Patent Publication Number: US-2022235542-A1

Title: Extendable Flooring Module

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/140,507 filed on Jan. 22, 2021 entitled “Extendable Flooring Module” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
     The present technology relates to flooring and more particularly to extendable subflooring modules, systems, and methods for manufacture and installing subflooring. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND RELATED ART 
     Solid wood flooring is used in various applications including home, commercial, and sport flooring surfaces. In an athletic flooring application, solid wood floors provide a playing surface with desirable ball bounce characteristics. Conventional solid wood flooring surfaces used in athletic flooring applications utilize continuous solid wood slats or planks placed on sub-floor systems. A sub-floor is used to provide ventilation and minimize problems associated with expansion and contraction of the overlying hardwood surface. 
     A sub-floor panel system can be used to efficiently install a sub-floor for use with an overlying hardwood surface. A sub-floor panel can comprise a plurality of components which may be interconnected with additional sub-floor panels to form an integrated sub-floor. For example, a sub-floor panel can include a number of sleepers, such as softwood runners, and cross-arms or brackets connected to the sleepers, forming a fixed panel which can provide a base for an overlaying flooring surface. However, because the components of the sub-floor panel are fixed, there exists a large amount of empty space between the components. For example, an amount of space between sleepers can be several inches (e.g., five inches or more). This empty space between the fixed components of the sub-floor panel results in, among other things, inefficiencies associated with shipping non-occupied space in a shipping container containing the sub-floor panel. It is therefore desirable to have an extendable flooring module which can be placed in a collapsed position and later placed in an extended position to allow installation of the extendable flooring module. 
     SUMMARY 
     An extendable flooring module is disclosed. In one example configuration the extendable flooring module includes at least two sleeper components, wherein a first sleeper component is positioned parallel to a second sleeper component, at least one cross-arm member having a first end and a second end, and a pivot system comprising fasteners that couple the first end of the cross-arm member to a portion of the first sleeper component and couple the second end of the cross-arm member to a portion of the second sleeper component. The fasteners allow the cross-arm member to pivot relative to the first and second sleeper components and the cross-arm member to span a distance between the first and second sleeper components when the extendable flooring module is placed in an extended position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present technology will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings merely depict exemplary aspects of the present technology, they are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. It will be readily appreciated that the components of the present technology, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Nonetheless, the technology will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded diagram of the extendable flooring module in accordance with one aspect of the technology; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the extendable flooring module in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a detail view of the extendable flooring module in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the extendable flooring module of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed position; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the extendable flooring module of  FIG. 1  in the collapsed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the extendable flooring module of  FIG. 1  in an extended position; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the extendable flooring module of  FIG. 1  in the extended position; 
         FIG. 8  includes a top, bottom, and side view of a sleeper component included in the extendable flooring module of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one aspect of the technology; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view and a side view of a cross-arm member included in the extendable flooring module of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one aspect of the technology; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the cross-arm member of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  includes top, bottom, and side view of a cross-arm member, and a top and bottom perspective view of the cross-arm member in accordance with one aspect of the technology; 
         FIG. 12  includes a top and side view, and a bottom perspective view of a cross-arm member in accordance with one aspect of the technology; 
         FIG. 13  are perspective views of a fastener used to couple a sleeper component and a cross-arm member; 
         FIGS. 14A-C  illustrate a method of installation of an extendable flooring module in accordance with one aspect of the technology; and 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the extendable flooring module of  FIG. 1  showing a connector cross-arm member that is available to be pivotally coupled with an adjacent extendable flooring module. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of exemplary aspects of the technology makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and in which are shown, by way of illustration, exemplary aspects in which the technology may be practiced. While these exemplary aspects are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the technology, it should be understood that other aspects may be realized and that various changes to the technology may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present technology. Thus, the following more detailed description of the aspects of the present technology is not intended to limit the scope of the technology, as claimed, but is presented for purposes of illustration only and not limitation to describe the features and characteristics of the present technology and to sufficiently enable one skilled in the art to practice the technology. Accordingly, the scope of the present technology is to be defined solely by the appended claims. 
     As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a line” includes a plurality of such lines. In this disclosure, “comprises,” “comprising,” “containing” and “having” and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. patent law and can mean “includes,” “including,” and the like, and are generally interpreted to be open ended terms. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that any terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Similarly, if a method is described herein as comprising a series of steps, the order of such steps as presented herein is not necessarily the only order in which such steps may be performed, and certain of the stated steps may possibly be omitted and/or certain other steps not described herein may possibly be added to the method. 
     The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in any manner. Objects described herein as being “adjacent to” each other may be in physical contact with each other, in close proximity to each other, or in the same general region or area as each other, as appropriate for the context in which the phrase is used. Occurrences of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in one aspect,” herein do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment or aspect. 
     As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is “substantially free of” particles would either completely lack particles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect would be the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, a composition that is “substantially free of” an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof. 
     As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint. Unless otherwise stated, use of the term “about” in accordance with a specific number or numerical range should also be understood to provide support for such numerical terms or range without the term “about”. 
     As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “an example” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     It should be understood that the aspects of the technology discussed herein are contemplated for use with any type of flooring system. For purposes of illustrating the various aspects of the methods and systems claimed herein, the discussion below will be primarily directed to describing exemplary embodiments directed to sports floors. It should be noted, however, that the elements and principles discussed herein are applicable to other applications. It is also noted that discussion of methods and systems herein can be interchangeable with respect to specific aspects. In other words, specific discussion of one method or system (or components thereof) herein is equally applicable to other aspects as they relate to the system or method, and vice versa. The following detailed description and exemplary aspects of the technology will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the elements and features of the technology are designated by numerals throughout. 
     The present technology describes an extendable flooring module having two or more sleeper components, one or more cross-arm members, and a pivot system that allows the extendable flooring module to be placed in either of a collapsed position and an extended position. Placing the extendable flooring module in a collapsed position can include pushing the sleeper components in an inward direction causing the cross-arm members to pivot relative to the sleeper components and fold underneath the sleeper components, thereby closing a space or gap between the sleeper components so that the sleeper components are substantially adjacent to one another. Placing the extendable flooring module in an extended position can include pulling the sleeper components in an outward direction causing the cross-arm members to pivot relative to the sleeper components and extend from the sleeper components, thereby creating a space or gap between the sleeper components which is spanned by the cross-arm members. The pivot system can include fasteners used to operably connect the ends of the cross-arm members to the sleeper components to allow the cross-arm members to pivot relative to the sleeper components. 
     A sleeper component can include an elongated slat, plank, or the like made of wood or another material on which an overlaying floor can be placed. A cross-arm member can include a brace, support, bracket, or the like made of wood, polymer or another material, and the cross-arm member can be pivotally coupled at one end to a first sleeper component, and pivotally coupled at the other end to a second sleeper component. Each sleeper component can include a plurality of resilient pads or cushions disposed on a bottom surface of the sleeper component to provide resiliency to a floor assembly. The resilient pads can have a height which is greater than a height of the cross-arm members in order to prevent contact of the cross-arm members with a ground surface. 
     With specific reference now to  FIGS. 1-3 , an extendable flooring module  10  is shown which has components to allow the extendable flooring module  10  to be positioned in either of a collapsed position or an extended position. Placing the extendable flooring module  10  in the collapsed position provides benefits associated with transporting the extendable flooring module  10  and installing the extendable flooring module  10  on a ground surface or substrate. The extendable flooring module  10  can be placed in the extended position at install time, such that sleeper components  15  may be spaced a distance apart to allow an overlying floor (e.g., a hardwood floor or other flooring material) to be installed on top of the sleeper components  15 . Further, the extendable flooring module  10  allows for coupling of adjoining extendable flooring modules  10  to form a subfloor layer which can be overlaid with a surface floor for athletics or any other desirable purpose. Illustratively, surface flooring strips (not shown) can then be placed over the subfloor layer comprising the extendable flooring modules  10 , preferably in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sleeper components  15  of the extendable flooring modules  10 . 
