Connection for tiles

Abstract

The present invention relates to an element suitable for connecting two tile pieces or ceramic floor tiles when the aim is to establish an angle between one piece and the next such that a curved installation sections are achieved when several pieces are attached with an angle therebetween. The invention comprises a body made of flexible material wherein this body comprises two plates that move independently but are attached together by an attachment point, which is preferably central, on which one plate is able to pivot with respect to the other.

Description

[0001] CONNECTION FOR TILES

[0002] The invention, as its name indicates, refers to an element suitable for connecting two pieces of ceramic tile, especially when an angle is to be defined between one piece and the next, such that the joining of the various pieces with an angle between them allows for the development of curved installation sections.

[0003] This ability to define curves is especially useful in the field of grating pieces for, for example, communal showers, swimming pools, or industries that generate liquid waste in the room, among others, and require large drain sections.

[0004] The technical sector to which it belongs is that of ceramic pieces.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] There are various technical solutions for connectors, usually for the curved configuration of plastic grids, where the following are presented:

[0007] Patent EP3617426 refers to a piece comprising elements to connect to other identical pieces and adopt, with respect to the adjacent ones, a parallel arrangement or defining an angle. The element basically comprises two surfaces, an upper one (1) and a lower one (2) located at different heights, anti-slip means (4), and at least one suction channel (5) through which the water that overflows from the pool is evacuated, as well as adjustable fixing means (7, 7') to allow varying both the distance and the angular position between adjacent elements in a coplanar manner between adjacent elements, where it can be used as an information channel as a result of the variation in color or shape of the anti-slip means.

[0008] Patent ES2641729T3 also refers to a modular structure that allows the interconnection of a series of pieces, resulting in a straight or curved construction. Said element includes a main body along a first line and defining a first plane corresponding to the passage surface of the gratings; numerous teeth protruding from the main body and developed in the first plane; and a connector connected to the main body and adapted to connect the element to other elements. Another solution is presented in Japanese patent 2005-54409, with a series of pieces inserted into each other, forming tiles and allowing a certain degree of movement relative to each other, thus allowing the configuration of a square tile or one with a certain degree of curvature.

[0009] None of the grates shown in the cited patents could be made of ceramic, but are preferably made of plastic. Plastic, especially when used on aggressive materials such as bleach and chlorine (common in cleaning or swimming pools), tends to discolor and degrade, appearing dirty or discolored. The same thing happens when it is also subjected to constant sunlight.

[0010] For this reason, ceramic is ideal for creating a grating, as it is resistant to discoloration and does not degrade with constant exposure to sunlight. However, the clearances and flexibility required by the parts in the aforementioned patents are not available in materials such as ceramic.

[0011] To achieve curved configurations with ceramic materials, the curve must be shaped during installation by securing it with bonding material. This solution cannot be applied to grates, as the tiles must remain loose to access the lower drainage channel. These tiles can be held in place without bonding material when they are of considerable size and weight. However, to create a curve with a concatenation of small pieces, each tile portion must be able to be attached to an element.

[0012] The Patent Technology Report Ref. 101894 / P9754 prepared by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office yields the following results, which are not classified as affecting the novelty or inventive step of the object of the present invention.

[0013] Patent EP0754816A1 describes a grating bar configured as a plug-in connecting element, intended to cover gutters, wells, or similar building openings. The grating is composed of several parallel bars, each configured as a one-piece snap-in connecting element. Each element is formed as connecting members with pairs of profiled shapes on either side of a central longitudinal plane and, in the installed position, defines only a single transverse axis. The pairs of profiles are connected in the transverse direction. In the connecting element, they are configured, on the one hand, as an insert element and, on the other hand, as a complementary insert space. Patent US2004003549A1 relates to the structure and construction method of a swimming pool grating. The pool has straight and curved edges, and a channel is built into the pool deck near the edge, including the curves.The grating is made of several grating bars extending along the pool edge, including curved ones. The multiple grating bars are assembled both longitudinally and laterally according to the dimensions of the gutter. Once assembled into a grating in an elevated position, holes are drilled through all of the assembled grating bars laterally to the pool edge, and rods are placed through the drilled holes and secured there against movement in any direction. The thus assembled grating is then lowered into the pool gutter so that it is substantially level with the surface of the pool deck and the pool water level.

[0014] Patent US2008163415A1 relates to a structure for installing gratings in a straight and curved pool. The pool has an upper gutter formed from concrete. The grating bars are designed to be parallel to the pool wall. Multiple support elements are placed on the gutter at predetermined intervals and fixed to the top of the concrete. A pre-assembled grating of longitudinal bars is placed and fixed over the support elements. The pre-assembled grating bars are held together by lateral tie rods. In the curved section, the individual grating bars are placed one by one over the support elements and bent into the respective curves of the gutter. The individual grating bars are received between the spaces between the knobs of the support elements and snap-fit ​​into them.

[0015] Patent FR2846994A1 relates to a grating comprising a series of spaced crossbars placed side by side and connected by a single fixing shaft. The crossbars and shaft are molded in a single piece of plastic, allowing slight flexing of the shaft. Each crossbar is a section comprising a narrow rectangular flange at its top, which constitutes a support surface. The flange has a narrowed area.

[0016] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With the intended invention, each special piece of ceramic or tile is joined to its adjacent pieces forming a larger body that is held in place without the need for additional bonding material.

[0017] On the other hand, the connector allows each tile to be square, since the curve or angle is produced by the action of the connector and not by the shape of the tile, thus avoiding beveled or triangular cuts that are much more complicated to plan and execute.

[0018] To this end, the invention comprises a body of flexible material, wherein this body comprises two plates that move independently but are joined together by a connection point, preferably central, on which one can pivot relative to the other.

[0019] The plates, preferably because they have smaller dimensions than the section dimensions of the tiles between which they are arranged, once installed do not protrude from the continuous upper surface generated by joining the tiles, remaining hidden between said tiles.

[0020] Each of these plates has means for joining it to the tiles. These means are suitable for inserting into holes on the side of the tiles on at least one of the sides, which, once installed, will face each other.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting means comprise a series of studs projecting horizontally from the outer edges of the plates. These studs can adopt any shape provided that they complement the geometry of the holes in the tiles.

[0022] The studs are inserted into the holes in the tiles, holding them together and at the same time marking and defining the angle and separation between them.

[0023] To ensure this connection, the studs can be fitted with devices that increase friction and pressure within the holes in the tiles. These devices can include anti-return fins, thickening rings, radial projections, or, in general, any device that increases the studs' cross-section at some point and thus promotes friction and pressure between the studs and the holes in which they are housed.

[0024] In one possible embodiment, the device is made of plastic, which provides a degree of flexibility and strength. A device such as the one described, placed between each pair of tiles, allows several tiles to be joined together, forming a set that, due to its size and weight, can remain stationary in its location without the need for anchoring material. At the same time, the elasticity of each plate relative to the other allows the angle of one tile relative to its neighbors to be varied and adjusted, allowing the set of tiles to be adjusted to the space they must cover, whether straight or curved.

[0025] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] To complete the description being made and in order to help better understand the characteristics of the invention, a figure is attached as an integral part of the description in which the following is represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

[0027] Fig. 1 shows the connector (2) comprising two plates (5) with a joint (8) between them, each plate having extensions towards the outside of the device which we will call lugs (6), these lugs being suitable for being inserted into the holes (not shown) of the tiles and being retained there by the action of fins (7) arranged on the lugs.

[0028] Fig 2 shows the connector (2) next to a tile (1) in which the holes (4) are shown in which the pins on the rear face of the connector will be inserted and which are not shown.

[0029] Fig. 3. This figure shows the tile (1) to which the connector (2) is attached, the holes (4) in the tile (1) where the connector's rear pins (6) are inserted. In this case, only one tile is visible so that the rest of the connector's (2) elements can be appreciated.

[0030] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The following description is a way of carrying out the invention that is not limiting but merely explanatory.

[0032] The invention relates to a connector (2) made of plastic material comprising two independent plates (5) joined together by a joining point (8) on which they pivot relative to each other.

[0033] The plates (5) have a width smaller than the height of the tiles (1) between which they are arranged. Each plate (5) has a series of studs (6) suitable for insertion into holes (4) present in the side of the tiles (1) on the faces that will face each other.

[0034] The connector (2) is placed between two adjacent tiles (1) and the studs (6) are inserted into the holes (4) placed on the sides of these tiles (1), joining them together and at the same time defining the separation angle between them.

[0035] The pins are secured inside the holes (4) thanks to a series of anti-return fins (7) which increase friction, preventing the pins (6) from coming out of the holes (4) in which they are housed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. CONNECTION FOR TILES characterized in that it is suitable for joining two adjacent tiles (1) by being arranged between them and anchored to them and because the connector (2) comprises two independent plates (5) joined together by a flexible joint (8) suitable for pivoting one plate with respect to the other, where the plates have a width less than the height of the tiles between which they are installed, each plate comprising a plurality of studs (6) projected towards the outside of the connector, these studs being directed to meet the side of the tiles and being suitable to be inserted into holes (4) existing in the opposite sides of the adjacent tiles.

2. CONNECTION FOR TILES according to claim 1, characterized in that the studs comprise non-return fins (7).

3. CONNECTION FOR TILES according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of flexible material.

4. CONNECTION FOR TILES according to claim 1, characterized in that the studs are arranged in coincidence with the holes in the tiles.

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