GB2150956A

GB2150956A - Floor panel

Info

Publication number: GB2150956A
Application number: GB08430720A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David George Godfrey; George Derek Whitehead
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-12-07
Filing date: 1984-12-05
Publication date: 1985-07-10
Also published as: GB8430720D0; GB2150956B

Abstract

The panel, primarily for raised or modular flooring, comprises two members (100) of flat form which are bonded together facewise to provide the complete panel. For high strength and durability the panel members (100) are preferably cast in glass reinforced cement (GRC). Also for convenience in manufacture the panel members are preferably identical and each have a recessed face (110) containing raised projection formation shown consisting of a series of truncated pyramidal projections (102) providing flat faces (120) for distributed supporting abutment between the panel members (100). Similar abutment is provided (at 130) between the side walls (103). Any suitable raised projection formation may be employed such as ribbing whilst the co-operating face of only one panel member may be recessed and contain the raised projection formation for supporting contact with the other panel member in the form of a flat cover plate. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Panel construction The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction of panel primarily for use in raised or modular flooring but capable of other use and having several desirable properties as will be apparent from the following description.

According to this invention a floor or like panel comprises two members of flat form secured, or adapted to be secured, such as by bonding facewise to one another so as to provide the panel, at least one of the members having a recessed face containing raised projection formation for supporting contact with the co-operating face of the other member or with complementary projection formation of the latter.

In practice floor panels embodying the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention shown with a cover plate broken away to reveal construction, Figure 2 is a part sectional side view, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the co-operating face of one of the panel members of another form of the invention Figure 4 is an enlarged scale detail cross-sectional view of the assembled panel, Figure 5 is a plan view showing an alternative form of co-operating face of a panel member, and Figure 6 is an enlarged scale detail cross-sectional view of the assembled panel employing panel members according to Figure 3.

Any dimensions quoted herein are given by way of practical example only and may be varied according to requirements.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 one member or body 1 of the panel of flat form is cast in suitable material preferably glass reinforced cement (GRC) for high strength and durability, appropriate dewatering being effected during the casting process.

The other member or cover plate 2 is also of similar material such as glass reinforced cement having a content of PFA (pulverised fly ash).

The normally upper face of the body 1 is recessed at 10 and contains raised projection formation shown consisting of ribbing 11 in order to combine mimimum weight with adequate strength, the ribbing 11 providing distributed support for the cover plate 2 i.e. in addition to the side walls 12.

The configuration of the raised projection formation or ribbing 11 may be varied from that shown and may follow that later described. The cover plate 2 is secured to the body 1 such as by an epoxy resin adhesive.

In order to provide support for point loading on the cover plate 2 over a recess 10 each of the latter may be filled with substantially rigid cellular or similar material such as rigid foam material as at 3 and/or material of honeycomb form as at 30, the latter being arranged so that the cell walls withstand axial or end loading. In a similar manner short lengths of tubular material may be inserted endwise in the recesses 10 i.e. so as to fill the latter in close proximity or contact.

Where the internally ribbed body 1 and cover plate 2 are produced in glass reinforced cement and with the internal support material 3 and/or 30, the complete panel is of sufficiently light weight for ease of handling e.g. where 600mm (2 feet) square or thereabouts.

The upper face of the cover plate 2 is able to receive carpeting or other floor finishing material adhesively affixed to it.

The exterior of the side walls 12 of the body 1 are shown of slightly inclined or taper form inwardly towards that face receiving the cover plate 2 in order to provide a draft angle for casting purposes i.e. for withdrawal from a mould.

The cover plate 2 is also shown extending slightly beyond the outer edge of the side walls 12 e.g. for about 2mm (1/16 inch) to ensure abutment or close fitting of panel edges in a floor assembly.

Clearance may be also allowed in this way for location of the panel on support jacks.

In another form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 each member 100 of the panel assembly is of flat form and is cast in suitable material which again is preferably glass reinforced cement (GRC) for high strength and durability with appropriate de-watering being effected during the casting process.

