US3943674A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Elevated floor assembly with releasable tie means connecting the panel sides
Assignee: Donn Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-05
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Granted: 1976-03-16
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Expires: 1994-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A false floor assembly of square panels is supported on pedestals above a foundation. The panel corners rest on the pedestals and the adjacent sides of neighboring panels between pedestals are secured together by releasable ties that pass through the sides of each neighboring panel. The area below the panels is accessible by simply removing the ties and lifting one or more panels from the assembly. Loads applied to any one panel in the assembled floor are resisted by neighboring panels and the floor remains substantially flat without uneven deflections.
Inventors
- 👤 George F. Ray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:46
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; E04F15/024; E04F15/02405; E04F15/02417; E04F15/02423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
An elevated false floor assembly of panels comprising a plurality of square panels arranged side-by-side in rows and supported on pedestals at their corners to leave a plenum below said floor assembly, said panels each having sides with releasable tie means connecting neighboring sides of adjacent panels together and said tie means being located intermediate the corners of the panels, said panels being load-bearing with spaced apart upper and lower metal sheets which are joined together at the outer perimeters of said panels, at least some of said panels having a bracket with projection means at each of its sides, and said projection means comprising spaced apart vertically elongated flanges that extend between adjacent panel sides and afford load bearing supports to said panels intermediate their corners, said tie means extending through said brackets and releasably securing the sides of adjacent panels together, whereby both vertical and horizontal deflections of one panel are resisted and shared by neighboring panels, said plenum being readily accessible by disconnecting said tie means at the upper surface of said floor assembly, and said panels being liftable from surrounding assembled panels and removable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
An elevated false floor assembly of panels comprising a plurality of square panels arranged side-by-side in rows and supported on pedestals at their corners to leave a plenum below said floor assembly, said panels each having sides with releasable tie means connecting neighboring sides of adjacent panels together and said tie means being located intermediate the corners of the panels, said panels being load-bearing with spaced apart upper and lower metal sheets which are joined together at the outer perimeters of said panels, at least some of said panels having a bracket with projection means at each of its sides, and said projection means comprising spaced apart vertically elongated flanges that extend between adjacent panel sides and afford load bearing supports to said panels intermediate their corners, said tie means extending through said brackets and releasably securing the sides of adjacent panels together, whereby both vertical and horizontal deflections of one panel are resisted and shared by neighboring panels, said plenum being readily accessible by disconnecting said tie means at the upper surface of said floor assembly, and said panels being liftable from surrounding assembled panels and removable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The floor assembly of claim 1, wherein each side of said panels comprises an apertured bracket and said tie means includes common bolt means that is passed through the brackets of neighboring sides of adjacent panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The floor assembly of claim 2, wherein said bolt means is threaded and a nut is held on the bottom of said bracket to engage said bolt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of each panel side has a bracket affixed thereto and each bracket has projections that interfit with the projections of a juxtaposed bracket of a neighboring panel side, an upper apertured plate bridging the projections of two brackets on adjacent panel sides at their perimeters, said upper plate being secured to interconnect said brackets with releasable ties.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The floor assembly of claim 4, wherein each bracket is comprised of three spaced apart substantially vertical projections that define two side-by-side recesses and a first recess is wider than the second recess.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The floor assembly of claim 5, wherein said brackets each have a lower perforated tab that bridges at least two of said projections and forms the bottom of said second recess, said tie means being bolts that are passed through said apertured plate and the perforated tabs of adjacent panels to secure same together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The floor assembly of claim 4, wherein the perimeters of adjacent panels have matching spaces that receive said plate and present a flush surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
The floor assembly of claim 1, wherein there are two sets of dissimilar panels arranged in checkerboard relationship, each panel of one of said sets having an apertured tab member extending outwardly from its upper surface at each perimeter thereof and each panel of the other set having a bracket at each side thereof, said bracket comprising an upper and a lower apertured ear which are in alignment with said apertured tab member, said tie means being releasable ties that extend through said member and said ears to secure adjacent panel sides together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The floor assembly of claim 8, wherein said ties are bolts each of which interfits with retaining means at the lower ears of the brackets.
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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) | 1979-03-16 | 1979-09-15 | 1980-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-16 | 1983-09-15 | 1984-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-16 | 1987-09-15 | 1988-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |