U.S. patent number RE28,834 [Application Number 05/581,910] was granted by the patent office on 1976-06-01 for floor construction for an animal enclosure and method of making same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Reynolds Metals Company. Invention is credited to Robert C. Johnson.
United States Patent |
RE28,834 |
Johnson |
June 1, 1976 |
Floor construction for an animal enclosure and method of making
same
Abstract
A lightweight floor construction for an animal enclosure defined
by a plurality of channel members arranged in parallel spaced
relation and fastened together by associated connector clips which
engage the channel members solely at their lower ends. The channel
members are then supported on an associated supporting
structure.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Robert C. (Pikeville,
KY) |
Assignee: |
Reynolds Metals Company
(Richmond, VA)
|
Family
ID: |
27078442 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/581,910 |
Filed: |
May 29, 1975 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
760557 |
Sep 18, 1968 |
03528391 |
Sep 15, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
119/529; 52/377;
256/13.1; 238/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K
1/0151 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
1/015 (20060101); A01J 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;119/28,16,20 ;238/8
;52/588,364,377,375,630,668 ;256/13.1,17 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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263,622 |
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Jun 1965 |
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AU |
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747,177 |
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Mar 1933 |
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FR |
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560,461 |
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Apr 1944 |
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UK |
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Primary Examiner: Medbery; Aldrich F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Glenn, Palmer, Lyne & Gibbs
Claims
I claim: .[.
1. A floor construction for an animal enclosure comprising, a
plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped channel members
arranged in parallel spaced relation, each channel member having a
bight defining a load-carrying surface and a pair of downwardly
extending side walls terminating in inwardly directed fastening
flanges, a plurality of connector clips fastening said channel
members together, each connector clip having a base portion and
sets of upwardly and outwardly extending fastening legs, each leg
defining a laterally outwardly open recess which receives an
associated fastening flange therewithin, and each given channel
member having resilient means providing a normal resiliency
therefor and holding its fastening flanges embraced within an
associated set of recesses defined by the associated fastening legs
and in grasping contact against the associated fastening legs so
that each given channel member is fastened in position and
supported by the fastening flanges at its lower end engaging said
connector clips..].
2. A floor construction as set forth in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.6
.Iaddend.in which each of said fastening flanges has a
substantially planar bearing surface arranged roughly parallel to
said load-carrying surface, and the bearing surfaces on said
fastening flanges assuring that each channel member is capable of
carrying a comparatively large load. .[.
3. A floor construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said
channel members are of substantially identical construction and the
spacing between channel members is substantially less than the
width of each load-carrying surface..].
4. A floor construction as set forth in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.6
.Iaddend.in which each of said channel members has a plurality of
projections extending from the top of its load-carrying surface,
said projections assuring animals may be easily supported on said
load-carrying surface in a non-skidding manner.
5. A floor construction as set forth in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.6
.Iaddend.in which each of said connector clips has a predetermined
number of sets of fastening legs and upon fastening a corresponding
predetermined number of channel members thereagainst an easily
handled floor panel is thus defined, said floor construction having
a plurality of panels thus defined supported alongside each other,
and further comprising at least one connector clip having at least
a pair of sets of fastening legs provided thereon said one
connector clip having one of said pair of sets of fastening legs
fastened against a channel member of a first panel and the other of
said pair of sets of fastening legs fastened against a channel
member of a second panel to thereby fasten said first and second
panels together to comprise said floor construction.
6. A floor construction .[.as set forth in claim 3.]. .Iadd.for an
animal enclosure comprising, a plurality of inverted substantially
U-shaped channel members arranged in parallel spaced relation, each
channel member having a bight defining a load-carrying surface and
a pair of downwardly extending side walls terminating in inwardly
directed fastening flanges, a plurality of connector clips
fastening said channel members together, each connector clip having
a base portion and sets of upwardly and outwardly extending
fastening legs, each leg defining a laterally outwardly open recess
which receives an associated fastening flange therewithin, and each
given channel member having resilient means providing a normal
resiliency therefor and holding its fastening flanges embraced
within an associated set of recesses defined by the associated
fastening legs and in grasping contact against the associated
fastening legs so that each given channel member is fastened in
position and supported by the fastening flanges at its lower end
engaging said connector clips; in which floor construction said
channel members are of substantially identical construction and the
spacing between channel members is substantially less than the
width of each load-carrying surface, and .Iaddend.in which each of
said channel members has its downwardly extending side walls
arranged in a converging manner so as to define a downwardly
diverging passage between each immediately adjacent pair of channel
members, each passage enabling animal wastes to be easily conveyed
downwardly therethrough to provide a floor construction having
optimum cleanliness.
7. A floor construction as set forth in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.6
.Iaddend.in which each of said fastening legs is roughly L-shaped
having a vertically extending leg portion and a horizontally
outwardly extending leg portion cooperating to define an associated
recess and further comprising an inclined cam surface defining the
top surface of said horizontally extending leg said cam surface
being inclined outwardly in the same direction as an associated
recess, and each of said given channel members being easily
installed in position against an associated connector clip merely
by urging its fastening flanges against cam surfaces of associated
fastening legs causing the lower ends of its side walls to be
spread apart by the action of said cam surfaces and said normal
resiliency causes the fastening flanges to snap beneath the
associated fastening legs upon clearing the lower ends of the cam
surfaces.
8. A floor construction as set forth in claim 7 and further
comprising a cooperating inclined cam surface defining the terminal
lower end portion of each fastening flange, each cooperating cam
surface being inclined from the bottom surface of its associated
fastening flange upwardly toward the center of its channel
member.
9. A floor construction as set forth in claim 6 in which each of
said connector clips has its base portion and its fastening legs
formed as one integral part by an extrusion process.
10. A floor construction as set forth in claim 6 in which each of
said connector clips has a base portion of extended length, having
said sets of said fastening legs extending upwardly therefrom at
predetermined intervals and formed as an integral part of said base
portion by punching and forming means.
11. A floor construction as set forth in claim 6 in which each of
said connector clips has its base portion formed as a separate
elongated strip and said fastening legs are formed separately and
fixed to said strip at predetermined intervals, each set of
fastening legs for a channel member being provided as a single unit
having a substantially U-shaped configuration and a pair of
horizontal legs extending from vertically arranged legs of said
unit so that each horizontally arranged leg defines an associated
one of said recesses therebeneath, and each U-shaped unit being
fixed to said elongated strip by fixing the bight thereof against
said elongated strip.
12. A method of making a floor construction for an animal enclosure
comprising the steps of, arranging a plurality of substantially
U-shaped channel members in parallel spaced relation and in an
inverted position, each channel member having a bight defining a
load-carrying surface and a pair of downwardly extending side walls
terminating in inwardly directed fastening flanges, fastening said
channel members together by fastening each immediately adjacent
pair of channel members to associated connector clips, each clip
having a base portion and sets of upwardly and outwardly extending
legs with each leg defining a laterally outwardly open recess
adapted to receive an associated fastening flange therewithin, said
fastening step comrpising the steps of spreading the lower ends of
the side walls of an associated channel member at a location
adjacent a set of fastening legs, relatively moving the associated
channel member and associated connector clip together, and allowing
the normal resiliency of the associated channel member to return
its side walls to their initial positions with its fastening
flanges being received within the associated set of recesses
defined by the fastening legs so that the associated channel member
is supported by the fastening flanges at its lower end engaging
each connector clip, and supporting said plurality of channel
members as fastened together by said connector clips on associated
supports to define said floor construction.
13. A method as set forth in claim 12 in which said fastening step
comprises fastening a predetermined number of said channel members
together with a plurality of connector clips to define an easily
handled floor panel and comprising the further steps of placing a
plurality of said panels alongside each other on said supports to
define said floor construction.
14. A method as set forth in claim 13 in which said clips are
initially fastened in position adjacent opposite ends of each panel
and comprising the further step of axially sliding a clip along its
associated channel members to fasten the channel members together
near the central portion of each panel.
15. A method as set forth in claim 13 in which each connector clip
is made from an elongated section of stock material comprised of a
base portion having sets of fastening legs extending upwardly
therefrom at predetermined intervals, and comprising the further
step of cutting said elongated section to define a clip having a
predetermined number of sets of fastening legs and thus define the
width of a particular panel.
16. A method as set forth in claim 13 and comprising the further
steps of attaching said panels together with connector clips to
provide said floor construction having greater structural stability
and provide a predetermined spacing between adjacent panels.
17. A method as set forth in claim 12 in which said step of
spreading the lower ends of the side walls of an associated channel
member apart comprises spreading said lower ends apart with an
associated tool.
18. A method as set forth in claim 12 in which each of said
fastening legs of each connector clip is roughly L-shaped having a
vertically extending leg portion and a horizontally outwardly
extending portion cooperating to define an associated recess and
each fastening leg further comprises an inclined cam surface
defining the top surface of its horizontally extending leg portion
said cam surface being inclined outwardly in the same direction as
an associated recess, and said fastening step comprises placing
each fastening flange against an associated cam surface and said
step of relatively moving the associated channel member and
connector clip together comprises forcefully urging said associated
channel member and connector clip together causing the lower ends
of the side walls of the associated channel member to be spread
apart by the action of said cam surfaces and said normal resiliency
of said associated channel member causing the fastening flanges to
snap beneath the associated fastening legs upon clearing the lower
ends of the cam surfaces.
19. A floor construction comprising, a plurality of inverted
substantially U-shaped channel members arranged in parallel spaced
relation, each channel member having a bight defining a
load-carrying top surface and a pair of downwardly extending side
walls arranged in a converging manner and terminating in inwardly
directed fastening flanges, a plurality of connector clips
fastening said channel members together, each connector clip having
a base portion and sets of upwardly and outwardly extending
fastening legs, each leg defining a laterally outwardly open recess
which receives an associated fastening flange therewithin, each
given channel member having resilient means providing a normal
resiliency therefor and holding its fastening flanges embraced
within an associated set of recesses defined by the associated
fastening legs and in grasping contact against the associated
fastening legs so that each given channel member is fastened in
position and supported by the fastening flanges at its lower end
engaging said connector clips, and said converging side walls of
each channel member assuring that each immediately adjacent pair of
channel members has a downwardly diverging passage defined
therebetween by an associated set of side walls which assures easy
drainage therethrough.
20. A floor construction as set forth in claim 19 in which each of
said channel members has a plurality of integral projections
extending from the top of its load-carrying surface and defining a
substantially non-skid surface.
21. A floor construction as set forth in claim 19 and further
comprising a cooperating inclined cam surface defining the terminal
lower end portion of each fastening flange, each cooperating cam
surface being inclined from the bottom surface of its associated
fastening flange upwardly toward the center of its channel
member.
22. A floor construction as set forth in claim 19 in which each of
said fastening legs is roughly L-shaped having a vertically
extending leg portion and a horizontally outwardly extending leg
portion cooperating to define an associated recess and further
comprising an inclined cam surface defining the top surface of said
horizontally extending leg said cam surface being inclined
outwardly in the same direction as an associated recess, and each
of said given channel members being easily installed in position
against an associated connector clip merely by urging its fastening
flanges against cam surfaces of associated fastening legs causing
the lower ends of its side walls to be spread apart by the action
of said cam surfaces and said normal resiliency causes the
fastening flanges to snap beneath the associated fastening legs
upon clearing the lower ends of the cam surfaces.
23. An inverted substantially U-shaped channel member for use in a
floor construction comprising, a bight defining a load-carrying
surface, a pair of downwardly extending side walls, a pair of
inwardly directed fastening flanges each extending inwardly toward
the other from the lower edge of an associated side wall, each of
said fastening flanges having a substantially planar bearing
surface arranged roughly parallel to said load-carrying surface,
said bearing surfaces being arranged substantially coplanar and
having a sufficient area to assure said channel member is capable
of carrying a comparatively large load, and an inclined cam surface
defining the terminal lower end portion of each fastening flange,
each cam surface being inclined from the bottom surface of its
associated fastening flange upwardly toward the center of said
channel member, said channel member being made of a resilient
material with said inclined cam surfaces enabling said fastening
flanges to be cammed outwardly and snapped firmly in position
beneath associated fastening legs provided on a connector used to
support said channel member.
24. A channel member as set forth in claim 23 in which said
downwardly extending side walls are arranged in a downwardly
converging manner.
