Abstract:
This unique modular flooring system with system scaffold understructure is an engineered system capable of use with most tent manufacturer&#39;s options. The engineered floor is for engineered clear span tents. This unique system transfers the load of the tent, tent frame, scaffold system and floor understructure to the ground through the tent leg. The system is configured so that the stage flooring section does not support the tent, tent frame, tent poles and scaffold system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/207,121 filed on Aug. 19, 2015. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a unique modular flooring system for clear span tents and the understructures can be system scaffolding. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Conventional tent, awning and canopy frame structures of readily assemblable and disassemblable nature are known. They are commonly made up of cylindrical tubing and various types of junction elements or connectors, or so-called slip fit or slip-on fittings, commonly termed corner, ridge intermediate, intermediate, three-way crown, four-way crown, six-way crown and eight-way crown fitting. 
         [0004]    Often, the prior art systems do not include means for sealing against the weather and other environmental conditions at the joints where the various panels are joined. Another disadvantage is that the prior art shelters have to be built on unlevel ground, which is the normal situation. Unlevel ground poses a number of problems when a number of units have to be added to each other to produce a relatively large shelter. 
         [0005]    Another shortcoming is that the prior art systems are not strong enough to support the tent and tent frame structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The unique modular flooring system with scaffold understructure of this invention provides a solution to the problems of the prior art systems. The engineered system of this invention is capable of use with most clear span tent manufacturer&#39;s structures. 
         [0007]    Clear span tents and frame structures are designed and manufactured in such a way that, it can be assembled and disassembled in the site. The clear span tent and structures are temporary structures and they are used in the event rental industries most of the time. The clear span tent and the structures are designed to setup in a leveled surface. Most of the clear span tent legs (uprights) are pinned to a base plate and the base plates are secured to a leveled surface. The entire base plates in a particular tent setup have to be in same level. These base plates transfer entire load from the tent to the ground or to a floor where the base plants are secured. 
         [0008]    Majority of the time the clear span tents and structures are not used in a leveled surface, instead it is used in an unleveled ground like golf courts. One or few of the base plates may sit on the ground level but the rest of them are in a different elevation from the ground. In order to get a leveled surface for base plates the customer has to create a platform. In the rental industry there is no engineered platforms designed to accommodate clear span tents and structures. So the customers use different staging products or they create a platform with scaffolding, wood and plywood. 
         [0009]    The above mentioned poses the following challenges. 
         [0010]      1 . Safety of the tent platform. 
         [0011]      2 . These platforms are custom platforms and the load capacities of the platforms are questionable. 
         [0012]      3 . Transferring the tent base plate reactions and the platform load to the ground is questionable. 
         [0013]      4 . Most of the time there is no proper way securing the platform from uplift loads. 
         [0014]      5 . No proper guide line to assemble a clear span tent on top of a platform. 
         [0000]    The TF-2100 Flooring system provides solution for all the above challenges because it is designed, engineered and manufactured to take different clear span tents and structures. 
         [0015]    The engineered system of this invention solves many of the problems of prior art systems. First, the sides of the tent extend outside and below beam connectors. The enclosure system is economical and light weight in construction and provides for depositing rain water and snow on the ground outboard of the scaffold assembly. 
         [0016]    Secondly, the tent and tent frame are supported by scaffold legs which support the engineered system of this invention. The unique platform and the beam invention don&#39;t support the tent and tent frame. But the platform and the beam transfer all the live load to the system scaffold legs. The upright connecters transfer entire tent leg (Upright) load to the system scaffold leg. The beam of this invention and the upright connecter of this invention together transfer entire loads platform live load, load from the tent and weight of the tent) to the system scaffold leg. 
         [0017]    The tent floor can be 8″ from the ground to 15 feet or even more from the ground. As a result, this system may support a tent on very unlevel ground. The load is transferred to the ground through the legs. 
         [0018]    The components of this system&#39;s are universal beam, upright connector, beam connector, platforms, platform filler, universal saddle, and system scaffolding under structure. 
         [0019]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       IN THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows the scaffold system of this invention without a platform. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows the universal beam in place on a saddle according to this invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows the upright connector of this invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows clear span tent legs and platforms (flooring) in place on the scaffold system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the saddle of this invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of the saddle of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows an end view of the saddle of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of the universal beam of this invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  shows an end view of the universal beam of this invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  shows a side view of the upright connector of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  shows an end view of the upright connector of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the platform system shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  shows a male roto look used with the platform system shown in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  shows a female roto lock used with the platform system shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  shows the elevation of the system of this invention in greater detail. 
           [0035]      FIG. 16  is a top view of the universal beam of this invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 17  is a side view of the universal beam of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    The TF-2100 is the engineered flooring system for the clear span tents and the structures. The TF-2100 flooring system consists of system scaffolding (under structures), and a flooring system. The understructure can be any system scaffolding as long as they have the right load capacity. Flooring systems consists mainly of the following items: saddle, universal beam, TF-2100 platform, and the upright connectors. The base plates will be replaced by the upright connectors. 
         [0038]    The upright connectors are specifically designed for this type of tents so the customer has to use the right upright connector for the right tent. The TF-2100 flooring system accommodates Most of the clear span tents and structures. When you use different manufacture tent the customer have to use the specific upright connector for the specified tent. The universal beam, saddle and the TF-2100 plate forms are same for any type of tents. 
         [0039]    The TF-2100 flooring system is designed to transfer entire load coming from the platform and the tent will be transferred to the scaffold legs. The universal beam, saddle and the TF-2100 platform will transfer platform live load to the legs and the upright connector will transfer the tent load. 
         [0040]    The other advantages of this system are the TF-2100 flooring system is designed to go low as 8″ elevation to any platform heights. Also, the tent platform will be the exact size of the tent so the platform will not stick outside the tent. This makes the tent floor water proof because when it rains, the water will flow from the wail to the ground not to the platform. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  shows the scaffold system of this invention without a platform.  FIG. 1  also shows scaffold system  10  including universal beam  12 , upright connector  14  and saddle  16 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  also shows conventional scaffold components. For example,  FIG. 1  snows connecting devices  30 , horizontal posts  32  and scaffold legs  34 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  shows the universal beam  12  in place on a saddle  16  according to this invention. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  shows the upright connector  14  of this invention. Upright connector  14  engages universal beam  12 . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the TF-2100 flooring system  10  is designed to transfer entire load coming from the platform and the tent to be transferred to the scaffold legs. Universal beam  12 , saddle  16 , and the TF-2100 platform will transfer platform live load to the legs. Upright connector  14  will transfer the tent load to the scaffold legs. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  shows clear span tent legs and platforms (flooring) in place on the scaffold system of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  shows clear span tent legs  20 , TF-2100 platforms  22 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  shows saddle  16  of this invention. Saddle  16  includes insert, platform  33 , and pin-snap lock shores  35 . Hex jam nut  36  and screw cap  38  also are shown. 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of saddle  16  of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 7  shows an end view of saddle  16  of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of universal beam  12  of this invention. Beam  12  also includes flanges  50 . Flanges  50  are secured to upright connector  14  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  with bolt  52  and nut  54 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 9  shows an end view of universal beam  12  of this invention. 
         [0052]      FIG. 10  shows a side view of upright connector  14  of  FIG. 3 . Upright connector  14  engages universal beam  12 . 
         [0053]    Connector  14  comprises bottom portion  40  which circumscribes beam  12 . Bolts with hex heads and lock nuts hold insert  49  in place. Screw cap flat head sockets  42  also hold insert  49  in place. Connector  14  also comprises flat plate  44  and upright portion  46 . 
         [0054]    Upright portion  46  engages clear span tent legs  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In one embodiment, tent legs  20  circumscribe upright portion  46  and rests on flat plate  44 . The design of upright connector may vary depending on the design of legs  20 . 
         [0055]    The upright connectors are specifically designed for this type of tents so the customer has to use the right upright connector for the right tent. The TF-2100 flooring system accommodates most of the clear span tents and structures. When you use different manufacture tent the customer have to use the specific upright connector for the specific tent. The universal beam, saddle, and the TF-2100 plate forms are same for any type of tents. 
         [0056]      FIG. 11  shows an end view of upright connector  14  of  FIG. 3 . Housing  48  supports upright portion  46 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the platform system shown in  FIG. 4  Male roto locks  60  and female roto locks  62  also are shown. 
         [0058]      FIG. 13  shows male roto lock  60  used with the scaffold system shown in  FIG. 12   
         [0059]      FIG. 14  shows female roto lock  62  used with the scaffold system shown in  FIG. 13   
         [0060]      FIG. 15  shows the scaffold system of this invention in greater detail. The platforms of  FIG. 12  is connected with another platform same size by roto lock. The roto lock is not use to connect the platform to the beam. The lock underneath the platform will secure the platform to the beam. Also shown is jack  33 . 
         [0061]    Every universal beam is connected with two universal saddles.  FIG. 15  shows 4 universal beams. Other embodiments may include even more universal beam connected together to form a chain. At the end you have two upright connectors connected to the distal end and proximal end of the string. 
         [0062]      FIGS. 16 and 17  are views of the universal beam in greater detail. Inserts  50  are welded to one side of beam  12 . This makes the beam very special because you eliminate left and right beams. One beam fit all sides. 
         [0063]    The other advantages of this system are the TF-2100 flooring system is designed to go low as 8″ elevation to any platform heights. Also, the tent platform will be the exact size of the tent so the platform will not stick outside of the tent. This makes the tent floor water proof because when it rains, the water will flow from the wall to the ground not to the platform. 
         [0064]    The above detailed description of the present invention is given for explanatory purposes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications can he made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the whole of the foregoing description is to be construed in an illustrative and not a limitative sense, the scope of the invention being defined solely by the appended claims.