Abstract:
A dance floor and a method of assembly of the dance floor are disclosed. The dance floor contains a plurality of interconnecting frames, each containing intersecting elongated panels, trim panels, wiring embedded inside channels disposed on the bottom of the elongated panels that are connected to electrical connectors, electrical receptors and ribbon lights. An electrical controller produces a chase pattern where strings of adjacent light bulbs cycle on and off to give the illusion of lights moving along the string. The dance floor is manufactured of lightweight materials and is configured for easy in situ assembly, installation and disassembly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a dance floor and a method of assembly of the dance floor. More specifically, the dance floor of the present invention is made of a plurality of interconnecting sections each containing elongated panel members, trim panel members, wiring, lighting, a dance floor panel and attaching means for the interconnecting sections. The dance floor is made of lightweight materials and is configured for easy in situ assembly, installation and disassembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The dance floor of the present invention provides lighting contained within the dance floor configured for alternating in a chase pattern and creating a suitable atmosphere for dancing. In order to produce a functional dance floor in a typically limited space, the organization and the location of the dance floor sections, the lights, the wiring and the control mechanism for cycling the on and off pattern of the lights must be optimally configured and installed. 
     Dance floors and portable floors disclosed in prior art references appear to be heavier and have more complex designs compared to that of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,654 discloses an electronic dance floor system that consists of at least two dancing sections with each section further having at least four composite pad assemblies. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,662 relates to portable floors such as aerobics, sport or dance floors, formed from a plurality of interconnecting panel sections joined by a tongue and groove coupling, and more particularly to apparatus for locking a tongue and groove coupling between adjacently situated portable floor sections. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,969 describes a portable dance floor having a plurality of modular floor components adapted to be interconnected to form a continuous dance floor. Each of the modular floor components include a self-contained illumination circuitry which is completed upon coupling of the units. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In the main aspect of the present invention, a dance floor assembly comprises a plurality of frame members configured for adjoining one another, wherein each frame contains: a first longitudinal panel having a top, a bottom, a midpoint, an upper end, a lower end, an outer side and an inner side; a second longitudinal panel having a top, a bottom, a midpoint, an upper end, a lower end, an outer side and an inner side, the second longitudinal panel being disposed substantially parallel in relation to the first longitudinal panel; a first transverse panel having a top, a bottom, a first segment and a second segment; the first segment of the first traverse panel having a first side and a second side, a first end and a second end, the first end of the first segment of the first transverse panel being joined with the midpoint of the first longitudinal panel, the second end of the first segment of the first traverse panel being joined with the midpoint of the second longitudinal panel; the second segment having an inner side and an outer side, a first end and a second end, the first end of the second segment of the first transverse panel being joined with the midpoint of the second longitudinal panel; a second transverse panel having a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, a mid point, an outer side and an inner side, the first end of the second transverse panel being joined with the lower end of the first longitudinal panel, the midpoint of the second transverse panel intersecting the lower end of the second longitudinal panel; the lower end of the first longitudinal panel being unattached, the lower end of the second longitudinal panel being unattached, the second end of the second segment of the first transverse panel being unattached and the second end of the second longitudinal panel being unattached; a dance floor panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge and a lower edge, the bottom surface of the dance floor panel being attached to the top side of the first longitudinal panel, the bottom surface of the dance floor panel also being attached to the top side of the second longitudinal panel, to the top side of the first transverse panel and to the top of the second transverse panel in a manner that the upper edge of the dance floor panel is recessed from the outer side of the second transverse panel to form a first recess and the first side edge of the dance floor panel is recessed from the outer side of the first longitudinal panel to form a second recess, the second side edge of the dance floor panel overhanging the second end of the second segment of the first transverse panel and overhanging the second end of the second transverse panel to form a first overhang, the lower edge of the dance floor panel overhanging the upper end of the first longitudinal panel and the upper end of the second longitudinal panel to form a second overhang; a first channel disposed in the bottom of the first longitudinal panel, the channel traversing from the lower end to the upper end of the first longitudinal panel; a second channel disposed in the bottom of the second longitudinal panel, the channel traversing from the lower end to the upper end of the second longitudinal panel; a third channel disposed in the first segment of the first transverse panel, the channel traversing from the first end to the second end of the first segment of the first transverse panel, the third channel being in communication with the first channel and with the second channel; at least one enlarged area disposed within the first channel and at least one enlarged area disposed within the second channel; a plurality of interconnected electrical wires traversing the first channel, the second channel and the third channel, the wires having endings at the upper end and the lower end of the first longitudinal panel and having endings at the upper end and the lower end of the first longitudinal panel, wherein a portion of the interconnected wires comprise power supplying lines; at least one electrical wire junction disposed inside at least the enlarged area disposed within the first channel and the enlarged area disposed within the second channel; a first electrical connector connecting the wire endings at the upper end of the first longitudinal panel, a second electrical connector connecting the wire endings at the upper end of the second longitudinal panel, a first electrical receptor connecting the wire endings at the lower end of the first longitudinal panel; a second electrical receptor connecting the wire endings at the lower end of the second longitudinal panel; at least one LED ribbon attached to a side of a longitudinal panel; and at least one wire connecting said LED ribbon to at least one electrical wire junction. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom view of a frame member of a dance floor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a frame member of a dance floor assembly shown with detail according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a frame member of a dance floor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a top perspective view of a frame component of a dance floor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is another top perspective view of a frame component of a dance floor assembly shown with detail according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of a trim member of a dance floor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic of the components of the dance floor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of a method of attaching a trim member, a corner bracket and a frame member of the dance floor assembly; 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of a corner bracket component of the dance floor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  portrays a method of combining the frame components of the dance floor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of combined two frame components according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of a frame member of a dance floor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of a lower end of a frame member of a dance floor assembly shown with detail according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom cross sectional view of a frame member highlighting the electrical wire configuration of the dance floor assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. 
     The present invention relates to a multi-component dance floor configured for assembly and installation onto a surface that is preferably substantially level and even. The surface would typically be located in a room equipped with a power source; however installing the dance floor on an outdoor surface also falls within the scope of the present invention. The design of the dance floor minimizes space and material requirements while complying with all building and electrical codes. 
     The dance floor assembly is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-14 . The floor assembly is comprised of generally identical multiple frames  10 . Each frame  10  is made of two elongated panels: a first elongated panel  13  and a second panel  12  disposed longitudinally and substantially parallel to one another. The longitudinal designation is arbitrary and only relates to the south to north or up and down direction of these panels in  FIG. 1 . Each frame  10  also comprises two elongated panels transversely disposed and in a substantially perpendicular relationship with the longitudinal panels. The first transverse panel has a first segment  14  and a second segment  19  intersects the longitudinal panels at their midpoints, while the second transverse panel  21  crosses the longitudinal panels at an upper end of the longitudinal panels  12  and  13  with the reference point being  FIG. 1 . It is noted that in other figures, the upper end of the frame and thus the upper end of the longitudinal panels may appear on other sides. 
     The four elongated panels: the two longitudinal and two transverse panels are approximately equal in length and as such, they form four square shaped quarter sections having roughly equal areas. These quarter squares are designated in the Figures as  11 A,  11 B,  11 C and  11 D. The four quarter squares combine into a larger square shape structure for the four elongated panels. A typical length for the elongated panels is 4 feet; however depending on the size of the available surface, the lengths may vary. A typical width of the elongated panels is between about 3.5 inches and 4.5 inches. 
     Each of the elongated panels has a flat top side on which a dance floor panel  29  is attached. The dance floor panel  29  has a bottom surface and a top surface with the bottom surface being attached to the flat side of the elongated panels. The top surface of the dance floor panel  29  is the surface that is accessible and used by the dancers. The dance floor panel  29  is made of durable Plexiglas® about ⅜ inches thick, though the thickness may vary. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dance floor panel  29  has an approximately square shape of a size approximately equal to the square of the elongated panel structure. The attachment of the dance floor panel  29  to the top of the elongated panels may be accomplished by various generally known and accepted means including welding, in which the attaching surfaces are liquefied then attached substantially permanently upon drying, use of adhesives, nailing or screwing. 
     The dance floor panel  29  attaches on the top of the elongated panels in such a way that one edge of the dance floor panel  29  is recessed by between 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches from the lengthwise end of the second transverse panel  21  thereby defining a first recess  37  as indicated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The dance floor panel  29  also attaches to the elongated panels such that another edge of the dance floor panel  29  is recessed by between 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches from the lengthwise end of the first longitudinal panel  13  defining a second recess  39 . 
     The dance floor panel  29  overhangs the lower unattached end of second transverse panel  21  and the unattached end of the second segment  19  of the first transverse panel by between 1.5 inches to about 2.5 inches defining a first overhang  41 . The dance floor panel  29  also overhangs the unattached ends of longitudinal panel  13  and longitudinal panel  12  defining the second overhang  38  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The bottom sides of the longitudinal panels contain channels that traverse the length of the panels. Channel  16  traverses the first longitudinal panel  13  while channel  17  traverses the second longitudinal panel  12 . The first segment  14  of the first transverse panel also contains a channel  15  that connects channels  16  and  17 . 
     Disposed within the channels are wire junction areas that house wire junction boxes and/or wire splices and joints. A first wire junction area  18  is disposed in the center of each frame where the second longitudinal panel  12  and transverse panels  14  and  19  join a shown in  FIG. 1 . A second wire junction area  22  is disposed between the midpoint and upper end of the center longitudinal panel  12  while a third wire junction area  23  is disposed between the midpoint and upper end of the first longitudinal panel  13 . 
     Each frame is configured for adjoining another frame in a manner illustrated in  FIGS. 7 ,  10  and  11 . Two frames  10  may be joined longitudinally by wedging exposed panel edge  37  under overhang  38 . Two frames  10  may also be joined laterally by wedging exposed panel edge  39  under overhang  41 . The joined frames are further tightly fixed by placing screws into holes  24  drilled through each overhang through the exposed panel edges formed by recesses  37  and  39  and wedged underneath their respective overhangs. This method of adjoining the frames allows expending the dance floor to a large area such as a full room or a portion of it as desired. 
     Completing the dance floor assembly are lower end trim panels  32 , side trim panels  98  and an L-shaped corner bracket  34  that seal the periphery of the dance floor. Trim panels  32  wedge lengthwise underneath the first overhang  38  while side trim panels  98  are configured to wedge underneath the second overhang  41 . Trim panels  32  and  98  may come in lengths that fit one frame or multiple frames; most typically two or three. This is shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  8 . The corner bracket  34  fits in the corners of end frames  10  between the trim panels  32  and  98  that wedge under the first and second overhang lips. 
     The ends of the wires traversing the channels  16  and  17  each contain an electrical connector  28  at the upper end  77  of the frame  10  and an electrical receptor  88  at the lower end  56 . In joining two frames longitudinally, the connector of one frame plugs into a corresponding receptor of a second frame. Trim panels  32  contain embedded wires that have wire endings for attaching to receptors  88  contained in sockets  33  disposed at a side of trim panel  32  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Trim panels  32  also contain a connector  28  and receptor  88  at one end of the trim panel  32 . These connect to a connector  28  and receptor  88  at the end trim panel joined with end frames as shown in  FIG. 7 . The L-shaped bracket  34  contains wires with endings connected to a connector  28  and a receptor  88 . The connector  28  protruding from the L-shaped bracket  34  plugs into a receptor disposed inside the other end of the trim panel  32  and the receptor  88  protruding from the L-shaped bracket  34  plugs into a connector disposed inside the other end of the trim panel  32 . Cable  36  also connects to wire endings inside the L-shaped bracket  34  and serves as a conduit to connect with the power supply and the controller as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The L-shaped bracket  34  may optionally include a connector  35  for powering safety lights in the area of the dance floor. In the assembled dance floor configuration, the ribbon LEDs  27 A,  27 B,  27 C and  27 D of each frame member are connected through wires that lead to the controller and power supply unit. This enables powering all the LEDs and controlling the chase sequence for the lights. 
     The lighting effect is provided by ribbon LEDs, also referred to in the art as rope lights or LED strips, disposed on the sides of the elongated panels  14 ,  19  and  12 . In the preferred embodiment of this invention, four ribbon LEDs  27 A,  27 B,  27 C and  27 D are respectively disposed on the inner side  52  of the first segment  14  of the first transverse panel, the outer side  51  of the second longitudinal panel  12 , the outer side  54  of the second segment  19  of the first transverse panel and the inner side  81  of the second longitudinal panel  12  as shown In  FIG. 12 . Other characteristics of the frame shown in  FIG. 12  and referenced in the claims include: a first recess  37 , second recess  39 , first overhang  38 , second overhang  41 , the outer side  55  of the first segment  14  of the first transverse panel, the inner side  53  of the second segment  19  of the first transverse panel, the inner side  59  of the second transverse panel  21 , the unattached end  94  of the second transverse panel  21 , the unattached end  71  of the second segment  19  of the first transverse panel, the outer side  76  of the second transverse panel  21 , the upper edge  92  of the dance floor panel  29 , the first side edge  57  of the dance floor panel  29 , the lower edge  91  of the dance floor panel  29 , the second side edge  93  of the dance floor panel  29 , the lower end  77  of the first longitudinal panel  13 , the midpoint  58  of the first longitudinal panel  13 , the unattached lower end  56  of the first longitudinal panel  13 , the upper end  75  of the second longitudinal panel  12 , the midpoint  82  of the second longitudinal panel  12 , the lower unattached end  73  of the second longitudinal panel  12  and the inner side  81  of the second longitudinal panel  12 . The connectors and receptors contain multiple prongs each receiving a wire. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connectors and receptors contain five prongs are interconnected with 5 wires. 
       FIG. 14  shows a schematic of the wiring architecture that powers and controls the four LED strips  27 . Power lines  101  and  102  generally consisting of appropriate wires traverse the channels inside longitudinal panels  12  and  13  respectively passing through electrical wire junctions  110  and  104 . The wires exiting the ends of LED strips  27 A,  27 B,  27 C and  27 D combine into electrical wire junction  112 . A line  109  from electrical wire junction  112  is wired into electrical wire junction  110 . This is also shown in  FIG. 2 . Another line  106  traverses the channel in transverse panel  14  into the channel in longitudinal panel  13  and is wired into electrical wire junction  104 . Thus power is transmitted through lines  109  and  106  into electrical wire junction  112  from where it is distributed into the LED strips  27 A,  27 B,  27 C and  27 D. 
       FIG. 2  shows cutout areas  25  on the bottom sides of the elongated panels. These cutouts reduce the weight of the frames to facilitate hauling and reduce transportation costs. 
     The assembly is connected to a power supply and controller as shown in  FIG. 7 . The controller cycles the pattern of the lighting sequence that may be set in a number of different ways. A chase pattern is commonly known in the art where strings of adjacent light bulbs cycle on and off frequently to give an illusion of lights moving along the light strings. The lighting comes through a translucent Plexiglas® material to create the proper atmosphere for the dancers. 
     Each frame  10  further comprises a back panel  31  attached to the bottom side of the four longitudinal and transverse panels and is disposed between the longitudinal and transverse panels and the surface onto which the dance floor is installed. The attachment of the back panel  31  may be accomplished by a number of means that allow detaching the back panel as needed including screwing, nailing, or the use of adhesives. The function of the back panel  34  is to protect the wires placed in the channels. 
     The dimensions of each frame and the number of frames required to assemble a dance floor will vary depending on space availability. Typical frames may vary from about 3×3 feet to about 5×5 feet with the most common being 4×4 feet. The length of a trim panel  32  that seals the lower ends of a frame of combined frames may vary from about 4 feet for sealing one frame, 8 feet for sealing two combined frames and 12 feet for combining 3 combined frames. Likewise, side trim panel  98  may come in a 4 foot, 8 foot or possibly  12  foot sections. 
     It is noted that the combination of the frames brings the dance floor panels of the individual frames together in a manner that their edges are virtually seamless and form one large dance floor surface. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.