IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,729,544
Granted Patent B2
US 12,729,544 · App. 18/643,184 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Covering element for floor and a floor covering

Inventors: Mariano Paganelli (Modena, IT); Claudio Beneventi (Sassuolo, IT); Lorenzo Valeriani (Scandiano, IT)
Assignee: UNILIN, BV
E04F15/082E04F15/02E04F15/02033E04F15/0215E04F15/06E04F15/203E04F2290/041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,729,544
App. No.
18/643,184
Filed
Apr 23, 2024
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3633
USPC
52/177
Abstract

A covering element for floors includes a tile made of ceramic material and a reinforcing element attached to the tile. The covering element has a lining along an edge of the tile.

Claims (21)

1 . A covering element for floors comprising a tile made of ceramic material, and a lower element attached to a lower surface of the tile, wherein the lower element projects beyond one or more edges of the tile;

wherein an adhesive portion is arranged on an upper surface of projecting portions of the lower element;

wherein said lower element comprises a reinforcing element and wherein said reinforcing element increases an impact resistance of the tile;

wherein said reinforcing element comprises a resin, thermoplastic or thermosetting, arranged to permeate open pores of the tile;

wherein said resin of the reinforcing element is different from said adhesive portion;

wherein the adhesive portion comprises an adhesive having a tensile strength of less than 1000 MPa.

2 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the lower element projects beyond two subsequent edges of the tile.

3 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the lower element is positioned off-center relative to the tile.

4 . The covering element according to claim 3 , wherein the tile comprises one or more edges projecting beyond respective edges of the lower element.

5 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive portion is covered with a removable film.

6 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive portion comprises an adhesive having a tensile strength between 80 MPa and 270 MPa.

7 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein said lower element is free from mechanical locking elements.

8 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing element comprises a metal sheet which compresses the tile.

9 . The covering element according to claim 8 , wherein said metal sheet has a thickness of between 0.01 and 1 mm.

10 . The covering element according to claim 8 , wherein said metal sheet comprises a coating.

11 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein resin acts as a glue between the tile and a supporting element.

12 . The covering element according to claim 11 , wherein said supporting element is made of plastic material.

13 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein said lower element comprises magnetic or ferromagnetic properties.

14 . A floor covering comprising a plurality of covering elements according to claim 1 .

15 . The floor covering according to claim 14 comprising a grout filling a space between edges of the tiles.

16 . The floor covering according to claim 14 that comprises an underlay between the covering elements and a sub-base to be covered.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2024
From: PAGANELLI, MARIANO; BENEVENTI, CLAUDIO; VALERIANI, LORENZO
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 067195/0151 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2024
From: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
To: UNILIN, BV
Reel/Frame 067201/0579 →
Priority Claims (1)
IT 102019000015117 · Aug 29, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17635087 · Aug 19, 2020
Related Publication 20240271432A1 · Aug 15, 2024
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