US3696578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floor panel for an elevated floor assembly
Assignee: Donn Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-06
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1990-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A floor panel to be used in an elevated floor assembly, includes a flat top sheet receptive to a tread surface and a drawn bottom plate secured to the top sheet. The bottom plate is formed to present a plurality of radial ribs that intersect one another centrally of the panel and extend to merge with peripheral ribs that edge the four sides of the panel. The sides of the ribs web the sheet and plate together to form hollow box sectioned beams as peripheral ribs and radial ribs of the panel. A cross-shaped stiffener with ridges is positioned between the sheet and the plate. The ridges are oriented to coextend with the radial ribs and the side edges of the stiffener are secured to the underside of the top sheet. A trim member is wedged between the edge of the sheet and the rim of the plate to abut the tread surface. The panel can be perforated to permit air circulation and the perforations do not cause any significant loss of structural strength.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene L Swensen
- 👤 Franklin E Gibson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:34
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; E04F15/024; E04F15/02405; E04F15/02417
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A modular floor panel comprising a substantially flat top sheet and a bottom plate being formed with a plurality of raised rib means with side webs that space and connect apices of said rib means relative to said sheet, said rib means including radial ribs that intersect at the approximate center of said panel and extend towards the edges thereof, the intersection of said ribs being spaced apart from said sheet to define a hollow central, panel section, an internal stiffener secured to said panel within said hollow section and between said sheet and said plate, said stiffener being cruciform in configuration and having radial arms with raised ridges that form box beams to underlie and coextend with said radial ribs and said stiffener being fixed to the undersurface of said top sheet to terminate short of the outer periphery of said panel, said bottom plate having rims which define the outer perimeter of said panel and said toP sheet having outer edges located within said outer perimeter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A modular floor panel comprising a substantially flat top sheet and a bottom plate being formed with a plurality of raised rib means with side webs that space and connect apices of said rib means relative to said sheet, said rib means including radial ribs that intersect at the approximate center of said panel and extend towards the edges thereof, the intersection of said ribs being spaced apart from said sheet to define a hollow central, panel section, an internal stiffener secured to said panel within said hollow section and between said sheet and said plate, said stiffener being cruciform in configuration and having radial arms with raised ridges that form box beams to underlie and coextend with said radial ribs and said stiffener being fixed to the undersurface of said top sheet to terminate short of the outer periphery of said panel, said bottom plate having rims which define the outer perimeter of said panel and said toP sheet having outer edges located within said outer perimeter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein said rib means includes rib elements that border the peripheries of said panel, said radial ribs intersecting at the approximate center of said panel and extending to merge with said rib elements whereby a plurality of right angles are formed, the internal areas of which meet and are secured to the undersurface of said top sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The panel of claim 2 wherein a plurality of perforations are formed in said panel between said ribs and said rib elements to provide a floor panel that allows the passage of air.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The panel of claim 3 wherein a plurality of triangular-shaped spaces are formed between said ribs and said rib elements and said perforations being formed in said spaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein said stiffener has four raised ridges each of which extends approximately one half the length of the radial rib under which the respective ridge is located.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein said side rims are bent in a general hook shape adjacent the outer edges of said top sheet leaving a space between said rims and said outer edges, a resilient trim member being locked in position between said rims and edges, a tread surface overlying said sheet to abut said trim member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The panel of claim 6 wherein said side rims extend beyond said rib means to form a supporting lip that rests on an understructure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A modular floor panel comprising a substantially flat top sheet with outer edges and an underlying bottom plate with reinforcing rib means and integral lip means with side rims, said rib means being bent upwardly forming said lip means and side rims in a general hook shape, said side rims extending below said top sheet to leave a space, said side rims terminating adjacent the outer edges of said top sheet leaving a horizontal space between said rims and said outer edges, the hook-shaped portion of said lip means being load bearing, a resilient trim member being locked in the space between said rims and edges, a tread surface overlying said sheet to abut and be bordered by said trim member to form a smooth and level tread surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A modular floor panel comprising a substantially flat top sheet with outer edges and an underlying bottom plate with reinforcing rib means and integral lip means with side rims, said rib means being bent upwardly forming said lip means and side rims in a general hook shape, said side rims extending below said top sheet to leave a space, said side rims terminating adjacent the outer edges of said top sheet leaving a horizontal space between said rims and said outer edges, the hook-shaped portion of said lip means being load bearing, a resilient trim member being locked in the space between said rims and edges, a tread surface overlying said sheet to abut and be bordered by said trim member to form a smooth and level tread surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |