GB2514432A

GB2514432A - Floor height adjustment

Info

Publication number: GB2514432A
Application number: GB1317456.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Alan Brown
Original assignee: CYBERTOOLING Ltd
Current assignee: CYBERTOOLING LIMITED
Priority date: 2013-10-02
Filing date: 2013-10-02
Publication date: 2014-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-02
Also published as: GB2514432B; GB201317456D0

Abstract

A floor height adjustment apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a cradle assembly 2 for supporting a batten 10 of an acoustic floor, the cradle assembly 2 comprises: a central axis 12; a base 4; a cradle 6; and a height adjustment arrangement 30, 32. The spacing between the upper surface 18 of the cradle 6 and the lower surface 22 of the base is changeable in predetermined increments by relative rotation of the base and the cradle about the central axis 12.

Description

Title: Floor Height Adjustment

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to floor height adjustment, and more particularly to controlling the height of a floating or acoustic floor above a supporting surface.

Background to the invention

io Floating or acoustic floor systems are frequently used in building constructions to provide flooring spaccd from a supporting floor, such as a concrete floor slab or timber flooring. This spacing reduces the transmission of sound through the supporting floor by separating the floating floor from the floor beneath. It also provides a cavity beneath a room through which service conduits such as wires and pipes can pass.

The upper surface of a supporting surface such as a concrete floor slab may well be uneven. Various cradle systems have therefore been developed to support the battens of the floating floor above the supporting floor which are able to accommodate some variation in the distance between the desired level of the floating floor and the supporting floor. A number of cradles arc located at intervals along each timber batten. Thc height at which each cradle is able to support the batten is adjustable by providing one or more thin "packers" on top of the cradle and/or one or more additional cradle base risers beneath the cradle. Using these existing systems, it is necessary to remove the batten from all of the associated cradles to enable the individual cradle heights to be adjusted as required, which is a time consuming procedure.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a cradle assembly for supporting a batten of an acoustic floor, comprising: a central axis; a base having a lower surface for engaging with a supporting surface; a cradle defining an upper surface for engaging with and locating a batten, the upper surface of the cradle being spaced from the lower surface of the base in the axial direction; and a height adjustment arrangement configured such that the spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base is changeable by relative rotation of the base and the cradle about the central axis.

The cradle assembly of the invention enables adjustment of the cradle height without io necessarily having to remove a batten supported by the cradle. Instead, the height adjustment is readily achievable with the cradle assembly installed beneath the batten by rotating the base relative to the cradle about an axis perpendicular to the supporting surface.

The base and cradle are coupled together in the assembly such that they are rotatable relative to each other about the central axis. Preferably, the cradle rests directly on the base and they interengage in such a way as to constrain relative lateral movement, whilst allowing this rotational movement.

In preferred embodiments, the height adjustment arrangement is configured such that the spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base is changeable in predefined increments by relative rotation of the base and the cradle about the central axis. This enables the user to change the height of each cradle above the supporting surface by specific increments. Preferably, the increments are substantially equal. They may correspond to 1mm changes in height, for example.

Preferably, the assembly resists relative rotation between the base and the cradle about the central axis to increase the spacing by one of the predefined increments more than it resists relative rotation between the spacing increases. This provides a tactile indication to a user as the spacing increases by each increment.

The height adjustment arrangement may be provided by parts of the base and cradle.

Preferably, the features of the arrangement are integrally formed in the base and cradle.

According to preferred embodiments, the height adjustment arrangement is provided by a cam surface and a cam follower. Detents may be formed on the cam surface which denote respective incremental increases in the spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base. This serves to give a tactile indication to a user of each incremental increase in the spacing.

Onc of thc basc and thc cradlc may include thc cam surface of the height adjustment arrangement and the other of the base and the cradle may include the cam follower.

Preferably, one of the base and the cradle includes a plurality of the cam surfaces and is the other of the base and the cradle includes a plurality of the corresponding cam followers. For example, three or more cam followers may be equally spaced in a circumferential direction around the assembly. This serves to evenly distribute the axial forces exerted on the assembly in use and provide stable support.

