Patent Application
20150240502
The present invention relates to an improved floor assembly for a decking or like structure. In a particular aspect, the present invention relates to an improved floor assembly for a decking or like structure constructed from elements comprised of glass reinforced concrete (GRC).
Decking structures, such as, for example, a jetty/pier or outdoor entertaining area, are well known and typically are formed using timbers. Timber used in conventional decking structures is subject to weathering such that it expands and contracts depending on the prevailing environment. Hence timber for decking is often pre-treated and sealed with a protective coat of varnish or the like, and timber decking when laid must provide a gap between planks to accommodate expansion of timber decking regardless of any pre-treatment.
Timber decking is commonly used in outdoor entertaining areas both in domestic and commercial settings. Commercial uses of timber decking may include, for example, an outdoor dining area of a restaurant or the patio of the cellar door of a winery. In areas that are prone to fire (for example, bush fire or wild fire), such as rural or semi-rural areas, it is desirable to use an alternative material(s) to timber that is fire resistant or at least less flammable than timber.
Structures such as decking or piers and the like made from timber are prone to rotting in the presence of moist air and attack from salt from surrounding sea water even if pre-treated. Timber decking left for many years, without frequent maintenance, is apt to fall into disrepair reducing aesthetics and/or potentially compromising structural stability. Similarly, timber decking structures, for example, which surround a salt water pool or a chlorinated water pool may be subject to chemical degradation.
Despite any pre-treatments which may be applied, timber nonetheless degrades with time, and may be prone to attack by termites, giving rise to decrease in structural integrity and diminishing aesthetics. In order to maintain such structures, general maintenance is required. In some circumstances the only method of maintenance is restoration where timber decking is removed and replaced with a new timber structure. The cost of maintenance can be relatively high; and, in the particular case of public decking structures, such a cost is usually borne by local Councils and, ultimately, rate payers.
Decking or jetty type structures are also conventionally installed by providing a timber supporting structure. A supporting structure may include posts, bearers and joists. Alternatively, a supporting structure may be formed from a concrete slab with timber joists affixed to the slab. Timber planks are then nailed to the joists of the supporting structure in spaced apart relation to form a walkway. The heads of the nails are typically exposed and additional labour may be required during assembly and/or by way of maintenance to ensure the heads of the nails are level to or below the surface of the walkway. Over time, typically the nail heads affixing the planks to the joists will protrude which can create trip hazards(s) and other related safety issues:
In order to build a structurally stable timber decking or jetty, the number of joists required in the supporting structure to support timber decking follows an engineering convention. Hence if it is desired to increase the width of a decking or jetty or like structure by using longer timber planks, the number of joists required to adequately support the walkway formed by the planks, must increase. Therefore, if a wide decking or jetty is desired; the amount of timber material required to form a stable structure necessarily increases, leading to increasing labour and material costs with increasing span of decking.
In view of the foregoing issues with timber decking structures and the like, it would be advantageous to provide improved structures which extend the life of the structure in exposed environments, is easy to install and disassemble, and provides sufficient structural strength substantially without increasing sub-assembly material requirements and associated costs.
One attempt to address the above problem is shown in reference to Irish Patent No. S77154. In S77154 there is shown a floating marina comprising a support frame, wherein the support frame includes a series of longitudinal ribs and cross-members supported on floatation devices; a skin-like fender mounted to and surrounding the support frame; decking mounted on the support frame, wherein the decking comprises individual parallel transverse planks of glass reinforced concrete, wherein the planks are fastened to the ribs by screws.
To the extent that timber planks are replaced with planks of glass reinforced concrete (GRC), the life of the marina can be extended. The improvement in life expectancy is derived from use of GRC, which incorporates alkali resistant glass fibres to reinforce cement, as opposed to steel, which fibres are not subject to the type of corrosion exhibited in steel reinforcement.
However one drawback with the structure described in S77154 is that the length of the GRC planks, and therefore the width of the marina structure, is limited to the extent that the support structure will need to be reinforced to support extra weight and length of a longer array of GRC planks. For practical purposes this severely restricts the degree of freedom to create different structural designs without adding to the cost of a support structure.
It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.
In an aspect of the present invention there is provided a floor assembly for a decking or like structure, the assembly comprising:
a plurality of elongate preformed planks arranged parallel and adjacent to each other to form a floor; and,
for each adjacent pair of planks a preformed connecting block provided with complementary mating components,
wherein the planks comprise a depending portion having mating components shaped to mate with, the complementary mating components when a connecting block is assembled between each pair of adjacent planks on a supporting structure to form a stable floor.
Aspects of the present invention represent an advance over the prior art at least because the assembly of planks and connecting blocks may be easily assembled and disassembled.
In one embodiment the planks and connecting blocks comprise glass reinforced concrete (GRC).
In a further aspect the connecting blocks may be GRC split blocks. The split blocks, in an assembled condition, may be releasably interconnected. The split blocks may be releasably connected by a pin, screw or bolt or the like. The pin, screw or bolt or the like may be adapted to be readily removed to allow disassembly of the structure. This allows the assembly to be readily disassembled.
In one embodiment, the depending portion of the preformed planks may comprise a tongue member intermediate the pair of oppositely disposed mating components.
In an alternative embodiment, the depending portion of the preformed planks may include an arcuate recess intermediate the pair of oppositely disposed mating components. In this alternative embodiment the arcuate recess may provide improved structural strength, and/or allow an increase in the length and/or width of the plank substantially without adding further supporting structure.
Aspects of the foregoing alternative embodiment of the present invention represent an advance over the prior art at least because the arcuate recess may provide improved structural strength and/or increased freedom to create different designs without necessarily increasing labour and costs otherwise associated with adding further supporting structure.
In a further aspect, the preformed planks may include a releaseable system for engaging an adjacent plank. This releasable system may provide an overall appearance of a continuous decking or walkway with minimal gaps between adjacent planks.
In a further related aspect, the preformed planks may comprise a glass reinforced concrete (GRC) panel having a vertical cross-sectional profile including a planar platform, a body having an arcuate centre portion, and mating components either side of the arcuate centre portion.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
In an assembled condition as shown in, for example,
The connecting blocks 101 are adapted to be mounted in spaced apart relation on a support structure (not shown). The support structure may take any suitable form. The support structure may comprise a sub-structure of posts, bearers and joists. The support structure may comprise a sub-structure of joists affixed directly to posts. The support structure may be made of metal or a combination of metals including, for example, galvanized steel and/or aluminum. The support structure may be made of timber. The support structure may be made of a composite material. The support structure may comprise a concrete slab. The support structure may comprise a combination of materials. The support structure may comprise a sub-structure of joists affixed to a concrete slab.
Referring to
In
In an aspect (best seen in
In
Referring to
In an alternative embodiment depicted in
As can be seen from the foregoing description of the preferred and alternate embodiments, it is plain that the present invention may incorporate one or more of the following advantages over existing decking structures or like structures, particularly timber decking structures:
Although preferred forms of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that modifications can be made to the embodiments described above or that the invention can be embodied in other forms. For example, while decking applications have been described, like structures may be assembled on a substantially vertical support frame to provide a screen or wall. Similarly, the planks described above may take the form of larger surface area panels.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012904544 | Oct 2012 | AU | national |
| 2013201787 | Mar 2013 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2013/001327 | 11/19/2013 | WO | 00 |
