Patent ID: 8973328
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: E04C,E04F

Abstract:
1. A floor tile expansion joint permitting the thermal expansion and contraction of a plurality of polymeric modular floor tiles disposed in relation to each other along a predetermined direction of expansion and contraction without separation or buckling, the expansion joint molded from polymeric material, the expansion joint comprising: a first expansion body having a first web, the first web having a first general upper surface and a first general lower surface, a plurality of first edge surfaces including a first outer edge surface extending from the first general upper surface to the first general lower surface, at least one first connector, adaptable to connect to at least a first one of the modular floor tiles disposed to adjoin the first outer edge surface; a second expansion body having a second web, the second web having a second general upper surface and a second general lower surface, a plurality of second edge surfaces including a second outer edge surface extending from the second general upper surface to the second general lower surface, at least one second connector, adaptable to connect to at least a second one of the modular floor tiles disposed to adjoin the second outer edge surface; a first inner margin of the first expansion body opposed to the first outer edge surface, at least two spaced-apart first fingers extending below the general lower surface of the first web and extending beyond the first inner margin in a first direction in alignment with a the predetermined direction of expansion and contraction, each of the at least two first fingers having first and second sides extending below the first general lower surface and disposed to be in parallel with the predetermined direction of expansion and contraction, at least two first channels extending below the general lower surface of the first web, one of the first channels extending between the at least two spaced-apart first fingers; a second inner margin of the second expansion body opposed to the second outer edge surface, at least two spaced-apart second fingers extending below the general lower surface of the second web and extending beyond the second inner margin in a second direction opposite the first direction and in alignment with the predetermined direction of expansion and contraction, each of the at least two second fingers having first and second sides extending below the second general lower surface and disposed to be in parallel with the predetermined direction of expansion and contraction, the second fingers positioned to be slidably received by the first channels, at least two second channels extending below the general lower surface of the second web, said at least two second channels spaced apart from each other by one of the second fingers, said at least two first fingers positioned to be respectively slidably received by ones of the second channels; and each of the first and second fingers having a general upper finger surface, the general upper finger surface being displaced downwardly from the general upper surface of the respective web.