Patent Application
20220268033
The present invention relates to the assembly and installation of floor mounts into floors, and the installation of sprung floors having floor mounts.
In modern buildings, certain types of floors require an acoustical air gap in between upper and lower concrete slabs for noise attenuation. Additionally, the springs used to create these acoustical air gaps provide a low natural frequency of the upper “floating” floor slab, thereby allowing the “floating floor” to have superior performance for impact and vibratory conditions. Such floors can be effectively used in mechanical rooms, under equipment, in gymnasiums, under basketball floors, under treadmills, exercise rooms, and so on.
The springs used to create the necessary air gap are each retained within a separate housing to form an in situ floor mounting apparatus. A plurality of these floor mounting apparatuses are arranged in a grid pattern on the lower fixed floor slab to support the upper “floating” floor slab in shock absorbing and noise attenuating relation.
In the prior art, during construction of such floating floors and the like, the bottom assembly of the housing of each of the floor mounting apparatuses is placed in its position in the grid pattern on the lower fixed floor slab. Next, a lift spring is placed in vertically oriented relation on the bottom component, and the top assembly of the housing of each of the floor mounting apparatuses is placed onto the lift spring. An adjustment bolt or the like interconnects the bottom assembly and the top assembly of the housing such that the elevation of the top assembly of the housing can be adjusted, thereby permitting the elevation of the upper “floating” floor slab to be “fine-tuned”.
It is well known that the construction of such prior art floor installations is painfully time consuming because the floor mounting apparatuses must be incrementally adjusted sequentially. In other words, one floor mounting apparatus is adjusted slightly and then the next floor mounting apparatus is adjusted slightly, and so on, until all of the floor mounting apparatuses have been adjusted several times. Additionally, it is necessary to make the adjustments manually, using hand tools. It is accepted in the industry that the proper setting of an average size of floor can take perhaps two days, when installed by two workers, which is unacceptable.
The most relevant known prior art devices and their relevance will now be discussed.
The closest known prior art is made by two companies, namely Mason Industries Inc. of Hauppauge, N.Y., USA and (https://mason-ind.com/fs/) and Kinetics Noise Control, Inc. of Dublin, Ohio, USA and Anaheim, Calif., USA, (https://kineticsnoise.com/arch/contact.aspx). Both of these companies produce and sell floor mounting apparatuses that are designed and otherwise configured as described above.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,359, issued Feb. 21, 1989, to Miyake et al, is entitled Method Of Applying Floor Vibration-Damping Work And Vibration-Damping Floor Device. This Miyake et al patent discloses an early method of applying a floor vibration-damping device. The floor vibration-damping device comprises a movable support portion for supporting respective support points of a floor structure and a spring damper portion disposed between the floor structure and a fixed floor. The movable support portion comprises a lower ball receiving steel plate disposed on the fixed portion, a bearing ball disposed on the lower steel plate and an upper ball receiving steel plate secured to the floor structure and placed on the bearing ball. The spring damper portion comprises a damper main body of a shallow and flat vessel shape mounted on and secured to the fixed floor. A viscous fluid is contained by a predetermined amount in the damper main body. A movable member is attached to the floor structure, immersed in the viscous fluid, ensuring a predetermined gap between a lower surface of the movable member and a bottom of the damper main body. A coil spring is secured to the fixed floor at one end thereof, a rope-like member not transmitting a compressive force and being connected to the other end of the coil spring at one end thereof and connected to the movable member at the other end thereof. A reaction force receiving roller is attached to the rope-like member and abutted against an inner surface of the damper main body.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,615, issued May 26, 1992, to Miyake et al, is entitled Floor Vibration-Damping Apparatus. This Miyake et al patent discloses a slightly later floor vibration-damping apparatus that damps a horizontal vibration of a floor based on an earthquake or the like. This apparatus comprises a movable supporting portion for supporting a floor with being free to move horizontally, and a damper working portion made by a combination of a viscous damper fixed to a restricted position of the floor and a plurality of spring mechanisms positioned radiately with respect to the restricted position. Each spring mechanism comprises a tension spring and a pre-tensioning device distinct from the building for pre-tensioning the spring.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,386, issued Nov. 30, 1993, to Mühlethaler, is entitled Method And Device For Laying Access Floors, And Access-Floor Support. The purpose of the disclosed method and device is to simplify and speed up the laying of access floors formed of floor panels (6) laid on supports (5) set out in a regular pattern, an ancillary plane (4) extending over a field (3) of grid points (2) is levelled up at a distance from the subfloor or structural slab (1). A device (10) with a frame (11) and outriggers (12) is used to define the ancillary plane, to hold temporarily a multiplicity of supports (5) and introduce them simultaneously. The supports are then simultaneously adjusted in height and fixed on the grid points (2) in accordance with the respective distance between the ancillary plane and the (uneven) subfloor (1). The supports are then released from the device (10), the device is removed, and the panels (6) are laid on the accurately positioned head pieces of the supports. Various embodiments of the method, the device (10), and particularly suitable prefabricated supports (5) are described. In the latter, the head piece and base are loosely guided relative to each other and can be moved axially relative to each other without the need of rotating either the head piece or the base. After height adjustment of the supports, means of retention and fixation are used to fix the relative position of the parts to each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,061,692B1, issued Nov. 22, 2011, to Eriksen et al, is entitled Floor Isolation System. This patent discloses a floor isolation system that includes a platform and a multidirectional spring unit. The platform has rolling supports that isolate the platform from lateral movements of a substrate. The platform further has sliding supports that (1) prevent the platform from moving freely during daily service and (2) dampen lateral movements of the platform caused by the lateral movements of the substrate. The multidirectional spring unit links the substrate and the platform to provide a spring force in any horizontal direction that limits the lateral displacements of the platform. The multidirectional spring unit includes a spring secured to the substrate, a fairlead, and a cable having one end secured to the spring and another end passing through the fairlead and secured to the platform.