WO2000010371A2

WO2000010371A2 - Sound-insulating floor covering

Info

Publication number: WO2000010371A2
Application number: PCT/NL1999/000650
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henricus Wilhelmus Frederikus Bosgoed
Original assignee: Unifloor B.V.
Priority date: 1999-08-04
Filing date: 1999-10-19
Publication date: 2000-03-02
Also published as: AU6372699A; NL1012777C1; WO2000010371A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor covering comprising a lower sound-insulating layer of plates of a sound-insulating material and an upper layer of solid parquet, strip parquet or a laminate, the lower and upper layers being fixedly connected. To that end, fastening laths are mounted between successive plates, laths and plate edges engaging with mitre and the laths being situated freely above the bearing floor.

Description

Sound-insulating floor covering

The invention relates to a sound-insulating floor covering comprising an assembly of a lower and an upper layer, the lower layer being a sound-insulating layer and the upper layer being solid parquet, strip parquet or a laminate .

The extent to which sound is silenced is determined by the properties of the material used for the lowermost layer or underfloor and to a large degree by the thickness of the applied layer. The extent to which impact sound is silenced by such a layer, can be determined by measuring the level of impact sound for a number of standard frequencies with the help of a standard impact sound source, and comparing the resulting values to those of the bare loadbearing floor without any floor covering. The improvement of the insulation index for the impact sound can then be calculated from the differences between impact sound levels of the loadbearing floor with and without floor covering.

With such measurements carried out according to NEN - EN - ISO 140-8, the standard for minimal improvement of the insulation index, expressed in decibels, for sound-insulating floor covering is set at 10 dB. These measurements are already carried out according to the new European standard, to which the NEN and the DIN have had to conform, namely according to NEN - EN - ISO 717-2. From next year, measurements will be carried out according to this standard only. However, in this method, essential aspects known from practice are considered with the final calculation of the improvement of the insulation index. Therefore, the standard likewise set at 10 dB is more geared for reality and in fact here a stricter sound-insulation standard is to be met than with the method according to NEN - EN - ISO 140-8.

In order to be able to meet the present standard, a relatively sound-insulating lower layer is to be applied, which, in order to be able to continue meeting the set standards in the near future will only have to be thicker. Due to this, the total thickness of a floor covering can get so large, that threshold must be raised and doors must be cut off, and that large differences in level between adja- cent rooms may arise.

The object of the invention is to provide for a floor covering which will meet the set standard with a reduced thickness. Accordingly, the invention provides for, that the lower and upper layers are fixedly connected, in which fastening means for fixedly connecting the lower and upper layers have been mounted in the lower layer.

By fixedly connecting the lower and upper layers, the upper floor will have its complete surface properly contact the sound-insulation lower layer and lower and upper layers together will form an assembled unity. Several tests have shown that this may strongly improve the sound-insulation, as a result of which a lower layer of considerable reduced thickness is sufficient for achieving the same degree of sound-insulation. The fastening means should be mounted in the lower layer because the lower layer is made of a relatively soft material which does not resist varying forces acting on a direct connection of the upper layer onto the lower layer, said forces e.g. resulting from walking on a floor mounted on a loadbearing floor which is not completely flat. The result is that the lower layer is pulled apart at the connection and the connection between lower and upper layers is eliminated.

According to a further embodiment, it is provided for that the lower layer consists of plates and the fastening means are formed by laths received between adjacent plates of the lower layer, the laths and plate edges engage according to a mitre . By mutual engagement of the laths and plate edges and securely connecting the laths and the upper layer together, the plates of the lower layer can be kept in contact with the upper layer surface across the complete surface thereof .

Here, it is essential that with a laid lower layer, the bottom sides of the laths are spaced above the plane in which the bottom sides of the plates of a laid lower layer are situated. This is of special importance, since on contact of the laths with the loadbearing floor, the sound- insulation will be adversely affected definitely at the laths and in the direct vicinity thereof as well . The laths and plate edges can be provided with a simple mitre substantially comprising bevelled contact surfaces, in such a way that the plates can be clamped against the upper layer. However, it is preferred that the laths and plate edges engage with groove and tongue, since the laths may then be clamped between the plates directly during laying the lower layer, the plates will no longer be able to slide or will still have to be slid and the laths will be lying free from the loadbearing floor directly.

According to a further embodiment it is provided for that on at least one side of the lath, the groove and tongue mitre between lath and plate of the lower layer is designed such, that the contact surfaces of lath and plate below and above groove and tongue, seen in vertical direction with laid lath and plate are staggered in relation to each other. The stagger is such, that the lath part located above the tongue mounted at a plate edge continues further than the port located below it, which prevents the plate edge from getting loaded on the tongue only and thereby possibly breaking off . With the tongue of the lath, this problem is of much less importance, since the lath is made of a material having a strength sufficiently large for fastening purposes . In most cases, the lath will be a wooden lath, in which the part of the lath above the tongue can continue across a small distance further than the part below the tongue, to be on the safe side . The upper layer can be fastened to the laths by means of nails or screws, but can also be adhered to them. To this end, according to a further embodiment it is provided for, that a strip of adhesive is applied on one side of the laths with a release layer on the side facing away from the lath. This has the advantage that after completely or partly laying the lower layer with sound-insulating plates and the lathes lying in between, the release layer can be pulled from the adhesive and the subsequent parts of the upper layer can be applied directly. Here, the release layer can always be pulled loose across short distances which prevents a person from contacting the adhesive or prevents contaminations from ending up on said adhesive and causing the adhesive force to be strongly reduced locally. By fastening the upper layer to the laths, upper and lower layer are kept together directly, as a result of which it is possible to apply adhesive between the sound-insulating plates of the lower layer and upper layer as well, without the risk of the lower layer getting pulled apart by foces acting on it. However, the improvement of the insulation index that might be achieved with it is clearly subordinate to the improvement of the insulation index by fastening the lower and upper layers to each other as proposed. Furthermore, this renders it virtually impossible to move the floor covering to another location at some time.

Hereinafter, the invention is further explained by way of the example given in the drawing, in which

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a floor covering laid on a loadbearing floor, with lower and upper layers connec- ted;

Figs. 2A,B show a cross-section of the profile and a perspective view of said profile, respectively, of a first embodiment of a lath; and

Figs. 3A,B show a cross-section of the profile and a perspective view of said profile, respectively, of a second embodiment of a lath. Fig. 1 illustrates a floor covering 1 comprising a lower layer 2 and an upper layer 3 , mounted on a loadbearing floor 4, e.g. a concrete loadbearing floor. As illustrated, the upper layer 3 is a solid parquet, which, however, may just as well be a strip parquet or a laminate.

The lower layer 2 is composed of plates 5, 6, 7 of a sound-insulating material, such as softboard or a similar material, for example. Laths 8, 9 are mounted between successive plates 5, 6 and 6, 7, with plates, laths and parquet or laminate being mounted such that the laths extend transversely to a longitudinal structure of the parquet or laminate.

The laths 8, 9 and the plates 5, 6, 7 mutually engage with tongue and groove 10, 11; 12, 13; 14, 15; 16, 17, with plate and lath being provided with tongue and groove at opposite sides in the illustrated example. Further it is possible to provide the lath with a single or multiple tongue at both sides, with a single or multiple groove at both sides, or with an assembly of tongue and groove at both sides. However, the division given in the example is preferred, since it will be easier to lay the parts.

The laths 8, 9 have a smaller thickness than the sound- insulating plates 5, 6, 7, the thickness in relation to the groove and tongue being divided such that in case of a lath 8, 9 mounted between successive plates 5, 6, 7, a free space 18, 19 will be created at the bottom side. The height of said free space 18, 19 is chosen such that the lath is always free from the floor 4, also if in the course of time the thickness of the floor plates 5, 6, 7 would be reduced possibly as a result of walking on the floor and/or as a consequence of a dry climate in the house.

The top sides 20, 21 of the laths 8, 9 can be aligned with, or be located slightly lower than, the top sides of the sound-insulating plates 5, 6, 7, if the parquet or lami- nate 3 is fastened to the laths 8, 9 by nails or screws. A lath located slightly lower can provide for a better clamping of the plates against the parquet or laminate 3.

If the laths 8, 9 are provided with an adhesive layer 22, 23 for fastening parquet or laminate 3 thereon, the top sides 20, 21 of the laths will likewise be located slightly lower than the top sides of the sound-insulating plates 5, 6, 7, in order to offer the adhesive layer enough space in vertical direction. The adhesive layer 22, 23 applied on the laths is provided with a release layer which can be pulled from said adhesive layer just before mounting parquet or laminate .

