Abstract:
According to the present invention, an adapter solution is provided that allows different structural panels, such as flooring, with different profiles to be joined to different substructures, in such a way that the panels are properly aligned with the substructure. The adapter may also facilitate securely holding the panels over the substructure to create lateral alignment and stability. The adaptor solution also may be assembled or deployed quickly on a project and without adding significant lead lime or expense to the project.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an adapter and its use in joining panels, and, more particularly, it relates to adapters and their use in joining flooring panels set on a substructure with intermediate alignment stoppers to create rigid raised flooring structures. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Various heavy equipment that is used in commercial buildings and data centers needs to be securely installed on raised flooring or frames. Examples of such equipment include CRAC (precision, air conditioning) units, UPS Racks, Power Distribution Units, transformers, and other heavy equipment, this type of equipment comes in various sizes and dimensions that may be unique to the system, but nonetheless the equipment needs to be supported by a frame and securely attached to the floor. Additionally, there may be seismic and other requirements for the support. 
         [0003]    At present, raised flooring tends to have pitch requirements, dimensions and techniques for fastening the floor to a substructure that are specific to particular manufacturers, particular substructures or both. This has the disadvantage of requiring custom solutions when different manufacturers are used on a single project fat the substructure or the flooring, or for hybrid projects. Custom solutions can be expensive, bulky and require considerable design and planning to implement. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to the present invention, an adapter solution is provided that allows different structural panels, such as flooring, with different profiles to be joined to different substructures, in such a way that the panels are properly aligned with the substructure. The adapter may also facilitate securely holding the panels over the substructure to create lateral alignment and stability. The adaptor solution also may be assembled or deployed quickly on a project and without adding significant lead time or expense to die project. 
         [0005]    According to one embodiment of the invention, an adapter solution for joining panels to a substructure is provided. The adapter solution comprises an adapter body having an outer shape configured to engage an edge of a panel and a cutout portion of the adapter body, wherein the cutout portion of the body is configured to engage a flange to facilitate alignment of the body in relation to a substructure. The solution may further include an alignment stopper having the flange on one surface. The alignment stopper may also further include edge flanges for securing the alignment stopper to the substructure, such as by securing the alignment stopper to a beam of the substructure. 
         [0006]    The cutout of the adapter body may be centrally disposed on the body or offset and may be plastic, steel or other convenient materials. The panels themselves may be, for example, raised flooring panels of any material, steel encapsulated concrete panels for raised floors or other types of panels used with substructures. Additionally, when different types of panels are to be deployed, the outer shape of the body of the adapter may be selected to engage at least two different types of panels with different edge profiles. For example, the outer shape may include a portion having a first shape based on an edge profile of a corresponding one of the at least two different types of panels and at least a second portion of the body may have a second shape based on an edge profile of another corresponding one of the at least two different types of panels. 
         [0007]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of using an adapter to mount raised flooring panels to a substructure includes providing at least one adapter having an adapter body that includes an outer shape configured to engage an edge of a panel and a cutout portion of the adapter body, wherein the cutout portion of the body is configured to engage a flange to facilitate alignment of die body in relation to a substructure. The at least one adapter is mounted in relation to at least one corresponding beam in aligned relation with the at least one beam. The at least one panel is mounted on the at least one adapter in aligned engagement with the adapter. 
         [0008]    The method may further include mounting at least one alignment stopper on the at least one beam and mounting the at least one adapter on the corresponding at least one alignment stopper to facilitate mounting the at least one adapter in aligned relation to the at least one beam. 
         [0009]    According to another embodiment of the invention, an adapter solution for joining raised flooring panels (o a substructure includes an adapter body made of plastic having an miter shape configured to engage an edge of a panel. It further includes a centered feature of the adapter body, wherein the centered feature of the body is configured to engage corresponding mounting feature a flange to facilitate alignment of the body in relation to a substructure and an alignment stopper having the mounting feature on one surface and edge flanges for securing the alignment stopper to the substructure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0010]    The above described features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated with reference to the appended figures in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a plastic molding with center flange stopper according to the prior art that may be deployed with panels over a substructure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts an adapter solution, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts a method of deploying an adapter solution according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  depict[s] other adapter configurations according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    According to the present invention, an adapter solution  100  is provided that can be used with steel tubing and alignment stoppers to make sturdy and secure panel structures, such as raised flooring, over substructures. The adapters may he made in different sizes and shapes to accommodate the edge profiles of different panel structures. 
         [0016]    Generally, panel structures, such as raised flooring panels, come in particular Sizes and shapes with different edge profiles. When assembling a raised panel structure, such as flooring, panels are joined together at their edges. Often, particularly in raised flooring structures, structural elements of a substructure contact the panel structure to keep the structure raised to allow wiring, ventilation or access, among other things, from beneath the panel structure. 
         [0017]    With raised panel structures, the substructure includes beams, such as steel tubing, that run horizontally and contact the panels directly or indirectly to provide support to the panels. Often, the beams are designed to have pitch that is related to the size of the panels. For example, the beams may have the same pitch as the size of each floor panel in a respective x or y dimension. In this manner, the centers of particular beams may align with scams between panels, such that the edges of panels that arc to be joined fall at the center of the beams. It can be clumsy to join panels to the center of the beam with standard fasteners, such as screws or bolts when the beam and the panels arc not designed in the first instance for each other. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an adapter  10  is positioned between two adjacent panels  20 . The panels  20  are in turn supported by an alignment stopper  30  and a beam  40  that is a part of a substructure. The alignment stopper  30  fits on the beam and includes a top flange  32  and side flanges  34 . The top flange  32  may be centered along the alignment stopper  30  such that the alignment stopper, when placed on a beam  40 , engages the beam at the side flanges and produces a top flange that is centered relative to the beam. 
         [0019]    The adapter  10  includes a cutout  12  and an outer body profile that respectively engages the top flange  32  and the edges of the adjacent panels  20 . In this manner, the alignment stopper and adapter can be easily and securely placed on die beam and invite panels to be placed on the alignment stoppers and adapters to securely join adjacent panels together in proper alignment with each other and the underlying substructure. This facilitates quickly assembling a raised panel structure, such as a raised floor, and provides rigid lateral attachment of the panels to the underlying substructure. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  depicts a method of securing panels to a substructure. Referring to  FIG. 3 , in step  300  a user places one or more alignment stoppers on a beam. In step  310 , a user places an adapter as desired on chosen ones of the alignment stoppers. In step  320 , the user places at least one panel on the alignment stopper and adapter so that the panel is engaged with the stopper and adapter. In step  330 , the user places additional panels on the stoppers and adapters until the user has completed construction of the portion of the panel structure, or floor, desired to be constructed with the adapters. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  depicts alternate embodiments of the adapter which may be implemented as desired. The shapes arc purely illustrative only, and changes may be made to the shapes to meet design, cost or other goals. Referring to  FIG. 4A , an adapter is picture m which one side of the adapter has one profile and the other side has a different profile. The adapter continues to have a central cutout designed to receive a top flange of an alignment stopper. The adapter  400  may be used to join a panel such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , with a panel such as that shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4B  depicts an alternative embodiment of the adapter. Referring to  FIG. 4B , the adapter includes a flange instead of a cutout. Such an adapter may be deployed when the substructure or alignment stopper, instead of a top flange includes a top cutout instead. The flange of the adapter may then fit into the cutout of the substructure or the alignment stopper. The adapter may be made of plastic, metal, or any other desired material. 
         [0023]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that changes may be made to those embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the adapters may fee designed to engage a flange or other feature that is placed directly on a beam, as opposed to on an intermediate alignment stopper that engages the beam. Similarly, the point of engagement between the adapter and/or the beam and/or the alignment stopper while shown here in the center may be offset from center as desired. Additionally, while the adapter is shown to engage two panels, the adapter may engage any number of panels and have an outer shape that is designed to engage each of those panels. The edge profiles of the panels may also vary significantly from those shown here and the adapter may be configured to have a mating or other engaging shape or profile to facilitate secure engagement to such panels.