Selective anchoring device for raised floors

Abstract

A selective anchoring device (1) for raised floor sections comprising a support (2) for a section made with two component parts (3,4) opposite each other along a line (5) transversal to the floor, a first component part (3) being suitable for joining monolithically to the section, the other part (4) being secured by a structure outside said support; joining means (6) interposed between the component parts (3,4) and switchable when controlled between two limit conditions, in one of which they join the component parts (3,4) inhibiting their mobility relative to each other longitudinal to the transversal line (5), in contrast in the second condition disjoining the component parts (3,4) allowing their independent mobility relative to each other, along the transversal line (5); actuating means (7) for the switching of the joining means (6); and control means (8) for the actuating means (7), operating at a distance from the joining means.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to construction technologies concerning the construction and installation of so-called raised floors, that is to say, of certain types of floors having covering sections which are removable when necessary in order to allow access to the underlying load-bearing building structures, or to underlying hollow spaces or service voids, whose inner space may house, for example, service systems such as: electrical, heating, plumbing systems, etc. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In order to make the load-bearing structure or the hollow space accessible for inspection and / or maintenance of such systems, said raised floors are built in such a way as to make the treadable floor sections, or their component parts, easily and rapidly removable, then equally easily and rapidly returnable to their initial positions when such activities have finished.

[0003] In the prior art, such results are obtained by means of special supports which, appropriately distributed above the structural floor, support the floor sections in a condition in which they simply rest vertically and are simply positioned side by side. Such constraining conditions are sufficient, in general, to allow the normal creation of the treadable surface of the floor and, at the same time, to keep the floor composition configuration stable.

[0004] However, given the typical one-sidedness of the static reactions of the simple constraints of vertical resting and of lateral holding only guaranteed by the geometric coupling of positioning side by side, when such floors are exposed to the action of the wind, as often happens when they are outside homes, often the weight of the tiles is not enough to oppose the lifting actions caused by the dynamic pressure increases and drops in the mass of air moved by the wind.

[0005] For this reason, where conditions are favourable, for example thanks to particularly intense and / or relatively long-lasting weather events, it is possible that the floor could break up, first locally and then, once started, gradually spreading and lead to the break up of increasingly large areas of floor, with all of the related negative consequences.

[0006] In order to tackle such disadvantages, the prior art securely anchors raised floor sections to the underlying structural support by making grips and hooks which can engage with each other, suitable for rendering the floor constrained and statically operating in conjunction with the underlying building structure, and for making them disengageable when said sections must be removed.

[0007] In order to do that, in use, in the floor sections, or individual tiles of which they are made up, seats or recesses are made, in which to hook the constraining elements.

[0008] Such a way of proceeding is not without disadvantages.

[0009] In fact, above all if the tiles are made of ceramic or similar materials, which are quite hard and fragile, material removal to make the hooking seats in the tiles is a laborious and lengthy operation, accompanied by producing intense ambient noise and large amounts of fine dust which is dispersed in the surrounding air, polluting it, and which in the absence of adequate preventive protective covering of surrounding objects contaminates everything around the place where the preparatory working is carried out.

[0010] Moreover, given the fragility of such construction materials, the preparatory working often also produces working waste due to breakage of some tiles, with a negative impact on production costs for such types of floor.

[0011] According to another known art, described for example in documents WO 2018 / 044158 and / or EP 3967830, the floating floor is equipped with supports for partitions of floor tiles to which are associated means of junction designed to be switchable between two limit conditions, in correspondence with one of which the anchoring constraint is implemented, in the other, instead, the release of the floor tiles.

[0012] The jointing means are placed in the external and underlying physical space of two flat layers of support components, which are vertically overlapping each other.

[0013] A flat layer of components comprises a series of side-by-side planes, designed for bonding to the tile support of the floor partition.

[0014] The other flat layer consists of a single support plate, which collectively supports both the adhesion planes side by side and the tiles of the floor partition associated with them.Disclosure of invention

[0015] The aim of this invention is therefore to prevent the drawbacks of the known technique by devising special anchoring devices to which the floating floor partitions can be tied or released, without the need to carry out any preparatory work.

[0016] According to the invention that result is achieved by a selective anchoring device for raised floor sections, made according to the invention, whose technical features are defined by the accompanying claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Further technical features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of several example, non-limiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective overall view of a first embodiment of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a view of the invention of FIG. 1, shown in an operating configuration and with an operating and switching tool applied to it;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a view of the invention of FIG. 1, shown in an operating configuration, alternative to that of FIG. 2;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the invention of the preceding figures;

[0022] FIG. 5 is an overall view of the invention broken down into some of its component parts and seen from a first viewpoint;

[0023] FIG. 6 is an overall view of the broken down invention of FIG. 5, seen from a different viewpoint;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective and exploded overall view of a second embodiment of the invention, shown in a first operating configuration;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective and exploded overall view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 7, shown with the addition of an operating tool applied to it;

[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective and exploded overall view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 7, shown with in a second operating configuration;

[0027] FIGS. 10 and 11 are overall views of the invention of FIG. 9, assembled and shown in the above-mentioned two operating configurations;

[0028] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a part of the invention of FIGS. 7-11, overturned to better illustrate some of its details;

[0029] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective overall view of the invention of FIG. 7 shown with some parts removed to better illustrate others;

[0030] FIGS. 14 and 15 are, respectively, a side overall view, and an exploded view of a further embodiment of the invention;

[0031] FIGS. 16 and 17 are overall views of the invention seen from the side and from the top, and enlarged to better highlight some of their details;

[0032] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the third variant of FIG. 15, shown with some parts removed to better illustrate others;

[0033] FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views of the third variant, with the addition of a further component element.PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0034] With reference to the accompanying drawings, in FIG. 1 the numeral 1 identifies a selective anchoring device for raised floor sections, where the term section means one or more tiles, for example, with complementary geometric shapes, drawn near each other side by side to give suitable cover to the treadable surface of the floor.

[0035] The device (1) essentially comprises a support, identified as a whole with (2), made with at least two component parts (3,4), opposite each other along a line (5) transversal to the floor; and comprising joining means (6), interposed between the component parts (3,4), which are switchable when appropriately controlled; actuating means (7) for the switching of said joining means (6); and control means (8) for the actuating means (7), placed at a distance from the joining means (6).

[0036] The first component part (3) of the support (2) is shown as a composite head, indicated by (36) as a whole, which in the example in the description comprises: four three-sided plates (9), with mixtilinear outline, which are coplanar, side by side separated from each other by a predetermined distance and provided with vertices (13) all oriented pointing towards said line (5) transversal to the floor; and a disk-shaped circular plate (10), opposite the three-sided plates (9), along the transversal line (5), which is provided with recessed seats (24) which are distributed around the line (5) and which are shaped to receive and to surround supporting bases (14) of the three-sided plates (9).

[0037] The second component part (4) of the support (8) substantially comprises a disk-shaped base (16), suitable for supporting the support (2), as well as providing a contact surface for it; the base (16) is secured by a load-bearing structure, outside the device (1), and as such not shown, since it is not part of the invention.

[0038] More specifically, the plates (9 and 10) are parallel to the treadable surface of the raised floor.

[0039] As seen in FIG. 1, the three-sided plates (9) form a low and wide geometric solid, substantially shaped like a three-dimensional segment, preferably cylindrical.

[0040] The three-dimensional segment defining one of said three-sided plates (9) has base surfaces (14) with an essentially mixtilinear triangular outline, with the vertex (13) radiused at the tip, and is provided with an inner cavity (12), placed near the vertex (13) and interposed between the thicknesses of the base surfaces (14), upper and lower of each three-sided plate (9).

[0041] The inner cavity (12) of the segment is accessible from the outside towards the inside, and vice versa, directly through an angular window (11), positioned in two transversal planes, orthogonal to each other, of the segment-shaped solid.

[0042] The above-mentioned joining means (6) are devised to be able to operate between two limit conditions: in a first of which they join the three-sided plates (9) and the disk-shaped plate (10) of the head (36) of the support (2) inhibiting at least their longitudinal mobility relative to each other, in the two directions along the transversal line (5); in contrast in the second condition they disjoin said plates (9,10) allowing their independent and autonomous mobility relative to each other.

[0043] To provide those functions, the device (1) comprises four bolts (15), one for each three-dimensional segment, which are made in a single body and are movable in a guide between two limit conditions defined above.

[0044] In the first of those limit conditions, each bolt (15) is engaged in a corresponding cavity (12) of a three-dimensional segment, in such a way as to render the plates (9,10) interconnected and constrained to each other, in a condition in which they are immobile relative to each other in the two directions along the transversal line (5).

[0045] In the second limit condition, each bolt (15) is in contrast disengaged from the cavity (12) of the segment, with the plates (9,10) of the support (2) disjoined and physically separable from each.

[0046] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6, the bolts (15) are four radial arms of a rotatable pin (17), which is centred and coaxial with the transversal line (5), and borne by the base (16) near the vertices (13) of the three-dimensional segments.

[0047] The pin (17) is provided with a hexagonal seat (18), in which a hexagonal rod (20) shaped to match it belonging to a tool (21) of the control means (8) can engage.

[0048] A comparison of FIGS. 1-6 also reveals that the base (16) bears, cantilever-style and projecting parallel to the transversal line (5), blocks (19) which pass through gaps between the three-sided plates (9), and which extend to and go beyond the top of the first component part (3) (the head 36) of the support (2).

[0049] Those blocks (19), which are aligned in pairs along diameters of the support (2), form stops: for longitudinal alignment, for transversal orthogonality, as well as for forming the so-called "joint lines", of four tiles of the raised floor section affected by the support (2).

[0050] It should be noticed that once the tiles of the section are positioned: above the plates (9), in contact with and having edges located against the alignment blocks (19) and glued to the plates (9), the seat (18) remaining contained in the dimensions of the tile "joint lines", can always be reached by the operating tool (21), so that selection between the joining and disjoining conditions for the plates (9,10;16) can be directly activated from the extrados treadable surface of the floor, that is to say, from a location at a distance from the location where the joining means (7) are located.

[0051] Pegs (22) and slots (23) shaped to match them, made on opposite faces of the plates (9,10;16), and appropriately aligned, allow the correct positioning and orientation of the plates (9,10;16) themselves.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a second, alternative embodiment of the invention.