The distance between the laths 8, 9 should not be too large since otherwise the sound-insulating plates could not maintain the proper engagement across their entire surface against parquet or laminate . The distance between the laths 8, 9 is preferably within 30 - 80 cm. Tests have shown that with a massive parquet of 22 mm thickness, the laths 8, 9 within said range of 30 - 80 cm and sound-insulating plates having a thickness of only 15 mm, the standard for improve- ment of the insulation index by 10 dB is amply met.

Figs. 2A,B show a first embodiment of a lath 28 in cross-section and perspective, respectively. The lath 28 is provided with tongue and groove 29, 30 at opposite sides. Of the flank portions 31, 32 situated at both sides of the groove 30, the upper flank portion 31 is longer than the lower flank portion 32, as a result of which the flank portion 31 will be located beyond the tongue of a plate edge across the difference in length. This provides a better support of the lath 28 there and prevents the tongue from being able to break off from a plate edge.

At the side of the tongue 29, the lower shoulder portion 32 is located further in the direction of the axis of the lath 28 than the upper shoulder portion 33. Here, a better support of the tongue 29 as well, and a larger bearing surface for the lath 28. Further, the tongue 29 and the flank portions 31, 32 are provided with the necessary roundings for facilitating the engagement of lath and plate edge .

The second embodiment according to Figs. 3A, B of lath 38 differs from the previous embodiment in the fact that the lower flank portion 42 is shorter than the lower flank portion 32 of the lath 28, and in the fact that the lower shoulder portion 44 lies further backwards than the shoulder portion 34 of lath 28. Further, tongue 39 and shoulder portion 43 correspond to tongue 29 and shoulder portion 33, and groove 40 and flank portion 41 correspond to groove 30 and flank portion 31. With this embodiment, the contact surface of lath and plate edge is clearly larger than with the first embodiment . - claims -

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Floor covering comprising an assembly of a lower and an upper layer, the lower layer being a sound-insulating layer, characterized in that the lower and upper layers are fixedly connected.

2. Floor covering according to claim l, characterized in that for fixedly connecting the lower and upper layers, fastening means have been provided in the lower layer.

3. Floor covering according to claim 2 , characterized in that the lower layer consists of plates and the fastening means are in the form of laths received between adjacent plates of the lower layer, the laths and plate edges engaging with mitre .

4. Floor covering according to claim 3, characterized in that in case of a laid lower layer, the bottom side of the laths are at a distance above the plane in which the bottom sides of the plates of a laid lower layer are situated.

5. Floor covering according to claim 3 - 4, characte- rized in that the laths and plate edges engage with tongue and groove.

6. Floor covering according to claim 5, characterized in that at least on one side of the lath, the tongue and groove mitre between lath and plate of the lower layer is designed such that the contact surfaces of lath and plate below and above tongue and groove, seen in vertical direction, in case of laid lath and plate are offset in relation to each other.

7. Floor covering according to claim 6, characterized in that the laths are provided with a groove at one side and with a tongue at the opposite side.

8. Floor covering according to claims 6 - 7, characterized in that the flank portion of the laths at the side with a groove, situated above the groove in case of a laid lower layer, seen in the direction transverse to the lath axis and from tongue to groove, extends further in that direction than the flank portion situated below said groove does .

9. Floor covering according to claims 6 - 8, characte- rized in that the shoulder portion of the laths, at the side having a tongue, connecting to the groove at the top side in case of a laid lower layer, seen in the direction transverse to the lath axis and from groove to tongue, extends further in that direction than the shoulder portion of the laths connecting to the tongue at the bottom side.

10. Floor covering according to claims 3 - 9, characterized in that the laths and the top layer are glued together.

11. Floor covering according to claim 10, characterized in that the laths are provided with a strip of glue having a release layer at the side facing away from the lath.

12. Floor covering according to claims 3 - 11, characterized in that the plates of the lower layer and the upper layer are glued together across at least part of their surfaces.

13. Floor covering according to claims 3 - 12, characterized in that the laths are spaced apart across a distance of 30 - 80 cm.

14. Floor covering according to claims 3 - 13, charac- terized in that the laths are wooden laths .