US7185610B2 — Heated flooring module for livestock stables

Claim 1

Independent Claim 250 words

A heated flooring module ( 1 ) for livestock stables, which is equipped with suspension members for suspending the heated flooring module from resistant supports of a grid and which, together with other adjacent interlocking modules, constitutes the floor level of a farm, comprising: (a) an upper plaque ( 2 ), for transit, which is level; and (b) a hollowed central section ( 3 ), with no bottom surface, whose upper surface is fitted with at least one continuous runnel ( 4 ) of adjacent stretches open at the upper surface of the hollowed central section, the at least one continuous runnel ( 4 ) containing a heat source, that enters and exits the runnel through relevant tubular segments of entry ( 5 or 6 ) and exit ( 6 or 5 ) for the heat source, with the hollowed central section equipped with the suspension members ( 7 ), all of the above arranged in such a way that, when the upper plaque ( 2 ) is welded to the upper surface of the hollowed central section ( 3 ), the at least one continuous runnel ( 4 ) forms an enclosed circuit which contains the heat source inside; wherein the flooring module further comprises an under-lid ( 8 ) fitted to an underside of the hollowed central section, said under-lid containing elevated dome shaped sections fitted with perforations through which the tubular segments of entry and exit pass though the under-lid respectively in communication with the continuous runnel.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 250 words

A heated flooring module ( 1 ) for livestock stables, which is equipped with suspension members for suspending the heated flooring module from resistant supports of a grid and which, together with other adjacent interlocking modules, constitutes the floor level of a farm, comprising: (a) an upper plaque ( 2 ), for transit, which is level; and (b) a hollowed central section ( 3 ), with no bottom surface, whose upper surface is fitted with at least one continuous runnel ( 4 ) of adjacent stretches open at the upper surface of the hollowed central section, the at least one continuous runnel ( 4 ) containing a heat source, that enters and exits the runnel through relevant tubular segments of entry ( 5 or 6 ) and exit ( 6 or 5 ) for the heat source, with the hollowed central section equipped with the suspension members ( 7 ), all of the above arranged in such a way that, when the upper plaque ( 2 ) is welded to the upper surface of the hollowed central section ( 3 ), the at least one continuous runnel ( 4 ) forms an enclosed circuit which contains the heat source inside; wherein the flooring module further comprises an under-lid ( 8 ) fitted to an underside of the hollowed central section, said under-lid containing elevated dome shaped sections fitted with perforations through which the tubular segments of entry and exit pass though the under-lid respectively in communication with the continuous runnel.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 1 , wherein the heat source comprises a heating fluid, which circulates through the enclosed circuit that forms between the upper plaque and the hollowed central section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 2 , wherein a section of stretches ( 22 ) of the enclosed circuit where it communicates with the tubular segments ( 5 , 6 ) is abruptly diminished at a point adjacent to the said tubular segments.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 1 , wherein the heat source comprises at least one electrical resistance.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The heated flooring module according to any one of claims 1 – 4 , wherein the hollowed central section ( 3 ) is covered on its underside with closing devices.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 5 , wherein the closing devices consist of said under-lid ( 8 ) that is fitted to the underside of the hollowed central section ( 3 ).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 6 , wherein, in a coupled position, the under-lid ( 8 ) is introduced inside the central section ( 3 ), and wherein edges ( 1 ) of the under-lid rest on an inner surface ( 11 ) of the walls of the central section.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 134 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 1 , wherein the hollowed central section ( 3 ) is equipped, in one of its side walls, with a perforation ( 12 ) and on its opposite wall, with corresponding projections ( 13 ), so that when the adjacent walls of two modules ( 1 ) are opposite each other, the projections of the first module fit through the perforation of the second module, and wherein the perforation in the side wall forms the entry point for a drainage tube ( 14 ) provided on the side wall having the perforation such that the drainage tube expels out through the under-lid ( 8 ) any liquid that seeps through said perforation when the projections of the first module are inserted into the perforations the second module.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 1 , wherein the hollowed central section includes a series of partitions which form a grid below said at least one continuous runnel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one continuous runnel comprises adjacent stretches which are transversally arranged and joined at each alternative end by respective curvilinear stretches.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 44 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 10 , wherein the adjacent stretches of the at least one continuous runnel include side wall openings which provide communication between adjacent rows of the at least one continuous runnel at locations other than the curvilinear stretches.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 10 , wherein every two adjacent stretches have at least a portion of their side wall in common.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 1 , wherein the upper plaque encloses the open adjacent stretches of the continuous runnel when the upper plaque is welded to the upper surface of the hollowed central section.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 174 words

A heated flooring module, comprising: a central section, and a continuous runnel fitted to an upper surface of the central section, wherein the continuous runnel is open at the upper surface of the central section and connects segments of entry and exit, an upper plaque attached to the upper surface of the central section, wherein the continuous runnel contains a heat source that enters and exits the runnel through tubular segments of entry and exit for the heat source, wherein the continuous runnel comprises adjacent stretches that are transversally arranged and joined at each alternative end by respective curvilinear stretches, wherein the adjacent stretches of the continuous runnel include side wall openings that provide communication between adjacent rows of the runnel at locations other than the curvilinear stretches, wherein the flooring module further comprises an under-lid fitted to an underside of the central section, said under-lid containing elevated dome shaped sections fitted with perforations through which the tubular segments of entry and exit pass through the under-lid respectively in communication with the continuous runnel.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 174 words

A heated flooring module, comprising: a central section, and a continuous runnel fitted to an upper surface of the central section, wherein the continuous runnel is open at the upper surface of the central section and connects segments of entry and exit, an upper plaque attached to the upper surface of the central section, wherein the continuous runnel contains a heat source that enters and exits the runnel through tubular segments of entry and exit for the heat source, wherein the continuous runnel comprises adjacent stretches that are transversally arranged and joined at each alternative end by respective curvilinear stretches, wherein the adjacent stretches of the continuous runnel include side wall openings that provide communication between adjacent rows of the runnel at locations other than the curvilinear stretches, wherein the flooring module further comprises an under-lid fitted to an underside of the central section, said under-lid containing elevated dome shaped sections fitted with perforations through which the tubular segments of entry and exit pass through the under-lid respectively in communication with the continuous runnel.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 14 , wherein the heat source comprises a heating fluid, which circulates through the enclosed circuit that forms between the upper plaque and the central section.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 14 , wherein a section of the adjacent stretches of the enclosed circuit where it communicates with the tubular segments is abruptly diminished at a point adjacent to the said tubular segments.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 14 , wherein the heat source comprises at least one electrical resistance.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 14 , wherein the central section is a hollowed central section that includes a series of partitions which form a grid below said continuous runnel.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 18 , wherein the hollowed central section further comprises said under-lid that is fitted to the underside of the hollowed central section below the grid.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 14 , further comprising suspension members that suspend the heated flooring module, wherein the heated flooring module together with other adjacent modules form a floor.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 20 , wherein said upper plaque is welded to said central section such that said plaque seals the runnel to form an enclosed circuit.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 30 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 14 , wherein the continuous runnel and the upper plaque attached to the upper surface of the central section forms an enclosed circuit.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 51 words

The heated flooring module according to claim 14 , plaque is attached to the upper surface of the central section to form an enclosed circuit which contains the heat source inside, and wherein the upper plaque encloses the open adjacent stretches of the continuous runnel when the upper plaque is attached.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2010-03-05	2010-09-04	2011-03-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2014-03-05	2014-09-04	2015-03-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2018-03-05	2018-09-04	2019-03-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Heated flooring module for livestock stables

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