Floor structure

Abstract

A floor structure to support a building has I-beam floor joists in parallel spaced-apart relation, a plurality of rectangular pans supported on the I-beams and defined between respective pairs of U-shaped vertical members, and upper and lower closely spaced adhesive layers with fabric matting therebetween to close the bottoms of the pans.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to floor structures for supporting buildings, typically houses.

The invention is of particular utility relative to relatively heavy house structures according to Pat. No. 6,701,684 of Applicant.

Floor structure according to the invention comprise a plurality of I-beam floor joists in spaced generally parallel relation to form a sub-floor. A plurality of rectangular pans are supported on I-beams, respective pans being defined between respective pairs of U-shaped members which extend generally vertically and are welded back-to-back. Plastic foam blocks are disposed in the respective pans between the U-shaped members, and upper and lower closely spaced layers of adhesive with fabric matting therebetween to close bottom openings of the pans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken at line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an assembly of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the present invention provides flooring structure 10 typically utilized to support a house structure, typically that shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,684.

I-beams or floor joists 12 are disposed in parallel relation and support the structure above, and may rest on the ground or other flooring structure (not shown). The floor joists 12 are formed of steel and are about 16″ center-to-center and comprise a sub-floor. There may or may not be lower joists or piers (not shown) below the I-beams 12. The I-beams 12 support transversely extending pans 14 and side walls 18 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a lower layer of adhesive 32, and an upper layer of adhesive 36, have there-between a fabric matting 34, thus to cover the bottom opening 16 of the pans as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The plurality of pans 14 is preferably secured to the I-beams 12 by threaded fasteners (not shown) rather than by welding, thus to provide a more stress-accommodating arrangement. This typically requires elongate threaded fasteners.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the pans 14 are defined by a plurality of U-shaped members 20, 22 (FIG. 4) which are welded back-to-back, as shown, and which separate the overall structure into respective pans. Each of the pans 14 may preferably be 4′×14′ or 4′×16′ in size. As indicated in FIG. 3, a number of pans 14 are utilized, three rows of pans being shown in FIG. 3.

The structure comprises panels, such as panels 16′ long and 4′ wide, which are set atop the sub-flooring to form a rectangular frame, and they are screwed down by threaded fasteners (not shown), Cement is added by pouring it on top of the panels which provides structure.

FIGS. 2 and 4 show blocks of polystyrene foam 24 in broken lines in the pans (FIG. 1) between the I-beams 14. A mesh screen 25, typically of fabric, is secured by threaded fasteners (not shown) to horizontal T-portions 30 of T-shaped members 20, 22 as shown in FIG. 4. Light weight concrete 28 is poured atop the foam members, and above the screen 25, as shown, for structural strength.

The expandable polystyrene utilized with the present invention provides high compressive strength and excellent resistance to sustained load. This material does not emit toxic fumes and provides a very good fire retardant. This material involves no dimensional stability problems, and its cell structure provides great resistance to all forms of water and moisture penetration.

Acrylic and cement adhesive provides great strength. It may preferably be hand-trowled relative to the matting. The lower or bottom of the pans 14 comprise two layers of the cementitious adhesive with the matting therebetween.

Polypropylene fabric may preferably be utilized as fabric backing for cementitious coating because of its advantages of being easy to handle, and light weight.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiment discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A floor structure for supporting a building, comprising: a plurality of I-beam floor joists disposed in spaced-apart generally parallel relation and comprising a sub-floor, a plurality of generally rectangular pans supported on and secured to the I-beams, respective ones of said pans being defined between respective pairs of U-shaped members extending generally vertically and welded back-to-back, plastic foam blocks disposed in the respective pans between the U-shaped members, and upper and lower closely spaced layers of adhesive with fabric matting disposed therebetween to close the bottoms of said pans.

2. A floor structure according to claim 1 wherein said I-beam floor joists are formed of steel.

3. A floor structure according to claim 1 wherein said pans are secured to said I-beams by threaded fasteners.

4. A floor structure according to claim 1 wherein said pans are of generally rectilinear configuration.

5. A floor structure according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of rectilinear pans are disposed in three transverse rows.

6. A floor structure according to claim 1 and further comprising a mesh screen mounted generally horizontally atop upper horizontal portions of said U-shaped members mounted back-to-back.

7. A floor structure for supporting a building, comprising: a plurality of I-beam floor joists disposed in spaced-apart generally parallel relation and comprising a sub-floor, a plurality of generally rectangular pans supported on and secured to the I-beams, respective ones of said pans being defined between respective pairs of U-shaped members to extend generally vertically and welded back-to-back, plastic foam blocks disposed in the respective pans between the U-shaped members, a body of concrete disposed above said plastic foam blocks to provide structural strength, and upper and lower closely spaced layers of adhesive with fabric matting disposed therebetween to close the bottoms of said pans.

8. A floor structure according to claim 7 wherein said I-beam floor joists are formed of steel.

9. A floor structure according to claim 7 wherein said pans are secured to said I-beams by threaded fasteners.

10. A floor structure according to claim 7 wherein said plurality of pans are disposed in three transverse rows.

11. A floor structure according to claim 7 wherein said body of concrete extends above and below said screen.

12. A floor structure for supporting a building, comprising: a plurality of I-beam floor joists disposed in spaced-apart relation and comprising a sub-floor, a plurality of pans supported on the I-beams, respective ones of said pans being defined between respective pairs of U-shaped members extending generally vertically, said U-shaped members being welded in back-to-back relation, plastic foam blocks disposed in respective ones of said pans and between the U-shaped members, a mesh screen mounted generally horizontally atop upper horizontal portions of said U-shaped members mounted back to back, upper and lower closely spaced layers of adhesive with fabric matting therebetween and positioned to close the bottoms of said pans.

13. A floor structure according to claim 12 wherein said I-beam floor joists are formed of steel.

14. A floor structure according to claim 12 wherein said pans are secured to said I-beams by threaded fasteners.

15. A floor structure according to claim 12 wherein said pans are of generally rectilinear configuration.

16. A floor structure according-to claim 12 wherein said plurality of pans are disposed in three transverse rows.