AU2010212276A1

AU2010212276A1 - Flooring system clamp

Info

Publication number: AU2010212276A1
Application number: AU2010212276A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Charles Campbell-Lloyd
Original assignee: Campbell Lloyd Peter Charles
Current assignee: Campbell Lloyd Peter Charles
Priority date: 2009-08-06
Filing date: 2010-08-06
Publication date: 2011-02-24

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "FLOORING SYSTEM CLAMP" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 TITLE: FLOORING SYSTEM CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention THIS INVENTION relates to a flooring system clamp. 5 The invention particularly relates to a clamp suitable for use in installation of flooring systems enabling (substantially) concealed fixing of the floorboards to the supporting floor structure (e.g., joists), including such fixing by the "biscuits" (or fixing members) disclosed in my co-pending Australian Patent Application 2008906575. 10 Throughout the specification, the term "flooring system" shall be used to include flooring systems, wall systems (e.g., wall cladding), ceiling systems and other building construction systems. Throughout the specification, the term "clamp" shall include clamps, cramps and spreaders, and like building construction tools: where at 15 least two jaws are interconnected, and relatively movable, to either compress a plurality of building components therebetween (e.g., as in a clamp or cramp), or to move respective building components apart (e.g., as in a spreader. 2. Prior Art 20 Until fairly recently, the floorboards in flooring systems were secured to the supporting floor joists by nails, screws or other like fasteners. These flooring systems had a number of limitations, especially when the outer surfaces of the floorboards were to be left exposed (ie., coated with a protective finish) and not covered by carpet(s), rug(s), vinyl sheeting, ceramic 25 or vinyl tiles, or similar floor coverings. Various floorboard systems have been produced where the floorboards have complementary interlocking profiles along respective side walls of the floorboards. Typically, one side wall of each floorboard has a projection (or tongue) engageable in a complementary recess or groove in 30 the other side wall of the similar floorboard, when the two floorboards are placed together. In some examples of these systems, the projections may be releasably lockable within the recesses or grooves, the projections 2 typically having hook-like profiles in end view. A further type of flooring system which has been adopted using fixing members, commonly called "biscuits", which are placed at (usually regular) spacings along the floor joists, engageable in the recesses or 5 grooves, having parallel sides, provided along the side walls of the floorboards. Typically, with these flooring systems, the first floorboard is laid on the floor joist; a set of biscuits are engaged with the recess or groove of the first floorboard; the biscuits are fixed to the respective floor joists; a second floorboard is placed in position, with one side wall engaged with the 10 first set of biscuits; and is then secured along its other side wall by a second set of the biscuits fixed to the respective floor joists. An improved version of the flooring system, using the "biscuits" as fixing members, is disclosed in Australian Patent Application 2008906575 (in the name of the present applicant). 15 With all these flooring systems, there have been problems in maintaining the floorboards in the required side-by-side relationship as the floorboards are fixed to the floor joists, by whichever fixing method is used; and to overcome any "warping" of the floorboards, to ensure the floorboards are fixed to the floor joists in secure (ie., non-rattling) connection; as any 20 system which is subject to "rattling" or "drumming" of the floorboards as the floor is traversed, is unacceptable to the market place. The secure connection of the floorboards to the supporting floor joists must also be able to withstand the expansion and contraction of the floorboards, due to differences in temperature and/or (more particularly) humidity in the building 25 locations, where they are installed. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a flooring system clamp (as hereinbefore defined) which can selectively hold one or more flooring system components in fixed relationship during the securing or 30 fixing together of the components. It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide such a clamp which can be provided as a "stand-alone" tool or by way of 3 modification to existing clamps. It is a further preferred object of the present invention to provide respective modified jaw components to existing clamps or convergent to flooring system clamps in accordance with the present 5 invention. It is a still further preferred object of the present invention to provide a method of installing a flooring system incorporating at least one of the flooring system clamps. Other preferred objects of the present invention will become 10 apparent from the following description. In one aspect, the present invention resides in a flooring system clamp (as hereinbefore defined) having a first jaw and a second jaw, at least one of the jaws being movably mounted on a connecting member to enable relative movement between the jaws under the control of an 15 operating system, wherein: the first jaw includes a substantially planar extension engageable with a fixed component of the flooring system; and the second jaw includes an abutment or engagement face between spaced restraint faces, so arranged that the abutment or 20 engagement face and the spaced restraint faces are operable to engage adjacent faces on a component of the flooring system to be moved relative to the fixed component thereof. Preferably, the spaced restraint faces are convergent towards the abutment or engagement face to, preferably, lead the adjacent face of 25 the component of the flooring system into engagement therewith. Preferably, the fixed jaw, or one of the movable jaws, is provided at, or adjacent, one end of the connecting member; and the other jaw is movable relative thereto. Preferably, the connecting member may include an elongate 30 bar or rod; or have a substantially C- or G-shaped body with an elongate "spine"; or other suitable structure. Preferably, the operating system may include a screw-threaded 4 shaft, a friction-drive, a ratchet- drive or like mechanical-drive mechanism; which can drive the jaws relative to each other to apply a clamping / spreading force to the flooring components; while preferably allowing ready adjustment of the distance between the jaws prior to, or after, the clamping / 5 spreading operation. (It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the operating system may also be hydraulic, pneumatic or other suitable drive system to move the movable jaw(s)). In a second aspect, the present invention resides a kit to modify a clamp for use as a flooring system clamp (as hereinbefore defined), 10 the kit including: a first jaw component, having a substantially planar extension for engageable with a fixed flooring component; and a second jaw component having an abutment or engagement face between spaced restraint faces, the abutment or engagement face and 15 the restraint faces being operable to engage adjacent faces on a component of the flooring system to be moved relative to the fixed component thereof. Preferably, the first jaw component is preferably not movable relative to the connecting member; and may be mountable on, or substituted for the first jaw of the clamp. 20 Preferably, the second jaw component is detachably mountable on the second jaw of the clamp. Preferably, the first jaw component has an axial bore or recess configured to enable releasable mounting of the first jaw component on the connecting member of the clamp. 25 Preferably, one or more inserts may be mountable within the axial bore or recess to enable the first jaw component to be "universally" mountable on the respective connecting members of a number of different clamps. Preferably, the second jaw component has a socket or profiled 30 recess for detachable mounting on the second jaw of the clamp. Preferably, the second jaw component is urged to non releasable engagement with the second jaw when a clamping/spreading 5 force is applied to the flooring system by the jaw components. Preferably, the restraint faces of the second jaw component are arranged as hereinbefore described. In a third aspect, the present invention to a method of fixing 5 floorboards to supporting floor joists in a flooring system, as hereinbefore defined, wherein: at least one of the flooring system clamps, as hereinbefore described, applies a clamping force to adjacent floorboards; and at least one clamp applies a (preferably light) clamping force 10 between the floorboard(s) and supporting floor joist(s); while the floorboard(s) are being located and/or fixed or secured to the floor joist(s). Preferably, in a flooring (or ceiling) system, the flooring system clamp(s) will apply clamping / spreading forces in a substantially horizontal 15 direction & the clamp(s) will apply clamping forces in a substantially vertical direction; while in a wall system, the forces will be applied vice versa. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying 20 drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a flooring system clamp in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a part-sectional, rear isometric view thereof; FIG. 3 is a rear isometric view of a first jaw component for the 25 clamp; FIGS. 4 and 5 are respective side and front elevational views of the first jaw component, the planar projection being omitted; FIG. 6 is a rear isometric view of a second jaw component for the clamp; and 30 FIGS. 7 and 8 are respective rear and side elevational views of the second jaw component. NB: Any dimensions, notations or other material contained in 6 the drawings are by way of example only, and are non-limiting to the scope of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 5 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the flooring system clamp 10 of the present invention is provided by modification of an existing (or off-the-shelf) trigger-operated clamp 20, which has been modified by the substitution of the fixed (first) jaw (not shown) with a first jaw component 30; and the provision of a second jaw component 40, in accordance with the present 10 invention, on the movable second jaw 22 of the clamp 20. The existing clamp 20 has an elongate bar 21, to which is mounted the first jaw component 30, as will be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. The movable second jaw 22 is mounted on a travelling body 23 15 via a truss-like support 24, the movable second jaw 22 having a substantially planar clamping face 25 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate bar. 21 The travelling body 23 is selectively movable along the elongate bar 21 by a ratchet and friction drive mechanism 26 operated by 20 squeezing a trigger 27, pivotally mounted in the travelling body 23, towards a fixed hand grip 28 extending from the travelling body 23. The drive mechanism 26 enables the movable second jaw 22 to be advanced towards the first jaw component 30 to apply a clamping force to the floorboards received therebetween. The drive mechanism 26 also enables "release" of 25 the travelling body 23 from the elongate bar 21 to enable the movable second jaw 22 to be moved away from the first jaw component 30 to allow release of the floorboards engaged therebetween. It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the existing clamp 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be substituted by other 30 types of existing clamps 20; including those of the C- or G-configuration where the second movable jaw 22 is moved relative to the fixed first jaw component 30, e.g., by a screw-threaded shaft rotatably received in a screw- 7 threaded bore in a housing aligned with, and interconnected to, the fixed first jaw by an elongate spine. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the first jaw component 30 has a base 31 with an elongate bore 32 therethrough to receive one end of the 5 elongate bar 21. A fastener 33 extends through a lateral bore 34 in the base 31 (and through a complementary hole in the elongate bar 21) to enable releasable mounting of the base 31 at a first end of the elongate bar 21. In a modified embodiment, not illustrated, the bore 32 through the base 31 may be of "enlarged" dimensions to enable different inserts (not 10 illustrated) to be received therein, where each insert has a respective bore therethrough configured for engagement with, and mounting on, the respective elongate bar or rod 21 of different brands and/or models of existing clamp(s) 20. The first jaw component 30 has a curved, truss-like support 35 15 with a head 36 at its distal end. The head 36 retains a substantially planar projection plate 37 arranged to be inserted into the gap between adjacent fixed floorboards, and so provide an "anchor" against which any interposed floorboards are to be compressed. The projection plate 37 lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate bar 21; and the head 36 20 has one top reinforcing rib interconnecting three (3) downwardly extending reinforcing ribs, the reinforcing ribs 38 forming a substantially "E-shape" as illustrated in FIG. 5. The top reinforcing rib forms a shelf-like face 39 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate bar 21 and substantially perpendicular to the plate 37. 25 In a modified embodiment not illustrated, the head 36 may be connected to the base 31 by an H- or I-section support, or other suitable support member. Preferably, the first jaw component 30 is moulded or extruded from tough plastics material, which may be reinforced with glass- or carbon 30 fibres; or cast or moulded from metals, such as aluminium or cast iron; and the projection plate 37 is preferably manufactured from a tough metal, e.g., tool-grade steel or the like, with a hole therethrough which is filled with the 8 plastics-material of the head 36 to anchor the plate 37 in the head 36. The second jaw component 40, illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 6 to 8, is arranged to be releasably mounted on the movable second jaw 22 of the clamp 20. 5 The second jaw component 40 has a body wall 41 with a socket 42, open to one side, provided on the rear thereof. The socket 42 is formed of substantially L-section top and bottom socket walls 43,44 interconnected by a side socket wall 45,and the outer portion of the rear of the body wall 41 is provided with integral reinforcing ribs, where the side ribs 10 45,46 are interconnected by a substantially cruciform-type central rib 47. The second jaw component 40 has an abutment face 48 provided on the front of the body wall 41 and extending between respective outer and inner restraint faces 49,50 formed by extensions of the side ribs 45,46 and by lateral projections 51,52, respectively. 15 It will be noted that the outer restraint faces 49 extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate bar 21; while the inner restraint faces 50are downwardly inclined, so that the outer and inner restraint faces 49,50 are "inwardly-convergent" to assist the leading of the floorboards into engagement with the abutment face 48 of the second jaw 20 component 40. The second jaw component 40 is preferably integrally moulded, extruded or cast from the same material(s) as used to manufacture the first jaw component 30. It will be noted that the outer restraint faces 49 are spaced a 25 greater distance from the elongate bar 21 than the distal end of the projection plate 37; while the inner restraint faces 50 are provided at a smaller distance from the elongate bar 21 than the shelf-like face 39 created by the top rib of the first jaw component 30. In use, the drive mechanism 26 for the flooring clamp 10 is 30 operable to move the second jaw component 40 away from the first jaw component 30. The projection plate 37 is engaged in the gap between a pair of fixed floorboards. The outermost side wall of the, e.g., 2-4 floorboards to 9 be fixed to the supporting floor joists, is engaged by advancing the second jaw component 40 towards the first jaw component 30, the outer side wall being received and engaged by the abutment face 48,and the upper and lower faces of the outermost floorboard being engaged by the inner and 5 outer restraint faces 50,49 of the second jaw component 40. By operating the drive mechanism 26, using the trigger 27, the second jaw component 40 is advanced towards the first jaw component 30 to clamp the floorboards together for fixing to the floor joists. To maintain the floorboards in contact with the floor joists, and 10 to overcome any "warping" of the floorboards, a second (unmodified) existing clamp 20 (i.e. not provided with the first and second jaw components 30,40) is preferably provided adjacent each flooring system clamp 10, but perpendicular thereto, to provide at least a light downward clamping force between the floorboards and the supporting floor joists. 15 It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that, as an alternative to the "modification kit" of the first and second jaw components 30,40 hereinbefore described and illustrated, it is possible to provide an specialised flooring system clamp 10, where the fixed first jaw is of a configuration the same, or similar, to the first jaw component 30 hereinbefore 20 described and illustrated; and where the movable second jaw 22 has the configuration of the second jaw component 40 formed integrally therewith. It will also be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the flooring system clamp 10 of the present invention provides a simple, yet efficient, solution to the problems of locating and restraining the floorboards 25 prior to their secure fixing on the floor joists; and that the first and second jaw components 30,40 may be provided in a "modification kit" to convert existing (or off-the-shelf) clamps 20 to have the advantages of the flooring system clamp 10 of the present invention. Various changes and modifications may be made to the 30 embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.

