Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Raised Floor System and Method of Installing Same
Inventors: Dale Marshall
Paul Spavor
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to an improved design of a raised floor system that
is also known as: an elevated floor, an access floor, a false floor, a
pedestal floor,
a cellular floor or a computer floor system.
Related Art
A raised floor system is used where it is desirable to maintain ready access
below the floor surface to calbles, wiring, ducting and other building
services.
Access floor assemblies of the general class of the present invention are well
known in the prior art. Such flooring has been manufactured for many years and
is used extensively in computer and control rooms, and more recently in
general
office areas.
A raised floor system generally consists of a plurality of floor panels that
are supported a short distance above a base floor by support members. The
floor
panels form a raised floor enclosing a space between the raised floor surface
and
the base floor. The space can be used for the distribution of air, ductwork,
electrical wiring, conimunicatiion wiring and computer cables, as well as many
other services. Each panel is individually removable for easy access to the
services
below and to allow quick, low-cost relocation of service outlets.
Some prior raised floor designs include pedestals with stringers
therebetween on which floor panels are supported. The stringers serve to make
the floor more rigid, but create a problem in laying additional wiring or
ductwork
since both the floor panels and. the stringers need to be removed to allow
access
to the space.
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Floor panels in much of the prior designs are maintained in position by
simple gravity placement, or by being bolted to pedestals or to a combination
pedestal and stringer network. As such, in many of these prior designs the
floor
panels settled after tir.ne which resulted in an uneven floor surface prone to
rocking
when loads were applied to the floor surface. By adjusting each pedestal,
corrections could be made to account for the settling of the floor panels but
this
process is often time consurning and disruptive of office routine, as well as
expensive.
To address this concern, in U.S. Patent No. 4,438,610 to Fifer, free-
standing pedestals are used to support interlocking floor panels above the
base
floor. During installation, pedestals are arranged along the base floor in a
predetermined array and theri floor panels are interlocked and secured to the
pedestals. Thus, the precise location of the pedestals is only determined once
the
floor panels are installed. Adhesive is then used to secure the pedestals to
the base
floor.
Although the floor suirface of the raised floor system described in U.S.
Patent No. 4,438,610 is sturdy and resists settling/deformation, the design
and
process of installing a raised Eloor according to this design is tedious and
time
consuming due to the carefiul measuring and layout required to assure pedestal
placement at each corner of a floor panel plus the subsequent trial and error
involved in getting the pedestals correctly positioned during actual
installation.
In addition, each pedestal must then be individually secured to the base floor
and
leveled.
To address the probleins associated with pedestals and/or stringers, U.S.
Patent No. 4,905,437 to Heather suggests a plastic floor support module of
unitary construction. The imodule comprises a plurality of support props
extending upward from an integral frame arrangement with integral connection
means for joining the module to a support prop of an adjacent floor support
module. Support props are fDrmed to accept a threaded fastener by which the
corner of a floor panel may be secured and/or to support the underside of the
floor
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panel. This configuration minimizes the necessity of leveling the floor panels
and
provides better support for the floor panels since each floor panel rests on
support
props at its corners a.nd at various points about its interior area.
However, installation and repair of the flooring system disclosed in U.S.
Patent No. 4,905,437 is difficult due to the unitary nature of the floor
support
module. The floor support modules interconnect one to another forming an array
to which the floor panels are secured. There is not a one-to-one relationship
between any given floor support module and floor panel. Thus, positioning of
floor panels is depenclent on the location of the nearest support prop to each
of its
four corners. Often times, a floor panel will not align with a support prop at
each
corner. This results from a variety of causes, including dimensional build
which
can occur as a consequence of incidental stretching of the unitary floor
support
module during installation, i.e., stretching that occurs when modules are laid
and
connected on the base floor and then lifted so that adhesive may be applied to
the
under surface of the module. IJVhen floor panels do not readily align with
support
props, subsequent positioning of the floor panels is often tedious and
difficult
because it requires reworking areas already installed.
In addition, if' a support prop or module of the floor system described in
U.S. Patent No. 4,905,437 is damaged during or subsequent to installation, it
requires that the entire module be removed which can and often does entail the
removal of numerous panels. This increases installation and repair time, as
well
as, the costs associated therewith.
Accordingly, what is needed is a raised floor system that incorporates a
stable raised floor surface with. a supporting structure that allows ready
access to
the space created therein. In addition, the raised floor system must be
designed
for ease of installation over a base floor surface, as well as, allow for ease
of
subsequent repair.
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Summary of the Invention
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance
with the purposes of the present invention as embodied and broadly
described herein, the raised floor system of the present invention
provides a uniform floor surface above a base floor with space
therebetween. The raised floor system comprises a low--profile base
floor web assembly for installing on a base floor and floor panels
that are secured thereto.
In the present invention, the base floor web consists of
interconnected base floor web tiles. Each tile is comprised of
elongate members integrally formed between connection pods and/or
docking pods in a square grid-like arrangement. Connection pods are
formed between elongate members along two sides of the tile, whereas
docking pods are formed between elongate members on the remaining two
sides of the tile. The connection pods are circular and the docking
pods are semi-circular. However, connection pods and docking pods can
be constructed in any complementing shape.
Further, adhesion pads are integrally formed between each
elongate member and connection pod, as well as, between each docking
pod and elongate member. At approximately the center of each adhesion
pad is an aperture for receiving mastic or glue and on the underside
of each adhesion pad are slightly raised radial lines. When the base
floor web is installed on a base floor, mastic is injected through the
apertures of each adhesion pad so that the mastic is applied under the
adhesion pad and between the radial lines without lifting the web off
the base floor. The slightly raised area created by the radial lines
on the underside of the adhesion pad ensures that the mastic is not
squeezed out once the weight of the floor panels is applied during
installation, which is further described below.
Further, elongate members which form the perimeter of each base
floor web tile have means for interconnecting with adjoining base
floor web tiles to form the base floor web. The tile interconnection
means comprises tabs and/or tab acceptors disposed on the perimeter
elongate members of each base floor web tile.
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Thus, tab acceptors of one base floor web tile are positioned to
correspond to and receive respective tabs of adjoining base
floor web tiles. Elongate members which form the interior grid
of the base floor web tile may be provided with cable tie-downs
for securing cables, wires and similar items thereto.
The present invention relates to a raised floor system for
installation over a base floor structure and comprises: a
plurality of interconnected unitary base assemblies, each
unitary base assembly including a lower side for supportive
engagement with the base floor structure; a plurality of upright
floor panel supports positioned generally along a perimeter of
the respective base assembly; a connector arm radiating
outwardly from a base of each upright support, each connector
arm releasably interconnected with a connector arm of an
adjacent base assembly at a position located between adjacent
supports of the respective adjacent base assemblies to
interconnect the adjacent base assemblies and to horizontally
positionally relate same relative to one another; and a
plurality of floor panels supported on the upright supports of
the base assemblies, the plurality of floor panels together
defining a raised floor surface spaced upwardly from the base
floor structure.
The invention further relates to a unitary base structure
for supporting at least one floor panel in vertically spaced
relation from a base floor to define a raised floor and
comprises: a generally rectangular and unitary base member
defining a lower surface for supportive engagement with the base
floor; a plurality of generally vertically oriented supports
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which are cantilevered upwardly from the base member, four of
the supports being disposed at respective corners of the base
member and upper ends of each of the supports being configured
for supportingly engaging at least one floor panel so as to
space same upwardly from the respective base member; and an
elongate connector element projecting outwardly from each of the
corners of the base member beyond the respective supports,
whereby each of the connector elements is positively engageable
with a connector element of an additional base structure
disposed in horizontally adjacent relation with the base
structure.
