SHAPED BLOCK FOR FLOORS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a national phase application of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2023/081179, filed Nov. 8, 2023, entitled “SHAPED BLOCK FOR FLOORS”, which claims the benefit of Austrian Patent Application No. A 500868/2022, filed Nov. 16, 2022, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a shaped block.

2. Description of the Related Art

Shaped blocks are used in construction, particularly for assembling floors or walls.

It is known that shaped blocks have extensions which act as spacer elements and which space two adjacent shaped blocks apart from one another in an assembled state by the distance of the cross-sectional area of the extensions. The extensions project from the side surfaces of the shaped blocks. Between the extensions of the shaped blocks there remains a free space, so-called joints, into which joint material is usually loosely filled and, if necessary, pressed in. Joint sand is often used as a jointing material because it is readily available, inexpensive, and easy to work with. Shaped blocks also exist which have water discharge channels on their undersides that are complicated to manufacture. These channels ensure that water is able to drain away more easily from the shaped blocks during heavy rain and into the subsoil.

A ground covering composed of shaped blocks is known from DE 10 2007 012 538 A1. The shaped blocks each have spacers arranged in pairs, with contact cams arranged between the spacers.

DE 195 29 378 A1 discloses shaped blocks in which water is accumulated in a dirt groove, and the water overflowing over an overflow edge of the dirt groove is directed into a water channel.

A paving stone is known from DE 37 43 035 A1 which comprises plumb-vertical teeth distributed over the lateral surface. Dummy joints with a gradient are provided on the top of the paving stone whereby surface water is guided to the edge of the paving stone.

However, one drawback of shaped-block floors made with the above-described shaped blocks is that loose joint material can easily be removed from the joints by environmental influences such as wind and/or water, which on the one hand causes the shaped-block floor to become dirty with the joint material and, on the other hand, means that the joint material has to be regularly refilled into the joints. In some of the shaped blocks that are known from the prior art, water drainage in the joints is inadequate, which means that water can accumulate on a shaped-block floor during heavy rainfall, increasing the risk of slipping. Furthermore, shaped blocks with intricate water channels are difficult to manufacture and install, since the water channels create restrictions in different installation directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a shaped block of the type mentioned at the outset with which the drawbacks mentioned can be avoided, with which, when used in a shaped-block floor, good water drainage is achieved with simultaneous good retention of the joint material, and which is easy to manufacture.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of the claims.

This provides the advantage that, by means of the easy-to-manufacture shaped blocks according to the invention, a shaped-block floor with good water drainage and good retention of the joint material in the joints between the shaped blocks is achieved. By means of the drainage elements, liquids, particularly water during heavy rainfall, are drained in a targeted manner into the water discharge channel, which is formed by the spacer elements of two shaped blocks placed against one another. The discharge elements also ensure that the joint material arranged below the discharge elements is retained and is not blown or washed upward out of the joints in the event of wind or rain. Furthermore, the discharge elements prevent the joint material from being washed out downward. In addition, the spacer elements, which engage with one another when at least two shaped blocks are assembled, increase the resistance of the shaped blocks to transverse displacement under load.

The invention further relates to a shaped-block floor.

It is therefore also the object of the invention to provide a shaped-block floor of the type mentioned at the outset with which the drawbacks mentioned can be avoided and with which good water drainage is achieved with good retention of the joint material in the joints.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of the claims.

The advantages of the shaped-block floor correspond to the advantages of the abovementioned shaped block.

The subclaims relate to additional advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Express reference is hereby made to the wording of the patent claims, whereby the patent claims are incorporated into the description at this point by reference and considered to be reproduced verbatim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which only preferred embodiments are shown by way of example. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary representation of a first preferred embodiment of a shaped block in an axonometric view;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary representation of a second preferred embodiment of a shaped block in a plan view;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary representation of the second preferred embodiment of the shaped block in side view;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary representation of a preferred embodiment of a shaped-block floor in a plan view;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of detail Z from FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of detail Y from FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary representation of a drainage device formed by two spacer elements of two shaped blocks in an assembled state; and

FIG. 8 is an exemplary illustration of several drainage devices which are formed by multiple spacer elements of two shaped blocks in an assembled state.

Note that, for the sake of clarity, not all reference symbols have been included in each figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 8 show at least parts of preferred embodiments of a shaped block 1 for floors, comprising a main body having a top side 2, an underside 3 and at least one side surface 4, wherein at least one spacer element 5 for specifying a joint width is arranged on the at least one side surface 4, the at least one spacer element 5 comprising a first rib 6 and a second rib 7 which is spaced apart from the first rib 6, the first rib 6 and the second rib 7 both extending from the underside 3 toward the top side 2 of the shaped block 1, it being possible for a draining device 16 to be formed by means of the spacer element 5 and another, identically designed spacer element 5 of an additional shaped block 20, the draining device 16 comprising a water discharge channel 17 which is delimited by the second rib 7, and the spacer clement 5 comprising an additional discharge clement 8 for discharging liquids into the water discharge channel 17.

Furthermore, a shaped-block floor 18 consisting of a plurality of shaped blocks 1 is provided.

This provides the advantage that, by means of the easy-to-manufacture shaped blocks 1 according to the invention, a shaped-block floor 18 with good water drainage and good retention of the joint material in the joints between the shaped blocks 1 is achieved. By means of the drainage elements 8, liquids, such as water in particular during heavy rainfall, are drained in a targeted manner into the water discharge channel 17, which is formed by the spacer elements 5 of two shaped blocks 1 placed against one another. The drainage elements 8 also ensure that the joint material arranged below the drainage elements 8 is retained and is not blown or washed upward out of the joints by wind or rain. Furthermore, the drainage elements 8 prevent the joint material from being washed out downward. In addition, the spacer elements 5, which engage with one another when at least two shaped blocks 1 are assembled, increase the resistance of the shaped blocks 1 to transverse displacement under load.

The shaped block 1 can also be referred to as a paving stone and is preferably made of concrete. To form a shaped-block floor 18, shaped blocks 1 are generally placed against one another on a flat surface, pressed into the surface with a predeterminable pressure if necessary, and then the joints 19 arranged between the shaped blocks 1 are filled with a loose jointing material such as jointing sand. The shaped block 1 has a base body with a top side 2, an underside 3, and at least one side surface 4, with at least one spacer element 5 being arranged on the at least one side surface 4 to specify a joint width. Preferably, the shaped block 1 can have four side surfaces 4. In the case of a triangular shaped block 1, it would have a triangular base body with three side surfaces 4. In the case of a pentagonal shaped block 1, it would have five side surfaces 4. In the case of a round shaped block 1, this would have a circumferential side surface 4.

The spacer element 5 is arranged on at least one side surface 4. This means that it can be arranged on every side surface 4, but if there are multiple side surfaces 4, it does not necessarily have to be arranged on every side surface 4. For example, a shaped block 1 with four side surfaces 4, which is intended for arrangement in a corner of the shaped block base 18, can have two smooth side surfaces 4 which are adjacent to one another and separated by an edge and two adjacent side surfaces 4 with the at least one spacer element 5, the smooth side surfaces 4 being arranged so as to fit to the greatest possible extent in the corner, for example against a house wall. The smooth side surfaces 4 are those side surfaces 4 which do not have a spacer element 5.

A joint width between two shaped blocks I can be specified by means of at least one spacer element 5. For this purpose, the joint width is determined by the maximum extent of the spacer element 5 away from the shaped block 1, or, in other words, by the maximum cross section of the spacer element 5.

The at least one spacer element 5 comprises a first rib 6 and a second rib 7 arranged at a distance from the first rib 6, the first rib 6 and the second rib 7 each extending from the underside 3 toward the top side 2 of the shaped block 1. The first rib 6 and/or the second rib 7 can preferably extend away from the edge delimiting the underside 3 from the side surface 4.

A provision can be preferably made that the first rib 6 has a greater or longer longitudinal extent than the second rib 7. The first rib 6 is preferably longer than the second rib 7, which is shown as an example in FIGS. 1 and 7.

The first rib 6 and the second rib 7 are preferably designed as elongate and narrow extensions which project from at least one side surface 4 of the shaped block 1. Here, “elongate and narrow” means that the longitudinal extent of the ribs 6, 7 is at least three times, preferably at least five times, in particular at least six times, the width of the ribs 6, 7.

The height of the first rib 6 and the second rib 7 can be different depending on the height of the shaped block 1. A higher shaped block 1 preferably has longer ribs 6, 7 with a greater height than a shaped block 1 with a lower height.

The cross section of the ribs 6, 7 can, in particular, be semicircular or at least partially oval-shaped. Preferably, the ribs 6, 7 are at least partially rounded. “At least partially rounded” means that the ribs 6, 7 can be rounded over part of their longitudinal extent or over their entire longitudinal extent.

Alternatively, a provision can be made that the ribs 6, 7 have a cross section comprising comers, in particular a rectangular cross section.

The drainage device 16 can be formed by means of the spacer element 5 and an identically designed additional spacer element 5 of a additional shaped block 20, which is shown by way of example in FIGS. 7 and 8. The drainage device 16 comprises a water discharge channel 17 that is delimited by the second rib 7, which is shown by way of example in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The water discharge channel 17 can also be referred to as a liquid drainage channel, since all kinds of liquid can be drained through it.

