Covering element for a floor covering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12188240-B2
Application number	US-201917257642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2019
Priority date	Jul 4, 2018
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A covering element for a floor covering comprising an upper surface having a relief structure, wherein the relief structure comprises excavations having a depth decreasing towards at least one perimetric edge of the covering element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A set comprising a plurality of covering elements, each covering element of the plurality of covering elements being a ceramic tile comprising:
a support made of a ceramic material;
an upper surface comprising a glaze covering, each of the upper surface and the glaze covering having a relief structure; and
a plurality of edges,
a lower surface comprising a second relief structure that is substantially specular to the relief structure of the upper surface, the lower surface being free from the glaze covering,
wherein the relief structure comprises a plurality of excavations comprising a bottom surface and a depth,
wherein the relief structure comprises a wood pattern or a stone pattern;
wherein the depth of the excavations decreases towards at least an edge of the covering element, and
wherein the set comprises a plurality of supporting elements configured to support the plurality of covering elements in a raised position relative to a surface to be covered, forming a cavity between the plurality of covering elements and the surface to be covered.

2. The set according to claim 1 , wherein one or both of the plurality of covering elements and the plurality of supporting elements are configured so that, in use, a mutual distance, or passage space, allowing access to the cavity is formed between adjacent covering elements of the plurality of covering elements.

3. The set according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of supporting elements comprise at least one spacer configured to be interposed between the edges of two adjacent covering elements of the plurality of covering elements so as to define the mutual distance.

4. The set according to claim 1 , wherein the excavations have a depth that decreases from a first edge of the covering element towards an opposite edge of the covering element.

5. The set according to claim 1 , wherein the excavations have a depth that decreases from a central portion of the upper surface towards the edges of the covering element.

6. The set according to claim 1 , wherein the excavations are interconnected with each other.

7. The set according to claim 1 , wherein the relief structure further comprises tops placed substantially at a same height, and wherein the tops define a walkable plane.

8. The set according to claim 1 , wherein the excavations have a maximum depth greater than 0.5 mm.

Assignees

• Unilin Bv

Inventors

• Cesana Giuseppe
• Guglielmi Andrea

Classifications

• E04F15/08

  only of stone or stone-like material, e.g. {ceramics}, concrete; of glass {or with a top layer of stone or stone-like material, e.g. ceramics, concrete or glass (E04F15/02005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E04F15/02447

  Supporting structures · CPC title

• E04F15/02183

  for outdoor use, e.g. in decks, patios, terraces, verandas or the like · CPC title

• E01C2201/205

  channels on the top · CPC title

• E01C11/24

  Methods or arrangements for preventing slipperiness or protecting against influences of the weather {(measures taken in connection with the foundation E01C3/06; paving elements with anti-slip inlays E01C5/22; aggregates resisting to grinding E01C7/085, E01C7/142, E01C7/182; specially for surface layers E01C7/35; reinforcements extending up to the surface E01C11/16, E01C11/18, E01C11/185; drainage E01C11/22; windscreens E01F7/02; snow fences E01F7/02; combating fog E01H13/00)} · CPC title