AU2022100089A4

AU2022100089A4 - Improved Raised Access Flooring

Info

Publication number: AU2022100089A4
Application number: AU2022100089A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Petar Zlatar
Original assignee: A S P Access Floors Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ASP Access Floors Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-07
Filing date: 2022-07-06
Publication date: 2022-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-06
Also published as: AU2020203762A1

Abstract

A raised access floorsystem has ground engaging pedestals (12, 32, 62) on which are supported a floor tile supporting structure, such as cementitious base panels or a grid of stringers (14, 34, 72). Porcelain, terrazzo or marble floor tiles (16, 42, 76) are supported on the floor tile supporting structure, and spacers (22, 44, 74) separate the edges of adjacent floor tiles. Each spacer has a vertical stem portion (24, 46, 78) which serves as imitation grouting between adjacent sides of the floor tiles. LA (A (An

Description

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IMPROVED RAISED ACCESS FLOORING TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to raised access flooring and to structural arrangements for improving the construction, installation, appearance and function ofraised access floors which utilize porcelain, terrazzo, marble and similar floor tiles.

BACKGROUND ART

Raised access floors utilizing porcelain, terrazzo, marble and similar floor tiles are known but vary markedly in quality and performance depending on the manufacturer, the materials used, and the desired outcome. There remains much room for improvement in the construction, installation, appearance and function of raised access floors which utilize such floor tiles.

For example, many known raised access floors of this type are simply installed so that the edges of adjacent floor tiles are directly abutting. While this may be desirable in some circumstances, there is also a desire in the market for such floor tiles to be separated by a grouting material or similar contrasting feature in order to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the raised access floor. Conventional grouting materials for tiles are not always suitable for indoor uses, especially in areas of heavy human foot traffic or which are prone to the build up of dirt and grime.

It has been found by the present inventor that raised access floors utilizing porcelain, terrazzo, marble and similar floor tiles may not only have their appearance improved, but also their construction, installation and function improved, by the use of an imitation grouting which also serves as a spacer for separating the edges of adjacent floor tiles.

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DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved raised access floor which utilizes porcelain, terrazzo, marble and similar floor tiles and that uses such imitation grouting.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a raised access floor system comprising: (a) ground engaging pedestals, (b) cementitious base panels supported on the pedestals, (c) porcelain, terrazzo or marble floor tiles supported on the cementitious base panels, and (d) spacers separating the edges of adjacent floor tiles, wherein each spacer has a vertical stem portion which serves as imitation grouting between adjacent sides of the floor tiles.

In one embodiment, the location of the pedestals is under the middle of each floor tile.

In an alternative embodiment, the location of the pedestals is under the adjacent comers of four floor tiles.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a raised access floor system comprising: (a) ground engaging pedestals, (b) a grid of stringers supported on the pedestals, (c) porcelain, terrazzo or marble floor tiles supported on the grid of stringers, and (d) spacers separating the edges of adjacent floor tiles, wherein each spacer has a vertical stem portion which serves as imitation grouting between adjacent sides of the floor tiles.

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There has been thus outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and put into practical effect, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which the disclosure is based, may be readily utilized as the basis for designing other structures, assemblies, process steps and system configurations for carrying out the object of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the broad outline of the invention described above be regarded as including such equivalent features insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a side view of a raised access floor system in which pedestals support cementitious base panels on which porcelain floor tiles are supported.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the circled region marked A in Figure 1 showing the separation of two adjacent porcelain floor tiles by a spacer.

Figure 3 is a side view of another raised access floor system in which pedestals having a first type of rigid upper gasket support cementitious base panels on which porcelain floor tiles are supported.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the system shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the rigid upper gasket used in the system of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a side view of the rigid upper gasket of Figure 5.

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Figure 7 is a plan view of a stringer used in the system of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 8 is a side view of the stringer of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a plan view of yet another raised access floor system in which pedestals having a second type of rigid upper gasket support a rigid grid of stringers on which porcelain floor tiles are supported.

