GB2299819A - Demountable, nestable flooring modules - Google Patents

Abstract

A support for flooring, especially flooring for use at exhibitions and other temporary use, comprises: a platform 21 including an array 22, 23, 24, 25 of recessed portions each comprising a ground-contacting base and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base to the platform; and link means suitable for linking the support to like supports, the link means including pegs 45, 46 or other protrusions carried at two of the side edges of the platform and apertures or recesses 35, 36 carried at the other side edges of the platform, the protrusions being such that they can engage as a snug fit with the apertures or recesses of the like supports, and the apertures or recesses of the support being such that they can engage as a snug fit with the protrusions of said like supports. In preferred forms the supports are of tough moulded plastics material, are comparatively light in weight and are nestable one with another to facilitate transport and storage.

Description

FLOOLZING This invention relates to flooring and in particular, though not exclusively, to temporary flooring for use at exhibitions and similar events. The invention is described below with particular reference to modular flooring for use at exhibitions.

A common feature of exhibitions, whether held indoors or out of doors, is the need to provide a temporary flooring on a permanent ground surface - usually of concrete - of the exhibition site. The conventional form of such flooring comprises a framework of steel joists supporting flooring material such as hardboard or wooden boards, normally secured to the joists by fastening means. This conventional flooring, although in common use for many years has several severe disadvantages. First, the structure is very heavy and cumbersome and is therefore time-consuming in erection especially as separate fastening means normally have to be used to secure the flooring material to the joists.A second major disadvantage is that the flooring material is not nestable and a very considerable amount of space is occupied by the joists and flooring materials when not in use, for example when being transported from one exhibition site to another. These disadvantages are particularly relevant in that an exhibition commonly closely follows a previous exhibition and therefore it is necessary for the temporary flooring to be laid as quickly as possible.

The present invention now provides a simple form of flooring without the severe disadvantages referred to above. In particular, it provides a novel flooring support on which flooring material can be laid with minimum of effort and expense.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention provides a flooring support suitable for linking to one or more like supports to provide a composite support for flooring material, the support comprising: (a) A platform having a plurality of side edges; (b) an array of recessed portions formed in the platform each comprising a ground-contacting base and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base to the platform; and (c) link means comprising male means and female means, the male means being disposed in the region of two of the side edges of the platform, each male means comprising one or more pegs or other protrusions, and the female means being disposed in the region of other of the side edges of the platform, each female means comprising one or more slots or other apertures or one or more recesses; the protrusions being such that they can engage as a snug fit with the respective apertures or recesses of said one or more like supports and the apertures or recesses being such that they can engage as a snug fit with the respective protrusions of said one or more like supports.

In a preferred form of the invention the protrusions extend from flanges disposed longitudinally along said two of the side edges of the support; said apertures or recesses are formed in inverted channel members disposed longitudinally along said other of the side edges of the support; and the configuration of the flanges is such that when the protrusions extending therefrom engage said respective apertures or recesses of said one or more like supports, the flanges closely engage the interiors of the channel members of said like supports.

The support, which is conveniently of a plastics material, in effect replaces the heavy steel joists of the conventional flooring. It can, for example, be made by injection moulding in a shape which permits two or more such supports to be nestable; that is, to be fitted one within another for storage and/or transport. The array of recessed portions or members can, for example comprise 2 to 12 (especially 4 to 8) component recessed portions. Normally there is an even number of recessed portions.

Where, in the preferred form (referred to above) of the invention the female link means comprises slots or other apertures, their dimensions and those of the corresponding protrusions of a like support with which it is linked are preferably such that the protrusions in engaging the respective apertures provide a flush finish as between the ends of the protrusions and the channel member defining those apertures.

In a further preferred form of the invention the flooring material for use with the supports comprises boards or other members of planar form that can be laid on top of the platform of the support. For example, where the support has a rectangular plan, the board can be of a corresponding rectangular plan such that its edges abut, or are otherwise retained by, the male and female link means. Thus, the conjoint use of support and said board provides a flooring module linkable to like flooring modules to provide a floor.

In alternative constructions the flooring material comprises boards which overlie and are supported by the male and female link means.

The supports of the invention provide a most convenient means of erecting a flooring. They are suitable for production in tough plastics material (for example ABS) combining the advantages of lightness in weight and robustness. Their link means enables them not only to be assembled quickly to form a composite support structure but also to be readily dismantled for future use thereby obviating the effort and waste of materials inherent in the conventional use of joists and attached flooring material. If the supports are suitably formed they are nestable, thereby facilitating transport and storage.

In a further aspect the invention provides a flooring module which comprises: a support according to the first aspect of the invention, and flooring material supported on said support.

In a still further aspect the invention provides a floor which comprises a plurality of modules according to the second aspect of the invention, linked together.