The invention still further relates to a base arrangement
for supporting a plurality of floor panels above a base floor so
as to define a raised floor, and comprises: a plurality of
unitary base assemblies releasably interconnected with one
another in side-by-side horizontally adjacent relation; each
base assembly including a base member defining a lower surface
for supportive engagement with the base floor and including a
plurality of upright support members which are fixed to and
cantilevered upwardly from the base member for supportingly
engaging one or more floor panels to position same in vertically
spaced relation from the base floor, the support members being
disposed in a generally rectangular formation with one another
and defining a periphery of the base member, and a plurality of
connectors projecting horizontally from the periphery of at
least some of the base members, each connector having an outer
free end releasably connected to the outer free end of a
respective connector of a horizontally adjacent base assembly.
The invention also relates to a base arrangement for
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supporting a raised floor in vertically spaced relation from a
base floor and comprises: a plurality of one-piece and generally
rectangular base tiles disposed in side-by-side horizontally
adjacent relation with one another, some of the base tiles
defining four corners and mounted thereon a plurality of upright
supports having upper ends for supportingly engaging one or more
generally planar floor panels defining the raised floor; and
four elongate connector arms each projecting diagonally
outwardly from a corner of the respective base tile, each
connector arm having an outer free end releasably connected to
an outer free end of a connector arm of a horizontally adjacent
base tile, one of the connector arms of each pair of
interconnected connector arms defining a male fastening member
at the free end thereof and the other connector arm of the pair
defining a female fastening member thereon.
An alternate embodiment of the base floor web tile is
comprised of a plurality of perimeter members and iriterior
members arranged in a grid-like manner. In this embodiment,
perimeter members form a square perimeter and interior members
form an interior grid of the base floor web tile.
Connection pods are integrally formed between perimeter
members. Further, a connection pod is integrally formed between
the interior members at a midpoint of the tile. Extending from
each perimeter connection pod is a tile interconnector, with
either a male snap connector or a female snap connector formed
at the end thereof that is furthest from the connection pod.
The male snap connector may include three connection points.
When installed, female snap connectors of one base floor web
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tile snap onto the mating male snap connector of an adjoining
base floor web tile. Thus, the female snap connectors and male
snap connectors may be of various complementing shapes.
The base floor web tile provides a matrix into which floor
panel supports are secured. A floor panel support is a hollow
metal cylinder of uniform height with a raised lip around the
circumference of its upper surface. The lipped upper surface
has a slot formed through its center which it adapted to receive
a corresponding floor panel support boss.
The boss serves as a receptacle for a threaded fastener as
well as a cushion to the raised floor panels. Each floor panel
support has a base portion that extends outward from and
perpendicular to the main body of the floor panel support. The
base portion has notches or small holes evenly spaced around its
perimeter to resist the torque applied by the panel fastener
during installation.
A plastic injection molding process called "over-molding"
or "insert-molding" is used to produce a base floor web tile
assembly. To begin the over-molding/insert-molding process,
floor panel supports are loaded into a mold in an
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automated injection-molding machine which performs the over-molding/insert-
molding process. A plastic base floor web tile is then formed around the base
portion of each flooi- panel support. A connection pod, including over-molded
plastic stays, secures each floor panel support to the base floor web tile.
The stays
secure the base portion of the floor panel support to the web for installation
and
use but may still allow for the floor panel support to be removed and
replaced. In
addition, the notches in the bottom portion of the floor panel support are
filled
with plastic forming small "posts" during the over-mold process which prevent
the
supports from rotatir,ig during installation. Similarly, the floor panel
support boss
is formed on the upper surface of each floor panel support during the over-
mold
process. The raised lip arouncl the upper circumference of the floor panel
support
accommodates receipt of the boss.
During installation, a iloor panel is laid horizontally across the flat upper
surface of the floor panel supports of a corresponding base floor web tile
assembly. Each floor panel has a recess in its upper surface at each corner.
The
corner recess accornmodates the width of the flat upper portion of the panel
fastener. When the panel fastener is screwed into the plastic boss of the
floor
panel support, it secures the recessed corner of the floor panel therebetween.
