GB2348218A

GB2348218A - Height adjustable floor support

Info

Publication number: GB2348218A
Application number: GB0004901A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Finlayson Danskin
Original assignee: Danskin Flooring Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Danskin Flooring Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-04
Filing date: 2000-03-02
Publication date: 2000-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-02
Also published as: GB2348218B; GB9904840D0; GB0004901D0

Abstract

A floor support which consists of a saddle (2) and at least one packer (22), where the saddle (2) has a channel (10) for receiving the packer (22). Opposing surfaces on the saddle (2) and packer (22) have engagement means which cooperate to hold the packer (22) in place. The engagement means can be in the form of a recess (7) and a nipple (13, fig 3(c), not shown) or a lip (19a) which engages with an edge (fig 10), where the lip (19a) can be present on the packer (22) or saddle (2). The packer (22) and saddle (2) can be made from rigid material and the packer (22) may have a chamfered edge (fig 3(b,d). The saddle (2) may include a plate (4) having a flange (6) which engages a support member (18) and four upwardly pointing L-shaped brackets (8) which define a cruciform channel (10) to receive the packer (22) and subsequently a floor supporting batten (12). There is also described a set of packing pieces, comprising a number of sub-sets, where each sub-set is a different colour.

Description

IMPROVED BUILDING SYSTEM The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to building systems, and particularly, though not exclusively, to flooring systems, and related components.

In situations in which it is required to lay upon an uneven substrate a floor arrangement having a level upper surface, it is well known to provide flooring devices which extend heightwise within a gap formed between the substrate and flooring supports therefor, the height of the flooring devices being selectable or adjustable according to the height of the gap at various appropriate locations.

Flooring panels are thus arranged to provide said required level surface and may comprise floor boards, panels or such like which may be supported by battens or other support means laid in a regular pattern across the floor area. It is, therefore, advantageous to provide a means for positioning the battens relative to the flooring devices which is compatible with the necessity to make adjustments to the height of the flooring devices where appropriate to accommodate unevenness in the substrate.

In traditional constructions it is common for concrete sub-floors to be uneven and outwith the relevant tolerances. There is thus generally a degree of stepping between adjacent units of the sub-floor and a measure of longitudinal camber.

GB 2,310,227A and GB 2,314,351A (INSTAFIBRE) disclose a building component in combination with one or more spacers, the building component comprising a base element adapted to be positioned on a surface of a building structure and a pair of mutually spaced side members which project from the base element to define a longitudinal channel for receipt of a supporting batten to which a further surface layer may be secured, the building component being adapted to allow the insertion of each spacer between the base element and the supporting batten in a direction transverse to the longitudinal channel. In these documents one or both of the side members are adapted to deform resiliently in a direction transverse to that of the channel such that upon insertion each spacer is held within the building component by friction. It is noted that the building component may be formed from rubber crumbs. A number of disadvantages have become apparent in these components. For example, since friction is employed to hold the spacers in a component, such friction has to be overcome so as to insert each spacer. This may lead to repetitive strain injury of an installer. Further the rubber crumb component may flake leading to an untidy working area.

GB 2,321,070A (DANSKIN) discloses a flooring component comprising a saddle member adapted to be positioned upon a support means provided between a substrate and a flooring member (s) to be supported above the substrate, said saddle member comprising a plate member, said plate member being provided with flange means extending substantially perpendicularly from marginal portions of a first surface of the plate member and adapted to engage said support means in use, and four L-shaped brackets extending outwardly of a second, opposite, surface of said plate member from positions extending inwardly of marginal portions of the plate member, each L-shaped member having a right-angled corner portion and being arranged so that said corners face each other in a spaced apart manner so as to define a cruciform channel therebetween. The content of this document, also by the present applicant, is incorporated herein by reference.

It is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the disadvantages in the prior art mentioned hereinbefore.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a system for quick and easy levelling of poor sub-floors.

It is a yet further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a flooring system enabling a timber floating floor to be installed economically directly over uneven concrete sub-floors without the need for levelling screeds or awkward packing procedures. Such a system can be used as a support structure for ground floors and advantageously with the inclusion of acoustic flanking strips or acoustic quilt as an acoustic flooring system for party floors. Both can support both Domestic and Light Office loadings or greater, such as, Medium Office, sports floors, or the like.

It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a floating flooring system over a solid sub-floor, providing accommodation for services and offering resistance to transmission of impact and airborne sound.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a packing piece for use with a building system which facilitates ease of loading and unloading without removal of associated battens and further seeks to avoid drift of the packing piece, in use, under continual loading and unloading.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a building system providing at least one building component comprising a saddle member and further providing at least one packing piece, the saddle member including a channel capable of receiving the at least one packing piece, wherein surfaces of the saddle member and packing piece which oppose one another, in use, are provided with interengaging means such that, in use, the interengaging means co-operate so as to locate the packing piece at a predetermined position relative to the saddle member.

In one embodiment the system comprising a flooring system and the component comprises a flooring component.

The interengaging means may comprise at least one recess or hole formed in the saddle and at least one corresponding nipple or other suitably shaped protrusion carried on the packing piece.

Advantageously the at least one recess or hole, and the at least one nipple or other suitably shaped protrusion are arranged substantially symmetrically upon the saddle and the packing piece respectively.

Alternatively or additionally the interengaging means may comprise an edge of the saddle or packer and at least one lip formed on an adjacent edge of the packer or saddle, which edges are, in use, substantially transversely disposed relative to the channel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a building system providing at least one building component comprising a saddle member and further providing a plurality of packing pieces, the saddle member including a channel capable of receiving the plurality of packing pieces, wherein surfaces of adjacent packing pieces which oppose one another, in use, are provided with interengaging means such that, in use, the interengaging means co-operate so as to locate the adjacent packing pieces at a predetermined position relative to one another.

The interengaging means may comprise at least one recess or hole formed in one packing piece and at least one nipple or other suitably shaped protrusion carried on an adjacent packing piece.

Advantageously the at least one recess or hole, and the at least one protrusion are arranged substantially symmetrically upon the respective packing pieces.

Alternatively or additionally the interengaging means may comprise an edge of one packing piece and at least one lip formed on an adjacent edge of an adjacent packing piece, which edges are, in use, substantially transversely disposed relative to the channel.

Advantageously according to the first or second aspects, the channel may be of substantially cruciform form comprising a first portion for reception of a batten and a second substantially transverse portion for insertion of the at least one packing piece and in certain circumstances at least one further batten.

Advantageously each packing piece is formed from a substantially rigid material.

Advantageously an edge of each packing piece may be adapted to facilitate ease of insertion of each packing piece into the saddle. For example, the edge may be chamfered.

Advantageously also each packing piece and saddle member may be adapted such that, in use, each packing piece may be inserted longitudinally into the channel in either of two opposing directions.

In one embodiment, the saddle member is adapted to be positioned upon a support means provided between a substrate and a flooring member (s) to be supported above the substrate, said saddle member comprising a plate member, said plate member being provided with flange means extending substantially perpendicularly from marginal portions of a first surface of the plate member and adapted to engage said support means in use, and four L-shaped brackets extending outwardly of a second, opposite, surface of said plate member from positions extending inwardly of marginal portions of the plate member, each L-shaped member having a right-angled corner portion and being arranged so that said corners face each other in a spaced apart manner so as to define a cruciform channel therebetween.

Advantageously, in this embodiment the packing pieces are capable of being received in at least a portion of the cruciform channel so as to determine the depth to which elongate supports such as battens are placed within the channel, thus varying the effective height of the support means positioned between the substrate and the flooring member (s).

Advantageously, at least a portion of the saddle member and the at least one packing piece may be moulded from a substantially rigid plastics material, such as ABS or polypropylene.

Where a large number of packing pieces are used and the channel is, as a result, rendered unacceptably shallow, a saddle member with extended brackets may be required.

In one embodiment, one or more of the L-shaped brackets may be supported by a support member.

Advantageously the/each support member may be provided on the second, opposite surface of the plate on an inner side of the respective L-shaped bracket.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a building component comprising a saddle member including a channel capable of receiving at least one packing piece, wherein a surface of the saddle member which opposes a surface of the packing piece, in use, is provided with at least one recess or hole adapted to receive at least one corresponding protrusion, e. g. nipple, carried by the packing piece and/or with at least one protrusion, e. g. nipple, adapted to be received by at least one corresponding recess or hole formed in the packing piece.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a packing piece for use with a building system according to the first or second aspects.

Advantageously a first surface of the packing piece carries at least one protrusion, e. g. nipple, and/or a second surface of the packing piece is formed with at least one recess or hole.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a floor, wall or ceiling comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of building components each comprising a saddle member capable of receiving at least one packing piece; providing a plurality of packing pieces, surfaces of the saddle member and adjacent packing piece and/or surfaces of adjacent packing pieces which oppose one another, in use, being provided with interengaging means; positioning the plurality of building components in a plurality of spaced rows over a surface of a building structure ; spacing building components longitudinally within each of the rows and aligning the building components of each row so as to define a longitudinal batten path; inserting one or more support battens along the batten path; inserting one or more packing pieces between the support battens and the building components such that the interengaging means co-operate so as to locate each packing piece at a predetermined position relative to the saddle member or adjacent packing piece; and securing one or more elements of a surface layer to the support battens to form the floor, wall or ceiling.

One or more of the saddle members may be provided with a first channel capable of receiving a batten and at least one packing piece.

Further or alternatively one or more of the saddle members may be provided with a first channel capable of receiving a batten and a second channel substantially perpendicular to the first channel and capable of receiving at least one packing piece and in certain circumstances at least one further batten.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a set of packing pieces for use in a building system, the set of packing pieces comprising a plurality of subsets, each subset comprising at least one packing piece, the packing pieces of each subset being of the same colour, and the packing pieces of different subsets being of different colours.

There now follows a description of a number of embodiments of a building system according to the present invention. It will be understood that the description which is intended to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only, and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a saddle member for use in a building system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the saddle of Figure 1; Figures 3 (a)- (d) depict various views of a packing piece (and modifications thereto) for use in the building system according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a top view of a flooring component incorporating the saddle member of Figure 1 and two packing pieces of Figures 3 (a)- (c) ; Figure 5 is a side view of the flooring component of Figure 4, in use; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the flooring component of Figure 4, in use; Figure 7 is a top view of a saddle member for use in a building system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figures 8 (a)- (c) depict various views of a packing piece for use in the building system according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a top view of a flooring component incorporating the saddle member of Figure 7 and two packing pieces of Figures 8 (a)- (c) ; Figure 10 is a side view of the flooring component of Figure 9, in use; Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the flooring component of Figure 9, in use; Figures 12 (a)- (c) depict various views of a packing piece for use in a building system according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 is a top view of a flooring component incorporating the saddle member of Figure 1 and two packing pieces of Figures 12 (a)- (c) ; Figure 14 is a side view of the flooring component of Figure 13, in use; Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the flooring component of Figure 13, in use.

Figures 16 (a), (b), and (c) depict various views of a further embodiment of a packing piece according to the present invention for use with a building system; Figures 17 (a), (b), and (c) depict various views of a fifth embodiment of a packing piece according to the present invention for use with a building system; and Figure 18 depicts side views of a set of packing pieces according to the fifth embodiment of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a side view of a saddle member for use in a building system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 20 is a top view of the saddle or Figure 19; Figures 21 (a)- (d) depict various view of a packing piece (and modifications thereto) for use in the building system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 22 is a top view of a flooring component incorporating the saddle member of Figure 19 and two packing pieces of Figures 21 (a)- (c) ; and Figure 23 is a side view of the flooring component of Figure 22, in use.

