Combined set comprising covering elements and attachment members and a method for mounting said combined set

Abstract

A combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements made of a synthetic material and a series of attachment members, which attachment members are provided for attaching said covering elements to a support, said covering elements having an upper and a lower surface and a first and second longitudinal edge, and wherein when attached on said support, a gap extends between said first and second longitudinal edges of two subsequently mounted covering elements, said longitudinal edges are integrally formed with said upper and lower surface and extend each time over their whole surface substantially linearly and continuously from an upper surface border to a lower border, and wherein a first respectively a second opening is applied, adjacent to said first respectively second longitudinal edges in said lower surface, in order to form each time a cavity therein, said first respectively said second opening giving access to at a first, respectively a second anchoring lip designed and dimensioned so as to match with said attachment member.

1 . A combined set comprising at least two outside floor or wall covering elements made of a synthetic material and a series of attachment members, wherein each attachment member of said series is provided for attaching two adjacently placed of said covering elements to a support, said covering elements having an upper surface and a first and second longitudinal edge, said longitudinal edges being integrally formed with said upper surface and extend each time over their whole surface substantially linearly and continuously from an upper surface border to a lower border of said covering element, said covering elements further comprising a first, respectively a second, anchoring lip designed and dimensioned so as to match with said attachment member in order to realise said attaching, and wherein when attached on said support, a gap extends between said first and second longitudinal edges of two subsequently mounted covering elements, characterised in that, said covering element comprises at an underside thereof a lower plane surface wherein a first respectively a second opening is applied adjacent to said first respectively second longitudinal edge, said first and second opening giving access to a first respectively a second cavity, said first respectively said second cavity having a cavity wall which is partially formed by said first respectively said second longitudinal edge, said first respectively said second opening giving access to said first, respectively said second anchoring lip, which are applied in said first respectively said second cavity and form an integral part of said lower surface. 
   
   
       2 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said attachment member comprises a footplate on which two resilient hooks are mounted, which hooks extend in a height direction with respect to said footplate, said hooks being mounted at a predetermined distance from each other and point in opposite direction with respect to each other. 
   
   
       3 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said attachment member comprises a footplate on which two resilient hooks are mounted, which hooks extend in a height direction with respect to said footplate, said hooks being mounted at a predetermined distance from each other and point in a same direction with respect to each other. 
   
   
       4 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said attachment member comprises a perforation provided for receiving a fixing member in order to fix said attachment member to said support, said perforation being applied in such a manner that its location corresponds to the one of said gap when said covering elements are attached on said attachment elements. 
   
   
       5 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said longitudinal edge has a length shorter than a thickness of said covering element, said lower border of said longitudinal edge forming part of said opening. 
   
   
       6 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said anchoring lip is provided with locking means for locking said attachment member. 
   
   
       7 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 6 , characterised in that said locking means are tooth and grove shaped. 
   
   
       8 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said covering elements have an alveolar structure comprising longitudinal tunnels extending between said upper and lower surface of said covering element, said first and second cavity being at least partially applied within a volume described by said tunnel. 
   
   
       9 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 8 , characterised in that said longitudinal tunnels located adjacent to said longitudinal edges comprise a first and a second section separated by a section wall, said first section having a closed loop configuration, said first and second cavity being applied in said second section. 
   
   
       10 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 9 , characterised in that said first section is substantially L-shaped and bridges said second section. 
   
   
       11 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said synthetic material is a composite material comprising a polymer mixed with cellulose. 
   
   
       12 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that a third anchoring lip is provided, said third and said first respectively said second anchoring lip being mirror symmetrically applied with respect to a centre of said opening. 
   
   
       13 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 2 , characterised in that said hook is swan-neck shaped. 
   
   
       14 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 2 , characterised in that said hook is lamppost shaped. 
   
   
       15 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 2 , characterised in that said hook has a curved shape. 
   
   
       16 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 2 , characterised in that said hook is formed by two legs, each leg being half mushroom shaped. 
   
   
       17 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said covering element comprises a third opening applied in said lower surface, said third opening giving access to a third cavity. 
   
   
       18 . A combined set as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that said third opening is asymmetrical with respect to a middle axis of said covering element. 
   
   
       19 . A method for mounting a combined set according to  claim 1 , characterised in that a first attachment member of said set and provided to engage into said first opening, is fixed to said support, a second attachment member is engaged into said second opening of one of said covering elements and attached to said anchoring lip, the latter covering element being moved towards said first attachment member, which is attached to the anchoring lip in said first opening by a shifting movement of the covering element, said second attachment member being thereafter fixed to said support. 
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , characterised in that said first attachment member is attached to said anchoring lip by a shifting movement. 
   
   
       21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , characterised in that said first attachment member is attached to said anchoring lip by a pivotal movement. 
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , characterised in that said first attachment member is attached to said anchoring lip by clicking.