MXPA01004944A - Floor access system. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present discloses a floor access system including a floor access panel having an upper surface and lower opposite surface and at least a pedestal. The pedestal includes a base portion to rest in subsoil, a front portion and a jack interconnecting the base portion and the front portion, the front portion having an upper surface for coupling the floor panel lower surface. A selected surface of the upper surface of the front portion of the pedestal of the lower surface of the floor panel comprises a projection extending from it and the other from the upper surface of the front portion or the lower surface of the floor panel defining a receptacle in the same, the receptacle being of a size to couple in a standing and complementary way the projection.

Description

ACC SYSTEM SO ON FLOOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to floor access systems and specifically to a floor access system for the separate coupling between a pedestal and a floor access panel.

Prior Art Floor access systems, also referred to as "raised floors", "computer floors", "raised floors" have been used in a wide variety of applications in which a space, void or cavity below a surface of Floor is required by the user. Traditionally, floor access systems have been widely used in computer room environments, in which a significant amount of interstitial space is required below the floor structure to accommodate and manage cables, components and other electrical services. However, the demand for floor access systems has increased as the use of floor access systems has become more common in other construction environments such as cleaning rooms, equipment rooms and office spaces for Generally, such applications serve for other uses where the space below the floor surface is also important, such as housing the HVAC parts and other mechanical services.

A floor access system is manufactured from a plurality of modular, individual square floor access panels supported on a series of pedestals fitted to the floor. certain height. When they are assembled, the floor access panels form a cover on which the contents of the room rest. Each floor access panel is a modular unit, which is removable, replaceable and interchangeable with other panels. Each panel is constructed to meet the work requirements of the complete floor system, including, for example, load bearing requirements, combustibility resistance and corrosion resistance.

The installation of a floor access system in any construction environment results in a reduction of the amount of an occupying space inside the building due to the vacuum area or cavity created by the floor system. If the floor system is retrofitted into an existing building for which floor accesses were not originally contemplated or were installed in a building which was designed and constructed to accommodate access to conventional floors, the use of space is always a concern design. Existing buildings, for example, usually have low ceilings that do not allow the use of a floor access system with pedestals that measure 60.96 cm or more in height. In the construction of new buildings, significant savings can be made from the optimization of the profile of the floor access system for a requirement of the given vacuum area or complete cavity. For example, a reduction in the height of a 75-mm floor access system, assuming a 40-story building with access to floors at each level, results in a reduction in building height of 3 meters or the equivalent of a floor. In addition, it is advantageous to provide a floor system that provides efficient use of spaces for a range of requirements of the specified vacuum or cavity area.

Prior floor access systems generally include a range of components, including access panels, pedestals, connection equipment for Attach the panels to the pedestals and crossbars that maintain consistent space between the pedestal when the individual panels are removed for replacement or access to the vacuum or cavity. The difficulty and expense of installation, removal and service of the floor access system are obviously related to the complexity involved in the assembly of the floor access system and is usually proportional to the number of discrete components needed to manufacture the floor. system. Therefore, it is also advantageous to provide a floor access system with a minimum of constituent parts, in an effort to simplify installation and service expense and to reduce the level of experience and skill required of installation personnel.

Prior floor access systems generally suffer from one or more deficiencies, including misalignment of the internal panel, difficulty in installation or replacement of individual floor access panels in the floor access system, Adjustment of the height of the panels is in the flooring system and the complete instability of the flooring system in response to lateral loads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, in one aspect, which is a floor access panel having at least one floor access panel that is supported by at least one pedestal. Each floor access panel has a top surface that forms the floor access surface and an opposite bottom surface. Each pedestal is comprised of a base portion that rests in the basement of the room, a front portion that engages the bottom surface of the floor access panel and a jack interconnecting the base portion and the front portion.

The front portion of the pedestal and the lower surface of the panel have a mechanical female-male connection therebetween. A projection extending from the upper surface of the front portion of the pedestal or the lower surface of the floor panel. The component that does not have the projection matches a corresponding receptacle of a size to additionally and separately engage the projection. In addition, the projection may be provided on the upper surface of the front portion, with a corresponding receptacle defined by the bottom surface of the floor panel or vice versa.

