AU2008207326A1

AU2008207326A1 - Demountable floor tile

Info

Publication number: AU2008207326A1
Application number: AU2008207326A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Blackie
Original assignee: PONALE Pty Ltd
Current assignee: PONALE Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-16
Filing date: 2008-01-08
Publication date: 2008-07-24
Also published as: NZ565952A; AU2007100042A4; AU2007100042B4; WO2008086559A1

Description

WO 2008/086559 PCT/AU2008/000008 DEMOUNTABLE FLOOR TILE Field of the Invention 5 This invention relates to a demountable floor tile and relates particularly but not exclusively to one which can be used to interlock with identical floor tiles and be used to protect ground surfaces such as grassed sporting grounds, internal floors in buildings, and the 10 like. Background Art Hitherto, demountable floor tiles have been used 15 to temporarily protect ground/floor surface during the holding of special events, such as music concerts, exhibitions, and the like. After the event the floor tiles can be demounted from each other and the ground/floor returned to its former status. Rectangular 20 floor tiles are known, as are other shaped floor tiles. In the case of rectangular shaped floor tiles, the known tiles have poor structural torsional rigidity which means that the tiles as a group when laid on a floor tend to twist with respect to each other and then the whole floor 25 assembly of interlocked tiles buckles and this looks unsightly and can result in a potential uneven flat floor surface and can give rise to the possibility of persons tripping when walking on the tiled floor surface. 30 Objects and Statement of the Invention There is a need for an improved floor tile. In our invention there is provided a rectangular 35 shaped plastics material demountable floor tile which has a tongue extending along one side of a and a complementary tongue receiving channel extending along the opposite side WO 2008/086559 PCT/AU2008/000008 -2 for receipt of the tongue of an adjacent floor tile and for permitting interlocking of the adjacent tile, the floor tread surface of the tile between the tongue and the channel being provided by two rows of rectangular 5 upstanding block parts each separated by a central longitudinally extending channel and each separated from the respective adjacent tongue or channel by respective longitudinally extending side channels, there being laterally extending strengthening flanges extending 10 between a wall defining the tongue channel, said flanges being greater in number than two, and there being laterally strengthening further flanges extending in the channel between the two block parts, said further flanges being greater in number than two. 15 Most preferably the height of the flanges and the strengthening flanges is greater than 50% of the depth of the channels. 20 Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained an example of a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings 25 wherein: Figure 1 is a top view, Figure 2 is an underneath view, 30 Figure 3 is a top perspective view, Figure 4 is an underneath perspective view, 35 Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along section line A-A of Figure 1.

WO 2008/086559 PCT/AU2008/000008 -3 Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along section line B-B of Figure 1. In the drawings there is shown one example of a 5 demountable floor tile 1 made from a suitable plastics material, such as polyethylene polypropylene or the like, and made by an injection moulding process. The tile 1 has an upper tread surface 2 and an under surface 3. The tile has a rectangular footprint. A longitudinally extending 10 tongue 4 extends along one side edge of the tile and a complementary longitudinally extending tongue receiving channel 5 extends along the opposite side. The tread surface 2 is formed by two rows of upstanding block parts 6 and there are longitudinally extending side channels 7 15 and 8, which separate the tongue 4 and the tongue receiving channel 5 from the block parts 6. A central longitudinally extending channel 9 separates the two rows of the block parts 6. Strengthening flanges 10 extend laterally across the side channels 7 and 8, and further 20 strengthening flanges 11 extend across the central channel 9. In the known tiles these flanges 10 and 11 were only two in number in each channel and their height was less than 50% of the depth of the channel 7, 8 and 9. Accordingly, in the known tiles, poor torsional rigidity 25 resulted. In the tile of our invention we have increased the number of flanges 9 and 10. As can be seen, we now have 6 strengthening flanges in each of the channels 7, 8 and 9. On the under surface of the tile we have included 2 central strengthening flanges 12 in each of the under 30 surface areas 13 of the block parts 6. These were not provided in the known tiles, and these new flanges 12 also assist in providing enhanced torsional rigidity to the tile 1. 35 In addition the known tile has poor airflow from the under surface 3 because the ventilation openings 14 are only about 50% less than the opening area now WO 2008/086559 PCT/AU2008/000008 -4 provided. The area provided for ventilation openings on side walls of the channels 7, 8 and 9 is therefore of an area greater than 50% of the area of a wall part between adjacent blocks 6. This is important for grassed areas to 5 maintain good airflow to prevent damage to the grass, and to control the temperature under the tiles particularly in outdoor environments where the tiles may be subjected to prolonged exposure to the sun and give rise to elevated temperatures under the tiles. 10 We have found that by providing the greater opening areas in the openings 14 and by providing the additional strengthening flanges 10, 11 and 12 that a superior tile is provided and there is greater torsional 15 strength than the known tiles. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part 20 of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise 25 due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in 30 various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A rectangular shaped plastics material demountable floor tile comprising a tongue extending along 5 one side and a complementary tongue receiving channel extending along the opposite side for receipt of the tongue of an adjacent floor tile and for permitting interlocking of the adjacent tile, the floor tread surface of the tile between the tongue and the channel being 10 provided by two rows of rectangular upstanding block parts each separated by a central longitudinally extending channel and each separated from the respective adjacent tongue or channel by respective longitudinally extending side channels, there being laterally extending 15 strengthening flanges extending between a wall defining the tongue channel, said flanges being greater in number than two, and there being laterally strengthening further flanges extending in the channel between the two block parts, said further flanges being greater in number than 20 two.

2. A tile as claimed in claim 1 wherein the height of the flanges and the strengthening flanges is greater than 50% of the depth of the channels. 25

3. A tile as claimed in claim 1 wherein under each of the central longitudinal parts of the block parts there are two strengthening flanges. 30

4. A tile as claimed in claim 2 wherein under each of the longitudinal parts of the block parts there are two strengthening flanges.

5. A tile as claimed in claim 1, comprising one or 35 more air ventilation openings on side walls of one or more of the channels, and wherein each ventilation opening is of an area greater than 50% of the area of a wall part of WO 2008/086559 PCT/AU2008/000008 -6 a side wall between adjacent blocks.

6. A tile as claimed in claim 2, comprising one or more air ventilation openings on side walls of one or more 5 of the channels, and wherein each ventilation opening is of an area greater than 50% of the area of a wall part of a side wall between adjacent blocks.