U.S. patent application number 11/010264 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-04 for cap.
Invention is credited to Mead, Bruce.
Application Number | 20050166483 11/010264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34683055 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050166483 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mead, Bruce |
August 4, 2005 |
Cap
Abstract
A cap for a pedestal adapted to support adjacent floor panels
defining a raised floor said cap comprising a bottom surface for
contacting said pedestal, said bottom surface including means to
capture the pedestal; and a top surface presenting a plurality of
ribs for locating said floor panels.
Inventors: |
Mead, Bruce; (Mississauga,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MILLER THOMPSON, LLP
20 QUEEN STREET WEST, SUITE 2500
TORONTO
ON
M5H 3S1
CA
|
Family ID: |
34683055 |
Appl. No.: |
11/010264 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/126.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 15/02452
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/126.7 |
International
Class: |
E04G 001/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2003 |
CA |
2,454,141 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A cap for a pedestal adapted to support adjacent floor panels
defining a raised floor said cap comprising: (a) a bottom surface
for contacting said pedestal, said bottom surface including means
to capture said pedestal; (b) a top surface presenting a plurality
of ribs for locating said floor panels.
2. A cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capturing means
comprises snap on tabs.
3. A cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein a corner of one floor panel
is disposed between adjacent ribs.
4. A cap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said top surface is
substantially rectangular to present four corners, each of said
corners including adjacent ribs for locating a corner of said floor
panel.
5. A cap as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said corner includes a
hole co-axially disposed with a threaded hole presented by said
pedestal for receiving a fastener adapted to fasten a corner of
said floor panel to said pedestal.
6. A cap as claimed in claim 5 wherein said adjacent ribs are
disposed substantially perpendicular to one another.
7. A cap as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said adjacent rib at
said corner are spaced apart relative to one another so as to
define centrally disposed spaced apart ribs for locating stringers
therebetween.
8. A cap as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cap is comprised of
plastic.
9. A raised access floor system comprising of a plurality of floor
panels arranged in side by side relation, said panel supported at
their edges by stringers and at their corners by pedestals, said
pedestal having an upper pedestal plate, and a cap adapted to snap
onto said pedestal plate, wherein: (a) said cap presents a
substantially rectangular top and bottom surface defining four
corners, said bottom surface supported by said upper pedestal
plate; (b) said top surface including a plurality of ribs for: (i)
locating corners of adjacent floor panels; (ii) locating ends of
said stringer.
10. A raised access floor system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said
plurality of ribs comprise: (a) adjacent ribs for locating said
corners of said floor panel; (b) spaced apart ribs for locating
said stringers.
11. A raised access floor system as claimed in claim 10 wherein
said top and bottom surfaces include a plurality of holes
co-axially disposed with threaded holes presented by said pedestal
plate for receiving fasteners for fastening said floor panels to
said pedestal plate.
12. A raised access floor system as claimed in claim 11 wherein
said top and bottom surfaces include a plurality of stringer holds
co-axially disposed with threaded holes presented by said pedestal
plate for receiving fasteners for fastening said stringers to said
pedestal plate.
13. A raised access floor system as claimed in claim 12 wherein
said cap comprises of plastic.
14. A raised access floor system as claimed in claim 13 wherein
said ribs locates said corners of said floor panels and
stringers.
15. A method of locating corners of a floor panel for support by a
pedestal comprising the steps of: (a) placing a cap over said
pedestal, said cap having: (i) capturing means for capturing said
pedestal (ii) a plurality of upstanding ribs for locating and
stabilizing stringers between spaced apart ribs and for locating
and stabilizing said corners of said floor panels between adjacent
ribs.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15 including a step of fastening
said stringers to said pedestal.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 including of fastening corners
of said panel to said pedestals.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said cap comprises of
plastic so as to minimize noise generated between said stringers
and pedestal and said floor panels and said pedestal.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to a cap for a pedestal
adapted to support adjacent floor panels defining a raised floor;
and particularly relates to a cap for capturing a pedestal and for
presenting a plurality of ribs for locating the floor panels.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Elevated floors or access floor panels have gained wide
spread acceptance in the marketplace with the advent of the
computer age. In particular, elevated floors are comprised of a
plurality of access floor panels which are arranged in side by side
relation in an array generally supported at their corners by a
plurality of pedestals. Furthermore, stringers which are generally
horizontal support members that span between the pedestals, may
also be utilized to support the edges of a floor panel in a manner
well known to those person skilled in the art.
[0003] Since there are many stringers and pedestals that are
utilized to support a plurality of access floor panels to define
the raised floor, there is a need to accurately and quickly locate
adjacent floor panels in an efficient manner.
[0004] Furthermore, some prior art access floor panel systems
include the placing of floor panels which can be comprised of metal
onto the pedestals which are also duly comprised of metal. When a
person walks upon the metallic floor panels and pedestals they can
slide relative to one another so as to produce a noise such as a
squeak or the like. It is generally preferable to attempt to
eliminate or minimize this noise.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,544 illustrates a cushioning pad
comprising a pad base and hoods which are open at the periphery of
the pad base. When the cushioning pad is installed on a head
member, each of the hoods receives one of the lugs and the lower
face of the pad may be provided with a layer of adhesive.
[0006] Furthermore, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,818 teaches a polymeric
base plate covered with carpet and featuring resilient tabs which
are inwardly recessed from the side edges of the plate. Other
arrangements are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,795 which relates to
a head member presenting sets of mutually perpendicular regularly
extending upstanding lugs arranged where adjacent lugs receive and
retain a corner of the floor panels.
[0007] Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,397 relates to a device where
each of the pedestals is adjustably positioned both in a vertical
and angular manner to position the top most portion of each unit in
an even parallel plane. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,295
teaches an access floor system with deep pile carpet covered
panels. The deep pile fibers from adjacent panels intermingle with
each other to visually obscure the cracks between the panels.
[0008] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,674 teaches a false floor
assembly of square panels supported on pedestals above a
foundation. The panel corners rest on pedestals and the adjacent
sides of neighbouring panels between pedestals are secured together
by releasable ties that pass through the sides of each neighbouring
panel. The area below the panels is accessible by simply removing
the ties and lifting one or more panels from the assembly.
[0009] Other arrangements are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,057
which illustrates a cap resting on a curved top portion of a
pedestal.
[0010] These and other prior art structures and devices present
relatively complicated structures.
[0011] It is an object of this invention to provide an improved
device and method for locating and stabilizing adjacent access
floor panels. It is another object of the invention to provide a
cap capable of laterally securing floor panels.
[0012] It is an aspect of this invention to provide a cap for a
pedestal adapted to support adjacent floor panels defining a raised
floor said cap comprising a bottom surface for contacting said
pedestal, said bottom surface including structure for capturing the
pedestal; a top surface presenting a plurality of ribs for locating
said floor panels.
[0013] It is a further aspect of this invention to provide a raised
access floor system comprising of a plurality of floor panels
arranged in side by side relation, said panel supported at their
edges by stringers and at their corners by pedestals, said pedestal
having an upper pedestal plate, and a cap adapted to snap onto said
pedestal plate, wherein said cap presents a substantially
rectangular top and bottom surface defining four corners, said
bottom surface supported by said upper pedestal plate; said top
surface including a plurality of ribs for locating corners of
adjacent floor panels and locating ends of said stringer.
[0014] It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a
method of locating corners of a floor panel for support by a
pedestal comprising the steps of placing a cap over said pedestal,
said cap having capturing means for capturing said pedestal; a
plurality of upstanding ribs for locating and stabilizing stringers
between spaced apart ribs and for locating and stabilizing said
corners of said floor panels between adjacent ribs.
[0015] These and other objects and features of the invention shall
now be described in relation to the following drawings:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0016] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cap.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view of a pedestal and
the cap.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0019] In the description which follows, like parts are marked
throughout the specification and the drawings with the same
respective reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to
scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated
in order to more clearly depict certain features of the
invention.
[0020] Generally speaking a plurality of floor panels 2 are adapted
to be supported at their corners 4 by a plurality of pedestals 6 in
a manner well known to those persons skilled in the art.
Furthermore the edges 8 may be supported by stringers 10 again in a
manner well known to those persons skilled in the art.
[0021] The pedestals 6 include a threaded rod 12 to adjust the
height of the pedestal plate or head 14 relative to the floor (not
shown) by turning or rotating the threaded rod 12 vertically up or
down as shown in FIG. 3. When the desired height is attained the
adjusting nut 16 is manipulated so as to lock the height in
place.
[0022] A cap 20 is provided which has a bottom surface 22 and top
surface 24. The top and bottom surface 22 and top surface 24
present a generally rectangular shape and in one embodiment include
a square shape as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which are
substantially flat.
[0023] The bottom surface 22 includes capturing means 26 to capture
the upper pedestal 14. In particular, the capturing means 26
includes a plurality of snap on tabs 28 which are generally
disposed along each of the edges 30, 32, 34 and 36. In one
embodiment the cap 20 is comprised of plastic and the tabs 28
include a bevelled edge 32 which is adapted to contact the pedestal
plate 14 and spring outwardly so as to capture the edges as shown.
More specifically the capturing means include a recess 33 adapted
to receive the edges 35 of the pedestal 14. The tabs 28 project
inwardly relative to the edges 30, 32, 34 and 36 of the cap 20 as
shown by lines 38.
[0024] The figures show that the tabs 28 do not extend along the
entire edges 30, 32, 34, and so as to permit sliding movement of
the cap 20 relative to the pedestal plate 14. However, it is
possible the tabs 28 can extend all the way around the periphery
and be sized so as to permit some sliding motion. In another
embodiment the cap can be sized to permit little sliding motion of
the cap 20 and pedestal plate 14.
[0025] The upper surface 24 of the cap 20 includes a plurality of
ribs 40 for locating the floor panels 2. In particular the upper
surface 24 of cap 20 includes a plurality of adjacent ribs 42 and
44 located in each of the corners 46 of the upper surface 24 of the
cap 20. The adjacent ribs 42 and 44 and each of the corners 46 are
adapted to locate and laterally stabilize the bottom 50 of a floor
panel 2 as well as the sides 52 of the floor panel without
fasteners. Alternatively fasteners may be used as described
below.
[0026] Each of the corners 46 define quadrants on the top surface
24 of the cap 20. Each of the corners or quadrants include holes 54
which are adapted to align co-axially with threaded holes 56
presented by the upper pedestal plate 14. Accordingly one of the
corners 4 of the floor panel 2 is located by the upstanding
adjacent ribs 42 and 44. A panel fastener 58 may be placed within a
hole 60 which is disposed through the upper surface 62 of the floor
panel 2 and the bottom 50 of the floor panel 2 to be aligned with
the hole 54 for fastening to the threaded hole 56. Each of the
corners 4 of adjacent panels 2 may be attached in the same way so
that edges 8 of adjacent panels 2 are disposed opposite each other
so as to define a floor system.
[0027] The ribs 40 are also disposed in a manner so as to present a
first set of spaced apart ribs 42 disposed along a first direction
70 and a second set of spaced apart ribs 44 disposed along a second
direction 72. First direction 70 is disposed substantially
perpendicular to the second direction 72 so as to define a first
central region disposed along direction 70 and a second central
region disposed along direction 72. The spaced apart ribs 42 and 44
are adapted to locate and stabilize stringers 10 which may also be
placed on top of the caps 20 as shown in the drawings. In other
words in another embodiment of the invention stringers 10 may be
used.
[0028] The cap 20 includes a plurality of holes disposed between
spaced apart ribs 42 and 44 which holes 80 are adapted to be
aligned with threaded holes 82 disposed in the pedestal plate
14.
[0029] Each of the ends 84 of the stringers 10 include a hole 86
adapted to receive a stringer fastener 88 which aligns with the
holes 80 and the threaded holes 82 so as to fasten the stringer to
the pedestal plate 14.
[0030] The spaced apart ribs 42 and 44 are arranged in
substantially parallel spaced apart relation as shown in centered
about central regions defined by first direction 70 and second
direction 72.
[0031] The adjacent ribs 42, 42 and 44, 44 are disposed generally
perpendicular to one another and may merge with one another to
define the curve portion 90.
[0032] Te snap on cap 20 as shown may be snapped on to an existing
flat pedestal plate 14. The snap on cap 20 locates the access floor
panel 2 and provides lateral stability. This provides an
inexpensive cost-effective method of providing positive location
and lateral stability of the access floor panels 2 mounted to the
top of an adjustable pedestal support.
[0033] The cap 20 can be comprised of a variety of materials
including plastic or the like thus eliminating metal to metal
contact between the panel 2 and the pedestal 6 thereby reducing
squeak and rattle in the access floor system.
[0034] Moreover the method of locating corners of the floor panel
for support by the pedestal comprises the steps of placing a cap
over the pedestal where the cap has capturing means for capturing
the pedestal 6, and a plurality of upstanding ribs 42 and 44 for
locating and stabilizing stringers and corners of the access floor
panel 2. The snap on method of application is generally fast and
allows for cost effective installation.
[0035] In one embodiment of the invention the cap locates the floor
panels 2 and provides lateral stability.
[0036] The method described herein provides an inexpensive fast
method of providing a positive location and lateral stability of an
access floor panel 2 mounted to the top of the adjustable pedestal
support and eliminating metal to metal contact between the panel
and pedestal which reduces squeak and rattle in the access floor
system. The snap on cap supplies location of the panel and stringer
if required.
[0037] Various embodiments of the invention have now been described
in detail. Since changes in and/or additions to the above-described
best mode may be made without departing from the nature, spirit or
scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to said
details.
* * * * *