Floor panel support system

Abstract: A floor panel support system comprises a tubular steel sleeve 1 which extends through a floor-panel 2 and is supported by a ridge 13 which engages a washer 4. The lower end of the sleeve 1 has a threaded adjuster 5 through which a correspondingly threaded jack 6 extends. The lower end of the jack 6 has an insulator cap 7 and is supported in a silicone rubber foot 8 by an abutment 9. The jack 6 has a slot 10 which can be engaged by a screwdriver for adjustment of the jack 6 and in addition a slotted locknut 11 is also provided.

Description: This invention relates to a floor panel support system. It is common building practice to provide floors in the form of raised panels which are mounted above the basic floor structure, usually of concrete. Conventionally these floor panels, which are often of chipboard construction, are supported by a series of wooden battens with levelling provided by wedges or packers placed beneath the battons at appropriate positions. Such floors are time consuming to install and the battons restrict access to the cavity formed beneath the floor which is used for service installations. To overcome these problems it has been proposed to support floor panels with a series of small adjustable jacks. These may for example be provided by a series of threaded rods which are inserted in a correspondingly threaded insert extending through the floor. After the floor has been levelled the excess length of rod extending above the floor is removed and the end of the rod ground flat. This installation is time consuming, adjustment of height requires access to the length of rod extending beneath the floor and there is generally no provision for locking the rods in position when the desired length has been achieved. A system of this type is disclosed in US-A-3 511 001. This system suffers from the disadvantage that it is not possible to lock positively the adjustment means working from above the floor panels. According to the present invention there is provided a double floor system for a raised floor having floor panels (2) provided with through-holes each having a flange (4) therearound on the underneath face of the panel (2), and supports comprising: a tubular sleeve (1) having abutment means (3, 13), mounted on the tubular sleeve (1) and arranged to engage the flange (4); a threaded elongate adjustable support member (6) arranged within and co-axial with the sleeve (1) and threadedly engaging a correspondingly internally threaded member (5) fixed within the sleeve (1), a top end (10) of the adjustable support member (6) being formed to receive a turning means; and a locking member (11) for locking the adjustable support member (6) at a desired position, characterised in that the locking member (11) is located in a position above the threaded member (5), and received by the support member (6) so that the locking member (11) may from a position above the floor panel (2) be adjusted to lock the adjustable support member (6) to the threaded member (5). Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a floor panel support system in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of a second embodiment of a floor panel support system in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of a third embodiment of a floor panel support system in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a sectional representation illustrating a floor panel support system of the present invention in use. Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a floor panel support system comprises a tubular steel sleeve 1 which extends through a floor-panel 2 and is supported by a shoulder 3 which engages a washer 4. The lower end of the sleeve 1 has a threaded adjuster 5 through which a correspondingly threaded jack 6 extends. The lower end of the jack 6 has an insulator cap 7 and is supported in a silicone rubber foot 8 by an abutment 9. The jack 6 has a slot 10 which can be engaged by a screwdriver for adjustment of the jack 6 and in addition a slotted locknut 11 is also provided. A typical installation sequence of floor panels incorporating the support system of the present invention will now be described. A number of floor panels 2, which are of tongue and groove construction for ease of interfitting, are provided to cover the area to be floored. Each floor panel 2 has twelve sleeves 1 already fitted during manufacture ready to accept the jacks 6. The sleeves 1 are visible on the underside of the floor panel 2 and on the top side provide a 15 mm countersunk hole for the locknut 11. Each floor panel 2 is positioned upside down, for example on a pair of trestles, and twelve jacks 6 are threaded into the sleeves 1 to approximately the desired depth. A series of spacers of some 12-15 mm width are produced from scrap material and used to space the floor panels 2 from the walls at the edge of the floor. A first floor panel 2 is laid in position and levelled using two or three of the jacks 6. The jacks can be easily adjusted by engaging the slots 10 with a screwdriver. The remaining jacks 6 are then turned down in a similar fashion to engage the subfloor. Subsequent floor panels 2 are laid in a similar fashion. When all the floor panels have been laid and levelled an appropriate tool is used to tighten the locknuts 11 and the floor panels 2 are finished by inserting a steel cap 12 over the end of each sleeve 1. Edge seals can then be fitted around the edge of the floor-panels 2 and other finishing completed. The caps 12 are removable to allow subsequent re-levelling of the floor-panels as a simple operation from above by raising or lowering the jacks 6 with a screwdriver. The embodiment shown in Figure 2 is similar to that shown in Figure 1 except that the shoulder 3 has been replaced by a ridge 13 formed by a kink in the sleeve 1. In all other respects this embodiment is identical to that shown in Figure 1. The silicone rubber feet 8 provide the floor panels 2 with a degree of resilience which does not deteriorate significantly in time due to the excellent ageing characteristics of the silicone rubber. The feet can compress some 2-3mm and under full load providing a stable yet more comfortable walking surface when compared to a solid floor. Excessive deflection under gross overload conditions is prevented and full recovery takes place on removal of the overload. The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2. However, the silicone rubber foot 8 is replaced by a rigid foot member 14. This provides for a more solid construction which is particularly suitable for more heavily loaded applications. Fig. 4 illustrates a floor panel support system in use. A series of floor panels 2 are supported above a concrete sub-floor 15 by a number of jack assemblies 16. Electrical cables 17 and the like are positioned in the space between the floor panels 2 and the sub-floor 15 and access ports 18 are provided in the floor panels to provide easy access to the cables 17. Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims: A double floor system for a raised floor having floor panels (2) provided with through-holes each having a flange (4) therearound on the underneath face of the panel (2), and supports comprising: a tubular sleeve (1) having abutment means (3, 13), mounted on the tubular sleeve (1) and arranged to engage the flange (4); a threaded elongate adjustable support member (6) arranged within and co-axial with the sleeve (1) and threadedly engaging a correspondingly internally threaded member (5) fixed within the sleeve (1), a top end (10) of the adjustable support member (6) being formed to receive a turning means; and a locking member (11) for locking the adjustable support member (6) at a desired position, characterised in that the locking member (11) is located in a position above the threaded member (5), and received by the support member (6) so that the locking member (11) may from a position above the floor panel (2) be adjusted to lock the adjustable support member (6) to the threaded member (5). A double floor system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the abutment means comprises a shoulder (3) attached to the tubular sleeve (1). A double floor system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the abutment means comprises a ridge formed by a kink (13) in the tubular sleeve (1). A support double floor system as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that said locking member comprises a locknut (11) threadedly received on said elongate support member (6). A double floor system as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that there is included a detachable cover (12) for the through-hole, the cover being supported by an end face of said tubular sleeve (1). A double floor system as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that there is provided a resilient foot member (8) on which said elongate support member (6) bears.

Inventors: MORRISON RONALD FRANK, MORRISON, RONALD FRANK
Applicants: JACK FLOORING CO LTD, JACK FLOORING COMPANY LIMITED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E04F15
IPC codes: E04F15