In
this way, the panel fastener simultaneously secures the corners of four
adjacent
floor panels, thereby locating and evenly spacing the floor panels on the
surface
of the interconnected. base floor web tile assemblies. Further, the panel
fasteners
are also constructed with sufficient tolerance to allow for small
inconsistencies in
the raised floor level. Thus, upon proper installation, the upper surface of
the
panel fastener is substantially flush with the upper surface of the floor
panel and
the lower surface of' the floo:r panel is secured against the upper surface of
the
floor panel support.
The raised floor systenn of the present invention is installed on a base floor
in what is described. as a "top-down" process. Once the base floor web tile
assemblies are interconnected, to cover the base floor in its entirety or any
portion
thereof, the assemblies need not be lifted to apply adhesive, i.e., the "top"
(upper
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surface of the base floor web tile assembly) remains "down" (installed on the
base
floor) during application of the adhesive. A row of base floor web tile
assemblies
are laid down on the base floor and interconnected by interconnection means
located along the perimeter of each base floor web tile. Mastic is then
injected
through the apertures of the acihesion pads that extend from each connection
pod
and docking pod of the base floor web tile. The mastic then fills the area
created
by the raised radial lines under the adhesion pad. Raised floor panels are
then
secured by a panel fastener to the upper surface of the base floor web tile
assemblies as previously described. The area created by the radial lines under
the
adhesion pad retains mastic e=ven after the weight of the floor panels is
applied
thereby assuring adhesion of the base floor web tile assembly to the base
floor.
Brief Description of the Figures
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following, more particular description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a raised floor module.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a base floor web tile
assembly.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a base floor web tile.
FIG. 3A is a bottom plan view of a connection pod of FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a floor panel support.
FIG. 4A is a top plan view of the floor panel support of FIG. 4.
FIG. 4B is a side plan view of the floor panel support of FIG. 4.
FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the floor panel support of FIG. 4
taken along line 4C-4C.
FIG. 5 is a pei-spective view of a first embodiment of a floor panel support
boss.
FIG. 5A is a side plan view of the floor panel support boss of FIG. 5.
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FIG. 5B is a top plan view of the floor panel support boss of FIG. 5.
FIG. 6 is a side plan view of a panel fastener.
FIG. 6A is a top plan view of the panel fastener of FIG. 6.
FIG. 7 is a pe:rspective view of a floor panel secured by a panel fastener to
the base floor web tile assembly of FIG. 2.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of two floor panels installed on respective
interconnected base iloor wet- tile assemblies.
FIG. 9 is a perspecti.ve view of a second embodiment of a base floor web
tile assembly.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a base floor web
tile.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connection pod and a tile interconnector
of a base floor web tile of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is aperspecti.ve view of interconnected base floor web tiles of
FIG. 10.
FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of a connection pod of a base floor web tile
of FIG. 10.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a floor panel
support.
FIG. 14A is a top plan view of the floor panel support of FIG. 14.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is now described with
reference to the figures, where like reference numbers indicate identical or
functionally similar elements. Also in the figures, the left most digit of
each
reference number corresponds to the figure in which the reference number is
first
used. While specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, it should
be
understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled
in the
relevant art will recognize that other configurations and arrangements can be
used
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without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be
apparent
to a person skilled in the relevant art that this invention can also be
employed in
a variety of other applical:ions, including wall and ceiling raised panel
arrangements
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a raised floor module 100 is shown. The
interconnection of raised floor modules 100 across the entirety of a base
floor
results in a stable, raised floor surface that allows ready access to the
space below.
FIG. I is a perspective view of a raised floor module 100 in accordance with
the
present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base floor web tile
assembly
104.