Figure 1 shows of a saddle member, generally designated 2, for use in a building system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, moulded from suitable plastics material and comprising a plate member 4 a surface of which is provided with a downwardly extending flange means 6. It will be understood that the flange means 6 may be discontinuous if preferred. Upstanding brackets 8 are provided on an opposite surface of the plate member 4, each bracket being L-shaped as may be seen from Figure 2 and arranged so as to provide a cruciform channel 10.

The brackets 8 which are, in this advantageous embodiment, moulded integrally with the plate member 4 may be of any selected height, A, B or C as will be explained below.

In use, the channel 10 will receive a through-batten, shown at 12 in broken lines in Figure 2 and in full lines in Figures 5 to 6 and where required will receive end portions of one, or two, batten (s) 14 which will each abut a side surface of the through-batten 12. As may be seen in Figure 6, the battens 12,14 are suitable for supporting conventional floor boards 16.

The flange means 6 are provided in order to engage with an upper portion of a support means which may be in the form. of a panel 18 as shown in Figure 6, or alternatively one or more stools, e. g. timber battens. A layer of resilient material may be provided on a lower surface of the panel 18 to contact the substrate S beneath.

Alternatively the panel 18 may be in direct contact with the substrate and optionally a layer of resilient material may be laid in the cruciform channel 10.

The substrate S is, e. g. a floor of a building structure, and it may therefore be necessary to vary the height of the assembly described above, so that an upper surface of the floor boards 16 will be substantially horizontally level. Packing pieces 22 are therefore provided to be placed in the channel 10 to a depth sufficient to compensate for the unevenness of the substrate. As can be seen in Figure 5, where a throughbatten 12 is to be supported, one or more rectangular packing pieces 22 may be suitable. At least one recess or hole 7 on a contacting surface 4 of the saddle member 2 is provided so as to receive a nipple 13 extending from packing piece 22, illustrated in Figures 3 (a)- (c). The recess 7 and nipple 13 co-operate to locate the packing piece 22 at a pre-determined position relative to the saddle member 2. In this embodiment the nipple 13 is cylindrical with a diameter suitable for engaging in cylindrical recess 7. Furthermore, the packing piece 22 also has a recess 15 designed to engage a further nipple 13 extending from a second packing piece 22, as depicted in Figures 5 and 6.

In this way a number of packing pieces 22 may be placed in combination within the saddle member 2 to achieve levelling of uneven sub-floors. As no gluing of packing pieces 22 is normally required site installation is faster than alternative systems. Packing is generally permissible up to 5 mm below the top of shoulders of the saddle member 2.

As can be seen from Figure 2, in this embodiment the batten 12 runs perpendicular to the packing pieces 22.

However, it will be appreciated that the batten 12 may in some instances be run parallel to the packing pieces 22.

The packing piece 22, as illustrated in Figure 3 (b), may have a chamfered edge 17 to facilitate ease of offering of the packing piece 22 between the batten 12 and saddle member 2 or other packing piece 22, and thereby assist in placing the packing pieces 22 in the required positions.

Alternatively, the edge of the packing piece 22 may be wedged shaped 19 as depicted in Figure 3 (d).

