a support plate according to the invention according to Fig. 1 and 2 , Fig. 4a a plan view of an embodiment of a compensating plate for use with the support plates according to the invention according to Fig. 1 to 3 , Fig. 4b an elevation of an embodiment of a compensating plate for use with the support plates according to the invention according to Fig. 1 to 3 , Fig. 4ca side view of an embodiment of a compensating plate for use with the support plates according to the invention according to Fig. 1 to 3 , Fig. 5 a perspective view of a compensating plate according to the Fig. 4 , Fig. 6 a perspective view for the construction of an arrangement consisting of a rail, a support plate according to the Fig. 1 to 3 and two leveling plates according to the Fig. 4 and 5 seen from above, and the Fig. 7 another perspective view for the construction of an arrangement according to the Fig. 6 seen from below.

[0021] First, to explain an embodiment of a support plate according to the invention, reference is made to the Fig. 1-3 Reference is made to the invention. The support plate according to the invention has a base plate 1 with a substantially rectangular contour, which has a central opening 2 in which a clamping extension 3 is held. Fig. 1shows a view of the support surface for the corner areas of the floor panels, which is oriented upwards in the position of use, and the Fig. 2 a view of the rail-side base surface of base plate 1, oriented downwards in the position of use.

[0022] Arranged along the symmetry axes of the rectangular base plate 1 are four webs 4 projecting vertically from the plate-side support surface, forming a joint cross with four approximately equal-sized support areas for the floor panels located between the respective webs 4. The webs 4 are each cuboid-shaped and are molded or attached to the base plate 1, each arranged at a right angle to each other. A special plastic, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), which does not contain a plasticizer, is proposed as the material for the support plate according to the invention.

[0023] In the support areas between the webs 4, an opening 5 is provided in the base plate 1 to form a receiving space for the adhesive. The opening 5 occupies one to two-thirds of the area of ​​a support area located between two webs 4. Furthermore, trough-shaped depressions 6 are arranged in pairs in the support areas, the purpose of which will be explained later.

[0024] The clamping extension 3 is bolt-shaped and has an end face 7a facing away from the rail-side base surface (see approximately Fig. 2 ), as well as an end face 7b facing the plate-side support surface (see approximately Fig. 1 ). As in particular the Fig. 2 can be seen, the end face 7a facing away from the rail-side base surface has a diameter which has a smallest value in a first measuring direction R1 and increases increasingly in the direction of a measuring direction R2 perpendicular thereto. Fig. 1 can be removed, the bolt-shaped clamping extension 3 is further designed such that the end face 7b of the bolt-shaped clamping extension 3 facing the plate-side support surface runs below the support surface.

[0025] In order to allow even smaller gradations of the total height of the support level for the floor slabs, a compensation plate 8 is also proposed, which is inserted into the Fig. 4 and 5is shown and has a smaller thickness than the base plate 1. The compensating plate 8 can also be made of a plastic. The illustrated embodiment of the compensating plate 8 is designed with a substantially rectangular contour and its dimensions are selected so that it can be plugged onto the support plate and thereby covers the area between the webs 4. For this purpose, the compensating plate 8 in the illustrated embodiment is formed from four quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4, which are connected to one another via two cross-shaped, thin connecting webs 9. Along a longitudinal axis of the compensating plate 8 and at the same time the first separating axis of the quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4, lateral recesses 10 are formed for the positive reception of the two webs 4 arranged in the longitudinal direction. Along a transverse axis of the compensating plate 8 and at the same time the second separating axis of the quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4, the mutually facing edges of the quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 serve to positively receive the two webs 4 arranged in the transverse direction.

[0026] If the illustrated leveling plate 8 is placed on the support plate, the webs 4 engage with the lateral recesses 10 and edges of the quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4, so that the leveling plate 8 is held in place with a positive fit. In this way, several leveling plates 8 can be arranged one above the other without jeopardizing the stability of the now higher support level. If necessary, individual quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4 can also be broken off, as the thin connecting webs 9 can be easily separated. This means that only individual support areas between two webs 4 can be covered with individual quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4. In order to align and fix the position of such individually placed quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 in a support area, the compensating plates 8 are provided with knobs 13 arranged in pairs (see for example Fig. 4b and 4c), the dimensions of which are matched to the trough-shaped recesses 6 of the support plates. The studs 11 are thus received by the trough-shaped recesses 6, which leads to an alignment and fixed positioning of individual quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4 of the compensating plates 8.

