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

Abstract

The invention relates to an aluminum profile of a modular floor mat, the profile comprises means for connection 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 wings, a lower end portion of each wing of which is capable of being pierced with at least one cable passage hole and comprises at least one groove for snapping 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 aluminum profile. Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Aluminum profile of a modular floor mat, and mat incorporating such a profile Technical field

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

[0002] Known from the state of the art is a modular floor mat intended to be installed in pits at the entrance to a building, that is to say in a reservation or cavity made in the ground.

[0003] This type of mat is composed of a plurality of aluminum profiles, arranged and attached parallel to each other. Each profile has means for connection to another profile and an upper portion receiving a covering 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 of connecting 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 carpet 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 used mats in existing pits, and its closed structure retains dirt between the aluminum profiles.

[0009] It is also known to connect the profiles by stainless steel cables. The profiles have an H-shaped section with perforated side wings at the bottom to allow the cable to run. 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 does not exist for thicknesses less than 10 mm and therefore cannot be embedded in a tiled structure without having to create a pit. Its manufacture is complex because it requires drilling holes in the aluminum profiles and manually threading the steel cables through the through said holes. It also has limited resistance to heavy loads which lift the cable and destroy the spacers.

[0012] It is finally known to connect the profiles by PVC rods which form a homogeneous articulated assembly and which ensures great simplicity during cleaning. Very robust, they resist intense commercial traffic: pedestrians, supermarket trolleys, electric pallet trucks, forklifts within the limits of 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 comprises a groove for snapping the rod.

[0014] Just like the cable mat, the construction of the rush mat of the state of the art does not allow for a thickness of less than 10 mm. It also has limited resistance to heavy loads. Statement of the invention

[0015] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, by proposing an aluminum profile of a ground mat which is improved to make it possible to produce, with the same profile, 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 be able to adapt to any type of pit to be made, or already existing.

[0016] The invention seeks in particular to propose a modular mat which can adapt to different types of installation, different pit depths, traffic intensity and several levels of resistance to the passage of loads.

[0017] For this purpose, an aluminum profile of a modular floor mat has been developed, the profile comprises means of connection to an adjacent profile and an upper portion receiving a covering element, such as a scraping or drying insert.

[0018] According to the invention, the profile comprises: - an H-shaped section defining a core receiving the covering element, and two wings, a lower end portion of each wing of which is capable of being pierced with at least one cable passage hole and comprises at least one groove for snapping 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.

[0019] In this way, the aluminum profile according to the invention makes it possible to produce a modular floor mat which can be mounted using three different mounting techniques, with the same profile, namely mounting with profiles glued to a mat polymeric, with profiles connected by PVC or rubber rods, or with profiles connected by cables.

[0020] The invention makes it possible to adapt the thickness of the mat 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 width of the profile makes it possible to create a stable support for the profile and to improve resistance to heavy loads, which therefore makes it possible to limit the thickness of aluminum to be used and the weight of the profile.

[0021] For example, the profiles of the carpet according to the invention may consist of walls with thicknesses between 1 mm and 1.5 mm, for example 1.2 mm.

[0022] 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 sections closed and separated by a wall, preferably vertical, so as to increase the rigidity and resistance to traffic of the profile.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the base is connected to the core by a vertical wall.

[0024] In this way, the vertical wall and base assembly makes it possible to create a sort of foot promoting the rigidity and resistance to traffic of the profile, while having an open structure limiting the weight of the profile.

[0025] Advantageously, and to adapt to different types of installation, namely embedded, in a pit, or free-standing, and to adapt to different pit depths, the profile has a height of between 7 and 25 mm, preferably between 9 and 18 mm.

[0026] The invention therefore also relates to a modular floor mat comprising a plurality of aluminum profiles according to one of the aforementioned characteristics, arranged and connected parallel to each other.

[0027] Advantageously, the mat comprises an accessory snapped into at least one end groove of an end profile, such as an inclined ramp which forms for example a door threshold, or an insert which can be cut to fit a determined pit width.

[0028] For example, the recuttable insert includes weakened areas of reduced thickness to facilitate cutting the insert to the correct size.

[0029] According to different embodiments, the profiles of the floor mat according to the invention can be connected to each other: - with their base glued to a polymeric film or mat, such as PET for better resistance, PVC, PP, or PMMA, or any other polymer, and with a double-sided adhesive or hot melt glue; - by PVC or rubber rods snapped into the 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

[0030] [Fig. 1]] is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a carpet modular according to the invention, with profiles connected by rods.

[0031] [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a carpet modular according to the invention, with profiles connected by cables.

[0032] [Fig.3] is a top view of a portion of the modular mat of [Fig.2]. Detailed description of the invention

[0033] The invention relates to a modular mat (1) laid on the ground in a loose manner, for example in a pit, or to be sealed in a structure.

[0034] According to the invention, the ground sheet (1) comprises improved profiles (2) allowing it to adapt to different types of installation, depth of pit or structure, or to different types of assembly depending on the usage constraints, in particular the traffic to be resisted.

[0035] Generally speaking, the floor mat (1) comprises a plurality of aluminum profiles (2) arranged and connected parallel to each other, preferably with a spacing between them of 4 to 7 mm, preferably of 5 to 6 mm. Each profile (2) has a width of between 30 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 35 and 45 mm, and comprises means for connection to an adjacent profile (2) and an upper portion receiving a covering element (3), such as a scraping and / or drying insert.

