Floor assembly and associated method of making a floor assembly

Details Floor assembly and associated method of making a floor assembly Floor assembly and associated method of making a floor assembly

1999-03-23

2001-05-22

Chilcot, Richard (Department: 3635)

Static structures (e.g., buildings)

Specified wear or friction-type traffic-carrying surface

C052S489100, C052S263000, C405S218000, C114S366000, C114S267000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06233886

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a floor assembly, and an associated method of making a floor assembly. More particularly, this invention relates to plastic extrusions which are connected by a connector in order to form a floor assembly.
It is known to use plastic extrusions for floor assemblies. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,427 discloses such a plastic extrusion. This particular extrusion is for use in a floor assembly that is secured to a rigid underlying support by a snap connector adapted to be attached to the underlying rigid support for securing the extrusions to the rigid underlying support. The snap connector secures a single extrusion to the underlying rigid support.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,550 discloses a slatted floor assembly for animal enclosures and the like. The floor assembly consists of a set of elongated extruded plastic members wherein a plurality of clip-like elements maintain the members in a spaced longitudinally parallel relationship. The elements are provided with a central, upright spacer and a pair of arms. Holding means in the form of notches which cooperate with projections are disposed at the outer ends of the arms to releasably receive and exteriorly grip the extruded members.
Despite the existence of these plastic extrusions and floor assemblies formed thereby, there is needed an improved floor assembly, and associated method of making a floor assembly, which can be conveniently assembled and/or disassembled, as well as, economically produced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention has met or surpassed the above-mentioned needs, as well as others. Specifically, the invention includes a floor assembly comprising at least two elongated extrusions disposed adjacent to each other where each extrusion includes a pair of outer leg members and a pair of inner leg members. The floor assembly further comprises a connector for connecting one of the extrusions to the other extrusion where the connector engages the inner leg member and the outer leg member of one of the extrusions and the outer leg member and the inner leg member of the other extrusion. The connector includes a base and a first end flange and a second end flange extending from opposed ends of the base, the first end flange engaging the inner leg member of one of the extrusions and the second end flange engaging the inner leg member of the other extrusion. The floor assembly may also include a tab projecting from the end of the base on which the second end flange is disposed, whereby the tab can be used to secure the base, if desired, to a subfloor structure underlying the floor assembly.
A method of making a floor assembly is also included and comprises providing a first extrusion and a second extrusion, each of the extrusions having a first outer leg member, a second outer leg member, a first inner leg member, and a second inner leg member. The method also includes providing a first connector and attaching the first connector to the second inner leg member of the first extrusion. The method further provides for securing said first inner leg member of the second extrusion to the first connector in order to form a floor assembly made of the first and second extrusions.
The method may also include providing a third extrusion having a first outer leg member, a second outer leg member, a first inner leg member, and a second inner leg member, and providing a second connector. Next, before securing the second extrusion to the first connector, the method provides for attaching the second connector to the second inner leg member of the second extrusion and subsequently securing the first inner leg member of the second extrusion to the first connector. This is followed by securing the first inner leg member of the third extrusion to the second connector to form a floor assembly made of the first, second and third extrusions.


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