Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
Background:- Conventional residential and commercial flooring systems
typically involve a
rough unlevelled fixed surface called a subfloor which could be a concrete
slab or a plywood
board onto which a finished flooring is applied. Flooring is classified into
resilient and non-
resilient flooring types. Both resilient and non-resilient flooring types are
further classified into
carpet style, laminate style and tile style flooring. The tile style flooring
typically involves an
application of a thick layer of adhesives, thin-sets or mortars etc. to act as
a bonding agent
between the top surface of the subfloor and the bottom surface of a tile. A
tile is then laid and
pressed against the subfloor and requires manual leveling of the tile in all
dimensions using
manual force. A plurality of the tiles is laid adjacent to each other with
uniform gaps between
the edges and is left over time for the bonding agent to dry. Once the bonding
agent is dry, a
grout-mix is used to fill the gaps between the tiles. This type of flooring
can be utilized in indoor
and outdoor applications. The flooring in outdoors applications such as decks,
patios, balconies,
terraces, front and backyards etc., is usually constructed using a variation
of the tile style
flooring system. The challenges possessed by this system range from costs,
ease of
construction, limited material availability, heavy manual labor, renovation
options, construction
limitations by code, weather conditions etc. A special type of tile viz, a non-
glazed porcelain tile
or a concrete slab is required in outdoor applications due to the possible
climatic changes such
as extreme hot and cold conditions, frost or heaving that might affect the
longevity of the tile.
These tiles are usually 1" thick and at least 2ft x 2ft in dimensions
requiring a levelled
foundation either with screening material, styrofoam sheets or adjustable
height pedestals to
be installed . These tiles are costlier and comparatively heavier to both
handle and ship due to
the required thickness. The logistics, load and labor required for the
construction significantly
affects the overall cost. A spirit level finish can also be difficult to
achieve since the tiles need to
be manually leveled in addition to the foundation or material it sits upon.
Replacement of the
constructed flooring in indoor applications require heavy demolition as the
entire flooring
needs to be demolished from the bottom layer of bonding agent to the tile. The
replacement of
a constructed flooring in the outdoor applications requires the tiles to be
extricated off of the
foundation or material below. The heavy tiling members need to be manually
lifted and the
foundation needs to be cleaned and cleared. Certain outdoor applications
require the flooring
to be raised in order to accommodate height codes, if applicable and for air
and water flow.
This type of raised flooring requires extra materials or parts and can become
extremely costly.
Average cost of constructing this style of tile flooring for indoor
application ranges from $5 -
$30 per Sq.Ft including material and labor in Canada and USA for indoor
applications. The
average cost of constructing a this style of tile flooring for outdoor
application ranges from $20
- $45 per Sq.Ft including material and labor in Canada and USA. Typical
commercial applications
like offices, schools, data centers, casinos, event spaces etc. employ a false
flooring which aids
in mechanical, electrical, air and water supply and maintenance. The current
market provides
numerous solutions for raised flooring that employ metal or plastic fabricated
support
pedestals as the support base and usually use steel, concrete tiles as panels.
These solutions
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-13
2
possess challenges ranging from costs, finished material availability,
wmaterial limitations,
weight requirements, etc.
RELATED ART
U.S. 1,061,658 described by Bradshaw;
U.S. 3,398,933 described by Haroldson;
U.S. 3,645,054 described by Olvera;
U.S. 4,685,258 described by Av-Zuk;
U.S. 5,333,423 described by Albrecht;
U.S. 5,588,264 described by Buzon;
U.S. 6,345,474 described by Triplett;
U.S. 6,363,685 described by Kugler;
C.A 241,938 A described by Carlson;
The above-mentioned prior arts include a variety of adjustable structural
supports, levelling
apparatus, deck supports, floor panel supports, adjustable pier blocks etc.,
there still exists a
need for a simple support system which can be used, for false flooring, decks,
balconies, flat
roofs, etc. The necessity specifically pertains towards the longevity and
integrity of tiles, ease of
application and installation, construction and maintenance costs.
The object of the present invention is an easy to construct piece-by-piece
system of assembly.
No bonding agents are required in this system. The system integrates a height
leveling
mechanism, which ensures accurate height calibration resulting in a spirit
level finished floor.
Any size or material of tile can be used in this application since the
assembly is slightly raised
above the foundation it sits upon and the tile has enough room to contract and
expand due to
climatic changes. The construction of this system involves a two-step process.
The first step
involves assembling the components of the system to embody a plurality of base
frameworks
that is laid and interconnected adjacently over the area to be covered. The
base frameworks
can also be altered in order to accommodate shape and dimension of the surface
area. The
second step is to simply install the tiles in position by laying them on the
corresponding
framework. A completely assembled system concludes a spirit-levelled finished
flooring. The
tiles can be removed and replaced anytime conveniently since they are not
permanently
bonded with the framework. This system further provides room for air and water
flow
underneath and in between the gaps of the assembled floor, so that the
elements may move
freely thus preserving the longevity of the tiles and the foundation this
system sits upon by
avoiding ponding, rot, mildew and fungal growth. The cost to construct this
system is almost
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-13
3
half the price of a traditional tile flooring system used outdoors and
considerably cheaper than
the current system used in indoor applications for elevated flooring. This
system can also be
deconstructed without demolishing any component and can be reused, recycled
and accessed
for ease in maintenance or additional renovations at a later date.
Description:- The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated
models of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting
sense but is made
merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the
invention. The scope of the
invention is best defined by appended claims.
The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be
combined in any
suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description,
numerous specific
details are provided, such as examples of assembling the components, materials
and fabrication
of components, varying dimensions of components, varying steps of framework
assembly etc.,
to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. A person
skilled in the
relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced
without one or more
of the components or with other methods of assembly of the components, steps
of assembling
the components and so forth. In other instances, well-known applications of
the invention are
not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
The term 'top' used in the following description refers to as the plane,
surface or part facing
towards or pointing at or closer to the ceiling, roof or sky. The term
'bottom' used in the
following description refers to as the plane, surface or part facing or
pointing at or closer to the
ground, base or the foundation. The term 'uniform interval' used in the
following description to
be taken in a sense wherein given four points a, b, c, and d are located such
that the distance
between a and b is equal to the distance between b and c which is equal to the
distance
between c and d, then points a, b, c and d are located at a uniform interval.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-13
4
In the drawings:
Fig 1. represents a side orthographic view and a top and bottom perspective
view of the top
rail.
Fig 2. represents a side orthographic view and a bottom perspective view of
the bottom rail.
Fig 3. represents a side orthographic view and an isometric view of the rivet.
Fig 4. represents a side orthographic view and an isometric view of the
spacer.
Fig5. represents a side orthographic view and an isometric view of the foot.
Fig 6. represents an isometric view of a free-support.
Fig 7. represents a top and bottom orthographic view of a constructed
assembly.
Fig 8. represents an isometric view of a single constructed assembly with a
tile.
Fig 9. represents an isometric view of multiple fully constructed system with
tiles.
The present invention describes the components and assembly of a system of
structural
support framework for elevated flooring. The invention specifically pertains
to a system for
tiled flooring that can be constructed by assembling the components together
to form a base
framework onto which aw tile can be disposed. A top rail, a bottom rail, a
rivet, a foot, a spacer,
and a free-support collectively define the components of the embodiment. The
said
components are constructed to embody a system of structural support framework
onto which a
tile of any size, shape and material can be disposed. The embodiments of the
invention can be
applied for indoors or outdoors applications and for residential or commercial
spaces.
Components and method of construction of the invention according to the
present
embodiment.
Fig 1. shows a top rail 10. The top rail 10 possesses a first short side and a
second short side
connected by two opposite long sides and a top side in fabrication to embody a
five-sided
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-13
5
elongated strip with flat surfaces and a hollow cavity opening through the
bottom defining a
length, a width, and a height. The top rail 10 possesses three pairs of cut-
outs 32 positioned
coincidentally on the two opposite long sides along the hollow cavity such
that two pairs of
coincidental cut-outs 32 are positioned near the first short side and the
second short side, and
one pair of coincidental cut-outs 32 is positioned approximately at the center
of the top rail 10.
A tape 14 fabricated of shock-absorbing resilient material is pasted around
the edges of the cut-
outs 32. The cut-outs 32 on the top rail 10 are dimensioned to accept and
seamlessly fit the cut-
outs 32 from a bottom rail 20. The upper edge of the first short side and the
second short side
project slightly above the top side to embody a fin 34. The top side possesses
two semi-circular
crevices 12 positioned near the fins 34. In fabrication, the crevices 12 are
disposed in an
opposite manner wherein the curved edge of the crevice 12 is disposed away
from the fin 34.
Fig. 2 shows a bottom rail 20. The bottom rail 20 possesses a first short side
and a second short
side connected by two opposite long sides and a bottom side in fabrication to
embody a five-
sided elongated strip with flat surfaces and a hollow cavity opening through
the top defining a
length, a width, and a height. The bottom rail 20 possesses three pairs of cut-
outs 32 positioned
coincidentally on the two opposite long sides along the hollow cavity such
that two pairs of
coincidental cut-outs 32 are positioned near the first short side and the
second short side, and
one pair of coincidental cut-outs 32 is positioned approximately at the center
of the bottom rail
20. A pair of coincidental cut-outs 32 will be referred to as a 'cut-out' 32
hereon. A tape 14
fabricated of shock-absorbing slightly resilient material is pasted around the
edges of the cut-
outs 32. The cut-outs 32 on the bottom rail 20 are dimensioned to accept and
seamlessly fit the
cut-outs 32 on the top rail 10. The upper edge of the first short side and the
second short side
project slightly above the upper edges of the two opposite long sides to
embody a fin 34. The
bottom side of the bottom rail 20 possess a series hexagonal shaped slots 22
located at uniform
intervals along the length.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-13
6
Fig 3. shows a rivet 40. The rivet 40 possesses an internal threaded bore 46
and an outer
hexagonal shaped body with a rim 44 extending radially outward along the
midsection. The
threaded bore 46 is dimensioned to accept a foot 58 with matching threads. The
outer
hexagonal shaped body is dimensioned to fit the slots 22 on the bottom rails
20 and the rim 44
ensconces on the surface of the bottom rail 20 keeping the rivet 40 from
falling through when
inserted into a slot 22.
Fig 4. shows a spacer 50. The spacer 50 possesses a cuboidal shape with a
first side and a
second side separated by a thick mid-section. The spacer possesses slits 52
carved on the first
side and the second side. The spacer 50 acts as a connector between base
frameworks and
provides a uniform gap between adjacent base frameworks. The spacer 50 being
fabricated of
an elastomer composes a rigid deformable shape, high tensile strength and is
slightly resilient.
The spacer 50 also acts as a shock inhibitor and helps retaining the tile 64
in position. The slits
52 of the spacer 50 are dimensioned to perfectly fit over the fins 34 on the
top rail 10 and
bottom rail 20.
Fig 5. shows a foot 58. The foot 58 possesses a flat base 54 with a threaded
stem 56 extending
upwardly from the center of the base 54. The stem 56 is dimensioned to fit the
threaded bore
46 of the rivet 40 such that the foot 58 can be rotatable, allowing it to be
moved upward and
downward through the rivet 40.
Fig 6. shows a free-support 60. The free-support 60 possesses a hollow box
shape with similar
width and height as the top rail 10 and bottom rail 20 of the present
embodiment. The free-
support 60 possesses a hexagonal shaped slot 22 centrally located on the
bottom surface. The
slot 22 on the free-support 60 is similar to the slots 22 on the bottom rail
20 and is dimensioned
to accept and fit a rivet 40.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-13
7
Referring through Fig 7. ¨ Fig 9., the system of structural support framework
in the present
embodiment employs a square-shaped tile 64, or a tile 64 with equal length and
width. Hence
the system employs top rails 10 and bottom rails 20 of equal lengths. Three
bottom rails 20 and
three top rails 10 are connected such that the cut-outs 32 on the top rails 10
perpendicularly
connect with the cut-outs 32 on the bottom rails at a right angle. The slots
22 on the bottom
rails 20 are inserted with three rivets 40 each such that two rivets 40 are
inserted in the slots 22
closest to the first short side and second short side and one rivet 40 is
inserted in a slot located
approximately at the center of the bottom rail 20. Each rivet 40 is inserted
with a foot 58 such
that the stem 56 of the foot 58 is rotatably inserted upwardly into the bore
46 of the rivet 40
and the base 54 of the foot 58 remains below the bottom rail 20 contacting the
fixed surface.
