IMPROVED MODULAR SYSTEM FOR BUILDING UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES

Description

GEOPLAST SPA – GRANTORTO (PD) TITLE IMPROVED MODULAR SYSTEM TO CREATE UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES 5 DESCRIPTION This patent relates to underground structures for the containment of land or for the management of rainwater, which can also be walked on or driveways and in particular concerns a new modular system for create underground driveway structures. 10 There are known underground modular structures intended to form, for example, soil containment volumes, for the rooting of plants. Such structures are usually covered with a cladding and can be walkable or even drivable, for light or heavy traffic in depending on their mechanical characteristics. 15 Normally, such structures are formed by a plurality of modules, where each module includes four vertical column elements, a frame lower base on which said columns and an upper frame are mounted mounted on said columns. These modules also include panels grid mounted on said upper frame. The module thus obtained is 20 walkable, it is permeable to water and also allows the roots to grow, promoting the rooting of plants. There are also known modules comprising walls instead of columns. intended to be arranged vertically and linked together to form a parallelepiped, and a top plate or grid mounted above the 25 vertical walls. These walls are also grilled or generally perforated for allow the passage of water and roots and are configured substantially U-shaped, that is, they comprise two sides joined only at the bottom on one side horizontal. Also in this case the upper plane or grid makes the module walkable, while the lateral openings allow the passage of water and 5 roots. In this case too, the modules can include panels of infill to close the lateral openings identified by the U-shaped walls. The structures thus formed can also be usefully used in areas parking or under road surfaces and must therefore resist when loading vehicles. 10 Furthermore, the volumes identified by this structure may be filled at least partially with soil without the latter being compressed by the load of the vehicles, which is instead supported by the structure. This way, the roots of the plants will be able to grow inside the soil same and will not have to rise to the surface, where they would damage the 15 paving. Furthermore, by avoiding the compression of the ground, the phenomenon by which the roots rot, reducing the root system and leading to the risk of the plant falling. The subject of this patent is a modular system for making underground driveway structures, for example for rainwater management 20 and the containment of land. The main task of this invention is to ensure a high level of resistance to loads, thanks in particular to the configuration of the walls verticals that form the structure. Another important aim of this invention is to speed up and 25 simplify the assembly procedures of the structure. These and other direct and complementary objectives are achieved by the system modular to create underground driveway structures, comprising at least a vertical wall, i.e. intended to be installed vertically, which in turn includes a lower side for resting on the ground or 5 another wall, an upper side on which a second wall will be placed or a lid, and two sides joining said upper and lower sides, identifying a central opening of any shape. More appropriately, the said lower and upper sides include edges horizontal, that is, intended to be horizontal when the wall is 10 correctly installed. Said wall, and more preferably but not necessarily said upper sides and lower ones are perforated, that is, they include a plurality of distributed holes, of smaller dimensions than the said central opening. These sides are preferably free of holes. 15 This wall is also ribbed, that is, it comprises a plurality of ribs of stiffening. More specifically, at least the said sides, but preferably also called upper and lower sides, include a plurality of ribs vertical, that is, intended to be vertical when the wall is correctly laid in place, and any inclined ribs, intended to be inclined 20 when the wall is correctly installed. The edges of the said sides include elements for connecting to the corresponding ones sides of other vertical walls. Said hooking elements of each side of a wall are preferably configured to allow connection with two other walls arranged orthogonally 25 to the said first wall. Overall, it will therefore be possible to constrain together up to four walls arranged orthogonally and in a cross, that is, all adjacent with a respective flank. It is expected that said coupling elements are configured so that the coupling occurs by sliding one coupling element into the other 5 direction parallel to the side. The edges of the top and bottom sides include hook elements instead preferably configured differently and in particular they include reliefs suitable for insertion into corresponding seats on the side opposite. Preferably said reliefs and said seats are configured for 10 snap-lock engagement, so as to prevent unwanted slipping. These fastening elements on the upper and lower sides allow for overlap two or more of said vertical walls, to form modules of height multiple. The module also includes at least one cover or lid element, 15 suitable to be positioned above said vertical walls, to constitute the walking surface. This lid is also a modular element, therefore intended to be joined to other identical lids placed side by side, and has, for example, dimensions such as to act as from complete coverage of a structure consisting of four of the said walls 20 verticals arranged to form a parallelepiped volume. The said lid is preferably a grilled element or in any case equipped with of a plurality of holes to allow the passage of rainwater. There are also fastening elements along the edges of the lid for the union with the said upper sides of the vertical walls. 