DESCRIPTION

^λ A FIXING SYSTEM FOR JOINTS, FINISHING PROFILES AND

DECORATIVE PROFILES"

The present invention relates to a fixing system for joints, finishing profiles or decorative profiles. It can be applied in the fixing of finishing profiles, decorative profiles or expansion joints, for use with wall coverings, ceilings, partitions or floor panels, and in the case of the latter whether they are stratified, ceramic, or made of natural stone or parquet .

Prior art

The fixing systems that exist on the market are always manufactured jointly with the profiles, as part of a complete set . This type of system uses a base or fixing profile, to which the decorative or finishing profile is subsequently applied. The two profiles fit into each other in a fixed position, without the possibility of adjustments or movements.

The female element is the part of the profile that is screwed or glued to the surface that is going to be covered. It is composed of an open rectangular gutter whose internal walls or sides are covered with triangular furrows

- 9 _

or ridges, which are slightly rounded or serrated. This female part is rigid, with sides that have little or no elasticity. This means that the fitting of the upper or male part, which has the same width or may be wider, has to be carried out by means of a sharp blow, with the aid of a plastic or rubber hammer. Sometimes, during the positioning of the male part, one of the sides of the female part cracks, due to the fact that the parts were not correctly aligned.

The part designated as the male, which is an integral part of the upper profile, has a solid rectangular cross-section with the whole length of both of its sides covered in the same type of ridges as those covering the internal walls of the female part.

This solid fixing system is clearly incompatible with modern decorative profiles, which have increasingly more diverse formats with lighter and more versatile applications.

Examples of fixing systems in prior art are mentioned in patents GB 2238557 and US 3667177.

Patent GB 2238557 refers to sealing members that form joints between adjacent sheets of hygienic wall cladding material, and comprise first and second longitudinally extending components with means for securing them together at an adjustable spacing, so that marginal

positions of one component urge the sheets against margins of the other component. A member sealing a panel against a floor/ceiling comprises spaced components and another at right angles is also described.

Patent US 3667177 refers to a moulding joint for thin wall panelling and moulding members therefor. A retainer is positioned with a base flange behind a panelling member as it is being installed. The retainer has a receiving area formed from upstanding arms to receive and engage a tongue of a T-shaped moulding cap which is applied after the work is completed. The two piece moulding combination can be used for all types of panel joints including inside and outside corners, butt joints, joints between wall and ceiling and wall and floor, and joints between the edge of panelling members and the wall surfaces to which they are attached.

Neither of the abovementioned patents allows the positioning and fitting together of two parts axially and obliquely in relation to each other.

On the other hand, patent EP 1176268 of the applicant provides the fitting together of the base part or female part with the decoratiλ^e or finishing profile, with the possibility of placing the parts obliquely in relation to each other. This fixing system is essentially characterised in that it consists of fitting the male part or element into the female part or element in such a way as

-A-

to allow the two parts to be fitted together coaxially or obliquely to one another.

Prior art does not provide the use of a third part which simultaneously ensures a perfect fit between the decorative profile and the base part without any risk of breaking or undesired torsion. It is further possible with this new system, in view of the fact that it uses a third intermediate part, to fit it in place at various heights.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides the use of an intermediate element whose lower part will fit into a female part and whose upper part will fit into the decorative or finishing profile. This system will make it possible to always use the same finishing or decorative profile for any thickness of covering to be applied and for any levelling of surfaces which are to be covered. This is possible due to the fact that the finishing or decorative profile and the base part are manufactured separately, and due to the existence of the intermediate or male part.

With the three parts described above, it is therefore possible to guarantee assembly in any situation without the need to use different base profiles appropriate for the thickness of the covering.

Brief description of the figures

The description that follows is based on the drawings attached hereto, which represent without any restrictive character the system that is the subject of the invention. Thus:

Figure 1 represents an elevated view of the complete system; Figure 2 represents an elevated view of the system without the base part, using dotted lines to show how the intermediate part is fitted into/removed from the finishing or decorative profile;

Figure 3 represents an elevated view of the complete system but with an intermediate part of larger dimensions;

Figures 4 to 7 represent the same system but in another embodiment .

Detailed description of the invention

As may be observed from the drawings attached hereto, the fixing system of the invention consists of three separate parts, the finishing or decorative profile 5, the male or intermediate part 1 and the female or base part 8.

The male or intermediate part 1 comprises an upper element or head 2 with a central indentation 3 for fitting into a cavity 11 which extends below the decorative

or finishing profile 5; a lower element 6 with peripheral ridges 7 for fitting into the corresponding ridges of the base part 8; a shaft 10 which connects the two aforementioned elements. The said indentation 3 can be straight, as in figures 1 to 3, i.e. with substantially parallel sides, or it may have a narrowing, as in figures 4 to 7.

The female part or base part 8 is screwed or glued to the surface that is going to be covered and it is composed of an open rectangular gutter whose internal walls or sides are covered with ridges or furrows 9.

The finishing or decorative profile 5 has on its underside a channel shaped cavity 11, into which is fitted the upper element of the male part 1. These parts are fitted together by applying pressure to the said element.

As may be observed from the figures attached hereto, the finishing or decorative profile 5 and the base part 8 are fitted together as soon as the intermediate or male part 1 has been duly positioned into part 8. The fitting of the intermediate or male part 1 into the base part does not require great force or blows which could cause breaking or create torsion in any of the parts. In turn, the positioning of the head 2 of part 1 is effected by applying pressure. For this purpose, as shown in the figures, the head 2 has an indentation 3 which will facilitate and permit the elastic deformation of the sides

of the head 2. The configuration of the cavity 11, namely its outside surface 4, and of the head 2, is such as to facilitate the fitting together of the parts.

Figures 3 and 7 represent an intermediate part of longer length which, together with the fact that part 1 can be positioned obliquely into part 8, makes it possible to resolve certain situations of differences in level between the two edges of the joint.

Figures 4 to 7 represent another drawing of the head 2 which is not fitted vertically in place, as in the previous embodiment (figures 1 to 3) , but rather by rotation to either side.