MXPA95004751A - Grills for p - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foot grate comprising: a multiplicity of elongated slab members, each slab member of substantially uniform cross section and including a substantially planar base portion, having parallel side edges and an upper surface and at least one support leg portion is dependent on the base portion, the leg portion extending longitudinally substantially coextensively with the base portion and being adapted to support the base portion in spaced relation above a surface of support: passage members joined to the upper surface of each slab member, and quick couplings that join each adjacent pair of slab members along a joint coupled between adjacent side edges, each quick coupling including first and second portions arm in one of the adjacent slab members, which are deformable in resilient form with respect to each other, and are attached to the base portion of a slab member at a common joint, and a third arm portion carried on the other of the adjacent slab members, which is received between the first and second arm portions of a slab member, the first and third arm portions having a first pair of slot and shank in locking engagement at a first engagement point, and the second and third arm portions having a second slot and pin pair in locking coupling at a second coupling point located generally below the first coupling point and spaced very closely from the first coupling point, each of the first and second coupling points being separate from the first coupling point. union by a distance substantially larger than the separation between the first and second coupling points, and franking a portion n rigid third arm the separation between the first and second coupling points

Description

FOOT GRILLS INVENTORS: ROBERT W. OLSEN and ILLIAM VINCENT, North Americans, domiciled at 213 Musconetcong River Road, Wshington, New Jersey 07882 United States of America, and at 162 Rexway Drive, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada 1G71S1 assign all rights to CONSTRUCTION SPECIALTIES, INC. . a company duly organized and constituted in accordance with the Laws of the State of New Jersey, United States of America, with domicile at 55 inans Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey 07016 United States of America, for the invention described below.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A common practice in commercial and industrial buildings, schools, hospitals, etc., is to place in the public entrances, mats or grills for the feet, to remove or remove dust or dirt from the footwear of the persons entering. to the building. One type of foot grate that is widely used is one that has elongated and narrow individual stringers or rails that generally have a T-shaped cross section, and that are joined with gaps between them, through which the Dust or dirt and water removed or removed by the side rails or crossbars may pass to a surface under the grill. The crossbars or crossbars are connected by connecting bars extending transversely through triangular holes in the vertical web portions of the crossbars or passage crossbars. These grills are assembled by placing the crossbars or crossbars in a template, inserting the connecting bars through the holes in a laterally inclined position, and pivoting the connecting bars one by one to a vertical position, using a special tool driven or pneumatically driven. In the United States Patent Number 4,112, 640 (Reifsnyder, 1978) a foot grate of this type is described and shown. Another type of known foot grating is composed of narrow and elongated stringers which are joined by integral box-and-pin joints or by individual strips of coupling with a cross-section in the shape of bone, so that the grate, which can better known as a mat, it can be rolled up when it is removed to clean the surface underneath it. Foot mats of this type can be placed directly on a floor or adjusted in shallow recesses in the floor, so that the step surfaces of the stringers are flush with the adjacent floor. They are assembled by sliding the stringers and the coupling strips, when included, one by one in longitudinal form. Examples of foot mats of the articulated and rolling type are found in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,029,834 (Bartlett, 1977) and 5,157,804 (Williams, 1992). Grills and foot mats of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patents provide superior performance during use. These are attractive and durable, and can be adjusted to various walking surfaces, and effectively remove dust and water from the footwear of people walking on them. The dust and water fall or are removed into the spaces or separations between the rails of passage of the grills or through the holes in the stringers of passage of the mats on a surface on which rests the grill or mat. Frequently, the foot racks are installed in a pit that has a drain, and periodically the grill and drain are washed to the hose jet to remove dust or accumulated dirt, which is drained off. Alternatively, the grate is removed from the pit to allow the pit to be cleaned. The foot mats can be rolled up to allow the space underneath them to be perfectly cleaned. Routine cleaning of the mats can be done effectively with a commercial vacuum cleaner. The mats and foot racks of the type described have some disadvantages. They are relatively difficult to assemble, the