This invention relates to flooring, and in particular to a dry lay flooring arrangement suitable for application to a surface, for example a suspended or raised access floor surface of a building. Whilst suitable for such use, the invention is not restricted to such use.

A number of flooring systems or arrangements are well known. By way of example, where is it desired to lay stone or ceramic tiles over an area, a suitable adhesive material is typically applied to the concrete or other material surface upon which the tiles are to be laid, and the tiles are subsequently laid and secured in position using the adhesive. Whilst such an arrangement has numerous benefits, it has the disadvantages that the method by which the tiles are laid is time consuming, and that additional time must be left before the floor can be used in order to allow the adhesive to harden or set. Furthermore, such an arrangement does not readily allow one or more of the tiles to be removed.

In a number of applications, it is desired to lay flooring upon a suspended or raised surface beneath which utilities such as power and communications cables run. In such an arrangement, there is often a need to be able to access the cables running beneath the surface, for example to allow reconfiguration of the locations in which associated sockets or the like are provided. As mentioned above, the use of adhesives or the like to secure tiles or other flooring elements in position is inappropriate or inconvenient in such applications.

Other flooring arrangements include vinyl or other material tiles or flooring elements, again laid in position using adhesives, or timber material flooring elements, for example formed with tongue and groove features to allow adjacent elements of the flooring to interlock or interengage to secure the elements to one another in the position.

In some applications it is desired to be able to form a seal between adjacent tiles or elements of the flooring material, for example to provide acoustic sealing, to reduce draughts or the like where the void beneath the surface upon which the flooring is laid is used to convey air under pressure, such as in an air conditioning or heating system, or to restrict fluid ingress to the void beneath the said surface. Other reasons include to enhance the fire retardation properties of the flooring.

Objects of the invention, therefore, are to provide a flooring arrangement in which at least some of the disadvantages associated with known flooring arrangements are overcome or are of reduced effect. In particular, objects of the invention include to provide a flooring arrangement that is relative quick and simple to lay, that allows removal of individual floor elements when desired, and that allows the formation of seals between adjacent floor elements. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted in this regard.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a flooring arrangement comprising a plurality of flooring elements which include, on an underside thereof, a respective magnetic element.

Where the surface upon which the flooring is to be laid is of a magnetic metallic material, such as steel, it will be appreciated that the flooring elements once laid upon the surface will be fixed in position against lateral movement and against lifting by virtue of the magnetic attraction between the magnetic elements and the material of the surface. Such an arrangement is advantageous in that the speed with which the flooring arrangement can be laid is enhanced, there being no requirement to wait for adhesives or the like to harden before the flooring can be used. Furthermore, the process by which the flooring is laid is relatively clean and so need not negatively impact upon use of other adjacent parts of a building in which the flooring is being laid. Additionally, lifting of individual flooring elements is relatively straightforward.

Where the surface upon which the flooring is to be laid is not of a magnetic metallic material, then thin sheets of an appropriate material may be laid upon the surface and fixed in position, for example using suitable adhesives, screws, nails or other fasteners. Once the sheets have been laid, the floor elements can be positioned, the magnetic attraction serving, as mentioned above, to secure the floor elements against movement. Where the surface includes, for example, concrete or another non-magnetic material regions, then flooring elements may be provided for use thereon which do not include the magnetic element. Instead, a rubber or rubber-like material backing may be provided. In such an arrangement, the weight of the flooring elements serves to hold the flooring elements in position.

In either case, lifting of individual ones of the flooring elements may be achieved. By way of example, a suitable vacuum attachment device may be attached to a flooring element to be lifted, and then the element may be lifted by applying a sufficiently large and appropriately directed load to the device to overcome any magnetic attraction. Subsequently, when desired, the floor element may be returned into position.

The floor element may be of a range of materials. By way of example, it may comprise a ceramic material tile, a tile of natural stone or of a reconstituted stone material, or of a material such as Corian ( TM) or the like. Other materials include, for example, glass. A further material that may be used is a timber material. The timber material could comprise, if desired, a thin timber laminate provided upon a substrate of another material. It will be appreciated that this is not an exhaustive list of materials with which the invention may be used, and that the invention applies to the use of all such materials. Other materials that may be used include glass, vinyl or porcelain materials.

The flooring elements may be provided, along at least one edge surface thereof, with a cover strip that, in use, spaces the flooring elements from one another. Where the flooring elements are of a ceramic tile or similar form, the cover strips may serve to give the appearance of grout or the like between adjacent ones of the of the flooring elements.

Preferably, each flooring element carries, along at least one edge thereof, a compressible seal. In use, the seal bears against an edge of an adjacent flooring element, forming a seal therebetween. The seal formed in this manner may serve as an acoustic seal, an air seal and/or a liquid seal. The seal is preferably retained within a channel formation provided in the flooring element. It may be retained therein using an adhesive. Alternatively, the seal may be introduced into the channel in a compressed form, and be retained therein by the engagement of parts of the seal with the walls defining the channel.

