US3722473A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floor construction and member for making same
Assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
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Filing: 1971-08-13
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-08-13
Abstract
Abstract An improved floor construction for an animal enclosure is provided and employs a plurality of substantially E-shaped channel members each having a bight defining a top load-carrying wall and having three substantially vertical walls defined by a pair of downwardly extending side walls with an intermediate wall arranged between the side walls. Each channel member also has a pair of inwardly directed side fastening flanges each extending inwardly toward the other from the lower edge of an associated side wall and a central fastening flange adjoining the lower edge of the intermediate wall. Each channel member is made of a resilient material which enables the lower ends of an associated pair of its walls to be relatively spread apart at a location adjacent a set of associated fastening legs provided on an associated connector used to connect the channel member to an adjacent member and upon releasing the spread walls the normal resiliency of the channel member causes such walls to return to their initial positions so that their fastening flanges are hooked around the associated fastening legs. The three substantially vertical walls of each channel member provide improved support for its top wall and enable the forming of a floor construction of maximum area using a minimum amount of material for channel members and connectors.
Inventors
- 👤 D Vickstrom
- 👤 G Swenck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:12
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B5/00; E04B5/02; E04B5/10; A; A01; A01K; A01K1/00; A01K1/015; A01K1/0151; E04C; E04C3/00; E04C3/02; E04C3/04; E04C3/06; E04C2003/0404; E04C2003/0408; E04C2003/0421; E04C2003/0426; E04C2003/0434
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A floor construction comprising, a plurality of substantially E-shaped channel members arranged in parallel spaced relation; each E-shaped channel member comprising a bight defining a top load-carrying wall, a pair of downwardly extending side walls adjoining said top load-carrying wall, an intermediate wall arranged between said side walls, a pair of inwardly directed side fastening flanges each adjoining and extending inwardly toward the other from the lower edge portion of an associated side wall, and an intermediate fastening flange adjoining the lower edge portion of said intermediate wall, each channel member having a width between the lower edges of its side walls which is no greater than the width of its top load-carrying wall; and a plurality of connectors fastening said channel members together, each connector having a base portion and sets of upwardly and outwardly extending fastening legs, each leg having a recess with an associated fastening flange received therewithin, each channel member being made of a resilient material which provides a normal resiliency therefor and holds its fastening flanges within recesses of associated fastening legs and in grasping contact against the associated fastening legs so that each channel member is fastened in position and held in spaced relation from immediately adjacent members by its fastening flanges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A floor construction comprising, a plurality of substantially E-shaped channel members arranged in parallel spaced relation; each E-shaped channel member comprising a bight defining a top load-carrying wall, a pair of downwardly extending side walls adjoining said top load-carrying wall, an intermediate wall arranged between said side walls, a pair of inwardly directed side fastening flanges each adjoining and extending inwardly toward the other from the lower edge portion of an associated side wall, and an intermediate fastening flange adjoining the lower edge portion of said intermediate wall, each channel member having a width between the lower edges of its side walls which is no greater than the width of its top load-carrying wall; and a plurality of connectors fastening said channel members together, each connector having a base portion and sets of upwardly and outwardly extending fastening legs, each leg having a recess with an associated fastening flange received therewithin, each channel member being made of a resilient material which provides a normal resiliency therefor and holds its fastening flanges within recesses of associated fastening legs and in grasping contact against the associated fastening legs so that each channel member is fastened in position and held in spaced relation from immediately adjacent members by its fastening flanges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A floor construction as set forth in claim 1 in which each channel member has non-skid means provided on its top wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A floor construction as set forth in claim 1 in which each channel member has its top wall defined as an outwardly convex top wall provided with non-skid means as an integral part thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A floor construction as set forth in claim 1 in which each channel member has its side and intermediate fastening flanges provided with bottom surfaces arranged in a common plane enabling each channel member to be supported on an associated planar support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A floor construction as set forth in claim 1 in which each channel member has a width between the lower edges of its side walls which is substantially less than the width of its top load-carrying wall to thereby define a downwardly diverging passage between each immediately adjacent pair of said channel members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A floor construction as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said channel members and each of said connectors is made as a single unitary structure of a metallic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A floor construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said plurality of connectors are arranged in sets placed at spaced intervals transverse said elongated members and the connectors in each set are arranged in aligned end-to-end relation along a rectilinear path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
210 words
A substantially E-shaped channel member for use in a floor construction, said channel member comprising a bight defining a top load-carrying wall, a pair of downwardly extending side walls, an intermediate wall arranged between said side walls, a pair of inwardly directed side fastening flanges each extending inwardly toward the other from the lower edge of an associated side wall, and an intermediate fastening flange adjoining the lower edge of said intermediate wall, said channel member having a width between the lower edges of said side walls which is no greater than the width of said top load-carrying wall, said channel member being made of a resilient material which enables the lower ends of an associated pair of its walls to be relatively spread apart at a location adjacent a set of associated fastening legs provided on an associated connector used to connect said channel member together with an associated channel member and upon releasing said associated walls the normal resiliency of said channel member causes said associated walls to return to their initial positions with the fastening flanges comprising said associated walls hooked around said fastening legs so that said channel member is adapted to be fastened and held in position against its associated connector by its fastening flanges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
210 words
A substantially E-shaped channel member for use in a floor construction, said channel member comprising a bight defining a top load-carrying wall, a pair of downwardly extending side walls, an intermediate wall arranged between said side walls, a pair of inwardly directed side fastening flanges each extending inwardly toward the other from the lower edge of an associated side wall, and an intermediate fastening flange adjoining the lower edge of said intermediate wall, said channel member having a width between the lower edges of said side walls which is no greater than the width of said top load-carrying wall, said channel member being made of a resilient material which enables the lower ends of an associated pair of its walls to be relatively spread apart at a location adjacent a set of associated fastening legs provided on an associated connector used to connect said channel member together with an associated channel member and upon releasing said associated walls the normal resiliency of said channel member causes said associated walls to return to their initial positions with the fastening flanges comprising said associated walls hooked around said fastening legs so that said channel member is adapted to be fastened and held in position against its associated connector by its fastening flanges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A channel member as set forth in claim 8 in which said intermediate wall adjoins said top wall and said non-skid means comprise a plurality of upwardly extending projections provided as an integral part of said top wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A channel member as set forth in claim 8 in which said intermediate wall adjoins the central portion of said top wall and is arranged vertically therebeneath and said walls and flanges comprise a single unitary structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A channel member as set forth in claim 10 in which said intermediate wall has a vertical height which is greater than the vertical height of each of said side walls and said top wall has an outwardly convex configuration which provides added strength and rigidity therefor for a given thickness of material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A channel member as set forth in claim 10 in which said side and intermediate fastening flanges have bottom surfaces arranged in a common plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A channel member as set forth in claim 10 and having a width between the lower edges of its side walls which is substantially less than the width of its top load-carrying wall to thereby define said member having downwardly converging side walls.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A channel member as set forth in claim 10 in which said intermediate fastening flange comprises two flange portions symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of said intermediate wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |