US5048242A — Access floor system with hemmed edge panel

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

An access floor system, comprising: a plurality of floor panels, each panel including a pan having a bottom, a sidewall, and a generally horizontally extending peripheral flange joined to said sidewall; a top plate juxtaposed on said pan, said top plate including a peripheral portion which is configured to extend around and under said flange of said sidewall pan to define a hemmed edge; a plurality of support pedestal assemblies, each assembly including a support plate configured to support said floor panels at their corners; and a plurality of elongated trim pieces positioned on the hemmed edge, each of said trim pieces being generally U-shaped in cross section and each including an upper leg, a base and a lower leg, said legs being joined to said base with each leg including a free end, and wherein the free end of said lower leg defines an upstanding portion dimensioned to snap over and capture said hemmed edge.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 156 words

An access floor system, comprising: a plurality of floor panels, each panel including a pan having a bottom, a sidewall, and a generally horizontally extending peripheral flange joined to said sidewall; a top plate juxtaposed on said pan, said top plate including a peripheral portion which is configured to extend around and under said flange of said sidewall pan to define a hemmed edge; a plurality of support pedestal assemblies, each assembly including a support plate configured to support said floor panels at their corners; and a plurality of elongated trim pieces positioned on the hemmed edge, each of said trim pieces being generally U-shaped in cross section and each including an upper leg, a base and a lower leg, said legs being joined to said base with each leg including a free end, and wherein the free end of said lower leg defines an upstanding portion dimensioned to snap over and capture said hemmed edge.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 79 words

An access floor system as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said stringers is generally T-shaped in cross section including an elongated generally U-shaped leg portion defined by a base and sides, said sides terminating in outwardly extending, generally horizontal flanges, said stringers thereby each defining an elongated slot and wherein each of said support plates defines a plurality of outwardly opening plate slots, each plate slot dimensioned to receive a leg portion of one of said stringers.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 47 words

An access floor system as defined by claim 2 wherein each of said stringers defines a lock aperture and wherein said plates define a plurality of lock tabs, each lock tab extending into one of said plate slots and being received in one of said lock apertures.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

An access floor system as defined by claim 2 further comprising a plurality of elongated panel positioners, each positioner including upstanding positioning flanges positioned to engage and locate panels on the stringers and a depending retainer extending into said slot of said stringer for retaining the positioner on said panel.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 123 words

An access floor system as defined by claim 1 further including a plurality of elongated stringers, said stringers extending between said pedestal assemblies to define a gridwork, each of said stringers being generally T-shaped in cross section including an elongated generally U-shaped leg portion defined by a base and sides, said sides terminating in outwardly extending, generally horizontal flanges, said stringers thereby each defining an elongated slot, said support plate of each pedestal assembly defining a plurality of upstanding lock tabs dimensioned to extend through said slots of said stringers, and wherein each of said stringers defines a lock aperture in one of said sides of said stringer and wherein each lock tab defines an ear dimensioned to extend into said lock aperture.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

An access floor system as defined by claim 5 wherein said horizontal flanges of said stringers are folded back into themselves so as to extend back towards each other to thereby define said slot.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

An access floor system as defined by claim 6 wherein each of said support plates defines a plurality of alignment tabs, each tab being in-line with one of said lock tabs.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

An access floor system as defined by claim 7 wherein said horizontal flanges of said stringers define traverse slots at said lock aperture dimensioned to receive said lock tab.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 59 words

An access floor system as defined by claim 8 wherein each of said lock tabs defines a pair of ears, each ear having a downwardly angled upper edge which defines a camming surface so that said stringers may be snapped into said support plates with said ears camming said sides of said stringers open to receive said lock tabs.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 154 words

A support pedestal and stringer subassembly for supporting a plurality of raised access floor panels, said subassembly comprising: a base adapted to rest on a subfloor; a support plate on said base; and a plurality of elongated stringers, each of said stringers being generally T-shaped in cross section and including an elongated generally U-shaped leg portion defined by a base and sides, said sides terminating in outwardly extending, generally horizontal flanges, said stringers thereby each defining an elongated slot, said support plate defining a plurality of upstanding lock tabs dimensioned to extend through said slots of said stringers, each of said stringers defines a lock aperture in one of said sides of said stringer and wherein each lock tab defines an ear dimensioned to extend into one of said lock apertures, and wherein each of said support plates defines a plurality of alignment tabs, each tab being in-line with one of said lock tabs.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 154 words

A support pedestal and stringer subassembly for supporting a plurality of raised access floor panels, said subassembly comprising: a base adapted to rest on a subfloor; a support plate on said base; and a plurality of elongated stringers, each of said stringers being generally T-shaped in cross section and including an elongated generally U-shaped leg portion defined by a base and sides, said sides terminating in outwardly extending, generally horizontal flanges, said stringers thereby each defining an elongated slot, said support plate defining a plurality of upstanding lock tabs dimensioned to extend through said slots of said stringers, each of said stringers defines a lock aperture in one of said sides of said stringer and wherein each lock tab defines an ear dimensioned to extend into one of said lock apertures, and wherein each of said support plates defines a plurality of alignment tabs, each tab being in-line with one of said lock tabs.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

A subassembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said horizontal flanges of said stringers are folded back into themselves so as to extend back towards each other to thereby define said slot.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

A subassembly as defined by claim 11 wherein said horizontal flanges of said stringers defines a traverse slot at said lock aperture dimensioned to receive said lock tab.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

A subassembly as defined by claim 12 wherein each of said lock tabs defines an ear, each ear having a downwardly angled upper edge which defines a camming surface so that said stringers may be snapped into said support plates with said ear camming said sides of said stringers open to receive said lock tab.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 141 words

A support pedestal and stringer subassembly for supporting a plurality of raised access floor panels, said subassembly comprising: a base adapted to rest on a subfloor; a support plate on said base; and a plurality of elongated stringers, each of said stringers being generally T-shaped in cross section and including an elongated generally U-shaped leg portion defined by a base and sides, said sides terminating in outwardly extending, generally horizontal flanges, said stringers thereby each defining an elongated slot, said support plate defining a plurality of outwardly opening plate slots, each plate slot dimensioned to receive a leg portion of one of said stringers, and wherein each of said stringers defines a lock aperture and wherein said plates define a plurality of lock tabs, each lock tab extending into one of said plate slots and being received in said lock aperture.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 141 words

A support pedestal and stringer subassembly for supporting a plurality of raised access floor panels, said subassembly comprising: a base adapted to rest on a subfloor; a support plate on said base; and a plurality of elongated stringers, each of said stringers being generally T-shaped in cross section and including an elongated generally U-shaped leg portion defined by a base and sides, said sides terminating in outwardly extending, generally horizontal flanges, said stringers thereby each defining an elongated slot, said support plate defining a plurality of outwardly opening plate slots, each plate slot dimensioned to receive a leg portion of one of said stringers, and wherein each of said stringers defines a lock aperture and wherein said plates define a plurality of lock tabs, each lock tab extending into one of said plate slots and being received in said lock aperture.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 51 words

A subassembly as defined by claim 14 further comprising a plurality of elongated panel positioners, each positioner including upstanding, parallel, elongated, opposed positioning flanges positioned to engage and locate panels on the stringers and a depending retainer extending into said slot of said stringer for retaining the positioner on said panel.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-09-16	1995-03-18	1995-09-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-09-16	1999-03-18	1999-09-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-09-16	2003-03-18	2003-09-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Access floor system with hemmed edge panel

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