Figure 10 is a side sectional view through A-A of Figure 9 and in which a circled region marked B identifies where two adjacent porcelain tiles are separated by a rigid upper gasket and a spacer supported on a stringer of the grid.

Figure I Iis an enlarged side view of the circled region marked B in Figure 10 showing the separation in more detail.

Figure 12 is a plan view of a porcelain panel used in the system of Figures 9 to 11.

Figure 13 is a side view of the porcelain panel of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a plan view of a rigid upper gasket used in the system of Figures 9 to 11.

Figure 15 is a side view of the rigid upper gasket of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a bottom view of the rigid upper gasket of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a side view of a spacer for mounting on a rigid grid of stringers used in the system of Figures 9 to 11.

Figure 18 is an end view of the spacer of Figure 17.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The raised access floor system shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a conventional array of pedestals 12 supported on an under floor slab. The pedestals 12 support a floor tile support structure which, in this embodiment, is an understructure of cementitious base panels 14, with each pedestal supporting the adjacent comers of four cementitious base panels (sometimes referred to as cementitious steel panels because of the steel component they contain) in a conventional manner.

Supported on the cementitious base panels 14 are porcelain floor tiles 16 which may be 20mm thick and may have affixed on their underside a mild steel panel 18 for strength and acoustic purposes. A sponge rubber sheet 20 may be located between the cementitious base panel 14 and the mild steel panel 18. For thinner floor tiles of; say, 10mm thickness, a magnetic sheet may be used to replace the sponge rubber sheet.

In this arrangement, the location of the pedestals 12 is under the middle of each floor tile 16.

The porcelain tiles 16 may alternatively be terrazzo or marble floor tiles depending on the requirements of the user.

As shown in Figure 2, a spacer 22 separates two adjacent floor tiles 16. The spacer 22 is formed and used as an upside down T-section length of a resilient and extrudable polymer. The spacer 22 has a vertical stem portion 24 which rises from the middle of a lower horizontal base portion 26. The stem portion 24, due to its height, can serve as imitation grouting between adjacent sides of floor tiles 16.

The raised access floor system shown in Figures 3 to 8 similarly has an array of pedestals 32 supported on an under floor slab. The pedestals 32 support the adjacent comers of four cementitious base panels 34 in a conventional manner. The pedestals 32

06/07/22 have a rigid upper gasket 36 (shown isolated in Figures 5 and 6) which has a floor 38 and a cruciform-shaped upright wall structure 40.

Supported on the cementitious base panels 34 are porcelain floor tiles 42 which are similar to the floor tiles 16. The rigid upper gasket 36 of the pedestals 32 supports the adjacent comers of four porcelain floor tiles 42.

In this arrangement, the location of the pedestals 32 is under the adjacent comers of four floor tiles 42.

A spacer 44 (shown isolated in Figures 7 and 8) separates two adjacent floor tiles 42. The spacer 44 is formed and used as an upside down T-section length of a resilient and extrudable polymer. The spacer 44 has a vertical stem portion 46 which rises from the middle of a lower horizontal base portion 48, and each end of the base portion 48 extends slightly further beyond each respective end of the stem portion 46 to provide for cut-out formations 50, 52, which may be male or female cut-out formations. Each cut-out formation 50, 52 is shaped to engage a correspondingly (but reversibly) shaped cut-out formation 54 in the floor 38 of the rigid upper gasket 36. When so engaged, the vertical stem portion 46 of the spacer 44 is linearly aligned with, and may abut, one of the four vertical arms 56 of the wall structure 40 of the rigid upper gasket 36. This co operation of the spacer 44 and the rigid upper gasket 36 enables the vertical arms 56 and the vertical stem portions 46, due to their respective uppermost edges being at an identical height from the ground, to serve as imitation grouting between adjacent sides offloor tiles 42.

