EP0529073A1

EP0529073A1 - Support device of floor panels

Info

Publication number: EP0529073A1
Application number: EP90907394A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hiromasa Naka Corp. Haka; Takehiko Naka Technical Laboratory Okushima; Takao Naka Technical Laboratory Okumura; Tatsuo Naka Technical Laboratory Shoji; Tetsuo Naka Technical Laboratory Tobikawa
Original assignee: Naka Corp
Current assignee: Naka Corp
Priority date: 1990-04-27
Filing date: 1990-04-27
Publication date: 1993-03-03
Also published as: WO1991017330A1; EP0529073A4

Abstract

A support device (20) of floor panels having stringers (15) that are set between fixed legs (4) inclusive of swivelling pole legs (7) and floor panels (2) that are supported by the stringers (15) and fixed by panel holders (17). The upper end of each pole leg (7) is fixed to the stringer (15) while the lower end is connected by a pin to a base portion (5), thereby forming a rigid frame structure. Accordingly, the structure has sufficient vibration-proofing performance. Since the floor panel (2) is supported around its peripheral portion (2c) by a support (19) fitted integrally to the stringer (15), the vertical load that acts on the floor panel (2) is transmitted to the stringer (15) through the support (19). Accordingly, deformation of a flange portion (2b) of the floor panel (2) can be prevented and the floor panel (2) can be supported stably.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a structure for supporting floor panels wherein a plurality of supporting legs are disposed and secured on the base floor, adjacent supporting legs are connected by means of a stringer, opposite end portions of which are provided with the supporting element respectively, and floor panels made of steel sheets to be laid on the supporting structure are fastened by a panel retainer to the supporting structure.

Background Art

A double floor structure or free access floor for defining a space for passing ventilating ducts and/or cables or wirings from electronic equipments to be installed thereon is well-known in the art. The space is defined between the base floor such as concrete floor of the buildings and floor panels forming the free access floor.
In the free access floor utilized especially for the computer room, supporting legs of independent type, i.e., supporting legs separate from floor panels are used to secure an increased height of the space sufficient for passing therethrough a huge amount of cables from computers and their peripheral equipments.
In the floor panels supporting structure using supporting legs of independent type, a base plate provided at the lower end of each supporting leg is secured by means of adhesive on the base floor such as concrete floor of the building, a pedestal adjustable in its height is provided at the top end of a supporting column carried by the base plate, a stringer is mounted between adjacent pedestals, and floor panels are secured on the supporting legs by means of panel retainer.
In such a structure in which the base plates and thus the supporting legs are rigidly secured on the base floor, a bending moment caused by the horizontal load due such as to an earthquake is exerted on the supporting structure, and then applied on the lower end of the supporting column, i.e., on the base plate. Taking into consideration the condition of the base floor on which the base plates are to be bonded, and decreasing of the bonding strength due to the deterioration with age, it is necessary to increase the bonding area between the base plate and the base floor. It is further necessary to provide reinforcing members such as ribs or braces for supporting a bending moment which can not be supported only by the base plate. These reinforcing members will occupy the spacing, i.e., the spacing for passing ventilating ducts and/or cables are reduced. Further, the laying operation of the floor panels will become cumbersome. The stringers used in the above mentioned structure do not have a structure by which the load applied thereto can be transferred sufficiently. It is therefore necessary to bear the load by means of each supporting leg. The foregoing are the first problem involved in the prior art structure.
The second problem involved in the prior art structure is that the bolts and nuts used as fastening means for securing the end of each stringer to the top end of the supporting leg makes the laying operation complicated. This is true of the wiring operation effected in later, since such operation requires engaging and/or disengaging of these nuts and bolts.
The third problem involved in the prior art structure is that the floor panels are secured not tightly on the supporting legs by means of such panel retainer as used in the prior art structure, so that uncomfortable noises can be produced by the walking on the floor panels, and the loosening between floor panels by the vibration to be applied thereto is sometimes led to the disengagement of the panels.