In areas where there is a particularly deep depression in the substrate, it may be found that so many packing pieces 22 are needed that the channel 10 is rendered unduly shallow unless the brackets 8 are selected to have sufficient height, referring to Figure 1, say C rather than A or B. Saddle members 2 may be manufactured by a suitable moulding technique for example, with appropriate portions of the mould cavity blanked off in the regions of the brackets 8 to produce brackets 8 of a height corresponding to heights A, B or C as required. If preferred, where brackets 8 are moulded to the height C, reinforcement may be provided outwardly of the bracket 8 to resist unwanted flexing, as discussed in GB, 321,070A (DANSKIN) In use, there is provided a plurality of building components each comprising a saddle member 2 including a channel 10 capable of receiving at least one packing piece 22. A plurality of packing pieces 22 are also provided, surfaces of the saddle member 2 and adjacent packing piece 22 and/or surfaces of adjacent packing pieces 22 which oppose one another, in use, being provided with interengaging means 7,13,15. A plurality of building components are positioned in a plurality of spaced rows over a surface of a building structure with said building components spaced longitudinally within each of the rows and the channels 10 of the building components of each row are aligned so as to define a longitudinal batten path.

One or more support battens 12 are placed along the batten path and one or more packing pieces 22 transversely inserted between the support battens 12 and the building components into the channels 10 such that the interengaging means 7,13,15 co-operate so as to locate each packing piece 22 at a predetermined position relative to the saddle member 2 or adjacent packing piece 22. One or more elements of a surface layer 16 are then secured to the support battens 12 to form the floor, wall or ceiling. In this embodiment the packing pieces 22 are advantageously offered into the channel 10 transversely to the batten 12.

However, it will be appreciated that in certain circumstances it may be desirable to offer the packing pieces 22 into the channel 10 parallel to the batten 12.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a saddle member 2a, for use in a building system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The saddle member 2a is substantially the same as the saddle member 2 of Figure 1, like parts being denoted by the same integers but suffixed with"a". However, saddle member 2a does not possess recess 7.

The packing pieces 22a, illustrated in Figures 8 (a) (c), have extended lips 19a designed to overlap the edges of contacting surface 4a in channel 10a so as to locate the packing piece 22a at a pre-determined position relative to the saddle member 2a. The extended lips 19a are designed so one end is complementary to the other thus, when a second packing piece 22a is placed on top of the first in an opposing orientation in a horizontal plane, the lips 19a of the adjacent packing pieces 22a engage and co-operate so as to provide an intimate contact between the packing pieces 22a thus locating the second packing piece 22a at a pre-determined position relative to the first packing piece 22a as illustrated in Figures 9,10 and 11. Moreover, it is to be understood that the saddle 2 depicted in Figures 1 and 2 may also be used in conjunction with packing pieces 22a.

Referring now to Figures 12 (a) to 15, there is shown a building component for use in a building system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in Figures 13 to 15, saddle 2b is substantially similar to the saddle depicted in Figure 1, like parts being denoted by the same integers but suffixed with'b'.

The packing piece 22b illustrated in Figures 12 (a) (c) incorporates the features of packing pieces 22 and 22a, so as to provide a nipple 13b, a recess 15b and lips 19b.

These are all formed so as to co-operate in a manner as described for the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 6,11 and 15, a flooring member 16,16a, 16b is provided. The flooring member 16,16a, 16b may comprise 18mm or 22mm Type C4 Moisture Resistant Grade chipboard manufactured to BS 5669, tongued and grooved on all four sides and supplied in sheet size 2400 x 600mm, or alternatively WBP plywood tongued and grooved all round supplied in sheet size 2400 x 600mm.

The battens 12,12a and 12b may be softwood support bearers and are placed within the saddle 2,2a, 2b to support the flooring members 16,16a, 16b and can be preservative treated if required. They are normally supplied in 1800mm lengths for ease of handling and the standard bearer heights are 22mm, 36mm and 52mm.

The saddle plate member 4,4a, 4b may be 137 x 97mm in size and may be manufactured from tough injection moulded plastic with three different shoulder heights to accommodate the three standard batten 12,12a, 12b sizes.

The ingenious design of the saddle plate 4,4a, 4b means that it can also support cross noggins at access panels and perimeter bearers. The saddle plate 4,4a, 4b may be glued on top of the resilient saddle support 18,18a, 18b.

The packing pieces 22,22a and 22b may be rigid, conveniently dimensioned to be a snug but loose fit within the channel 10 and may also be manufactured from tough injection moulded plastic.

The saddle supports 18,18a, 18b may be variously manufactured from WBP plywood, oriented strand board (OSB) or softwood depending on the required floor height. All may have 9mm thick resilient acoustic foam adhered to the underside to assist impact sound resistance. A standard resilient saddle support 18,18a, 18b height is 15mm inclusive of foam.

The building system of the present invention is particularly advantageous in providing partial access to services. The preferred saddle plate 4,4a, 4b is designed to accept battens 12,12a, 12b running in both directions where necessary to provide secure support for access panels. Access panels may be square edged and supported along all edges by battens 12,12a, 12b. The panels may be secured, e. g. by screws.

The packing pieces 22,22a and 22b assist in achieving the levelling of uneven sub-floors. The ingenious design of the various embodiments of the saddles 2,2a and 2b and packing pieces 22,22a and 22b allows insertion of the packing pieces from the sides of the saddles 2,2a and 2b, perpendicular to the length of the batten 12,12a, 12b.

The advantage of this design is that the removal of the batten 12,12a, 12b from the channel 10 in the saddle 2, 2a, 2b to insert packing pieces 22,22a, 22b is not necessary; raising the batten 12,12a, 12b to a height sufficient to accommodate the packing piece 22,22a, 22b is only required. Moreover, the various embodiments of the packing pieces 22,22a, 22b hereinbefore described assist in locating the packing pieces 22a, 22b, 22c at a predetermined position relative to the saddle member 2,2a, 2b or adjacent packing piece 22,22a, 22b and are held in place without the need for adhesives.

Additionally, the design allows the packing pieces 22, 22a, 22b to be inserted and removed with relative ease by the user. This is particularly important for using the system on a large scale and repeated adjustments of the level of the flooring is necessary. The system, therefore, greatly reduces fatigue and the possibility of causing repetitive strain injury to the user.

Referring now to Figures 16 (a) to (c), there is shown a packing piece 22c for use in a building system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in Figures 16 (a) to (c), the packing piece 22c is substantially similar to the packing piece 22 depicted in Figures 3 (a) to (c), like parts being denoted by the same integers but suffixed with"c".

The packing piece 22 (c) illustrated in Figures 16 (a) to (c) incorporates a pair of protrusions 13c provided on a first surface of the packing piece 22c, and a pair of recesses 15c provided on a further surface of the packing piece 22c. Respective protrusions 13c oppose respective recesses 15c.

In use a plurality of packing pieces 22c may be provided for use with a suitably adapted saddle member (not shown) having recesses formed in a surface thereof for the acceptance of protrusions 13c from a first packing piece 22c. As will be appreciated, since the packing piece 22c is substantially symmetrical, the orientation of the packing piece 22c when presented to the channel of the saddle member is immaterial since either end of the packing piece 22c may be inserted into the channel and the protrusions 13c of the packing piece 22c received either by the saddle or by an adjacent lower packing piece 22c.

Referring now to Figures 17 (a) to (c), there is shown a packing piece 22d for use in a building system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in Figures 17 (a) to (c), packing piece 22d is substantially similar to the packing piece 22 depicted in Figures 3 (a) to (c), like parts being denoted by the same integers but suffixed with"d".

A similar advantage to the packing piece 22c of the previous embodiment is provided in that since the packing piece 22d is substantially symmetrical in nature, then the direction of insertion of the packing piece 22d into the channel of the saddle member is immate of varying thicknesses. The plurality of packing pieces 22d comprise a set of packing pieces according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Each packing piece 22d of Figure 18 is of a different thickness, and also of a different colour.

In use, therefore, a plurality of such packing pieces 22d may be provided so as to form a set of packing pieces 22d for use in a building system. The set of packing pieces 22d comprising a plurality of subsets, each subset comprising at least one packing piece 22d, the packing pieces 22d of each subset being of the same colour, and the packing pieces 22d of different subsets being of different colours. Thus the first, second, third, and fourth packing pieces 22d of Figure 18 may be of thicknesses of 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, and 10m respectively, the first, second, third, and fourth packing pieces 22d further being of colours a, b, c, and d, respectively. Colours, a, b, c, and d, will be different and may be selected from, for example, green, blue, red, yellow, black, brown or white.

Provision of a colour coded set of packing pieces 22d may assist in ease of installation since a packing piece 22d of a particular colour will be easily recognised by an installer as a packing piece 22d of a particular thickness.

Referring now to Figures 19 to 23, there is shown a saddle member 2e and plurality of packing pieces 22e, for use in a building system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The saddle member 2e and packing pieces 22e are similar to the saddle member 2 and packing pieces 22 of Figures 1 to 6, like parts being denoted by the same integers but suffixed with"e".

As can be seen from Figure 20, saddle member 2e is provided with a pair of substantially symmetrically disposed holes 7e (or alternatively recesses). Further each packing piece 22e is provided with a corresponding pair of substantially symmetrically disposed protrusions 13e. Further on a surface opposing the protrusions 13e each packing piece 22e is provided with a corresponding pair of recesses 15e.

It will be appreciated that this arrangement allows each packing piece 22e to be inserted into the channel of the saddle 2e in one of two opposing directions, such that an installer does not require to select a particular direction of insertion thereby leading to ease of installation.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, and in particular that the invention may be employed in the forming of floors, walls and/or ceilings. For example, the interengaging means may comprise at least one recess or hole carried on the packing piece and at least one corresponding nipple or other suitably shaped protrusion formed in the saddle.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A building system providing at least one building component comprising a saddle member and further providing at least one packing piece, the saddle member including a channel capable of receiving the at least one packing piece, wherein surfaces of the saddle member and packing piece which oppose one another, in use, are provided with interengaging means such that, in use, the interengaging means co-operate so as to locate the packing piece at a predetermined position relative to the saddle member.
2. A building system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system comprises a flooring system and the building component comprises a flooring component.
3. A building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the interengaging means comprise at least one recess or hole formed in the saddle and at least one corresponding nipple or other suitably shaped protrusion carried on the packing piece.
4. A building system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one recess or hole, and the at least one nipple or other suitably shaped protrusion are arranged substantially symmetrically upon the saddle and the packing piece respectively.
5. A building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the interengaging means may comprise/further comprise an edge of the saddle or packer and at least one lip formed on an adjacent edge of the packer or saddle, which edges are, in use, substantially transversely disposed relative to the channel.
6. A building system providing at least one building component comprising a saddle member and further providing a plurality of packing pieces, the saddle member including a channel capable of receiving the plurality of packing pieces, wherein surfaces of adjacent packing pieces which oppose one another, in use, are provided with interengaging means such that, in use, the interengaging means co-operate so as to locate the adjacent packing pieces at a predetermined position relative to one another.
7. A building system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the system comprises a flooring system and the component comprises a flooring component.
8. A building system as claimed in either of claims 6 or 7, wherein the interengaging means comprise at least one recess or hole formed in one packing piece and at least one nipple or other suitably shaped protrusion carried on an adjacent packing piece.
9. A building system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one recess or hole, and the at least one protrusion are arranged substantially symmetrically upon the respective packing pieces.
10. A building system as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the interengaging means may comprise/further comprise an edge of one packing piece and at least one lip formed on an adjacent edge of an adjacent packing piece, which edges are, in use, substantially transversely disposed relative to the channel.
11. A building system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the channel is of substantially cruciform form comprising a first portion for reception of a batten and a second substantially transverse portion for insertion of the at least one packing piece and optionally at least one further batten.
12. A building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each packing piece is formed from a substantially rigid material.
13. A building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an edge of the/each packing piece is adapted to facilitate ease of insertion of the/each packing piece into the saddle.
14. A building system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the edge is chamfered.
15. A building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the/each packing piece and the saddle member is adapted such that, in use, each packing piece is insertable longitudinally into the channel in either of two opposing directions.
16. A building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the saddle member is adapted to be positioned upon a support means provided between a substrate and a flooring member (s) to be supported above the substrate, said saddle member comprising a plate member, said plate member being provided with flange means extending substantially perpendicularly from marginal portions of a first surface of the plate member and adapted to engage said support means in use, and four L-shaped brackets extending outwardly of a second, opposite, surface of said plate member from positions extending inwardly of marginal portions of the plate member, each L-shaped member having a right angled corner portion and being arranged so that said corners face each other in a spaced apart manner so as to define a cruciform channel therebetween.
17. A building system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the packing piece (s) is/are capable of being received in at least a portion of the cruciform channel so as to determine the depth to which elongate supports such as battens are placed within the channel, thus varying the effective height of the support means positioned between the substrate and the flooring member (s).
18. A building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the saddle member and the/at least one packing piece are moulded from a substantially rigid plastics material.
19. A building system as claimed in any of claim 16 to 18, wherein one or more of the L-shaped brackets are supported by a support member.
20. A building system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the/each support member is provided on the second, opposite surface of the plate on an inner side of the respective L-shaped bracket.
21. A building component comprising a saddle member including a channel capable of receiving at least one packing piece, wherein a surface of the saddle member which opposes a surface of the packing piece, in use, is provided with at least one recess or hole adapted to receive at least one corresponding protrusion carried by the packing piece and/or with at least one protrusion, adapted to be received by at least one corresponding recess or hole formed in the packing piece.
22. A packing piece for use with a building system according to any of claims 1 to 20.
23. A packing piece as claimed in claim 22, wherein a first surface of the packing piece carries at least one protrusion, and/or a second surface of the packing piece is formed with at least one recess or hole.
24. A method of constructing a floor, wall or ceiling comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of building components each comprising a saddle member capable of receiving at least one packing piece ; providing a plurality of packing pieces, surfaces of the saddle member and adjacent packing piece and/or surfaces of adjacent packing pieces which oppose one another, in use, being provided with interengaging means; positioning the plurality of building components in a plurality of spaced rows over a surface of a building structure ; spacing building components longitudinally within each of the rows and aligning the building components of each row so as to define a longitudinal batten path; inserting one or more support battens along the batten path; inserting one or more packing pieces between the support battens and the building components such that the interengaging means co-operate so as to locate each packing piece at a predetermined position relative to the saddle member or adjacent packing piece; and securing one or more elements of a surface layer to the support battens to form the floor, wall or ceiling.
25. A method as claimed in claim 24 including the step of providing one or more of the saddle members with a first channel capable of receiving a batten and at least one packing piece.
26. A method as claimed in either of claims 24 or 25, including the step of providing one or more of the saddle members with the/a first channel capable of receiving a batten and a second channel substantially perpendicular to the first channel and capable of receiving at least one packing piece and optionally at least one further batten.
27. A set of packing pieces for use in a building system, the set of packing pieces comprising a plurality of subsets, each subset comprising at least one packing piece, the packing pieces of each subset being of the same colour, and the packing pieces of different subsets being of different colours.
28. A set of packing pieces as claimed in claim 27, wherein the packing pieces of a subset are each of a substantially same predetermined thickness which is different to a thickness of the packing pieces of other subsets.
29. A saddle member for use in a building system, as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 7 or Figures 19 and 20.
30. A packing piece for use in a building system as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 (a) (d), Figures 8 (a)- (d), Figures (a)- (c), Figures 17 (a) (c) or Figures 21 (a)- (d).
31. A flooring component as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4-6, Figures 9-11, Figures 13-15, or Figures 22-23.