[0053] Identical or equivalent parts and further variants described below will keep the reference numbers unchanged and for brevity identical or equivalent properties of the various embodiments will not be described further, this description continuing by focusing mainly on the differences of each specific variant.

[0054] That having been said, it should be noticed that, in this second, alternative embodiment, the support (2) has the three-sided plates (9) with top base surfaces (14) having the shape of a three-sided circular sector, each preferably provided with a cylindrical, circular shallow recess (25), substantially barycentric to the base surface (14), which is intended to contain the structural adhesive which is provided for creating the permanent join with which each three-sided plate (9) is connected to a corresponding tile of the floor section.

[0055] Regarding the cavities (12) of the three-dimensional plates (9), which are segment-shaped, it should be noticed from FIGS. 7 to 9, that said cavities (12), starting from near the vertices (13), extend to the periphery of the relative three-sided, three-dimensional segments, where they widen to a maximum width which is reached at the circumferential outline of the segments themselves.

[0056] The disk-shaped plate (10) is associated - in this solution - with an underlying base (16) which is separate from the disk-shaped plate (10) itself.

[0057] The plate (10) bears, in particular, diametral, prismatic through slots (26) (see FIG. 8), which define linear guides in which the respective bolt (15) is engaged in such a way that it can translatably and longitudinally slide.

[0058] The bolt (15) is provided with a slider (27) with prismatic body (28) which: engages in the linear slots (26); passes through the thickness of the disk-shaped plate (10); and bears, at a base end, a shoe (29) and, at a top end, a tab (30)(FIG. 9).

[0059] Whilst the shoe (29) remains constantly confined and retained between the base (16) of the support (2) and the disk-shaped plate (10), the tab (30) of the slider (27) is capable of releasing itself from the inner cavity (12) of the three-sided plates (9) when it is near the periphery of the plates (9,10) and longitudinal to the transversal line (5) (as shown in FIG. 8), said tab (30) in contrast remains retained and constrained - although slidably - in the cavity (12) and between the bases (14), when, vice versa, it is near the vertex (13) (as shown in FIG. 9).

[0060] In that way, when the slider (27) is moved forward as far as a position proximal to the line (5) transversal to the floor in which the tab (30) of the slider (27) is inserted in the cavity (12), the bolt (15) is in an engaged condition connected to the plates (9,10) which are consequently integrally interconnected and constrained to each other; in contrast, when the slider (9) is in position proximal to the outline of the plates (9), the plates (9,10) are disjoined and, in terms of relative immobility, independent of and autonomous from each other.

[0061] These two limit conditions, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, that is to say, with the support (2) configured, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, are obtained by means of a transducer mechanism which is capable of kinematically correlating the rotary motion of a pin (31) - coaxial with and rotatable around the line (5) - with a linear, reciprocating movement of the sliders (27) along the above-mentioned slots (26).

[0062] The rotating movement causing the reciprocating linear movement of the bolts (15) may be applied to the pin (31) using a rod (37) of a tool (21), as shown in FIG. 10.

[0063] More specifically (see FIGS. 12 and 13) the pin (31) is integral with the base (16); the base (16) in turn bearing four slots (41) having the shape of as many arcs of a spiral.

[0064] Each bolt (15) is provided with a peg (40) which engages in the slots (41) which have the shape of an arc of a spiral.

[0065] When the pin (31) is controlled to rotate on itself around the transversal line (5), in one of the two directions of rotation it causes the base (16) to rotate as one with it, where said rotation, moving the slots (41) having the shape of arcs of a spiral and transmitting through the pegs (40), moves all of the bolts (15) which, with synchronised translation move towards the vertices (13) of the three-sided plates (9), that is to say, towards the centre of the disk-shaped plate (10).

[0066] In contrast, in the opposite direction of rotation, all of the bolts (15) move away from the centre of the disk-shaped plate (10) with synchronised translation which brings them towards the periphery of the disk-shaped plate (10).

[0067] FIG. 14 shows a third, alternative embodiment, of the invention which shows a support (2) in which the head (36), can be orientated, around the transversal line (5), relative to the base (16), which should be considered fixed or in any case immobile.

[0068] In fact, FIG. 15 shows that located between the head (36) and the base (16) there are a pin (32) and a support (33), both cylindrical, shaped to match and joined to each other, as well as a spherical thrust bearing (34).

[0069] The bolt (15), of the translatable type, is engaged in a condition of reciprocating translation along a cylindrical guide (35), radial to the support (2), said bolt (15) has a slider (27) with an elongate prismatic body (28) and with a top tab (30), have a semi-circular shape in plan view. A base shoe (29), elongate along a line radial to the support (2) converges towards the transversal line (5) of the support.

[0070] The tab (30) is inserted in an elongate cavity (12) which extends substantially along the centre line of the three-sided plate (9).

[0071] The cavity (12) has a constant rectangular cross-section.

[0072] The shoe (29) has a cylindrical shape and is slidable in translation along an equally cylindrical guide (35) borne by the disk-shaped plate (10).

[0073] As can be inferred by comparing FIGS. 14 and 15, the cavity (12) of the three-sided plates (9) has no width variations along its longitudinal extent, therefore the interconnection between the three-sided plates (9) and the disk-shaped plate (10), beneath them, is preserved as long as the tab (30) of the shoe (29) is kept in the cavity (12).