25 For example, on the perimeter of the lid, on its facing side downwards, there may be seats and / or reliefs for the coupling with said seats and / or reliefs present on the edges of the upper sides of the walls. The features of the new module will be better clarified by the following 5 description with reference to the drawing tables, attached as an example non-limiting. Figure 1 shows an example of a part of a three-dimensional view. underground structure made with the new modular system, called structure comprising four vertical walls (100) with a lid (200) arranged in 10 form a parallelepiped module closed at the top, and two further vertical walls (100) attached along a vertical edge of the module parallelepiped. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the structure in Figure 1. Figure 2a shows in detail a side attachment element. 15 (130), while figure 2b shows how the union between the sides occurs (130, 140) of four vertical walls (110) by means of the hooking elements present on the edges (131, 141) of said sides (130, 140). Figure 3 shows a front view of a vertical wall (100), while Figure 4 shows a section of it drawn along the line AA in Figure 3. 20 Figures 5 and 6 show two three-dimensional views of the wall vertical (100) of figure 3, to show respectively the edge (111) of the side upper (110) and the edge (121) of the lower side (120), as well as the two edges laterals (131, 141) of the sides (130, 140) of the vertical wall (100). Figures 5a and 6a show in detail the attachment elements for 25 the union of the upper and lower sides (110, 120) of the vertical walls. Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional view of the lid (200) only, where its lower face is visible (220), that is, intended to be turned towards the bottom, that is towards the vertical walls (100). Figure 7a shows in detail the fastening elements for the union 5 of the cover (200) on the upper sides (120) of the vertical walls (100). Figure 8 shows how it is possible to predict that the vertical walls (100) are mounted on top of each other vertically to form a structure having a height that is a multiple of the height of a single vertical wall (100). This is a new modular system for building underground structures 10 driveways, comprising at least one vertical wall (100) shown in example in figures 3, 5 and 6. This vertical wall (100) is intended to be installed vertically and comprises a lower side (120), an upper side (110) and two sides (130, 140) which join the said upper and lower sides (110, 120), 15 identifying a central opening (150) of any shape. In the non-limiting solution shown in the figures, said vertical wall (100) has a substantially rectangular modular shape, with said opening central (150) which can have any shape. This central opening (150) is preferably large in size compared to 20 to the dimensions of the wall (100) so as not to impede in any way the rooting of plants. In the solution shown, the central opening (150) has for example width substantially equal to or greater than the width of each side (130, 140) and has a height substantially equal to or greater than the height 25 of said lower side (120) and / or of said upper side (110). In a preferred solution, also to provide greater resistance to the structure that will be obtained, said upper side (110) can have a height greater than the said lower side (120). In one possible solution, said upper or lower sides (110, 120) can 5 comprising a plurality of holes (160), for example distributed in the area central one corresponding to the said central opening (150), of smaller dimensions with respect to the said central opening (150). Said sides (130, 140) and the lateral areas of said upper and lower sides (110, 120) are instead preferably free of holes. 10 Said wall (100) is also ribbed, i.e. it comprises a plurality of stiffening ribs (170, 180). More specifically, at least the aforementioned sides (130, 140), but preferably also called upper and lower sides (110, 120), comprise a plurality of vertical ribs (170), i.e. parallel at the edges (131, 141) of said sides (130, 140), and any inclined ribs 15 (171), i.e. oriented in one or more directions that are neither parallel nor orthogonal to the edges (131, 141) of said sides (130, 140). These ribs (170, 180) are preferably present on both faces opposite of said wall (100). The edges (131, 141) of said sides (130, 140) comprise elements of 20 side hooks (180), for connection with the corresponding sides (130, 140) of other vertical walls (100). Said lateral hooking elements (180) of each side (130, 140) of a wall are shown for example in figure 2a and are preferably configured to allow connection with two other walls (100) arranged 25 orthogonal to said first wall (100), as shown for example in figure 2. Said lateral coupling elements (180) comprise for example two partitions (181, 182), each with a concave part for attachment to corresponding partitions of other walls (100). In the example shown in the figures, said partitions (181, 182) are arranged inclined with respect to the main plane (X) identified by the 5 wall (100), to allow simultaneous connection with two other walls (100), and are for example arranged inclined at 45° with respect to the said plane main (X). In the example shown in the figures, said septa (181, 182) have for example substantially L-shaped, with straight sides, but they could be made 10 S-shaped, C-shaped or other shape with a concave attachment. Referring to figure 2b, placing a second wall (100') orthogonally to a first wall (100), a septum (182) of a side (130) of said second wall (100') can be inserted into the corresponding septum (181) of the side (130) of said first wall (100). The two walls will be 15 thus orthogonally constrained to each other with their respective sides (130). The same first wall (100) can also be joined to a third wall (100'') arranged symmetrically with respect to the second wall (100'), where a septum (181) of the vertical edge (130) of said third wall (100'') will be inserted into the corresponding septum (182) of the side (130) of said first wall 20 (100). Finally, a fourth wall (100''') can be attached to the second and third wall (100', 100'') inserting its partitions (181, 182) of one side (140) in the respective partitions (182, 181) of the other walls. Overall, it will therefore be possible to bind together up to four 25 walls (100) arranged orthogonally and in a cross, i.e. all adjacent with a respective flank (130, 140). These septa (181, 182) are configured so that the coupling occurs by sliding of one septum (181, 182) into the other in a direction parallel to the flank (130, 140). 5 The edges (111, 121) of the upper and lower sides (110, 120) include coupling elements (190), in turn preferably comprising some reliefs (191) suitable for insertion into corresponding seats (192) on the opposite side. In the example shown in the figures, said upper sides (110) comprise a plurality of reliefs (191), while said lower sides (120) comprise 10 a plurality of locations (192). Preferably said reliefs (191) and said seats (192) are configured for the snap-fit ​​engagement, so as to prevent unwanted slipping. In a preferred solution, as shown in figures 5a and 6a, said reliefs (191) comprise a hollow part (193) for the insertion of a 15 corresponding tab (194) present inside said seats (192). Inside said seats (192) and / or said hollow parts (193) of the reliefs (191) there are also some serrated or corrugated parts to ensure the correct and stable coupling. In the solution shown in the figures, said reliefs (191) are for example 20 distributed on said edge (111) of the relative upper (110) or lower side alternated in two parallel rows and have said hollow parts (93) all facing towards the outside. Correspondingly, said seats (192) on the edge (121) of the side lower (120) or upper opposite are arranged alternately in two rows with said tabs (194) all arranged on the part of the seat facing outwards, for 25 to be able to hook onto said reliefs (191) of an opposite wall (100). Said hooking elements (190) on the upper and lower sides (110, 120) allow two or more of said vertical walls (100) to be superimposed, to form multi-height structures, such as shown in Figure 8. The system also comprises at least one cover or lid element 5 (200), suitable to be positioned above said vertical walls (100), to form the walking surface. As shown in figure 7, said cover (200) is also an element modular, therefore intended to be joined to other identical lids placed side by side, and has for example dimensions that serve as a complete covering for a structure 10 consisting of four of said vertical walls (100) arranged to form a parallelepiped volume, as shown in figure 1. The said lid (200) is substantially flat, with an upper face (210), that is, intended to be turned upwards, and a lower face (220), that is, intended to be facing the vertical walls (100) below. 15 Said lid (200) is preferably grilled or in any case equipped with a plurality of holes (230) to allow the passage of rainwater. On the perimeter areas (240) of the lid (200) there are also coupling elements (250), shown in more detail in figure 7a, for the union of the lid (700) with said upper sides (110) of the vertical walls 20 (100). In the example shown in figure 7 and figure 7a, on the said perimeter area (250) of said lower face (220) of the cover (200) there are some seats (251) for the insertion of said reliefs (191) of the upper sides (110) of said vertical walls (100). 25 Inside said seats (251) there are one or more tabs (252) for the snap-fit ​​in said reliefs (191). Preferably, said seats (251) of the cover (200) will be aligned with one of the two rows of reliefs (191) of the said walls (100). The modular system described above can be used to create structures 5 buried by arranging and hooking said vertical walls (100) orthogonally to each other, to form parallelepiped volumes of height equal to the height of one or more of said overlapping vertical walls (100), where the walking surface is formed by said covers (200) supported and attached to the upper sides (110) of said walls (100). 10 The configuration of the walls (100) and the lid (200) ensures the passage of rainwater and the spread of plant roots, while the rigidity of the structure obtained prevents the ground from being compacted and also makes the structure itself driveable. More specifically, the configuration of the vertical walls, also equipped with side 15 upper and vertical ribs, increases the rigidity of the structure overall achieved. Therefore, with reference to the preceding description and the enclosed tables, express the following claims.