The raised access floor system shown in Figures 9 to 18 similarly has an array of pedestals 62 supported on an under floor slab. The pedestals 62 have a rigid upper gasket 64 (shown isolated in Figures 14 to 16) which has a floor 66, a cruciform-shaped upright wall structure 68, and a sub-floor mounting structure 70 which extends downwardly from the floor 66.

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A rigid grid or understructure of stringers 72 is supported on the pedestals 62, and spacers 74 (shown isolated in Figures 17 and 18) are mounted on the stringers 72.

Supported on the stringers 72 are porcelain floor tiles 76 which are similar to the floor tiles 16, 42. The rigid upper gasket 64 of the pedestals 62 supports the adjacent comers of four porcelain floor tiles 76.

In this arrangement, the location of the pedestals 62 is under the adjacent comers of four floor tiles 76.

Each spacer 74 separates two adjacent floor tiles 76 and is formed as a length of a resilient and extrudable polymer. The spacer 74 has a vertical stem portion 78 which rises from the middle of an intermediate horizontal base portion 80, and an opposed pair of legs 82, 84 descend downwardly from the edges of the base portion 80. The distance separating the legs 82, 84 is equal to the width of the top of the stringer 72 to enable the spacer 74 to stably engage and be mounted on the stringer 72. When so mounted, the vertical stem portion 78 of the spacer 74 is linearly aligned with, and may abut, one of the four vertical arms 86 of the wall structure 68 of the rigid upper gasket 64. This co-operation of the spacer 74 and the rigid upper gasket 64 enables the vertical arms 86 and the vertical stem portions 78, due to their respective uppermost edges being at an identical height from the ground, to serve as imitation grouting between adjacent sides of floor tiles 76.

The structural arrangements described above also provide enhanced acoustic properties and improved strength.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of the design and construction of the above embodiments of the raised access floor systems of the invention without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.

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The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates before the filing date of this patent application.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A raised access floor system comprising: (a) ground engaging pedestals, (b) cementitious base panels supported on the pedestals, (c) porcelain, terrazzo or marble floor tiles supported on the cementitious base panels, and (d) spacers separating the edges of adjacent floor tiles, wherein each spacer has a vertical stem portion which serves as imitation grouting between adjacent sides of the floor tiles.

2. The raised access floor system of claim 1, wherein each spacer is formed as an upside down T-section length of a resilient and extrudable polymer.

3. The raised access floor system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the vertical stem portion rises from the middle of a lower horizontal base portion.

4. The raised access floor system of any one of claims I to 3, wherein each pedestal has a rigid upper gasket which has a floor and a cruciform-shaped upright wall structure.

5. The raised access floor system of claim 4, wherein the rigid upper gasket supports adjacent comers of four cementitious base panels.

6. The raised access floor system of claim 5, wherein the location of the pedestals is under the middle of each floor tile.

7. The raised access floor system of claim 4, wherein the rigid upper gasket supports adjacent comers of four floor tiles.

8. The raised access floor system of claim 7, wherein the location of the pedestals is under the adjacent comers of four floor tiles.

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9. The raised access floor system of claim 4, wherein each end of the base portion extends further beyond each respective end of the stem portion to provide cut-out formations in each end of the base portion.

10. The raised access floor system of claim 9, wherein each cut-out formation in the base portion of the spacer is shaped to engage a correspondingly but reversibly shaped cut-out formation in the floor of the rigid upper gasket.

11. The raised access floor system of claim 10, wherein the cruciform-shaped upright wall structure of the rigid upper gasket has four vertical arms.

12. The raised access floor system of claim 11, wherein, when the cut-out formations in the base portion and in the floor are engaged, the vertical stem portion of the spacer is linearly aligned with one of the vertical arms of the upright wall structure of the gasket, and an uppermost edge of the vertical stem portion and an uppermost edge of the vertical arm are at an identical height from the ground, wherein the vertical stem portion of each spacer and the vertical arms of each upper gasket serve as imitation grouting between adjacent sides of the floor tiles.

13. The raised access floor system of claim 12, wherein the vertical stem portion of each spacer abuts the vertical arm of each upper gasket.

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