Aluminium profile of a modular floor mat, and mat incorporating such a profile

Abstract

The invention relates to an aluminum profile for a modular floor mat. The profile includes means for connecting to an adjacent profile and an upper portion receiving a covering element, such as a scraping or drying insert. According to the invention, the profile comprises: - an H-shaped section defining a core receiving the covering element, and two flanges, the lower end portion of each flange being adapted to be pierced with at least one cable passage hole and including at least one snap groove for a connecting rod to an adjacent profile or an accessory such as a ramp; - a base parallel to the core and spaced from it, preferably by a distance greater than 3 mm, so as to define a space allowing a cable to pass through, the width of the base being at least equal to 50% of the width of the aluminum profile.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of modular floor mats, in particular intended to be positioned at the entrance of buildings, embedded in a structure or installed in a pit. Previous art

[0002] A modular floor mat intended to be installed in pits at the entrance of a building, i.e. in a recess or cavity made in the ground, is known from the prior art.

[0003] This type of mat is composed of a plurality of aluminum profiles, arranged and attached parallel to each other. Each profile has means of connection to another profile and an upper portion receiving a coating element, such as a scraping or drying insert.

[0004] Documents EP0524445 and EP0365869 illustrate examples of this type of carpet.

[0005] There are different ways to connect the profiles to each other to form the modular mat as such.

[0006] For example, it is known to glue U-shaped aluminum profiles with a flat base onto a PET mat.

[0007] This type of mat has a low thickness allowing it to be embedded in a tiled structure without having to create a pit.

[0008] The manufacture of this type of mat is simplified, but this mat does not exist in significant thicknesses to replace worn mats in existing pits, and its closed structure retains dirt between the aluminum profiles.

[0009] It is also known to connect the profiles with stainless steel cables. The profiles have an H-shaped cross-section with perforated side wings at the bottom to allow the cable to pass through. Spacers are positioned between the profiles to maintain the spacing.

[0010] This type of mat has an open structure allowing dirt to fall to the bottom of the pit, between the profiles.

[0011] However, due to its structure, this type of mat is not available in thicknesses less than 10 mm and therefore cannot be embedded in a tiled surface without creating a pit. Its manufacture is complex, requiring holes to be drilled in the aluminum profiles and the steel cables to be manually threaded through these holes. It also has limited resistance to heavy loads, which can lift the cable and damage the spacers.

[0012] It is also known to connect the profiles with PVC rods, forming a homogeneous articulated assembly that ensures easy cleaning. Very robust, they withstand heavy commercial traffic: pedestrians, supermarket trolleys, electric pallet trucks, forklifts up to 2 tonnes and 120 N / cm².

[0013] In this embodiment, the profiles also have an H-shaped section with lateral wings, the lower end part of which includes a snap-fit ​​groove for the rod.

[0014] Like cable conveyors, the construction of the state-of-the-art rush conveyor does not allow for a thickness less than 10 mm. It also has limited resistance to heavy loads.

[0015] Document DE20115339 is also part of the prior art. Description of the invention

[0016] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, by proposing an aluminium profile for a floor mat which is improved to allow the same profile to be used to create a mat whose profiles can be connected to each other by a polymer mat, or by cables or PVC rods, while easily adapting its thickness to fit any type of pit to be made, or already existing.

[0017] The invention seeks in particular to offer a modular mat that can adapt to different types of installation, different pit depths, traffic intensity and several levels of resistance to load passages.

[0018] For this purpose, an aluminium profile of a modular floor mat has been developed; the profile includes means of connection to an adjacent profile and an upper portion receiving a coating element, such as a scraping or drying insert.

[0019] According to the invention, the profile comprises: an H-shaped section defining a core receiving the cladding element, and two wings, a lower end part of each wing being suitable for drilling at least one cable passage hole and including at least one snap groove for a connecting rod to an adjacent profile or an accessory such as a ramp; a base parallel to the core and spaced from it, preferably by a distance greater than 3 mm, so as to define a space allowing a cable to run, the width of the base being at least equal to 50% of the width of the aluminium profile.

[0020] In this way, the aluminum profile according to the invention makes it possible to create a modular floor mat that can be mounted according to three different mounting techniques, with the same profile, namely a mounting with profiles glued onto a polymer mat, with profiles connected by PVC or rubber rods, or with profiles connected by cables.

[0021] The invention allows the mat thickness to be adapted according to the type of installation or the depth of an existing pit. The presence of a base with a width at least equal to 50% of the profile width provides stable support for the profile and improves resistance to heavy loads, thus reducing the required aluminum thickness and the profile's weight.

[0022] For example, the profiles of the carpet according to the invention can be made up of walls with thicknesses between 1 mm and 1.5 mm, for example 1.2 mm.