There are now described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred forms of supports, flooring modules and floorings of the present invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line I-I of Figure 1 showing, in addition, part of an adjacent, like support linked to the support of Figure 1 and showing three different types of flooring material which can be used with the support; Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the central area of a first alternative support of the invention; Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line III- III of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a detail plan view of the central area of a second alternative support of the invention; Figure 6 is a cross-section on the line Va - Va of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line Vb - Vb of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a jacking wedge for use with supports of the invention; ; Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of a third alternative support of the invention, suitable for use with the jacking wedge of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a detail cross-section of the wedge of Figure 8 in engagement with the support of Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a perspective view of a support according to a modification of the support shown in the Figure 1 perspective view.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the support (20) is of formed plastics material (for example an ABS material) obtained, for example, by injection moulding and comprises a planar platform (21) having formed therein four component, rectangular recessed members or portions (22, 23, 24, 25) arranged in two parallel rows (22, 23 and 24, 25) each of two recessed members.

The recessed portions are conveniently of equal shape and dimensions whereby their bottom surfaces (26) are coplanar. The platform is to support flooring material which can be, for example of a plastics material or a wood material, for instance plywood, chipboard, medium density fibreboard (MDF) or wooden boards. The material is conveniently a rigid material.

The pairs of recessed portions (22, 23 and 24, 25) together with the portions of the platform (21) bridging them define a first conduit (not shown) extending across the support and, similarly, recessed portions (22, 25 and 23, 24) together with bridging portions of the platform define a second conduit (27) extending across the support and intersecting at a right angle with said first conduit.

The support can be of any suitable dimensions which will, in use, be determined largely by the conditions under which the support is to be used. With reference to a plan view of the support it is preferably square though other shapes, especially other rectangular shapes can be used if preferred. However, in general square supports are generally preferred as they facilitate quick linkage with like supports without the need to orientate them so as to match the dimensions of adjacent supports. By way of example it has been found convenient to use square supports having a side edge dimension in the range 400 to 600mm, for example 500mm.Where, for example, a 500mm side edge dimension is adopted other related dimensions can be as follows: Side edge at mouth of recess portions - 175mm Depth of recess portions - 165mm Thus, for example, the side edge at the mouth of the recessed portions can be a length in the range 30 to 40% (for instance 32 to 38%) of the side edge dimension of the support; and the depth of the recessed portions can be 25 to 40% (for instance 30 to 35%) of said support side edge dimension. These dimensions apply particularly where the support comprises an array of four recessed portions arranged in two pairs.

The side edges of platform (21) are formed (for example, during an injection moulding process) with link means for linking together adjacent supports of the invention so as to comprise a composite support. The link means comprise female link means at two adjacent side edges and male link means at the other side edges. The female link means (28, 29), in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, merge together at their common corner (30) The two female link means (28, 29) are conveniently identical. Taking link means (28) by way of example, it comprises an elongate, U-shaped channel (31) having an outwardly extending elongate flange (32), the flange being preferably, though not necessarily, the same length as channel member (31).Preferably, the cross-section of the U-shaped member (with regard to both its inner and outer surfaces) is rectangular and has sharply defined inner corners to facilitate secure linkage with a corresponding male link member as is described in greater detail below. The external upper surface (33) of channel member (31) preferably lies in a plane parallel to the upper surface of platform (21). The upper surface (34) of flange (32) is preferably co-planar with the upper surface of platform (21).

The upper surface (33) of link member (31) has formed therein engagement means, for example two spaced apart, elongate slots (or other apertures or indentations, grooves or other recesses) (35, 36) to engage peg or other engagement means carried by a male link member as is described in greater detail below.

With regard to the male link means (40, 41), only link means (40) is now described, link means (41) being conveniently identical thereto. Link means (40) comprises an elongate, upwardly extending flange (42), preferably formed integrally with platform (21), for example during a process of injection moulding. The flange (42) conveniently has a rectangular crosssection comprising inner and outer faces of which inner face (43) is shown in Figure 1; extending between the inner and outer surfaces is a horizontal, planar upper surface (44) coplanar with upper surface (33) of channel member (31) and parallel to the upper surface of platform (21).On the upper surface (44) of flange (42) there is disposed engagement means, for example, two spaced apart elongate pegs (or spigots, tabs, bosses, flanges or other suitable protrusions) (45, 46) adapted to engage respectively with apertures (35, 36) of female link means (28).

The peg or other engagement members (45, 46) are disposed longitudinally parallel with flange (42) and conveniently (as shown in Figure 2) are of substantially the same width as flange (42).

As shown in Figure 1, the ends of flange (42) fall short of the adjacent end portions of female link means (29) and male link means (41), respectively, the purpose of which is described in greater detail below. Thus, the support as a whole is not symmetrical in that at corner (30) the adjacent end portions of female link means (28, 29) merge together whereas at the other three corners the adjacent end portions of link members (29, 40) (40, 41); and (41, 28) are spaced apart.

Parallel with the inner face of each of the flanges (42) of the male link means there is formed in the upper surface of platform (21) a groove, recess or other means (indicated, by way of example, by (47) in Figure 1) to facilitate secure linkage with an adjacent, like, support, recess (47) being of shape and dimensions so as to accommodate, as a snug fit, the flange (corresponding to flange (32) of Figure 1) of a male link means of said adjacent support.

Figure 2, besides being a cross-section of the support of Figure 1, illustrates also three alternative forms of flooring material for use with the support. A first form comprises a board (50) of a suitable shape to fit, preferably closely, within the two female and two male link means of the support, the board being supported by the platform (21) not only at areas adjacent the female and male link means but also in a central area between recessed portions (22, 23, 24, 25). The board is preferably of a thickness such that its upper surface (51) is coplanar with the upper surfaces (34, 44) of the female and male link means, respectively. The latter surfaces thus constitute part of the upper surface of the assembled flooring and can provide a decorative square or other rectangular pattern therein.

A second type of flooring material is a rebated board or boards (52) having outwardly extending flanges or tongues (53) which extend over, and optionally can be supported by, the upper surfaces (34, 44) of the female and male link means. The tongue (53) is in end-to-end contact with a similar tongue of an adjacent rebated board (not shown) to provide a flush flooring surface.

A third form of flooring material, illustrated at the left hand side of Figure 2, comprises board or boards (54) which overlie and are supported by the upper surfaces (34, 44) of the female and male link means. It will be appreciated that these boards can be of substantial length and can overlie two or more adjacent, linked supports.

The ground-contacting part of recessed members (24, 25) can be of any convenient shape. It can, for example, be planar or it can be concave, an example of which is shown in Figure 2 in which embodiment the concavity is to accommodate a levelling or jacking wedge described in more detail below.

With reference to Figure 3, the first alternative support of the invention is similar to the support shown in Figure 1 but includes further means to facilitate the installation of services, for example electric cables. This means comprises intersecting channels (60, 61) extending respectively between opposed corners of recessed members (22, 24) and (23, 25), the recesses or channels being formed, for example during an injection moulding process, in platform (21). Where channels (60, 61) intersect there is a circular or other suitable aperture (62) passing through the floor of the intersected channels and providing access to the intersection of first and second conduits, for example those described above with reference to Figure 1.Thus, for example, an electric cable can be led along said first or second conduit, upwardly through the access aperture (62) and along one or other of the branches of intersecting channels (60, 61) into one or other of the recessed members (22, 23, 24, 25) without the need for forming holes in the walls of the recessed members.

The second alternative embodiment shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 is similar to that of Figures 3 and 4 and has intersecting, diagonally disposed recesses or channels (160, 161) and access aperture (162) in the zone of their intersection. However, in the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7 there are present two further channels or recesses (163, 164) formed in platform (21) . Channel (163) is disposed in a medial position between the pairs of recessed members (22, 25) and (23, 24); and channel (164) is disposed in a medial position between the pairs of recessed members (22, 23) and (24, 25). These medially disposed channels enhance the strength of the support.

Figures 8 to 10 illustrate a means of improving the stability of supports of the invention on an uneven ground surface. The means includes a jacking wedge (70) comprising a wedge body (71) and upstanding from the upper, sloped surface of the wedge body an engagement member (72) having laterally extending lugs (73). The alternative form of recessed member (122) shown in Figure 9 has an inclined lower portion (123) extending from its ground-contacting portion (not shown) and having formed therein an elongate slot (124) disposed in the direction of the slope of the inclined portion and having a pair of oppositely disposed engagement recesses (125) .The respective shape and dimensions of engagement member (72) and of engagement slot (124) are such that when jacking wedge (70) is presented to the recessed member (122) engagement means (72) can engage the slot (124), the lugs (73) passing through the recesses (125).

The wedge can then be driven inwardly against recessed member (122) to an extent sufficient to provide the necessary amount of support beneath the recessed member. As the wedge is thus driven inwardly it is retained in position with respect to lower portion (123) which is a sliding fit between lugs (73) and the upper surface of the wedge. The upper and/or lower surfaces of wedge (70) preferably have a serrated or other frictional surface to resist accidental escape or slippage of the wedge from its desired position in lower portion (123).

Figure 10 shows the wedge (70) in its operative position in engagement with lower portion (123).

The support (80) shown in Figure 11 is a modification of that shown in Figure 1. Compared with the support of Figure 1, that of Figure 11 has the following different features: (a) Each of the bottom surfaces (81) of the four component recessed members or portions has formed therein a square or other rectangular aperture (82) which not only saves weight but allows ready access from below into the recessed member for example for electric cables and other services.

