Sheet-like or plate-like receiving element for flexible strip-like heating elements

Abstract

A web-shaped or plate-shaped receiving element (1) for flexible, strip-shaped heating elements of a surface heating system has, on side edges (3) running at right angles to one another, coupling elements (20, 21) for connecting two receiving elements (1) placed adjacent to one another on the substrate. Coupling recesses (20) and coupling recesses (21) are arranged on all side edges (3) such that a first receiving element (1) can be connected to any side edge (3) of the first receiving element (1) with any side edge (3) of a second receiving element (1). The receiving element (1) has a plurality of receiving recesses (7, 8, 9) projecting away from a support surface (6), in or between which the strip-shaped heating element can be arranged and fixed.The band-shaped heating element can be clamped in place across a plurality of receiving elements (1) between two outer wall sections (16) of two adjacent receiving elements (7, 8, 9) in a straight line in at least one first laying direction (32, 33) relative to a side edge (3) of the receiving element (1). Furthermore, the heating element can be clamped in place across a plurality of receiving elements (1) in a straight line in a second laying direction (34) relative to a side edge (3) of the receiving element (1), wherein the first laying direction (32, 33) has an angle of between 0° and 90°, and preferably of 45°, to the second laying direction (34).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a web-shaped or plate-shaped receiving element for flexible band-shaped heating elements of a surface heating system, wherein the receiving element has support areas which form a flat support surface for the flat placement of the receiving element on a substrate, wherein the receiving element has coupling elements on side edges running at right angles to one another for connecting two receiving elements placed adjacent to one another on the substrate, and wherein the receiving element has a plurality of receiving formations projecting away from the support surface, in or between which a band-shaped heating element can be arranged and fixed.

[0002] Various types of surface heating systems are known in practice. Electric surface heating systems, for example, can have electric heating cables that are heated by an electric current flowing through them and release the resulting heat into the environment. In other surface heating systems, a previously heated fluid, usually heated water, flows through heating pipes, with the heat of the heated fluid being released into the environment as it flows through the heating pipes.

[0003] In order to equip a floor with such a surface heating system, it is known from practice that flexible strip-shaped heating elements such as electric heating cables or flexible fluid-flowable heating pipes are laid in a meandering shape over the subfloor and usually embedded in a screed or mortar bed in order to then arrange a floor covering such as tiles or panels made of wood or plastic on the laid flexible strip-shaped heating elements.

[0004] In order to fix the flexible strip-shaped heating elements to the substrate before they are possibly embedded in a screed or mortar bed and thus permanently fixed, the flexible strip-shaped heating elements must be fixed to the substrate at least temporarily. For this purpose, strip-shaped or plate-shaped mounting elements are usually used. These can be laid next to each other on the substrate and connected to the substrate. The flexible strip-shaped heating elements can then be laid on them and usually clamped in place. For this purpose, these mounting elements have mounting recesses projecting from a flat support surface on their underside, in or between which a strip-shaped heating element can be arranged and fixed in place.

[0005] When a flexible pipe or hose, commonly used as a heating pipe, is flowed through by a cool fluid, such as cold water, heat from the area surrounding the pipe or hose can be absorbed by the cool fluid flowing through it, creating a cooling effect in the area around the pipe or hose. Although only a heater or a strip-shaped heating element is specified and described below for the sake of simplicity, the plate-shaped receiving element is also suitable for receiving and installing a tubular or hose-like cooling element.

[0006] Various designs of such receiving elements are known in practice. For example, DE 20 2016 106 443 U1 or EP 3 006 835 B1 show and describe receiving elements that have circular or octagonal receiving recesses arranged regularly in a matrix, between which a flexible strip-shaped heating element can be laid in a meandering manner and clamped in place. A receiving element disclosed in DE 298 05 158 U1, through the arrangement of the receiving recesses, allows the heating element to be laid, with the aid of additional fixing elements, not only in two directions aligned at right angles to one another, but also in one direction diagonally at an angle of 45°, if this appears appropriate due to the spatial conditions.In the receiving element described in EP 1 462 727 B1, various receiving formations are distributed over a base area of ​​the receiving element, between which the heating element can also be laid and secured in two directions aligned perpendicular to each other as well as diagonally thereto. In the receiving element shown and described in EP 2 784 399 B1, the design of the coupling elements allows the distance between adjacent and interconnected receiving elements to be varied within a displacement range in order to better adapt a composite of several interconnected receiving elements to the spatial conditions.

[0007] It is considered an object of the present invention to design a receiving element in such a way that the receiving element can be laid as simply as possible and connected to adjacent receiving elements, and that a flexible band-shaped heating element can be laid and fixed on the receiving element in as many different ways as possible.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the receiving formations are arranged on the receiving element in such a way that the band-shaped heating element can be clamped in a straight line across a plurality of receiving elements between two outer wall sections of two adjacently arranged receiving elements in at least one first laying direction relative to a side edge of the receiving element, and in that in each receiving formation at least one recess is arranged and designed in such a way that the band-shaped heating element can be clamped in a straight line across a plurality of receiving elements in a second laying direction relative to a side edge of the receiving element, wherein the at least one first laying direction has an angle between 0° and 90° to the second laying direction.Each receiving recess thus enables the heating element to be laid in a straight line both in at least one first laying direction laterally past the receiving recess and simultaneously in a second laying direction at an angle thereto through the receiving recess. A regular matrix-like arrangement of the individual receiving recesses makes it possible to lay and secure the heating element laterally along adjacent, successive receiving recesses in two first laying directions, with the two first laying directions running at right angles to each other.In another suitable arrangement of the receiving formations, the first two laying directions, in which the heating element runs in a straight line over several receiving formations, each laterally adjacent to these receiving formations, can have an angle between 90° and a few degrees that can be predetermined by the arrangement of the receiving formations, whereby depending on a diameter and neighboring distance of the receiving formations, a smallest possible angle can be approximately 20° to 10° in practice.

[0009] If the receiving element has a rectangular base area over which the receiving formations are distributed in a matrix, the two first laying directions can run at right angles to each other and parallel to two associated side edges of the receiving element. The second laying direction, which runs at an acute angle to the at least one first laying direction or to the two first laying directions, allows the heating element to run on the receiving element at an angle to the first laying directions over any length.

[0010] Outside of a receiving recess, the heating element's path can be freely adjusted, allowing a change of direction between two receiving recesses. This eliminates the need to specify the arrangement and alignment of the receiving elements in such a way that a desired heating element path can be subsequently realized via a composite of interconnected receiving elements laid on the substrate. Within each receiving element, the path of the heating element laid and fixed on it can be specified in a highly variable manner. Each receiving recess allows the heating element to be fixed in different directions relative to a side edge of the receiving element.

[0011] In addition, the receiving element eliminates the need for different designs and shapes for the receiving recesses, which are distributed across the base area of ​​the receiving element. This reduces manufacturing costs and the effort required for arranging and installing the receiving elements on site.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, the first laying direction has an angle of 45° relative to the second laying direction. It is also conceivable for the at least one first laying direction to have a different angle, for example 30°, or another angle. At an angle of 45°, the receiving element can be arranged in any orientation relative to an adjacently arranged receiving element with a side edge parallel to a side edge of the adjacent receiving element and can be connected to the adjacent receiving element, which facilitates the laying and the connection of the individual receiving elements to form a receiving element assembly without this having an impact on the laying directions enabled or predetermined by the receiving element.With two first laying directions running at right angles to each other, each laterally past the receiving formations, a second laying direction running at an angle of 45° to both first laying directions and thus diagonally and symmetrically to the two first laying directions allows a particularly simple and diverse direction specification for the laying of the heating element.

[0013] It can expediently be provided that the at least one first laying direction runs parallel to a side edge of the receiving element. In the case of a rectangular base area of ​​the receiving element with side edges of the receiving element running at right angles to each other, two first laying directions can run at right angles to each other, and each individual first laying direction can run parallel to two associated side edges. It is also possible to specify two first laying directions that run at right angles to each other but not parallel to a side edge.

[0014] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, the receiving element has, along each side edge, at least one coupling formation projecting laterally beyond a base surface of the receiving element and at least one coupling recess arranged within and adapted to the base surface, into which a coupling formation can be secured in a form-fitting manner. The coupling formations and the coupling recesses are arranged on all side edges such that a first receiving element can be connected to any side edge of the first receiving element with any side edge of a second receiving element. With the aid of the form-fitting, intermeshing coupling recesses and coupling formations, two adjacent receiving elements can be connected to one another in a form-fitting and thus reliable manner.In this way, a substrate can be completely covered with a combination of several receiving elements laid side by side on the substrate and connected to one another in a form-fitting manner, except for any edge areas, so that a flexible band-shaped heating element can then be laid, for example, in a meandering shape across the substrate and fixed to the connected receiving elements.

[0015] Due to the arrangement and design of the individual coupling recesses and coupling formations, each receiving element can be connected to any side edge and thus in any orientation with an adjacent receiving element or with multiple receiving elements. When laying the receiving elements on the substrate, their orientation is not important, thus reducing the effort required for installation. Furthermore, there is no need to select and subsequently specify a favorable orientation of the receiving elements at the beginning of the installation.

[0016] Preferably, it is optionally provided that the coupling recess has a slot-shaped recess extending perpendicular to the support surface, so that a coupling formation can be inserted into the slot-shaped recess from both sides and secured therein. The slot-shaped recess can have a widening in a central region, in which the coupling formation can be retained in a locking manner. The coupling formation can be inserted into the slot-shaped recess and secured in the centrally arranged region of the widening either from the support surface or from a side opposite the support surface, from which the heating elements are also brought towards the receiving element and secured between or in the receiving formations.When laying the individual receiving elements, it is then not necessary to pay attention to which receiving element is brought from the substrate or from above with the laterally projecting coupling formation to an adjacent receiving element and is inserted or pressed into the coupling recess formed there with the coupling formation.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, it is further provided that each coupling formation has a coupling web projecting laterally beyond the base surface of the receiving element, which coupling web opens into a coupling plate projecting transversely to the coupling web beyond the coupling web, which can engage behind a coupling recess stop edge of a coupling recess of an adjacently arranged receiving element and connect the two receiving elements to one another in a form-fitting manner. With such a configuration of the coupling formations and the coupling recesses adapted thereto, it is possible for a receiving element to be connected in a form-fitting manner to an adjacently arranged receiving element with a connecting movement carried out perpendicular to the substrate. A lateral displacement parallel to the substrate is not required.Even a receiving element that has already been installed and connected to the adjacent receiving elements to form a composite can be removed from the positively connected composite of receiving elements by moving it perpendicular to the substrate. This can be done to enable and facilitate subsequent replacement of the respective receiving element. This significantly simplifies the installation and positive connection of a receiving element to adjacent receiving elements. This design of the coupling recesses and coupling recesses also enables economically viable automated installation of receiving elements.

[0018] It can be expediently provided that the coupling formation and / or the coupling recess have a locking element to lock the coupling formation in the positive engagement position formed thereby when properly arranged in a coupling recess. The locking element can be formed, for example, by a slight undercut in the coupling recess or by an elastically deformable locking tongue.

[0019] To further facilitate the insertion and interconnection of the coupling formation with an associated coupling recess, it can optionally be provided that the coupling plate has, on an inner side facing the base surface of the receiving element, at least one undercut surface running at an acute angle to the support surface such that the coupling plate tapers from a central region to an end facing the support surface. At the beginning of a connection of the coupling formation with the associated coupling recess, there is initially a sufficiently large play between the tapered end of the coupling plate, which faces the coupling recess, and a coupling recess stop edge, which engages behind the coupling plate in a form-fitting manner when the two receiving elements are arranged and secured as intended.The inclined undercut surface of the coupling recess forms a positive guide surface, which, upon contact with the coupling recess stop edge of the associated coupling recess of the adjacent receiving element, laterally displaces the receiving element, which is inserted into the coupling recess with the coupling recess, until the undercut plate is fully inserted into the coupling recess and secured therein as intended. With suitably designed and arranged undercut surfaces, a lateral offset of, for example, more than one to two millimeters, and thus a lateral offset of more than one wall thickness of the receiving element, can be compensated for.This significantly simplifies the automated installation of support elements by a laying robot, for example, on a storage or transport pallet or on a substructure. It can be carried out economically and at high speed with little effort and without manual intervention. A new support element to be connected to previously installed support elements simply needs to be positioned with its side edge adjacent to an already installed support element so that the tapered end of the coupling plate facing the coupling recess engages behind the coupling recess stop edge.During the insertion of the coupling plate into the coupling recess, the undercut surface of the coupling plate, which runs diagonally from the tapered end to the middle, slides along the coupling recess stop edge and causes the newly connected receiving element to be pulled and positioned laterally into the correct position relative to the already installed receiving element.

[0020] In order to increase the mechanical load-bearing capacity of the receiving element during a laying and assembly process, it can be provided that in an area around the coupling recesses and in particular around a coupling recess stop edge, side wall areas of the receiving element are reinforced and supported by transversely extending struts, ribs or edge chamfers.

[0021] The individual shaped elements can have a comparatively small diameter, which may be only slightly larger than the diameter of a flexible band-shaped heating element intended to be arranged and secured on the receiving element. However, it can also be provided that the individual shaped elements have comparatively large dimensions, which are several times the diameter of a designated heating element.

[0022] Preferably, each receiving element has at least one complete receiving formation arranged entirely within the base area of ​​the receiving element and at least one incomplete receiving formation along a side edge. When several receiving elements are placed on a substrate as intended, two mutually associated incomplete receiving formations of two adjacent receiving elements form a complete receiving formation. In this way, individual receiving formations can not only be designed in a large format, but can also be arranged such that they are not only arranged entirely within the base area of ​​the respective receiving element, but also extend beyond the two mutually facing side edges of two adjacent receiving elements.This creates more options for designing and arranging the individual complete receiving formations on the receiving elements in such a way that a regular pattern of, if appropriate, uniformly designed, complete receiving formations extends across a group of several interconnected receiving elements. This makes it particularly easy to install heating elements on this group of interconnected receiving elements with, if appropriate, uniformly designed, complete receiving formations during on-site assembly. The complete receiving formations can also have different shapes. It can also be expedient for the individual complete receiving formations across a group of receiving elements to be arranged not in rows and columns running at right angles to one another, but rather, for example, in two directions running at an acute angle to one another.

[0023] Furthermore, it is optionally also possible and expedient for an incomplete receiving formation to be arranged in each corner of the receiving element, which corresponds to a quarter of a complete receiving formation. When several receiving elements are placed on a substrate as intended, several incomplete receiving formations of four receiving elements arranged adjacent to one another via a corner form a complete receiving formation. In this way, corner regions of the base area of ​​the individual receiving elements can also be incorporated into the arrangement of the individual complete receiving formations. The area usable for the arrangement of the receiving formations within the individual receiving elements and across a group of several interconnected receiving elements is thus larger.

