Patent Publication Number: US-2010115869-A1

Title: Connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/023,019 having a filing date of Dec. 23, 2004, which claims priority to Italian patent application S/N PD2004A000043 having a filing date of Feb. 17, 2004 and titled “Elemento di raccordo e tamponamento pedonabile a doppio use per elementi modulari per solai aerati e/o sopraelevati.” 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present patent application concerns building components, and, more specifically, a plugging and connecting element for modular floor construction. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modular elements for the construction of raised or aerated floors are generally dome-shaped and have an upper surface supported by four or more legs divided by arch-shaped openings. These modular elements are juxtaposed and connected to each other to produce a continuous grid structure. Reinforcing iron rods, such as an electro-welded net or ribbed bars, are positioned over such grid structure, and concrete is then poured. It is then possible to obtain a monolithic floor slab, aerated in the lower part and suitable for inserting pipes, ducts, cables and similar building components within the aerated space. 
     These modular elements have modular dimensions and, once installed, fill a surface determined by multiples of the modular dimension. 
     Often, the floors to be produced have surface dimensions that are not precise multiples of the modular elements, leaving one or more floor strips uncovered. Connecting elements to fill the uncovered area are known in the prior art and are shaped substantially like a box with an open side. Because of their configuration, these connecting elements cannot carry the weight of a person, so are not suited for walking on. Further, the connecting elements in the prior art are affixed to the modular elements by means of deep lateral notches, preventing their ability to slide and to be adjusted in position in the event they are too wide or too narrow for the application at hand. 
     Other connecting elements in the prior art consist of blocks of expanded material, typically expanded polystyrene, having a square or rectangular base and lateral walls connected to an upper arch-shaped surface matching the arch-shaped openings of the modular elements. A connecting element of this type is inserted inside an arch-shaped opening of the last modular elements in order to achieve complete coverage of the floor surface. 
     The above described connecting elements are preferably positioned in a central area of the floor, that is, modular elements are placed in positions starting from the floor edges and are the then joined with the connecting elements in the middle of the floor. 
     Other types of connecting and plugging elements are also known in the prior art, and are generally manufactured with expanded materials generating high storage volumes, material requirements, and costs. Further, these connecting and plugging elements typically have smooth surfaces and no means for connecting to each other during positioning and/or during the pouring of the concrete, therefore, these connecting and plugging elements can slide during application making them totally or partially useless. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A connecting and plugging element for modular floor construction is provided comprising a modular element having a substantially U-shaped cross section defined by two lateral walls connected by an arched surface, and further having two head walls each connecting the two lateral walls on opposing sides of the modular element. The connecting and plugging element is preferably made of a thermoplastic material, and the two lateral walls and one of the head walls may have free edges that extend to form an enlarged bearing base with holes for connecting to the floor base and also with couplers or relieves for connecting to reinforcing bars or to adjacent connecting and plugging elements. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting element to be used in the manufacture of aerated or elevated floors that plugs the arch-shaped openings of the modular elements and does not slide while the formwork is being or during pouring of the concrete. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a connecting element to be used in the manufacture of aerated or elevated floors, on which operators can walk safely. 
     These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a first perspective view of a connecting and plugging element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a second perspective view of a connecting and plugging element according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a detail view of an extension with couplers of a head wall of the connecting and plugging of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a connecting and plugging element according to the present invention abutted against a foundation wall. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of two connecting and plugging elements according to the present invention abutted against reinforcing bars. 
         FIG. 4A  is a detail view of the a coupler on the extension of a head wall of a connecting and plugging element according to the present invention joined to a reinforcing bar. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of three connecting and plugging elements according to the present invention joined to each other and to a foundation wall. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to employ the present invention in virtually any detailed system, structure, or manner. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  2 A, a connecting and plugging element  10  comprises a modular element with a substantially U-shaped cross-section, matching the shape of the arch-shaped opening of a modular element  12 , with which connecting and plugging element  10  is coupled. The modular elements has two lateral walls  14  and an arched surface  16  connecting the two lateral walls, the lateral walls  14  being typically inclined while the arched surface  16  has a shape corresponding to the opening in modular elements  12 . The lateral walls  14  are connected, on opposing sides, by head walls  18  that are substantially vertical. Connecting and plugging element  10  may be manufactured from a thermoplastic material. 
     The free edges of connecting and plugging element  10  may have extensions  20  protruding outwards laterally in a horizontal direction, so as to form an enlarged bearing base. 
     In one embodiment, extensions  20  of the free edges are present on three sides of connecting and plugging elements  10 , that is, on lateral walls  14  and one head wall  18 , while there is no extension on the opposite head wall  18 . 
     Various holes  22  may be present on extensions  20 , in order to enable the affixing of connecting and plugging element  10  to the lower floor slab. Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 2   a , on extension  20  of one head wall, relieves or couplers  24  may be present of a shape suitable for securing connecting and plugging element  10  to one or more concrete reinforcing bars, in order to prevent connecting and plugging element  10  from sliding toward the inside of modular element  12 . On head walls  18 , on arched surface  16  and/or on lateral walls  14 , stiffening ribs  26  may be present on lateral walls  14  and stiffening ribs  28  may also be present on head walls  18 , in order to provide connecting and plugging element  10  with sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the weight of a walking person. Stiffening ribs  26  and  28  may have flattened crests. 
     Connecting and plugging element  10  is suitable for positioning on a lower floor slab and, because of its shape and mechanical properties, and because it can be prevented from sliding sideways, connecting and plugging element  10  performs its function in a variety of situations that occur in the manufacture of aerated or elevated floors of dimensions different from entire multiples of modular elements  12 . 
     Connecting and plugging element  10  needs only inserting in the arch-shaped hole of the last modular element  12  of the floor grid, so to extend to the edge of the floor. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an application of connecting and plugging element  10  when a foundation wall is present. In that situation, connecting and plugging element  10  may be positioned against the foundation wall, with the edge of head wall  18  that is extension-free abutting against the foundation wall. 
       FIGS. 4 and 4A  show an application of connecting and plugging element  10  in conjunction with reinforcing bars  30  that are used to produce beams of the same thickness as the floor. If the beam has not been poured yet, when beams and floor slab are poured at the same time, connecting and plugging element  10  may be positioned so to have the couplers  24  on extension  20  of head wall  18  mate with reinforcement bars  30 . 
     Connecting and plugging element  10  may also be positioned between two modular elements  12  in different areas of the floor surface, so to connect two modular elements  12  that are spaced apart. 
       FIG. 5  shows three aligned connecting and plugging elements  10 , positioned with their heads walls next to each other and having the extension-free edge of the head wall of one element secured to couplers  24  on the extension of the head wall of the adjacent element. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with the above described embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention.