Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Wall – ceiling – or floor designed for utilities
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-19
2003-03-04
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Wall, ceiling, or floor designed for utilities
C052S220200, C052S220500, C052S177000, C052S105000, C052S585100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06526710
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to floors and to boards which can be laid to form a floor. In one form the invention relates particularly to boards used to form a hollow supporting floor surface with a sub-layer for concealment of electrical and other conduits and will primarily be described with reference to that context. It should be remembered, however, that the invention has broader use in conduit concealment applications for walls and ceilings to provide a safe means of accessing electrical cables and hydraulic connections.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is common in many businesses and homes to have a number of electricity, telephone and/or computer wires running along the floor. These wires are obtrusive and can be dangerous. It is also often preferable for such connections to be separated from one another rather than allowing the electromagnetic radiation from one cable to interfere with the current in another, for example between power and data communication lines. However, it is often difficult to hide these wires as access to an under-floor area may be limited or non-existent. Further, if such wires are housed under a floor, it is necessary to drill holes in the floor to provide access for the wires to the appliance to which connection is required. This makes it difficult to move the appliances to which the wires are connected.
Access or ducted flooring systems that provide space for wires, cables etc are known in the art. These flooring systems are often of significant depth, which reduces the floor to ceiling height in the room above, and requires a step into the room having the flooring system. Such floors are often heavy and/or difficult to move. Examples are disclosed in DE 3601240 A, U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,712
WO88/03207 describes a modular floor panel system with integral ducting in which the panels are detachably joined by a system of convex and concave dimples integrally formed on the vertical sides of the panels. Several alternative connecting means, each incorporated on the sides of the floor panels, are suggested. Such connecting means are designed to allow vertical displacement and detachment of the panels to allow their removal from the floor deck on which they are placed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,235 describes a tongue and groove interlocking engagement system integrally formed by the shape of the vertical sides of adjacent tile blocks or using resilient joining members inserted into slots or openings in adjacent sections of the tile blocks in order to provide a non-rigid, elastic and moveable floor panel system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect the present invention provides a flooring system including:
a board having a substantially planar upper surface and a lower surface having at least one groove formed therein, with at least one side wall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, and at least one groove extending from an edge of the lower surface to another edge of the lower surface, the or each groove being sized to receive at least one wire or cable;
the board further including one or more discrete recesses located in the at least one side wall; and
one or more respective inflexible connecting elements, each adapted for insertion in a respective recess and further adapted for being inserted into a recess of an adjacent board in use of the system to interlock the boards to restrict their displacement relative to each other.
When the terminology “discrete recess(es)” is used herein it is a reference to a recess having an opening at the side wall that is completely surrounded by the side wall. This contrasts with a longitudinal groove which has the disadvantages as described above.
Preferably the boards are placed such that at least one groove is aligned with a groove of another board.
Preferably the or each board is substantially rectangular or square in shape.
Preferably the or each groove is straight and extends from an edge of the lower surface to an opposite edge of the lower surface of the or each board.
Preferably each board in the system has a plurality of grooves which are arranged in a grid. The grid may or may not be uniform, depending on the application required.
Preferably each groove is substantially arched or arcuate in profile.
Preferably each board has four side walls with least one recess in each side thereof, each recess being adapted to receive the element, the element being also received in a recess of an adjacent like board to restrict vertical and/or horizontal displacement of the boards relative to each other when positioned.
Preferably the element is an elongate member. Most preferably the elongate member is a dowel.
Preferably markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate the location of said grooves and/or the junctions between intersecting grooves.
Preferably each board is made from particle board, plywood, or a dense plastics material.
In a second aspect the present invention provides a method for installing a flooring system as per the first aspect comprising the steps of:
(a) laying a plurality of the boards on an existing floor or structure with the boards placed such that at least one groove is aligned with a groove of another board; and
(b) aligning at least one side recess with another recess of an adjacent board to enable the insertion of the inflexible connecting element in both recesses.
Preferably the method further comprises the step of running at least one wire, cable or the like through at least one groove of the boards.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2559198 (1951-07-01), Ogden
patent: 3040388 (1962-06-01), Conn
patent: 3512324 (1970-05-01), Reed
patent: 4028858 (1977-06-01), Rehbein
patent: 4566235 (1986-01-01), Groll
patent: 5082712 (1992-01-01), Starp
patent: 5263289 (1993-11-01), Boyd
patent: 5489462 (1996-02-01), Sieber
patent: 6076315 (2000-06-01), Kondo
patent: 6189283 (2001-02-01), Bentley et al.
patent: 3601240 (1986-06-01), None
patent: 8908172 (1989-05-01), None
patent: 4222936 (1994-01-01), None
patent: 111763 (1983-11-01), None
patent: 0263583 (1987-08-01), None
patent: 0377263 (1990-08-01), None
patent: 3-93959 (1991-04-01), None
patent: 3-224955 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 5-106327 (1993-04-01), None
patent: 9242309 (1997-09-01), None
Friedman Carl D.
Glessner Brian E.
James Ray & Associates
LandOfFree
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