The spacer element 5 further comprises an additional drainage element 8 for draining liquids into the water discharge channel 17. The drainage element 8 serves to drain liquids from a near-surface region into the water discharge channel 17. The near-surface region is in particular the region which, when the shaped block 1 is in an assembled state, extends above the discharge element 8 up to the top side 2 of the shaped block 1.

It can have a different number of spacer elements 5 depending on the width of the shaped block 1.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a shaped block 1 and an additional shaped block 20 are placed against one another in an assembled state. The spacer element 5 of the shaped block 1 comprises a first rib 6, 1 and a second rib 7, 1, a spacer element 8, 1 being arranged between the first rib 6, 1 and the second rib 7, 1. The additional shaped block 20 comprises a first rib 6, 20 and a second rib 7, 20, a spacer element 8, 20 being arranged between the first rib 6, 20 and the second rib 7, 20.

Preferably, no rib 6, 7 or no obstacle formed on the shaped blocks 1, 20 is arranged in the water discharge channel 17 which prevents or disturbs the drainage of liquids toward the subsoil. The water discharge channel 17 is delimited by the second rib 7, 1 of the shaped block 1 and the second rib 7, 20 of the additional shaped block 20 and extends in the direction of the underside 3 of the shaped blocks 1, 20. During a rain shower, water collects on the top side 2 of the shaped block 1 or the additional shaped block 20, which, upon reaching a certain amount, runs into the joint 19 between the shaped blocks 1, 20, where it meets the drainage elements 8, 1 and 8, 20 and is drained by means of the drainage elements 8, 1 into the water discharge channel 17, in which it can run off toward the subsoil and seep away there.

Preferably, a provision can be made that, a plurality of spacer elements 5 are arranged against one another and spaced apart from one another on the at least one side surface 4 of the shaped block 1, which is shown by way of example in FIG. 1. When the spacer elements 5 of a shaped block 1 interact with identical spacer elements 5 of the additional shaped block 20, which is arranged so as to be rotated by 180° in a shaped block base when the shaped block 1 is in an assembled state, a plurality of mutually adjacent drainage devices 16 and water discharge channels 17 are formed, which is shown by way of example in FIG. 8.

A provision can be especially preferably made that the at least one discharge element 8 is designed as an elevation protruding from the at least one side surface 4.

The elevation may in particular be rod-shaped and may in particular have the shape of a semicircle in cross section.

Furthermore, a provision can be preferably made that the maximum extent of the discharge element 8 from the side surface 4 of the shaped block 1 is smaller than the maximum extent of the at least one spacer element 5 from the side surface 4. The at least one spacer element 5 thus preferably projects farther from the side surface 4 of the shaped block 1 than the discharge element 8. This ensures that a free space remains between the drainage elements 8 of two shaped blocks 1 in the assembled state and that a liquid can be drained into the water discharge channel 17.

A provision can be preferably made that the sum of all cross-sectional areas of the at least one discharge element 8 transversely to the longitudinal extent of the side surface 4 is smaller than the sum of all cross-sectional areas of the first rib 6 and/or smaller than the sum of all cross-sectional areas of the second rib 7.

Preferably, a provision can be made that an upper edge of the at least one discharge element 8—as seen in the direction of the top side 2 of the shaped block 1—is arranged above the first rib 6 and/or second rib 7.

A provision can be preferably made that the discharge element 8 is arranged on the at least one side surface 4 so as to slope downward from the first rib 6 to the second rib 7.

In a sequence of alternating first ribs 6 and second ribs 7, a provision can be made that the spacer element 8 is arranged between, above, or on those rib pairs of first ribs 6 and second ribs 7 which form a first large gap. In FIG. 1, for example, first ribs 6 are arranged alternately with second ribs 7; on the one hand, a first large gap is arranged between a first rib 6 and a second rib 7 and, adjacent thereto, a second small gap is arranged from the second rib 7 to the next adjacent first rib 6. In the first large gap, the distance from the first rib 6 to the second rib 7 is greater than in the second small gap. For this purpose, a provision can be made that the distance between the second rib 7 and the first rib 6 in the second small gap corresponds substantially to the width of a rib 6, 7.

Preferably, a provision can be made that the first rib 6 and the second rib 7 have the same width.

A provision can also be made that the spacer element 5 comprises multiple, for example two, discharge elements 8.

A provision can be preferably made that the at least one discharge element 8 has a sloping, in particular an oblique, upper edge. This allows liquid to be drained particularly well toward the downwardly sloping upper edge.

A provision can be especially preferably made that the at least one discharge element 8 extends from a first end region 9 of the first rib 6 to a first end region 10 of the second rib 7. This allows a runoff liquid to be drained particularly well and in a targeted manner into the water discharge channel 17.

A provision can be preferably made that the discharge element 8 projects from the at least one side surface 4 and is flat. For this purpose, a provision can be preferably made that the discharge element 8 at least partially spans the region between the first rib 6 and the second rib 7, which is shown by way of example in FIG. 1.