[0027] Each quadrant plate 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 of the compensating plates 8 is further provided with openings 5', the size and positioning of which are matched to the openings 5 ​​of the support plates.

[0028] In the Fig. 6 and 7 Finally, perspective views are shown for the construction of an arrangement consisting of a rail 11, a support plate according to the Fig. 1 to 3 , a first compensating plate 8 according to the Fig. 4 and 5with four quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 as well as a second compensating plate 8' with two quadrant plates 8.1, 8.3. The support plate can initially be inserted into the clamping groove 12 of a rail 11 in such a way that the clamping extension 3 is oriented perpendicular to the clamping groove 12 with its smallest diameter of its end face 7a facing away from the rail-side base surface. The support plate can then be rotated relative to the rail 11 about a vertical axis so that the end face 7a, with its increasingly larger diameter, is oriented perpendicular to the clamping groove 12 until the end face 7a is clamped firmly in the clamping groove 12. The support plate is thus fixed in position on the rail 11. This clamp fit can be released again by turning in the opposite direction.

[0029] Subsequently, one or more leveling plates 8 with one, two, three or four quadrant plates 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 can be placed on the support plate in order to slightly change the support level for a floor slab to be laid in a support area.

[0030] Finally, the receiving spaces formed by the openings 9 of the support plates and optionally also by the openings 9' of the leveling plates 8 are filled with adhesive before the floor slabs are laid. The floor slabs can then be placed on the respective support plate and any leveling plates 8 that may be placed on top.

[0031] The invention makes it possible to improve the arrangement of square or rectangular floor slabs, particularly tiles, on a rail substructure formed by rails 11 and to facilitate their planning and construction. The inventive design requires significantly fewer components than conventional structures. Apart from the components of the rail substructure, only support plates of identical design are required, of which individual quadrants can be broken off if necessary to obtain suitable support plates for the edge area of ​​the installation level. In addition, leveling plates can be used as a second component.

Claims

1. Support plate for square or rectangular floor plates, in particular tiles, for laying in the corner areas of floor plates that are adjacent to one another and are lying on rails (11) of a rail substructure, having a base plate (1) that forms a plate-side support surface for the corner areas of the floor plates and a rail-side base surface, wherein four webs (4) projecting vertically from the plate-side support surface are provided, which form a tile spacer with four support regions for the floor plates located between the respective webs (4), characterized in that a receiving space for adhesive, designed as an opening (9) in the base plate (1), is provided in each of the four support regions between the webs (4), and a bolt-shaped clamping extension (3) is provided which projects from the rail-side base surface.

2. Support plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening (9) in each case occupies one to two thirds of the area of a support region located between two webs (4).

3. Support plate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping extension (3) can be brought into a clamping seat when rotated about an axis perpendicular to the base plate (1) in a first direction of rotation, which can be released when rotated in the opposite direction of rotation.

4. Support plate according to claim 3, characterized in that the end face (7a) of the bolt-shaped clamping extension (3) facing away from the rail-side base surface has a diameter which has a smallest value in a first measuring direction and increases progressively in the direction of a measuring direction perpendicular thereto.

5. Support plate according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bolt-shaped clamping extension (3) is held in a central opening (2) of the base plate (1), wherein the end face (7b) of the bolt-shaped clamping extension (3) facing the plate-side support surface extends below the support surface.

6. Arrangement of square or rectangular floor plates, in particular tiles, on a rail substructure formed by rails (11), wherein the floor plates are arranged so as to lie against one another and so as to rest with their corner regions on the rails (11), and tile spacers are provided in the corner regions of the floor plates that lie against one another, wherein the tile spacers each have a base plate (1) with a plate-side support surface for the corner regions of the floor panels and a rail-side base surface and are formed by four webs (4) projecting vertically from the plate-side support surface, characterized in that in each of four support regions for the floor plates, located between the respective webs (4), an opening (9) is provided in each case in the base plate (1) to form a receiving space, which can be closed by the rail (11) and the floor plate, for adhesive which connects the respectively supported floor plate to the rail substructure, and a bolt-shaped clamping extension (3) of the base plate (1), which extension projects from the rail-side base surface, is inserted into a clamping groove (12) of the rails (11).