assembly requires special templates and tools, and the labor required for assembly is expensive. Also, the grill or mat has to be shipped in an assembled state, which usually requires a large and cumbersome boarding configuration. The grilles or floor grids composed of several extruded metal slabs, each having a flat base and two or more support legs, side by side, are known from U.S. Patent Nos. 3,555,762 (Costanzo, Jr., 1971) and 3,046,852 (Graham, 1962). The connections that join the slabs include the coupling of a leg of a slab with the leg of the adjacent slab and the tongue and groove or mating of boxes and spikes either on the top or bottom of the legs. The duplication of the legs at each joint between the adjacent slabs requires a lot of material, thus adding cost to the grid. It is desirable to provide pads at the bottom of each leg, and the lack of uniformity between the mating legs and the non-mating intermediate legs, require different pads forms. Because the legs must be rigid to prevent deformation, the slab coupling will probably require the use of tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a foot grate that can be assembled easily and quickly. Another objective is to provide a foot grill that can be assembled without any tools. It is also desired to retain all the advantages of previously known foot racks. The foregoing objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention, by means of a foot grate having a multiplicity of elongated slab members, each slab member being substantially uniform in cross section and including a substantially flat base portion having parallel side edges. and at least two portions of support legs hanging or hanging from the base portion. The leg portions extend longitudinally substantially coextensively with the base portion and are adapted to support the base portion in a spaced relation above a support surface. The passage members are attached to an upper surface of each slab member. The quick coupling connections join each adjacent pair of slab members along a joint coupled between their adjacent side edges. This invention is characterized in that each quick coupling connection includes in one of the adjacent slab members a first arm portion constituted by a portion of the base portion along a side edge and a second arm portion attached to the portion of base in a joint separated from a lateral edge and extending generally in a downward and laterally from the joining to the other of the adjacent slab members. The first and second arm portions are resiliently deformable with respect to each other. In the other of the adjacent slab members there is a third arm portion that is received between the first and second arm portions of the slab member. The third and first arm portions have a first pair of box and shank in a locking or locking coupling at a first coupling point, and the second and third arm portions have a second pair of box and shank in immobilization coupling. at a second coupling point located generally below the first coupling point and with a very small spacing of the first coupling point. Each of the first and second coupling points are separated from the joint by a distance substantially larger than the spacing between the first and second coupling points. A rigid portion of the third arm crosses the gap or space between the first and second coupling points for the transfer of the load from the first arm to the second arm. The quick coupling connections between the adjacent slab members allow the foot grate to be assembled quickly and easily without any tools. Advantageously, slab members for a grill can be shipped to the workplace and assembled at the workplace. The boarding of a grill in an assembled state allows the parts to be nested and shipped in a smaller and less cumbersome package than that required for the assembled grill. The smaller packaging is stored in the workplace, and the assembly of the grill can be delayed until the appropriate time. In all embodiments, the first arm of each quick coupling connection is a band adjacent an edge of the base portion of one of the adjacent slab members, and the second arm is located below the first arm and is attached to the base portion along a joint separated from the lateral edge of the member. The first and second arms are integral with the slab member, and preferably extend continuously along the length of the slab member. In some modalities, the third arm is integral with the other of the adjacent slab members and extends outwardly from one edge of the base portion of the other of the adjacent members. As described below, the third arm may be a portion of a clamp member. In the case of a grate that will be installed in a pit, one of the support leg portions is attached to the second arm portion of the quick coupling connection in a separate relationship to the joint and includes a portion of the pendulous core. or hangs from the second arm portion and a foot portion at its lower end. For a grate that will be placed in a shallow, shallow recess located in the floor, one of the support leg portions coincides with a portion of the second arm portion and includes a foot portion at its lower end. Each gold plate slab preferably has on the upper surface of the core portion a multiplicity of laterally spaced ribs extending longitudinally arranged in pairs, each pair of ribs defining a receptacle or channel. Each channel receives a passing member in the form of an elongated strip. The channels are very close apart, and the holes, which however are optional, in the core portion between the channels, allow dust and water to pass from above the grate through them to the surface of the grate. support. As mentioned above, the third arm portion in some embodiments is integral and extends substantially continuously along the length of one of the adjacent slab members. Alternatively, the quick coupling connections joining at least two adjacent slab members of a grate (or any number, including all adjacent pairs of slab members) may be composed of long clamp members, which may be having or not perforations for dust and water to pass through them, or a multiplicity of short clamp members spaced longitudinally at intervals along the length of the adjacent slab members. The clamp member has a third arm portion that is received between the first and second arm portions of each of the adjacent slab members. In other words, each of the adjacent slab members that are joined by clamp members have the first and second resilient arms in the joint, and each clamp member has two third arm portions, one received between the first and second arms. of each of the adjacent slab members. Each clamp member may be substantially rigid, or may have a flexible portion joining the third arm portions. Clamps with flexible portions allow the grill or mat to conform or adapt easily to uneven surfaces. It is highly advantageous for the third arm to have a cam surface adjacent to the housing and engageable with the shank on the first arm, the cam surface being adapted to resiliently flex the first and second arms when the second pair of housing and spigot they are coupled and adjacent shank members are pivoted laterally one with respect to the other with the second coupling point as fulcrum. For a better understanding of the invention, reference can be made to the following description of an illustrative embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top plan view of a foot grate incorporating the present invention, shown installed in a pit; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional end view of the grill installation shown in Figure 1, as indicated by lines 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the foot grate shown in Figure 1 and showing different passage members installed in different slab members; Figure 4 is an elevation view of the end of a slab member of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2; Figures 5 and 6 are elevational views of the end of other slab members useful in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 7 is a top plan view of a segment of the slab member shown in Figure 5; Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view in detail of a drainage hole; Figure 9 is a fragmentary lateral cross-sectional view of a drainage hole; Figures 10 and 11 are detail fragmentary views of the end of the portions of the slab members forming the quick coupling connections between adjacent slab members; Figures 12 and 13 are fragmentary end views of the quick coupling connections, showing in sequence how to connect them; Figure 14 is an elevation view of the end of a slab member for another embodiment of a foot grate in accordance with the invention; Figures 15 and 16 are fragmentary detail views of the end of the portions of the slab members forming the quick coupling connections between adjacent slab members in the embodiment of Figure 14; Figures 17 and 18 are fragmentary end views of the quick coupling connections of the embodiment of Figures 14 to 16, showing in sequence how to connect them; Figure 19 is an end view of a separator useful in the foot racks of the present invention; Figure 20 is an end view of various slab members of another embodiment of a grill; Figure 21 is an end view of a mode of a grill in which the slab members are joined by clamps; and Figure 22 is an end view of another embodiment of a grill having clamps that join the slab members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES As is well known per se and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, foot racks are often installed in special pits on the floor at the entrance of a building. A typical pit includes a peripheral F frame firmly attached to the floor surrounding it by masonry anchors A. In some installations, as shown, the foot grate rests directly on the floor. In other facilities (not shown), the pit has a bottom tray that is attached to the frame, fills the bottom of the opening formed by the frame, and has a drain, and transverse support members that extend between opposite sides of the frame that supports the grill for feet. The foot grate 10 has a through surface composed of narrow, elongated passage members 12 extending the width of the pit in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship. The walking members remove dust and water from the footwear of people entering the building. As shown in Figure 1, the foot grate is installed. e such that the normal trajectory of the people walking on it is transverse to the passing members. The dust and water are removed from the shoe towards the recessed spacings between the passage members and fall through the holes in the foot grate (described below) on the floor or the tray. The holes can be omitted. The embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 2 to 13 is constructed to be installed