Sports flooring in tiles or strips

Abstract

The invention relates to a sports floor covering in the form of a loose-laying tile or blade and comprising coupling means (6) with an adjacent tile or blade. According to the invention, the covering comprises successively, from the top towards the ground, and linked together: - a surface layer (2) comprising at least one flexible layer (2a) with a thickness of between 0.3 mm and 1 mm and comprising a compression modulus of between 10 MPa and 100 MPa; - a rigid intermediate layer (3) with a thickness of between 3.5 mm and 7 mm and comprising a flexural modulus of between 1000 MPa and 10,000 MPa, and a compression modulus of between 35 MPa and 300 MPa; - a damping sub-layer (5) with a thickness greater than 3 mm, in particular between 3 mm and 10 mm, and preferably between 5 mm and 10 mm, and having a compression modulus of between 0.5 MPa and 15 MPa. Figure for abstract: Fig. 4

Description

Title of the invention: Sports floor covering in tiles or strips Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-layer structure for producing a so-called "sports" floor covering, i.e. for sports halls, gymnasiums, multi-purpose gymnasiums, or the like. Prior art

[0002] A sports floor covering must ensure the safety and protection of the user, particularly in terms of shock absorption according to standard EN 14808. A so-called "point" sports floor covering must in particular comply with standard NF EN 14904 of June 2006, according to which the floor covering must absorb 25% of shocks, measured according to standard EN 14808.

[0003] Generally speaking, a sports floor is in the form of a multi-layer structure comprising an upper wear layer whose main functions are control of slipperiness, resistance to wear, ease of cleaning and decorative appearance, linked to a backing layer of polyvinyl chloride foam with a density generally between 0.30 and 0.40 and a thickness generally between 4 and 9 mm allowing the absorption of occasional shocks.

[0004] However, in practice, this type of floor covering is often laid in so-called multi-purpose gymnasiums, i.e. gymnasiums likely to host extra-sporting events which could damage the floor covering.

[0005] Indeed, the backing foam is subjected to traffic, heavy loads or unforeseen impacts and can generate irreversible deformations and damage the floor covering. Indeed, if the sports floor covering is excellent for absorbing occasional shocks, it is less so for resisting the aforementioned stresses.

[0006] Document WO2018 / 1957543 is known which makes it possible to solve the problem of the versatility of the places where the covering is laid by placing a polymer film between a surface layer and a backing layer of polyvinyl chloride foam, which film has a stiffness greater than 100 N / mm and a Young's modulus greater than 1.5 GPa, in order to limit the indentation phenomena in the foam by allowing a better distribution of the stresses and a reduction in the shear effect on the walls of the cells of the foam, corresponding to the deformation perpendicular to the penetration of the punch.

[0007] This type of sports flooring gives complete satisfaction to the user in terms of safety and protection. However, it has some drawbacks inherent in the fact that the foam layer, which allows the absorption of punctual shocks, is intended to be stuck to the floor.

[0008] Indeed, the glued installation technique is long and tedious, and when these coverings are installed without glue, problems of deformation, appearance of swelling, slippage or opening of joints between two floor covering structures result, in particular due to expansion / contraction when installing over a large surface.

[0009] Furthermore, this type of sports floor covering is generally presented in rolls and therefore presents additional disadvantages in terms of logistics, in particular due to the weight of the rolls and the relatively large surface area to be covered for the application in question. Furthermore, the installation of this type of covering is complex and requires a high level of expertise from the installers.

[0010] Also known is document EP1570143 which describes a sports floor covering having a wood-based layer covered with a varnish and comprising a resilient foam layer obtained from a thermoplastic. The covering comprises male / female assembly means at the periphery and is suitable for loose laying.

[0011] This coating may have a support layer which may be made, for example, of MDF, HDF, plywood, particle board, wood, metal, plastic.

[0012] This document combines different materials, such as wood and plastic, which makes its manufacture and recyclability difficult. Although it is presented as a sports floor, the shock absorption performance of this covering is not communicated.

[0013] Finally, this document EP1570143 does not present any solution making it possible to limit the phenomena of expansion or contraction when laying the coating over a large surface. Statement of the invention

[0014] One of the aims of the invention is therefore to remedy the problems of the prior art by providing a sports floor covering which makes it possible to easily and temporarily or permanently convert an existing hall into a sports hall which can be “multipurpose”, that is to say a hall in which several sports can be practiced such as volleyball, handball, and which can still host non-sporting events, without removing the floor.

[0015] Another objective is to provide such a coating making it possible to satisfy the requirements defined in standard NF EN 14904 of June 2006 in terms of shock absorption measured according to standard NF EN 14808, vertical deformation measured according to standard NF EN 14809, indentation measured according to standard EN 1516 and impact resistance measured according to standard EN 1517.

[0016] Another objective is to provide such a coating capable of satisfying the requirements defined in standard NF EN ISO 11638 in terms of indentation resistance measured according to standard NF-EN ISO 24343-1.

[0017] One objective of the invention is in particular to provide a floor covering which has shock absorption and indentation resistance performances equivalent to those of a conventional sports floor covering in rolls and glued installation and of a floor for buildings for conventional use.

[0018] For this purpose, a sports floor covering in the form of a tile or blade, loosely laid, and comprising means for coupling with an adjacent tile or blade, has been developed.

[0019] According to the invention, the covering comprises successively, from the top towards the ground, and linked together:

[0020] - a surface layer, which may preferably be made up of several layers, but comprising at least one flexible layer with a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 1 mm and comprising a compressive modulus of between 10 MPa and 100 MPa; - a rigid intermediate layer, as opposed to the flexible nature of the aforementioned layer, with a thickness of between 3.5 mm and 7 mm and comprising a flexural modulus of between 1000 MPa and 10,000 MPa, preferably between 1000 MPa and 8000 MPa, in order to allow the covering to be laid freely because this intermediate layer must not be too flexible for the covering to be easy to handle, nor too rigid for the covering to always be cut; said intermediate layer comprising a compression modulus of between 35 MPa and 300 MPa; the very dimensionally stable rigid intermediate layer allows for free laying, resistance to indentation, impact, rolling, and makes it possible to include at least in part coupling means between the slabs or strips;a flexural modulus of less than 1000 MPa will reduce the resistance to indentation and potentially generate swelling in the case of loose laying, which is not desirable; a flexural modulus of more than 10000 MPa makes cutting difficult on site and can cause whitening of the material at the cutting line; a flexural modulus of less than 8000 MPa is preferable to avoid cutting problems whatever the temperature of the site; - a damping underlay for shock absorption and indentation resistance, with a thickness greater than 3 mm, in particular between 3 mm and 10 mm, and preferably between 5 mm and 10 mm, and having a compression modulus of between 0.5 MPa and 15 MPa; the compression modulus cannot be less than 0.5 MPa without degrading the indentation resistance, nor greater than 15 MPa without significantly reducing shock absorption.

[0021] From the above, the invention makes it possible to provide a loose-lay covering, i.e. one which allows easy and temporary or permanent conversion an existing room into a sports and multi-purpose hall.

[0022] The combination of the compression moduli and thicknesses of the surface layer, the rigid intermediate layer and the damping sub-layer contributes to good resistance to indentation.

[0023] The combination of the compression modulus and the thickness of the shock-absorbing underlay helps to absorb at least 25% of shocks to meet the requirements of standard NF EN 14904 of June 2006, measured according to standard NF EN 14808.

[0024] The characteristics underlying the invention therefore make it possible to obtain a good compromise between resistance to indentation and shock absorption. It is also possible to carry out installation without preparation, on a slightly deformed support, i.e. not having a hollow greater than 2 mm over 2 m.

[0025] Preferably the flexible layer is made from polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane or linoleum.

[0026] In order to improve the shear strength of the coating, the flexible layer comprises a tensile modulus of between 100 MPa and 1000 MPa.

[0027] The intermediate layer is preferably made from polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polypropylene. In order to improve the shear strength of the coating, the intermediate layer has a tensile modulus of between 500 MPa and 3000 MPa. The tensile modulus is measured according to technical document CSTB 99030-01.

[0028] Depending on the compatibility of the materials, the intermediate layer is bonded to the underlayer via a bonding layer, for example in the form of a double-sided adhesive, a reactive polyurethane adhesive layer or a hot melt adhesive layer.

[0029] The intermediate layer preferably comprises a surface mass of between 4 kg / m2 and 9.5 kg / m2.

[0030] The shock-absorbing underlay is preferably made from foamed polyethylene, foamed PVC, foamed polyurethane, rubber or cork. This underlay preferably has a density of between 90 kg / m3 and 400 kg / m3. This characteristic makes it possible to improve the shock absorption performance of the covering according to the invention.

[0031] The undercoat preferably comprises a surface mass of between 390 g / m2 and 1300 g / m2.

[0032] The shock-absorbing underlay preferably has on its face facing the ground a non-slip coating, for example based on ethylene vinyl acetate.

[0033] The surface layer has a surface mass preferably between 100 g / m2 and 800 g / m2.

[0034] The coupling means of the coating according to the invention may be of an appropriate type, and they are for example in the form of housings for receiving a connection device, machined in the damping sub-layer, or in the surface layer, and in at least part of the thickness of the intermediate layer, as described in document FR3128478.

[0035] According to another embodiment, the coupling means are of the male / female or hermaphrodite type, as described in documents FR3024990, FR3090711, FR3089534, FR3105280, and are produced at least in the thickness of the edges of the intermediate layer, in a complementary manner on opposite or adjacent edges.

[0036] Preferably, in this embodiment, the underlayer extends horizontally beyond one edge of the intermediate layer, and is set back at the level of the complementary adjacent or opposite edge (i.e. at the level of the edge comprising complementary coupling means) so as to extend under the surface layer and the intermediate layer of an adjacent covering to which said covering is coupled, and this in order to limit the mechanical stresses at the level of the coupling means.

[0037] The sports floor covering according to the invention comprises a surface mass preferably between 5 kg / m2 and 13.3 kg / m2, and more preferably between 7 kg / m2 and 9 kg / m2.

[0038] The sports floor covering according to the invention has a thickness of between 6.5 mm and 18 mm, preferably between 8 mm and 12 mm. Brief description of the drawings

[0039] [Fig. 1] is a cross-sectional view of a particular embodiment of a coating according to the invention.

[0040] [Fig.2] is a view similar to that of [Fig.l], illustrating another embodiment

[0041] [Fig. 3] is a perspective view at the coupling means, illustrating the damping sub-layer extending beyond the edge of the intermediate layer and the surface layer.

[0042] [Fig.4] is a view similar to that of [Fig.3], in cross-section. Detailed description of the invention

[0043] With reference to Figures 1 to 4, the invention relates to a sports floor covering (1) in the form of a tile or blade, loosely laid, making it possible to temporarily or permanently convert an existing room into a “multipurpose” room and a sports hall, that is to say into a room in which several sports can be practiced such as volleyball, handball, and which can host non-sporting events, while still maintaining guaranteeing compliance with the requirements of standard NF EN 14904 of June 2006 in terms of shock absorption, vertical deformation, indentation and impact resistance, and at the same time the requirements of standard NF EN ISO 11638 measured according to NF-EN ISO 24343-1 in terms of indentation resistance.

[0044] The covering (1) according to the invention provides optimal protection to users against potential injuries due to repeated impacts during sports practice.

[0045] The invention is particularly suitable for carrying out continuous loose laying, i.e. in which the slabs or strips are joined, over large areas, in particular greater than 100 m2, or even up to 1000 m2, while reducing the effects of expansion / contraction phenomena. The slabs or strips have a width and length generally between 50 cm and 150 cm, preferably between 50 cm and 100 cm.

[0046] The invention also aims to maintain the total thickness of the sports floor covering (1) between 6.5 mm and 18 mm, preferably between 8 mm and 11 mm, while ensuring a total surface mass of between 5 kg / m2 and 13.3 kg / m2, ideally between 7 kg / m2 and 9 kg / m2. These dimensions and this weight guarantee both the portability and the resistance of the covering (1).

[0047] The sports floor covering (1) is in the form of a loose-lay tile or strip, and comprises coupling means (6) for connecting adjacent tiles or strips.

[0048] The covering (1) comprises at least a surface layer (2), a rigid intermediate layer (3) and a damping underlayer (5) intended to be in contact with the ground, linked together in this order, from top to bottom.

[0049] The surface layer (2) comprises at least one flexible layer (2a) with a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 1 mm and having a compression modulus of between 10 MPa and 100 MPa, measured according to standard EN ISO 604 with v=20mm / min, and a tensile modulus of between 100 MPa and 1000 MPa, measured according to CSTB technical document 99030-01.

[0050] This layer can be made from various materials, such as PVC, PE, PP, TPU or linoleum. It is designed to be sufficiently wear-resistant, even non-slip. The surface layer (2) can be either a plain layer or a combination of a transparent flexible layer (2a) with a decorative film (2b). It is optionally varnished in a conventional manner.

[0051] The rigid intermediate layer (3) has a thickness of between 3.5 mm and 7 mm, a flexural modulus of between 1000 MPa and 10,000 MPa measured according to standard NF EN ISO 178, preferably between 1000 MPa and 8000 MPa, and preferably a compression modulus of between 35 MPa and 300 MPa, measured according to standard EN ISO 604 with v=20mm / min, and a tensile modulus of between 500 MPa and 3000 MPa, measured according to technical document CSTB 99030-01. This layer, which can be made from PVC, PE or PP, contributes to impact absorption and provides structural stability to the entire coating (1).

[0052] The shock-absorbing underlayer (5) is designed to absorb the majority of shocks, reduce the force of an impact, and resist indentation. This layer has a thickness greater than 3 mm, ideally between 3 mm and 10 mm, and a compressive modulus of between 0.5 MPa and 15 MPa, measured according to standard EN ISO 604 with v=20rnm / min. It can be manufactured from foamed PE, foamed PVC, foamed PU, rubber or cork.

[0053] According to a particular embodiment, the sports floor covering (1) comprises a bonding layer (4), such as a double-sided adhesive, a layer of reactive polyurethane glue or a layer of hot-melt glue, positioned to bond the intermediate layer (3) and the underlay (5).

[0054] Furthermore, the coating (1) comprises coupling means (6), which may be housings for receiving a connection device, as illustrated in document FR3128478, machined from the surface layer (2), or preferably from the damping sub-layer (5), and in at least part of the thickness of the intermediate layer (3).

[0055] The connection device may have a joint which is positioned between the slabs or strips and which improves resistance to expansion for installations on surfaces greater than or equal to 100 m2.

[0056] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, these coupling means (6) may be of the male / female or hermaphroditic type, produced at least in the thickness of the edges of the intermediate layer (3), in a complementary manner on opposite or adjacent edges.

[0057] The coupling means (6) for connecting several slabs or blades together. Generally, the male / female coupling means (6) comprise a first machining profile, such as a tongue, machined on one edge of one and configured to couple to a second complementary machining profile, such as a groove, machined on an opposite or adjacent edge of a neighboring covering (1').

[0058] According to Figures 3 and 4, the underlayer (5) extends horizontally beyond one edge of the intermediate layer (3), and is set back at the complementary adjacent or opposite edge so as to extend under the surface layer (2) and the intermediate layer (3) of an adjacent coating (1) to which said coating (1) is coupled, to limit the mechanical stresses under the coupling means. The values ​​of the extension and the setback are identical, and are preferably between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 20 and 40 mm.

[0059] Once coupled, the coupling means (6) block the movement of two slabs or blades both in a vertical direction, that is to say perpendicular to the ground, and horizontal, that is to say parallel to the plane formed by the ground.

[0060] Tests and measurements were carried out on an exemplary embodiment of the invention, as described in the table below. The structure of the layers bonded to each other to form the coating is defined in the 1st column.

[0061] [Tables 1] Structure Weight g / m2 Thickness Mm Flexural modulus MPa Compressive modulus MPa Tensile modulus MPa PUR varnish 25 0.025 / / / Transparent PVC wear layer 620 0.5 / 14.2 453.8 Decorative printed PVC film 90 0.12 / / / Intermediate layer (3) extruded or calendered PVC filled 5468 4.15 4444.4 80.8 807.9 Bonding layer (4) EVA-based hot-melt adhesive 55 0 / / / Underlayer (5) cushioning closed-cell cross-linked polyethylene foam 650 5 / 9 /

[0062] The flexural module is representative of the ease of installation, particularly free installation.

[0063] The compression modulus is representative of the resistance to indentation

[0064] The tensile modulus is representative of the shear strength of the coating. (1).

[0065] The results of the tests and measurements are compiled in the table below.

[0066] [Tables2] Property Methods Units Results Requirements Opinions Shock absorption EN 14808 % 27 25-75 Compliant -1 / 0 + / - 5 of the average Vertical deformation EN 14809 mm 0.50 <5.0 Compliant Indentation EN 1516 mm 0.04 <0.5 Compliant Impact resistance EN 1517 / No degradation No degradation Compliant Indentation NF-EN ISO 24343-1 mm 0.14 mm < 0.2mm at 2h30 Compliant

Claims

Claims

1. Sports floor covering (1) in the form of a loose-laying tile or blade and comprising coupling means (6) with an adjacent tile or blade, characterized in that it comprises successively, from the top towards the ground, and linked together: - a surface layer (2) comprising at least one flexible layer (2a) with a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 1 mm and comprising a compression modulus of between 10 MPa and 100 MPa; - a rigid intermediate layer (3) with a thickness of between 3.5 mm and 7 mm and comprising a flexural modulus of between 1000 MPa and 10,000 MPa, and a compression modulus of between 35 MPa and 300 MPa; - a damping underlayer (5) with a thickness greater than 3 mm, in particular between 3 mm and 10 mm, and preferably between 5 mm and 10 mm, and having a compression modulus of between 0.5 MPa and 15 MPa.

2. Sports floor covering (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible layer (2a) comprises a tensile modulus of between 100 MPa and 1000 MPa.

3. Sports floor covering (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate layer (3) comprises a tensile modulus of between 500 MPa and 3000 MPa.

4. Sports floor covering (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate layer (3) is bonded to the underlay (5) by means of a bonding layer (4), such as a double-sided adhesive, a layer of reactive polyurethane glue or a layer of hot-melt glue

5. Sports floor covering (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate layer (3) comprises a surface mass of between 4 kg / m2 and 9.5 kg / m2.

6. Sports floor covering (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the underlay (5) comprises a density of between 90 kg / m3 and 400 kg / m3.

7. Sports floor covering (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling means (6) are housings for receiving a connection device, machined in the damping underlayer (5), or in the surface layer (2), and in at least part of the thickness of the intermediate layer (3).

8. Sports floor covering (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling means (6) are of the male / female or hermaphroditic type, and produced at least in the thickness of the edges of the intermediate layer (3), in a complementary manner on opposite or adjacent edges.

9. Sports floor covering (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the underlay (5) extends horizontally beyond one edge of the intermediate layer (3), and is set back at the complementary adjacent or opposite edge so as to extend under the surface layer (2) and the intermediate layer (3) of an adjacent covering (1) to which said covering (1) is coupled.

10. Sports floor covering (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a surface mass of between 5 kg / m2 and 13.3 kg / m2, preferably between 7 kg / m2 and 9 kg / m2.

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