     The extendable flooring module  10  includes sleeper components  15  pivotally coupled to cross-bar members  20 , and resilient pads  25 . In one example, the extendable flooring module  10  includes at least two sleeper components  15  and at least one cross-arm member  20 . Each sleeper component  15  is connected to one or more cross-arm members  20 . As an example, two or more cross-arm members  20  can be used to operably connect a first sleeper component  15  to a second sleeper component  15 . The cross-arm member  20  is pivotally coupled at one end to a portion of a first sleeper component  15 , and at the other end to a portion of a second sleeper component  15 . The extendable flooring module  10  includes a pivot system comprising fasteners  35  that couple a first end of the cross-arm member  20  to a portion of a first sleeper component  15  and couples a second end of the cross-arm member  20  to a portion of a second sleeper component  15 . The sleeper components  15  contain holes  30  or openings that extend from a top surface to a bottom surface of the sleeper components  15 . The holes  30  correspond to placement of the cross-arm members on the sleeper components  15 , and the holes  30  accept the fasteners that couple the cross-arm members  20  to the sleeper components  15 . The fasteners  35  allow the cross-arm member  20  to pivot relative to the first and second sleeper components  15  and the cross-arm member  20  to span a distance between the first and second sleeper components  15  when the extendable flooring module  10  is placed in an extended position. In one example, when in the expanded position, the cross-arm member  20  may by substantially perpendicular to the sleeper components  15  to which the cross-arm member  20  is coupled. When in the collapsed position, the cross-arm member  20  may be at an obtuse angle (e.g., 40°, 45°, or 50°) relative to the sleeper components  15  to which the cross-arm member  20  is coupled. 
     In one example, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the extendable flooring module  10  includes a connector cross-arm member  60  having a first end that is pivotally coupled to an end sleeper component  65  of the extendable flooring module  10 , and an uncoupled second end that is available to be pivotally coupled with an adjacent extendable flooring module. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the extendable flooring module  10  and shows cross-arm members  20  and resilient pads  25  coupled to a bottom surface of the sleeper components  15  shown in  FIG. 1 . A first end of a cross-arm member  20  is disposed on a bottom surface of a first sleeper component, and a second end of the cross-arm member  20  is disposed on a bottom surface of a second sleeper component, which is adjacent to the first sleeper component. Disposition of the cross-arm members  20  on the sleeper components  15  may be determined by the number of cross-arm members  20  used to connect the second sleeper components  15 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , in the case that two cross-arm members  20   a - b  are used, one cross-arm member  20   a  may be disposed in a first half of the sleeper component  15 , and the second cross-arm member  20   b  may be disposed in a second half of the sleeper component  15 . The cross-arm members  20  can be spaced apart from one another on the sleeper component  15  to substantially maintain a right-angle distance of space between adjacent sleeper components. As will be appreciated, additional cross-arm members  20  can be used to operably couple adjacent sleeper components  15 . 
     The resilient pads  25  are strategically disposed along the bottom surface of the sleeper components  15 . The resilient pads  25  are capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture and are made of generally compressible, moldable material. The resilient pads  25  can comprise urethane, re-bonded foam, open cell polyurethane, closed-cell polyethylene, or other material as desired. One such resilient pad is described in U.S. Pat. Application 2006/0260236 A1. In an alternative example, rather than employing a number of resilient pads  25 , a resilient layer may be used and may be made up of a single strip of resilient pad material which extends along bottom surface sections of the sleeper members  15 . 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed view of  FIG. 2  showing the sleeper component  15 , cross-arm members  20 , and resilient pads  25 . The resilient pads  25  disposed along a bottom surface of the sleeper components  15  have a height which is greater than that of the cross-arm members  20  to prevent the cross-arm members  20  from coming in contact with a ground surface. 
       FIGS. 4-5  illustrate the extendable flooring module  10  of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed position. The extendable flooring module  10  is collapsible to reduce a length or width of the extendable flooring module  10 , which provides benefits associated with transporting the extendable flooring module  10 . As one example, in a collapsed position, a greater number of extendable flooring modules  10  can be loaded into a shipping container as compared to a number of a sub-floor modules in a fixed configuration. As another example, an extendable flooring module  10  in a collapsed position can be more easily maneuvered through some openings, such as doorways. The extendable flooring module  10  is expandable to increase a length or width of the extendable flooring module  10  and to create a space or channel between the sleeper components  15  having a distance that is determined by the cross-arm members  20 . For example, in an expanded position, the cross-arm members  20  may define a space between the sleeper components  15  that adequately provides air circulation between a ground surface and overlaying floor without negatively impacting foundational support provided by the sleeper components  15  for the overlaying floor. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the extendable flooring module  10  in the collapsed position showing an orientation of cross-arm members  20  when the extendable flooring module  10  is in the collapsed position. As shown, the cross-arm members  20  can be disposed so as to be vertically aligned along the bottom surface of the sleeper components  15 , where each cross-arm member  20  is oriented at an oblique angle to operably connect a first and second sleeper component  15 .  FIG. 4  shows that the resilient pads  25  can be disposed on the bottom surface of the sleeper components  15 .  FIG. 4  further shows that the resilient pads  25  can be used to support the distal ends of the sleeper components  15 , and support the portions of the sleeper components  15  where the cross-arm members  20  are coupled to prevent the cross-arm members  20  from coming in contact with a ground surface. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the extendable flooring module  10  in the collapsed position showing that a distance between adjacent sleeper components  15  is substantially closed. Also shown are holes  30  in the sleeper components  15  disposed in locations that correspond to placement of cross-arm members  20 . The holes  30  are designed to accept the fasteners  30  used to couple the cross-arm members  20  to the sleeper components  15 . In one example configuration, the distal ends of the sleeper components  15  are substantially aligned with one another when the extendable flooring module  10  is in the collapsed position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In another example configuration, the distal ends of the sleeper components  15  are staggered from one another (as shown in  FIG. 14A ) when the extendable flooring module  10  is in the collapsed position. 
       FIGS. 6-7  illustrate the extendable flooring module  10  of  FIG. 1  in an expanded position. The expanded position of the extendable flooring module  10  is an installation configuration of the extendable flooring module  10  having a distance or space  40  between sleeper components  15 . Illustratively, an extendable flooring module  10  can be positioned in an installation location on a ground surface and the extendable flooring module  10  can be expanded to expose a space  40  between the sleeper components  15 . The same procedure can be repeated with additional extendable flooring modules  10 , which are placed adjacent to one another to form a subfloor layer. 
     When placed in the expanded position, the fasteners  35  of the pivot system allow the cross-arm members  20  to pivot relative to the sleeper components  15 , such that the cross-arm members  20  span a distance between adjacent sleeper components  15  and define a space between the adjacent sleeper components  15  to allow air circulation between a ground surface and an overlaying floor. As can be seen in  FIGS. 6-7 , the cross-arm members  20  are substantially perpendicular to the sleeper components  15  when the extendable flooring module  10  is in the expanded position, and the sleeper components  15  and cross-arm members  20  define the space  40  between adjacent sleeper components  15 . As a non-limiting example, the defined space can be approximately four inches wide and eight feet long. Alternatively, rather than fully extending the sleeper components  15 , the cross-arm members  20  can be partially extended, such that the cross-arm members  20  are at an oblique angle relative to the sleeper components  15  (as opposed to a right angle created by fully extending the cross-arm members  20 ), thereby defining a smaller space  40  between adjacent sleeper components  15  as compared to fully extending the cross-arm members  20 . Accordingly, as used herein, the extended position can refer to both fully extended cross-arm members  20  and partially extended cross-arm members  20 . 
     In one example, a cross-arm member  20  can be pivotally coupled to an end of a sleeper component  15  to enable an edge of the cross-arm member  20  to protrude from the end of the second sleeper component  15  when the extendable flooring module  10  is in the extended position. The edge of the cross-arm member  20  can provide support for an adjacent sleeper component included in an adjacent extendable flooring module, as shown in  FIG. 14C . 
       FIGS. 6-7  also show that in the extended position, a floor anchor point included in a cross-arm member  20  is exposed. The floor anchor point can be a notch, hole, or other type of anchor point that is used to secure or attach the cross-arm members  20  to a ground surface. 
       FIG. 8  includes a top view, side view, and bottom view of an elongated sleeper component  15  included in the extendable flooring module  10  of  FIG. 1 . The sleeper component  15  is preferably made of rigid material designed to accept typical mechanical fasteners, such as wood. As a non-limiting example, the sleeper component  15  can comprise a ½ inch thick, eight inch wide by eight foot long wood plank. As shown, holes  30  extending from a top surface to a bottom surface of the sleeper component  15  can be placed at locations corresponding to cross-arm member placements. The holes  30  can accept the fasteners used to couple the cross-arm members  20  with the sleeper components  15 . A number of resilient pads  25  can be placed at locations along the bottom surface of the sleeper component  15  to evenly support a load placed on the extendable flooring module  10  and to prevent contact of the cross-arm members  20  with a ground surface. 
       FIG. 9  includes a top view and a side view of a cross-arm member  20  included in the extendable flooring module  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . As described earlier, the cross-arm member  20  is pivotally coupled with adjacent sleeper components  15  using fasteners  35  to allow the cross-arm member  20  to pivot relative to the adjacent sleeper components  15 . The cross-arm member  20  has a hole  40  or opening on each distal end of the cross-arm member  20  to allow coupling of the cross-arm member to adjacent sleeper components  15 . The hole  40  extends from a top surface to a bottom surface of the cross-arm member  20  and is designed to accept a fastener  35 . In one example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a nut or rivet tail can occupy a portion of the hole  40  to allow a fastener  35  (e.g., a threaded bolt or a rivet with a flat head on one end) to attach to the nut or rivet tail. The cross-arm member  20  can include a floor anchor point  50  disposed about opposing sides of the cross-arm member  20  in a location that is exposed when the extendable flooring module  10  is in the extended position. In  FIGS. 9-10 , the floor anchor point  50  is a notch. However, as will be appreciated, the floor anchor point  50  can comprise a hole, slot, or any other type of anchor point used to secure a subfloor to a ground surface. 
     The cross-arm member  20  is preferably made of rigid material designed to securely connect adjacent sleeper components  15 , such as wood, rigid or semi-rigid polymer, plastic, metal alloy, rubber, or other material. In one example, as shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , the cross-arm member  20  can be a polymeric material, and may be formed using molding techniques known in the art such as injection molding, compression molding, and the like and are formed or molded in a single, integrated unit. The cross-arm member  20  may be approximately 15/32 inches thick, twelve inches long, and 3 inches wide. However, the dimensions of the cross-arm member  20  can be made to suit a particular design. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a cross-arm member  20  that includes a slot  55  disposed about opposing sides of an end portion of the cross-arm member  20 . The slot  55  has a width to accept a fastener  35  and a length to allow longitudinal movement of the fastener  35  in the slot  55 . This allows adjustment of a space (shown as  40  in  FIG. 6 ) between adjacent sleeper components. For example, after placing the extendable flooring module  10  in the extended position, such that the cross-arm members  20  are perpendicular to the sleeper components  15 , the slot  55  in the cross-arm member  20  allows the cross-arm member  20  to slide the length of the slot  55  underneath the bottom surface of a sleeper component  15  coupled to the slot end of the cross-arm member  20 . In one example, the slot  55  can include a plurality of grooves (not shown) for adjustment of the fastener  35  in the slot  55 . The grooves provide locations for fastener placement and define predetermined distances or spaces  40  between adjacent sleeper components. The location of the grooves in the slot  55  can be based on performance parameters for a floor system. Sliding the slot end of the cross-arm  20  causes the opposing end of the cross-arm member  20  coupled to an adjacent sleeper component  15  to push or pull the adjacent sleeper component  15  and increase or decrease the space  40  between the adjacent sleeper components  15 . Adjusting the space  40  between the sleeper components  15  allows fine tuning of a floor system. 
       FIG. 13  illustrate perspective views of fasteners  35  which can be used to couple a cross-arm member  20  to a sleeper component  15 . In particular, a fastener  35  can include a flat head that sits flush with a top surface of sleeper component  15 , and a cylindrical shaft allowing a swivel action and having a length to extend through the sleeper component  15  and operably attach to a cross-arm member  20 . As shown, the fastener  35  may have an end configured to be inserted into a receiving rivet tail located in a cross-arm member  20 . 
     Aspects of the technology are useable in a method of manufacture. Referring generally to  FIG. 1 , the method comprises obtaining cutting wood or another material into elongated planks comprising sleeper components  10 . As a non-limiting example, ½ inch thick softwood can be cut into four inch wide by eight foot long planks. Holes  30  are made in the sleeper components  10 . The location of the holes  30  correspond to positions where cross-arm members  20  will be coupled to the sleeper components  10 . Cross-arm members  20  can be cut from a wood material, or can be manufactured using another method, such as injection molding. 
     The sleeper components  15  are placed adjacent to one another. The cross-arm members  20  are positioned on the bottom surface of the sleeper components  15 , such that holes or slots in the end portions of the cross-arm members  20  are aligned with holes or slots in the sleeper components  15  used to pivotally couple the cross-arm members  20  to the sleeper components  15 . Fasteners  35  are placed through the holes  30  of the sleeper components  15  so that the fasteners  35  extend from the top surface of the sleeper components  15  down into the holes in the cross-arm members  20 , effectively coupling the cross-arm members  20  to the sleeper components  15 . Resilient pads  25  are disposed along the bottom surface of the sleeper components  15  using an adhesive, staple, or the like. 
     Aspects of the technology are useable in a method of installation. Referring generally to  FIG. 1  and more specifically to  FIGS. 14A-C , the method comprises obtaining a first extendable flooring module  10  in a collapsed position. The extendable flooring module  10  is pre-manufactured, and as previously described, includes a plurality of sleeper components  15 , cross-arm members  20 , and a pivot system that allows the extendable flooring module  10  to be transitioned between a collapsed position and an extended position. Having obtained the first extendable flooring module  10  in the collapsed position, the extendable flooring module  10  is positioned to an installation location on a ground surface, as shown in  FIG. 14A . The ground surface is typically a concrete layer or the like. The resilient pads  25  of the extendable flooring module  10  rests upon the ground surface. As shown in  FIG. 14B , an end of the extendable flooring module  10  comprising an outward facing sleeper component  15  is pulled outward causing the cross-arm members  20  below the sleeper component  15  to pivot and extend away from the sleeper component  15 . This pulling action is continued until each of the cross-arm members  20  in the extendable flooring module  10  are substantially perpendicular to the sleeper components  15 , as shown in  FIG. 14C . Alternatively, the extendable flooring module  10  is placed in a position that partially pivots the cross-arm members  20  to an oblique angle relative to the sleeper components  15 . 
     After installing the first extendable flooring module  10 , a second extendable flooring module in a collapsed position is obtained for adjacent placement to the first extendable flooring module, and the second extendable flooring module is placed in the extended position on the ground surface. In another example, a first and second extendable flooring module  10  in the collapsed position are positioned on a ground surface, such that the extendable flooring modules  10  are adjacent to one another. The extendable flooring modules  10  are then placed in the extended position at substantially the same time. 
     With reference to  FIG. 15 , adjacent extendable flooring modules  10  can be connected using a connector cross-arm member  60  having a first end that is pivotally coupled to an end sleeper component  65  of the extendable flooring module  10 , and an uncoupled second end that is available to be pivotally coupled with an adjacent extendable flooring module. An installer can connect the uncoupled end of the connector cross-arm member  60  to an end sleeper component  65  of the second extendable flooring module. The end sleeper component  65  of the second extendable flooring module can contain predrilled holes  75  configured to accept the uncoupled end of the connector cross-arm member  60 . The uncoupled end of the connector cross-arm member  60  is then connected to the second extendable flooring module using a fastener  35  and the predrilled holes in the end sleeper component  65 . For installation purposes, the extendable flooring module  10  is preferably preassembled in standard lengths, such as 8 foot sections. Rows of the extendable flooring modules  10  are placed across the area to be covered and are then extended. 
     In one example, extending the extendable flooring module  10  exposes floor anchor points in the cross-arm members  20 , and the extendable flooring module  10  can be attached to a ground surface via the floor anchor points. In another example, mechanical fasteners are not generally needed nor desired, which makes installation easier and more efficient. This is advantageous because the subfloor comprising the extendible flooring modules  10  does not require mechanical anchoring to the underlying ground surface. As a result, the subfloor is simple and cost effective to install. The ease of installation is appreciated when retrofitting the subfloor to replace an existing sports floor. The ease of installation is advanced by providing a broader base for attaching flooring boards. As a result, less time is needed for applying floor fasteners. 
     The foregoing detailed description describes the technology with reference to specific exemplary aspects. However, it will be appreciated that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present technology as set forth in the appended claims. The detailed description and accompanying drawings are to be regarded as merely illustrative, rather than as restrictive, and all such modifications, combination of features, or changes, if any, are intended to fall within the scope of the present technology as described and set forth herein. In addition, while specific features are shown or described as used in connection with particular aspects of the technology, it is understood that different features may be combined and used with different aspects. Likewise, numerous features from various aspects of the technology described herein may be combined in any number of variations as suits a particular purpose. 
     More specifically, while illustrative exemplary aspects of the technology have been described herein, the present technology is not limited to these aspects, but includes any and all aspects having modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as would be appreciated by those in the art based on the foregoing detailed description. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examples described in the foregoing detailed description or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. For example, in the present disclosure, the term “preferably” is non-exclusive where it is intended to mean “preferably, but not limited to.” Any steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented in the claims. Means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only be employed where for a specific claim limitation all of the following conditions are present in that limitation: a) “means for” or “step for” is expressly recited; and b) a corresponding function is expressly recited. The structure, material or acts that support the means-plus-function are expressly recited in the description herein. Accordingly, the scope of the technology should be determined solely by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the descriptions and examples given above.