In another aspect, the cat has an adjustable jack length between the base portion and the front portion. The jack fits along a substantially vertical longitudinal axis between the base portion and the portion of the nter In one embodiment, the cat comprises a first command attached to the base portion and a second complementary sleeve appended to the front portion, the second sleeve being of a size to be interconnected in addition to the first sleeve. In one embodiment, the first and second sleeves are in telescopic relation coaxial with one another, so that at least a portion of the inner surface of the first sleeve engages at least a portion of the outer surface of the second sleeve. The first and second sleeves are cylindrical and at least a portion of both inner surfaces of the first sleeve and the outer surface of the second sleeve are additionally threaded so that the first and second sleeves are engaged threaded tightly together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of one embodiment of the improved floor access system in accordance with the present invention with certain parts exposed for clarity and other elements shown in the phantom lines. • Figure 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the front portion of the pedestal in accordance with the present invention. Figure 4 is a side elevational view of Figure 3 Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 in Figure 3 Figure 6 is a transverse side elevational view of one embodiment of the receptacle in Figure 2 in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the base portion of the pedestal in accordance with the present invention. Figure 8 is a side elevational view of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a section taken along line 9-9 in Figure 7. 20 can be constructed from a variety of materials. In some embodiments, the floor panel 20 includes an outer shell 26 constructed of steel sheet, aluminum or other suitable materials. The shell 26 can be filled with reinforcing material 28, such as lightweight concrete, plastic, wood or composite or it can be left hollow. In other embodiments, the floor panel 20 can be completely coristruded from solid wood or other structurally acceptable material. The upper surface 22 of the floor panel 20 can optionally be covered with a cover (not shown) such as high pressure laminate ("HPL"), vinyl or carpet.

Each pedestal 30 is comprised of a base portion 40 resting on the sub-floor 14, a front portion 50 for coupling the floor access panel 20 and a jack 60 interconnecting the base portion 40 and the front portion 50. The jack 60 has a length of jack L extending between the front and base portions 40, 50 which can be adjustable, so that the height of the pedestal 30 and thus the empty space 12 below the floor access system 10 can be controlled by the user. The front portion 50 of the pedestal 30 and the lower surface 24 of the floor panel 20 preferably have a female-male mechanical connection therebetween. A projection 70 extending from the upper surface 52 of the front portion 50 of the pedestal 30 or the lower surface 24 of the floor panel 20. The component that does not have the projection 70 defines a corresponding receptacle 80 of a size for complementary and separate coupling. projection 70. Further, as illustrated in the embodiments shown through the figures, the projection 70 may be provided on the upper surface 52 of the front portion 50 with a corresponding receptacle 80 defined by the bottom surface 24 of the floor panel 20.

Alternatively, the projection 70 can; being on the lower surface 24 of the floor panel 20 with the corresponding receptacle; 80 defined by the upper surface 52 of the front portion 50. Another alternative is that the upper surface 52 of the front portion 50 has at least one projection 70 and at least one receptacle 80 and that the lower surface 24 of the floor panel 20 also has at least one receptacle 80 and at least one projection 70 capable of engaging the corresponding projection 70 or the receptacle 80 in the other component. It is further contemplated that one corner of the floor panel 20 may include a projection 70 while another corner of the same panel 20 may include a receptacle 80.

As shown in Figures 3-5, the front portion 50 of the pedestal 30 can be fabricated from an empty metal sheet or otherwise manufactured in accordance with the specifications described herein. The front portion 50 can also be made of other materials, such as aluminum or hard plastic, which will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Optional openings or holes 56 can be drilled or die cut into the front portion 5nn 50 to remove the weight of the component. not essential to allow drainage of fluids through the front portion 50 as for any other desired purpose.

The front portion 50 has an upper surface 52 that supports the floor access panel 20 and an opposite lower surface 54 that engages the jack 60. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one projection 70, which is dimensioned to engage a corresponding receptacle 80 in the panel qe access to floor 20, depends on the upper surface 52 of the front portion 50.

In the illustrated embodiment, four elements 70 are provided in a square front portion 50 to allow the front portion 50 to be added to the corners of the four adjacent square floor access panels 20. The projections 70 are attached to the upper surface 52 of the front portion 50. One skilled in the art will recognize that various fastening methods, including welding or adhesive or other chemical or mechanical fastening methods, may be appropriate for attaching the projections 70 to the front portion 50. Alternatively, the projections 70 may be integral to the material that forms the front portion 50 by itself. Additionally, through the front portion 50 is illustrated as being substantially square in shape, the alternate shapes may be used, such as rectangular, oval, round or any other appropriate shape.