25. A channel member as set forth in claim 23 made by extrusion
process and having a plurality of integral projections extending
from the top of its load-carrying surface and defining a
substantially non-skid surface. .[.26. An inverted substantially
U-shaped channel member for use in a floor construction, said
channel member comprising a bight defining a top load-carrying
surface, a pair of downwardly extending side walls, a plurality of
upstanding projections on said bight defining said load-carrying
surface as a substantially non-skid surface, and a pair of inwardly
directed fastening flanges each extending inwardly toward the other
from the lower edge of an associated side wall, said channel member
having a width between the lower edges of said side walls which is
no greater than the width of said top load-carrying surface, said
channel member being made of a resilient material which enables the
lower ends of its side walls and hence its fastening flanges to be
spread apart at a location adjacent a set of associated fastening
legs provided on an associated connector clip used to connect said
channel member to an associated structural member and upon
releasing said side walls the normal resiliency of said channel
member causes its side walls to return to their initial positions
with the fastening flanges hooked around said fastening legs so
that said channel member is fastened in position and supported in
its upright position by the fastening flanges at its lower end
engaging
said connector clip..]. 27. A .[.channel member.]. .Iadd.floor
construction .Iaddend.as set forth in claim .[.26.]. .Iadd.20
.Iaddend.in which said downwardly extending side walls are arranged
in a downwardly converging manner, each of said fastening flanges
has a substantially planar bearing surface arrangged roughly
parallel to said load-carrying surface, and said bearing surfaces
being arranged substantially coplanar and having a sufficient area
to assure said channel .[.member is.]. .Iadd.members are
.Iaddend.capable of carrying a comparatively large load. .Iadd. 28.
A floor construction as set forth in claim 27 in which said
grasping is exerted by said fastening flanges toward each other
along the plane of said substantially planar bearing surface.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 29. A floor construction as set forth in claim 28
which is for an animal enclosure and through whose said downwardly
diverging passages animal wastes may be easily conveyed downwardly.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 30. A floor construction as set forth in claim 11
in which said channel members are of substantially identical
construction and the spacing between channel members is
substantially less than the width of each load-carrying surface.
.Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous slotted or perforated floor constructions have been
proposed heretofore for use in providing animal enclosures.
However, previously proposed floor constructions are generally
expensive, have comparatively short lives, and are difficult to
maintain. In addition, many of such previously proposed floor
constructions are made of very heavy elongated blocks of concrete,
or similar materials, requiring expensive installation equipment
and several men to install such blocks in position thereby making
the total cost of such floor constructions prohibitive.
SUMMARY
This invention provides an improved floor construction for an
animal enclosure and method of making same which is simple and
economical. Further, this invention provides a lightweight
construction which is easily installed and maintained by one person
and is capable of providing trouble-free service for extended
periods of time generally of the order of 10 years or longer.
Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become
apparent as the following description of the embodiments thereof
presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings show present exemplary embodiments of
this invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view particularly illustrating the floor
construction of this invention defining side gutters for a
comparatively large floor area;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the floor construction of
this invention utilized in the center of an overall floor which has
side portions sloping downwardly theretoward;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the floor construction of
this invention in an application defining the entire floor of a
building enclosure;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view with parts in section and parts broken
away illustrating a plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped
channel members comprising the floor construction of this invention
held together by a plurality of associated connector clips;
FIG. 5 is an end view of a pair of channel members and their
associated connector clip which are adapted to define the floor
construction of this invention and particularly illustrating the
manner in which an installation tool is utilized to fasten one of
the channel members in position against associated fastening legs
of the connector clip;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrating both of the
channel members installed in position and the installation tool
being removed;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of an
installation tool which is utilized to install channel members in
position against associated connector clips;
FIG. 8 is an end view of a plurality of three channel members
similar to the channel members presented in FIGS. 4-6, illustrating
a connector clip which is adapted to support all three of the
channel members, and particularly illustrating by dotted lines the
manner in which each channel member may be snapped in position
against associated fastening legs of its connector clip merely by
urging the channel member tightly toward and against such connector
clip;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner of
extruding an elongated member used to form connector clips;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner
of extruding an elongated channel member used to define channel
members comprising the floor construction of this invention;
FIG. 11 is an end view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrating another
exemplary embodiment of this invention wherein the channel members
are formed by roll forming and fastened in position against an
associated connector clip of extended length;
FIG. 12 is a view looking upwardly toward the bottom of a channel
member of FIG. 4 and particularly illustrating the manner in which
an installation tool may be utilized to spread apart the fastening
flanges of such channel member and enable easy installation against
associated fastening legs of a connector clip;
FIG. 13 is an end view similar to FIG. 5 and particularly
illustrating the fastening tool being utilized to spread apart the
fastening flanges in the manner presented in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a view looking upwardly at the pair of channel members
shown in FIG. 13 and showing the fastening flanges fastened in
position against an associated connector clip and showing the
installation tool prior to withdrawal thereof;
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 11 and illustrating channel
members substantially identical to the channel members of FIG. 11
fastened in position against another exemplary embodiment of an
associated connector clip which is also of extended length;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view particularly illustrating
the integral fastening legs of the connector clip illustrated in
FIG. 15; and
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 16 and
illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a connnector clip of
extended length wherein the base portion of such connector clip has
an inverted substantially U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings wherein the
floor construction of this invention, designated generally by the
reference numeral 20, is illustrated in three exemplary
applications. In particular, it will be seen in FIG. 1 that the
floor construction 20 defines a pair of opposite side portions or
gutters arranged on opposite sides of a comparatively large floor
area designated generally by the reference numeral 21. The floor
area 21 has a central portion 22 provided with a pair of inclined
surface portions 23 each inclining toward an associated floor
construction 20. The floor construction 20 of this invention is
comprised of a plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped channel
members 24 which are arranged and supported in parallel spaced
relation and in a manner as will be described in detail
subsequently in this specification.
The floor construction 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 has the opposite
ends of its channel members 24 supported by ledges 25 defining the
upper portion of supporting walls 26 and it will be seen that the
floor construction 20 in each instance is supported in position
over a pit 30 provided beneath the animal enclosure. Each pit 30 is
adapted to receive animal wastes which drop through spaces provided
between adjacent channel members 24. It should be noted that the
provision of the sloping portions 23 in the central portion 22 of
the overall floor 21 for the animal enclosure enables the entire
floor 21 to be readily flushed with water whereupon the water and
wastes drop through the floor construction 20 and into the pits 30
where they may be subsequently flushed away with water from beneath
the animal enclosure. It will also be appreciated that each pit 30
may be in the form of or contain a tank which is pumped to empty
the accumulation therein.
In the exemplary application of this invention illustrated in FIG.
2 of the drawings the floor construction 20 is shown as comprising
the central portion of an overall floor 31 and the overall floor 31
has a pair of inclined portions 33. Each inclined portion 33 slopes
from an associated side of the overall floor 31 and downwardly
toward the floor construction 20 arranged in the center of the
overall floor 31.
The channel members 24 comprising the floor construction 20
illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings have their opposite ends
supported on ledges 35 and each ledge 35 is defined by providing a
cutout in the top portion of an associated vertical wall 36. Each
wall 36 comprises a side wall for an associated pit 40. Thus, in a
similar manner as described in connection with the presentation of
FIG. 1, animal wastes, litter, and the like are flushed through the
floor construction 20 in the center portion of the floor 31 and
drop into the pit 40 whereupon any accumulation in the pit 40 is
also removed in any suitable manner.
In the exemplary application of this invention illustrated in FIG.
3 of the drawings the floor contruction 20 defines the entire floor
indicated at 41. The channel members 24 illustrated in the
exemplary application of FIG. 3 are shown as comparatively long
members and each member 24 has each of its ends supported on an
associated supporting ledge 42 provided on a vertical wall 43
comprising a vertical side wall of a pit 44 which extends beneath
the entire floor 41. In this application animal wastes, litter, and
the like drop through the passages provided between immediately
adjacent channel members 24 and into the pit or sewerage lagoon 44
and may be removed in a similar manner as previously mentioned.
Although in the exemplary application of this invention illustrated
in FIG. 3 the members 24 are shown as extending completely across
the pit 44 and defining the complete width of the overall floor 41
it will be appreciated that it may be desired in defining complete
floor constructions made of members 24 to provide one or more
vertical supports between opposite ends of the members 24. For
example, a central beams 45 may be provided and supported by
suitable supporting posts 46 along the length thereof. In as much
as members 45 and 46 are presented as optional members they have
been drawn using dotted lines.
The floor construction 20 of this invention will be described in
detail in connection with the raising of swine in confinement;
however, it will be appreciated that the unique floor construction
and simple method of providing and installing such floor
construction is fully applicable to raising all types of livestock
in confinement as well as providing floor constructions similar to
floor constructions 20 for special uses such as to support feeding
bunks for cattle, as floor constructions for premilking holding
pens, and in milking parlors. Also, the floor construction is fully
applicable to raising chickens, turkeys, and other fowl in addition
to raising quadrupeds.
It will also be appreciated that suitable side walls and roof
constructions may be provided over the floors 21, 31, and 41
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 respectively. For ease of
presentation the vertical side walls and roof constructions have
been designated generally by the reference numerals 48 and 49
respectively in each instance in FIGS. 1 through 3.
Having presented in general terms the manner in which the floor
construction 20 of this invention may be utilized to define several
exemplary types of floors, the description will now proceed with a
detailed description of the floor construction 20 and the simple
manner in which such floor construction may be defined and for this
presentation particular reference is now made to FIG. 4 of the
drawings.
As previously mentioned, the floor construction 20 comprises a
plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped channel members 24
which are arranged in parallel spaced relation and suitably held
together by a plurality of connector clips each designated by the
general reference numeral 50. Each channel member 24 has a bight 51
defining a load-carrying surface and a pair of downwardly extending
side walls 52 each terminating in an inwardly directed fastening
flange 53. Each channel member 24 has a plurality of integral
projections 54 extending upwardly from the top of its load-carrying
surface 51 the projections 54 are provided to asssure that animals
may be easily supported on the load-carrying surface 51 in a
non-skidding manner.
Each fastening flange 53 extends inwardly from its associated side
wall 52 in the manner illustrated in the drawings and has a
substantially planar bearing surface 55 defining its lowermost
surface and the bearing surface 55 is arranged roughly parallel to
the load-carrying surface 51. Each bearing surface 55 has a width
indicated at 56 which is comparatively large when compared to the
thickness, indicated at 60, of the material comprising the channel
member 24 and the width 56 assures that each channel 24 is capable
of carrying a comparatively large load.
In actual practice the width indicated at 56 for the bearing
surface 55 has been found to be very effective when it is generally
of the order of several times greater than the thickness indicated
at 60 for the channel member 24. A width at 56 of roughly five
times greater than the thickness at 60 has been successfully
used.
Each connector or fastening clip 50 has a base portion 61 and pairs
or sets of upwardly and outwardly extending fastening legs with
each set being designated generally by the reference numeral 62.
Each set 62 of fastening legs has a cooperating pair of fastening
legs each designated by the reference numeral 63 and each fastening
leg 63 is adapted to fasten and hold firmly in position an
associated fastening flange 53.
Each leg 63 extends upwardly and outwardly to define a laterally
outwardly open recess 64 which is adapted to receive an associated
fastening flange 53 therewithin. Each channel member 24 has
integral resilient means providing a normal resiliency therefor
which enables it to be fastened in position by spreading the lower
ends of its side walls 52 apart at a location immediately adjacent
a set 62 of fastening legs 63 and then allowing the normal
resiliency of the channel member 24 to return its side walls 52 to
their initial positions whereupon the fastening flanges 53 are
received in an embracing manner within an associated set of recess
64 defined by associated fastening legs 63. Each given channel is
thus supported solely by the fastening flanges 53 at its lower end
engaging an associated fastening clip.
The channel members 24 may be made of any suitable material;
however, it has been found that channel members containing metal
and in particular metal containing aluminum have been found to
provide the best performance and over extended periods of time.
Further, it is readily possible to spread the lower ends of the
side walls 52 of a channel member 24 made of an aluminum alloy
without damage thereto and the aluminum alloy selected for this
purpose may be of optimum strength and such that the normal
resiliency thereof results in the immediate return of the side
walls 52 to their initial positions.
As seen in FIG. 4 each fastening leg 63 of a connector clip 50 is
roughly L-shaped having a vertically extending leg portion 75 and a
horizontally extending leg portion 76 which cooperate to define an
associated previously mentioned recess 64. Each fastening leg 63
also has an inclined cam surface 80 defining the top surface of its
horizontally extending leg 76 and each cam surface 80 is inclined
outwardly in the same direction as an associated recess 64. The cam
surfaces 80 provided on the fastening legs 63 are particularly
adapted to enable easy installation of a channel member 24 against
an associated connector clip 50 and in a manner as will be
described in detail subsequently.
Each of the channel members 24 has its downwardly extending side
walls 52 arranged in a downwardly converging manner. This
arrangement defines a downwardly diverging passage 65 between each
immediately adjacent pair of channel members 24. Each passage 65
enables animal wastes, litter, and the like to be easily conveyed
downwardly therethrough to provide the floor construction 20 which
lends itself to providing an animal enclosure of optimum
cleanliness. It will also be appreciated that the downwardly
diverging passages 65 enable the provision of a self-cleaning type
of floor construction wherein the animals normally walking on the
floor construction 20 will force wastes and the like into the
passages 65 and the downward diverging configuration of such
passages assures that such wastes will easily drop through the
floor construction 20 into an associated pit provided
therebeneath.
Having described the detailed construction of the channel members
24 and associated connector clips 50, reference is now made to FIG.
5 for a detailed presentation of one technique which may be
utilized to install channel members 24 in position against an
associated connector clip 50. In the illustration of FIG. 5, an
installation tool 66 is used to install the members 24 in position
and the tool 66 is shown in perspective view in FIG. 7. The
installation tool 66 has a handle portion 67 defining one end
portion thereof and a substantially elliptical head portion 70
comprising its opposite end portion. The head portion 70 may be
made of any suitable material and is arranged so that it is raised
above, i.e., extends outwardly of the main portion of the
installation tool 66 as indicated at 71.
The elliptical head portion 70 of the installation tool 66 has a
configuration which is adapted to be received within an end portion
of an associated channel member 24 in the manner shown by dotted
lines at 68 in FIG. 5 of the drawings and by solid lines at 68 in
FIG. 6 of the drawings. To spread the side walls 52 of a member 24
apart it is a simple matter to rotate the handle portion 67 of the
installation tool 66, either clockwise or counterclockwise,
clockwise rotation being shown in FIG. 5, whereby the side walls 52
are spread apart and the fastening flanges 53 are also
simultaneously spread apart from the dotted line position indiated
at 72 in FIG. 5 to the solid line position indicated at 73.
The channel member 24 is then relatively moved toward an associated
clip 50 and so that each of its fastening flanges 53 is aligned
opposite an associated recess 64. The installation tool 66 is then
returned to its initial position whereupon the normal resiliency of
the channel member 24 causes its side walls 52 to return to their
initial positions. The fastening flanges 53 are thus received
within associated recesses 64 so that the channel 24 is supported
solely by the fastening flanges 53 at its lower end engaging the
connector clip 50. Also, it will be seen that the installation tool
66 is used to spread apart the sides walls 52 of an associated
channel 24 at a location preferably immediately adjacent a set of
fastening legs against which the channel member 24 is to be
fastened.
As previously explained each of the fastening legs 63 comprising a
set 62 of fastening legs is roughly L-shaped having a vertically
extending leg portion 75 and a horizontally extending leg portion
76 which cooperate to define an associated recess 64; and, the
horizontal leg portion 76 has an inclined cam surface 80 defining
the top surface thereof which is inclined outwardly in the same
direction as an associated recess 64.
Each fastening flange 53 of this exemplary embodiment of the
invention has a cooperating inclined cam surface 81 defining the
terminal lower end portion thereof. Each cooperating cam surface 81
is inclined from the bottom planar bearing surface 55 of its
associated fastening flange 53 upwardly toward the center portion
of its channel member 24. The cam surfaces 81 cooperate with cam
surfaces 80 of an associated set 62 of the fastening legs 63 to
enable simple and easy installation of the channel members 24 in
position against an associated connector clip in a manner as will
now be described.
To highlight the simplicity with which each channel member 24 may
be installed in position against an associated connector clip,
reference is now made to FIG. 8. The connector clip illustrated in
FIG. 8 has a plurality of three sets 62 of fastening legs rather
than two sets as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings. In
addition, the specific configuration of the channel member 24
provided in FIG. 8 is scaled down slightly from the configuration
presented in FIGS. 4-6. Also, it will be noted that instead of
providing five projections 54 extending upwardly from the
load-carrying surface 51 a plurality of only three projections 54
are illustrated in the example of FIG. 8. Except for the detailed
dimensions and the major differences pointed out above the channel
members 24 of FIG. 8 are substantially identical to the channel
members presented in FIGS. 4-6 and therefore component portions
thereof will be designated by the same reference numerals as
previously. Similarly, component portions of the associated
connector clip 50 illustrated in FIG. 8 will also be designated by
the same reference numeral as the connector clips illustrated in
FIGS. 4-6.
FIG. 8 highlights the manner in which the cooperating inclined cam
surfaces 81 on a given member 24 may be urged against cooperating
cam surfaces 80 on a clip 50 to enable installation of each channel
member 24 with optimum simplicity. In particular, reference is made
to the right-hand portion of the illustration of FIG. 8 wherein a
channel member 24 is shown in a raised position indicated by dotted
lines at 83. The channel member 24 is easily fastened in position
by urging, i.e. relatively moving, the cooperating cam surfaces 81
of the fastening flanges 53 against the cam surfaces 80 causing the
lower ends of the side walls 52 to be spread apart by the action of
the cam surfaces 80 and 81 whereupon once the fastening flanges 53
clear the lower edges 84 of the cam surfaces 80 the normal
resiliency of the channel member 24 causes the fastening flanges 53
to snap to their original positions, beneath the associated
fastening legs 63, and within the recesses 64 to clamp and firmly
hold the associated channel member 24 in position.
The relative movement of a particular channel member 24 from a
dotted line position as illustrated at 83 to the solid line
position as illustrated at 86 may be achieved in any suitable
manner. One technique which has been found particularly effective
is to support each connector clip 50 in position on an associated
support whereupon a member 24 to be fastened is positioned as shown
by the dotted line position at 83. A suitable weight or force
indicated by the arrow at 87 is applied against member 24 causing
the spreading of the side walls 52 in the manner described and the
snap fitting of the channel member 24 against an associated
connector clip 50. The force indiated by the arrow at 87 may be
applied merely by a man standing on a particular channel member or
by striking such member with a hand or foot.
It will also be appreciated that the snap fitting action may also
be provided by applying a force against the lower surface of the
connector clip 50. In particular, it will be appreciated that a
suitable tool may be utilized which has a hook-shaped lower end and
such lower end may be hooked beneath an associated connector clip
50 to pull it upwardly against an associated channel member 24 to
be installed while holding the associated channel member in
position whereby the above described camming action provided by cam
surfaces 80 and 81 would still take place in the manner described
above.
As previously indicated, each connector clip 50 has a predetermined
number of sets 62 of fastening legs provided thereon. In
particular, it will be seen that the connector clip 50 illustrated
in FIGS. 4-6 has two sets of fastening legs while the connector
clip illustrated in FIG. 8 has three sets. Any desired number of
sets 62 of fastening legs may be provided on a particular connector
clip and the limiting factor would be the manufacturing technique
utilized to make the particular connector clip.
The connector clips illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 and 8 of the drawings
may be formed by an extrusion process and as shown in FIG. 9 for
the particular type of connector clip illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. For
this purpose a suitable die head 88 is provided which has a
cooperating opening 89 provided therein which corresponds to and
defines the cross-sectional configuration of an associated
connector clip 50. An elongated section or strip of stock
designated by the reference numeral 90 is extruded through the die
head and the strip 90 is cut into sections having a comparatively
narrow dimension as indicated at 103 in FIG. 4 to thereby define
each connector clip 50.
In forming the connector clips 50 by an extrusion process the
overall transverse dimensions, i.e. width corresponding to the
dimension at 91, would be limited by practical considerations such
as the maximum diameter of a die which may be economically
produced. This suggests that where a large number of sets 62 of
fastening legs are required on a particular connector clip, another
technique should be utilized to provide such connector clip more
economically and one exemplary technique for a very wide connector
clip will be explained in connection with another exemplary
embodiment of this invention which will be presented later in
connection with FIG. 11 of the drawings.
Any desired plurality of channel members 24 may be fastened
together utilizing the connector clips 50 to define an easily
handled floor panel and for simplicity of presentation the two
channel members 24 fastened together by their associated connector
clips in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 will in each instance be designated by
the reference numeral 92 and each referred to as a panel 92. Thus,
it will be appreciated that a particular floor construction 20 may
have a plurality of panels 92 supported on associated supports such
as the vertically arranged supporting walls 26 of the exemplary
application of this invention illustrated in FIG. 1 and the floor
construction 20 further comprises at least one connector clip 50
provided with at least two pairs or sets of fastening legs
whereupon one set of the fastening legs 63 of such connector clip
is fastened in position against a channel member of a first panel
92 and the other set of fastening legs is fastened against a
channel member of a second panel 92 to thereby fasten the first and
second panels together to comprise the particular floor
construction 20.
For convenience and simplicity each panel 92 has been defined as
being comprised of two channel members 24 in connection with the
presentation of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and comprised of three channel
members 24 in connection with the presentation of FIG. 8. However,
as previously indicated, it will be appreciated that a panel 92 may
have any desired width and may be of such a size that any desired
number of channel members 24 may be provided thereon. For example,
when utilizing the connector clips 50 which have only two sets 62
of fastening legs provided thereon it would be a simple matter to
provide, for example, 4, 12, 24 or any other desired number of
channel members to form a given panel of expanded size and wherein
one or more connector clips 50 may be utilized to fasten together
adjoining panels comprised of only two channel members to form the
expanded size panel. With this technique the overall width of an
expanded size panel would be controlled and determined by the
weight thereof and the ease with which it could be handled.
The channel members 24 may be made in any suitable manner; however,
one technique which has been used successfully to form channel
members 24 by an extrusion process wherein an elongated strip of
stock material 94 is extruded through an extrusion die head 95 as
illustrated in FIG. 10. The elongated member 94 has a
cross-sectional configuration defined by a corresponding die head
95 and such cross-sectional configuration of the member 94
corresponds to the cross-sectional configuration of an associated
channel member 24. The member 94 is then cut to define members 24
having the desired length.
In the illustration of FIG. 10 the channel member 24 of FIGS. 4-6
is illustrated as being extruded through an associated die head 95.
However, it will be appreciated that the same technique could be
utilized to extrude the channel members illustrated in FIG. 8 using
a similar die head.
In forming the channel members 24 from an associated piece of
extruded elongated stock material 94 each channel member has its
component portions formed as an integral unit. Similarly, each
elongated member 90 which is used to define the connector clips 50
has its fastening legs and component portions defined as an
integral unit whereby the members 24 and 50 have optimum strength
and structural integrity.
Another exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
FIG. 11 of the drawings and is presented in the form of a panel
defined by a plurality of channel members suitably fastened
together by a connector clip at each end thereof. The floor panel
of FIG. 11 is substantially very similar to the floor panels 92
illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 and 8 of the drawings; therefore, such
panel will be designated generally by the reference numeral 92A. In
addition, the channel members and connector clips comprising the
floor panel 92A are very similar to the channel members 24 and
connector clips 50 previously described and therefore such channel
members and connector clips will be designated generally by the
reference numerals 24A and 50A respectively and component portions
of each member which are very similar to corresponding component
portions of the channel members 24 and connector clips 50
previously described will be designated by the same numeral as
previously also followed by the letter designation A and not
described again. Only those component parts of members 24A and 50A
which are substantially different from corresponding parts of
channel members 24 and associated connector clips 50 respectively
will be designated by new numerals also followed by the letter
designation A and described in detail.
The channel members 24A illustrated in FIG. 11 are preferably
defined by roll forming and accordingly each of the projections 54A
provided in the load-carrying surface 51 thereof has a rounded
outwardly convex configuration. The downwardly extending side walls
52A terminate in inwardly directed fastening flanges 53A and in
this illustration it will be seen that the inwardly directed
fastening flanges 53A have substantially vertically arranged edges
provided thereon, however, it will be appreciated that an inclined
surface similar to the cam surface 81 could also be provided at the
terminal lower edge of the fastening flanges 53A by suitably
ironing such flanges using associated forming rolls.
The main difference between the panel 92A illustrated in FIG. 11
and panel 92 is in the connector clips 50A comprising the panel
92A. Each connector clip 50A has a base portion 96A formed as a
separate substantially planar strip and the fastening legs 63A are
provided as separate units and suitably fixed to the strip 96A at
predetermined intervals to provide the same function as the legs 63
which were formed integrally in the connector clip 50. Each
fastening leg 63A may be separately attached to the base strip 96A
as by welding, bolting, or the like. However, in this exemplary
embodiment of the invention each set 62A of fastening legs 63A is
provided as one piece or unit designated generally by the numeral
99A which is suitably fastened as by welding and as indicated at
100A so that each set 62A of legs 63A for a particular channel
member 24A is simultaneously fastened in position against the base
strip 96A.
Each unit 99A has a central portion which has a roughly U-shaped
configuration and is provided with a pair of horizontal legs 76A
which extend in opposite directions from the vertically arranged
legs of the U-shaped central portion. An outwardly facing recess
64A is defined beneath each horizontal leg 76A. Each unit 99A may
be made by suitably forming a flat strip of elongated material;
and, if desired it would be a simple matter to provide an inclined
cam surface 80A adjoining the terminal end of each leg 76 and
extending upwardly similar to the cam surface 80. The cam surface
80A would be an optional configuration and is thus shown by dotted
lines as part of one set 62A of fastening legs and as shown at 101A
in FIG. 11. Each cam surface 80A would serve the same function and
enable easy installation of an associated channel member 24A
essentially in the same manner as illustrated for a channel member
24 in the right hand portion of FIG. 8.
With the construction illustrated in FIG. 11, the base portion 96A
may be made of any desired length, such as 4 feet long, for
example, and the channels 24A may be made of 8 foot lengths
whereupon the panels 92A would be of a standard 4 ft. .times. 8 ft.
These panels could be easily installed in position by one man
because the weight of such a panel formed of metal containing
aluminum would be comparatively light.
In this example of the invention it will be seen that the width of
a fastening flange 53A indicated at 56A is wider than the width 56
of an associated fastening flange 53 and provides an even larger
bearing surface for the associated channel member 24A.
The channel members 24A may also be fastened in position against
their associated fastening clips 50A utilizing the installation
tool 66. In those applications where an inclined cam surface 80A is
provided on each fastening leg 63A the installation may be achieved
as illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings by urging the particular
channel member 24A against the associated fastening legs 63A of an
associated clip 50A causing the lower ends of the downwardly
extending side walls 52A to spread and snap in position against
such clip.
In those applications wherein floor panels 92A are utilized and
comprise a comparatively large floor area it is a simple matter to
attach adjoining panel members 92A together merely by providing
connector clips 50A which have a plurality of only two sets 62A of
fastening legs which can be fastened in position against an outer
channel member 24A of one panel and the other set 62A of connector
leg 63A may be fastened in position against the outer channel
member 24A of an adjacent panel 92A. Likewise, it may be possible
with the construction illustrated in FIG. 11 to provide clips 50A
of comparatively long lengths with the sets 62A of fastening legs
63A suitably fastened in position at the predetermined desired
interval. Once it is desired to utilize a particular connector clip
50A of a given length it is merely necessary to cut the elongated
clip 50A to the desired length to form individual panels 92A and to
form interconnecting clips for connecting adjoining panels and
wherein each interconnecting clip may only have two pairs or sets
62A of fastening legs 63A.
As seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings each connector clip 50 has a
comparatively narrow width 103 and this width may be varied to suit
the particular installation requirements. Thus, upon cutting the
elongated strip 90 after it is extruded through the die head 88 it
is a simple matter to cut such elongated strip 90 to any desired
width. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the base portion 96A
of the connector clip 50A can likewise be made of any suitable
predetermined width. Also, each unit 99A which defines a set of
fastening legs 63A may be of the same width as the width of base
portion 96A or of a different width.
Usually, the connector clips 50 or 50A will be installed in
position adjacent opposite ends of their respective channel members
24 and 24A respectively. Where it is desired to tie together a pair
of panels 92 and 92A in the manner previously described, it will be
appreciated that the particular connector clip 50 or 50A which ties
the panels together will be offset or staggered (as seen at 105 in
FIG. 4 for panels 92) from the usual rectilinear arrangement of the
connector clips provided in a particular floor construction.
It will also be appreciated that each connector clip, 50 or 50A,
utilized to tie together individual channel members or adjacent
panels may be axially slid along the length of its associated
channels until the desired position is reached. For this purpose,
an elongated instrument with a hooking lower end may be provided to
reach through the downwardly flaring passage between adjacent
members to engage and pull a particular connector clip to the
desired position.
In the previous detailed description made in connection with FIGS.
5 and 6 of the drawings an installation tool 66 was utilized at the
end of an associated channel member 24 to spread apart its side
walls 52 and hence its fastening flanges 53 to enable simple
installation against an associated connector clip 50. However, it
will be appreciated that the installation tool 66, or a similar
tool, may be utilized in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 12-14 to
provide simple installation of associated channel members against
associated connector clips.
The structural members shown in FIGS. 12-14 and the installation
tool 66 are identical to corresponding members shown in FIGS. 5 and
6 of the drawings; therefore, such members will be given identical
reference numerals as previously and the detailed description now
to be presented will be concerned solely with the alternate manner
of utilizing the installation tool 66 and as presented in FIGS.
12-14 of the drawings. In particular, it will be seen that the
installation tool is placed in position so that its head portion 70
is received within the opening provided between the fastening
flanges 53 of an associated channel member and as shown by dotted
lines in FIG. 12.
The handle portion 67 of the installation tool 66 may then be
rotated in either direction, shown as being rotated clockwise in
FIG. 12, whereby the fastening flanges 53 are spread from the
dotted line position indicated at 72 to the solid line position
indicated at 73 in FIGS. 12 and 13.
The channel member 124 and its associated connector clip 50 are
relatively moved together in a similar manner as described in
connection with FIGS. 5 and 6 and so that each fastening flange 53
is aligned opposite an associated recess 64 provided in connector
clip 50. The installation tool 66 is then returned to its initial
position, which is a dotted line position of FIG. 12, and the
normal resiliency of the channel member 24 causes its side walls 52
to return to their initial positions whereby the fastening flanges
53 are received within the associated recesses 64 and the channel
24 is supported solely by the fastening flanges 53 at its lower end
engaging the connector clip 50.
With the technique of utilizing the installation tool 66 in the
manner illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 12-14 it
will be appreciated that it would be a simple manner to position
the iinstallation tool at any desired position along the length of
the associated channel member of comparatively long length and
preferably at a location adjacent the position where a connector
clip is desired to be installed in position to enable easier
installation of each connector clip.
Another exemplary embodiment of this invention is illustrated in
FIG. 15 of the drawings and is presented in the form of a panel
which is very similar to the panel 92A illustrated in FIG. 11;
therefore, the panel of FIG. 15 will be designated generally by the
reference numeral 92M. The channel members of the panel 92M are
identical to the channel members of FIG. 11; therefore, such
channel members will be designated by the reference numeral 24A as
previously and their component portions will also be designated by
the same corresponding reference numerals as previously and not
described again in detail.
The only difference between the panel 92M and the panel 92A is in
the connector clip utilized therein. However, the connector clip of
FIG. 15 has portions which are very similar to corresponding
portions of the connector clips 50 and 50A; therefore, the
connector clip of FIG. 15 will be designated generally by the
reference numeral 50M and such similar portions will be designated
by the same reference numeral as previously followed by the letter
designation M and not described again in detail. Only those
portions of clip 50M which are substantially diferent from
corresponding portions of clips 50 or 50A will be designated by a
new reference numeral also followed by the letter designation M and
described in more detail.