[0074] In contrast, the three-sided plates (9) and the disk-shaped plate (10) of the support (2) are released from each other as a result of the tab (30) coming out of the lateral surface at the outline of the plates (9 and 10), as is clearly shown in FIG. 17; that is to say, unlike what happens, for example, in the solution of FIG. 7, in which the tab (30) and the shoe (29) remain constantly confined inside the circumferential outlines of the corresponding plates (9,10).

[0075] The outside release advantageously allows smaller diametral overall dimensions of the head (36) leading to further advantages, in terms of plastic material required for production of the heads (36) of the supports (2) and lower costs for moulds for making these manufactured articles.

[0076] As a result of those smaller overall dimensions and smaller dimensions of the inner cavities (12), all other conditions being equal, it is also possible to create two shallow recesses (25) for each three-sided plate (9), thereby doubling the areas for application of the adhesive and, proportionally, the effectiveness of adhesion of the support (2) to the floor tiles.

[0077] Moreover, it should be noticed that the support (2) has a very rigid structure which allows on one hand the supporting of greater loads weighing on the floor and, on the other a high level of overall non-deformability which guarantees lasting correct operation over time even after many cycles engaging and disengaging the three-sided plates (9) and the disk-shaped plates (10).

[0078] FIG. 18 in comparison with the other figures of this third solution makes the above-mentioned properties very clear.

[0079] FIGS. 19 and 20 show that the support (2) may also comprise a further component part (39) consisting of a cylindrical, vertical column upright (38), interposed between the head (36) and the base (16) of the support (2).

[0080] Between the vertical upright (38) and the base (16) there is a male - female screw helical pair which allows vertical, height adjustment of the support (2).

[0081] A single operating tool (21) provided with a rod (37), with two positions, allows independent and selective execution of both the height adjustment of the support (2), and the interconnection and release of the relative plates (9,10).

[0082] In fact, the tool (21), when applied with the rod (37) fully inserted along the transversal line (5) (as shown in FIG. 19) allows an inner seat to be reached in which the rod (37) can engage in a way suitable for activating the rotation of the upright (38) relative to the base (16) and varying the overall height of the support (2).

[0083] In contrast, when the tool (21) is used with the rod (37) further out (as shown in FIG. 20), operating that tool allows activation and deactivation of the bolts (15) as is necessary to interconnect, joining or disjoining as required, the plates (9,10) respectively three-sided and disk-shaped of the head (36).

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0034]With reference to the accompanying drawings, in FIG. 1 the numeral 1 identifies a selective anchoring device for raised floor sections, where the term section means one or more tiles, for example, with complementary geometric shapes, drawn near each other side by side to give suitable cover to the treadable surface of the floor.

[0035]The device (1) essentially comprises a support, identified as a whole with (2), made with at least two component parts (3,4), opposite each other along a line (5) transversal to the floor; and comprising joining means (6), interposed between the component parts (3,4), which are switchable when appropriately controlled; actuating means (7) for the switching of said joining means (6); and control means (8) for the actuating means (7), placed at a distance from the joining means (6).

[0036]The first component part (3) of the support (2) is shown as a composite head, indicated by (36) as a whole, which in the example in the description comprises: four ...

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to construction technologies concerning the construction and installation of so-called raised floors, that is to say, of certain types of floors having covering sections which are removable when necessary in order to allow access to the underlying load-bearing building structures, or to underlying hollow spaces or service voids, whose inner space may house, for example, service systems such as: electrical, heating, plumbing systems, etc. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In order to make the load-bearing structure or the hollow space accessible for inspection and / or maintenance of such systems, said raised floors are built in such a way as to make the treadable floor sections, or their component parts, easily and rapidly removable, then equally easily and rapidly returnable to their initial positions when such activities have finished.

[0003] In the prior art, such results are obtained by means of special supports which, appropriately distributed above the structural floor, support the floor sections in a condition in which they simply rest vertically and are simply positioned side by side. Such constraining conditions are sufficient, in general, to allow the normal creation of the treadable surface of the floor and, at the same time, to keep the floor composition configuration stable.

[0004] However, given the typical one-sidedness of the static reactions of the simple constraints of vertical resting and of lateral holding only guaranteed by the geometric coupling of positioning side by side, when such floors are exposed to the action of the wind, as often happens when they are outside homes, often the weight of the tiles is not enough to oppose the lifting actions caused by the dynamic pressure increases and drops in the mass of air moved by the wind.

[0005] For this reason, where conditions are favourable, for example thanks to particularly intense and / or relatively long-lasting weather events, it is possible that the floor could break up, first locally and then, once started, gradually spreading and lead to the break up of increasingly large areas of floor, with all of the related negative consequences.

[0006] In order to tackle such disadvantages, the prior art securely anchors raised floor sections to the underlying structural support by making grips and hooks which can engage with each other, suitable for rendering the floor constrained and statically operating in conjunction with the underlying building structure, and for making them disengageable when said sections must be removed.

[0007] In order to do that, in use, in the floor sections, or individual tiles of which they are made up, seats or recesses are made, in which to hook the constraining elements.

[0008] Such a way of proceeding is not without disadvantages.

[0009] In fact, above all if the tiles are made of ceramic or similar materials, which are quite hard and fragile, material removal to make the hooking seats in the tiles is a laborious and lengthy operation, accompanied by producing intense ambient noise and large amounts of fine dust which is dispersed in the surrounding air, polluting it, and which in the absence of adequate preventive protective covering of surrounding objects contaminates everything around the place where the preparatory working is carried out.

[0010] Moreover, given the fragility of such construction materials, the preparatory working often also produces working waste due to breakage of some tiles, with a negative impact on production costs for such types of floor.

[0011] According to another known art, described for example in documents WO 2018 / 044158 and / or EP 3967830, the floating floor is equipped with supports for partitions of floor tiles to which are associated means of junction designed to be switchable between two limit conditions, in correspondence with one of which the anchoring constraint is implemented, in the other, instead, the release of the floor tiles.

[0012] The jointing means are placed in the external and underlying physical space of two flat layers of support components, which are vertically overlapping each other.

[0013] A flat layer of components comprises a series of side-by-side planes, designed for bonding to the tile support of the floor partition.

[0014] The other flat layer consists of a single support plate, which collectively supports both the adhesion planes side by side and the tiles of the floor partition associated with them.Disclosure of invention

[0015] The aim of this invention is therefore to prevent the drawbacks of the known technique by devising special anchoring devices to which the floating floor partitions can be tied or released, without the need to carry out any preparatory work.

[0016] According to the invention that result is achieved by a selective anchoring device for raised floor sections, made according to the invention, whose technical features are defined by the accompanying claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Further technical features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of several example, non-limiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective overall view of a first embodiment of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a view of the invention of FIG. 1, shown in an operating configuration and with an operating and switching tool applied to it;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a view of the invention of FIG. 1, shown in an operating configuration, alternative to that of FIG. 2;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the invention of the preceding figures;

[0022] FIG. 5 is an overall view of the invention broken down into some of its component parts and seen from a first viewpoint;

[0023] FIG. 6 is an overall view of the broken down invention of FIG. 5, seen from a different viewpoint;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective and exploded overall view of a second embodiment of the invention, shown in a first operating configuration;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective and exploded overall view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 7, shown with the addition of an operating tool applied to it;

[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective and exploded overall view of the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 7, shown with in a second operating configuration;

[0027] FIGS. 10 and 11 are overall views of the invention of FIG. 9, assembled and shown in the above-mentioned two operating configurations;

[0028] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a part of the invention of FIGS. 7-11, overturned to better illustrate some of its details;

[0029] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective overall view of the invention of FIG. 7 shown with some parts removed to better illustrate others;

[0030] FIGS. 14 and 15 are, respectively, a side overall view, and an exploded view of a further embodiment of the invention;

[0031] FIGS. 16 and 17 are overall views of the invention seen from the side and from the top, and enlarged to better highlight some of their details;

[0032] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the third variant of FIG. 15, shown with some parts removed to better illustrate others;

[0033] FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views of the third variant, with the addition of a further component element.PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0034] With reference to the accompanying drawings, in FIG. 1 the numeral 1 identifies a selective anchoring device for raised floor sections, where the term section means one or more tiles, for example, with complementary geometric shapes, drawn near each other side by side to give suitable cover to the treadable surface of the floor.

[0035] The device (1) essentially comprises a support, identified as a whole with (2), made with at least two component parts (3,4), opposite each other along a line (5) transversal to the floor; and comprising joining means (6), interposed between the component parts (3,4), which are switchable when appropriately controlled; actuating means (7) for the switching of said joining means (6); and control means (8) for the actuating means (7), placed at a distance from the joining means (6).

[0036] The first component part (3) of the support (2) is shown as a composite head, indicated by (36) as a whole, which in the example in the description comprises: four three-sided plates (9), with mixtilinear outline, which are coplanar, side by side separated from each other by a predetermined distance and provided with vertices (13) all oriented pointing towards said line (5) transversal to the floor; and a disk-shaped circular plate (10), opposite the three-sided plates (9), along the transversal line (5), which is provided with recessed seats (24) which are distributed around the line (5) and which are shaped to receive and to surround supporting bases (14) of the three-sided plates (9).

[0037] The second component part (4) of the support (8) substantially comprises a disk-shaped base (16), suitable for supporting the support (2), as well as providing a contact surface for it; the base (16) is secured by a load-bearing structure, outside the device (1), and as such not shown, since it is not part of the invention.

[0038] More specifically, the plates (9 and 10) are parallel to the treadable surface of the raised floor.

[0039] As seen in FIG. 1, the three-sided plates (9) form a low and wide geometric solid, substantially shaped like a three-dimensional segment, preferably cylindrical.

[0040] The three-dimensional segment defining one of said three-sided plates (9) has base surfaces (14) with an essentially mixtilinear triangular outline, with the vertex (13) radiused at the tip, and is provided with an inner cavity (12), placed near the vertex (13) and interposed between the thicknesses of the base surfaces (14), upper and lower of each three-sided plate (9).

[0041] The inner cavity (12) of the segment is accessible from the outside towards the inside, and vice versa, directly through an angular window (11), positioned in two transversal planes, orthogonal to each other, of the segment-shaped solid.

[0042] The above-mentioned joining means (6) are devised to be able to operate between two limit conditions: in a first of which they join the three-sided plates (9) and the disk-shaped plate (10) of the head (36) of the support (2) inhibiting at least their longitudinal mobility relative to each other, in the two directions along the transversal line (5); in contrast in the second condition they disjoin said plates (9,10) allowing their independent and autonomous mobility relative to each other.

[0043] To provide those functions, the device (1) comprises four bolts (15), one for each three-dimensional segment, which are made in a single body and are movable in a guide between two limit conditions defined above.

[0044] In the first of those limit conditions, each bolt (15) is engaged in a corresponding cavity (12) of a three-dimensional segment, in such a way as to render the plates (9,10) interconnected and constrained to each other, in a condition in which they are immobile relative to each other in the two directions along the transversal line (5).

[0045] In the second limit condition, each bolt (15) is in contrast disengaged from the cavity (12) of the segment, with the plates (9,10) of the support (2) disjoined and physically separable from each.

[0046] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6, the bolts (15) are four radial arms of a rotatable pin (17), which is centred and coaxial with the transversal line (5), and borne by the base (16) near the vertices (13) of the three-dimensional segments.

[0047] The pin (17) is provided with a hexagonal seat (18), in which a hexagonal rod (20) shaped to match it belonging to a tool (21) of the control means (8) can engage.

[0048] A comparison of FIGS. 1-6 also reveals that the base (16) bears, cantilever-style and projecting parallel to the transversal line (5), blocks (19) which pass through gaps between the three-sided plates (9), and which extend to and go beyond the top of the first component part (3) (the head 36) of the support (2).

[0049] Those blocks (19), which are aligned in pairs along diameters of the support (2), form stops: for longitudinal alignment, for transversal orthogonality, as well as for forming the so-called "joint lines", of four tiles of the raised floor section affected by the support (2).

[0050] It should be noticed that once the tiles of the section are positioned: above the plates (9), in contact with and having edges located against the alignment blocks (19) and glued to the plates (9), the seat (18) remaining contained in the dimensions of the tile "joint lines", can always be reached by the operating tool (21), so that selection between the joining and disjoining conditions for the plates (9,10;16) can be directly activated from the extrados treadable surface of the floor, that is to say, from a location at a distance from the location where the joining means (7) are located.

[0051] Pegs (22) and slots (23) shaped to match them, made on opposite faces of the plates (9,10;16), and appropriately aligned, allow the correct positioning and orientation of the plates (9,10;16) themselves.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a second, alternative embodiment of the invention.

[0053] Identical or equivalent parts and further variants described below will keep the reference numbers unchanged and for brevity identical or equivalent properties of the various embodiments will not be described further, this description continuing by focusing mainly on the differences of each specific variant.

[0054] That having been said, it should be noticed that, in this second, alternative embodiment, the support (2) has the three-sided plates (9) with top base surfaces (14) having the shape of a three-sided circular sector, each preferably provided with a cylindrical, circular shallow recess (25), substantially barycentric to the base surface (14), which is intended to contain the structural adhesive which is provided for creating the permanent join with which each three-sided plate (9) is connected to a corresponding tile of the floor section.

[0055] Regarding the cavities (12) of the three-dimensional plates (9), which are segment-shaped, it should be noticed from FIGS. 7 to 9, that said cavities (12), starting from near the vertices (13), extend to the periphery of the relative three-sided, three-dimensional segments, where they widen to a maximum width which is reached at the circumferential outline of the segments themselves.

[0056] The disk-shaped plate (10) is associated - in this solution - with an underlying base (16) which is separate from the disk-shaped plate (10) itself.

[0057] The plate (10) bears, in particular, diametral, prismatic through slots (26) (see FIG. 8), which define linear guides in which the respective bolt (15) is engaged in such a way that it can translatably and longitudinally slide.

[0058] The bolt (15) is provided with a slider (27) with prismatic body (28) which: engages in the linear slots (26); passes through the thickness of the disk-shaped plate (10); and bears, at a base end, a shoe (29) and, at a top end, a tab (30)(FIG. 9).

[0059] Whilst the shoe (29) remains constantly confined and retained between the base (16) of the support (2) and the disk-shaped plate (10), the tab (30) of the slider (27) is capable of releasing itself from the inner cavity (12) of the three-sided plates (9) when it is near the periphery of the plates (9,10) and longitudinal to the transversal line (5) (as shown in FIG. 8), said tab (30) in contrast remains retained and constrained - although slidably - in the cavity (12) and between the bases (14), when, vice versa, it is near the vertex (13) (as shown in FIG. 9).

[0060] In that way, when the slider (27) is moved forward as far as a position proximal to the line (5) transversal to the floor in which the tab (30) of the slider (27) is inserted in the cavity (12), the bolt (15) is in an engaged condition connected to the plates (9,10) which are consequently integrally interconnected and constrained to each other; in contrast, when the slider (9) is in position proximal to the outline of the plates (9), the plates (9,10) are disjoined and, in terms of relative immobility, independent of and autonomous from each other.

[0061] These two limit conditions, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, that is to say, with the support (2) configured, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, are obtained by means of a transducer mechanism which is capable of kinematically correlating the rotary motion of a pin (31) - coaxial with and rotatable around the line (5) - with a linear, reciprocating movement of the sliders (27) along the above-mentioned slots (26).