The edge of the adjacent flooring element against which the seal bears is preferably of angled or sloping form.

The invention further relates to a flooring system comprising a metallic, magnetic material layer and a plurality of flooring elements of the type set out hereinbefore arranged upon the layer, the magnetic elements thereof being magnetically attracted to the layer to secure the flooring elements in position upon the layer.

The layer may comprise the material of a supporting surface upon which the flooring is to be laid. Alternatively, it may comprise a thin sheet of a metallic material fixed in position upon the support surface. The supporting surface may form part of a raised access floor system.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a flooring arrangement comprising a plurality of flooring elements, wherein the flooring elements each carry, along at least one edge thereof, a compressible seal. In use, the seal bears against an edge of an adjacent flooring element, forming a seal therebetween. The seal formed in this manner may serve as an acoustic seal, an air seal and/or a liquid seal.

The seal is preferably retained within a channel formation provided in the flooring element. It may be retained therein using an adhesive. Alternatively, the seal may be introduced into the channel in a compressed form, and be retained therein by the engagement of parts of the seal with the walls defining the channel. The edge of the adjacent flooring element against which the seal bears is preferably of angled or sloping form.

There may be applications in which it is desired to use a self-levelling compound to form the surface upon which the flooring is to be laid. In such an application, the need to apply a metallic material layer in position upon the self-levelling compound to allow the flooring elements to be secured in position represents an additional stage in the procedure for laying the flooring, complicating the process.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a self-levelling compound incorporating particles of a magnetic, metallic material.

The use of such a compound is advantageous in that the need to provide an additional metallic material layer is avoided, instead the flooring elements being directly magnetically attracted to the particles within the self-levelling compound.

Such a compound may be especially useful in situations in which it is desired to apply a substantially continuous flooring over a surface of a range of different materials.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating part of a flooring system including a flooring arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view illustrating part of the flooring arrangement in greater detail; Figures 3 to 5 are views illustrating an alternative embodiment; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a flooring element of the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 6 of the accompanying drawings, a flooring system 10 is illustrated which comprises a flooring arrangement 12 fixed to a surface 14 forming part of a building. In the arrangement shown, the surface 14 is of a metallic material, such as steel, which is magnetic in the sense that magnets are attracted thereto. The surface 14 is supported, in this arrangement, in such a manner as to define a void beneath the surface through which cables or the like may extend. The surface 14 is made up of a series of individual sheets which can be lifted or moved independently of one another, or which include removable sections, to gain access to the void and the cables or the like located therein. Raised access floor structures of this general type are well known.

The flooring arrangement 12 comprises a series of flooring elements 16. In the arrangement shown, each flooring element 16 is of substantially square shape, and has secured to the underside thereof an element 18 of a magnetic material. In the arrangement shown, the element 18 substantially covers the underside of the associated element 16. It will be appreciated, however, that arrangements may also be possible in which a number of discrete elements 18 are secured to the underside of the element 16.

The elements 16 may be of a range of materials. By way of example, they may take the form of ceramic or porcelain tiles, glass tiles, pieces of natural stone, or tiles formed from reconstituted natural stone. Other materials include Corian (RTM) and the like. Further materials include vinyl and plastics materials. Other materials include timbers, for example thin wood veneers applied to a supporting substrate to form a so-called laminate, or appropriately dimensioned pieces of wood. Furthermore the flooring arrangement 12 may include regions in which different materials are used. By way of example, part of a floor may be covered using flooring elements of ceramic tile form, and other parts may be of wooden form. It will be appreciated that the choice of material will depend upon the application in which the invention is to be employed, and upon the desired surface finish to be achieved. As mentioned hereinbefore, the elements 16 shown are of square shape, but depending upon the desired finish to be achieved, it may be preferred to use elements of other shapes, for example where timber materials are used, then it may be desired for each element 16 to be of elongate rectangular form. In the arrangement shown the flooring elements are of timber form including a laminated birch core upon which an oak wear surface layer is provided. However, the invention is not restricted to the use of these materials.

Along a side of the flooring element 16, the edge wall 20 thereof is formed with a retaining channel 22, the channel 22 extending along substantially the full length of the respective side edge wall 20. Foamed material seal members 24 are located within the respective channels 22. The seal members 24 could be retained in position using adhesives or the like, if desired, but in the arrangement shown they are retained in position by virtue of their inherent resilience. The seal members 24 are located within the respective channels 22 by compressing the seal members 24, inserting them into the respective channels 22, and by subsequently allowing them to resiliently expand to substantially their original shape, bearing against the walls defining the channels 22 in such a manner that the frictional forces between the seal members 24 and the walls defining the channels 22 retain the seal members 24 in position.