Raised floor rnodule 100 includes a floor panel 102 and a corresponding
base floor web tile assembly 104. Floor panel 102 may be made from a variety
of
materials, such as wood, particle board, concrete, metal or various
combinations
of these materials. Floor panel 102 is constructed so that each corner has a
recess
106. In one embodiment, recess 106 is formed in a sector sized to receive a
corresponding sector of an upper portion of a threaded panel fastener (not
shown)
used to secure floor panel 102; to base floor web tile assembly 104.
As shown in F'IG. 2, base floor web tile assembly 104 includes a base floor
web tile 202 fitted with a plurality of floor panel supports 204, wherein each
floor
panel support 204 has a floor panel support boss 206 affixed to an upper
surface
thereof. Base floor web tile 202 and floor panel support boss 206 are
preferably
made of plastic but other resilient and flexible materials may be used. Floor
panel
support 204 is preferably made of metal. In another embodiment, the floor
panel
support can be made of wood, ceramic, plastic or any other material of
suitable
strength. The base floor web tile assembly 104 is preferably constructed using
an
over-molding/insert-molding process which is discussed in greater detail
below.
An alternate embodiment of base floor web tile assembly 104, as shown
in FIG. 9, includes a base floor web tile 902 fitted with a plurality of floor
panel
supports 904, wherein each floor panel support 904 has a floor panel support
boss
906 affixed to an upper surface thereof.
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FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a base floor web tile 202. As shown
in FIG. 3, base floor web tile 202 is comprised of a plurality of
elongate members 302 and diagonal members 320 arranged in a grid-like
manner. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, elongate members 302 form
a square perimeter and an interior grid of base floor web tile 202.
Diagonal members 320 provide reinforcement to the base floor web tile
thereby preventing the base floor web tile from stretching during
installation. In another embodiment, the elongate members may form a
rectangular, an octagonal or other polygonal perimeter.
Along two sides of the perimeter of base floor web title 202,
connection pods 304 are integrally formed between elongate members
302. Further, the interior grid of base floor web tile 202 includes
connection pods 304 integrally formed between elongate members 302.
Along the remaining two sides of the perimeter of base floor web tile
202, docking pods 306 are integrally formed between elongate members
302. However, in another embodiment, connection pods and docking pods
may be interchanged between elongate members on all four sides of the
tile.
When installed, docking pods 306 of one base floor web tile 202
abut with connection pods 304 of an adjoining base floor web tile 202.
Thus, connection pods 304 and docking pods 306 are necessarily of
complementing shapes. In the embodiment of the present invention
shown in FIG. 3, connection pods 304 are circular, whereas docking
pods 306 are semi-circular. In a further embodiment, connection pods
may be rectangular, octagonal or any other polygonal with
correspondingly shaped docking pods.
Adhesion pads 308 are integrally formed between connection pods
304 and elongate members 302 as well as between docking pods 306 and
elongate members 302. At approximately the center of each adhesion
pad 308 is an aperture 310 for receiving mastic or glue and on the
underside of each adhesion pad 308 are slightly raised radial lines
312, as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 3A. In another
embodiment, the adhesion pad may contain several apertures.
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FIG. 10 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of base
floor web tile 202 of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 10, base floor web
tile 902 is comprised of a plurality of perimeter members 1002 and
interior members 1012 arranged in a grid-like manner. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 10, perimeter members 1002 form a square
perimeter and interior members 1012 form an interior grid of base
floor web tile 902. A plurality of interior members 1012 are further
arranged diagonally to provide reinforcement to base floor web tile
902 to prevent base floor web tile 902 from stretching during
installation.
About the perimeter of base floor web tile 902, connection pods
1004 are integrally formed between perimeter members 1002, as shown in
FIG. 10. Further, base floor web tile 902 includes corinection pod
1004 integrally formed between interior members 1012 at a midpoint of
the tile. Extending from each perimeter connection pod 1004 is tile
interconnector 1006, with either a male snap connector 1016 or a
female snap connector 1020 formed at the end thereof that is
furtherest from the connection pod. Male snap connector 1016 includes
a plurality of connection points 1102, as shown in FIG. 11.
Adhesion pads 1008 are integrally formed between connection pods
1004 and interior members 1012. Adhesion pads 1008 are also
integrally formed between connection pods 1004 and tile
interconnectors 1006. At approximately the center of each adhesion
pad 1008 is an aperture 1010 for receiving mastic or glue and on the
underside of each adhesion pad 1008 are slightly raised portions 1302,
as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 13.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 3A, when the
base floor web tile assemblies 104 are installed on a base floor,
mastic is injected through apertures 310 so that it is applied under
adhesion pads 306 and between radial lines 312 without lifting base
floor web tile assembly 104 off the base floor. The slightly raised
area created by radial lines 312 on the underside of adhesion pads 308
ensures that the mastic is not squeezed out once the weight of floor
panels 102 is applied during installation, which is further described
below. In another embodiment, the raised area under the adhesion pad
is created by raised
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portions 1302, as shown in FIG. 13. In a further embodiment, the
underside of the adhesion pad is notched or scored from the lowest
point of the aperture to accept mastic or glue therein.
The base floor web tiles have means to interconnect one to
another to ultimately form the base floor web. In the embodiment of
FIG. 3, elongate members 302 located on the perimeter of base floor
web tile 202 have tabs 314 and tab acceptors 316 disposed thereon
which function to interconnect one base floor web tile to an adjoining
base floor web tile. The tab acceptors 316 of one base floor web tile
are positioned to correspond to and receive respective tabs 314 of an
adjoining base floor web tile 202. Further, interior elongate members
302 may be provided with cable tie-down locators 318, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 3A. In another embodiment, elongate members along the
perimeter have complementing interlocking patterns by which the base
floor web tiles are secured one to another.
In the alternate embodiment of the base floor web tile shown in
FIG. 10, the base floor web is created by positioning female snap
connector 1020 of one base floor web tile over a corresponding male
snap connector 1016 of an adjoining base floor web tile and snapping
them together, as shown in FIG. 12. Thus, female snap connectors 1020
and male snap connectors 1016 can be of various complementing shapes.
Further, perimeter members 1002 and/or interior members 1012 may be
provided with cable tie-downs 1014, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.
Base floor web tiles 202 provide a matrix into which floor panel
supports 204 are secured. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a one
embodiment of floor panel support 204. In this embodiment, floor
panel support 204 is a hollow metal cylinder 404 of uniform height
that has a raised lip 402 around the circumference of its upper
surface 412. Further, floor panel supports can be of any suitable
shape, cross-section and/or size.
The lower edge of metal cylinder 404 forms a floor panel support
base 408. Floor panel support base 408 is a circumferential band of
material that extends outward from and is perpendicular to the main
body of metal cylinder 404,
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as shown in FIG. 4C. Notches 410 are evenly spaced around the
perimeter of cylinder base 408, as shown in FIG. 4 and 4A. In one
embodiment, the notches are semi-circular. In further embodiments,
the notches may be v-shaped or u-shaped.
As also shown in FIG. 4A, the lipped upper surface 412 of metal
cylinder 404 has a slot 406 formed therethrough which is adapted to
receive a corresponding floor panel support boss 206. In one
embodiment, a square slot is used to prevent the boss from rotating
during installation and use. In an alternate embodiment shown in
FIGS. 14 and 14A, metal cylinder 1404 has a puzzle-piece-shaped slot
1406 on an upper surface thereof. It would be apparent to one skilled
in the relevant art that a variety of different shaped slots could be
used to prevent rotation of the boss.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of floor panel support boss 206.
Floor panel support boss 206 is preferably made of plastic with a
spoked upper portion 502 and an extended lower portion 504, as shown
in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Boss upper portion 502 serves to cu.shion floor
panels 102, whereas boss lower portion 504 serves as a receptacle for
panel fastener 600, shown in FIG. 6.
A plastic injection molding process called "over-molding" or
"insert-molding" is used to produce a base floor web tile assembly, as
shown in FIG. 2. To begin the over-molding/insert-molding process,
floor panel supports 204 are loaded into a mold of an automated
injection-molding machine which performs the over-molding/insert-
molding process. In the base floor web tile assembly shown in FIG. 2,
nine metal cylinders 404 of the type shown in detail in FIG. 4 are
used. Connection pods 304 of base floor web tile 202 are then formed
around floor panel support base 408 at the lower portion of metal
cylinder 404. Connection pods 304 have over-molded plastic stays 208
that extend over floor panel support base 408 of metal cylinder 404.
Stays 208 secure metal cylinders 404 to base floor web tile 202 for
installation and use but may still allow for removal and replacement
of metal cylinders 404. In addition, notches 410 of cylinder base 408
are filled with plastic forming small "posts" during the over-mold
process which prevent
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the cells from rotating during installation and use. Similarly, floor panel
support
boss 206 is formed on upper surface 412 of rnetal cylinder 404 during the over-
mold process. Raised lip 402 around the upper circumference of metal cylinder
404 accommodates receipt of'floor panel support boss 206.
During installation, floor panel 102 is laid horizontally across the flat
upper
surface of metal cylinders 404 of corresponding base floor web tile assembly
104,
as shown in FIG. 7. In one embodiment, a substantially one-to-one relationship
exists between each floor panel and its respective base floor web tile
assembly.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of floor panels
are
configured so as to correspond to one base floor web tile assembly. Each floor
panel has a recess 106 in its upper surface at each corner. The corner recess
106
accommodates the width of the flat upper portion 602 of threaded panel
fastener
600, as shown in FIG. 6. Wlien panel fastener 600 is screwed into floor panel
support boss 206 of metal cylinder 404, it secures the corner of floor panel
102
thereto so that the upper surface of upper portion 602 of threaded panel
fastener
600 is flush with the upper surface of floor panel 102, and the lower surface
of
floor panel 102 is secured agaiinst floor panel support boss 206 and upper
surface
412 of metal cylinder 404, as shown in FIG. 8. In this way, panel fastener 600
simultaneously secures the corners of four adjacent panels, thereby locating
and
evenly spacing the panels on the upper surface of the base floor web tile
assembly.
Further, panel fasteners 600 ai-e constructed with sufficient tolerance to
allow for
small inconsistencies in the floor level upon installation.
The raised floor system of the present invention is installed on a base floor
in a "top-down" process. Once the base floor web tile assemblies are
interconnected, to cover the entire base floor or any portion thereof, the
assembly
need not be lifted to apply adhesive, i.e., the "top" (upper surface of the
base floor
web tile assembly) remains "down" (installed on the base floor) during
application
of the adhesive. Thus, a row of base floor web tile assemblies 104 are laid
down
on the base floor and. intercorinected by the mating of tabs 314 of one
assembly
with tab acceptors 316 of an adjoining assembly. In the embodiment of base
floor
CA 02303950 2000-04-06
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web tile assembly 104 shown in FIG. 9, female snap connectors 1020 of one base
floor web tile 902 snap onto the mating male snap connector 1016 of an
adjoining
base floor web tile 902, as shown in FIG. 12. Mastic is then injected through
apertures 310 of adhesion pads 308 of the base floor web tile. The mastic
fills the
space created under the adhesion pads due to raised radial lines 312 on the
underside thereof. The configuration of the adhesion pads, i.e., the placement
of
apertures and raised radial lines thereunder, eliminates the need to lift the
base
floor web tile to apply the adliesive.
Raised floor panels 102 are then secured by a threaded panel fastener 600
to the upper surface of floor panel supports 204 of base floor web tile
assemblies
104, as previously described. During this step of the installation, the area
formed
between the raised radial lines of the adhesion pad retain the glue and
prevent it
from being squeezed out from under the base floor web once the floor panel is
secured thereto assuring a firrn bond with the base floor.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to preferrecl embodiinents thereof, it will be understood by those
skilled
in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