The fourth problem involved in the prior art structure is that the flange portion of each floor panel can be deformed due to the load applied thereto, since the floor panels are adapted to be supported at their flange portions directly through the stringers.
The fifth problem involved in the prior art structure is that the bottom surface of the panel retainer and the top surface of the floor panels on which the panel retainer is adapted to be urged can be damaged by the fastening operation, i.e., turning the retainer to displace it downwardly for fastening the floor panels to the supporting structure. This is because the panel retainer and the floor panels are in metal-to-metal contact. Further, rateral displacement between adjacent panels can be effected by the fastening operation, and sometimes the rattling of floor panels are founded because the floor panels are not fastened sufficiently.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The principle object of the present invention is to provide a structure for supporting floor panels which is easy in its construction, and the spacing between floor panels and base floor can be enlarged, and an antiseismic structure can be defined by the structure itself.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure for supporting floor panels in which stringers are fixedly secured under pressure detachably on the top ends of the adjacent supporting legs. The stringers are used on the laying operation as a positioning jig.
The further object of the present invention is to provide a structure for supporting floor panels in which floor panels are rigidly and correctly secured together with the stringers to the supporting legs.
The additional object of the present invention is to provide a structure for supporting floor panels having a structure for avoiding the deformation of the flange portion of the floor panels.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a structure for supporting floor panels including a slide ring for facilitating the rotation of the panel retainer, and avoiding the contact surface of the panel retainer and the floor panels to be damaged. The slide ring is adapted to be interposed between floor panels and the panel retainer.
The aforementioned objects and other objectives which will become apparent as the description proceeds are established by the structure for supporting the floor panels according to the present invention in which a plurality of supporting legs provided on a base floor, stringers each of which is disposed between adjacent supporting legs, comprising supporting legs including a base plate secured on the base floor, a supporting column connected oscillatory to the base plate, and a pedestal for receiving stringers connected to the top of the column, stringers each of which is connected at each end to the adjacent pedestals respectively, and panel retainer for clamping the floor panels and stringers between the panel retainer and the pedestal for receiving said stringers to secure the elements therebetween.
A supporting structure for supporting floor panels according to the present invention having a plurality of supporting legs provided on a base floor, stringers each of which is disposed between adjacent supporting legs, comprising stringers each of which has a downwardly opening inverted U-shaped main body, and a pair of rims extending substantially horizontally outwardly from a longitudinal edge of each leg of "U" of the main body, each of said rims includes a raised portion extending vertically upwardly from the longitudinal edge of each rim,
a pedestal for receiving stringers positioned and secured at the top end of each supporting leg, being adapted to accommodate ends of the stringers, said pedestal includes side walls to be tightly contacted with said raised portions of the stringers,
nibs provided on the bottom wall of said pedestal for receiving stringers,
a hole provided through a horizontally extending portion of each rim, each of said nib is adapted to be inserted into the hole, and
protrusions provided on the side walls of said pedestals, a top edge of the raised portion of each rim of said stringer is adapted to be engaged therewith.
A supporting structure for supporting floor panels according to the present invention wherein a plurality of supporting legs are provided on a base floor, a stringer is connected at each end to the top ends of adjacent supporting legs respectively, floor panels are adapted to be supported on the stringers, said floor panels and said stringers are secured on the supporting legs by means of a panel retainer, comprising a stringer includes a downwardly opening inverted U-shaped main body, and a pair of rims extending substantially horizontally outwardly from a longitudinal edge of each leg of "U" of the main body, each of said rims has a protrusion to be urged toward a pedestal of said supporting leg.
A supporting structure for supporting floor panels according to the present invention wherein a plurality of supporting legs are provided on a base floor, stringers each of which is disposed between adjacent supporting legs, supporting elements are disposed on the stringer so as to be spaced suitably with each other, and floor panels are supported through said supporting elements.
A supporting structure for supporting floor panels according to the present invention wherein a plurality of supporting legs are provided on a base floor, a stringer is connected at each end to the top ends of adjacent supporting legs respectively, floor panels are adapted to be supported on the stringers, said floor panels are secured on the supporting legs by means of a panel retainer, comprising; a slide ring formed of synthetic resinous material of self-lubricating feature is adapted to be interposed between the panel retainer and the floor panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the invention will be particularly described in connection with the preferred embodiment, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a free access floor provided with a structure for supporting floor panels of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a exploded perspective view of the floor panel supporting structure;
Figure 3 shows a exploded perspective view of an upper portion of a supporting leg;
Figure 4 shows a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the floor panel supporting structure;
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a panel retainer member, in which four panels are secured by means of the retainer to a pedestal;
Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of floor panels secured to the pedestal provided at the top of the supporting leg;
Figure 7 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the panel retainer;
Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view for illustrating the relation between a supporting element and floor panels supported thereby;
Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the supporting leg on which floor panels are secured;
Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view for illustrating an elasticity presented by a stringer;
Figure 11 shows a perspective view illustrating a structural relation among the bottom of each floor panel, the stringer, and the supporting element;
Figure 12 shows a partially broken away perspective view of the panel retainer;
Figure 13 shows a bottom plan view of the floor panel;
Figure 14 shows a perspective view taken along A-A line of Fig. 13;
Figure 15 shows a partially broken away perspective view of the floor panel;
Figure 16 shows a cross-sectional view illustrating an another embodiment of the stringer;
Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view illustrating a further embodiment of the stringer; and
Figure 18 shows a schematic elevational view illustrating loads to be exerted to the upper portion of the supporting leg, when horizontal load is applied thereto.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shows a free access floor 1 comprising a structure 20 for supporting floor panels including a plurality of supporting legs 4 disposed on a base floor 3 so as to extend substantially vertically therefrom, stringers 15 bridged over two adjacent legs, and a plurality of floor panels 2 to be laid on and secured to the supporting structure.
Each supporting leg 4 is adapted to be positioned immediately beneath the junction defined by each corner 2a of four adjacent floor panels 2. When the supporting leg 4 is to be used at the wall of the floor, the supporting leg 4 is positioned immediately below the junction defined by each corner 2a of two adjacent floor panels 2.
The supporting leg 4 comprises a base plate 5 of generally square shape, a height adjusting mechanism 6 mounted on the base plate at the center thereof to extend upwardly therefrom, a supporting column 7 connected oscillatory to the height adjusting mechanism 6, and a pedestal 8 for receiving stringers connected integrally to the top of the column 7. The base plate 5 is adapted to be secured at a predetermined position on the base floor 3 by means of adhesive or other means.
The height adjusting mechanism 6 comprises a threaded member 9 connected at its bottom to the center of the upper surface of the base plate 5 to extend therefrom, a flange portion 10 supporting the lower end of the supporting column 7, a height adjusting nut 11 to be threadingly engaged with the threaded member 9, and a clamping means 12 including a bolt and a nut. As can be seen from Fig. 6, the height adjusting nut 11 has a conical configuration reduced in its diameter toward the top thereof, so that the column 7 is play fitted at its lower end over the nut, and thus the column is supported oscillatory on the height adjusting mechanism 6.
The pedestal 8 for supporting stringers 15 has a generally cruciform configuration having outwardly extending four channels 8a for accommodating an end of each stringer. Each channel 8a is formed to have an inverted U-shaped configuration including a bottom portion 8b and side walls 8c. The bottom portion 8b is provided with two nibs 14 of conical shape to be engaged with holes 13 formed respectively through a horizontal portion 15c of each rim 15b of the stringer 15. Each of the side wall 8c is provided with a protrusion 16 to be engaged with the raised portion 15d of the stringer 15. A male member 18 with which the panel retainer 17 is adapted to be engaged is provided at the center of the pedestal 8.
The stringer is formed as a channel member of substantially U-shaped cross-section through the folding operation, a longitudinally extending main body 15a is formed at its central portion.
The main body 15a is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending rim 15b including a horizontal portion 15c extending horizontally from each leg of the "U" of the main body 15 and raised portion extending upwardly from an edge of the horizontal portion 15c. An end portion of each horizontal portion 15c is provided at its bottom with a protrusion 26 through which the stringer is beared on the bottom 8b of the channel 8a of the pedestal 8 so as to deform elastically the rim 15b, when floor panels 2 are secured on the supporting structure by fastening the panel retainer 17.
The spring effect due to the elastic deformation of the horizontal portion 15c of the stringer 15 urges floor panels 2 upwardly to the panel retainer 17, and thus the floor panels are fixedly clamped between the stringer and the retainer (see Figs. 8 and 10). Jolting of floor panels or noises produced by walking on the floor panels are inhibited thereby. Further, thus obtained spring effect is generally the same as that to be obtained by spring washer, i.e., a substantially constant fastening force is remained to be exerted to the panel retainer 17 to prevent it from loosening and removing therefrom.
The side walls of the main body 15a is further provided at positions with a plurality of engaging holes 15e for securing a supporting element 19 thereto. Those designated by 15g are reinforcing ribs for stiffening the end portion of the stringer 15 for avoiding the buckling thereof due to the vertical load to be applied to the stringer 15 and floor panels 2, and those designated by 15h are ribs for guiding the supporting element 19.
The bearing surface 15f formed at the upper surface of the end portion of the main body 15a, on which flange portion 2b of floor panels 2 are to be rest, is formed for enhancing the accuracy of the height of the end of the stringer and the flatness thereof by pressing the stringer 15 after the folding of the stringer was completed. When the floor panels 2 are rest on the stringers 15 of the supporting structure, the lower surface of each flange portion 2b of the floor panel 2 has already contact with the bearing surface 15f (see Fig. 11), even before the fastening of the panel retainer 17, since maintained correctly is an alignment relation between a position at which the floor panels are supported by engaging portions 19b of the supporting element 19 to be explained hereinbelow and a position at which the floor panels are supported by bearing surface 15f of the stringer 15. The floor panels 2 are connected correctly and suitably to stringers 15 by fastening the step portion 2d of the floor panels 2 through slide ring 24 by means of the panel retainer 17. This is because the bearing surface 15f of the stringer 15 is formed with enhanced accuracy of the height and the flatness thereof.
The engaging relation between stringers 15 and the pedestal 8 for stringers will now be described hereinbelow.
The raised portions 15d of each stringer 15 are urged to each side walls 8c of the channel 8a of the pedestal 8 respectively, and two nibs 14 provided on the bottom 8b of the channel 8a are fitted respectively into each hole 13 formed through the horizontal portion 15c of each rims 15b. The protrusions 16 formed on the side walls 8c of the pedestal 8 for receiving stringers are engaged with the upper edge of the raised portion 15d of the stringer 15.
The longitudinal displacement of the stringer is limited by the engagement between the protrusion 16 and the upper edge of the raised portion 15d of the stringer 15, thus the axis of the stringer is correctly maintained, and the spacing between adjacent supporting legs can also be maintained in equal. Urging the end portion of the stringer 15 downwardly on the bottom 8b of the stringer 8 joins the horizontal portion 15c of the rim 15b snugly on the bottom 8b of the stringer receiving pedestal 8, and maintains the fitting of the nibs 14 into the holes 13. Further, drawing of the stringer 15 off upwardly from the pedestal is avoided by the protrusion 16.
As can be seen from the above, the positioning of the supporting legs 4 on the base floor can be effected easily by utilizing the above described stringer 15, since the stringer has as its function a positioning jig.
The stringer is adapted to be securedly clamped between the floor panels 2 and the pedestal 8 for receiving stringers by fastening the panel retainer 17. The conventional fasteners such as nut and/or bolts are not used. Thus, the engagement and disengagement of the stringer can be effected only by one step operation. Consequently, the modification of the arrangement of the cables of tubes to be laid between the free access floor and the base floor can be easily effected and the maintenance of these elements can also be easily effected.
The supporting element 19 of ABS resin etc. formed by monolithic molding includes a straddle portion 19a fitted over the main body 15a of the stringer 15, and an engaging portion 19b extending horizontally outwardly from each leg of the straddle portion 19a. The engaging portion 19b is conformed to the contour of the peripheral to bottom portion 2c of the floor panels. The straddle portion 19a includes at its opposite inner walls 19d a pair of inwardly extending protrusions 19c to be engaged with the engaging holes 15e extending through the main body 15a of the stringer 15. The inner vertical walls 19d of the straddle portion 19a are adapted to be engaged with the outer side walls of the main body 15a, when fitting the straddle portion 19a of the supporting element over the main body 15a. In the assembled condition in which the supporting element 19 is positioned on a predetermined position on the stringer 15, vertical side walls of the supporting element 19 are urged to the main body 15a of the stringer 15, and the protrusions 19c are engaged with the holes 15e respectively, and lower ends 19e of the supporting element abut on the upper surface of the rim 15b of the stringer.
As can be seen from the above, the vertical load applied to the floor panels 2 is transferred through the engaging portions 19b of the supporting member 19 supporting the peripheral to bottom portion 2c of the panels 2 to the stringers 15. Consequently, deformation of the flange portion 2b, an inadvertent play between floor panels due to the vertical load applied to the end portion of the floor panels, and the deformation of the engaging portion 19b of the supporting element 19 accompanied with the inadvertent play between panels can be avoided, and thus the stability of the floor panels are enhanced.
Further, the structure in which supporting surface 19f of the straddle portion 19a is interposed between the flange portion 2b of the floor panels 2 and the main body 15a of the stringer 15 prevents these members from metal-to-metal contact, and therefore, the noises produced from abutting of these members can be avoided. The elasticity of the supporting surface 19f can accommodate the manufacturing tolerance of floor panels and/or stringers.
Alternative embodiments of the stringer are shown in Figs. 16 and 17 respectively. In these embodiments, no supporting element 19 is utilized, i.e., the floor panels 2 are adapted to be supported by means of the stringer itself. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 16, the stringer 28 has at its raised portion of each rim portion 28a thereof a horizontally extending supporting rim 28b, and the bottom of the floor panels 2 are supported by these rims 28b. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 17, raterally extending supporting tongue 27a is provided at each side wall of the stringer 27.
The floor panel 2 described hereinbefore is formed of a top and bottom panels 21 and 22 of steel sheet connected by suitable means such as spot welding at their periphery so as to form a hollow space therebetween. The hollow space is adapted to be filled with inorganic filler 23 such as mortar. A stated above, the floor panel has along its periphery a flange portion 2b.
In accordance with the structure of the present invention, the flange portion of the floor panel can be formed as thin as possible, since the weight of the floor panel and the load to be applied thereto are supported through the supporting element 19 by the stringer 15. In this construction, the stringer 15 is partially cut into the space defined below the flange portion of two adjacent floor panels, so that protruding of the stringer into the space between the free access floor and the base floor can be reduced, and thus, assuring the provision of the space for the cable or other lines to be laid through the space.
Floor panels are secured to the supporting structure 20 by engaging the panel retainer 17 with the male member 18 and then turning the retainer 17 to clamp the corners 2a of the floor panels.
The male member 18 includes a cylindrical shank 18a and an engaging member 18b, and secured to the center of the pedestal 8 for receiving stringers by means of bolt 30.
The panel retainer 17 to be engaged with the male member 18 includes a hollow cylindrical body defining a central bore 17b, a flange portion 17a extending raterally outwardly from the top edge of the body, and a bottom wall extending raterally inwardly from the bottom edge of the body, the top surface of the bottom wall is provided with a pair of opposite steps 17c.
A slide ring 24 formed of synthetic resinous material of self-lubricating feature is adapted to be interposed between the panel retainer 17 and the corners 2a. The slide ring 24 includes an upper surface 24a to be adapted onto the bottom surface of the flange portion 17a, and an integrally formed cylindrical body portion 24b in which the cylindrical body 17b of the panel retainer is adapted to be fitted. An inner surface 24c of the cylindrical body portion 24b is provided with a plurality of protrusions for securedly holding the body 17b therein. A cap to be positioned over the upper surface of the flange portion 17a is designated generally by reference numeral 25.
The panel retainer 17 inserted into the side ring 24 to provide a panel retainer assembly is at first inserted into an opening 31 formed at the junction of four adjacent floor panels 2 immediately above the male member 18, then turned over the predetermined angle (e.g., 90 degree), then the panel retainer 17 is drawn downwardly into the opening 31 by the engagement with a ramp 18c formed on the bottom surface of the engaging member 18b. Thus, floor panels 2 are secured on the floor panel supporting structure 20.
The friction between the bottom surface of the flange portion 17a of the panel retainer 17 and the steps 2d of the corners 2a of the floor panels is substantially reduced by the slide ring 24 interposed therebetween to allow the panel retainer to be turned easily. There are no metal-to-metal contact between the panel retainer 17 and the floor panels 2 so that no damage can be made on the contact surface therebetween. The rateral displacement between panels or staggering of these panels to be accompanied with the turning operation of the panel retainer 17 can be eliminated by reducing the friction therebetween.
As can be seen from the above, the stringers 15 are clamped between the pedestal 8 and the floor panels 2, by engaging the panel retainer 17 with the male member 18 and then turning the retainer 17 with respect to the male member 18. Thus, the panel supporting structure 20 is obtained as the rhamen structure constructed by stringers 15 and supporting columns 7.
As shown in Fig. 18, when the horizontal load F due such as to an earthquake is applied to the floor panel supporting structure 20, a moment acting in the direction of the arrow a is applied to the end of the right stringer 15, and is beared thereby. The end of the left stringer 15 is under the pin-connected condition against the moment in the direction of the arrow a, thus the moment is not beared by the left stringer 15. In other words, the substantial bending moment applied on the upper end of the supporting column 7 is beared by the stringer 15, so that only a shear stress is applied between the base plate 5 and the base floor 3, and the force removing the base plate from the base floor proportional to the height of the base plate is become minimum.
It is therefore unnecessary for increasing the size of the base plate 5 so as to increase the area thereof to be bonded to the base floor. Thus, the laying operation of the floor panels can be facilitated. It is also unnecessary to provide a reinforcing brace against overturning between the supporting column 7 and the base floor. Therefore, the spacing between the floor panels and the base floor can not be narrowed by the provision of such braces. As can be seen from the above, the rhamen structure constructed by the stringers 15 and the supporting columns 7 provides a sufficient anti-earthquake capacity.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that the variations and modifications can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A supporting structure of supporting floor panels by means of a plurality of supporting legs secured on a base floor, and stringers each of which is disposed between adjacent supporting legs, wherein each of said supporting legs includes a base plate secured on the base floor, a supporting column connected oscillatory to the base plate, and a pedestal for receiving said stringers connected to the top of the column; each of said stringers is connected at the ends to the adjacent pedestals, respectively; and panel retainers are provided to clamp the floor panels and stringers between the panel retainer and the pedestal.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said stringers has an inverted U-shaped main body, and a pair of rims extending outwardly from a longitudinal edge of each leg.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 2, wherein each end of the stringer is detachably fitted into the pedestal.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein said floor panels are supported by supporting elements mounted on the stringers.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said floor panels is formed of a top and bottom panels of steel sheet which are connected integrally with forming a hollow space therebetween, the hollow space is filled with inorganic filler.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels by means of a plurality of supporting legs secured on a base floor, and stringers each of which is disposed between adjacent supporting legs, wherein:
each of said stringers has an inverted U-shaped main body, and a pair of rims extending outwardly from a longitudinal edge of the main body, and a raised portion extending upwardly from the edge of each rim,
a pedestal for receiving stringers is provided at the top end of each supporting leg to accommodate the ends of the stringers, said pedestals each include side walls to be tightly abutted against said raised portions of the stringers,
projections are provided on the base wall of said pedestal,
a hole is provided on a horizontal portion of each rim to be engaged with said projections, and
protrusions are provided on the side walls of said pedestals to be engaged with the raised portion of each rim of said stringer.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 6, wherein said horizontal portion of the rim of said stringer is downwardly urged by the protrusion formed on the side wall of the pedestal, and thereby the stringer are abutted against the bottom of said pedestal.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the opposite ends of the stringer is detachably engaged with the adjacent pedestals.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 8, wherein said stringer has a positioning jig to determine an interval between a couple of adjacent supporting legs.
A supporting structure of floor panels comprising a plurality of supporting legs provided on a base floor, a plurality of stringers each disposed between the adjacent supporting legs to connect top ends of the supporting legs to each other, floor panels put on the supporting legs to be supported by the stringers, said floor panels and said stringers being secured to the supporting legs by means of panel retainers, wherein:
each of said stringers have an inverted U-shaped main body, said main body has a pair of rims extending outwardly from a longitudinal edge of the main body, and each of said rims has a protrusion to be abutted against a pedestal of said supporting leg.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 10, wherein fastening of said panel retainer elastically deforms said rim of said stringer downwardly, and said raised portion is acted as a supporting point for the deformation of the rim.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 10, wherein a bearing surface is formed on the upper surface of the end portion of the main body of said stringer, flange portions of said floor panels are supported by said bearing surface, and said bearing surface is formed with enhanced accuracy of the height of and the flatness.
A supporting structure of floor panels comprising a plurality of supporting legs secured to a base floor, and a plurality of stringers each disposed between a couple of adjacent supporting legs, wherein supporting elements are attached to the stringer to be arranged at appropriate intervals along the length of the stringer, so that said floor panels are supported by said supporting elements.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 13, wherein said supporting elements are attached to the main body of the stringers which have openings at its bottom.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 14, wherein said supporting element has a pair of engaging portions to support the peripheral portion of the floor panels and said engaging portions extend outwardly from the opposite outer walls of said supporting element.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 15, wherein said supporting element is formed by monolithic molding of synthetic resin.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 16, wherein said supporting element is formed of elastic material.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 13, wherein said supporting element is formed on the stringer by extending the rim of the stringer.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 13, wherein said supporting element extends raterally from each side wall of the stringer.
A supporting structure of floor panels comprising a plurality of supporting legs secured to a base floor, a plurality of stringers each disposed between a couple of adjacent supporting legs to support floor panels, and said floor panels being secured to the supporting legs by means of panel retainers, wherein:
slide rings formed of self-lubricating synthetic resin of are disposed between the panel retainer and the floor panels.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 20, wherein said slide ring comprises an upper surface portion, interposed between the flange portion of the panel retainer and the step portions of the floor panels, and a cylindrical portion in which the cylindrical body of the panel retainer is fitted.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 21, wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed on the inner wall of the cylindrical portion of the panel retainer.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 20, wherein the panel retainer is adapted to be engaged with the raterally extending portion of the male member by a motion of turning the panel retainer with respect to the male member.
A supporting structure of supporting floor panels as claimed in claim 23, wherein the panel retainer is drawn downwardly along the ramp formed on the male member as turned with respect to the male member.