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, wherein the floor mount is pre-assembled.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, wherein the floor mount is in a pre-compressed configuration.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, wherein due to use of the floor mount, it is not time consuming to install the floor.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, wherein the floor mounting apparatuses do not need to be incrementally adjusted sequentially.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, wherein it is not necessary to make the adjustments manually, using hand tools.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, wherein the proper setting of an average size of floor takes significantly less than two days.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, wherein the installation of the floor with one worker is within a very acceptable amount of time.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, wherein the installation of the floor with one worker is significantly less than in the prior art.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure. The floor mount comprises a foot; a lift spring having a top end and a bottom end and supportable in weight bearing relation at the bottom end by the foot; a top coupler supportable in weight bearing relation by the lift spring at the top end; a cover supportable in weight bearing relation by the top coupler; a removable securing member for temporarily securing together the foot, the lift spring, the top coupler and the cover in an in-use arrangement; and a lift adjustment member engageable in threaded relation in one of the cover and the top coupler and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the other of the cover and the top coupler. The lift adjustment member is rotatable about its operational axis to adjust the elevation of the cover with respect to the top coupler, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel floating floor above a sub-structure. The floating floor comprises a cured concrete slab, and a plurality of floor mounts in each concrete slab; wherein each floor mount comprises a foot; a lift spring having a top end and a bottom end and supportable in weight bearing relation at the bottom end by the foot; a top coupler supportable in weight bearing relation by the lift spring at the top end; a cover supportable in weight bearing relation by the top coupler; a removable securing member for temporarily securing together the foot, the lift spring, the top coupler and the cover in an in-use arrangement; a lift adjustment member engageable in threaded relation in one of the cover and the top coupler and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the other of the cover and the top coupler. The lift adjustment member is rotatable about its operational axis to adjust the elevation of the cover with respect to the top coupler, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure. The floor mount comprises a foot, a lift spring, a top coupler, and a cover disposed in seriatim one with the next; a removable securing member for temporarily securing together the foot, the lift spring, the top coupler and the cover in an in-use arrangement; and a lift adjustment member for adjusting the elevation of the cover with respect to the top coupler, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel floating floor above a sub-structure. The floating floor comprises a cured concrete slab, and a plurality of floor mounts in each concrete slab; wherein each floor mount comprises a foot, a lift spring, a top coupler, a cover, and a removable securing member for temporarily securing together the foot, the lift spring, the top coupler and the cover in an in-use arrangement. The cover is captured by the concrete. A lift adjustment member is for adjusting the elevation of the cover with respect to the top coupler, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel method of assembling a floor mount. The method may comprise the steps of mounting a lift spring at a bottom end thereof onto a foot; mounting a top coupler onto the lift spring at a top end thereof; mounting a cover onto the top coupler; and temporarily securing together the foot, the lift spring, the top coupler and the cover in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel method of assembling a floating floor for installation above a sub-structure. The method may comprise the steps of temporarily securing together a plurality of floor mounts in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member, wherein each floor mount comprising a foot, a lift spring, a top coupler and a cover; placing the plurality of floor mounts on a receiving surface surrounded by a frame; pouring concrete within the frame around the plurality of floor mounts such that the cover is captured by the concrete; and permitting the concrete to set.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel method of installing a floating floor above a sub-structure. The method comprising the steps of temporarily securing together a plurality of floor mounts in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member, wherein each floor mount comprising a foot, a lift spring, a top coupler and a cover; placing the plurality of floor mounts on a receiving surface surrounded by a frame; pouring concrete within the frame around the plurality of floor mounts such that the cover is captured by the concrete; permitting the concrete to set; and removing the removable securing member.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the floor mount according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently known embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:
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In brief, the floor mount 100 comprises a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150, a cover 160, a removable securing member 170 and a lift adjustment member 180.
The floor mount 100 according to the present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the Figures.
In the first illustrated embodiment according to the present invention, which is a floor mount 100 for supporting a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112, the floor mount 100 may comprise the foot 120 that may be substantially circular and may comprise a bottom plate 122, a central protector 130 and an anchoring portion 138. The bottom plate 122 may be substantially flat and may include a central aperture 123. The foot 120 may extend laterally outwardly past the central protector 130, or in other words the bottom plate 122 has a larger radius than the central protector 130.
The central protector 130 may have an outwardly projecting base flange portion 132 and an upwardly projecting cylindrical portion 133. An upwardly projecting anchoring portion 134 may define a throughpassage 136 extending between a top end 136t and a bottom end 136b. The throughpassage 136 may be open at the top end 136t. The bottom end 140b of the lift spring 140 may be disposed in weight bearing relation on the outwardly projecting base flange portion 132 of the upwardly open central protector 130. The anchoring portion 134 may be secured in non-lifting relation to the bottom plate 122 around the central aperture 123 by a small threaded fastener 121. The anchoring portion 134 may be for receiving the removable securing member 170 in threaded relation therein. The anchoring portion 138 may comprise a vertically extending cylinder 138 having an internal female thread.
The floor mount 100 may comprise a removable securing member 170 for temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement, as can be seen in
The lift spring 140 may have a top end 140t and a bottom end 140b and may be supportable in weight bearing relation at the bottom end 140b by the foot 120. The lift spring 140 may comprise a cylindrical coil, or any other suitable shape or configuration.
The top coupler 150 may be supportable in weight bearing relation by the lift spring 140 at the top end 140t of the lift spring 140 and may be disposed in force transfer contact with the top end 140t of the lift spring 140. The top coupler 150 may comprise a flat disk 152 and may comprise a central aperture 154 in the flat disk 152. The flat disk 152 may be substantially circular or any other suitable shape.
The top coupler 150 may further comprise an alignment guide 156 that may extend downwardly from the top coupler 150. The alignment guide 156 may comprise a cylindrical wall 166 that may be disposed in surrounding relation around the central aperture 154 and may depend from the bottom surface of the top coupler 150. The alignment guide 156 may be shaped and dimensioned to fit around the anchoring portion 138 and within the lift spring 140.
The cover 160 may be supportable in weight bearing relation by the top coupler 150. The cover 160 may comprise a top plate 162 and a vertical spacer 166 extending downwardly from the top plate 162. The top plate 162 and the vertical spacer 166 may be secured together by welding 165 at the outer periphery of the top plate 162.
A central aperture 164 may be located in the top plate 162 and the central aperture may have a female thread that may receive the lift adjustment member 180 in threaded relation therein.
The vertical spacer 166 may comprise a cylindrical wall having an outer diameter “OD” and an inner diameter “ID”. The top plate 162 and the cylindrical wall together protect the internal components of the floor mount 100.
The cover 160 may further comprise an annular base flange 168 extending laterally outwardly from the bottom of the vertical spacer 166. The annular base flange 168 may be circular and may have an outer diameter “OD” just slightly less than the inner diameter “ID” of the cylindrical wall 166 of the cover 160.
The lift adjustment member 180 may be engageable in threaded relation in one of the cover 160 and the top coupler 150 and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the other of the cover 160 and the top coupler 150. As illustrated, the lift adjustment member 180 may comprises a second threaded fastener 180 that may comprise a bolt 180. The lift adjustment member 180 may be engageable in threaded relation in the cover 160, specifically in the threaded central aperture 164 of the top plate 162, and may be engageable in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the top surface 153 of the flat disk 152 of the top coupler 150. The lift adjustment member 180 is rotatable about its operational axis, specifically its longitudinal axis “L”, to adjust the elevation of the cover 160 with respect to the top coupler 150, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floating floor 110.