[0023] According to a particular embodiment, the base and the core of each profile define between them at least one closed section, and for example several adjacent closed sections separated by a wall, preferably vertical, so as to increase the rigidity and resistance to traffic of the profile.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the base is connected to the core by a vertical wall.

[0025] In this way, the vertical wall and base together create a kind of foot that promotes the rigidity and resistance to traffic of the profile, while having an open structure that limits the weight of the profile.

[0026] Advantageously, and to adapt to different types of installation, namely embedded, in pit, or free-standing, and to adapt to different pit depths, the profile has a height between 7 and 25 mm, preferably between 9 and 18 mm.

[0027] The invention therefore also relates to a modular floor mat comprising a plurality of aluminium profiles according to one of the aforementioned characteristics, arranged and linked parallel to each other.

[0028] Advantageously, the mat includes an accessory that is snapped into at least one extreme groove of an end profile, such as an inclined ramp that forms, for example, a door threshold, or a cuttable insert to fit a determined pit width.

[0029] For example, the cuttable insert includes thinner, weakened areas to facilitate cutting the insert to the correct size.

[0030] In various embodiments, the profiles of the floor mat according to the invention can be connected to each other: with their base glued onto a polymer film or mat, such as PET for better resistance, PVC, PP, or PMMA, or any other polymer, and with double-sided adhesive or hot melt glue; by PVC or rubber rods snapped into snap grooves; after drilling cable passage holes in the wings, by at least two cables passing through these holes, and running in the space defined between the core and the base of each profile, the mat comprising at least two PVC or rubber spacers positioned between each pair of profiles. Brief description of the drawings

[0031] Fig. 1 ] is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a modular carpet according to the invention, with profiles connected by rods. Fig. 2 ] is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a modular mat according to the invention, with profiles connected by cables. Fig. 3] is a top view of part of the modular carpet of the figure 2 . Detailed description of the invention

[0032] The invention relates to a modular mat (1) laid on the ground in free laying, for example in a pit, or to be sealed in a structure.

[0033] According to the invention, the floor mat (1) includes improved profiles (2) enabling it to adapt to different types of installation, pit or structure depth, or different types of assembly depending on the constraints of use, in particular the traffic to be withstood.

[0034] In general, the floor mat (1) comprises a plurality of aluminium profiles (2) arranged and connected parallel to each other, preferably with a spacing between them of 4 to 7 mm, preferably 5 to 6 mm. Each profile (2) has a width between 30 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 35 and 45 mm, and includes means for connecting to an adjacent profile (2) and an upper portion receiving a coating element (3), such as a scraping and / or drying insert.

[0035] According to various examples, the covering element (3) can be made of looped textile, for example 100% polypropylene, of velvet, for example 100% polyamide, or of rubber.

[0036] The improved profiles (2) include a general section at least in the shape of an H, so as to define a web (4), in particular horizontal, for receiving the insert, and two wings (5), in particular lateral and vertical, for edging and holding the insert.

[0037] In the lower part of the flanges (5), i.e., under the web, holes can be drilled for the passage of connecting cables (8) between the profiles. Advantageously, the lower part of the flanges (5) may include a longitudinal groove (16), for example, a toothed groove, to guide a drill bit and facilitate the creation of the cable passage holes. The lower end of each flange (5) includes a snap-fit ​​groove (6) for a connecting rod to an adjacent profile or an accessory such as a rail. In practice, this groove (6) is formed by U-shaped profiled walls, the free ends of which are curved inwards to create the snap-fit ​​effect.

[0038] Each profile (2) includes, in addition to the H-shaped section, a base (7) parallel to the web and spaced from it, preferably by a distance greater than 3 mm, so as to define a space allowing the cables (8) to run, the width of the base (7) being at least equal to 50% of the width of the aluminium profile (2), preferably at least equal to 70%, or even 80% or 90%.

[0039] The spacing between the core (4) and the base (7), and the height of the profiles (2), are chosen, for example, according to the depth of the pit in which the mat (1) is to be installed, particularly if it involves replacing a worn mat in an existing pit. The profiles (2) typically have a height between 7 and 25 mm, preferably between 9 and 18 mm. The fact that the profiles (2) can be less than 10 mm high makes the mat (1) suitable for installation embedded in a structure, for example.

[0040] The base (7), in contact with the ground or the bottom of the pit, provides stable support for the profile (2) and improves resistance to heavy loads, thus reducing the required aluminum thickness and consequently the weight of the profile and the mat. The profiles (2) can therefore have walls with thicknesses between 1 and 1.5 mm.

[0041] Advantageously, a strip (9) of foam or elastomer can be glued under the base (7) to cushion, protect the profile (2), and provide acoustic insulation.

[0042] According to a particular embodiment, the base (7) is connected to the flanges (5) or to the web (4) so ​​as to define at least one closed section, or even several adjacent closed sections separated by a wall (10), for example vertical, connecting the base (7) and the web (4) to increase resistance to heavy loads. The resulting profile (2) is therefore hollow.