[0024] With a view to the simplest possible installation of the heating elements on individual receiving elements, and in particular on a composite of interconnected receiving elements, it is considered particularly advantageous that, optionally, each complete receiving formation has a uniform shape. The individual, uniformly formed, complete receiving formations can be arranged uniformly across the composite of receiving elements, regardless of the course of side edges between two adjacently arranged receiving elements, so that when installing the heating elements, a regular pattern of comparatively large-format, complete receiving formations is available and can be used to guide and secure the heating elements in the desired manner.

[0025] In order to offer the widest possible range of fastening options for a flexible strip-shaped heating element and, on the other hand, to enable the heating element to be fastened as reliably as possible along a path that does not damage the heating element, it can be provided that each complete receiving formation has a circular outer wall protruding from the support surface and a recess in each of two opposite sides of the outer wall, such that the strip-shaped heating element can be laid through the two recesses in a straight line through the complete receiving formation. The heating element can be laid over a circumferential section along the circular outer wall, for example to specify a change in direction for a meandering path of the heating element.A diameter of the receiving formation surrounded and limited by the circular outer wall is expediently specified to be sufficiently large so that when the heating element is laid along the circular outer wall, there is no need to fear damage to the heating element due to excessive deformation.

[0026] A mounting element made of plastic typically has a significantly lower thermal conductivity than the screed or mortar material in which the heating elements are embedded on the subfloor. Therefore, a mounting element made of plastic regularly impedes the desired distribution of heat energy from a heating element into the adjacent areas of a floor covering during operation. The individual mounting formations, or rather, the individual mounting elements, are often used.The complete receiving recesses can be designed such that an interior space surrounded by the circular outer wall is largely hollow, so that after the heating element has been laid, when a screed or mortar material is subsequently applied, this material can penetrate into the interior of the recessed element and also into the spaces between adjacent receiving recesses and can almost completely surround the heating element, with the exception of the areas directly adjacent to a receiving recess. In this way, during operation of the heating element, the desired heat transfer from the heating element into adjacent areas of the floor covering or a screed or mortar layer in which the receiving elements and the heating elements laid thereon are embedded can be supported.

[0027] To minimize accidental damage to the heating elements during installation of the flexible strip-shaped heating elements, the outer wall edges that define the recesses in the outer wall and secure a heating element installed through the respective receiving recess have a curved, beveled, or rounded transition transversely to an outer surface of the outer wall. This avoids sharp-edged outer wall edges, which could cause the strip-shaped heating element to chafe or be bent along the sharp-edged outer wall edges of the recesses during installation on the receiving elements, and particularly when tensile or shear loads occur along a path of the heating element already installed or yet to be installed.

[0028] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, two clamping wall sections are arranged parallel to each other and circumferentially on both sides of the recess, extending from each recess in the outer wall of a complete receiving formation into an interior of the receiving formation, between which the band-shaped heating element can be clamped. With such clamping wall sections, a heating element laid through the receiving formation can be reliably secured in an area adjacent to the outer wall.The clamping wall sections expediently have, in an edge region facing away from the support surface, a laterally projecting undercut which faces the respectively assigned opposite clamping wall section, so that between two mutually assigned clamping wall sections, a heating element can be fixed in a locking manner between the two clamping wall sections by means of the undercuts which slightly encompass the heating element.

[0029] Preferably, it is optionally provided that the clamping wall sections projecting into the interior of the receiving formation are designed to be deformable or pivotable, at least in sections, in a direction parallel to the flat support surface. The individual clamping wall sections can, for example, have clamping wall tongues projecting into the interior of the receiving formation, the free end of which projecting into the interior being not connected to the flat support surface and can be deflected and deformed in a plane parallel to the support surface.Particularly during the installation of the strip-shaped heating elements, tensile or shear loads occurring in sections can be balanced and compensated for by appropriate deformation and alignment of the heating elements in an area immediately adjacent to the individual recesses in the outer wall of the receiving formations, without the heating element in question being subjected to excessive stress by rigid clamping wall sections and possibly being damaged in the process.

[0030] In the same way, the mutually facing regions of the preferably circular outer walls of two adjacently arranged receiving formations can each have undercuts projecting in the direction of the oppositely arranged region of the outer wall of the adjacently arranged receiving formations, so that the heating element can be clamped between two adjacently arranged receiving formations by means of these undercuts partially enclosing the heating element, but can also be easily detached and removed from the receiving element again during installation if necessary.

[0031] Instead of the undercuts that engage behind a heating element from both sides, it is also possible to provide, for example, elastic retaining tongues that project laterally or undercuts that project laterally only on one side from an outer wall or from a clamping wall section.

