Patent ID: 6968652

Claim:
A floor apparatus for forming a floor over exposed joists in an attic, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of substantially rigid panels arranged adjacent to each other in a series, each of the panels having a top side, a bottom side, a pair of relatively shorter and opposite end edges and a pair of relatively longer and opposite side edges; and connecting means located at a juncture between each of the panels in the series for connecting each panel of the plurality of panels to an adjacent panel in the series, the connecting means permitting adjacent panels of the series to pivot about a pivot axis with respect to each other; wherein the pivot axis of the connecting means at a first juncture of the series of panels is positioned adjacent to the top sides of the panel adjacent to the first juncture such that the panels adjacent to the first juncture are pivotable to bring the top sides of the adjacent panels together but incapable of pivoting to bring the bottom sides of the adjacent panels together; wherein the pivot axis of the connecting means at a second juncture adjacent to the first juncture is positioned adjacent to the bottom side of the panels adjacent to the second juncture such that the panels adjacent to the second juncture are pivotable to bring the bottom sides of the adjacent panels together but incapable of pivoting to bring the top sides of the adjacent panels together; wherein the series of panels are foldable in accordion fashion between a collapsed condition and an extended condition; wherein each of the panels has at least one aperture formed therein and extending therethrough between the top and bottom sides, the apertures of the panels being adapted for receiving fasteners through the apertures such that the fasteners are engageable to the floor joists; and wherein a plurality of apertures extends along the end edges of each of the inner panels and along at least one outer edge of the outer panels.