Frame for the configuration of maintenance openings in floors

Abstract

The invention relates to a frame for designing maintenance openings (10) in floors (11), with profile rails (3a, 3b) which are connected at their ends to form a rectangular frame (1, 2), wherein the profile rails (3a, 3b) each have a support leg (6) with a plurality of recesses (5) and a limiting leg (7) perpendicular thereto, and the profile rails (3a, 3b) are connected at their ends by angle brackets (8) which are permanently connected to the support legs (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a frame for designing maintenance openings in floors, with profile rails which are connected at their ends to form a rectangular frame.

[0002] In modern buildings, pipes and cables are largely installed in raised floors. To allow access to these pipes, maintenance openings are typically provided, which are closed with a cover. This cover is usually rectangular, most often square. When laying the floor covering, the cover is partially concealed by a section of the flooring. Simultaneously, the floor covering is laid around the maintenance opening up to the edge of the cover to achieve the most discreet transition possible. To achieve such a robust and aesthetically pleasing finish, individual profile rails are usually installed along the edge of the cover. These rails typically have an L-shaped cross-section, allowing the floor covering to be laid on one leg of the profile rail and then extend to and abut the other leg.A disadvantage of this approach is that the installation of the individual profile rails on the construction site is prone to errors and a consistently high quality of edge detailing cannot be achieved.

[0003] Frames for mounting cover grilles are also known, consisting of four profile sections, but these are not suitable for covering maintenance openings in an aesthetically pleasing manner. In particular, it is not possible to cover the grille with the same flooring as the surrounding floor.

[0004] The object of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to provide a frame for designing maintenance openings in floors that enables quick and efficient installation of floor coverings while minimizing the risk of errors and inaccuracies. The frame is intended to be a robust and durable solution.

[0005] According to the invention, the profile rails have a support leg with a plurality of recesses and a perpendicular limiting leg, and the profile rails are connected at their ends by angle brackets that are permanently attached to the support legs. A key feature of the invention is that the frame is prefabricated and available on-site, thus optimally adapted to the typically standardized maintenance opening. A further advantage is the connection of the individual profile sections by angle brackets, which allow limited movement of the profile sections relative to each other to compensate for any unevenness in the floor. Most importantly, the frame allows a direct connection between the floor covering and the substrate through the recesses, which is particularly important, for example, when laying tiles.

[0006] The height of the limiting legs is adapted to the installation height of the floor covering, ensuring optimal edge protection. The frame according to the invention is suitable for all types of floor coverings. Parquet, tile, carpet, vinyl, and similar floor coverings can be used.

[0007] It is particularly advantageous if the profile rails have an L-shaped cross-section. The angle brackets should have a length between 1.5 and 3 times the width of the support leg of the profile rails. This means that the profile rails are only connected at their immediate ends, thus allowing for a degree of flexibility. It is also important that only a few of the recesses of the support leg are covered; that is, the angle brackets should extend over one to four recesses of the support leg of each of the profile rails to which they are connected.

[0008] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides, in addition to the limiting leg of each profile rail, a retaining leg. This makes it possible to insert a cover strip, preferably with a T-shaped cross-section, between the limiting leg and the parallel retaining leg. The beam of the T then covers the two adjacent edges of the floor covering, namely those of the cover and those of the area surrounding the opening.

[0009] To provide extra protection for the edge of a carpet or similar covering, the edge banding may be designed with an overlapping section on the edge furthest from the support leg. The floor covering must then be tucked under this overlapping section during installation, which is only possible with flexible coverings.

[0010] In principle, to achieve an attractive appearance, it is only necessary that the limiting legs of two adjacent profile rails meet cleanly at a 90° angle. However, a preferred solution provides that the profile rails are mitered at their ends. This ensures a uniformly flat bearing surface for the floor covering, even in the corner area. For the same reason, it is preferred that the angle brackets are attached to the side of the bearing leg opposite the limiting leg.

[0011] To achieve the lowest possible lifting of the floor covering in the area of ​​the edges, the angle brackets should have a thickness that is between 20% and 80%, preferably between 30% and 50% of the thickness of the support leg.

[0012] An outer frame, which is provided for forming the edge outside the maintenance opening, is preferably constructed in such a way that the support legs are oriented towards the outside of the enclosed rectangle.

[0013] Conversely, an inner frame intended for forming the edge of the cover above the maintenance opening is advantageously constructed such that the support legs are oriented towards the inside of the enclosed rectangle.

[0014] The present invention also relates to a kit comprising an outer frame and an inner frame, as defined above, wherein, in the installed state, the limiting legs of the outer frame are arranged with minimal clearance next to the limiting legs of the inner frame. The clearance must be just large enough to allow the cover to be lifted when access to the maintenance opening is required, but should in any case be as small as possible.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 shows a kit according to the invention consisting of an inner frame 1 and an outer frame 2 in a top view; Fig. 2 shows a section along line II - II in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 a detail III in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 the installation situation of the kit of Fig. 1 in a cross-section; Fig. 5 an angle bracket 8 in a top view; and Fig. 6bis Fig. 8 various alternative design variants of a profile rail 3b.