[0032] In order to facilitate the simple and reliable installation of heating elements, regardless of the specific arrangement and orientation of a receiving element in a group of receiving elements, it can be provided that the receiving formations are designed and arranged in such a way that complete exception formations are formed in the group of receiving elements, which are evenly distributed over the substrate. Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that in each complete exception formation, a plurality of recesses are formed, evenly distributed over the outer wall, and that, starting from each recess in the outer wall of a complete receiving formation, clamping wall sections are arranged on both sides of the recess and extend into an interior space of the receiving formation, between which clamping wall sections the strip-shaped heating element can be clamped.

[0033] In order to facilitate the laying and interconnection of a plurality of receiving elements on a substrate, it can advantageously be provided that the receiving element has a fastening recess for securing the receiving element to the substrate in a support area of ​​the flat support surface for laying the receiving element flat on a substrate, wherein at least one further deformation recess is formed in the vicinity of the fastening recess, so that the support area is deformable in the vicinity of the fastening recess and can compensate for a lateral offset when connecting to adjacent support elements without the fastening recess being damaged.Each receiving element can be fastened and secured to the substrate, for example, with a nail or other suitable fastening means anchored in the substrate through the fastening recess. If a lateral offset of a few millimeters should be necessary when connecting the respective receiving element to an adjacent receiving element arranged laterally adjacent to it, this lateral offset can be compensated for by a corresponding deformation of the support area around the fastening recess, without first having to loosen the fastening of the receiving element to the substrate and without having to fear irreversible damage to the receiving element during the fastening recess.

[0034] It can also be provided that several fastening recesses are formed distributed across the support surface. The fastening recesses can be arranged symmetrically to one another or axially symmetrically across the support surface.

[0035] The receiving element expediently has a square base or a square, flat support surface, so that four side edges of the base of the receiving element are each of equal length. To facilitate the rapid arrangement and installation of several receiving elements to form a composite of receiving elements that largely or completely covers a substrate, it is advantageously provided that the receiving element has a fourfold rotational symmetry about a rotation axis running perpendicular to the flat support surface. The receiving elements configured in this way can then be laid out side by side and connected to one another in any orientation with their side edges aligned parallel to one another.The mounting recesses for the heating elements are also arranged and designed symmetrically so that the heating elements can be laid in the same direction regardless of the respective orientation of a mounting element.

[0036] An exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept is explained in more detail below, as illustrated in the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a receiving element designed according to the invention, Fig. 2 a top view of the Fig. 1 shown receiving element, Fig. 3 a sectional view of the Fig. 1 and 2 shown receiving element along a line III-III in Fig. 2 , Fig. 4 an enlarged view of part IV from the sectional view in Fig. 3 , Fig. 5 an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the Fig. 1 and 2shown receiving element along a line VV in Fig. 2 , Fig. 6 an enlarged partial view of an area VI of the Fig. 2 shown top view of the receiving element, Fig. 7 a perspective view of a coupling formation of the Fig. 1 and 2 shown receiving element, Fig. 8 a partial view of two receiving elements connected to one another in an area around a coupling formation of a first receiving element, which is positively fixed in a coupling recess of a second receiving element, Fig. 9 a plan view of a receiving element with a different design in some details, and Fig. 10 a perspective view of the Fig. 9 shown receiving element.

[0037] In the Fig. 1 and 2An exemplary embodiment of a receiving element 1 designed according to the invention for flexible band-shaped heating elements of a surface heating system is shown. The receiving element 1 has a Fig. 2 The receiving element 1 has a substantially square base 2, indicated by a dashed line, with side edges 3 extending at right angles to one another. An underside 4 of the receiving element 1 has flat support areas 5, which form a flat support surface 6 for placing the receiving element 1 on a substrate not shown in the figures. The receiving element 1 has receiving recesses 7, 8, 9 projecting away from the support surface 6, between or in which the heating elements can be arranged and fixed.

[0038] For example, to create a floor covering with integrated surface heating, a plurality of support elements 1 can be laid adjacent to one another with the respective support surface 6 on the subfloor and connected to one another to form a composite of support elements 1. Subsequently, a strip-shaped heating element or several strip-shaped heating elements are laid on the composite of support elements 1 in the desired manner and fixed between or in the receiving formations 7, 8, 9. A screed material or a mortar material can then be applied and distributed on the composite of support elements 1 so that the screed material or mortar material surrounds and embeds the heating elements. Finally, floor covering elements such as stoneware or ceramic tiles or wooden or plastic panels can be laid on the hardened screed material or mortar material.

[0039] Each receiving element 1 has a complete receiving formation 7. The complete receiving formation 7 has a circular outer wall 10 that surrounds and delimits a hollow interior 12 accessible from an upper side 11 opposite the underside 4 with the support surface 6. The diameter of the circular outer wall 10 is approximately 5 cm to 7 cm, but can also be smaller or larger.

[0040] Receiving formation 7 has a recess 13 in the outer wall 10 in each of four opposite circumferential regions. Adjoining this recess 13 are clamping wall sections 14 that project into the interior space 12 and are arranged in the circumferential direction on both sides of a recess 13 and are aligned parallel to one another.