[0062] The rotating movement causing the reciprocating linear movement of the bolts (15) may be applied to the pin (31) using a rod (37) of a tool (21), as shown in FIG. 10.

[0063] More specifically (see FIGS. 12 and 13) the pin (31) is integral with the base (16); the base (16) in turn bearing four slots (41) having the shape of as many arcs of a spiral.

[0064] Each bolt (15) is provided with a peg (40) which engages in the slots (41) which have the shape of an arc of a spiral.

[0065] When the pin (31) is controlled to rotate on itself around the transversal line (5), in one of the two directions of rotation it causes the base (16) to rotate as one with it, where said rotation, moving the slots (41) having the shape of arcs of a spiral and transmitting through the pegs (40), moves all of the bolts (15) which, with synchronised translation move towards the vertices (13) of the three-sided plates (9), that is to say, towards the centre of the disk-shaped plate (10).

[0066] In contrast, in the opposite direction of rotation, all of the bolts (15) move away from the centre of the disk-shaped plate (10) with synchronised translation which brings them towards the periphery of the disk-shaped plate (10).

[0067] FIG. 14 shows a third, alternative embodiment, of the invention which shows a support (2) in which the head (36), can be orientated, around the transversal line (5), relative to the base (16), which should be considered fixed or in any case immobile.

[0068] In fact, FIG. 15 shows that located between the head (36) and the base (16) there are a pin (32) and a support (33), both cylindrical, shaped to match and joined to each other, as well as a spherical thrust bearing (34).

[0069] The bolt (15), of the translatable type, is engaged in a condition of reciprocating translation along a cylindrical guide (35), radial to the support (2), said bolt (15) has a slider (27) with an elongate prismatic body (28) and with a top tab (30), have a semi-circular shape in plan view. A base shoe (29), elongate along a line radial to the support (2) converges towards the transversal line (5) of the support.

[0070] The tab (30) is inserted in an elongate cavity (12) which extends substantially along the centre line of the three-sided plate (9).

[0071] The cavity (12) has a constant rectangular cross-section.

[0072] The shoe (29) has a cylindrical shape and is slidable in translation along an equally cylindrical guide (35) borne by the disk-shaped plate (10).

[0073] As can be inferred by comparing FIGS. 14 and 15, the cavity (12) of the three-sided plates (9) has no width variations along its longitudinal extent, therefore the interconnection between the three-sided plates (9) and the disk-shaped plate (10), beneath them, is preserved as long as the tab (30) of the shoe (29) is kept in the cavity (12).

[0074] In contrast, the three-sided plates (9) and the disk-shaped plate (10) of the support (2) are released from each other as a result of the tab (30) coming out of the lateral surface at the outline of the plates (9 and 10), as is clearly shown in FIG. 17; that is to say, unlike what happens, for example, in the solution of FIG. 7, in which the tab (30) and the shoe (29) remain constantly confined inside the circumferential outlines of the corresponding plates (9,10).

[0075] The outside release advantageously allows smaller diametral overall dimensions of the head (36) leading to further advantages, in terms of plastic material required for production of the heads (36) of the supports (2) and lower costs for moulds for making these manufactured articles.

[0076] As a result of those smaller overall dimensions and smaller dimensions of the inner cavities (12), all other conditions being equal, it is also possible to create two shallow recesses (25) for each three-sided plate (9), thereby doubling the areas for application of the adhesive and, proportionally, the effectiveness of adhesion of the support (2) to the floor tiles.

[0077] Moreover, it should be noticed that the support (2) has a very rigid structure which allows on one hand the supporting of greater loads weighing on the floor and, on the other a high level of overall non-deformability which guarantees lasting correct operation over time even after many cycles engaging and disengaging the three-sided plates (9) and the disk-shaped plates (10).

[0078] FIG. 18 in comparison with the other figures of this third solution makes the above-mentioned properties very clear.

[0079] FIGS. 19 and 20 show that the support (2) may also comprise a further component part (39) consisting of a cylindrical, vertical column upright (38), interposed between the head (36) and the base (16) of the support (2).

[0080] Between the vertical upright (38) and the base (16) there is a male - female screw helical pair which allows vertical, height adjustment of the support (2).

[0081] A single operating tool (21) provided with a rod (37), with two positions, allows independent and selective execution of both the height adjustment of the support (2), and the interconnection and release of the relative plates (9,10).

[0082] In fact, the tool (21), when applied with the rod (37) fully inserted along the transversal line (5) (as shown in FIG. 19) allows an inner seat to be reached in which the rod (37) can engage in a way suitable for activating the rotation of the upright (38) relative to the base (16) and varying the overall height of the support (2).

[0083] In contrast, when the tool (21) is used with the rod (37) further out (as shown in FIG. 20), operating that tool allows activation and deactivation of the bolts (15) as is necessary to interconnect, joining or disjoining as required, the plates (9,10) respectively three-sided and disk-shaped of the head (36).

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0034]With reference to the accompanying drawings, in FIG. 1 the numeral 1 identifies a selective anchoring device for raised floor sections, where the term section means one or more tiles, for example, with complementary geometric shapes, drawn near each other side by side to give suitable cover to the treadable surface of the floor.

[0035]The device (1) essentially comprises a support, identified as a whole with (2), made with at least two component parts (3,4), opposite each other along a line (5) transversal to the floor; and comprising joining means (6), interposed between the component parts (3,4), which are switchable when appropriately controlled; actuating means (7) for the switching of said joining means (6); and control means (8) for the actuating means (7), placed at a distance from the joining means (6).

[0036]The first component part (3) of the support (2) is shown as a composite head, indicated by (36) as a whole, which in the example in the description comprises: four ...

Claims

1. Selective anchoring device for raised floor sections formed by tiles placed side by side with the formation of interposed joints comprising: at least one support (2) for at least one said section made with at least two component parts (3, 4) opposite each other along a line (5) transversal to the floor, a first component part (3) of the support (2) being suitable for joining monolithically to said at least one section, the other part (4) being secured by a structure outside said support; said component parts (3, 4) comprising plates (9, 10) opposite each other, oriented parallel to the floor plane, one (9) of which includes a combination of geometric solids with vertices (13) converging towards said transversal direction (5) and suitable for supporting a said floor partition;joining means (6) associated with these component parts (3, 4) and switchable when appropriately controlled between two limit conditions;actuating means (7) for the switching of said joining means (6); and control means (8) for the actuating means (7), operating at a distance from the joining means (6); the device is being characterized in thatsaid joining means (6) are interposed between the plates (9, 10), said geometric solids having the shape of a three-dimensional, cylindrical segment, with parallel base surfaces (14) of a trilateral mixtilinear shape, surrounded by lateral sides oriented transversely to the walking surface of the floor, said three-dimensional segments having their vertices (13) off-center with respect to said transversal direction (5) in such a way as to implement, with its sides, side banks of said joints;and in that said joining means (6) comprisesat least one cavity (12) inside a said three-dimensional segment, located between said base surfaces (14) and located near the top opening of the joints, the sides of said geometric solid being provided with at least one window (11) oriented orthogonally to the walking surface and suitable for giving access to the internal cavity (12); andat least one bolt (15), which is movable horizontally between said limit conditions in the first of which is engaged in the cavity (12) traversing said at least one window (11), with said plates (9, 10) correspondingly interconnected and constrained to each other at least in the two directions along said transversal line (5) joining these component parts (3, 4) and inhibiting at least their relative longitudinal mobility along said transversal direction (5); in the second limit condition, said bolt (15) being instead disengaged from the cavity (12) of said geometric solid, and located inside a said joint with said component parts (3, 4) of the support (2) disjoined and separable from each other.

2. The selective anchoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes two said windows (11) defining in combination an overall angular shape converging towards said vertex (13) of the geometric solid.

3. The selective anchoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that said joining means comprise a pin (17) which rotates around said transversal direction (5), bearing at one end at least a radial arm accommodating that bolt (15) and, at another end, a seat (18) of the control means (8), which is located essentially at the top of a said joint.

4. The selective anchoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one bolt (15) comprises a slider (27) translatable back and forth in a guide (26, 35) on said plates (9, 10), between said limit conditions, in the first of which said slider (27) is moved forward as far as a position proximal to said transversal line (5) in which a tab (30) of the slider (27) is inserted in said cavity (12) engaging to join said plates (9, 10), in the second limit condition said slider (27) being distal from said transversal line (5) with said tab (30) in a condition disengaged from said cavity (12), in which the component parts (3, 4) of said support are disjoined from each other.

5. The selective anchoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that the limit position of said slider (27) proximal to the outline of said plates (9, 10) is located inside the outline of said plates (9, 10).

6. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the limit position of said slider (27) proximal to the outline of said plates (9, 10) is located outside the outline of said plates (9, 10).

7. The selective anchoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that said one or each bolt (15) comprises a body (28) translatable in a guide (26, 35) between said limit conditions.

8. The selective anchoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that said one or each bolt (15) comprises a shoe (29) translatable in a guide (26, 35) between said limit conditions.

9. The selective anchoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that said one or each bolt (15) is provided with a tab (30) movable inside said cavity (12).

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuating means (7) for the switching of said joining means (6) comprise a transducer mechanism for the rotary motion of a pin (17) coaxial with said line (5) transversal to the floor, moved for engagement and, vice versa disengagement of said at least one bolt (15) relative to said inner cavity (12).

11. The selective anchoring device according to claim 10, characterized in that said transducer mechanism comprises a said pin (17) rotatable on one of said plates (9, 10) opposite each other and bearing at least one radial arm, rotatable, insertable in a matching cavity (12) borne by the other of said plates (10, 9) opposite each other.

12. The selective anchoring device according to claim 11, characterized in that said transducer mechanism comprises a said pin (17) rotatable on one of said plates (9, 10) opposite each other and bearing at least one said bolt (15) translatable towards and away from a said matching cavity (12) borne by the other of said plates (9, 10) opposite each other.

13. The selective anchoring device according to claim 11, characterized in that said pin (17) is moved by a driving tool (21) which can be operated from a treadable extrados side of said floor.

14. The selective anchoring device according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a head (36) orientable relative to a supporting base (16) of said support (2).

15. The selective anchoring device according to claim 13, characterized in that said support (2) comprises an upright (38) which is height adjustable, by means of a male - female screw helical pair with which it engages relative to said supporting base (16).

16. The selective anchoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first component part (3) of the support (2) is joined to said floor section by means of gluing with a structural adhesive.

Images