[0043] With reference to the figures, the base (7) is connected to the core (4) by three vertical walls (10) to form a hollow profile with two closed sections, including a central vertical wall and two lateral vertical walls which, together with the wings (5), form the lateral walls of the U-shaped snap grooves (6).

[0044] According to an unillustrated embodiment, the base and the web do not form a closed section, but the base and the web are connected by a vertical wall, so as to form a kind of feet creating a stable and rigid support for the profile and also increasing resistance to heavy loads.

[0045] In the case of a cable assembly, the wall(s) (10) connecting the base (7) and the core (4) are of course also pierced to allow the cables (8) to pass through.

[0046] Depending on the type of installation and the dimensions of the pit, the floor mat (1) may include an accessory that is snapped into at least one end groove (6) of an end profile, such as an inclined ramp or a cuttable insert (11) to fit a specified pit width.

[0047] The cuttable insert (11) is presented for example in the form of a parallelepiped block of plastic or rubber with a lateral, longitudinal and upward-oriented tab to snap into the groove (6) of the profile, and with weakened areas of lesser thickness, in particular provided over the entire length of the block, to facilitate cutting the insert.

[0048] Based on this principle, three assembly techniques are possible.

[0049] According to an assembly technique not illustrated, the profiles (2) are connected to each other with their base (7) glued onto a polymeric film, such as PET, PVC, PP, or PMMA, or any other polymer, with a double-sided adhesive or a hot melt glue.

[0050] According to the embodiment illustrated in the figure 1 The profiles (2) are connected to each other by PVC or rubber rods (12) which are snapped into the snap grooves (6). The rods (12) have two longitudinal lateral tabs oriented upwards for this purpose to snap into the grooves (6) of two adjacent profiles.

[0051] According to the embodiment illustrated in figures 2 and 3The profiles (2) are drilled and connected to each other by at least two cables (8), for example positioned at the two lateral ends of the mat, passing through the holes made in the lower parts of the wings (5), and running in the space defined between the web (4) and the base (7) of each profile (2). In practice, several cables (8) are positioned along the length of the mat, for example one cable every 20 to 50 cm.

[0052] In this embodiment, the mat (1) preferably includes at least two PVC or rubber spacers (13) positioned between each pair of profiles (2). These spacers (13) are, for example, also drilled and passed through by the cables (8) in order to simplify assembly and hold the spacers (13) in position.

[0053] The cable (8) includes, for example, at a first end a head (14) wider than the opening of a wall (10) of a first end profile to butt against said wall and, at an opposite end, an added stop (15) to lock the cable (8) by providing counter-support against a wall (10) of a last end profile of the mat.

Claims

1. Aluminium profile (2) of a modular floor mat (1), the profile (2) having means for connecting to an adjacent profile and an upper portion receiving a coating element (3), such as a scraping or drying insert characterized in that It comprises: - an H-shaped section defining a core (4) receiving the cladding element (3), and two wings (5) of which a lower end part of each wing is suitable for being pierced with at least one cable passage hole and includes at least one snap groove (6) for a connecting rod (12) to an adjacent profile or an accessory such as a ramp; - a base (7) parallel to the core (4) and spaced from it, preferably by a distance greater than 3 mm, so as to define a space allowing a cable (8) to run, the width of the base (7) being at least equal to 50% of the width of the aluminium profile (2).

2. Profile (2) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe base (7) and the core (4) define at least one closed section between them.

3. Profile (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (7) is connected to the core by a vertical wall (10).

4. Profile (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that It has a height between 7 and 25 mm, preferably between 9 and 18 mm.

5. Profile (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that It consists of walls with thicknesses between 1 and 1.5 mm.

6. Modular floor mat (1) comprising a plurality of aluminium profiles (2) of one of the preceding claims, arranged and linked parallel to each other.

7. Floor mat (1) according to claim 6, characterized in thatit includes an accessory snapped into at least one end groove (6) of an end profile, such as an inclined ramp or a cuttable insert (11) to fit a specified pit width.

8. Floor mat (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The cuttable insert (11) includes weakened areas of lesser thickness to facilitate cutting the insert.

9. Floor mat (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the profiles (2) are connected to each other with their base (7) glued onto a polymeric film, such as PET, PVC, PP, or PMMA, with a double-sided adhesive or a hot melt glue.

10. Floor mat (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the profiles (2) are connected to each other by PVC or rubber rods (12) snapped into the snap grooves (6).

11. Floor mat (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in thatthe profiles (2) are drilled and connected to each other by at least two cables (8) passing through the orifices of the wings (5), and running in the space defined between the core (4) and the base (7) of each profile (2), the mat (1) comprising at least two spacers (13) in PVC or rubber positioned between each pair of profiles (2).

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