Floors

Claim 2

An artificial ice skating floor comprising: (a) a plurality of panels of high molecular weight polyethylene arranged edge to edge to provide a substantially continuous planar skating surface; (b) notches in the edges of the panels which co-operate with the notches in the edges of adjacent panels to define a plurality of bores extending vertically through the skating surface from the lower face of the skating surface to the upper face of the skating surface; (c) a set of first rebates in the upper faces of the panels around the said notches, and said first rebates of the panels co-operating with the said first rebates of adjacent panels so that an upper counterbore is defined around the upper end of each said bore; (d) a set of second rebates in the lower faces of the panels around the said notches, the said second rebates of the panels co-operating with the said second rebates of adjacent panels so that a lower counterbore is defined around the lower end of each said bore; (e) a set of grooves in the lower faces of the panels; (f) a set of flanged first locating members each of which engages in one of the said lower counterbores with the flanged portion of the first locating member engaging in the groove of the adjacent panels which define the said one lower counterbore thus preventing the panels from moving apart in the horizontal direction; (g) and a set of second locating members each of which engages in one of the said upper counterbores and is screw-threadedly interconnected with one of said first locating members through the said bore associated with the said upper counterbore, sandwiching the panels between the first and second locating members so that the panels cannot move apart in the vertical direction.

Claim 3

A floor for use as an ice or roller skating floor, comprising a plurality of panels arrangeable to provide an substantially continuous planar surface, and a plurality of locating devices arrangeable between each pair of adjacent panels, each locating device comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the two portions being releasably connectable, and each locating device having a portion which overlies the adjacent parts of the two panels of the pair, in such a manner as to restrict upper movement of one panel with respect to the other panel, the locating device lower portion which underlies adjacent parts of the two panels being positioned and configured so that the adjacent edges of the two panels are sandwiched between the two portions of the locating device, the upper and lower portions being threadedly connectable together to sandwich the panels there between, the peripheral edges of each upper portion being flush with the edges of the panels adjacent thereto, each lower portion extending upwardly through the center of its associated upper portion, said upper and lower portions having upper surfaces substantially coplanar with each other and the upper surfaces of the adjacent panels associated therewith.

Claim 4

A floor for use as an ice or roller skating floor, comprising a plurality of panels arrangeable to provide an substantially continuous planar surface, and a plurality of locating devices arrangeable between each pair of adjacent panels, each locating device comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the two portions being releasably connectable, and each locating device having a portion which overlies the adjacent parts of the two panels of the pair, in such a manner as to restrict upper movement of one panel with respect to the other panel, the locating device lower portion which underlies adjacent parts of the two panels being positioned and configured so that the adjacent edges of the two panels are sandwiched between the two portions of the locating device, the upper and lower portions being threadedly connectable together to sandwich the panels there between, the peripheral edges of each upper portion being flush with the edges of the panels adjacent thereto, each lower portion extending upwardly through the center of its associated upper portion, said upper and lower portions having upper surfaces substantially coplanar with each other and the upper surfaces of the adjacent panels associated therewith.

Claim 5

A floor as claimed in claim 2, in which the locating device hooks over a part of each of the two panels so that the two panels are prevented from moving apart in the horizontal direction.

Claim 6

A floor as claimed in claim 3, in which the locating device is arranged to hook over the panels by virtue of a flange on one of the portions which seats in a groove provided in the panels.

Claim 7

A floor as claimed in claim 2, in which one of the portions has a tapered interengagement with the panels so that as the portions are threaded together to sandwich the panels therebetween adjacent panels are urged towards one another.

Claim 8

A floor as claimed in claim 2, in which the panels are manufactured from high molecular weight polyethylene.

Claim 9

A floor as claimed in claim 2, in which the panels have a thickness in the range 15 mm to 25 mm.

Claim 10

A floor as claimed in claim 2, in which the upper surface of each upper portion has first tool receiving means defined substantially centrally therewithin and its associated lower portion has second tool receiving means defined therein whereby upon opposite relative rotation of associated upper and lower portions as by tools engaging the respective tool receiving means, the associated upper and lower portions many be threaded together, thus to sandwich a pair of adjacent panels therebetween.

Claim 11

An artificial ice skating floor comprising: (a) a plurality of panels of high molecular weight polyethylene arranged edge to edge to provide a substantially continuous planar skating surface; (b) notches in the edges of the panels which co-operate with the notches in the edges of adjacent panels to define a plurality of bores extending vertically through the skating surface from the lower face of the skating surfaces to the upper face of the skating surface; (c) a set of first rebates in the upper faces of the panels around the said notches, the said first rebates of the panels co-operating with the said first rebates of adjacent panels so that an upper counterbore is defined around the upper end of each said bore; (d) a set of second rebates in the lower faces of the panels around the said notches, the said second rebates of the panels co-operating with the said second rebates of adjacent panels so that a lower counterbore is defined around the lower end of each said bore; (e) a set of grooves in the lower faces of the panels; (f) a set of flanged first locating members each of which engages in one of the said lower counterbores with the flanged portion of the first locating member engaging in the groove of the adjacent panels which define the said one lower counterbore thus preventing the panels from moving apart in the horizontal direction; (g) and a set of second locating members each of which engages in one of the said upper counterbores and is screw-threadedly interconnected with one of said first locating members through the said bore associated with the upper counterbore, sandwiching the panels between the first and second locating members so that the panels cannot move apart in the vertical direction, said grooves and flanges being tapered so that as the first and second locating members are screwed together the edges of the panels are urged toward one another.

Claim 12

An artificial ice skating floor comprising: (a) a plurality of panels of high molecular weight polyethylene arranged edge to edge to provide a substantially continuous planar skating surface; (b) notches in the edges of the panels which co-operate with the notches in the edges of adjacent panels to define a plurality of bores extending vertically through the skating surface from the lower face of the skating surfaces to the upper face of the skating surface; (c) a set of first rebates in the upper faces of the panels around the said notches, the said first rebates of the panels co-operating with the said first rebates of adjacent panels so that an upper counterbore is defined around the upper end of each said bore; (d) a set of second rebates in the lower faces of the panels around the said notches, the said second rebates of the panels co-operating with the said second rebates of adjacent panels so that a lower counterbore is defined around the lower end of each said bore; (e) a set of grooves in the lower faces of the panels; (f) a set of flanged first locating members each of which engages in one of the said lower counterbores with the flanged portion of the first locating member engaging in the groove of the adjacent panels which define the said one lower counterbore thus preventing the panels from moving apart in the horizontal direction; (g) and a set of second locating members each of which engages in one of the said upper counterbores and is screw-threadedly interconnected with one of said first locating members through the said bore associated with the upper counterbore, sandwiching the panels between the first and second locating members so that the panels cannot move apart in the vertical direction, said grooves and flanges being tapered so that as the first and second locating members are screwed together the edges of the panels are urged toward one another.