TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a modular socle for plasterboard walls and the like.

More in detail, the present invention relates to a modular socle to be incorporated in plasterboard walls for partitioning interiors, use to which the following description will make explicit reference without however losing in generality.

BACKGROUND ART

As known, plasterboard walls for partitioning interiors substantially consist a series of rectangular plasterboard panels which are fixed in vertical position and closely side-by-side to one another on a rear supporting framework which, in turn, is rigidly anchored to the surrounding masonry structure.

More in detail, the plasterboard panels are usually fixed in a rigid, non-removable manner to a supporting framework consisting of a series of metal-material vertical uprights which are arranged in vertical position one beside the another, regularly spaced out along a same lying plane, and are rigidly anchored to the floor, the ceiling and/or to one another so as to form a rigid flat structure capable of stably supporting the plasterboard panels.

In order to ensure the structural continuity between the plasterboard wall and the floor underneath, the panels adjacent to the floor are furthermore fixed to the supporting framework with the lower side/edge of the panel in abutment/resting on the floor, so that the small slit which is formed between the single plasterboard panels and the floor underneath may be rapidly sealed with a small amount of plaster, silicone and/or other filler for building use, and then possibly stably covered with a skirting board made of wood or the like .

Unfortunately, this type of structural continuity between the plasterboard wall and the floor causes major problems when changes must be made to the wiring which is incorporated inside the wall during the construction thereof .

In fact, moving a switch, a power socket or a junction box nearly always requires removing one or more plasterboard panels, with all the drawbacks that this implies .

The plasterboard panels indeed are fixed to the rear supporting framework in a non-removable manner, therefore detaching a plasterboard panel very often leads to an irreparable breaking of the whole panel and/or to the damaging of the rear supporting framework.

Furthermore, detaching a plasterboard panel is a relatively complicated operation which produces a large amount of dust and processing residues.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Aim of the present invention is to to eliminate the drawbacks associated with the structural continuity between the plasterboard wall and the floor.

In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a modular socle for plasterboard walls and the like as specified in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the dependent claims therefrom.

According to the present invention there is also provided a curtain wall as specified in Claim 16.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a non-limitative embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic and perspective view, with parts in section and part removed for clarity, of the lower part of a plasterboard wall incorporating a modular socle made according to the teachings of the present invention; - Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the lower part of the plasterboard wall shown in figure 1; whereas

Figure 3 is a schematic and perspective view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of the lower part of a plasterboard wall incorporating a second embodiment of the modular socle shown in Figures 1 and 2.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, reference number 1 indicates as a whole a modular socle specifically structured to be incorporated in a plasterboard curtain wall 100 or the like.

More in detail, the curtain wall 100 preferably comprises :

- a rigid rear supporting framework 101 having a reticular structure, which is preferably made of metal material, extends vertically, and is structured to be stably anchored to the floor p and optionally also to the ceiling (not shown) of the room to be partitioned or coated; and

- one or more series of preferably substantially rectangular-shape, curtain panels 102 which are preferably made of plasterboard and are rigidly fixed onto the rear supporting framework 101 so as to be locally substantially coplanar and closely side-by-side arranged to one another, thus to cover/coat the rear supporting framework 101 preferably substantially without interruption.

In the example shown, in particular, the supporting framework 101 preferably consists of a series of vertical uprights 103 (only one is shown) preferably made of metal material, which are arranged in vertical position one beside the other, more or less regularly spaced out along a same vertical laying plane, and are rigidly fixed/anchored to the floor p and optionally also to the ceiling (not shown) of the to-be-partitioned or -coated room, so as to form a rigid reticular structure capable of stably supporting the curtain panels 102.

Preferably, the vertical uprights 103 are moreover rigidly connected to one another by means of a series of horizontal stiffening crosspieces.

More in detail, in the example shown the supporting structure 101 preferably consists of a series of metal- material, rectilinear rods or beams 103 which are arranged in vertical position, at a predetermined and preferably also approximately constant distance from one another, and have the two axial ends rigidly fixed one to the floor p and the other to the ceiling (not shown) of the to-be-partitioned or -coated room. Preferably, in turn, the single curtain panels 102 are arranged in abutment at same time on two or more vertical uprights 103, with the side edges in pairs locally substantially either parallel or perpendicular to the floor p, and are fixed in a rigid, non-removable manner to the same vertical uprights 103 preferably by means of self-tapping screws of known type (not shown) .

With reference to figures 1 and 2, the modular socle 1 instead comprises:

- at least one rectilinear supporting longitudinal member 2 which is shaped substantially like a plate-like splint and is adapted to be rigidly fixed to the supporting framework 101, between the floor P and the curtain panel 102 immediately adjacent to the floor p, with the two lateral sides 3 and 4 one locally tangent to the floor p and the other locally tangent to the lower side 102a of the curtain panel 102, so as to be locally substantially coplanar with the immediately superjacent curtain panel 102; and

- and at least one skirting board 5 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the longitudinal member 2, and is fixed in a rigid and stable, though easily removable manner, onto the exposed front face 6 of the longitudinal member 2, so as to locally substantially skim the surface of floor p, preferably substantially for the whole length of the longitudinal member 2.

More in detail, the skirting board 5 is preferably fixed in an easily removable manner to the front face 6 of the supporting longitudinal member 2, within a longitudinal concave seat 7 which extends on front face 6 parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the longitudinal member 2, preferably substantially for the whole length of the same longitudinal member 2, so as to be immediately adjacent to the lateral side 3 of the longitudinal member 2 which is intended to be arranged in abutment on floor p.

In other words, with particular reference to figure 2, the supporting longitudinal member 2 is adapted to be stably fixed onto the supporting framework 101, between floor p and the curtain panel 102 immediately adjacent to floor p, with the rear face 8 abutting on the supporting framework 101, so as to join/connect the curtain panel 102 to the floor p underneath, preferably substantially in a seamless manner for the whole length of the supporting longitudinal member 2.

The skirting board 5 is instead housed in easy removable manner into the longitudinal concave seat 7 extending on the front face 6 of the longitudinal member 2, next to the lower lateral side 3 of the longitudinal member, so as to be arranged locally skimming the surface of floor p when the supporting longitudinal member 2 is fixed to the supporting framework 101 of the curtain wall 100.

Preferably, the supporting longitudinal member 2 is further fixed onto the supporting framework 101 in a non-removable manner by means of self-tapping screws.

In the example shown, in particular, the overall length of the supporting longitudinal member 2 is preferably either greater than or equal to the nominal distance between two consecutive vertical uprights 103 of the supporting framework 101 of curtain wall 100, so as to be arranged with the rear face 8 at same time in abutment on at least two consecutive vertical uprights 103 of supporting framework 101.

More in detail, in the example shown, the width of supporting longitudinal member 2 preferably, though not necessarily, ranges between 3 and 20 cm (centimeters); and the length preferably, though not necessarily, ranges between 50 and 100 cm (centimeters) .

With reference to figures 1 and 2, the modular socle 1 moreover comprises a linear light source 9, which is structured to emit light when electricity powered, and is located substantially at the bottom of a longitudinal rectilinear groove 10 which extends on front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2 parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the longitudinal member, preferably substantially for the whole length of the same longitudinal member 2. Furthermore, the longitudinal rectilinear groove 10 is immediately adjacent to the longitudinal concave seat 7 accommodating the skirting board 5, so that the light source 9 can illuminate the space in front of and/or surrounding the skirting board 5.

Preferably, the longitudinal groove 10 furthermore directly communicates with the longitudinal concave seat 7 accommodating the skirting board 5, so that the light source 9 can directly illuminate the upper edge of the skirting board 5.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, additionally the supporting longitudinal member 2 consists of a front rectilinear, plate-like section bar 12 and of a rear rectilinear, plate-like section bar 13, which are stably coupled to each other in a rigid manner, preferably by gluing; and the rectilinear skirting board 5 is fixed in a rigid and stable, though easily removable manner directly onto the front plate-like section bar 12, on the opposite side with respect to the rear plate-shaped section bar 13.

More in detail, the front plate-like section bar 12 is made of a metal material and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the longitudinal member 2 substantially for the whole length of longitudinal member 2, so as to form at least the part of the front face 6 of the longitudinal member which is intended to receive the skirting board 5 in abutment.

In other words, the front plate-like section bar 12 is structured to form the longitudinal concave seat 7 accommodating the skirting board 5, and optionally also the longitudinal groove 10 accommodating the light source 9.

In addition to the above, the front plate-like section bar 12 is furthermore provided with a series of large sized pass-through openings 12a, which are suitably spaced apart along the portion of the front plate-like section bar 12 which is intended to receive the skirting board 5 in abutment, preferably for the whole length of section bar 12. The pass-through openings 12a are additionally dimensioned so as to be completely covered by the skirting board 5.

In other words, the pass-through openings 12a are located on the portion of the front plate-like section bar 12 that forms the longitudinal concave seat 7, and have a maximum width w which is slightly smaller than the height h of the skirting board 5. More in detail, in the example shown, the pass- through openings 12a are preferably aligned one after the other parallel to the longitudinal axis of the front plate-like section bar 12, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the longitudinal member 2.

Preferably, each of the pass-through openings 12a is further substantially rectangular and preferably also has an area/extension greater than 1,5 cm ² (square centimeters) .

With particular reference to figure 2, the skirting board 5, in turn, is fixed in a rigid and stable, though easily removable manner directly onto the front plate ^¬ like section bar 12, preferably by means of a series of permanent magnets 14 which are preferably, though not necessarily embedded in the body of skirting board 5.

The rear plate-like section bar 13, instead, is made of an easily pierceable material, extends parallel to the longitudinal axis L of longitudinal member 2 substantially for the whole length of longitudinal member 2, so as to form the rear face 8 of longitudinal member 2, and is stably coupled to the front plate-like section bar 12 so as to plug/obstruct the pass-through openings 12a of the front plate-like section bar 12.

Preferably, the rear plate-like section bar 13 is furthermore structured/shaped so as to form the two lateral sides 3 and 4 of the supporting longitudinal member 2.

With reference to figures 1 and 2, in the example shown, in particular, the front plate-like section bar 12 preferably consists of a metal plate of suitable thickness and with a ribbon-like structure, which is appropriately folded/shaped so as to form/delimit the longitudinal concave seat 7 that houses the skirting board 5, and also the longitudinal groove 10 that houses the light source 9.

The rectilinear skirting board 5 instead preferably consists of a wood splint or the like.

Alternatively, the rectilinear skirting board 5 may also consist of a metal-material, rectilinear section bar which incorporates a resistor therein.

With particular reference to Figure 2, the rear plate-like section bar 13 preferably instead consists of a composite-material splint 13 having the front face suitably shaped to have a profile complementary to that of the front plate-like section bar 12.

More in detail, in the example shown the composite- material splint 13 preferably consists of a solid and compact block 15 of polymeric material foam, which is shaped so as to substantially under approximate the shape of the composite material splint 13; and of a protective surface shell 16 which is made of a hard, rigid composite material, preferably also fireproof and/or heat-resistant, and which has a nominal thickness preferably less than 3 mm (millimeters), and preferably covers at least the surface portion of polymeric material foam block 15 which is directly coupled to and/or faces the front plate-like section bar 12.

The polymeric material foam block 15 is furthermore made of a polymeric material foam having a nominal density higher than 15 kg/m ³ (kilograms per cubic meter) .

The protective surface shell 16 in turn has a nominal thickness preferably lower than 1 mm (millimeter) , and extends along the whole surface of the polymeric material foam block 15 that concurs in forming the exposed front face 6 of the supporting longitudinal member 2, preferably without interruption.

In the example shown, in particular, the polymeric material foam block 15 is preferably made of sintered expanded polystyrene or other similar thermoplastic aromatic polymer foam, with nominal density preferably ranging between 20 and 60 kg/m ³ (kilograms per cubic meter) .

Preferably, the protective surface shell 16 instead comprises: at least a first inner layer 17 which is made of powders and/or grit of mineral stone embedded in a matrix of a preferably epoxy-type resin, and which covers the surface of the polymeric material foam block 15; and a surface layer 18 which is made of gypsum and/or plaster and/or cement and/or other building material suitable for covering, embedded in a matrix of a preferably epoxy-type resin, and which completely covers the layer 17 of powder and/or grit of quartz or other mineral stone material embedded in a resin matrix.

In the example shown, in particular, the protective shell 16 preferably comprises a series/plurality of overlapping inner layers 17, each of which comprises powders and/or grit of quartz or other mineral stone material with a particle size preferably ranging between 0,1 to 0,3 mm (millimeters), embedded in a matrix of preferably epoxy-type resin; whereas the surface layer 18 completely covers the outermost layer 17.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the outer layer 18 and the inner layer (s) 17 are furthermore applied by spraying onto the polymeric material foam block 15.

Finally, with reference to figures 1 and 2, the light source 9 preferably comprises a series of light emitting diodes 19, traditionally named LEDs, which are located on the upper face of a supporting and powering board 20 which, in turn, is rigidly fixed onto the front plate-like section bar 12 with the diodes 19 turned towards the mouth of the longitudinal groove 10 present on front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2.

In the example shown, in particular, the board 20 is ribbon-shaped and is preferably fixed in rigid manner on a rectilinear section bar 21 with U-shaped cross- section, which is made of metal material and, in turn, is rigidly fixed onto the front plate-like section bar 12. Moreover, the diodes 19 are preferably distributed in a substantially uniform manner on the upper face of board 20, preferably substantially for the whole length of the ribbon-shaped board 20.

Furthermore, the length of the ribbon-shaped board 20 is preferably substantially equal to the length of the longitudinal groove 10 present on the longitudinal member 2, i.e. to the length of the front plate-like section bar 12.

With reference to figure 2, preferably the light source 9 is moreover provided with a light diffuser lid 22 which is made of polycarbonate, Plexiglas or other transparent or semitransparent material, and is placed to close the mouth of the rectilinear section bar 21 with U-shaped cross-section, so as to be backlighted by the diodes 19.

Preferably, the light diffuser lid 22 is also structured/dimensioned so as to diffuse the light outside the supporting body 2 in a substantially uniform manner .

The assembly of modular socle 1 provides, during assembly of curtain wall 100, to rigidly fix the supporting longitudinal member 2 on the rear supporting framework 101 preferably by means of self-tapping screws, with the lower lateral side 3 abutting on floor p; and then to rigidly fix, preferably by means of self- tapping screws, the single curtain panels 102 on the supporting framework 101 so as to complete the curtain wall 100, while arranging the single curtain panels 102 directly in abutment on the supporting longitudinal member 2 underneath.

The metal material, front plate-like section bar 12 supports the weight of the curtain panels 102 abutting on the longitudinal member 2.

Once assembly of curtain wall 100 has been completed, the assembly of modular socle 1 provides to fix in a rigid and stable, though easily removable manner, the skirting board 5 onto the front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2, inside longitudinal concave seat 7.

The skirting board 5 can be fixed onto the front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2 with the aid of the permanent magnets 14 which directly attach onto the front plate-like section bar 12. Alternatively, it is also possible to fix the skirting board 5 onto the front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2 by means of nails which engage in pass-through manner the body of the skirting board 5 and then directly stick into the rear plate-like section bar 13 after having crossed the pass-through openings 12a of the front plate-like section bar 12.

Obviously, in a different embodiment, the skirting board 5 may also be fixed onto the front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2 by means of toothed tabs that cantilevered protrude from the back of the skirting board 5 or other snap locking mechanisms.

The presence of modular socle 1 provides several advantages .

Firstly, the modular socle 1 allows to easily access the void space inside the curtain wall 100 without removing the curtain panels 102, so as to rapidly modify the wiring possibly incorporated in the curtain wall 100.

In fact, in order to access the void space inside the curtain wall 100 it is sufficient to manually remove the skirting board 5 and then pierce the supporting longitudinal member 2 at one of the many pass-through openings 12a of the front plate-like section bar 12.

Once the changes to the wiring have been completed, it is possible to plug and hide the pass-through hole made in the supporting longitudinal member 2 by replacing the skirting board 5 on the front face 6 of supporting longitudinal member 2, inside the longitudinal concave seat 7.

Additionally, if the modular socle 1 is provided with a light source 9, it can also illuminate the area in front of/surrounding the skirting board 5, with all the advantages this implies.

Last, but not less importantly, since the modular socle 1 is nearly entirely made of polymeric material foam, it is particularly light-weight and shock- resistant, and therefore may be installed very easily, without particular canniness.

It is finally apparent that changes and variations can be made to the above-described modular socle 1 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, with reference to figure 3, in a different embodiment, the front plate-like section bar 12 may be structured so as to form the entire front face 6 of the supporting longitudinal member 2, and the two lateral sides 3 and 4 of the longitudinal member. In addition, the ribbon-shaped board 20 of light source 9 may be fixed directly onto the surface of the front plate-like section bar 12.

In other words, the light source 9 may be free from the rectilinear section bar 21 and the light diffuser lid 22.

Moreover, in a different non-shown embodiment the rear plate-like section bar 13 could also be made of plastic, cork or soft wood, such as balsa.