PORTABLE OUTDOOR FLOORING APPARATUS

A portable outdoor flooring apparatus for creating a stable floor outdoors includes a flooring section having a first panel and a second panel. A hinge couples together the first panel and the second panel. Each of the first and second panels have a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral wall. The top side of the first panel is coplanar with the top side of the second panel when the first and second panels are in a deployed condition. Each of the first and second panels also have interior edges that are next to each other. The first panel and the second panel can pivot around the interior edges until the bottom sides are abutting one another. A connecting system couples the flooring section with a second flooring section when the first and second panels are in the deployed condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to modular flooring assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new modular flooring assembly for creating a stable floor outdoors.

The prior art relates to modular flooring assemblies. Some prior art disclosures teach interlocking mats that can be used to cover portions of the ground. Some of these mats are used to create soft or padded areas that are more comfortable for sitting or standing than the ground itself. Other mats are used to increase friction and traction across the ground surface, for example when deployed at construction or other work sites where people may be walking often or carrying heavy objects. Other such mats are used to direct fluid flowing across the ground, to improve drainage across a particular area. The prior art also discloses modular flooring assemblies that are designed for permanent installation on a patio or in a basement. These modular flooring assemblies are generally designed for permanent or near-permanent installation. For example, such assemblies may be designed to emulate a basketball court or provide decorative cover over a concrete slab in a basement or on a patio. The prior art also discloses outdoor tile assemblies which may be installed over a flat surface, for example under tents to create an outdoor dance floor. However, such tile assemblies generally need to be installed over a very flat ground surface that has sufficient drainage, or that is covered with another material such as plywood to protect the tiles from being damaged by water or dirt.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a flooring section having a first panel and a second panel. A hinge couples together the first panel and the second panel. Each of the first and second panels comprise a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall is attached to and extends between the top and bottom sides. The top side of the first panel is coplanar with the top side of the second panel when the first and second panels are in a deployed condition. Each of the first and second panels also comprise an interior edge and three exterior edges. The interior edge of the first panel is adjacent to the interior edge of the second panel. The first panel and the second panel are hingedly coupled together such that the first panel and the second panel can pivot around the interior edges until the bottom sides are abutting one another. A connecting system removably couples the flooring section with a second flooring section when the first panel and the second panel are in the deployed condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS.1through12, the portable outdoor flooring apparatus10generally comprises a flooring section20having a first panel22and a second panel24. A hinge26hingedly couples together the first panel22and the second panel24.

Each of the first22and second24panels may generally comprise a top side28, a bottom side30, and a peripheral wall32. The peripheral wall32is attached to and extends between the top28and bottom30sides. The top side28of the first panel22is coplanar with the top side28of the second panel24when the first22and second24panels are in a deployed condition34, for example as shown inFIG.1.

Each of the first22and second24panels may further comprise an interior edge36and three exterior edges38. The interior edge36of the first panel22is adjacent to the interior edge36of the second panel24. In some embodiments, the interior edges36may each have a rod passage40extending therethrough. For example, the rod passages40may be continuous with a length of the interior edges36, as shown inFIG.4.

The first panel22and the second panel24are hingedly coupled together such that the first panel22and the second panel24can pivot around the interior edges36until the bottom sides30are abutting one another. An example of this stored condition42is depicted inFIG.11.

The hinge26may also be continuous with the length of the interior edges36of the first22and second24panels. The hinge26permits the first panel22and the second panel24to pivot together in a first direction such that the bottom sides30are abutting one another to define the stored condition42. The hinge26prevents the first panel22and the second panel24from pivoting together in a second direction beyond the deployed condition34to inhibit an angle44between the top sides28from being smaller than 180°, as shown inFIG.10.

In some embodiments, the hinge26comprises a hinge plate46that is T-shaped with a planar top surface48. The planar top surface48is aligned with the top side28of each of the first22and second24panels. The planar top surface48restricts the first panel22and the second panel24from pivoting in the second direction beyond the deployed condition34.