Claims

1. A flooring system clamp (as hereinbefore defined) having a first 5 jaw and a second jaw, at least one of the jaws being movably mounted on a connecting member to enable relative movement between the first and second jaws under the control of an operating system, wherein: the first jaw includes a substantially planar extension engageable with a fixed component of the flooring system; and 10 the second jaw includes an abutment or engagement face between spaced restraint faces, so arranged that the abutment or engagement face and the spaced restraint faces are operable to engage adjacent faces on a component of the flooring system to be moved relative to the fixed component by relative movement between the first and second 15 jaws.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the spaced restraint faces are convergent towards the abutment or engagement face, to lead the face of the component adjacent the flooring system into engagement therewith. 20

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: the fixed jaw, or one of the movable jaws, is provided at, or adjacent, one end of the connecting member; and the other jaw is movable relative thereto.

4. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 25 the connecting member includes an elongate bar or rod; or has a substantially C- or G-shaped body with an elongate "spine".

5. A clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: the operating system includes a screw-threaded shaft, a friction-drive, a ratchet- drive or like mechanical-drive mechanism; or a 30 hydraulic, pneumatic or other suitable drive system; which can drive the first and second jaws relative to each other to apply a clamping / spreading force to the flooring components; while allowing ready adjustment of the distance 11 between the first and second jaws prior to, or after, the clamping / spreading operation.

6. A kit to modify a clamp, having a first jaw and a second jaw on a connecting member, for use as a flooring system clamp (as hereinbefore 5 defined), the kit including: a first jaw component, having a substantially planar extension for engageable with a fixed flooring component; and a second jaw component having an abutment or engagement face between spaced restraint faces, the abutment or engagement face and 10 the restraint faces being operable to engage adjacent faces on a component of the flooring system to be moved relative to the fixed component thereof.

7. A kit as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the first jaw component is not movable relative to the connecting member; and is mountable on, or substituted for the first jaw of 15 the clamp.

8. A kit as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the second jaw component is detachably mountable on the second jaw of the clamp.

9. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein: 20 the first jaw component has an axial bore or recess configured to enable releasable mounting of the first jaw component on the connecting member of the clamp.

10. A kit as claimed in claim 9, wherein: one or more inserts are mountable within the axial bore or 25 recess to enable the first jaw component to be "universally" mountable on the respective connecting members of a number of different clamps.

11. A kit as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the second jaw component has a socket or profiled recess for detachable mounting on the second jaw of the clamp. 30

12. A kit as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the second jaw component is urge able to non-releasable engagement with the second jaw when a clamping/spreading force is applied 12 to the flooring system by the first and second jaw components.

13. A clamp having a first jaw and a second jaw on a connecting member and movable relative to each other by an operating system, provided with the kit as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12. 5

14. A method of fixing floorboards to supporting floor joists in a flooring system (as hereinbefore defined), wherein: at least one of the flooring system clamps, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, or claim 13, applies a clamping force to adjacent floorboards; and 10 at least one clamp applies a light clamping force between the floorboard(s) and supporting floor joist(s), at substantially right angles to the clamping force of the at least one flooring system clamps; while the floorboard(s) are being located and/or fixed or secured to the floor joist(s).

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 for a flooring (or ceiling) 15 system, wherein: the at least one flooring system clamps will apply clamping / spreading forces in a substantially horizontal direction; and the at least one clamps will apply a light clamping force in a substantially vertical direction; 20 while in a wall system, the forces will be applied vice versa.

16. A flooring system clamp, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A clamp as claimed in claimed 13, provided with the kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying 25 drawings.

18. A method of clamping floorboards to a flooring system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 30