Patent ID: 9631385
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: E04B,E04C,E04H

Claim:
1. A convertible floor panel assembly, comprising: a metal wire mesh subfloor; a polymer deck overlying said wire mesh subfloor; a plurality of alignment heads projecting from an underside of said polymer deck, and designed to extend through respective mesh openings defined by said wire mesh subfloor, and wherein each alignment head is integrally formed with said polymer deck, and defines an internally-threaded fastener hole; and a plurality of panel retainers engaging respective alignment heads, and adapted for removably attaching said wire mesh subfloor and said polymer deck together, such that said floor panel assembly is convertible between a substantially open-surface sound permeable safety structure and a continuous solid-surface structure for increased floor load capacity, and wherein each panel retainer comprises an externally-threaded fastener end adapted for inserting into the threaded fastener hole of said alignment head and a knurled hand knob opposite its externally-threaded fastener end; and a plurality of enlarged-diameter washers each having a fabric backing located on a panel side of said washer, and defining a central opening for receiving the externally-threaded fastener end of said panel retainer and an annular panel-side recess designed for receiving the alignment head of said polymer deck, such that said wire mesh subfloor resides between said washer and said polymer deck.