GB2428703A

GB2428703A - Suspended floor system

Info

Publication number: GB2428703A
Application number: GB0614487A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Graham Bryant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-20
Filing date: 2006-07-20
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Also published as: GB0514876D0; GB0614487D0

Abstract

A support device 10 for supporting a suspended floor system comprises a body having a first surface for engagement with a batten 30 and a second surface for engagement with a floor support means for example a joist. The support device 10 comprises a resilient foam material with acoustic absorption properties and prevents contact between the batten 30 and the floor support means. The foam material may be a closed cell polyolefin material. A later embodiment relates to a support device for supporting a suspended floor system wherein the support device comprises a body in engagement with at least a portion of the suspended floor and a floor support means. The foregoing embodiments also include a suspended floor system incorporating such support devices.

Description

* 1 2428703

SUSPENDED FLOOR SYSTEM

Background to the invention

The present invention relates to a suspended floor system and a support device for use therein.

Wooden tongue and groove flooring is very popular in both domestic and commercial environments. However, one problem often encountered with such flooring is that of airborne sound transmission through floors, particularly as a result of impact on the flooring by a user walking or running across the floor. One way to reduce the sound transmission is to provide a sound absorbing floor covering such as a rug or carpet/ However, the visual appearance of a rug or carpet may be undesirable and the amount of sound absorption provided by a rug or carpet is limited.

Therefore, there is a need for means to improve impact and airborne sound reduction through wooden floors.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to address the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a support device for supporting a suspended floor system, wherein the support device comprises a body having a first surface for engagement with a batten and a second surface for engagement with a floor support means, such that the support device prevents contact between the batten and the floor support means, the support device comprising a resilient foam material with acoustic absorption properties.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a support device for supporting a suspended floor system, wherein the support device comprises a body having a first surface for engagement with at least a portion of a suspended floor and a second surface for engagement with a floor support means, such that the support device prevents contact between the suspended floor and the floor support means, the support device comprising a resilient foam material with acoustic absorption properties.

By providing acoustic insulation between the batten and the floor support means, the support device is effective in reducing the efficiency of the transmission of sound through the floor.

The term floor support means' is intended to include any framework or surface on which the support device and batten are supported, such as but not limited to, flooring such as a concrete or wooden floor, a joist arrangements, and supporting frameworks.

The term batten' is intended to include any suitable batten arrangement including, but not limited to, a traditional wooden batten such are conventionally used in suspended flooring constructions, a metal structure such as steel U channel, and suitable alternatives or equivalents known to the skilled person whether made of wood, metal, plastics or any other suitable material.

The resilient foam material may be closed cell foam, such as closed cell polyolefin foam, including closed cell polyolefin linear foam.

Alternatively, the resilient foam may be closed cell polyolefin nonlinear foam i.e. the polyolefin linear foam referred to above may be used as a fe-entrant foam. By compressing and heating the foam, the ribs of the foam become locked into a collapsed conformation. However, when the foam is stretched, the ribs straighten, thereby causing an increase in size in a direction perpendicular to the stretch direction, causing low transmissibility of acoustic waves.

I

The closed cell.polyolefin non-linear foam provides slightly better acoustic performance than the closed cell polyolefin linear foam, but either foam type may be used in the present invention.

Preferably, the foam used in the present invention has a density in the range of 25 kg/rn3 to 70 kg/rn3 and is preferably in the range of 28 kg/rn3 to 67 kg/rn3. More preferably, the foam used in the present invention has a density of 33 kg/rn3.

The linear closed cell foam has a positive Poisson's ratio and the same foam re- entered has a negative Poisson's ratio and is known as auxetic foam. Both foam types may be used to manufacture all or part of the support device in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention by extrusion or vacuum forming or by any other suitable means known to the skilled person.

The choice of foam-type selected for use may depend on the quality of the build, with the auxetic material being more expensive and having better acoustic performance at certain frequencies, for example, the non-linear foam provides superior acoustic performance at frequencies above 200 Hz.

Both linear and non-linear foams referred to above provide suitable resilience and performance for the purposes of the building industry.

A further advantage of both foams is the provision of a water vapour barrier, thereby preventing ingress of water into the wood or particle board of the flooring system. This is of particular value where the suspended flooring is used on concrete floors and in traditionally wet areas.

In one embodiment, the support device is substantially U-shaped in crosssection.

For example, the first surface may define a channel adapted to receive at least a portion of a batten therein.

The free ends of the opposing channel walls may taper towards one another, thereby providing a closer engagement with the batten by gripping it under an applied pressure when the batten is received within the channel.

The second surface may be substantially planar and may engage with the floor support means.

In a further embodiment, the first surface is substantially planar.

The second surface may define a channel adapted to receive a floor support means therein.

The floor support means may comprise a joist or series of joists which are received as a close fit within the channel of the support device.

The advantage of this embodiment is that the construction of the floor avoids the need and therefore expense of providing a layer of wood flooring on which to support the suspended flooring arrangement. In addition, this arrangement ensures that the mass is above the resilient layer of foam and thus a much improved acoustic performance can be achieved.

Any suitable means may be used to releasably or non-releasably couple the support device with the floor support means, including but not limited to screw fitting, nailing, stapling, gluing and any other suitable method known to the skilled person.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a suspended floor system comprising: a. a floor support means; b. a support device in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 12 in engagement with the floor support means; and c. a batten in engagement with the support device, wherein the support device prevents physical contact between the floor support means and the batten.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a suspended floor system comprising: a. a floor support means; - b. a support device in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 12 in engagement with the floor support means; and C. at least a portion of a suspended floor in engagement with the support device, wherein the support device prevents physical Contact between the floor support means and the suspended floor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a support device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a support device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a support device in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a support device 10 in accordance with the present invention.

Support device 10 comprises a body with a substantially U-shaped crosssection defining a channel 20. The opposing free ends 22 of the walls 24 of the channel 20 are provided with a curved configuration forming a lip 26 for ease of location of a batten 30 within the channel 20 of support device 10. Side walls 24 of channel 20 taper towards each other toward free ends 22 of walls. This tapering arrangement serves to allow the batten 30 to be received in a closer fit within channel 20 and to be retained within channel 20 by means of an increased friction fit. However, it will be appreciated that any other suitable means of retaining the batten 30 within channel 20 of support device 10 known to the skilled person may be used as an alternative to, or in addition to, the tapering channel wall arrangement shown in figure 1.

The support device 10 comprises any suitable foam, such as a closed cell polyolefin linear foam. However, it will be appreciated that any other suitable foam as previously discussed may be used in as an alternative to, or in combination with, the closed cell polyolefin non-linear foam referred to above.

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of a support device 10 in accordance with the present invention.

Support device 10 comprises a closed cell polyolefin linear foam batten body within which is received a steel U channel 30. The steel U channel 30 performs the same function as batten 30 referred to in respect of figure 1. In use, the tongue and groove flooring would be secured to steel Li channel 30 to provide the suspended flooring surface (not shown).

The proposed method of installation would be to mark up floor support means, for example, a concrete or stone or wooden floor, with chalk or some other suitable marker such that, starting from one wall, a first line is drawn parallel to the wall and at around 44 mm from the wall. Further lines parallel to the first line are then drawn at spacings of around 400 mm so as to cover the whole of the floor area.

Any necessary adjustments to the spacing can be made when drawing the last line.

For example, due to the size of the room, the last line may be spaced from the preceding line at less than 400 mm.

Next the support devices 10 would be placed centrally over the marked lines and fixed to the floor support means.

In use, the support device 10 would be fixed to the floor support means using suitable fixings including, but not limited to, masonry nails or similar (for example, where the floor support means comprises an existing concrete or stone floor), or flat nail heads or staples (for example, where the floor support means comprises an existing wooden floor).

A wooden or steel batten 30 can then be placed into the channel 20 of support device 10 where it is held in a close frictional fit such that the batten 30 is held firmly in place. However, it will be appreciated that further conventional fixing means may be used if desired to retain batten 30 within channel 20 of support device 10.

By placing the lengths of support device equally spaced and parallel across the floor support means, for example at around 400mm or less apart, a lattice is formed that will carry the new suspended floor.

Finally, a plurality of tongue and groove floor boards are laid over the battens 30 and fixed in place with each board glued and/or screwed to its adjacent boards along its edge at the point of contact with the adjacent boards.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a support device 10 in accordance with the present invention.

Upper surface 15 of support device 10 is substantially planar and a channel 20 is provided on the underside of support device 10 within which a joist 70 is received in use, the joist fulfilling the function of the floor support means. Thus, support device 10 of figure 3 is adapted to cap a joist 50.

It will be appreciated that a plurality of battens 30 may be simply engaged with the upper surface 15 of batten 10, and tongue and groove floor boards attached to the battens in a similar manner to that described above.

Alternatively, the tongue and groove floor boards may be directly engaged with upper surface 15 of support device 10, thereby avoiding the need and expense of providing a number of battens on which the suspended floor is to be laid.

In the embodiments shown in figures 1 to 3, the foam used is a closed cell polyolefin linear foam that is vertically foamed with two identical process skins, having a density of 33 kg/rn3 in accordance with ISO 845.

The preferred length of battens is typically 3 m, although it will be appreciated that any desired length of batten may be used. The battens are preferably 50 mm by 50 mm, although it will be appreciated that if desired, other crosssectional dimensions of batten may be used. This is preferably used with either a 5 mm thick linear foam or auxetic foam vacuum formed support device, the support device being suitable fixed at 400 mm centres to the floor supporting means with the battens inserted after fixing, with an 18 mm or 22 mm P5 particle board or similar being used a the upper layer forming the suspended flooring. Such an arrangement would be expected to provide an improvement *in acoustic.

performance> Delta 13 dB for linear foam and > Delta 15 dB for non-linear foam (auxetic).

If the above is carried Out using 10 mm thick linear foam or auxetic foam vacuum formed support device, there is a marginal improvement in acoustic performance when compared with using 5 mm thick linear foam or auxetic foam vacuum formed support device.

Although aspects of the invention have been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment shown and that various changes and modifications may be effected without further inventive skill and effort, for example, it will be appreciated that support device 10 may be formed as shown in figure 3, but with the upper surface assuming a U-shaped configuration as shown in figures 1 and 2, so as to receive and hold battens in a close frictional fit.

Claims

1. A support device for supporting a suspended floor system, wherein the support device comprises a body having a first surface for engagement with a batten and a second surface for engagement with a floor support means, such that the support device prevents contact between the batten and the floor support means, the support device comprising a resilient foam material with acoustic absorption properties.

2. A support device for supporting a suspended floor system, wherein the support device comprises a body having a first surface for engagement with at least a portion of a suspended floor and a second surface for engagement with a floor support means, such that the support device prevents contact between the suspended floor and the floor support means, the support device comprising a resilient foam material with acoustic absorption properties.

3. A support device in accordance with Claim 1 and Claim 2, wherein the resilient foam material is closed cell foam.

4. A support device in accordance with Claim 3, wherein the resilient foam is closed cell polyolefin foam.

S. A support device in accordance with Claim 4, wherein the resilient foam is closed cell polyolefin linear foam.

6. A support device in accordance with Claim 4, wherein the resilient foam is closed cell polyolefin non-linear foam.

7. A support device in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein the support device is substantially U-shaped in cross-section.

8. A support device in accordance with any one of Claims 1 and 3 to 7, wherein the first surface defines a channel adapted to receive at least a portion of a batten therein.

9. A support device in accordance with Claim 8, wherein the free ends of the opposing channel walls taper towards one another.

10. A support device in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein the second surface is substantially planar.

11. A support device in accordance with any one of Claims I to 7, wherein the first surface is substantially planar.

12. A support device in accordance with Claimil, wherein the second surface defines a channel adapted to receive a floor support means therein.

13. A support device in accordance with Claim 12, wherein the floor support means comprises a joist.

14. A suspended floor system comprising: a. a floor support means; b. a support device in accordance with any one of Claims I and 3 to 12 in engagement with the floor support means; and c. a batten in engagement with the support device, wherein the support device prevents physical contact between the floor support means and the batten.

15. A suspended floor system comprising: a. a floor support means; b. a support device in accordance with any one of Claims 2 to 12 in engagement with the floor support means; and c. at least a portion of a suspended floor in engagement with the support device, wherein the support device prevents physical contact between the floor support means and the suspended floor.

16. A support device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A suspended floor system substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.