[0041] The complete receiving formation 7 is arranged centrally on the square base area 2 of the receiving element 1. On each of the four side edges 3, an incomplete receiving formation 8 is formed in the center, the shape of which essentially corresponds to half a complete receiving formation 7. If two receiving elements 1 with mutually facing side edges 3 and incomplete receiving formations 8 arranged thereon are arranged adjacent to one another and connected to one another, the two incomplete receiving formations 8 on the two interconnected receiving elements 1 form a complete receiving formation, the shape of which essentially corresponds to the shape of the complete receiving formation 7 and which extends over the two side edges 3 and is thus arranged on two different receiving elements 1.

[0042] At each of the four corners 15 of the base area 2 of the receiving element 1, an incomplete receiving formation 9 is arranged, the shape of which essentially corresponds to a quarter of the complete receiving formation 7. If four receiving elements 1 with mutually facing corners 15 are connected to one another at an angle, the four incomplete receiving formations 9 in the corners 15 of the four interconnected receiving elements 1 form a complete receiving formation, the shape of which essentially corresponds to the shape of the complete receiving formation 7 and which extends over the four corners 15 and is thus arranged on four different receiving elements 1.

[0043] The individual receiving formations 7, 8, 9 are distributed over the base area 2 of the receiving element 1 in such a way that a heating element can be arranged in a straight line across a plurality of receiving formations 7, 8, 9 between two adjacently arranged receiving formations 7, 8, 9 and can be clamped between two adjacently arranged receiving formations 7, 8, 9. On a plurality of circumferentially extending sections 16 of the circular outer wall 10 of the receiving formations 7, 8, 9, outwardly projecting undercuts 17 are formed at a distance from the underside 4 and close to the top side 6.These undercuts 17 are arranged and designed such that a heating element laid between two mutually assigned and mutually facing sections 16 of two adjacently arranged receiving formations 7, 8, 9 is partially encompassed by the undercuts 17 on a side facing away from the support surface 6 and facing the upper side 11 and is thus retained in the receiving element 1 in a locking manner. The undercuts 17 are shown in the sectional views in . Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 shown. In Fig. 4 For the sake of clarity, a heating element 18 is also schematically indicated, which is fixed between the two outer walls 10 of two adjacently arranged receiving formations 7, 8.

[0044] The clamping wall sections 14 projecting from the recesses 13 in the outer wall 10 of the receiving formations 7, 8, 9 into the interior 12 also have laterally projecting undercuts 19 formed in an edge region facing away from the support surface 6 and facing the upper side 11, which undercuts project in the direction of the respectively assigned opposite clamping wall section 14, so that a heating element arranged between two clamping wall sections 14 and running transversely through the interior 12 of the receiving formation 7, 8, 9 can be clamped in the relevant receiving formation 7, 8, 9 with the aid of these undercuts 19 and is retained in this position, but can be released and removed again from the receiving formation 7, 8, 9 and thus from the receiving element 1 if necessary.The undercuts 19 in two mutually facing clamping wall sections 14 are shown in conjunction with an indicated heating element 18 by way of example in . Fig. 5 shown.

[0045] In the Fig. 6 bis 8 The coupling formations 20 and coupling recesses 21 provided for connecting two receiving elements 1 are shown as an enlarged partial view. Along each side edge 3 of the receiving element 1, a coupling formation 20 and a coupling recess 21 are arranged in such a way that, when a first receiving element 1 with any side edge 3 is arranged on a second receiving element 1 with any side edge 3, a positive connection of the first receiving element 1 with the second receiving element 1 can be effected via a positive engagement of the mutually associated coupling formations 20 and coupling recesses 21.

[0046] For this purpose, the coupling recess 21 has a slot-shaped recess 22 extending perpendicularly to the support surface 6, which widens towards the support surface 6 or towards the opposite upper side 11 of the receiving element 1 in order to facilitate the insertion of the associated coupling formation 20 of another receiving element 1 into this slot-shaped recess 22. In a central area, the slot-shaped recess 22 has a Fig. 1 visible widened section 23, so that a coupling formation 20 inserted into the slot-shaped recess 22 is retained in the region of the widened section 23 and can only be pulled out of the widened section 23 and released again by overcoming mechanical resistance. In this way, a reliable connection of two receiving elements 1 is enabled and their positioning and alignment relative to one another is predetermined. The coupling formation 20 can be inserted into the slot-shaped recess 22 from both sides, i.e. from the underside 4 or from the top side 11, and then arranged in the central region in the widened section 23.

[0047] The coupling formation 20 has a coupling web 24 projecting laterally beyond the base surface 2 of the receiving element 1, wherein the dimensions of the coupling web and the dimensions of the widening section 23 are adapted to one another and the coupling web 24 projects through the widening section 23 of the associated coupling recess 21 and is fixed therein when two adjacent receiving elements 1 are connected as intended.At an end facing away from the base surface 2, the coupling web 24 opens into a coupling plate 25 which is aligned substantially perpendicular to the coupling web 24 and which projects laterally beyond the coupling web 24 and, when two adjacent receiving elements 1 are connected as intended, engages behind a coupling recess stop edge 26 of the associated coupling recess 21, so that the coupling plate 25 of the coupling formation 20 of a first receiving element 1 forms a positive engagement with the coupling recess 21 of a second receiving element 1.

[0048] The coupling plate 25 has, on an inner side 27 facing the base surface 2 of the receiving element 1, two undercut surfaces 28, 29 extending at an acute angle to the support surface 6 such that the coupling plate 25 tapers from a central region both toward an end 30 facing the support surface 6 and toward an end 31 facing away from the support surface 6. This facilitates the insertion of the coupling formation 20 of a first receiving element 1 into the coupling recess 21 of an adjacently arranged second receiving element 1. Two receiving elements 1, which were still arranged at a somewhat too great a distance at the beginning of the insertion of the coupling formation 20, are pulled together during the insertion of the coupling formation 20 by the undercut surfaces 28 and 29 serving as forced guide surfaces.

[0049] In a composite of multiple receiving elements 1 produced in this way, a heating element can be arranged and secured across multiple receiving formations 7, 8, 9 and across multiple receiving elements 1 in two first laying directions 32 and 33 on the receiving element 1 or on a composite of receiving elements 1, which each run parallel to a side edge 3 and are indicated by arrows. The heating element is clamped between two outer walls 10 of two adjacently arranged receiving formations 7, 8, 9. In addition, a heating element can be arranged and secured across multiple receiving formations 7, 8, 9 and across multiple receiving elements 1 in a second laying direction 34, which runs diagonally at an angle of 45° to each of the two first laying directions 32, 33.The heating element traverses the individual receiving formations 7, 8, 9 and is clamped in each interior space 12 of the individual receiving formations 7, 8, 9 between mutually associated clamping wall sections 14. To specify a change in the direction of the heating element, the heating element can be laid in the circumferential direction over a section along the circular outer wall 10 of any receiving formation 7, 8, 9, adjacent to the circular outer wall 10 and then clamped again either between two receiving formations 7, 8, 9 or between two clamping wall sections 14.

[0050] In the enlarged partial view in Fig. 6 It can be seen that outer wall edges 35, which delimit the recesses 13 in the outer wall 10 and can fix a heating element 18 laid through the respective receiving formation 7, 8, 9, have a curved, bevelled or rounded transition 36 transversely to an outer surface of the outer wall 10.

[0051] In the Fig. 1 and 2It can be seen that the receiving element 1 has a fastening recess 37 for securing the receiving element 1 to the substrate in an approximately central support area 5 of the flat support surface 6 for laying the receiving element 1 flat on a substrate. The fastening recess 37 is a circular, continuous recess through which the receiving element 1 can be secured and fixed to the substrate, for example with a nail. In the vicinity of the fastening recess 37, several further deformation recesses 38 are formed, which surround the fastening recess 37.With these deformation recesses 38 it is achieved that the support area 5 is deformable in an area around the fastening recess 37 and can compensate for a lateral offset when connected to adjacent support elements 1, without the fastening recess 37 being damaged or the fastening of the receiving element 1 having to be released from the substrate or becoming unintentionally released again.

[0052] In the Fig. 9 und 10 A further variant of a receiving element 1 is shown as an example. This further variant has numerous features similar to those shown in the Fig. 1 bis 8 The receiving element shown has identical features and details which are not explained in detail and are indicated by reference symbols.

[0053] The Fig. 9 und 10 The receiving element 1 shown differs from the one shown in the Fig. 1 bis 8The receiving element 1 shown has four fastening recesses 37 distributed evenly over the base area 2 or over the support surface 6. The receiving element 1 can be secured and fixed to a substrate either with a single suitable fastening element, such as a nail, or with several fastening elements, each fastening element being secured in the substrate through an associated fastening recess 37.

[0054] The receiving element 1 has symmetrically formed receiving formations 7, 8, 9 with clamping wall sections 14 projecting into the interior space 12 from all diagonal directions.

[0055] In order to increase the mechanical strength of the coupling recesses 21, in particular in the area immediately around a coupling recess stop edge 26, diagonally aligned support walls 39 and reinforcing edge chamfers 40 are formed, with which the rigidity of the side wall areas around the coupling recess stop edge 26 and the mechanical load-bearing capacity of the receiving element 1 in this area is increased.

