Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATED FLOOR SUPPORTS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The current Invention patent refers to improvements in the supports
employed in the system for assembly and fixing of elevated floors, which
io simplify and optimize their installation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is known to the state of the art, the elevated floor system is widely
15 employed in spaces which requires the passage of electrical, telephone,
logic
cables, plumbing, air conditioning ducts, etc, and which should have easy and
quick access, both for their maintenance, and also for any required changes in
the "layout" of that space.
The known elevated floors are composed of a metallic structure
20 mounted directly on the floor or lowered sub floor of the building, over
which are
set out removable panels or plates made of wood or another suitable resistant
material, on top of which is later placed the desired floor finishing, and
said
structure is composed of a multitude of pieces that constitute the support
itself
for the false floor.
25 Thus, the known elevated floors mostly use supports composed of
pedestals or vertical pins fitted with feet at their lower ends for fixing to
the
ground, and the platform at their upper ends where the panels or plates that
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comprise the floor are fixed directly, each of which fitted with means for
adjusting the height.
Other known elevated floors use beams or sections fixed to the
aforesaid vertical pins, and over which the edges of the panels or plates are
supported.
There is also known elevated floors that use as a support beams or
sections that are supported or are fixed directly to the ground or sub floor.
The document DE 38217422 shows a support configured by an
angular metallic section, fitted with a L-head on which the floor plates lean
on.
io However, as this section presents only one side tab for supporting the
plates, in
order to get another side tab there are provided separate models with
additional
"clips", to be fixed by slotting into the vertical branch of the main section,
resulting in an excessive number of pieces, and convoluted assembly.
The document DE 19733647 shows a support configured by a
metallic section formed by folds of a metallic sheet that forms an upper
central
branch, two side branches on which the floor plates rest, and two vertical and
parallel feet with their inner-folded ends, making lugs for fixing at the far
ends of
the supporting feet.
The disadvantages seen in this support consist of the fact that the
final configuration of the section depends on mechanical bending stages, of
high operational cost, and on the fact that the section should be fixed to
feet or
columns to remain spaced from the ground, resulting in a greater number of
pieces, which also increases the final price of the product.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this Invention is a elevated floor support fully structured
and manufactured from suitable plastic material through the injection molding
s process, which support presents total constructive and operational
simplicity,
resulting, therefore, in a very low cost product.
This new innovative support, in its first embodiment option, is
comprised of an inverted "U" section, upper and longitudinally fitted with a
central vertical bar, or "crest", that delimits two horizontal side support
and
'o gluing tabs for the side edges of the floor plates in general (tiles, floor
plates of
any kind such as wood, aluminum, plastic, iron, shellacs, marble, etc.). The
gluing of these plates can also be done only at the base of the four points,
resulting in substantial saving in the glue applied.
This support can be fixed directly to the sub floor by means of screws
15 and bushes which go through small vertical cup shaped tubes a with a
drilled
bottom, which stick out from the lower side of the said side tabs.
Additionally, the side and vertical walls of the "U" section of the
current support are fitted with a multitude of aligned empty stretches, that
comprise spaces for the passage of cables, wires, piping, etc., that will be
built-
20 in under the false floor; the said empty stretches can be revealed in
various
formats, so that, in the preferred embodiment, these can be in the format of
an
arc.
Such revolutionary constructive simplicity of the support herein
perfected results in innumerable advantages such as versatility and economy,
25 whether in its manufacture, or in its use. This is because said section can
be
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manufactured in standard sized bars, rationalizing the manufacturing process,
the product inventory, and its use in the work, as the section is cut to the
desired length at the work area itself, without leftovers, and with the full
utilization of the parts.
Another important advantage of this new support consists of the fact
that it can be employed for the installation, in the same false floor, of
square
and/or rectangular plates, tiles, etc., of any length, width or height
measurements.
The same support can also be applied for supporting skirting boards
io and door stones, since that in such cases, it is enough that they are
positioned
at distances corresponding to the length and width of the floor piece in
question.
For installation of the skirting boards, it is sufficient to place the
section parallel to and next to the wall, so that the said skirting board is
fitted
between this and the crest of the section (see Figure 13).
Additionally, the central rule, or crest, provided for in the current
support also configures an auxiliary element for the fitting and finishing
between
the plates and/or tiles that form the floor itself, so that, in case where it
is
necessary to apply grouting, the used amount of this product is substantially
less.
In a simplified variation of this first embodiment option for using the
current support, it can be shown without the central or crest bar,
configuring,
thus, an auxiliary support for the sustentation of large sized plates or
tiles,
and/or thinner plates or tiles, thus eliminating the possibility of chinks or
cracks
thereof (see Figure 9).
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In the second embodiment option for this new support, said support is
presented as an inverted "T" section, which vertical, branch constitutes the
same central bar, or "crest", and the sustentation of this new section is made
by
cup shaped vertical tubes, with a central hole in the base, for fixing or
anchoring
5 to the sub floor, and that now, therefore, has also the purpose of very high
impact sustentation.
As with the first embodiment option, this crest divides the support into
two tabs of equal widths, and serves as a division between the finished floor
plates, and as they have a lower height, form a gap for application of the
io grouting to these pieces.
Said crest also serves as the frame for the various formats of finished
floors, whether rectangular, square, lozenge shaped, trapezoids, and or in
parallelograms, and each side sector of the section with its cup-shaped pipes
with a central hole in the base anchored to the sub floor, serve as
sustentation
is for very high impact weight.
And in a simplified variation of this second embodiment option of this
support, said section is presented without the crest, and constituting extra
reinforcement for delicate floors (with large sizes and thinner), and
breakable.
Furthermore, the support without a crest, leaned to and anchored to the
vertical
20 plane of the wall, serves as sustentation for the gluing of skirting boards
to the
walls, supported at their base by a skirting piece and/or a piece of the
finished
floor (Figure 19).
Additionally, with the objective of making this support even more
versatile in all its embodiment options and versions, and thus extend the
25 possibilities for the installation of elevated floors, as shown in Figure
20, it can
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be raised to a height of up to 1.20m, through the -use of plastic "tick wall"
extension sets, which in their first version are comprised of vertical pipes
and
cup shaped fixing bushes with a central hole in the base, within which are
fitted,
inside or outside (Figures 21 and 22), the lower ends of the vertical pipes,
which, in turn receive the fitting, at their upper ends, of the cup shaped
support
pipes.
In a second version of the extension sets (Figures 23 and 24), the
vertical pipe is shown provided with an externally threaded lower stretch,
while
the anchorage bush is tubular, lower and externally flanged, and provided with
io an internal thread, into which the lower end of the said pipe is attached.
To lock the thread between these two pieces at the desired height,
allowing altering the height of the floor, a nut is provided, similarly
threaded in
the reinforced pipe. The fixing of this anchorage bush is done by gluing it
directly to the floor.
In summary, these are the savings and simplicities resulting from the
support for the false floor, object of the current Invention:
a) a piece in injection or vacuum molded plastic, which due to its
constructive conception, use little raw material and has high pressure and
impact strength;
b) minimum application of screws with bushes for anchorage to the
sub floor;
c) crest on the body of the piece that allows framing the shape of the
finished floor with frames of any format, squares, rectangles, trapezoids,
lozenge shapes or even parallelograms;
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d) the crest allows perfect equidistance between the finished floor
plates, favoring regularity and savings in the application of the grouting;
e) the inverted "T" shaped support has in its two tabs cup shaped
pipes a with central holes in their bases; these cup shaped pipes, due to
their
s alternating layout in the inverted "T" tabs, support heavy weight loads; the
holes
serve as passage and anchorage lead to the piece to the sub floor using
screws and plastic bushes;
f) gluing only at the four points of the tiles of the finished floor;
g) total elimination of putty etc for laying;
h) rational speeding up of the labor in fixing the finished floor pieces;
i) rational speeding in the fitting and anchoring of the bars;
j) speed and safety in the locking between plates;
k) pressure from the floor plates is exercised only on the tabs and
cup shaped support pipes;
is I) low consumption of grouting which can be silicon, cement, glue,
etc.;
m) low design, installation and labor times;
n) full use of the pieces of the product in the work site itself (leftovers,
cuts etc.);
o) rationalization of inventory;
p) common thick walled plastic pipes can encapsulate the cup
shaped pipe, allowing heights of up to 1.20m;
q) the pipes mentioned for heights exceeding that of said pipe should
be seated with a bush anchored with screws to the sub floor, or by gluing; the
layout of the bush anchoring follows the alignment of the cup shaped pipes of
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said support;
r) fixing by screwing between the vertical pipe and the anchoring
bush allows millimetric adjustment of the height of the extension set, and
consequently, the perfect adjustment of the floor level.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference of
the
to following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows, in perspective, the new support in its first
embodiment option.
Figure 2 is a cross section view of it, according to line A-A shown in
the previous figure.
Figure 3 is another cross section view of said support, according to
line B-B shown in figure 1.
Figure 4 is an upper and schematic view of a false floor mounted with
the said support, for smaller sized plates and/or tiles.
Figure 5 is a schematic and partially exploded perspective of the
detail shown in the previous figure.
Figure 6 is an upper and schematic view of a false floor mounted with
the said support, for narrow but very long plates.
Figure 7 is a schematic and partially exploded perspective of the
detail shown in the previous figure.
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Figure 8 is an upper and schematic view of a false floor where a
simplified variation of this first embodiment option was also used, and that
configures an auxiliary support for large sized plates.
Figure 9 is a schematic and partially exploded perspective of the
detail shown in the previous figure.
Figure 10 is an upper view of the support structure of the false floor
composed of the new support in its principal version.
Figure 11 is a cross section view of the set shown in the previous
figure, according to line C-C shown in it, showing the passage of the wiring
io under and through the support, object of the current Invention.
Figure 12 is a cross section view of the set according to line D-D
shown in figure 10.
Figure 13 is a partial view and cross section of a mounted false floor,
and provided with a skirting board.
Figure 14 shows, in perspective, the new support used in its second
embodiment option.
Figure 15 is a cross section view of said support, according to line E-
E shown in the previous figure.
Figure 16 is another cross section view of it, according to line F-F
shown in figure 14.
Figures 17 and 18 show the section in the side and upper views,
respectively.
Figure 19 shows, in a transversal cut, a simplified variation of this
second embodiment option for the present support, namely without the crest,
and in one of the possibilities for its use, i.e., leaned to and anchored to
the
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vertical plane of the wall, serving as sustentation for gluing the skirting
boards
to the walls, resting at their base on a piece of skirting and/or a piece of
finished
floor, as well as sustentation of the floor.
Figure 20 is a schematic and cross section view of the new support,
5 in its second embodiment option, which is elevated through the provision of
extension sets, in its first version, showing as an optional fitting form, the
vertical pipe with its base fitted inside the anchorage bush.
Figure 21 is a magnified view of the detail A shown in the previous
figure.
10 Figure 22 shows, as another fitting option, the base of the vertical
pipe fitted externally to the anchorage bush.
Figure 23 shows, in a lower and exploded perspective, the second
version of the extension set.
Figure 24 is a side and cross section view of the assembly illustrated
in the previous figure, and in the assembled position, that is, in use.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of this Invention patent refers to "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELEVATED FLOOR SUPPORTS", such support (1) manufactured in suitable
plastic material and by the usual injection molding process, and which, in its
first embodiment option (1a) (Figures 1 a 13), is presented comprised of a
section (2) in an inverted "U", upper and longitudinally fitted with a bar (3)
vertical and central, of a section preferably trapezoidal, with the smaller
base
turned up, and which delimits two horizontal support surfaces (4) for the side
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edges of the false floor plates (P).
In the horizontal surfaces (4) there are provided means for fixing (5)
the support (1) directly to the sub floor, which are configured by vertical
and
lower cup shaped pipes, with a base holed in its center, through which fixing
screws (p) pass and are threaded directly to the ground.
In the vertical walls (6) of the section (2) of the support (1) there are
provided innumerable openings (7) aligned up, which delimit "channels" for the
passage of cables and wiring (F) of any kind, as well as piping of any kind.
In a simplified variation (1aa) of the first embodiment option (1a) of
io the support (1) (Figures 8 and 9), this is shown without the upper bar (3),
configuring an auxiliary support for sustentation of the false floor.
In a second embodiment option (1b) of the new support'(1) (Figures
14 to 20), this is shown comprised of a section (8) in the format of an
inverted
"T", which upper branch comprises the same central bar (3) or crest, which
equally delimits two horizontal support surfaces (4) for the side edges of the
plates (P) of the false floor, and below, a section (8) in a "T" is fitted
with means
(9) for support, sustentation and anchorage, comprised of the vertical cup
shaped pipes (5) for fixing.
In a simplified variation (1bb) of this second embodiment option (1b)
of support (1), this is shown without the crest (3) (see Figure 19).
Additionally, as shown in Figures 20 to 24, for the lifting of the
support (1) to greater heights, that is, up to 1.20 m, there are provided
extension sets (10), which in the first version (figures 20 to 22), are
comprised
by vertical "thick walled" plastic pipes (11) and cup shaped anchorage bushes
(12), into which are fit, within or without, the lower ends, or base, of the
vertical
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pipes (11), which, in turn, receive the fitting, at their upper ends, of the
cup
shaped (1) support pipes (5,9).
In a second version of the extension sets (10) (Figures 23 and 24),
the vertical pipe (11) presents its lower stretch provided with an external
thread
(13), while the anchorage bush (12) is shown tubular, lower and flanged
externally (14), and provided with an internal thread (15), into which screws
the
threaded stretch (13) of the pipe (11); there is also provided a locking nut
(16),
threaded in the. stretch (13) of the pipe (10), responsible for locking the
positioning between it and the bush (12) at the desired height. This threading
to allows precise adjustment of the level and the leveling of the floor.
Fixing of the anchorage bush (12) to the floor is done by gluing at its
flanged base (14), which facilitates and reducers the fixing process.