in a pit of the type shown in Figure 1, or in a pit with a tray and drain (not shown). It is characterized by relatively high support legs, which provide the strength and stiffness required to allow it to be supported at intervals by the frame F and the transverse support members, when supplied. As shown in Figure 2, the foot grate 10 comprises a multiplicity of elongated slab members 14-1, 14-2, and 14-3, each of which is of substantially uniform cross section along its length. length and includes a substantially flat base portion 16 (see Figures 4 to 6) having parallel side edges 18 and 20 and at least two support leg portions 22 and 24 hanging from the base portion, and extending longitudinally in a substantially coextensive manner with the base portion, and adapted to support the base portion in a spaced relation above a support surface. The slab members are manufactured by cutting pieces of metal extrusions of the desired length, aluminum is the preferred material. Alternatively, the slab members can be made of a composite material, such as a fiber reinforced polymeric material. • The members of step 12 are attached to the upper surface of the base portion of each slab member. A quick coupling connection 26 connects each adjacent pair of slab members 14 along a joint between their adjacent side edges. Each quick coupling connection 26 (see Figures 10 and 11) includes first and second arm portions, 28 and 30, on one of the adjacent slab members that are resiliently deformable with respect to each other, and a third portion of the slab. arm 32 in the other of the adjacent slab members that is received between the first and second arm portions, 28 and 30. The first and third arm portions, 28 and 22, have a first pair of shank and spigot 36, 34 which engage, and the second and third arm portions 30 and 32, have a second pair of tang and tang 38, 40 that engage. Figure 2 shows some of the variations of a foot grate that incorporates the present invention. One variation is that a slab member 14-1 or 14-2 can have the first and second arms 28 and 30 of the quick coupling connection along one edge and the third arm 32 along its opposite edge, or a slab member 14-3 can have the first and second arms 28 and 30 along both edges. Another form of slab member (not shown) may have the third arm 32 along both edges. Another variation on the grid, which is shown in FIG. 3, is the shape of the member of step 12. The foot grid of the present invention has slab members that are configured to accept, interchangeably, passage members in form of carpet strips (12-1), strips of a polymeric material (12-2) having an anti-slip embossed surface, strips of a polymeric material having a layer of an abrasive material adhered to the upper surface (12-3) ), or strips composed of an abrasive material bonded by a binder and deposited and cured in situ in the channels (12-4). Generally, any given grill will include step members of some kind, but sometimes different portions or sections of a grill installation may have different types of pitch members. In another variant of the grid (not shown), the passage members are integral with the slab members and are in the form of raised portions on the upper surfaces of the slab members. To facilitate handling in the assembly and initial installation, and during removal and handling from time to time, such as for a thorough washing, a large foot grate installation may include two or more separate grill sections., each of a convenient size, placed side by side in a single recess or pit on the floor. In this case, the adjacent grid sections will be held together with the desired edge-to-edge spacing by spacer blocks 42 (FIG. 19) which engage the first and second arms 28 and 30 of the adjacent slabs at intervals throughout. of the length of the grill sections that are in contact, as shown on the right side of Figure 2 and on the left side of Figure 3. The spacer blocks 42 are also used along the edges of the members of slabs that are in contact with the frame (see Figure 2). Instead of spacer blocks, slab members (not shown) designed to be in contact with each other or with the frame can be used. Referring to Figure 4, each board member 14 has on the upper surface of its base portion a multiplicity of ribs 44, 46, which are arranged in pairs such as to define side-by-side channels 48 with a very small spacing, each of which receives a passing member. Each rib has a flange 44A, 46A, which extends a small distance into the channel and forms an undercut groove 44B, 46B, on each side of the channel. Each slot receives an edge portion of the passage member and prevents the passage member from detaching and separating from the channel along the edge. The passage members may be retained in the channels without adhesive or fasteners, or adhesives and / or fasteners may be used, as required by the particular shape of the passage member. The elongated holes 16a (see Figures 7 to 9) punched through the base portion between adjacent ribs 44, 46 allow dust and water to fall between the passage members toward the pit. The holes 16A, optionally, may have stamped end portions 16A 'to provide increased strength to resist stress concentrations. The drainage holes 16A are desirable but are not required. The first arm portion 28 of each quick coupling connection is a band along an edge of the base portion 16 of the slab member 14 (see Figure 11). The second arm portion 30 extends from a junction 30a with the base portion downward and outward. A leg portion 22 of the slab member extends vertically downward from the end of the arm portion 30. The third arm portion 32 (see Figure 10) of each quick coupling connection that is in the adjacent slab member, a small distance is displaced below the base portion 16 and extends laterally outwardly to be received between the arm portions 28 and 30. As mentioned above, any given slab member may have the arm portions 28 and 30 along one side and the arm portion 32 along the other side, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Or a given slab member may have arm portions 28 and 30 along both sides or arm portions 32 along both sides. These arrangements are totally equivalent. However, a limitation is that the slabs that remain in contact with the frame or the slabs of two grid sections that remain in contact with each other have the arm portions 28 and 30 along the contact edge. In order that foot racks can be produced in a range of different cross-sectional dimensions of the slab members, it is convenient to combine members of slabs 14-1 having three channels (Figure 3) members of slabs 14-2 having four channels ( 4) in various combinations. In addition to the number of channels and the total width, the slab members of three channels and four channels are the same. The slab member 14-3 (Figure 6), which has arm portions 28 and 30 along both side edges, it is used as a terminal slab member for a section that remains in contact with another section or with a frame (see Figure 3). Each leg 22 and 24 of each slab member has a standing portion 22A, 24A in an inverted "U" shape at its lower end. The pad members 50 (see Figure 2) formed by cutting pieces of an extruded member are installed at intervals in each foot portion. Each slab member is assembled with an adjacent slab member by first inclining one member laterally downwardly with respect to the other, as shown in Figure 12, and seating shank 38 of arm 32 of a slab member in box 40 of the slab. arm 30 of the other member of the slab. The end of a nose portion 32A of the arm 32 is at a spacing of the fulcrum provided by the coupling between the shank 40 and the box 38, so as to allow the nose to enter the space between the fulcrum and the tang 34 of the arm portion 28. The rib portions 38A and 38B projecting and associated with the tang 38 help guide the tang 38 towards the box 40. The rib portion 38A is engageable with the underside of the arm portion 28. to ensure capture of the tang 38 in the box 40 when the slab members are oriented at a relatively large angle and the rib portion 38B is engageable with the end of the box 40 when the slab members are oriented at a relatively angle little. Now, when the sections are pivoted widthwise relative to each other to put their base portions in a coplanar relationship (Figure 13), the upper surface 32B of the nose portion 32A provides a cam or wedge action. which forces the arm portions 28 and 30 to deform in a resilient manner in such a way that their free ends are separated, thus allowing the box 36 to be received between the arm portions and the pin 34 to enter the box 36 when the arm portions 28 and 30 recover their shape (Figure 13). The mating or coupling of the box and shank pairs in the adjacent slab members keeps them together securely against lateral spacing and relative pivoting. The adjacent slab members interlock or obstruct against each other against relative longitudinal movement. Although the arm portions 28 and 30 are sufficiently resilient to allow adjacent slab members to be coupled together, the regions of the base portions of the slab members on top of the quick coupling connections are strong and rigid with respect to the charges applied. The arm portion 32 of a slab member franks the space between the arm portions 28 and 30 of the adjacent slab member for vertical load transfer from the base portions of the slab members adjacent the leg portion 22. Each slab member has a rib 44 on an adjacent or adjacent edge very closely to it and a rib 46 adjacent to it very closely to the other edge. In the assembled grill, the ribs 44, 46 closest to each other have the same spacing as the other ribs 44, 46 of each slab member, so that the passage members maintain a uniform pattern of uniform spacing throughout the grate. The embodiment shown in Figures 14 to 18 is substantially the same as that of Figures 1 to 13. Accordingly, the corresponding components are designated by the same reference numbers as the second and third digits and with a "1" "added as the first digit. The only difference is that the foot grate of Figures 14 to 18 have supports 122, 24, that allow it to be placed in a shallow recess blocked in the floor. Another aspect of the manufacture of the short legs is the incorporation of a leg portion 122 of each slab member in the arm portion 130., more than having the leg portion 22 hanging from the arm end 30 (see Figures 2 to 13). The other leg portion 124 is provided by two L-shaped ribs, 124A, 124B, which define between them a slot 124c for receiving the pad members 50. The structure and assembly mode of each quick-coupling connection 126 is the same as that of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 13, as is evident from Figures 15 to 18. The foot grate of Figures 14 to 18 includes the same variations as the embodiment of Figures 2 to 13 , namely, passage