[0036] According to various examples, the covering element (3) may be made of looped textile, for example 100% polypropylene, of velvet, for example 100% polyamide, or of rubber.

[0037] The improved profiles (2) comprise a general section at least in the shape of an H, so as to define a core (4), in particular horizontal, for receiving the insert, and two wings (5), in particular lateral and vertical, for edging and holding the insert.

[0038] In the lower part of the wings (5), that is to say under the web, holes can be made by drilling for the passage of connecting cables (8) of the profiles between them. Advantageously, the lower part of the wings (5) can comprise a longitudinal groove (16), for example in a barley grain, making it possible to guide a drilling bit and facilitate the production of the cable passage holes. The lower end part of each wing (5) comprises a snap-fastening groove (6) for a connecting rod to an adjacent profile or an accessory such as a ramp. In practice, this groove (6) is formed by U-shaped profiled walls, the free ends of which are curved inwards for the snap-in effect.

[0039] Each profile (2) comprises, in addition to the H-shaped section, a base (7) parallel to the core 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 aluminum profile (2), preferably at least equal to 70%, or even 80% or 90%.

[0040] 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, in particular if it is a question of replacing a used mat in an already existing pit. The profiles (2) have in practice a height of between 7 and 25 mm, preferably between 9 and 18 mm. The fact that the profiles (2) can have a height of less than 10 mm, makes the mat (1) compatible with installation embedded in a structure for example.

[0041] The base (7), in contact with the ground or the bottom of the pit, makes it possible to provide a stable support for the profile (2) and to improve resistance to heavy loads, which therefore makes it possible to limit the thickness of aluminum to be used and consequently the weight of the profile and the mat. The profiles (2) can thus be made up of walls with thicknesses between 1 and 1.5 mm.

[0042] 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.

[0043] According to a particular embodiment, the base (7) is connected to the wings (5) or to the core (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 core (4) to increase resistance to heavy loads. The profile (2) obtained is therefore hollow.

[0044] 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 forming, with the wings (5), the lateral walls of the U-shape of the snap-in grooves (6).

[0045] According to a non-illustrated embodiment, the base and the core do not form a closed section, but the base and the core are connected by a vertical wall, so as to form a sort of feet creating a stable and rigid support for the profile and also increasing the resistance to heavy loads.

[0046] 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.

[0047] Depending on the type of installation and the dimensions of the pit, the floor mat (1) may comprise 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 adapt to a determined pit width.

[0048] The cuttable insert (11) is for example in the form of a parallelepiped block of plastic or rubber with a lateral, longitudinal and upwardly oriented tab to snap into the groove (6) of the profile, and with weakened zones of lesser thickness, in particular provided along the entire length of the block, to facilitate cutting of the insert.

[0049] Based on this principle, three assembly techniques are possible.

[0050] According to a mounting technique not illustrated, the profiles (2) are connected to each other with their base (7) glued to a polymeric film, such as PET, PVC, PP, or PMMA, or any other polymer, with a double-sided adhesive or a hot-melt glue.

[0051] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.l], the profiles (2) are connected to each other by PVC or rubber rods (12) snapped into the snap grooves (6). The rods (12) have for this purpose two longitudinal and upwardly oriented lateral tabs for snapping into the grooves (6) of two adjacent profiles.

[0052] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the profiles (2) are pierced and connected to each other by at least two cables (8), for example positioned at the two lateral ends of the belt, passing through the holes made in the lower parts of the wings (5), and running in the space defined between the core (4) and the base (7) of each profile (2). In practice, several cables (8) are positioned along the length of the belt, for example one cable every 20 to 50 cm.

[0053] In this embodiment, the mat (1) preferably comprises at least two spacers (13) made of PVC or rubber positioned between each pair of profiles (2). These spacers (13) are for example also pierced and crossed by the cables (8) in order to simplify assembly and hold the spacers (13) in position.

[0054] The cable (8) comprises for example at a first end a head (14) wider than the orifice of a wall (10) of a first end profile to come to abut against said wall and, at an opposite end an added stop (15) to come to lock the cable (8) by providing a counter-support against a wall (10) of a last end profile of the belt.

Claims

Claims

1. Aluminum profile (2) of a modular floor mat (1), the profile (2) comprises means for connection to an adjacent profile and an upper portion receiving a covering element (3), such as a scraping or drying insert characterized in that it comprises: - an H-shaped section defining a core (4) receiving the covering element (3), and two wings (5) of which a lower end part of each wing is capable of being pierced with at least one cable passage hole and comprises at least one snap-on 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 aluminum profile (2).

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

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

5. Profile (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made up of walls with thicknesses between 1 and 1.5 mm.

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

7. Floor mat (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises 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 adapt to a determined pit width.

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

9. Floor mat (1) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the profiles (2) are connected to each other with their base (7) glued to 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 one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the profiles (2) are connected to each other by PVC or rubber strips (12) snapped into the snap grooves (6).

11. Floor mat (1) according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the profiles (2) are pierced and connected to each other by at least two cables (8) passing through the holes in 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) made of PVC or rubber positioned between each pair of profiles (2).

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