Claims

1. Modular system for creating underground driveway structures, comprising at least one vertical wall (100), i.e. intended to be installed vertically, characterised by the fact that said vertical wall (100) comprises a lower side (120) configured to rest on the ground or on another wall, an upper side (110) configured to rest on it another wall or a cover, and two sides (130, 140) which join said upper and lower sides (110, 120), identifying a central opening (150) of any shape.

2. Modular system as per claim 1, characterised in that said wall (100), and more preferably at least said sides (130, 140), comprise a plurality of vertical ribs (170), i.e. intended to be vertical when the wall (100) is correctly installed, and any inclined ribs (180).

3. Modular system as per claim 1, characterised in that the edges (131, 141) of said sides (130, 140) of a wall (100) comprise elements for attachment (180) to the corresponding sides (130, 140) of other vertical walls (100), and where said attachment elements (180) of each side (130, 140) of said wall (100) are configured to allow attachment to the sides (130, 140) of two other walls (100) arranged orthogonally to said first wall (100).

4. Modular system as per the previous claim, characterised in that said coupling elements (180) are configured so that the coupling between two sides (130, 140) of two walls (100) occurs by sliding one coupling element (180) into the other in a direction parallel to the sides (130, 140).

5. Modular system as per previous claim, characterised in that said lateral attachment elements (180) comprise two partitions (181, 182), each comprising a concave part for attachment to a corresponding partition (181, 182) of a second wall (100).

6. Modular system as per previous claim, characterised in that said partitions (181, 182) are arranged inclined with respect to the main plane (X) identified by the wall (100).

7. Modular system as per claim 1, characterised in that the edges (111, 121) of said upper and lower sides (110, 120) of a wall (100) comprise coupling elements (190) to join said wall (100) to a second wall (100) arranged coplanar and superimposed, and where said coupling elements (190) of at least one upper or lower side (110, 120) comprise one or more reliefs (191) and / or one or more seats (192) configured so that the reliefs (191) of an upper or lower side (110, 120) of a wall (100) can be inserted into corresponding seats (192) placed on the opposite lower or upper side (120, 110) of a second wall (100).

8. Modular system as per the previous claim, characterised in that said reliefs (191) and said seats (192) are configured for snap-on engagement, so as to prevent unwanted slipping, and where one or more of said reliefs (191) comprise a hollow part (193) for the attachment of one or more tabs (194) present in at least one of said seats (192).

9. Modular system as per claim 1, characterised in that said upper side (110) has a greater height than said lower side 24 / 05 / 2024 (120).

10. Modular system as per claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises at least one covering or lid element (200), suitable to be positioned above said vertical walls (110), to constitute a walking surface, and where said lid (200) is a grilled element or in any case equipped with a plurality of holes (230) to allow the passage of rainwater.

11. Modular system as per previous claim, characterised by the fact that along the perimeter part (240) of the face (220) of said cover (200) intended to be facing said walls (100) there are seats (250) and / or reliefs for coupling with said seats and / or reliefs (191) present on the edges (111) of the upper sides (110) of said vertical walls (100).