Each connector clip 50M may also be made in long lengths and has a
base portion 105M and roughly L-shaped fastening legs 63M which may
be provided in the strip 105M using suitable punching and forming
means. For example, the strip 105 may be lanced or pierced and
associated dies, or the like, utilized to form the desired
configuration of each fastening leg 63M. Each connector clip 50M is
in essence comprised of an elongated flat strip of metal having
high structural strength and each fastening leg 63M may be
integrally formed so that a laterally outwardly open recess 64M is
formed therein and is adapted to receive an associated fastening
flange of an associated channel member therewithin in a similar
manner as previously described in detail.
As will be apparent from FIG. 16 each roughly L-shaped fastening
leg 63M is defined by an integral horizontally extending leg
portion 76M and a substantially vertically extending leg portion
75M. The leg portion 75M in this example of the invention is shown
as being arranged at an angle indicated at 106M with respect to the
base portion 105M of its connector clip 50M.
The single piece connector clip 50M has all of the advantages of
the extended length connector clip 50A made of a plurality of parts
and previously described in connection with the panel 92A; thus,
such advantages will not be repeated. Further, it will be
appreciated that the cost of making the connector clip 50M will be
less than the cost of making the connector clip 50A.
Another exemplary embodiment of a connector clip is illustrated in
FIG. 17 of the drawings and the connector clip of FIG. 17 is
substantially identical to the connector clip 50M with the
exception of the elongated base portion thereof. Therefore, the
connector clip of FIG. 17 will be designated generally by the
reference numeral 50N. The connector clip of FIG. 17 instead of
having an elongated flat strip defining its base portion has a
channel-shaped strip defining its base portion and in this example
such channel-shaped strip is in the form of an inverted U-shaped
portion which is designated by the reference numeral 105N.
The remainder of the component portions of the connector clip 50N
are identical to corresponding portions of connector clip 50M.
Therefore, such identical component portions will be designated by
the identical reference characters used in the clip 50M and not
described again. The connector clip 50N may also be made of
extended length and has all of the previously described advantages
of the connector clips 50A and 50M while providing optimum
structural strength for the panels made using clip 50N due to the
channel-shaped configuration of its base portion 105N.
Having presented the detailed construction and arrangement of the
individual channel members and associated connector clips in the
above exemplary embodiments of this invention, it will be
appreciated that a particular floor construction (as shown in FIG.
4, for example may be defined in a simple manner by arranging a
plurality of U-shaped channel members 24 in parallel spaced
relation and in inverted position so that each load-carrying
surface 51 is arranged in a substantially horizontal plane and the
members 24 are supported on associated connector clips 50. The
channel members 24 are then fastened together by fastening each
channel member to its associated connector clips 50 and each clip
50 has a base portion and sets 62 of upwardly and outwardly
extending fastening legs 63.
The fastening action may be achieved by spreading the lower ends of
the side walls 52 of a channel member 24 outwardly at a location
adjacent an associated set of fastening legs 63 and then relatively
moving the associated channel 24 and connector clip 50 together.
Upon releasing the outwardly spread downwardly converging side
walls 52 the normal resiliency of the channel member 24 allows the
side walls 52 to return to their normal initial position with the
fastening flanges 53 being received within an associated set of
recesses 64 defined by the fastening legs 63 so that the associated
channel member 24 is supported solely by the fastening flanges 53
at its lower end engaging the fastening or connector clips 50.
The channel members may be interconnected to define the various
floor panels 92, 92A, and 92M and the channel members may have
their end portions supported on associated supports such as
supporting ledges 25, 35, and 42 of vertical walls 26, 36, and 43
respectively and as presented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the
drawings.
The floor panels 92, 92A, and 92M may be comprised of any desired
number of associated channel members and adjoining floor panels
need not be interconnected except in those applications where the
weight supported by each floor construction would require such
interconnection. Also, if desired, the channel members 24 and 24A
may be connected to their supporting ledges in any suitable
manner.
As previously explained, the fastening action may also be achieved
by placing each connector clip 50 against an associated supporting
ledge, for example, and forcibly urging the channel member 24
against the connector clip 50 as by stepping on the load-carrying
surface thereof whereupon the fastening flanges 53 have their cam
surfaces 81 cammed along cooperating cam surfaces 80 of the
fastening legs 63 to provide the previously described snap-fitting
action.
As previously mentioned, the floor constructions 21, 31, and 41,
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 respectively of the drawings are
particularly adapted for indoor raising of swine. To provide floor
constructions 20 having optimum strength, durability, and
lightweight, various aluminum alloys may be effectively utilized to
provide connector clips and channel members by the extrusion, roll
forming, punching, and similar processes.
In raising animals in confinement, different size channels and
different spacing between channels is provided as determined by the
weight of each particular animal supported on a given floor
construction. In general, it can be stated that the width of the
spacing between channel members and the structural strength of such
members increases in diect proportion to the weight of each
animal.
For example, in the raising of swine in confinement channel members
having an overall height of 2.718 inches, a width across each
load-carrying surface of 3.00 inches, a wall thickness of .062 inch
with a distance of 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch between the top surfaces of
the channel members is generally satisfactory for raising swine
from the baby pig stage to 50 pounds. Channel members of
approximately the same size are used for swine ranging from 50
pounds to 125 pounds. However, for these larger swine the distance
between the top surfaces of immediately adjacent channel members
ranges from 5/8 inch to 1 inch.
The larger channel members 24 illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of
the drawings may be used for brood sows or market size pigs and the
distance between the top surfaces of immediately adjacent members
24 ranges from 3/4 inch to 1 inch. In each of these larger channel
members the width across the load-carrying surface is 4.00 inches,
the overall height is 2.968 inches, and the wall thickness is .078
inch.
The unique floor construction of this invention lends itself to
defining floors of practically any size and such floors may be
suitably supported in any suitable manner. Further, it will be
appreciated that it is a simple matter to replace a defective or
damaged channel member 24 or 24A without removing the entire floor
or an entire panel or for that matter without necessity of
evacuating the associated building of animals. For example, it
would be a simple matter to insert an appropriate tool downwardly
through a diverging channel 65 and spread apart the side walls of a
particular damaged channel member which is to be replaced enabling
such damaged member to be moved away from the fastening legs of an
associated clip 50. The procedure could be carried out in reverse
to install a new member in place of the damaged member.
As previously mentioned channel members made of aluminum alloys may
be effectively utilized in defining a floor construction as taught
by this invention. Also, aluminum alloy members are very easy to
flush clean allowing wastes, litter, and the like to drop through
the floor construction into a pit arranged therebeneath. The pit
may be of a flow-through variety and may be suitably inclined for
easy flushing with water to prevent and reduce the likelihood of
disease.
While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods
of practicing the same, have been illustrated and described, it
will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously
embodied and practiced within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *