Patent Description:
It is usual for a decoration project of a building to lay floor panels, for example, ceramic tiles or marble tiles, which promote aesthetics and durability of a floor. In particular, ceramic tiles or marble tiles laid on a building's roof and bathroom floor are known for their material characteristics of preventing water in the use environment from penetrating into the floor and causing water leakage in the lower living environment. Furthermore, floor tiles may squeeze, crack or pop up when troublesome events occur, for example, constructional deficiency, low-grade cements, inadequate clearances between tiles, or excessive changes of floor tiles relative to concretes in an extremely hot or cold weather. For the construction of repairing defective floor tiles, a large area of tiles including cracked, protuberant and adjoining ones should be smashed, removed and replaced by new tiles rearranged and laid on the floor. The repair work is very complicated and inconvenient. Further, on the laying of floor tiles on the roof of the building and the bathroom, the implementation environment must prevent rain and water from leaking downward at junctures of floor tiles. In the solution of the prior art to prevent water permeation, the waterproof paints preceding placements of floor tiles are spread on the floor in advance. However, the waterproof paints for long-term use probably cracks and exacerbates water permeation and particular degenerates in high-temperature environment, e.g., roof, being sustained exposure to sunlight.

Documents <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT> are documents reflecting the relevant background art. These documents do, however, not provide a satisfactory solution of the above mentioned problems.

"Panel connecting system for floors, especially for outdoor and humid spaces" disclosed in <CIT> describes a composite panel system including panels <NUM> which lie on side rails <NUM> and cross rails <NUM>. Each of the side and cross rails <NUM>, <NUM> is provided with resilient supports <NUM> on which the panels <NUM> rest. Elastic sealing strips <NUM> are respectively provided at the middle sections of the top ends of the side and cross rails <NUM>, <NUM> to provide sealing between two adjacent panels <NUM>. Furthermore, the cross rail <NUM> is provided with drainage channels <NUM> at both sides of the elastic sealing strip <NUM> to collect the leaked liquid. The elastic sealing strip <NUM> has a substantially double T-shaped cross-section. The lower portion of the elastic sealing strip <NUM> is fixed on the side rail <NUM> or the cross rail <NUM>, and the upper portion of the elastic sealing strip <NUM> is pressed against one end of the panel <NUM>. However, the upper portion of the elastic sealing strip <NUM> will deform under long-term pressure on the elastic sealing strip <NUM> against which the panel <NUM> is pressed. Since the top end of the cross rail <NUM> is designed with drainage channels <NUM> corresponding to the junction of two adjacent panels <NUM> to form an open hollow form, once elastic sealing strip <NUM> is aging or the amount of deformation is too large, a liquid-permeable gap will be formed between the panel <NUM> and the elastic sealing strip <NUM>, which will cause serious leakage between two adjacent panels <NUM>. In the case of heavy rain, the leakage rate will be quite fast, and the accumulated water will overflow from the drainage channels, causing serious water leakage.

A more convenient construction structure should be provided to placements of traditional floor tiles for easy installations, removals or reparations of floor tiles. Moreover, a good-quality design should consider a measure of preventing water permeation in addition to a convenient construction.

Thus, an objective of the present invention is to provide a floor frame with which floor tiles are laid, dismantled or repaired conveniently during construction and water permeation into a floor is prevented. Furthermore, the floor frame has the advantages of less chance of floor tiles squeezing, cracking or popping up due to inadequate clearances between adjoining tiles laid on the floor.

To achieve this and other objectives, present invention relates to a floor frame according to claim <NUM>, optional features thereof being defined in the dependent claims.

The floor frame comprises at least two spaced longitudinal support strips and at least one lateral support strip. Each longitudinal support strip has an elongate strip body extending in a longitudinal direction of the floor frame. Each longitudinal support strip includes longitudinal upper and lower portions spaced in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a pair of longitudinal side walls spaced in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical directions. A shoulder extends outward in the lateral direction from at least one of the pair of longitudinal side walls and is located between the longitudinal upper and lower portions. Two shoulders of two adjacent longitudinal support strips are opposite to each other. The lateral support strip has an elongate strip body extending in the lateral direction and includes two ends spaced in the lateral direction. The lateral support strip further includes lateral upper and lower portions spaced in the vertical direction and a pair of lateral side walls spaced in the longitudinal direction. The two ends of the lateral support strip are placed on the two opposite shoulders of the two adjacent longitudinal support strips, respectively. At least one longitudinal side wall of the longitudinal support strip is provided with a water collection trough extending in the longitudinal direction and located outside of the shoulder, and at least one lateral side wall of the lateral support strip is provided with a water drain extending in the lateral direction and located outside of the lateral side wall.

Preferably, a vertical distance between the lateral upper portion and the lateral lower portion of the lateral support strip is approximately equal to a vertical distance between the longitudinal upper portion and the shoulder of the longitudinal support strip.

In an embodiment, the longitudinal upper portion of the longitudinal support strip is provided with a first rib extending in the longitudinal direction, and the lateral upper portion of the lateral support strip is provided with a first fin extending in the lateral direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal upper portion of the longitudinal support strip is further provided with at least one second rib extending in the longitudinal direction and spaced from the first rib, and the lateral upper portion of the lateral support strip is further provided with at least one second fin extending in the lateral direction and spaced from the first fin.

In an embodiment, at least one buffer strip is provided on both the longitudinal upper portion of each longitudinal support strip and the lateral upper portion of each lateral support strip.

In an embodiment, a first buffer strip is embedded between the first rib and the second rib, and a second buffer strip is embedded between the first fin and the second fin.

Preferably, the buffer strip has an upper surface provided with embossing.

In a preferred embodiment, a longitudinal extension strip extends outward from the longitudinal side wall provided with the shoulder to define the water collection trough, and a lateral extension strip extends outward from the lateral side wall of the lateral support strip to define the water drain.

Preferably, the longitudinal upper portion of the longitudinal support strip is provided with two second ribs which are respectively arranged on two sides of the first rib.

Preferably, the lateral upper portion of the lateral support strip is provided with two second fins which are respectively arranged on two sides of the first fin.

In an embodiment, the first rib of the longitudinal support strip extends from the longitudinal side wall opposite to the shoulder of the longitudinal support strip. The water collection trough extends at a lower end of the longitudinal side wall provided with the shoulder. The first fin of the lateral support strip extends from one of the two lateral side portions, and the water drain extends at the lateral side portion opposite to the first fin.

In a preferred embodiment, the floor frame further includes at least one reinforcing strip including an elongate strip body extending in the lateral direction. The reinforcing strip includes upper and lower faces spaced in the vertical direction and a pair of side walls spaced in the longitudinal direction. A vertical distance between the upper face and the lower face of the reinforcing strip is approximately equal to the vertical distance between the lateral upper portion and the lateral lower portion of the lateral support strip. Two ends of the reinforcing strip are placed on the two opposite shoulders of the two adjacent longitudinal support strips, respectively.

In an embodiment, a longitudinal extension strip extends outward from the longitudinal side wall of the longitudinal support strip, and a side wall opposite to the longitudinal side wall extends upward from an outer end of the longitudinal extension strip to define the water collection trough between the longitudinal side wall and the side wall. A wing portion extends outward from an upper end of the side wall in the lateral direction and has a height in the vertical direction which is approximately equal to a height of the shoulder in the vertical direction. One end of the lateral support strip is placed on both the shoulder portion and the wing portion of the longitudinal support strip. A lateral extension strip extends outward from the lateral side wall of the lateral support strip to define the water drain, and an outer side of the water drain of the lateral support strip is provided with a coupling portion. A fastener extends through the coupling portion of the lateral support strip and the wing portion of the longitudinal support strip to combine the lateral support strip with the longitudinal support strip.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:.

A floor frame <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in <FIG> of the drawings and includes at least two longitudinal support strips <NUM> and at least one lateral support strip <NUM>. The longitudinal support strip <NUM> has an elongate strip body extending in a longitudinal direction (X) of the floor frame <NUM>. The longitudinal support strip <NUM> includes longitudinal upper and lower portions <NUM> and <NUM> spaced in a vertical direction (Z) of the floor frame <NUM> perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and a pair of longitudinal side walls <NUM> opposed and spaced from each other in a lateral direction (Y) of the floor frame <NUM> perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical directions (X, Z). A shoulder <NUM> between the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> and the longitudinal lower portion <NUM> is designed on at least one longitudinal side wall <NUM>. In this embodiment, two shoulders <NUM> are designed on two longitudinal side walls <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM>, respectively.

The lateral support strip <NUM> has an elongate strip body extending in the lateral direction (Y) and includes two ends <NUM> spaced in the lateral direction (Y). The lateral support strip <NUM> further includes lateral upper and lower portions <NUM> and <NUM> spaced in the vertical direction (Z) and a pair of lateral side walls <NUM> opposed and spaced in the longitudinal direction (X). A vertical distance between the lateral upper portion <NUM> and the lateral lower portion <NUM> is approximately equal to a vertical distance between the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> and the shoulder <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM>.

With a configuration of the above structure, at least two horizontally arranged longitudinal support strips <NUM> with their two shoulders <NUM> being opposite to each other are mounted on a building's floor, and the at least one lateral support strip <NUM> being perpendicular to the longitudinal support strips <NUM> spans between the opposite shoulders <NUM> of the two longitudinal support strips <NUM>. In this embodiment, each end <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM> is placed at the shoulder <NUM> of a corresponding longitudinal support strip <NUM> and securely fastened by fasteners <NUM> such as screws. After an adhesive layer (not shown), for example resin or cement, is coated on both the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> of each longitudinal support strip <NUM> and the lateral upper portion <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM>, a floor panel <NUM> can be placed and fixed on both the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> and the lateral upper portion <NUM>. The floor panel <NUM> can be a floor tile made of ceramics, marble, wood, metal, etc. The two longitudinal support strips <NUM> and the lateral support strip <NUM> striding across the longitudinal support strips <NUM> will form a basic frame-supporting unit to support the bottom periphery of the floor panel <NUM>.

In this embodiment, a plurality of longitudinal support strips <NUM> are spaced in the lateral direction (Y), and a plurality of lateral support strips <NUM> are spaced in the longitudinal direction (X) with the two ends <NUM> of each lateral support strip <NUM> spanning between the shoulders <NUM> of two adjacent longitudinal support strips <NUM>. The longitudinal support strips <NUM> and the lateral support strips <NUM>, all of which are distributed in the longitudinal and lateral directions, constitute a supporting structure based on a grid-type floor frame. A plurality of floor panels <NUM> which respectively depend on sections enclosed by the longitudinal support strips <NUM> and the lateral support strips <NUM> are placed and fixed on the longitudinal upper portions <NUM> of the longitudinal support strips <NUM> and the lateral upper portions <NUM> of the lateral support strips <NUM>, and the joint gap between two floor panels <NUM> abutting each other will be filled with concrete or silicone.

For a joint embodiment of the longitudinal support strips <NUM>, the lateral support strips <NUM> and the floor panels <NUM>, a buffer strip <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction (X) is provided on the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> of each longitudinal support strip <NUM>, and another buffer strip <NUM> extending in the lateral direction (Y) is provided on the lateral upper portion <NUM> of each lateral support strip <NUM>. Each buffer strip <NUM> has a lower surface fixed on the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> or the lateral upper portion <NUM> and has an upper surface on which the adhesive layer is coated for bonding the floor panel <NUM>. The arrangement of the buffer strips <NUM> can avoid the floor panels <NUM> from direct contacting with the longitudinal and lateral support strips <NUM> and <NUM>, so as to prevent the floor panels <NUM> from directly pressing down and impacting the longitudinal upper portions <NUM> of the longitudinal support strips <NUM> and the lateral upper portions <NUM> of the lateral support strips <NUM> when an instant force is applied to the floor panels <NUM>, causing the risk of cracking of the tile or marble floor panels <NUM>. In an embodiment, the upper surface of the buffer strip <NUM> that is in contact with the bottom of the floor panel <NUM> preferably has concave knurls or embossing <NUM>. The embossing <NUM> can not only improve the buffering capacity of the buffer strip <NUM>, but also facilitate the covering of the adhesive layer.

For an application of the floor panel <NUM> placed and fixed on the longitudinal and lateral support strips <NUM> and <NUM>, a first rib <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction (X) and a first fin <NUM> extending in the lateral direction (Y) are designed on the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> and the lateral upper portion <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM>, respectively. The first rib <NUM> and the first fin <NUM> enclose an outer edge of a side end (periphery) <NUM> of the floor panel <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. An adhesive layer (not shown) such as resin can be applied between the first rib <NUM> (the first fin <NUM>) and the side end <NUM> of the floor panel <NUM> for better lateral fixation on the floor panel <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment, the first rib <NUM> equally divides the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> and is formed between the two longitudinal side walls <NUM>. The first fin <NUM> equally divides the lateral upper portion <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM> and is formed between the two lateral side portions <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a spacing piece <NUM> is provided to abut against the first rib <NUM> (or the first fin <NUM>) to facilitate the adjustment of the placement position of the floor panel <NUM> on the longitudinal and lateral support strips <NUM> and <NUM> and to maintain the adequate spacing distance between the floor panels <NUM>. The spacing piece <NUM> having a material thickness abuts between the side end <NUM> of the floor panel <NUM> and the first rib <NUM> (or the first fin <NUM>), thereby defining a predetermined spacing distance between two floor panels <NUM>. The spacing piece <NUM> is removed after adjusting the spacing distance.

In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal support strip <NUM> further includes at least one second rib <NUM> formed on the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> and spaced from the first rib <NUM> for development of a longitudinal groove <NUM> between the second rib <NUM> and the first rib <NUM>. The lateral support strip <NUM> further includes at least one second fin <NUM> formed on the lateral upper portion <NUM> and spaced from the first fin <NUM> for development of a lateral groove <NUM> between the second fin <NUM> and the first fin <NUM>. In a feasible embodiment, the grooves <NUM>, <NUM> are prepared for coating of an adhesive layer therein. In this embodiment with the buffer strips <NUM> provided, the grooves <NUM>, <NUM> provide the buffer strips <NUM> to be embedded and fixed.

In this embodiment, the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> is provided with two second ribs <NUM> which are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the first rib <NUM> with a horizontal spacing. The longitudinal groove <NUM> is formed between each second rib <NUM> and the first rib <NUM>, and two buffer strips <NUM> are respectively embedded into the two longitudinal grooves <NUM>. The lateral upper portion <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM> is provided with two second fins <NUM> which are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the first fin <NUM> with a horizontal spacing. The lateral groove <NUM> is formed between each second fin <NUM> and the first fin <NUM>, and two buffer strips <NUM> are respectively embedded into the two lateral grooves <NUM>.

For the implementation of preventing leakage, in a feasible embodiment, at least one longitudinal side wall <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> is provided with a water collection trough <NUM> extending in the length direction of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> (extending in the longitudinal direction), and at least one lateral side wall <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM> is provided with a water drain <NUM> extending in the length direction of the lateral support strip <NUM> (extending in the lateral direction). In this embodiment, each of the two longitudinal side walls <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> is provided with one water collection trough <NUM>, and the two lateral side walls <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM> each is provided with one water drain <NUM>. The water collection trough <NUM> is defined by a longitudinal extension strip <NUM> that extends outward from the longitudinal side wall <NUM>, and the water drain <NUM> is defined by a lateral extension strip <NUM> that extends outward from the lateral side wall <NUM>. In this embodiment, two ends of the water drain <NUM> are respectively located above the water collection troughs <NUM> of two adjacent longitudinal support strips <NUM>. The water collection trough <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> is located below the shoulder <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> in the vertical direction (Z). With reference to <FIG>, a side wall <NUM> opposite to the longitudinal side wall <NUM> extends upward from the outer end of the longitudinal extension strip <NUM> to define the water collection trough <NUM> between the longitudinal side wall <NUM> and the side wall <NUM>, and the upper end of the side wall <NUM> extends outward with a wing portion <NUM> in the lateral direction. A height of the wing portion <NUM> in the vertical direction (Z) is approximately equal to that of the shoulder <NUM>, so that one end <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM> can be placed on both the shoulder portion <NUM> and the wing portion <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> and combined by the fasteners <NUM> to effectively improve the stability of the lateral support strip <NUM> placed on the longitudinal support strip <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, an outer side of the water drain <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM> is provided with a coupling portion <NUM> through which the fastener <NUM> extends to combine the lateral support strip <NUM> with the longitudinal support strip <NUM>, so that the fasteners <NUM> do not hinder the drainage of the water drain <NUM>. In addition, a drainage hole <NUM> communicating with the water collection trough <NUM> is provided in the water drain <NUM>.

According to the design of the water collection troughs <NUM> and the water drains <NUM>, when the floor panels <NUM> are out of repair for a long time and leakage occurs at the juncture of two adjacent floor panels <NUM>, leaking water from the joint ends of the floor panels <NUM> in the length direction of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> will be collected and guided by the water collection trough <NUM>, and then is drained from two ends of the longitudinal support strip <NUM>. Preferably, leaking water is guided to a floor drain provided in the first floor through drainage pathways linking the two ends of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> for no water permeating the floor and trickling between floors. On the other hand, leaking water from the joint ends of the floor panels <NUM> in the length direction of the lateral support strip <NUM> will be collected by the water drain <NUM> and flow to the two ends of the water drain <NUM>. Then, the leaking water will be further collected by the water collection trough <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> under guidance of the water drain <NUM> and is drained from the two ends of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> under guidance of the water collection trough <NUM>.

In an embodiment where the floor frame <NUM> of the present invention is implemented at edges of the floor (for example, abutting a wall <NUM>), as shown in <FIG>, the shoulder <NUM> is designed on the longitudinal side wall <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> far away from the wall <NUM>, and the first rib <NUM> extends from the longitudinal side wall <NUM> opposite to the shoulder <NUM>. The water collection trough <NUM> extends at a lower end <NUM> of the longitudinal side wall <NUM> provided with the shoulder <NUM>. The first fin <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM> extends from the lateral side portion <NUM> adjacent to the wall <NUM>, and the water drain <NUM> extends at the lateral side portion <NUM> opposite to the first fin <NUM>, or it can be called the water drain <NUM> extends at the lateral side portion <NUM> away from the wall <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, for a large-size floor panel <NUM> mounted on the floor frame <NUM>, the floor frame <NUM> may further include at least one reinforcing strip <NUM> to strengthen the support for the floor panel <NUM> between two adjacent longitudinal support strips <NUM> and between two adjacent lateral support strips <NUM>. The reinforcing strip <NUM> has an elongate strip body extending in the lateral direction (Y) and includes upper and lower faces <NUM> and <NUM> spaced in the vertical direction (Z) and a pair of side walls <NUM> opposed and spaced in the longitudinal direction (X). A vertical distance between the upper face <NUM> and the lower face <NUM> is approximately equal to the vertical distance between the lateral upper portion <NUM> and the lateral lower portion <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM>.

At least one reinforcing strip <NUM> is installed between two lateral support strips <NUM>, and each end <NUM> of the reinforcing strip <NUM> is placed at the shoulder <NUM> of a corresponding longitudinal support strip <NUM>. The upper face <NUM> of the reinforcing strip <NUM> supports the floor panel <NUM> for a stronger braced force applied on the floor panel <NUM>.

In the embodiment where the longitudinal upper portion <NUM> of the longitudinal support strip <NUM> and the lateral upper portion <NUM> of the lateral support strip <NUM> have the buffer strips <NUM>, the buffer strip <NUM> extending in the lateral direction can be designed on the upper face <NUM> of the reinforcing strip <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A floor frame (<NUM>) comprising:
at least two spaced longitudinal support strips (<NUM>) each having an elongate strip body extending in a longitudinal direction (X) of the floor frame (<NUM>), with each longitudinal support strip (<NUM>) including longitudinal upper and lower portions (<NUM>, <NUM>) spaced in a vertical direction (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and a pair of longitudinal side walls (<NUM>) spaced in a lateral direction (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical directions (X, Z); and
at least one lateral support strip (<NUM>) having an elongate strip body extending in the lateral direction (Y), with the lateral support strip (<NUM>) including two ends (<NUM>) spaced in the lateral direction (Y), with the lateral support strip (<NUM>) further including lateral upper and lower portions (<NUM>, <NUM>) spaced in the vertical direction (Z) and a pair of lateral side walls (<NUM>) spaced in the longitudinal direction (X) ;
characterized in that a shoulder (<NUM>) extends outward in the lateral direction (Y) from at least one of the pair of longitudinal side walls (<NUM>) and is located between the longitudinal upper and lower portions (<NUM>, <NUM>), with two shoulders (<NUM>) of the two longitudinal support strips (<NUM>) being opposite to each other, wherein the two ends (<NUM>) of the lateral support strip (<NUM>) are respectively placed on the two opposite shoulders (<NUM>) of the two longitudinal support strips (<NUM>), wherein at least one longitudinal side wall (<NUM>) of the longitudinal support strip (<NUM>) is provided with a water collection trough (<NUM>) extending in the longitudinal direction (X) and located outside of the shoulder (<NUM>), and at least one lateral side wall (<NUM>) of the lateral support strip (<NUM>) is provided with a water drain (<NUM>) extending in the lateral direction (Y) and located outside of the lateral side wall (<NUM>).