(b) the bottom surfaces (81) and the adjacent zone of the respective side walls have formed therein shallow channels (83) (each adapted to receive, for example as a sliding fit, a wedge by means of which compensation can be made for irregularities in the surface of the underlying ground. The wedges used can, for example be of wood, plastics material or other suitable material; they can, for example simply be smooth faced wedges or wedges whose upper and/or lower faces have serrations or other means of providing an enhanced friction with the bottom surfaces of the support and/or with the ground.

(c) The male means, for example pegs (or spigots, tabs, bosses, flanges or other suitable protrusions) (84) preferably are tapered in at least one dimension to facilitate ready location in the corresponding female means, for example, apertures1 indentations grooves or other recesses(85).

(d) The supports of the present invention, at least in preferred forms thereof, have the valuable facility that they can readily be nested, thereby saving space in storage and transport. However, some embodiments tend to bind one within another when nested. To obviate this disadvantage the recessed members or portions are conveniently provided with means therein to limit the extent to which the recessed members or portions of one support extend into corresponding recessed members or portions of and adjacent support.

In Figure 11 suitable such means are the upstanding fingers, flanges or other protrusions (86).

Other features that can, if desired, be incorporated in supports of the invention are as follows: (e) If desired and as an optional further feature, one or more of the side walls of the component recessed members or portions can be formed so as to have an aperture therein, the aperture, for example, being formed contiguous with aperture (82).

(f) The upper surface of the platform is preferably flat to facilitate the use, for example, of Velcro (Trade Mark) for fixing a flooring panel on the platform.

(g) The platform has conveniently formed therein fixing holes to allow screws to pass through into blocks for fixing the support to traditional timber floors, skirtings or ramps.

Accordingly, the present invention includes, but is not limited to, supports having one or more of the features (a) to (g) described above.

Claims (12)

CZJIIWS

1. A flooring support (20) suitable for linking to one or more like supports to provide a composite support for flooring material (50, 52, 54), the support comprising: (a) A platform (21) having a plurality of side edges; (b) an array of recessed portions (22, 23, 24, 25) formed in the platform each comprising a ground-contacting base and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base to the platform; and (c) link means comprising male means (40, 41) and female means (28, 29), the male means being disposed in the region of two of the side edges of the platform, each male means comprising one or more pegs or other protrusions (45, 46) , and the female means (28, 29) being disposed in the region of the other side edges of the platform each female means comprising one or more slots or other apertures or one or more recesses (35, 36); the protrusions (45, 46) being such that they can engage as a snug fit with the respective apertures or recesses of said one or more like supports and the apertures or recesses (35, 36) being such that they can engage as a snug fit with the respective protrusions of said one or more like Supports.

2. A flooring support according to Claim 1, wherein the protrusions (45, 46) extend from flanges disposed longitudinally along said two of the side edges of the platform; said apertures or recesses are formed in inverted channel members disposed longitudinally along said other side edges of the platform; and the configuration of the flanges is such that when the protrusions extending therefrom engage said respective apertures or recesses of said one or more like Supports, the flanges closely engage the interiors of the channel members of said like supports.

3. Flooring support according to Claim 2, wherein said flanges together with the exterior of said channel members provide a retention means for flooring material on the top of the platform.

4. A flooring support according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the shape and dimensions of the male means (40, 41) and of the female means (28, 29) are such that, in use, said protrusions (45, 46t engage as a snug fit in the respective apertures or recesses of said one or more like supports, so as not to protrude beyond the exterior of the respective channel members of said one or more like supports.

5. A flooring support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ground-contacting base has formed therein an aperture suitable to permit access of electric cables.

6. A flooring support according to any of the preceding claims wherein one or more of said side walls has formed therein an aperture suitable to permit access of electric cables.

7. A flooring support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ground-contacting base has formed therein a channel to receive a wedge by means of which, in use, compensation may be made for irregularities in the surface of ground underlying the base.

8. A flooring support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protrusions (45, 46) have a taper to facilitate engagement with the respective apertures or recesses of said one or more like supports.

9. A flooring support according to any of the preceding claims, whose shape and dimensions are such that, for the purpose of storage or transport, it is nestable with other like supports, the flooring support having in at least one of the recessed portions (22, 23, 24, 25) an integral projection or other member to limit the extent to which the recessed portions of the flooring support can extend into corresponding recessed portions of said like supports.

10. A flooring support according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the overall external shape of the supports is a square and the recessed portions are each square and disposed symmetrically of the support.

11. A flooring module which comprises: a support as claimed in any of the preceding claims; and flooring material supported on said support.

12. A floor which comprises a plurality of modules as claimed in Claim 11, linked together.