slabs with three and four channels (the latter not shown) and slabs (not shown) with arm portions 128 and 130 along both edges, to allow passage members closer to the opposite edges of the frames of the pit or recess in which the foot grate is installed, so that it is with the same small spacing of the frame and to finish one edge of a section of the grill that is placed edge to edge with another section of the grill. A slab member (14-3, Figure 2) of the type having arm portions 28, 30 or 128, 130 along both edges can, of course, be placed anywhere on the grill, while members of slab having arm portions 32 or 132 along one edge and arm portions 28, 30 or 128, 130, along another edge may be joined to their opposite sides by inverting one end to end thereof. Figure 20 shows narrow slab members 14-4, each of which has two pairs of ribs 34, 46 and only one leg 22. The quick coupling connections 26 are the same as those of the embodiments described above. Combined with the other slab members of various widths, the narrow slab members 14-2 allow the grills to be manufactured in various widths with small differences in increment between widths. It is evident that narrow slab members can also be supplied for mats. As shown in Figure 21, the slab members 14-3 of the design shown in Figure 6, which has arms 28 and 30 along both edges can be assembled into grills using clamps 200 to join the adjacent slab members. . The clamps 200 can also be used to join any of the slab members by placing adjacent to each other their side edges having the first and second arms 28 and 30. The clamps 200 of Figure 21 are cut pieces from an extrusion to a length desired, which may be a rigid metal or a rigid or semi-rigid polymer material. Each clamp has a central body portion 202 and a pair of arm portions 2041 and 204r each of which has a cross-sectional shape that is the same as the third arm portion 32 of the slab members shown in the Figures. 4 and 5. In accordance with the foregoing, the respective arm portions 2041 and 204r of the clamps form box and shank pairs that pair or engage with each of the arm portions 28 and 30 of each of the members of the arm. slab The clamps 200 can be installed at suitable intervals along the lengths of the slab members. The longitudinal spaces or separations between the clamp members allow the dust and water to pass through the grate to the floor below the grate and allows the drainage holes to be eliminated. The clamps 300 of the grill shown in FIG.

Figure 22 are geometrically and dimensionally the same as those of Figure 21. The only difference is that the clamps 300 have a semi-rigid body portion 302 and rigid arm portions 3041 and 304r. The semi-rigid body portion 302 allows some movement between the adjacent slab members and facilitates the compensation of the irregularity in the supporting surface and the adaptation to a variation in width between the size of the grate and the pit in which it will be installed. The clamps 300 can be made of polymeric materials, using a harder polymer for the arm portions 3041 and 304r and a softer polymer for the body portion 302. Instead of the short clamps 200 or 300, several long clamps can be used or a single clamp extending over the entire length of the adjacent slab members. Long clamps or full length clamps may have perforations, if desired, to allow dust and water to pass through the grate into the tray or floor below.

Claims (12)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property; 1. A foot grate having a multiplicity of elongated slab members, each slab member being substantially uniform in cross section and including a substantially planar base portion having parallel side edges and at least one portion of support leg that depending on the base portion, the leg portion extends longitudinally substantially coextensively with the base portion and is adapted to support the base portion in a spaced relation above at least one support surface, passage members attached to an upper surface of each slab member, and a quick coupling connection joining at least one adjacent pair of slab members along a joint coupled between adjacent side edges, characterized in that the quick coupling connection includes in one of the adjacent slab members a first arm portion consisting of a p art of the base portion as it is provided with a 1 edge and a second arm portion joined to the base portion at a junction separate from the side edge and extending generally downward and laterally from the joint towards the other of the adjacent slab members, the first and second arm portions are resiliently deformable with respect to each other, and in the other of the adjacent slab members a third arm portion is received between the portions of first and second arm of a slab member, the first and third arm portions have a first couple of box and shank in locking engagement at a first coupling point, and the second and third arm portions have a second pair of struts. box and shank in immobilization coupling in a second coupling point located generally below the first coupling point and very closely separated from the first coupling point. Each of the first and second coupling points is separated from the joint by a distance that is substantially larger than the spacing between the first and second coupling points, and a rigid portion of the third arm that spans the spacing between the two. First and second coupling points.
