Flooring systems are often used at exhibitions, trade shows, and other events, where it is useful to create a temporary floor above the permanent or built-in floor of the facility where the event is being held. For example, an event may take place in an arena with a cement floor and an exhibitor at the event may want to create an office-like environment to display its products. In that case, a temporary flooring system, perhaps carpeted like an office, would be installed in the arena to provide the office-like environment. Further, the flooring system may be raised above the permanent or built-in floor of the facility to provide room for cables, conduits, pipes, or other equipment to be routed without being visible to onlookers.
In one aspect, the invention features a connector having a vertical arm. The connector further includes a spacer element having an end coupled to an end of the vertical arm. The connector further includes a riser element having an end coupled to an end of the spacer element. The riser element is longer than the vertical element. The vertical arm, the spacer element, and the riser element form a slot.
In another aspect, the invention features a floor system. The floor system includes a plurality of type A panels. The type A panels have a type A connector configuration by which type A panels connect to other panels. The floor system includes a plurality of type B panels. The type B panels have a type B connector configuration by which type B panels connect to other panels. The type B connector configuration is different from the type A connector configuration. The floor system includes a type C panel. The type C panels have a type C connector configuration by which type C panels connect to other panels. The type C connector configuration is different from the type A connector configuration and from the type B connector configuration. The type C panel is coupled to type B panels by connectors on the respective panels. The type A panels are coupled to type B panels and type A panels by connectors on the respective panels.
In another aspect, the invention features a raised floor system. The raised floor system includes a plurality of type A panels. Each type A panel includes a first edge having male connectors. Each type A panel includes a second edge adjacent the first edge having male connectors. Each type A panel includes a third edge adjacent the second edge and opposite the first edge having female connectors. Each type A panel includes a fourth edge adjacent the first edge and the third edge having female connectors. The female connectors and the male connectors are situated such that the they raise the type A panels type above a floor such that wiring can be run under the type A panels. The raised floor system includes a plurality of type B panels. Each type B panel includes a first edge having female connectors. Each type B panel includes a second edge adjacent the first edge having male connectors. Each type B panel includes a third edge adjacent the second edge and opposite the first edge having male connectors. Each type B panel includes a fourth edge adjacent the first edge and the third edge having female connectors. The female connectors and the male connectors are situated such that the they raise the type B panels above a floor such that wiring can be run under the type B panels. The raised floor system includes a type C panel. Each type C panel includes a first edge having female connectors. Each type C panel includes a second edge adjacent the first edge having female connectors. Each type C panel includes a third edge adjacent the second edge and opposite the first edge having female connectors. Each type C panel includes a fourth edge adjacent the first edge and the third edge having female connectors. The female connectors being situated such that they raise the type C panel above a floor such that wiring can be run under the type C panel. The type C panel forms a corner of the raised floor system. The plurality of type B panels forming edges of the raised floor system adjacent the type C panel. The plurality of type A panels forming edges of the raised floor system not adjacent to the type C panel and portions of the raised floor system that are not on the edges of the raised floor system.
A flooring system is disclosed. The flooring system can be used in temporary installations such as in exhibitions, trade shows, and other events. The flooring system can also be used in permanent installations, such as in computer rooms, where raised floors to facilitate the routing of electronic cabling, air conditioning ducting, and other equipment is required.
In one embodiment, the flooring system comprises panels, as discussed further below, coupled together using connectors. In one embodiment, illustrated in cross-section in
In one embodiment, the vertical arm 102 is substantially perpendicular (i.e., within 10 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 15 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 20 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment) to the spacer element 108. In one embodiment, the spacer element 108 is substantially perpendicular (i.e., within 10 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 15 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 20 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment) to the riser element 106. In one embodiment, the horizontal arm 104 is substantially perpendicular (i.e., within 10 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 15 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 20 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment) to the riser element 106.
In one embodiment, illustrated in
In one embodiment, the short vertical arm 202 is substantially perpendicular (i.e., within 10 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 15 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 20 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment) to the spacer element 206. In one embodiment, the spacer element 206 is substantially perpendicular (i.e., within 10 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 15 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 20 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment) to the long vertical arm 204.
In one embodiment, illustrated in
In one embodiment, shown in
In one embodiment, the male connector 100 is coupled to a panel 513, that is composed of a first layer 514 and a second layer 516 separated by a third layer 518. In one embodiment, the first layer 514 and the second layer 516 are ¾ inch plywood. In one embodiment, the third layer 518 is a 1½ inch honeycomb core. In one embodiment, the edge 520 of the slot 110 of the male connector 100 is aligned with an edge 522 of the panel 513.
In one embodiment, the two panels 502 and 513 are coupled together by moving panel 502 in the direction of arrow 524 relative to panel 513, which may involve moving panel 513 instead of panel 502 or moving both panels 502 and 513 relative to each other, until the vertical arm 102 of the male connector 100 engages and fills the slot 208 in the female connector. The result is shown in
One embodiment of a connector 700 that operates both as a female and a male connector, illustrated in
In one embodiment, the vertical arm 702 is substantially perpendicular (i.e., within 10 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 15 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 20 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment) to the spacer element 708. In one embodiment, the spacer element 708 is substantially perpendicular (i.e., within 10 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 15 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 20 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment) to the riser element 706. In one embodiment, the horizontal arm 704 is substantially perpendicular (i.e., within 10 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 15 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment, within 20 degrees of perpendicular in one embodiment) to the riser element 706.
In one embodiment, illustrated in
In one embodiment, illustrated in
In one embodiment, the two panels 1012 and 1004 are coupled together by moving panel 1004 in the direction of arrow 1018 relative to panel 1012, which may involve moving panel 1012 instead of panel 1004 or moving both panels 1012 and 1004 relative to each other, until the vertical arm 1002-702 of connector 1002 engages and fills the slot 1010-710 in connector 1010 and the vertical arm 1010-702 of connector 1010 engages and fills the slot 1002-710 in connector 1002. The result is shown in
In one embodiment, a floor system is assembled using three panel types, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, shown in
In one embodiment, shown in
In one embodiment (not shown), a panel type D is similar to panel type B except all female connectors 1306 are replaced by male connectors and all male connectors 1304 are replaced by female connectors.
In one embodiment (not shown), a panel type E is similar to panel type C except that all female connectors 1404 are replaced by male connectors.
Coupling rules define how the panel types link together. In one embodiment, the sides of the panels having male connectors are coupleable to the sides of panels having female connectors. Thus, the sides of panel type A with male connectors 1204 can couple to the three sides of panel type B with female connectors 1306 or to any side of panel type C. The sides of panel type A with female connectors 1206 can couple to the one side of panel type B with male connectors 1304 but cannot couple to panel type C.
The side of panel type B with male connectors 1304 can couple to the two sides of panel type A with female connectors 1206 or to any side of panel type C. The sides of panel type B with female connectors 1306 can couple to the two sides of panel type A with male connectors but cannot couple to panel type C.
Any side of panel type C can couple to the two sides of panel type A with male connectors 1204. Any side of panel type C can couple to the side of panel type B with male connectors 1304.
Similar coupling rules apply to panel types D and E.
In one embodiment, panel sides with female connectors are used to form the edges of a flooring system. Thus, under this rule, two sides of panel type A, three sides of panel type B, four sides of a panel type C 1400, one side of panel type D, and no sides of panel E can form the edge of a flooring system.
Application of these coupling rules results in a variety of floor systems, as shown in
In one embodiment, floor system 1602, illustrated in
In one embodiment, floor system 1702, illustrated in
In one embodiment, floor system 1802, illustrated in
In one embodiment, a non-rectangular floor system can be created by leaving out one or more of the panels shown in
It will be understood that the arrangements shown in
In one embodiment, illustrated in
The foregoing description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/585436, entitled “Flooring System,” filed on Jan. 11, 2012.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61585436 | Jan 2012 | US |