DESCRIPTION

This patent relates to the covering elements for floors and walls or surfaces in general and in particular concerns a new heating panel, for coverings or applications typically on floors, walls and/or surfaces in general.

Covering elements, for example in the form of panels or in any case applicable to cover floors, walls and surfaces in general are already known. For example, flooring tiles, that is, panels made of clay, marble aggregate, marble, ceramic, concrete, or other applied and bound to a walkable area are already known.

Tiles are also commonly used to cover walls or surfaces in general.

Another known covering is that made of wood, made up of a plurality of strips of solid wood or plywood, with a top layer of wood, which is usually laid and bound by gluing or nailing.

The prior art includes floors with radiant panels, constituting floor heating installations, the principle of operation of which is based on the circulation of a heat-transfer fluid, usually hot water at low temperature, in a closed circuit installed under the flooring.

Known systems comprise a thermal insulation layer on the floor sub-base, a circuit made of pipes for the circulation of heat-transfer fluid laid on the aforementioned thermal insulation layer and completely embedded in a concrete casting forming the screed.

Once consolidated and dried, the screed is covered with elements like tiles, wood flooring, etc.

The known art also includes radiant panels that can be installed on walls or ceilings, rarely used since these solutions involve various disadvantages, especially from the construction, energy efficiency and cost standpoint. To overcome all the above drawbacks a new type of heating panel was developed and constructed, intended for coverings or similar applications, particularly suitable for installation in floors, walls or surfaces in general. The main object of this invention is to be quickly and easily installed.

Another object is to be installable even by unskilled personnel.

Yet another object is to be used indifferently for the covering of floors, walls or surfaces in general.

A further object of the present invention is to be used in any environment, being finished with a wood veneer.

Still another object is to be quickly and easily removed, for example for replacement or maintenance interventions.

Yet another object is to be able to be applied even for the temporary use of the heating system and therefore positioned in different places, being easily installable and removable, as well as integrated into any environment.

Still another object is to be used as a covering intended as a finishing element, or as a substrate and support for the application of a finishing layer, for example made of wood, laminate, marble, stone, carpet or other material, preferably thermally conductive.

These and other aims, direct and complementary, are achieved by the new heating sandwich panel for coverings, particularly suitable for installation on floors, walls or surfaces in general.

The new heating sandwich panel comprises:

At least one first layer of wood or other material, preferably with high thermal inertia;

At least one second layer of wood, directly or indirectly overlaying the first layer; One or more heating elements, interposed between the at least one first wooden layer and the at least one second wooden layer or finish layer;

and wherein one or more heating elements comprise at least one electric element.

The aforementioned heating elements include at least one layer of polymer or carbon fibre, or another element with high electric conductivity.

The panel preferably also includes means for the electrical connection of the aforementioned heating elements to a power supply or other electrical power source.

The panel also comprises means for the mechanical and electrical connection to other similar contiguous panels intended to create a modular covering.

These connection means, placed on the peripheral edge of the panel or in the vicinity of the peripheral edge, are preferably based on quick coupling systems, thus enabling the rapid assembly and disassembly of the panels, even without the aid of specialized personnel or particular tools.

The panel in question preferably also includes means to ensure the correct assembly of the layers forming the panel.

The preferred embodiment of the new panel also provides for at least one layer made of thermal insulation material, on which the aforementioned at least one first layer is directly or indirectly overlaid.

This thermal insulation material may or may not also be soundproofing.

In the preferred embodiment, the new heating sandwich panel is intended to be installed on floors or against walls or other surfaces to be covered, which in turn, are equipped with or without other coverings, with the thermal insulation layer or the first layer directly or indirectly in contact with the surface to be covered.

The at least one first layer is preferably made of wood and/or other material, whether composite or not, such as stone. The use of materials with high thermal inertia are preferable.

The at least one first layer is preferably equipped with, on the surface facing the second layer of wood, seats or recesses suited to house one or more of the aforementioned heating elements.

Alternatively or in combination, the second layer of wood is equipped with, on the back surface facing said first layer of wood, seats or recesses suited to house one or more of the aforementioned heating elements.

The heating elements in question are preferably housed completely in the thickness of the first layer and/or of the second layer of wood.

The back surface of the second layer of wood is coupled directly or indirectly to the surface of the first layer equipped with recessed areas, so as to be directly or indirectly also in contact with the one or more heating elements.

The panel may comprise at least one further finishing layer intended to remain visible, directly or indirectly overlaid on the at least one second layer.

The at least one finishing layer is for example made of wood, laminate, marble, stone, carpet or other material, preferably thermally conductive. In one possible embodiment, the second layer of wood, if it is to be the finishing layer, is made of suitable material, while the first layer of wood is for example, made of wood fibre. In contrast, in the case where the second layer is intended to be the base of another finishing layer, the second layer may be made of lower quality wood, for example, birch or wood fibre.

The new panel can then be easily installed in any environment in need of a temporary heating system.

The characteristics of the new heating sandwich panel will be better clarified by the following description with reference to the drawing, attached by way of non-limiting example, where the section of the new panel (1) is represented according to a possible embodiment.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the figure, the new panel (1) comprises at least one first layer of wood or other material (3), preferably with high thermal inertia, at least one second layer of wood (4), directly or indirectly overlaying said first layer (3), and wherein between the first layer (3) and second layer (4) one or more heating elements (5) are interposed. In one possible embodiment, the panel (1) also comprises at least one lower thermal insulation layer (2), made of thermally insulating and possibly soundproofing material, intended to be directly or indirectly coupled to the surface in general to be covered, and to which the thermal insulation layer (2) is directly or indirectly overlaid on the at least one thermal insulation layer (2).

The first layer (3) comprises a surface (32) for the direct or indirect coupling to the thermal insulation layer (2), and an opposite surface (31) equipped with preferably one or more seats or recesses (33) for the partial or total housing of the one or more heating elements (5).

One embodiment foresees that on the total thickness of 15-20 mm of the panel (1), the thermal insulation layer (2) has a thickness of 5-7 mm, the first layer of wood (3) has a thickness of 8-10 mm, the second layer of wood (4) has a thickness of 2-4 mm, and wherein the heating elements (5), of a thickness of 1-2 mm, are housed in the thickness of the first layer of wood (3) and/or the second layer of wood (4).

The modular covering is therefore obtained by using one or more of the new panels (1), where the panels have a modular design, for example with sizes 80-125 / 80-240 / 40-125 / 40-240 / 80-62.5 / 40-62.5 mm.

The panel (1) may also comprise at least one finishing layer, directly or indirectly, overlaying the second layer (4).

Therefore, with reference to the preceding description and the attached drawing the following claims are made.