Still with reference to Figures S-5, the front portion 50 can be manufactured by punching a hollow metal sheet to form the desired shape and the projections 70 can be formed from the same sheet of material from which the front portion 50 is manufactured. After forming, the projections 70 depend on the upper surface 52 of the front portion 50 and are capable of being inserted into a corresponding receptacle 80 in the access panel 20. As described in greater detail below, the projection 70 can forming in a manner such that at least a portion of the projection 70 generally corresponds to at least a portion of the shape of the receptacle 80 to enable secure attachment between the pedestal 30 and the floor access panel 20.

The front portion 50 may be provided in an embodiment with one or more optional embossments 32 to facilitate resistance welding of the jack 60 to the front portion 50. In one embodiment, four embossments 32 are provided in the portion front 50 for facilitating the manufacture of the pedestal 30. The lugs 32 ensure consistent contact between the jack 60 and the front portion 50 and provide concentrated contact areas that allow more reliable resistance welding of the front portion 50 to the jack 60.

With reference to Figures 7-9, the base portion 40 of the pedestal 30 is now described in detail. As the front portion 50, the base portion 40 may be made of a hollow, stamped or otherwise manufactured metal sheet in accordance with the specifications described in this document or any other suitable material. The holes or openings 56 may be provided in the base portion 40 for any purpose, including facilitating the aggregation of the base portion 40 to the sub-floor 14 for added stability. The base portion 40 has a lower surface 42, which contacts the subfloor of the building 14 and an opposing upper surface 44, which engages the jack 60.

The optional embossments 32 that facilitate resistance welding can also be imparted to the base portion 40, in a configuration similar to that described in connection with the front portion 50. As illustrated in Figures 7-9, the base portion 40 may optionally be provided with one or more tip flaps 46 to facilitate adjustment of the pedestal 30. The grip flaps 46 may be provided for the base portion 40 by any desired method, including welding or otherwise being added to the flaps 46 or by punching or otherwise fabricating the tip fins 46 of the same material from which the base portion 40 is manufactured. As described in more detail below, the tip flaps 46 allow manual rotation of the base portion 40 with respect to the front portion 50 of the pedestal 30, which in turn alters the length L of the jack in the illustrated embodiment. 20 floor panel and a front portion 50 constructed of metal, the contact between the metal panel 20 and the metal front portion 50 is minimized, further decreasing the grinding or grinding that can occur when a relatively light movement occurs in a metal-to-metal contact . In turn, as shown in Figure 1, the protruding portion 84 of the receptacle 80 supports the upper surface 52 of the front portion 50 and acts as a cushion, minimizing unwanted vibration and noise during system use. of access to floor 10. However, in other embodiments, the receptacle 80 may also be placed on the floor panel 20 without the projection thereof.

Preferably, the receptacle 80 is capable of separately engaging the projection 70, so that repeated installation and removal of the floor access panel 20 are possible without substantial physical degradation of the projection 70 or the receptacle 80. The figures illustrate one of said embodiments of the sensor 70 and the receptacle 80, which has a suitable automatic repeatable coupling. With reference to Figures 2 and 6, a receptacle 80 having a non-uniform internal bore 86 is illustrated in cross-sectional side view. The internal bore 86 of the receptacle 80 has a first internal diameter D1 at the end of the receptacle 80 adjacent to the surface lower 24 of floor panel 20. Internal bore 86 also has a second internal diameter D2, which is larger than the first inner diameter D1 at an internal location of the receptacle 80, forming an internal stop for the receptacle 80. In addition, the annular hole 86 of the receptacle 80 is narrower at the point where the projection 70 enters the rsce pctcle 80 and becomes wider at the point of the deeper insertion of the projection 70.