This makes it simple to manufacture the discharge element 8.

Alternatively, a provision can be made that the discharge element 8 completely spans or forms the region between the first rib 6 and the second rib 7. As a first boundary of the surface of the discharge element 8, a provision can be preferably made that the surface extends to the lower edge of the shaped block 1, which delimits the at least one side surface 4 from the underside 3 of the shaped block 1, and that the surface of the discharge element 8 extends to at least the first end region 10 of the second rib 7. Preferably, the surface of the discharge element 8 extends to an upper limit which is delimited by an imaginary line from the first end region 9 of the first rib 6 to the first end region 10 of the second rib 7.

By virtue of the flat design of the drainage element 8, the free space and thus the joint width between two adjacent shaped blocks 1 is reduced in this region, whereby joint material can be better retained against environmental influences due to a smaller attack surface.

A provision can also be preferably made that the shaped block 1 has a gap for a first rib 6 of the additional shaped block 20 in a first corner region 11 on the at least one side surface 4, and a first rib 6 for the gap of the additional shaped block 20 is arranged in a second corner region 12 of the at least one side surface 4 opposite the first corner region 11, which is shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this way, the resistance of two shaped blocks 1 to transverse displacement can also be increased at their corners or in their corner regions 11, 12. Furthermore, this also reduces the probability of joint material being blown or washed out of the joints 19 formed at the corner regions 11, 12.

Furthermore, a provision can be especially preferably made that the first rib 6 has in its second end region 13 and/or the second rib 7 in its second end region 14 a larger cross-sectional area than in its first end region 9, 10. In other words, a provision can be preferably made that the first rib 6 and/or the second rib 7 are thicker in their second end regions 14 than in their first end regions 9, 10. In a region of the at least one side surface 4 arranged adjacent to the underside 3 of the shaped block 1, the joint width is thereby reduced in comparison to a region of the at least one side surface 4 adjacent to the top side 2 of the shaped block 1. Due to the thickening in the second end regions 13, 14, the joint in the lower region of the shaped blocks 1 is narrowed. This further enhances the retention of the joint material in this region.

A provision can also be preferably made that edges 15 arranged on the top side 2 of the shaped block 1 are stepped. This allows for better water drainage from the top side 2 of the shaped block 1 into the joints 19. This is due to the surface tension of water and its behavior on conventional 90° edges and on stepped edges.

For this purpose, a provision can be made that the stepped edge 15 has at least one step, a flank angle of the flank of the step to the top side 2 of the shaped block preferably being at least 30°, in particular at least 35°, preferably at least 38°.

A provision can also be made that the stepped edge 15 has multiple steps. The steps can preferably each have the same flank angle of the flank of the step to the top side 2 of the shaped block and/or to the adjacent step of preferably at least 30°, in particular at least 35°, preferably at least 38°.

A provision can also be preferably made that the top side 2 of the shaped block 1 is structured. For this purpose, a provision can be made that the structures have channels which are arranged in the direction of the spacer elements 5 arranged on the at least one side surface 4. These channels are not shown in the figures.

Furthermore, a shaped block base 18 is provided in which the shaped blocks 1, 20 are spaced apart from one another by their spacer elements 5 with a predetermined joint width, the drainage device 16 can be formed by the at least one spacer element 5 of the first shaped block 1 in combination with the at least one identically designed spacer element 5 of the additional shaped block 20, and the second rib 7, 1 of the first shaped block 1 and the second rib 7, 20 of the additional shaped block 20 form the water discharge channel 17 and delimit the same.

A provision can be preferably made that jointing material, in particular jointing sand, is arranged in the joints 19 formed by the spacer elements 5 between the shaped blocks 1.

A preferred embodiment of a shaped-block floor 18 is shown by way of example in FIG.

4. For better clarity, no joint material is shown in FIG. 4 in the joints between the individual shaped blocks 1, 20, since the ribs 6, 7 would otherwise not be visible.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show detailed views Y and Z from FIG. 4, with ribs 6, 7 of the spacer elements 5 of multiple shaped blocks 1, 20 each engaging with one another and forming drainage devices 16.

The following are principles for understanding and interpreting the present disclosure.

Features are usually introduced with an indefinite article “a, an, one.” Unless the context indicates otherwise, “a, an, one” should therefore not be understood as constituting a numeral.

Insofar as not otherwise established by the disclosure of the invention, a feature X and an object Y are differentiated in multiple embodiments by means of an ordinal number such as “first,” “second,” or “third.” In particular, a feature X or object Y with an ordinal number in a claim does not mean that an embodiment of the invention falling under this claim must have an additional feature X or an additional object Y.

For value ranges, the end points are included insofar as not otherwise indicated by the context.