Three top rails 10, three bottom rails 20, nine rivets 40 and nine foots 58
are assembled in the
above manner to embody a stable square-shaped base framework possessing two
top rails 10
and two bottom rails 20 as each side and one top rail 10 and one bottom rail
20 intersecting at
the center. The height of the base framework can be calibrated by rotating the
foot 58 up or
down inside the rivets 40 until the required height and slope is attained. A
plurality of base
frameworks is constructed and laid adjacently over the fixed surface such that
the top rails and
bottom rails of the corresponding base frameworks linearly align. A spacer 50
is employed to
connect the base frameworks. The slits 52 on first side of the spacer 50 are
inserted onto the
fins 34 of the top rails 10 and bottom rails 20 of one base framework until
the top surface of
the spacer 50 seamlessly aligns with the edge of the fin 34, thus defining a
limiter, hereon
referred to the part of the spacer 50 along the inner edge of the top rails 10
and bottom rails
20. The slits 52 on the second side of the spacer 50 are inserted onto the
fins 34 of the top rails
and bottom rails 20 of an adjacent base framework thus connecting the two base
frameworks together. The thick mid-section of the spacer 50 ensures uniform
gap between the
base frameworks and aids in shock absorption. The connection of all base
frameworks with
spacers concludes the completion of the system of structural support framework
of the present
invention. A tile can be conveniently disposed onto the corresponding base
framework. The
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-13
8
limiter of the spacer 50 holds the tile 64 in position ensuring a tight fit.
In pragmatic scenarios,
the base framework might be too broad to be accommodated in certain areas
specially around
the corners, edges, beams, and other obstructions. The base framework may need
to alter in
order to accommodate such areas which can be achieved using standard cutting
or snipping
tools & equipment. An altered base framework might lose considerable support;
a free-support
60 can be employed in such scenarios. For example, a base framework altered to
accommodate
a corner, a plurality of free-supports 60 can be used wherein the slot on each
free-support 60 is
inserted with a rivet 40 and foot 58. The height of the free-support 60 is
calibrated by rotating
the foot 58 up or down in the rivet 40 to match the height of the
corresponding base
framework. The free-support 60 can then be conveniently disposed into the
hollow cavity of
the top rail 10 where the framework is altered and added as an extra support
for the tile 64. In
cases where the tile 64 needs to be removed or extricated, the crevices 12 on
the top rail 10
provide sufficient room to insert any standard flat tool to extricate the tile
64 off the base
framework. The elevated floor, thus constructed by employing the system of
structural support
framework of the present embodiment can be applied in indoors as well as
outdoor
applications. The system provides sufficient height for air and water flow
where required by
code, and for electrical or mechanical maintenance and installation. The shock-
absorbing tape
14 on the top rails 10 and bottom rails 20 abstains the creaking noise between
the components.
The system can be conveniently deconstructed by extricating the tiles 64 and
disassembling
each component. The deconstructed framework can be reused or recycled
responsibly.
A system of structural support framework for elevated flooring according to
alternative
embodiments
The invention disclosed herein may also be applied in scenarios wherein a tile
64 possesses
different length and width. In a case of a rectangular tile, where the length
of the tile 64 is more
than the width, a base framework that incorporates variant dimensions of top
rails 10 and
bottom rails 20 can be applied, such that when constructed, the base framework
possesses a
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-13
9
rectangular shape. Similarly, in a case where a tile 64 possesses a triangular
or a hexagonal
shape, the top rails 10 and bottom rails 20 with non-coincidental cut-outs 32
can be employed,
such that connection of the top rails 10 and the bottom rails 20 at the cut-
outs 32 is made at an
acute or obtuse angle. Thus, allowing it to connect the top rails 10 and
bottom rails 20 to
construct a base framework of triangular or hexagonal shape to accommodate a
triangular or
hexagonal tile 64 respectively. In a case of a tile 64 where the tile 64 is
longer, broader or
heavier than a regular tile 64, a longer measure of top rails 10 or bottom
rails 20 can be applied
with more than three cut-outs 32 on each top rail 10 and bottom rail 20. In
this case, each base
framework can be constructed using more than three units of top rails 10 or
bottom rails 20,
rivet 40 and foots 58 to accommodate a longer, broader or heavier tile 64. The
rivets 40 of an
alternative embodiment may possess a different outer shaped body specifically
having a
circular or quadrilateral shaped body. Similarly, the slots 22 on the bottom
rails 20 may
possesses circular or quadrilateral shape to fit rivets 40 of respective
dimensions. The stem 56
of the foot 58 may be further connected to the flat base 54 with a ball-joint,
wherein the flat
base 54 of the foot 58 aligns seamlessly with the fixed surface at the bottom
when placed on a
slope. The overall system of connection and height calibration remains the
same in all
embodiments. The embodiments of the invention can be fabricated by alloys as
well as organic
materials.
Date recue / Date received 2021-12-13