It is further contemplated that in another embodiment of the present invention, the lift adjustment member 180 could be threadably engaged in the top coupler 150 and engaged in abutting relation with the top plate 162 of the cover 160.
The floor mount 100 may further comprise four re-bar support portions 190 spaced radically equally around the cover 160. The four re-bar support portions 190 may be secured by welding to the bottom portion of the cylindrical wall 166 and to the top surface 169 of the annular base flange 168.
The four re-bar support portions 190a,190b,190c,190d may each have an upwardly facing concave surface 192a,192b,192c,192d, respectively, for receiving a reinforcing bar 194 therein, and may each comprise a re-bar support rib. The upwardly facing concave surface 192a,192b on the first opposed pair of the four re-bar support portions 190a,190b may be at a first vertical distance “D1” above the annular base flange 168 and the upwardly facing concave surface 192c,192d on the second opposed pair of the four re-bar support portions 190c,190d may be at a second vertical distance “D2” above the annular base flange 168.
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In another aspect, the present invention comprises a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112. The floating floor 110 comprises a cured concrete slab 114, and a plurality of floor mounts 100 in each concrete slab 114; wherein each floor mount 100 comprises a foot 120; a lift spring 140 having a top end 141 and a bottom end 142 and supportable in weight bearing relation at the bottom end 142 by the foot 120; a top coupler 150 supportable in weight bearing relation by the lift spring 140 at the top end 141; a cover 160 supportable in weight bearing relation by the top coupler 150; a removable securing member 170 for temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement; a lift adjustment member engageable in threaded relation in one of the cover 160 and the top coupler 150 and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the other of the cover 160 and the top coupler 150. The lift adjustment member is rotatable about its operational axis “L” to adjust the elevation of the cover 160 with respect to the top coupler 150, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor 110.
In another aspect, the present invention comprises a floor mount 100 for supporting a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112. The floor mount 100 comprises a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150, and a cover 160 disposed in seriatim one with the next; a removable securing member 170 for temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement; and a lift adjustment member for adjusting the elevation of the cover 160 with respect to the top coupler 150, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor 110.
In another aspect, the present invention comprises a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112. The floating floor 110 comprises a cured concrete slab 114, and a plurality of floor mounts 100 in each concrete slab 114; wherein each floor mount 100 comprises a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150, a cover 160, and a removable securing member 170 for temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement. The cover 160 is captured by the cured concrete. A lift adjustment member is for adjusting the elevation of the cover 160 with respect to the top coupler 150, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor.
In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of assembling a floor mount 100. The method may comprise the steps of mounting a lift spring 140 at a bottom end 142 thereof onto a foot 120; mounting a top coupler 150 onto the lift spring 140 at a top end 141 thereof; mounting a cover 160 onto the top coupler 150; and temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member 170. The method further comprises the step of temporarily compressing the lift springs 140 such that each of the floor mounts 100 is in a pre-compressed configuration.
In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of assembling a floating floor 110 for installation above a sub-structure 112. The method may comprise the steps of temporarily securing together a plurality of floor mounts 100 in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member 170, wherein each floor mount 100 comprising a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150 and a cover 160; placing the plurality of floor mounts 100 on a receiving surface surrounded by a frame 116; pouring concrete 114 within the frame 116 around the plurality of floor mounts 100 such that the cover 160 is captured by the concrete 114; and permitting the concrete 114 to set. The method further comprises the step of temporarily compressing the lift springs 140 such that each of the floor mounts 100 is in a pre-compressed configuration.
In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of installing a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112. The method comprising the steps of temporarily securing together a plurality of floor mounts 100 in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member 170, wherein each floor mount 100 comprising a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150 and a cover 160; placing the plurality of floor mounts 100 on a receiving surface surrounded by a frame 116; pouring concrete within the frame 116 around the plurality of floor mounts 100 such that the cover 160 is captured by the concrete 114; permitting the concrete 114 to set; and removing the removable securing member 170. The method further comprises the step of temporarily compressing the lift springs 140 such that each of the floor mounts 100 is in a pre-compressed configuration.
The above-described methods may further comprise the step of pre-calculating the length of the lift spring 140 from the top end 141 to the bottom end 142 and pre-calculating the spring constant of the lift spring 140. The method may further comprise the step of releasing the floor mount 100 from its pre-compressed configuration.
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Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the combination infant mat and carrying bag, of the present invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.
Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising”, “having”, “including”, and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”, “for example”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Illustrated embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those illustrated embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