Claims

1. A web-shaped or plate-shaped receiving element (1) for flexible band-shaped heating elements (18) of a surface heating system, wherein the receiving element (1) has support areas which form a flat support surface (6) for the flat placement of the receiving element (1) on a substrate, wherein the receiving element (1) has coupling elements (20, 21) on side edges (3) running at right angles to one another for connecting two receiving elements (1) placed adjacent to one another on the substrate, and wherein the receiving element (1) has a plurality of receiving formations (7, 8, 9) projecting away from the support surface (6), in or between which the band-shaped heating element (18) can be arranged and fixed, characterized in thatthe receiving formations (7, 8, 9) are arranged on the receiving element (1) in such a way that the band-shaped heating element (18) can be clamped in a straight line across a plurality of receiving elements (1) between two outer wall sections (16) of two adjacently arranged receiving elements (7, 8, 9) in at least one first laying direction (32, 33) relative to a side edge (3) of the receiving element (1), and that in each receiving formation (7, 8, 9) at least one recess (13) is arranged and designed in such a way that the band-shaped heating element (18) can be clamped in a straight line across a plurality of receiving elements (1) in a second laying direction (34) relative to a side edge (3) of the receiving element (1), wherein the first laying direction (32, 33) has an angle of between 0° and 90° to the second laying direction (34).

2. Receiving element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe at least one first laying direction (32, 33) has an angle of 45° relative to the second laying direction (34).

3. Receiving element (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the at least one first laying direction (32, 33) runs parallel to a side edge (3) of the receiving element (1).

4. Receiving element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe receiving element (1) has, along each side edge (3), at least one coupling formation (20) projecting laterally beyond a base surface (2) of the receiving element (1), and at least one coupling recess (21) arranged within the base surface (2) and adapted to the coupling formation (20), into which a coupling formation (20) can be fixed in a form-fitting manner, wherein the coupling formations (20) and the coupling recesses (21) are arranged on all side edges (3) in such a way that a first receiving element (1) with each side edge (3) of the first receiving element (1) can be connected to any side edge (3) of a second receiving element (1).

5. Receiving element (1) according to claim 4, characterized in thatthe coupling recess (21) has a slot-shaped recess (22) extending perpendicular to the support surface (6), so that a coupling formation (20) can be inserted into the slot-shaped recess (22) from both sides and fixed therein.

6. Receiving element (1) according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that each coupling formation (20) has a coupling web (24) projecting laterally beyond the base surface (2) of the receiving element (1), which coupling web opens into a coupling plate (25) projecting transversely to the coupling web (24) beyond the coupling web (24), which can engage behind a coupling recess stop edge (26) of an adjacently arranged receiving element (1) and can connect the two receiving elements (1) to one another in a form-fitting manner.

7. Receiving element (1) according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe coupling plate (25) has, on an inner side (27) facing the base surface (2) of the receiving element (1), at least one undercut surface (28, 29) extending at an acute angle to the support surface (6) such that the coupling plate (25) tapers from a central region to an end (30) facing the support surface (6).

8. Receiving element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thateach receiving element (1) has at least one complete receiving formation (7) arranged entirely within the base area (2) of the receiving element (1) and at least one incomplete receiving formation (8) along a side edge (3), which corresponds to half a complete receiving formation (7), wherein when a plurality of receiving elements (1) are placed on a base as intended, two mutually associated incomplete receiving formations (8) of two adjacently arranged receiving elements (1) form a complete receiving formation (7).

9. Receiving element (1) according to claim 8, characterized in thatin each corner (15) of the receiving element (1) there is arranged an incomplete receiving formation (9), which corresponds to a quarter of a complete receiving formation (7), wherein when several receiving elements (1) are placed on a base as intended, several incomplete receiving formations (9) of four receiving elements (1) each arranged adjacent to one another via a corner (15) form a complete receiving formation (7).

10. Receiving element (1) according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that each complete receiving formation (7) has a similar shape.

11. Receiving element (1) according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, characterized in thateach complete receiving formation (7, 8, 9) has a circular outer wall (20) projecting from the support surface (6) and a recess (13) in each of two opposite sides of the outer wall (20), so that the band-shaped heating element (18) can be laid straight through the two recesses (13) in the second laying direction (34) through the complete receiving formation (7).

12. Receiving element (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that Outer wall edges (35), which delimit the recesses (13) in the outer wall (10) and fix a heating element (18) laid through the relevant receiving formation (7, 8, 9), have a curved, bevelled or rounded transition (36) transversely to an outer surface of the outer wall (10).

13. Receiving element (1) according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in thatStarting from each recess (13) in the outer wall (10) of a complete receiving formation (7) into an interior space (12) of the receiving formation (7), two clamping wall sections (14) are arranged parallel to one another and in the circumferential direction on both sides of the recess (13), between which the band-shaped heating element (18) can be clamped.

14. Receiving element (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the clamping wall sections (14) projecting into the interior (12) of the receiving formation (7) are designed to be deformable or pivotable at least in sections in a direction running parallel to the flat support surface (6).

15. Receiving element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe receiving element (1) has a fastening recess for securing the receiving element (1) to the substrate in a support area (5) of the flat support surface (6) for laying the receiving element (1) flat on a substrate, wherein at least one further deformation recess is formed in the vicinity of the fastening recess, so that the support area is deformable in the vicinity of the fastening recess and can compensate for a lateral offset when connected to adjacent support elements without the fastening recess being damaged.

16. Receiving element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving element (1) has a fourfold rotational symmetry about a rotation axis running perpendicular to the flat support surface (6).

Images