Theoreachcamsurfacemaybeintheformofapluralityofsteps,withthesteps rising in the axial direction with changing position in the circumferential direction.

Similarly, the or each cam follower may be in the form of a plurality of steps, with the steps rising in the axial direction with changing position in the circumferential direction. The or each cam surface and cam follower pair may be in the form of rnterengaging steps. This tends to provide a greater area of contact between each cam surface and cam follower to more evenly distribute axial forces exerted on the assembly in use.

Preferably, the base includes at least one cylindrical, strengthening support rib for supporting its cam follower or cam suite(s), with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder lying along the ceniral axis of the assembly.

The cradle may include at least one strengthening cylindrical rib which defines at least part of the upper surface for engaging with a batten, with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder lying along the central axis of the assembly.

The present invention further provides a method for adjusting the spacing between a batten and a supporting surface, comprising: inserting an assembly according to any preceding claim between the batten and the supporting surface; and rotating the base relative to the cradle about the central axis to change the io spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cradle assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cradle assembly according to an embodiment of the invention including an additional riser; Figures 3 to 8 show plan, side, underside, cross-sectional side, and front and rear perspective views of the assembly base shown in Figure 1; Figures 9 to 14 show plan, side, underside, cross-sectional side, and front and rear perspective views of the cradle of the assembly shown in Figure 1; and Figures 15 and 16 show exploded upper and lower perspective views of the cradle assembly of Figure 1.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a cradle assembly 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. It consists of a base 4 and a cradle 6 mounted on the base. j

The base is shown resting on a foam or rubber support layer 8. Part of a wooden batten 10 is shown in engagement with the cradle. The batten forms part of a floating acoustic floor. In practice, several such cradle assemblies will be provided at regular intervals along the length of a batten.

Figurc 2 is an exploded view of a cradle assembly 2' similar to that shown in claim 1.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, an additional base 4' is located below base 4, to act as a riser increasing the overall height of the cradle assembly 2'. In this embodiment, the configuration of the additional base 4' is identical to that of the base 4, avoiding the need for a separate stock of risers.

The base 4 and the cradle 6 fit together in a stack, with the cradle sitting on the base.

The cradle and base are rotatable relative to each other about a central axis 12. The bodies of the base and cradle are circular in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to this axis. In practice, this axis is orientated perpendicular to the supporting surface beneath the cradle assembly.

The cradle is located and restrained laterally on top of the base by means of linear tabs 14. They project downwardly, away from the underside of the cradle. They are equally spaced around the circumference of the cradle. In the embodiment illustrated, four tabs are provided.

Similar tabs 16 are formed on the base 4. They can be employed to retain the resilient layer 8 beneath the base as shown in Figure 1, or to locate the base in a stack on an additional base 4', as in Figure 2.

In use of the cradle assembly as shown in Figure 1, a batten 10 is engaged with the upper surface of the cradle 6. It is restrained against movement in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the batten by means of four upwardly extending projections 20 formed on the cradle. The projections are shaped to define two mutually orthogonal paths or channels across the cradle so that a batten can be received by the cradle in one of two mutually orthogonal orientations.

A number of different views of the base 4 are shown in Figures 3 to 8, and corresponding views of the cradle 6 are shown in Figures 9 to 14. Further perspective views of the cradle assembly 2 are shown in Figures 15 and 16.

io According to embodiments of the present invention, the height of the upper planar surfhcc 18 defined by thc cradle above thc lower surfitce 22 of the base is adjustable by rotating the base and the cradle relative to each other about the central axis 12. In the embodiments illustrated, this is achieved by means of a height adjustment arrangement provided by stepped surfaces formed on the base and the cradle. An annularsteppedsurfltce3Oisdeflnedbyanuppersurfltceofthebase4. A complementary stepped annular surface 32 is defined by a downwardly facing surface of the cradle.

When the cradle is stacked on top of the base, surface 32 engages with surface 30 of the base. Surface 30 may be seen as forming a cam follower and surface 32 as a cam surface. When the base is mtated relative to the cradle, surface 30 remains in engagement with and!bllows the contours of surface 32.

Each of the surfaces 30,32 defines a number of series of steps, each series resembling the steps of a spiral staircase. In the embodiments illustrated, each surface includes four such series, each series extending through 90°. Each of the series of steps on the base rises in equal increments from the same starting height to the same finishing height. The incremental increase in height from one step to the next may be around 1mm for example. Surface 32 of the cradle is complementary to surface 30 of the base. Four series of steps are provided to ensure that the cradle is supported by the base in a stable manner. It will appreciated that this stability may be achieved by using three or more series of steps.

In this configuration, each series includes six equal steps, each of which therefore extends through 15°. The upper, transverse surface of each step extends in a plane which is perpendicular to the central axis of the assembly. As a result, the cradle is not caused to rotate relative to the base by application of an axial, compressive fbrce on the assembly.

The minimum height for the cradle assembly is achieved when each series of steps defined on the cradle are fitted into the corresponding series of steps on the base.

When the cradle is then rotated relative to the base about the central axis 12, the io cradle moves away from the lowermost steps on the base and stays in engagement with the remaining steps on the base. Initially, there will be some resistance to this rotation provided by the steps and once this has been overcome by clicking the series of steps over each other, the cradle and base are more easily rotatable relative to each other until the steps are brought into filler engagement again. This action increases is the overall height of the cradle assembly by the increment defined by the steps. As a result, a "click-step" height adjustment is achieved so that the number of increments is perceptible by the user in a tactile manner. Furthermore, it can be seen that this height adjustment is achievable without having to remove a batten resting on the cradle assembly. This significantly reduces the time taken for the adjustment process.

Although in the embodiment illustrated four series of steps are formed on both the basc and the cradle, in other embodiments, the series of steps may be formed on either the base or the cradle with a single cam follower provided on the other of the base and cradle for engagement with each series of steps. This single cam follower may define a radial edge for engagement with the steps of the cam surface for example.

Providing steps on both the base and the cradle provides a greater area of contact between the base and cradle. Therefore a greater area is used to support loads exerted on the assembly and there is more even weight distribution. As a result, a more robust configuration is provided.

Additional support for the stepped surface 30 of the base is provided in the illustrated embodiments by two cylindrical ribs 40 and 42. They are concentrically located about the central axis 12. They extend from the stepped surface 30 to the plane defined by the lower surface 22 of the base 4 to form part of that surface. Thus, forces exerted on the stepped surface 30 are transmitted to the surface supporting the base via the cylindrical ribs.

Similarly, two concentric cylindrical ribs 50, 52 are provided above the stepped surface 32 of the cradle. They extend from the stepped surface upwardly to the plane defined by the upper surface 18 of the cradle. They therefore form part of the surface in engagement with a batten resting on the cradle and transmit downward forces exerted on the cradle by the batten to the stepped surface 32.

In the illustrated embodiment, both the base and the cradle have a width, w, of around 104mm. The base has a vertical height, h, of around 24mm, with the vertical extent of the projections 16 being around 4mm. The height, H, of the cradle is around 33mm.

The incremental height, I, of the steps formed on the base and cradle (marked on Figures 6 and 12) is around 1mm.

Preferably, the cradle and base may be integrally formed used an injection moulding process. Polymers suitable for forming the cradle and base include thermoplastics such as recycled polypropylene copolymer material.

If required, laminar shims or spacers may be added on top of the cradle assembly to add height. Nevertheless, the cradle assembly is still then operable to provide height adjustment without needing to remove a batten resting on the assembly.

Claims

Claims 1. A cradle assembly for supporting a batten of an acoustic floor, comprising: a central axis; a base having a lower surface for engaging with a supporting surface; a cradle defining an upper surface for engaging with and locating a battcn, thc upper surface of the cradle being spaced from the lower surface of the base in the axial direction; and a height adjustment arrangement configured such that the spacing between thc io upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base is changeable by relative rotation of the base and the cradle about the central axis.
2. An assembly of claim 1, wherein the height adjustment arrangement is configured such that the spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base is changeable in predefined increments by relative rotation of the base and the cradle about the central axis.
3. An assembly of claim 2, wherein the assembly resists relative rotation between the base and the cradle about the central axis to increase the spacing by one of the predefined increments more than it resists relative rotation between the spacing increases.
4. An assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the height adjustment arrangement comprises a cam surface and a cam follower.
5. An assembly of claim 4, wherein dctents are formed on the cam surface which correspond to respective incremental increases in the spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base.
6. An assembly of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein one of the base and the cradle includes the cam surface and the other of the base and the cradle includes the cam follower.
7. An assembly of claim 6, wherein one of the base and the cradle includes a plurality of thc cam surfaccs and the other of the base and the cradle includes a plurality of the corrcsponding cam followers.
8. An assembly of any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the or each cam surface is in the form of a plurality of steps, with the steps rising in the axial direction with changing position in the circumferential direction.
9. An assembly of any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the or each cam follower is in io the form of a plurality of steps, with the steps rising in the axial direction with changing position in the circumferential direction.
10. An assembly of any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the base includes at least one cylindrical support rib for supporting its cam followcr or cam surface, with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder lying along the central axis of the assembly.
II. An assembly of any prcccding daim, whcrein the cradlic indudcs at cast one cylindrical rib which defmes at least part of the upper surface for engaging with a batten, with the loilgitudinal axis of the cylinder lying along the central axis of the assembly.
12. A mcthod for adjusting the spacing between a batten and a supporting surface, comprising: inserting an assembly according to any preceding claim between the batten and the supporting surface; and rotating thc basc relativc to thc cradle about the central axis to change the spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base.
13. An assembly substantiaHy as dcscribed hcrcin with rcfcrence to the accompanying drawings.
14. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.AMENDMENTS TO CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWSClaims 1. A cradle assembly for supporting a batten of an acoustic floor, comprising: a central axis; a base having a lower surface for engaging with a supporfing surface; a cradle defining an upper surface for engaging with and locating a batten, the upper surface of the cradle being spaced from the lower surface of the base in the axial direction; and a height adjustment arrangement configured such that the spacing between the io upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base is changeable by relative rotation of the base and the cradle about the central axis, wherein the height adjustment arrangement is configured such that the spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base is changeable in predefined increments by relative rotation of the base and the cradle is about the central axis, and wherein the height adjustment arrangement comprises a cam surface and a o cam follower which define the predefined increments. (0(\4 2. An assembly of claim t, wherein the assembly resists relative rotation between the base and the cradle about the central axis to increase the spacing by one of the predefined increments more than it resists relative rotation between the spacing increases.3. An assembly of claim t or claim 2, wherein detents are formed on the cam surface which correspond to respective incremental increases in the spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base.4. An assembly of claim 3, wherein one of the base and the cradle includes the cam surface and the other of the base and the cradle includes the cam follower.5. An assembly of claim 4, wherein one of the base and the cradle includes a plurality of the cam surfaces and the other of the base and the cradle includes a plurality of the corresponding cam followers.6. An assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the or each cam surface is in the form of a plurality of steps, with the steps rising in the axial direction with changing position in the circumferential direction.7. An assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the or each cam follower is in the form of a plurality of steps, with the steps rising in the axial direction with changing position in the circumferential direction.8. An assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the base includes at least one cylindrical support rib for supporting its cam follower or cam surface, with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder lying along the central axis of the assembly.9. An assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the cradle includes at least one cylindrical rib which defines at least part of the upper surface for engaging with a batten, with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder lying along the central axis of the o assembly. (0(\J 10. A method for adjusting the spacing between a batten and a supporting surface, comprising: inserting an assembly according to any preceding claim between the batten and the supporting surface; and rotating the base relative to the cradle about the central axis to change the spacing between the upper surface of the cradle and the lower surface of the base.11. An assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.12. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.