A pivot plate50may be attached to the hinge plate46beneath the planar top surface48. The first panel22and the second panel24may pivot around the pivot plate50in the first direction to form the stored condition42, and the first22and second24panels may pivot around the pivot plate50in the second direction to form the deployed condition34. The pivot plate50may have a pair of rod apertures52extending therethrough. The pair of rod apertures52align with the rod passages40of the first22and second24panels when the hinge plate46is coupled to the first22and second24panels. In some embodiments, the hinge26may include a plurality of pivot plates50attached to the hinge plate46beneath the planar top surface48. In such embodiments, each of the plurality of pivot plates50may have a pair of rod apertures52extending therethrough that align with the rod passages40of the first22and second24panels.

A rod54may be inserted into each of the rod passages40and a corresponding one of the pair of rod apertures52. A sleeve56may be inserted into the each of the rod passages40, covering a portion of the rod54within the respective rod passage40. The sleeve56can secure the rod54within the rod passage40. A rod fastener58may be used to affix the sleeve56to the rod54and to the pivot plate50. For example, the rod fastener58may comprise a fastening screw extending through the sleeve56and the rod54, as shown inFIG.5.

A connecting system60removably couples the flooring section20with a second flooring section62when the first panel22and the second panel24are in the deployed condition34, as shown inFIGS.7-10. The connecting system60may comprise a socket64extending through the exterior edges38of each of the first22and second24panels. For example, the socket64may extend between the top side28and the bottom side30next to the peripheral wall32. A slot66may be formed in the exterior edges38. In embodiments, the slot66may be formed on the bottom side30and may extend upwardly into the peripheral wall32toward the top side28. The socket64is generally aligned with and extends into the slot66.

A connection bar68may be inserted into the slot66and the socket64. For example, the connection bar68may have a first pillar70, a midsection72, and a second pillar74. The first70and second74pillars extend upwardly from the midsection72. The first pillar70is spaced from the second pillar74. The first pillar70may be inserted into the socket64through the bottom side30. The midsection72may extend outwardly from the peripheral wall32through the slot66. The second pillar74may be inserted into a corresponding socket64of the second flooring section62. A bar fastener76may secure the connection bar68within the socket64. For example, the bar fastener76may comprise a nut that can be tightened around each of the first70and the second74pillars within the respective sockets64. In one embodiment, the nut may be inserted into the socket64through the top side28and positioned on the first70or the second74pillar. The nut may then be tightened around the first70or the second74pillar using a socket wrench78, as shown inFIG.12. In other embodiments, a different fastener may be used to secure the connection bar68within the socket64.

Each flooring section may be formed of a durable material such as plastic. In some embodiments, recycled plastics or other materials may be used to form the flooring sections. Because the modular flooring apparatus will be used as a floor, for example supporting people, furniture, tents, or other objects, the materials forming each flooring section should be strong and able to support a significant amount of weight without breaking or deforming. For example, each panel should be able to support a weight of at least 200 pounds to ensure that the modular flooring apparatus will not break under the weight of a person standing or walking on the flooring sections. The bottom side may therefore be reinforced to ensure that each panel can support the required amount of weight. Because the modular flooring apparatus is designed for outdoor use, the materials should be weather-resistant and easy to clean. In other words, the materials forming each flooring section should be resistant to damage from water or dirt. Because the modular flooring apparatus is designed to be reusable, the materials forming each flooring section should also be able to be cleaned repeatedly.

In use, the flooring section20can be unfolded into the deployed condition34and removably coupled with the second flooring section62using the connecting system60. The portable outdoor flooring apparatus10can be used to form a temporary floor for tents or events such as weddings or parties. The portable outdoor flooring apparatus10can also be used to form a strong and stable floor for activities such as working, camping, recreation, or simply relaxing outside. Because each flooring section20,64can be manufactured in different base sizes, a user can create any desired size of outdoor flooring by coupling enough of the flooring sections20,62together. When finished with the portable outdoor flooring apparatus10, the user simply needs to disconnect the connecting system60and fold each of the flooring sections20,64into the stored condition42to facilitate transportation and storage of the apparatus10.