[0016] In Fig. 1 A top view of a kit according to the invention is shown in its correct position. The kit consists of an inner frame 1 and an outer frame 2, which are to be arranged directly inside one another. Both frames 1, 2 are composed of profile rails 3a, 3b, which are made of aluminum and can be identical or different. In the corner areas 4, the profile rails 3a, 3b are mitered and joined without gaps.

[0017] The profile rails 3a of the inner frame 1 each consist of a support leg 6 with a plurality of recesses 5 and a perpendicular limiting leg 7. This also applies to the profile rails 3b of the outer frame 2. The profile rails 3a and 3b are connected to each other in the corner areas 4 by angle brackets 8, which are glued to the underside of the support legs 6. In the operating position, there is a gap 9 between the limiting legs 7 of the profile rails 3a of the inner frame 1 and the profile rails 3b of the outer frame 2, which provides the necessary clearance to access the maintenance opening.

[0018] The angle brackets 8 have a thickness that is approximately half the thickness d1 of the support leg 6 or slightly less. Typical thicknesses d1 of the support leg 6 are 1.5 mm and d2 of the angle brackets 8 are 0.6 mm, but this can vary depending on the size of the maintenance opening.

[0019] In Fig. 3 A corner area 4 is shown in detail. The angle brackets 8 are partially visible through the recesses 5 of the support legs 6, and here each bracket at least partially covers two recesses 5 of each support leg 6. The edges of the angle brackets 8 are labeled 8a. The gap 9 is shown with exaggerated width for clarity.

[0020] The Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows a maintenance opening 10 in a floor 11, machined with the solution according to the invention. The maintenance opening 10 is closed with a cover 12. A floor covering is applied to the floor 11 and the cover 12, which is designated 13a in the area of ​​the cover 12 and 13b elsewhere. The floor covering 13a, 13b can consist of parquet, tiles, carpet, vinyl, or similar materials. An adhesive layer 14 bonds the floor covering 13a, 13b to the floor 11 and the cover 12, respectively.

[0021] In Fig. 5 An angle bracket 8 is shown. A cutout 26 at the inside corner serves to prevent impermissible stresses. The length l of the angle bracket 8 is approximately twice the width b, which also corresponds to the width of the support legs 6.

[0022] Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows a variant embodiment of the profile rail 3b in which a retaining leg 17 is provided parallel to the limiting leg 7, such that a slot 16 with serrations is formed between the limiting leg 7 and the retaining leg 17. A cover strip 15, which has a T-shaped cross-section, is inserted into this slot 16. The cover strip 15 consists of a beam 18 and a web 19, which has serrations to engage at the appropriate height in the slot 16. Alternatively, the cover strip 15 can also be screwed to the profile rail 3b.

[0023] In the version variant of profile rail 3b from Fig. 7 The limiting leg 7 is shortened, which is suitable for floor coverings of low height.

[0024] Fig. 8 represents a variant of the profile rail 3b, in which the limiting leg 7 has an overlap section 27.

[0025] The present invention makes it possible to cover maintenance openings with a floor covering in an aesthetically pleasing and high-quality manner.

Claims

1. Frame for designing maintenance openings (10) in floors (11), with profile rails (3a, 3b) which are connected at their ends to form a rectangular frame (1, 2), characterized by the fact that the profile rails (3a, 3b) each have a support leg (6) with a plurality of recesses (5) and a limiting leg (7) perpendicular to it, and that the profile rails (3a, 3b) are connected at their ends by angle plates (8) which are permanently connected to the support legs (6).

2. Frame according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the profile rails (3a, 3b) have an L-shaped cross-section.

3. Frame according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the angle plates (8) have a length (l) that is between 1.5 times and 3 times the width of the support leg (6) of the profile rails (3a, 3b).

4. Frame according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact thatThe angle plates (8) extend over one to four recesses (5) of the support leg (6) of each of the profile rails (3a, 3b) connected to it.

5. Frame according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that the angle brackets (8) are bonded to the support legs (6).

6. Frame according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that In addition to the limiting leg (7) of each profile rail (3a, 3b) a retaining leg (17) is provided.

7. Frame according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that a cover strip (15) can be inserted between the limiting leg (7) and the retaining leg (17), which preferably has a T-shaped cross-section.

8. Frame according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the limiting leg (7) has an overlap section (27) at its edge furthest from the support leg (6).

9. Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the fact thatthe profile rails (3a, 3b) are mitered at their ends.

10. Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that the angle brackets (8) are attached to the side of the support leg (6) opposite the limiting leg (7).

11. Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that the angle plates (8) have a thickness (d2) that is between 20% and 80%, preferably between 30% and 50% of the thickness (d1) of the support leg (6).

12. Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the fact that the profile rails (3a, 3b) are made of aluminium.

13. Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the fact that the support legs (6) are oriented towards the outside of the enclosed rectangle.

14. Frame according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the fact that the support legs (6) are oriented towards the inside of the enclosed rectangle.

15. Kit comprising an outer frame according to claim 13 and an inner frame according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that In the installed state, the limiting legs (7) of the outer frame (2) are arranged with minimal clearance next to the limiting legs (7) of the inner frame (1).

Images