2. 2. A foot grill according to claim 1, and further characterized in that the at least one leg portion of support in a slab member is attached to the second arm portion in spaced relationship with the joint.
3. A foot grate according to claim 1, and further characterized in that the at least one support leg portion in a slab member includes a core portion that hangs from the second arm portion at a location separate from the joint and a standing portion at its lower end.
4. 4. A foot rack according to claim 1, and further characterized in that the at least one support leg portion of a slab member coincides with a portion of the second arm portion and includes a foot portion at its lower end.
5. 5. A foot grate according to claim 1, and further characterized in that each slab member has on its upper surface a multiplicity of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced ribs, arranged in pairs, each pair of rib defining a channel, each member in step is an elongated strip, each channel receives a passage member, and the opposite lateral edges of each passage member engage the ribs defining the channel receiving the passage member.
6. 6. A foot grill according to claim 5, and further characterized by the channels being very closely spaced and the portions of the base member between the channels having holes that allow dust and water to pass from above the grate to through it to the support surface.
7. 7. A foot grill according to claim 5, and further characterized in that there is one rib substantially on each lateral edge of each slab member, the channels of each slab member of the slab are equidistantly spaced apart, and the adjacent channels of each edge of each slab member are spaced from the adjacent channel. to the adjacent edge of the adjacent slab member at a distance that is substantially equal to the spacing of the channels of each slab member.
8. 8. A foot grate according to claim 1, and further characterized in that the third arm portion is integral with the other of the adjacent slab members and the third arm portion extends substantially continuously along the length of the arm. another of the adjacent slab members.
9. 9. A foot grill according to claim 1, and characterized in that the quick coupling connections joining at least two adjacent slab members are composed of a multiplicity of clamp members longitudinally spaced at intervals along the lengths of the adjacent slab members, each clamp member has a third arm portion received between the first and second arm portions of each of the adjacent slab members.
10. 10. A foot grill according to claim 9, and further characterized in that each clamp member is substantially rigid.
11. 11. A foot grill according to claim 9, and further characterized in that each clamp member has a flexible portion joining the third arm portions.
12. 12. A foot grate according to claim 1, and further characterized in that the first pair of box and shank includes a shank in the first arm and a box in the third arm, and the third arm has a cam surface adjacent to the box. and engageable with the shank on the first arm, adapted to resiliently flex the first and second arms, when the second pair of box and shank engage and the adjacent slab members pivot laterally, one with respect to the other, with the second. point of coupling cquis fulcrum. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A foot grate comprises a multiplicity of elongated slab members, each being substantially uniform in cross section along its length and includes a substantially flat base portion having parallel side edges and at least a portion thereof. of support leg hanging from the base portion, which extends longitudinally in a substantially coextensive manner with the base portion and is adapted to support the base portion in spaced relation above a support surface. The passage members are attached to the upper surface of each slab member. A quick coupling connection joins at least one adjacent pair of slab members along a joint between their adjacent side edges. Each quick coupling connection includes first and second arm portions in one of the adjacent slab members that are resiliently deformable, one relative to the other, and a third arm portion in the other of the adjacent slab members that is received between the first and second arm portions of a slab member. The first and third arm portions have a first pair of box and shank that engage, and the second and third heather portions are -in one sec-. gone ^ ie box and spike that mate. In testimony of which, I have signed the previous description and novelty of the invention as agent of CONSTRUCTION SP? CIALTIES, INC., In Mexico City, Federal District, today November 14, 1995. ppde CONSTRUCTION SPECIALTIES, INC. .