The lower parts of the other two edge walls 20 are formed with tapered regions 28.

In use, in order to lay or assemble the flooring arrangement 12 upon the surface 14, individual flooring elements 16 are positioned upon the surface 14 with the magnetic elements 18 thereof contacting the surface 14. The flooring elements 16 are orientated such that each edge wall 20 thereof provided with a sealing member 24 faces towards an edge wall 20 of an adjacent one of the flooring elements 16 provided with a tapered region 28. The flooring elements 16 are positioned such that the seal member 24 is compressed against the respective tapered region 28.

In such an arrangement it will be appreciated that the magnetic attraction between the magnetic elements 18 and the surface 14 serves to retain the flooring elements 16 in position, resisting lateral movement thereof and resisting lifting thereof. The seal members 24 form good seals between the adjacent flooring elements 16 proving acoustic, air and/or liquid sealing. The risk of ingress or egress of materials to or from the void beneath the raised access floor is thus reduced.

In the event that there is a need to lift one or more of the flooring elements 16, for example to gain access to the void beneath the raised floor, a vacuum device or the like may be used and secured to the flooring element 16 to be lifted. Once secured, the application of a load thereto sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the magnetic element 18 and the surface 14 is used to lift the flooring element 16 away from the surrounding elements 16.

After completion of the works requiring access to the void, the flooring element 16 may be reintroduced into position, the action of the seal member 24 bearing against the tapered surface 28 aiding compression of the seal member 24 to reinstate the seal between the flooring element 16 and the surrounding elements 16.

Although in the description hereinbefore the seal member 24 is retained in position within a channel 22, arrangements are also possible in which the seal member 24 is simply adhered or otherwise secured to the edge wall 20, and the magnetic attraction serving to retain the newly introduced element 16 in position.

Where, as shown, the flooring elements 16 are of timber construction, they may be of elongate form, simulating the appearance of floor boards. Ends of the flooring elements 16 may be formed with interengaging tongue and groove formations to aid in ensuring that the elements 16 forming a straight run properly locate relative to one another.

Figures 3 to 5 illustrate an arrangement in which the flooring elements 16 take the form of ceramic tiles or the like. The embodiment is similar to that described hereinbefore except that, instead of providing seals members 14, adhered to edge walls 20 of the elements 16 are plastics or ABS material cover strips 26. The cover strips 26 serve to hold the individual flooring elements 16 in a spaced arrangement, giving the impression of a grout line or filler or the like between adjacent ones of the flooring elements 16. The elements 16 thus form an array covering the surface 14, the strips 26 uniformly spacing the elements 16 from one another.

If desired, both cover strips 26 and seals 24 may be provided.

In some designs of raised access floor, the surface 14 is not itself of metallic construction, but rather wooden boards or the like may be used. Clearly, there would be no magnetic attraction between the magnetic elements 18 and such boards, and so where used in an arrangement of this type, thin sheets of a suitable metallic, magnetic material such as steel may be secured to the boards, for example using suitable adhesives, screws nails or other fixings, prior to installation of the flooring elements 16, the sheets providing a base to which the magnetic elements 18 are attracted, in use, whilst the boards provide the required load bearing capacity.

It will be appreciated that the arrangements described hereinbefore are advantageous in that the flooring elements 16 can be laid swiftly, minimising interruptions to normal use of the building. As laying of the flooring elements 16 does not require time for adhesives or the like to set or harden, the flooring can be used immediately after laying. The process of laying the flooring is a dry, clean process. The flooring, once laid, is advantageous in that individual ones of the flooring elements 16 can be lifted, when required, to permit access to the underfloor void or the like, or for other reasons, and the flooring can subsequently be reinstated. The action of removing one or more flooring elements and reinstating the flooring does not result in significant noticeable damage to the flooring, and so does not impair the visual appearance of the flooring. Additionally, in the event that one or more flooring elements 16 become damaged in use, they can be replaced or relocated to a less obtrusive position without requiring replacement of the remainder of the flooring. The presence of the seals formed between the adjacent elements 16 resists the passage or air or liquids to or from the void and enhances acoustic insulation.

Where it is desired to lay the flooring elements 16 over, for example, a concrete floor surface, then a self-levelling compound may be applied to the floor surface, the self-levelling compound including or incorporating magnetic, metallic material particles, for example steel particles, the presence of which renders the magnetic elements 18 attractive towards the self-levelling compound. Once the self-levelling compound has been applied and allowed to set or harden, the flooring elements 16 may be applied thereto in substantially the manner set out hereinbefore.

Whilst specific embodiments of the invention have been described hereinbefore, it will be appreciated that a wide range of modifications or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. By way of example, where used with timber materials it may be preferred to omit the cover strip and instead for the flooring elements 16 to directly abut one another.