The co-operating face 110 of each panel member 100 is recessed at 101, the recessing containing a series of raised projections 102 shown on truncated pyramidal form so as to have flat upper faces 120 lying in the same plane as the corresponding faces 130 of the side walls 103 of the panel member.

For convenience in manufacture the panel members 100 are identical and to form a complete panel assembly they are secured together facewise with the projections 102 of one co-operating face 110 abutting those of the other and bonded or otherwise secured together such as by an epoxy resin adhesive, i.e. between the faces 120 and also between the faces 130 of the side walls 103 (see Figure 2).

The recessing of each panel member 100 and of the resulting panel assembly enables weight to be kept to a minimum whilst the abutment of opposed faces 120 of the projections 102 provides a large number of locations of direct support of one panel member 100 from the other in order to effectively withstand point loading on the complete panel e.g. in a modular floor construction.

As before the complete panel assembly is of sufficiently light weight for ease of handling e.g.

where 600mm (2 feet) square or thereabouts.

The outer face of that panel member 100 which is uppermost is able to receive carpeting or other floor finishing material adhesively affixed to it. The exterior of the side walls 103 of each panel member are shown of slightly inclined or taper from inwardly towards the co-operating face and together with the pyramidal projections 102 and interior side faces 133 of the walls 103 provides suitable draft angles for casting purposes, i.e. for with drawal from a mould.

An alternative form of panel member 100 is shown in Figures 5 and 6 in which a concentric series of spaced apart endless ribs 105 are shown whose upper faces 150 are flush with the corresponding faces 130 of the side walls 103 of the panel member 100. In the example shown each endless rib 105 is of square configuration in plan view but may be of other form such as rectangular or circular configuration. Especially for moulding purposes the ribbing 105 has mutually inclined side faces and likewise the side walls 103.

In a similar manner to that already described and when the identical co-operating faces 110 of two panel members 100 are secured together the ribs 105 abut one another at 150 to provide distributed support of one panel member 100 from the other and with the same advantages as regards light weight and high strength as already referred to.

The ribbing 105 need not necessarily be of endless form but may be of any suitable arrangement or pattern to provide distributed support.

In a developoment shown in Figures 5 and 6 adjacent ribs 105 or a side wall 103 and adjacent rib 105 are united by cross ribbing as at 106 which ribbing may be of less height than the ribs 105 and side walls 103 or may be flush with their faces 150, 130. Such reinforcement ribbing 106 may be spaced apart and distributed in the co-operating face 110 of each panel member 100 according to requirements.

In addition to their durability the above described panel assemblies have a high strength against deflection or fracture under load and have a low co-efficient of expansion. Furthermore they are also fireproof, electrically non-conductive and are highly resistant to water absorption.

Although particularly intended for floor use, panel assemblies according to this invention are capable of other use such as in wall, ceiling or roof construction and with the same practical advantages already referred to.

Claims

1. A floor or like panel comprising two members of flat form secured, or adapted to be secured, such as by bonding, facewise to one another so as to provide the panel, at least one of the members having a recessed face containing raised projection formation for supporting contact with the co-operating face of the other member or with complementary projection formation of the latter.

2. A floor or like panel according to claim 1 wherein the panel members are of substantially identical co-operating face form to one another

3. A floor or like panel according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the raised projection formation of at least one of the panels consists of a series of projections having flat contact faces.

4. A floor or like panel according to claim 3 wherein the projections are of truncated pyramidal form.

5. A floor or like panel according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the raised projection formation consists of ribbing.

6. A floor or like panel according to claim 1 or claim 2 with any of claims 3 to 5 wherein one of the panel members has a recessed face containing raised projection formation for supporting contact with the face of the other member which latter consists of a cover or plate of substantially rigid sheet form.

7. A floor or like panel according to any of the preceding claims wherein the recessed face of at least one of the panel members receives substantially rigid cellular tubular or similar material for providing further support between the panel members.

8. A floor or like panel when substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 or 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A floor or like panel according to any of the preceding claims wherein the panel members are made of glass reinforced cement (GRC).