Such a receptacle 80 can be dimensioned to additionally receive a projection 70 in the manner illustrated in Figures 3-5, which have an amplitude W2 adjacent its end 72 which is greater than the amplitude W1 throughout the remainder of its length. length 74. In said embodiment, the projection 70 is captured and retained in the receptacle 80 when the floor panel 20 is installed. As the projection 70 is inserted into the receptacle 80, deformation of the inner bore 86 is required to pass the end 72 of the projection 70 through the receptacle 80 and into the stop therein. By providing a protruding tip 72 of an amplitude W2 that is larger than the smallest inner diameter D1 of the inner bore of the pocket 86, but which is fixed in a groove 88 created by a step of the inner bore 86, the installation is created desired automatic. In another embodiment, the projection 70 and the receptacle 80 can be further dimensioned so that; the material of the selected receptacle is tensioned at levels below its elastic limit or a point produced by the insertion and removal of the projection 70. The internal bore 86 can be dimensioned such that the second internal diameter D2 is slightly smaller than the amplitude W2 of the end 72 of the projection 70, so that when the projection 70 is completely inserted into the receptacle 80, the internal bore 86 may be deformed slightly by the end 72 of the projection 70, preferably below the yield point or the point produced from the receptacle material. With reference to Figure 2, in such embodiment, the receptacle 80 exerts a retention force on the projection 70, tending to hold the panel 20 in place. Alternatively, the projection 70 and the receptacle 80 can be dimensioned so that, when assembled, there is a space between the projection 70 and the receptacle 80.

In other embodiments, the receptacle 80, the projection 70 or both may have a uniform shape in cross section. For example, the projection 70 may have a substantially uniform amplitude along its entire length. Optionally, in said embodiment, at least a portion of the inner bleeder 86 of the receptacle 80 can contact the projection 70 to ensure a secure and hermetic coupling between the projection 70 and the receptacle 80. In said configuration, the projection 70 causes slight deformation of the receptacle 80, or interferes with the end, when the floor panel 20 is installed.

The illustrated embodiment indicates an arrangement where the projection 70 is located in the front portion 50 and the receptacle is in the panel 20. Alternatively, the locations of the projection 70 and the receptacle 80 can be inverted, so that the projection 70 is located on the floor panel 20 and the receptacle 80 is fixed to the front portion 50. Additionally, through the receptacle 80 has been described in the same document as being flexible and coupled with a rigid projection 70, the receptacle 80 may be rigid and can engage a flexible projection 70. Alternatively, both the receptacle 80 and the projection 70 may be flexible or both may be rigid.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, between the front portion 50 and the base portion 40, a jack 60 is provided which allows the installer of the floor access system to control the alters above the subfloor in which the access panels to the floor Floor 20 are maintained. The jack 60 has a jack length L that is adjustable between a maximum and minimum jack length. The jack 60 is chili stable along a substantially vertical longitudinal axis A between the basal portion 40 and the forward portion 50. The adjustment of the individual pedestals 30 allows the installer to control the height of the entire floor access system 10 and it allows the installer to count on the inconsistent conditions of the subsoil by adjusting the height of the individual pedestals 30 to produce a uniform level surface condition.

In one embodiment, each pedestal 30 includes a jack 60 having a first sleeve 62 and a second complementary sleeve 66. The first sleeve 62 is attached to the The above description allows a preferred embodiment of the jack 60 and is not to limit other embodiments of the jack 60. By way of example, a jack on a gear strip, an automatic jack or another jack (not shown) can be used. As a further example, sleeves without threads (not shown) may be used in place of the threaded sleeves described above and a plurality of holes (not shown) may be formed along the longitudinal sides of the first and second sleeves 62, 66 so that the sleeves can be screwed together through the selected aligned holes to maintain a selected cat length L. Other embodiments of the cat 60, which are in accordance with the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with the invention, the stability of the floor access system 10 under lateral load conditions is improved over the existing state of the art. For purposes of this description, "side loading" refers to the forces produced in the floor access panel 20 parallel to its top surface 22 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the pedestals 30. Lateral loading of the access systems to floor is a common occurrence caused primarily by the traffic of bystanders or the rotation of objects from an individual panel 20 to a neighboring panel 20. The annex of the base portion 40 to the sub-floor 14 as described above provides some contribution of lateral stability . Lateral stability is drastically improved by providing a pedestal 30 having a wide diameter jack 60 and a larger base portion 40 and the impressions of the front portion 50.

A printing base portion rr) ayor 40 and the front portion 50 improves the strength of the floor access system 10 for lateral loading by reducing the tendency of the pedestal 30 for the limb and the rock below the lateral loads.

Additionally, the use of an increased outer diameter in the components making the jack 60, that is, the first and second sleeves 62, 66 as described in the above embodiment, reduces the concentrated stress at the connection points between the jack 60. and the front portion 50 and the base portion; 40. Therefore, a high-wide pedestal 30 with a stiffer frame is produced in accordance with the invention described herein. In turn, the instability and the djreza of the access system to floor 10 under lateral loads applied during the use of the floor access system 10 are minimized.

A further feature of the improved floor access system 10 is that the system provides for the automatic alignment of floor access panels 20 with respect to each other. Because the location of the projections 70 on the front portion 50 and the receptacles 80 on the floor access panels 20 can be controlled, those locations can be selected to provide consistent space between the neighboring panels 20.

The pedestal 30 described above! and its constituent components can be used to construct the floor access system 10 using a wide variety of floor access panels 20. For example, the "low profile" floor access system depicted in the figures can be created; , in which the panel 20 has a nominal thickness of 0.127 cm and is a square of 3 (p.48 cm x 30.48 cm in its outer perimeter.) As shown in Figure 1, the panel 20 in which a system is a laminated composite in which the center of the cement edge, the particle edge, the plastic center material or other similar material is enclosed in the metal sheet Other configurations of the floor access system may also be constructed in accordance with the invention, incorporating floor access panels 20 made of steel, cement, aluminum, wood or other materials.The invention can be used in panel systems

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 1. A floor access system, which includes: a. a floor access panel that has a top surface and an opposite bottom surface and b. at least one pedestal comprising a base portion for resting in a sub-floor, a front portion and a jack interconnecting the base portion and the front portion having an upper surface for coupling the bottom surface of the floor panel. wherein one of the selected ones of the upper surface of the front portion of the pedestal or the lower surface of the floor panel comprises a projection extending therefrom and wherein the other upper surface of the front portion or the lower surface of the panel; floor defines a receptacle therein, the receptacle being of a size to couple separately and in addition the projection. 2. The floor access system according to claim 1, wherein the projection extends from the upper surface of the front portion and the lower surface of the floor panel defines the receptacle therein. 3. The floor access system of coiiformity with claim 1, wherein the projection of the lower surface of the floor panel db and the upper surface of the front portion define the receptacle thereof 4. The floor access system according to claim 2, wherein the projection is permanently attached to the upper surface of the front portion. 5. The floor access system according to claim 2, wherein the front portion is formed of a selected mat and the protrusion is integrally formed of the same selected material that forms the front portion. 6. The floor access system according to claim 1, wherein the projection and the receptacle form an interference end thereon. 7. The floor access system of compliance with claim 1, wherein a selected one of the projection or receptacle comprises a flexible material capable of repeated deformation. 8. The floor access system according to claim 7, wherein the receptacle comprises a bushing made of a flexible material capable of repeated deformation. 9. The floor access system according to claim 8, wherein the projection extends from the upper surface of the front portion and to the lower surface of the floor panel defines the receptacle therein and wherein at least a portion of the cap it extends below the bottom surface of the floor panel. 10. The floor access system according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises an internal bore having a non-uniform cross section in side view. 15. The floor access system according to claim 14, wherein the jack comprises a first sleeve and a second complementary sleeve of a size to complementarily interconnect the first sleeve, the first sleeve appended to the base portion and the second sleeve appended to the front portion, the first and the second sleeves being in relation to the optical telcome coaxial to each other. 16. The floor access system according to claim 15, wherein the first sleeve is larger than the second sleeve and wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the first sleeve couples at least a portion of the outer surface of the first sleeve. the second sleeve. 17. The floor access system according to claim 16, wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve are cylindrical and wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the first sleeve and at least a portion of the outer surface of the sleeve. The second sleeve in addition comprises threads so that the first and second sleeves are engaged and threaded together. 18. The floor access system according to claim 17, wherein the base portion comprises a Top surface and an opposite bottom surface, the bottom surface for contacting the subfloor and the top surface connected to the jack, the base portion further comprises at least a fin emerging from the upper surface of the base portion. 19. The floor access system according to claim 17, wherein the base portion comprises an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, the lower surface for contacting the subfloor and the upper surface connected to the jack, the assemble the action panel to the floor and at least one pedestal by inserting a selected projection into a selected receptacle.