Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Three-way corner construction – Barrier resting on top of vertical structures; e.g. – walls
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-07-10
Kent, Christopher T. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Three-way corner construction
Barrier resting on top of vertical structures; e.g., walls
C052S126600, C052S630000, C052S799100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256952
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to raised panel flooring, particularly including such flooring used in clean room environments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Raised panel flooring, also known as access flooring, is used in a variety of situations, including ones where it is desirable or convenient to run cabling in a space under such flooring and ready access to the cables is desirable. The flooring panels may be supported by a pedestal and stringer structure such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,258, entitled “Access flooring with Increased Load Capacity,” dated Aug. 11, 1987, which is incorporated herein by this reference. Other types and configurations of support structures will be apparent to one skilled in the art.
It is desirable for some of such panels to be perforated to permit airflow between the subfloor and the room. However, many conventional perforation patterns, such as the pattern illustrated in U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 350,613, can present a problem when the traffic across them includes wheeled carts. Such patterns cause caster wheels and other wheels to chatter or bump up and down. This chattering or bouncing may jostle the carts. Ordinarily, such jostling is not harmful; however, in some situations the items held in the carts are extremely sensitive, such as silicon wafers used in the production of semiconductors. Even very slight jostling can damage these sensitive materials.
In addition to chatter caused by perforations, any misalignments between adjacent panels also may jostle the cart. For instance, any difference in height between adjacent panels can create a lip or step which will cause a jolt as a wheel passes from panel to panel. Likewise, gaps between panels also may induce undesirable jostling of the cart. Moreover, any deflection in a panel under load may cause the floor surface to be uneven, thereby inducing unwanted vibration or movement in carts being moved over the floor.
Furthermore, panels often are provided in different sizes. For example, panels may be dimensioned in English or Metric units. Consequently, the hardware associated with different sized panels generally corresponds to the selected size. Thus, manufacturers must make and users must stock two different sets of components, such as pedestal heads and stringers, substantially increasing handling costs.
A conventional pedestal head typically has bosses positioned about its periphery to help position the panels during installation. These bosses may actually interfere with the panel during removal operations, causing a “trap door” effect, i.e., if a user inadvertently rotates the panel during removal, the resulting resistance of panel to head may damage or even fracture the pedestal head in the removal process.
There is a need for a panel perforation pattern that causes minimal caster, or other wheel, chatter, which permits good airflow, and which is attractive. There also is also a need for panels that may be precisely aligned and which form continuous smooth joints with adjacent panels. There also is a need for panels having a high load carrying capacity, particularly at panel interfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Flooring systems in accordance with the present invention include a metal raised access flooring panel made up of a generally planar surface or “plate” and an underlying support structure or “grid.” The plate and grid may be integrally formed by casting, or may be assembled from separate parts, i.e., the panel may be manufactured by casting or assembly. The panel of the present invention may be produced in a variety of materials, particularly, but not limited to, steel, stainless steel, aluminum and composites.
The grid includes a rectilinear grid of support beams or ribs that may be positioned on the underside of the plate to provide strength. The grid, which may be fabricated or cast from aluminum or steel, has sufficient structural integrity to prevent the panel from deflecting beyond predetermined limits. The dimensions of such a grid may vary; however, dimensions and rib positions minimizing obstruction of air passages are desirable. Moreover, the diagonal ribs are positioned such that most objects positioned on the panel are always supported by a rib, thereby minimizing even the minute deflection that might occur between ribs as well as providing other stress, vibrational and acoustic benefits.
The plate may be solid or perforated by oval, oblong or similarly shaped slots having major axes not parallel to any plate edge. The major slot axes may, for instance, be at a 45° angle to each plate edge. The slots may be arranged in “clusters” of six slots, with one pair of slots above another pair and one slot to each side of, and mid-way above and below, the stacked pairs. Openings in plate corners provide a way to lock the panel in position by passing screws or other fasteners through such openings and into underlying access floor structure.
Alternatively, the plates may be perforated by circular holes arranged in a similar pattern similar to that described above. In another alternative, the plate may be perforated in a manner generally coextensive with the underlying grid, forming a grate which provides the desired structural characteristics with improved airflow.
The arrangement of the slots or holes provides an attractive-looking pattern that facilitates substantial airflow through the panel while essentially eliminating wheel chatter and bouncing when appropriately sized wheeled carts and other equipment are rolled across the panel, thereby making it highly desirable for use in clean room environments where delicate materials are handled.
Flooring systems of the present invention also may include support pins that protrude from each side of the panel. The pins are positioned to correspond to receiver holes in adjacent panels. The pins ensure that adjacent panels continue to lie in essentially the same plane under loads. The pins also distribute loads on one panel to adjacent panels to provide additional strength and to minimize differentials in height between panels, especially as a rolling load is traversed across the floor from panel to panel.
Flooring systems of the present invention also include universal pedestal heads that allow a single pedestal head design to be used with panels of different size. The pedestal head also includes a central boss which allows proper positioning of the panel without creating the risk of pedestal head fracture from “trap-dooring.” Similarly, stringers for interconnecting the pedestal heads also are adapted to function with panels of different size.
Carpet or various types of tiles may be placed on or laminated to the panels for decorative or functional reasons. The tiles may have perforations which correspond to any perforations in the panels. The perforations in the tile may be made slightly smaller than the perforations in the panel; thus, any slight misalignment between the tiles and the panels will not be apparent.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide panels for use in raised flooring systems which have a high load carrying capacity.
Another object of the present invention is to provide panels for use in raised flooring systems which allow airflow therethrough.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide panels for use in raised flooring systems which minimize impact loads experienced by cars or other objects moving across panels.
A flier object of the present invention is to provide panels for use in raised flooring systems which minimize impact loads experienced by cars or other objects moving between adjacent panels.
Another object of the present invention is to provide systems for supporting panels in raised flooring systems in which the same hardware may be used for panels of different sizes.
The above-described features and benefits, as well as other benefits of the panel of the present invention will be understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of those drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re
Davison Robert
Fahy, Jr. James H.
Hocevar Joseph
Interface, Inc.
Johnson, Esq. Kristin L.
Kent Christopher T.
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
Pratt, Esq. John S.
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