Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F15/00—Flooring
  • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
  • E04F15/024—Sectional false floors, e.g. computer floors
  • E04F15/02405—Floor panels
  • E04F15/02417—Floor panels made of box-like elements
  • E04F15/02423—Floor panels made of box-like elements filled with core material
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
  • E04F15/00—Flooring
  • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
  • E04F15/024—Sectional false floors, e.g. computer floors
  • E04F15/02405—Floor panels

Definitions

• the invention relates to access flooring systems of the type comprising a plurality of floor panels and a plurality of support pedestals for supporting the floor panels.
• Such flooring systems are used to define an underfloor chamber through which various conduits and wiring can be led, for example for various electrical or computer services and/or for conduits of an air conditioning system.
• the pedestals are distributed over a subfloor, such as a floor of a multi-storey building and they are arranged to support the floor panels such that floor panels can be individually removable to gain access to the chamber below the panels. When assembled, the panels provide a relatively flat and strong floor to support office personnel and furniture.
• an access floor panel comprising: a core enclosed within a shell comprising a bottom tray and a top lid; the bottom tray comprising a tray bottom and tray side walls extending upwardly from the tray bottom; the top lid comprising a lid top and lid side walls depending downwardly from the lid top, and the lid side walls having lid end portions which are wrapped around the tray side walls.
• lid side walls define the external side walls of the panel.
• the external side walls have a substantially planar form.
• lid end portions are folded inwardly relative to the lid side * walls.
• the lid end portions are folded to define a receiver for the tray side 7 walls.
• lid end portions are folded substantially at right angles to the lid side walls.
• lid end portions are folded over the bottom of the tray.
• the lid end portions comprise at least first outer lid end portions and second inner lid end portions.
• first outer lid end portions are folded back onto the lid side _ walls.
• second inner lid end portions are folded back opposed to the first outer lid end portions.
• first outer lid end portions extend generally upwardly and the second inner lid end portions extend generally downwardly.
• first outer and second inner lid end portions are folded to define a receiver for the tray side walls.
• first and second lid end portions are folded to define a substantially inverted u-shaped form.
• the access floor panel comprises a plurality of end portions wherein each of the end portions is folded opposed to the adjacent end portions.
• the folded lid end portions extend substantially parallel to each other and to the lid side walls.
• adjacent lid end portions are co-extensive.
• the tray side walls comprise tray end portions.
• tray end portions are folded back onto the tray side walls.
• tray end portions are folded inwardly relative to the tray side walls.
• tray end portions are folded outwardly relative to the tray side walls. In another embodiment the tray end portions comprise at least one opposed end portion folded opposed to the adjacent end portion.
• the tray end portions are folded to define a receiver for the lid end portions.
• the core has a rebate along a bottom edge thereof to receive the tray side walls of the bottom tray.
• the core has a rebate along a bottom edge thereof to receive the folded lid and /or tray end portions.
• connection of the tray and the lid comprises a joint.
• the joint is arranged near the lower peripheral edge of fhe panel.
• the joint comprises a beam form.
• the joint is configured to transfer load from the top lid of the panel to the panel support structure.
• the side walls of the panel comprise reinforcing members.
• the reinforcing members comprise overlapping portions of the top lid and bottom tray.
• the reinforcing members comprise overlapping lid and/or tray end portions.
• the invention also provides an access floor system comprising a plurality of panels as claimed in any preceding claim.
• Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a portion of access floor panel" according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of another floor panel of the invention.
• Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a further floor panel of the invention
• Figs. 4(a) and 4(b) are cross sectional views illustrating the formation of a joint in the panel of Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a further access panel; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of another floor panel of the invention.
• a panel 1 according to the invention comprises a central core or substrate 2 which may be of chipboard or the like, and an envelope enclosing the core 2.
• the envelope comprises a lower tray part 20 and an upper flooring lid part 10.
• the parts 10, 20 are separately formed, for example from metal sheets such as galvanised steel which are connected at a joint 29 therebetween enveloping the core 2.
• the tray and lid are folded to enable connection at the joint 29.
• the core 2 may be adhesively bonded to the upper and/or lower parts 10, 20.
• the core 2 has a rebate 30 at the bottom corner thereof.
• the bottom tray part 20 comprises a tray bottom 21 and tray side walls 22 extending upwardly from the tray bottom 21 and having a lower side wall edge 24 and an upper side wall edge 23.
• the tray side walls 22 are accommodated in the rebate 30 of the core 2.
• the top lid 10 comprises a lid top 11 which forms the upper flooring surface, and depending lid side walls 12.
• the lid side walls 12 extend between an upper edge 13 and a lower edge 14 to define the external side walls of the panel.
• the lid side walls 12 also comprise lid end portions 15 which are folded over the bottom corner of the tray 20.
• the joint 29 provides enhanced beam strength since it provides for a beam around the periphery of the panel at the lower edge thus transferring load from the whole of the upper surface in varying proportions and into the beam and thence into the support under structure.
• FIG. 2 there is illustrated another access floor panel 40 having a joint 41 which has some features similar to Fig. 1 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals.
• the upstanding side walls 22 of the bottom tray 20 extend between a lower edge 24 and an upper edge 23 and have end portions 25 which are folded at the upper edge 23 back onto the tray side walls 22 to reinforce the side walls 22 by forming a double layer wall.
• the end portions 25 are folded inwardly thus increasing the beam strength when compared with the single layer wall of Fig. 2.
• the end portions 45 may be folded outwardly thus permitting a greater length of this edge to impinge on the base of the folded lid end portion 15 thus assisting load transfer.
• Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated another access floor panel 50 having a joint 51 which again has some features similar to that of Fig. 1 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals.
• the lid comprises an end portion which is folded over twice.
• the end portion comprises a first end portion 15 and a second opposed inner end portion 16.
• the first end portion 15 is folded upwardly at the lower edge 14 and back onto the side wall 12.
• the second opposed end portion 16 is folded back onto the first end portion 15 forming a receiver 52 in the innermost fold which is configured to receive the side wall 22 of the bottom tray on assembly.
• One advantage of this arrangement is that there are four layers of metal at the joint 51 with enhanced structural strength.
• the joint 51 however is fully contained within the core bottom rebate 30.
• Another advantage of this arrangement is that it is flexible and facilitates the handling of chip board of different thickness. Assembly is simplified since this arrangement further provides for the top to be sprung onto the core and the base to be simply dropped into place prior to the final crimp.
• a further access floor panel 70 having a joint 71 which again has some features similar to that of Fig. 1 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals.
• the bottom tray side walls 72 extend substantially the depth of the panel between a lower edge 74 and an upper edge 73.
• One advantage of this arrangement is that in comparison with the prior art simplified tooling may be used to manufacture the upper lids and lower trays. Also the arrangement provides a reinforced edge for the core without the need to rebate.
• the panels of the present invention has the further advantages that they do not require a stitching process, which is often used the prior art, and therefore provides a simplified and more efficient panel and associated manufacturing method.
• the joint by virtue of its low profile does not interfere with the aesthetic appearance of the panel.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Floor Finish (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34259895

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2004
  • 2004-08-30 EP EP04770388A patent/EP1678394A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-08-30 GB GB0603971A patent/GB2420131B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-08-30 WO PCT/IE2004/000113 patent/WO2005021891A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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