Title: Top levelled access floor system
Abstract: A pedestal adapted to support a floor panel comprising a base, support means for supporting said floor panel above said base, displaceable means operable between said base and said support means for selectively displacing said support means and said floor panel relative to said base so as to level said floor panel while said floor panel is supported by said support means.
Patent Number: 6,983,570 Issued on 01/10/2006 to Mead
| Inventors:
|
Mead; Bruce (Mississauga, CA)
|
| Assignee:
|
ASM Modular Systems Ltd. (Mississauga, CA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
617112 |
| Filed:
|
July 11, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
52/263; 52/126.5; 52/126.6; 52/126.7; 248/188.2; 248/188.3; 248/188.4; 248/354.3; 248/354.4 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
E04B 5/00 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
52/1265,126.6,126.7,263,385
248/188.4,188.2,188.3,357,354.3,354.4
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4113219 | Sep., 1978 | Mieyal.
| |
| 4447998 | May., 1984 | Griffin.
| |
| 4558544 | Dec., 1985 | Albrecht et al.
| |
| 4578910 | Apr., 1986 | Germeroth et al.
| |
| 4637181 | Jan., 1987 | Cohen.
| |
| 4780571 | Oct., 1988 | Huang.
| |
| 4850162 | Jul., 1989 | Albrecht.
| |
| 4901490 | Feb., 1990 | Zinniel et al.
| |
| 4930270 | Jun., 1990 | Bevacqua.
| |
| 4942708 | Jul., 1990 | Krumholz et al.
| |
| 4966804 | Oct., 1990 | Hasegawa et al.
| |
| 5046291 | Sep., 1991 | Narayan.
| |
| 5072557 | Dec., 1991 | Naka et al.
| |
| 5228252 | Jul., 1993 | Nehls.
| |
| 5333423 | Aug., 1994 | Propst.
| |
| 5791096 | Aug., 1998 | Chen.
| |
| 6363685 | Apr., 2002 | Kugler.
| |
| 6442906 | Sep., 2002 | Hwang.
| |
Primary Examiner: Chapman; Jeanette
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gierczak; Eugene J. A.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A pedestal adapted to support a floor panel comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) support means for supporting said floor panel above said base;
(c) first and second rotatable engageable members operable between said base
and said support means for selectively displacing said support means and said floor
panel relative said base so as to level said floor panel;
(d) said first rotatable engageable member engageable with said base for fixing
said height of said first rotatable member relative said base;
(e) a locking means for:
(i) locking said floor panel to said support means; and
(ii) inhibiting displacement of said rotatable engageable members.
2. A pedestal as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable engageable members comprise:
(a) a first threaded member;
(b) a second threaded member engageable with said first threaded member for selectively
displacing said support means relative said base.
3. A pedestal as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first threaded member has:
(a) one end fixedly rotatable to said base,
(b) another end presenting engageable means for rotating said first threaded
member relative said second threaded member for selectively displacing said support
means relative said base.
4. A pedestal as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second threaded member includes
said support means.
5. A pedestal as claimed in claim 4 wherein said support means includes a support
surface extending generally outwardly for supporting said floor panel.
6. A pedestal as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first and second threaded members
are both either left handed or right handed threads.
7. A pedestal as claimed in claim 6 wherein said locking means includes:
(a) an internally threaded locking hole presented at said other end of said first
threaded member, and;
(b) an externally threaded bolt adapted for threaded engagement with said internally
threaded locking hole;
to;
(c) lock said floor panel to said support;
(d) inhibit displacement of said first and second threaded members.
8. A pedestal as claimed in claim 7 wherein said internally threaded locking
hole and said externally threaded locking bolt are both the other one of said right
handed or left handed threads.
9. A pedestal as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first threaded member has:
(a) one end threadably engageable with said base so as to adjust the height of
said first threaded member relative said base;
(b) another end threadably engageable with said locking means;
(c) locking arm for locking said height of said first threaded member relative
said base.
10. A pedestal as claimed in claim 9 wherein said second threaded member presents:
(a) said support means;
(b) engageable means for threadably rotating said support means relative said base.
11. A pedestal as claimed in claim 9 wherein said support means comprises:
(a) support member extending outwardly and presenting an internally threaded
hole threadably engageable with said first threaded member,
(b) a hexagonal head adapted for engagement for displacing said support member
relative said first threaded member;
(c) a support guide resting on said support member for locating said floor panel,
said support guide including a hole therethrough for receiving said hexagonal head
and said other end of said first threaded member.
12. A pedestal for supporting the corners of adjacent floor panels comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) first and second threadably engageable members extending generally coaxially
relative said base;
(c) one of said first and second threaded members including:
(i) a support extending generally radially outwardly for supporting said corners
of said floor panels;
(ii) engageable means adapted for threaded rotation of said first threaded member
relative said second threaded member so as to select the height of said support
relative said base and level said floor panels while said floor panels are supported
by said support;
(d) said first threaded member comprises of a generally cylindrical externally
threaded first member having:
(i) one end connected to said base for relative rotation thereabouts;
(ii) another end presenting coaxially a hexagonal head accessible from above
said floor panels;
(e) said second threaded member comprising a generally cylindrical internally
threaded tube open at both ends and defining said second threaded member engageable
with said externally threaded first member, said second threaded member presenting:
(i) a generally radially extending support for supporting a bottom corner of
said floor panels;
(ii) a bevelled edge at said one open end adapted to engage an upper corner of
said floor panels and permit access to said hexagonal head for rotation of said
first threaded member relative said second threaded member to select the height
of said support and said floor panels and level said floor panels from above said
floor panels.
13. A pedestal as claimed in claim 12 including a locking means for:
(a) locking said floor panels to said support, and
(b) wherein said upper surface of said floor panels have a turn down corner adapted
to engage said bevelled edge.
14. A pedestal as claimed in claim 12 wherein:
(a) said base includes a threaded hole;
(b) said first threaded member comprises a generally cylindrical externally threaded
first member having:
(i) one end threadably engageable with said threaded hole with said base for
selecting the height of said first threaded member relative said base;
(ii) and another end;
(c) a locking arm for locking the selected height of said first threaded member
relative said base;
(d) said second threaded member comprising a generally radially extending support
adapted to support said bottom of said floor panels, and an internally threaded
hole engageable with said externally threaded first member for selected axial displacement
of said second threaded member relative said first member so as to adjust the height
and level of said floor panels relative said base.
15. A pedestal as claimed in claim 14 including a locking means for locking said
floor panels to said support, said locking means engageable with said another end
of said first threaded member.
16. A pedestal as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first rotatable engageable
member includes a groove and said base includes projections engageable with said
grooves for fixing the height of said first rotatable engageable member relative
said base.
17. A pedestal as claimed in claim 1 including a locking arm projecting beyond
said second rotatable engageable member for locking said first rotatable engageable
member with said base.
18. A pedestal for supporting the corners of adjacent floor panels comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) first and second threadably engageable members extending generally coaxially
relative said base;
(c) said first threadably engageable member threadably engageable with said base;
(d) a locking arm engageable with said first threadably engageable member to
lock said first threadably engageable member to said base, to a selected height
above said base.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to pedestals adapted to support a floor panel, and particularly
relates to pedestals for supporting the corners of adjacent floor panels to level
the floor panels while said floor panels are supported by the pedestals. More specifically,
the invention relates to pedestals permitting height adjustment of the floor panels
by tools accessed from above the floor panels. This invention also relates to the
method of levelling floor panels by tools capable of adjusting the height and level
of pedestals from above the floor panels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Elevated floor structures have gained much prominise with the advent of
computer systems. Such elevated floor structures consists of floors constructed
by arranging generally rectangular panels in side-by-side or adjacent fashion into
a rectangular array. Generally speaking such panels are supported at their corners
by regularly spaced pedestals which in turn are supported on a subfloor. Space
between the subfloor and panel floor is available for utility lines, air ducts,
computer wire or the like. These panels can be individually removed for servicing.
Generally speaking such prior art pedestal access floor systems need to
be levelled. Such prior art levelling devices and systems generally consist of
attempting to level the pedestal and floor systems by adjusting from below the
floor system prior to placing the floor panels onto the pedestals.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,252 relates to a floor panel having pedestals
which support the raised floor. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,291 illustrates
a panel resting upon an upper base, while U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,490 relates to a
grid support pedestal which includes a metallic hollow pedestal tube secured to
a metallic base plate which rests on the sub floor.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,152 relates to a pedestal column which is
threaded having a pedestal adjusting nut.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,910 relates to a system for interlocking the
edges and corners of adjacent panels of a pedestal supported elevated floor construction.
These and other prior art systems generally describe complicated structures
which are awkward to level the access floor system. Furthermore, such systems must
generally be adjusted below the floor panels.
It is an object of this invention to provide a relatively simple structure which
is easy to use. It is a further object of this invention to provide an access floor
system that can be levelled after the panels have been installed.
It is an aspect of this invention to provide a pedestal adapted to support a
floor
panel comprising: a base; support structure for supporting said floor panel above
said base; and displaceable structure operable between said base and said support
structure for selectively displacing said support structure and said floor panel
relative said base so as to level said floor panel while said floor panel is supported
by said support structure.
It is a further aspect to provide a pedestal for supporting the corners of adjacent
floor panels comprising: a base; first and second threadably engageable members
extending generally coaxially relative said base; one of said first and second
threaded members including: a support extending generally radially outwardly for
supporting said corners of said floor panels; engageable structure adapted for
threaded rotation of said first threaded member relative said second threaded member
so as to select the height of said support relative said base and level said floor
panels while said floor panels are supported by said support.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a method of levelling floor
panels supported by pedestals at adjacent corners of said floor panels comprising
of the steps of positioning said pedestals having telescoping threaded members
at the corners of said adjacent floor panels for support said floor panels; accessing
said telescoping threaded members by tools capable of threadedly adjusting the
height of said telescoping threaded members from above said floor panels.
These and other objects and features of the inventions shall now be described
in relation to the following drawings.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of the pedestal of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a full cross sectional view of the invention of FIG. 1 in a locked position.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an exploded cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5
a is a partial section of the floor panel with the support guide.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the locking cap.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the support guide.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Like parts have the same number throughout the figures.
One embodiment of the pedestal
2 is generally illustrated in FIGS. 1,
2 and
3. The pedestal
2 generally supports the corners
4
of the floor panels
6. Although the figures illustrate the corner
4
of one floor panel
6 the pedestal
2 will support four adjacent corners
4 of four panels
6 in a completed floor system.
The pedestal
2 generally consists of a base
8, a support or flange
10 and displaceable means
12. The support or flange
10 is
adapted to support the lower edge
14 of the panel
6.
The displaceable means
12 generally consists of a first threaded member
16 and a second threaded member
18 engageable with the first threaded
member
16 for selectively displacing the support
10 relative the
base
8.
More particularly, the first threaded member
16 has one end
20
fixedly rotatable to the base
8. At the bottom of the first threaded member
16 there is a groove
22 that permits the base
8 to engage
and affix to the groove
22. More specifically the base
8 includes
projections
24 which are adapted to threadably spin the base
8 onto
one end
26 of the first threaded member
16 until the projection
24
hits the groove
22. Thereafter the base
8 will freely turn but not
fall off the pedestal
2 when the pedestal is lifted. Generally speaking
the first threaded member
16 should preferably rotate relative the base
8 to prevent binding.
The base
8 can be made of a variety of materials including steel, aluminium,
brass, bronze, plastic or the like and may be stamped, formed, or cast. The base
8 comprises of a flat bottom
28, which engages the building sub floor
(not shown). The base
8 includes generally circular upstanding sidewalls
30 that encompass the one end
20 of first threaded member
16.
Another end
32 of the first threaded member
16 presents engageable
means
34 which is adapted to be engageable with a tool (not shown) for rotating
the first threaded member
16 relative the second threaded member
18
for selectively displacing the second threaded member
18 which in turn adjusts
the height of the pedestal relative the base
8.
The second threaded member
18 generally consists of a cylindrically extending
internally threaded tube
36 as shown in FIG. 3. The first threaded member
16 is telescopingly threaded to the interior threads of the second threaded
member
18.
Accordingly, as the engageable means
34 is accessed by the tool
(not shown) the engageable means
34 is rotated which causes the internal
threaded member
16 to freely rotate about the base
8 since the projections
24 freely rotate within the groove
22. This action causes the second
threaded member
18 to rise or fall in height relative the first threaded
member
16 depending upon the direction of rotation. One embodiment of the
invention consists of the engageable means comprising of a hexagonal head
38
which can be engageable which a hexagonal socket presented by a drill which is
capable of being rotated in a clockwise or counter clockwise fashion.
The second threaded member
18 includes the outwardly extending support
or flange
10.
The first threaded member
16, second threaded member
18 and base
8 are disposed generally co-axially. Upon operation of the displaceable
means
12 the pedestal
2 axially increases or decreases in height.
The second threaded member
18 includes two open ends
40,
42.
The top end
40 of the second threaded member
18 can be angled or
bevelled to engage with the corner of floor panel
6. More specifically the
corner
4 of the panel
6 includes a downwardly extending conical surface
46 which is adapted to contact the bevelled edge
40 of the second
threaded member
18 which also supports the panel
6. Optimally speaking
it is desirable that the bottom edge
14 of floor panel
6 be supported
by the flange
10 simultaneously as the top conical surface
46 contacts
the bevelled edge
40, although it is not essential. In other words, the
bottom
14 may contact the flange
10 prior to the conical surface
46 contacting the bevelled edge
40.
The floor panel
6 can be made of stamped steel having an upper surface
7 and a lower surface
9, which is welded together and may be filled
with cement or other material to add strength and sound dampening, or may be made
of composites or laminates, like steel or wood in a manner well known to those
skilled in the arts. The upper surface
7 as shown in FIG. 3 may extend slightly
beyond the lower surface
9 to present an edge or lip
11, as seen
in FIG. 2.
The corners
4 of the panel
6 may be moulded, stamped or formed
on a curved or square angle disposed downward to mate with the top of the pedestal.
The open end
40 of second threaded member
18 generally includes
the bevelled edge
40 which engages the angle formed into the corners
4
of floor panel
6. Accordingly the open end
40 of second threaded
member
18 locates and positions the panels ready to be levelled.
The interior thread
50 of the second threaded member
18 is matched
with the exterior thread
52 of first threaded member
16. In other
words, the thread of
50 and
52 is either let hand or right hand.
The support or flange
10 is supported by a number of vertical ribs or
gussets
56. The second threaded member
18 may comprise of materials
similar to that of the first threaded member
16 described.
The height of the first threaded member
16 can vary to accommodate different
heights of floors.
The engageable means also includes an internally threaded hole
60 which
is adapted to receive locking means
70 for locking the floor panels
6
to the support
10 and inhibiting displacement of the displaceable means
12.
The locking means
12 in one embodiment consists of a clamp disc
72
which is adapted to lock the four panels
6 down at once as well as locking
the pedestal
2 from turning.
More specifically, the clamp disc
72 includes a hole
74 adapted
to receive a threaded bolt
76 engageable with the internally threaded hole
60. The threads of the internally threaded hole
60 and the thread
bolt
76 is selected to be opposite to that of the threads
50 and
52 of the second threaded member
18 and the first threaded member
16. In other words, if the threads of the internally threaded hole
60
and the thread bolt
76 is right hand then the threads
50 and
52
are selected to be left handed so as to lock the first and second threaded members
16 and
18 and inhibit rotation.
Alternatively the locking means
70 may comprise of one piece
presenting a clamping disc
72 and a clamping bolt
76. The locking
means
70 includes threads which are opposite to the threads
50 and
52 so as to prevent rotation of the first threaded member
16 which
controls the level of the finished floor.
The threaded bolt
76 must be long enough to engage the threaded hole
60.
Although FIGS. 1,
2 and
3 illustrate various forms of screws and
bolts, any type can be used having the intending purpose such as allen, Phillips,
or other type. Moreover, although the invention is description in relation to a
power drill, a hand screwdriver can also be used.
The invention described illustrates an access floor system that can be levelled
after the panels
6 have been installed. This feature speeds up the levelling
time by allowing of use of power tools to level as opposed to levelling under the
pedestal head by fingers or wrenches. This feature allows for fine adjustment after
the floor is installed.
The system described allows for an access floor to have a finished floor height
as low as for example 2.5 inches to as high as necessary to accommodate customer requirements.
At present most access floor systems are adjusted from under the floor prior
to
panel installation. If further levelling is required the panels must be removed
and adjustment made by hand. By levelling from the top using a tool the accuracy
of the level can easily be made more accurate because of the ease of levelling;
particularly when using laser beams.
A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5,
6 and
7
which includes a base
8, a first threaded member
16, a second threaded
member
18 and locking means
70.
The base
8 includes a flat bottom
28 and circular upstanding side
walls
30, having internal threads
31.
The first threaded member
18 consists of a generally cylindrical axially
extending member
16 presenting exterior threads
52 along the length
thereof. The threads
52 are selected to engage with the threads
31.
The first threaded member
16 can be manipulated to travel from the lowest
height LH to the highest height HH shown.
The upper end
33 of the first threaded member
16 may be bevelled.
The first threaded member
16 may be solid or hollow and comprise of the
materials previously discussed.
Furthermore, the base
8 may be round or square and comprise of
the materials previously discussed.
The first threaded member
16 may be manipulated to a height required.
Thereafter, a locking arm
80 may be rotated to bear against the upper portion
35 of the up standing sidewalls
30. The locking arm
80 presents
an enlarged portion
32 having internal threads
83 engageable with
the external threads
52. Once the locking arm
80 is engaged such
arm
80 locks the height of the first threaded member
16 to a selected
rough height above the base
8.
The second threaded member
18 comprises of a flange or support portion
10 having engageable means
34. The engageable means
34 comprises
of a hexagonal head
38.
The second threaded member
18 includes internal threads
50 selected
to engage the external threads
52. The second threaded member
18
may be stamped, formed, or welded as described before. The flange
10 may
be circular or square as required.
The support means shown in FIGS. 5,
6 and
7 includes the support
10 and support guide
90 having a hole
92 therethrough between
an upper surface
94 and lower surface
96. The lower surface
96
may include a plurality of ridges
98 which are adapted to rest against the
upper surface
100 of support
10 to reduce friction.
The lower surface
96 of support guide
90 may include a skirt
102
extending axially beyond the support
10 to define a recess
104 for
the reception of the second threaded member
18. The diameter of the hole
92 is slightly larger than the radial extent of the hexagonal head
38,
to permit insertion of a tool as previously described.
The support guide
90 may be made of plastic or metal and adapted to receive
floor panels
6. The floor panel
6 rests on the support guide
90
which locate the corners for four adjacent floor panels
6 for levelling
and fastening. The support guide
90 can include vertical ribs
106
to separate the floor panels
6 into quadrants
107 and locate the
floor panels
6 and prevent the support guide
90 from rotation. More
specifically the quadrants
107 include locating fingers
109 which
are adapted to be received in holes
113, located at the lower surface
9
of the floor panel
6 as best seen in FIG. 5
a. The support guide
90
floats and slides as the second threaded member
18 is rotated to level the
pedestal
2 by insertion of a tool as previously describe through the hole
96. The conical surface
46 extends into the hole
92 as shown.
Once levelled a locking means
70 is utilized to lock the corners of the
floor panels
6 as previously described.
The locking means
70 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 consists of a generally cylindrical
locking cap
71 co-axially mounted over the support guide
90, second
threaded member
18, first threaded member
16 and base
8. The
locking cap
71 includes internal threads
73 which are adapted to
engage with the threads
52 of the first threaded member
16. The upper
surface
75 of locking cap
71 may include engageable means such as
a socket
73, namely a square hole engageable by a socket drive.
The corners
4 of the floor panels
6 of FIG. 4 may be bent and formed
to a conical profile previously described that permits mechanical engagement to
the locking cap
71.
The locking cap
71 threads over the first threaded member
16 to
lock four adjacent floor panels
6 into place.
The locking cap can include a plurality of axially extending groves
117
which extend along a lower surface of the cap
71 as shown which are adapted
to receive tapered protrusions
119 located in the hole
92 which assists
in locating the locking cap
71 into hole
92 in pre-assembly but does
not interfere with the locking function.
The second threaded member
18 includes the support or flange
10
having a nut or other adjusting device fastened, embossed or stamped to the top
of the plate. This allows the flange
10 to be rotated by a tool as previously
described to adjust the height of the floor panels
6. The center of the
support
10 is threaded to accept and adjust on first threaded member
16.
The first threaded member
16 is stationary once locked by the locking
arm
80 for fine adjustment from above floor panel
6; and adjusts
in base
8 for rough pre-assembly height. The length of the first threaded
member
16 may vary to allow for different floor heights.
The locking arm
80 projects beyond second threaded member
18 and
allows for the locking of first threaded member
16 to the second threaded
member
18 to inhibit rotation thereabouts. The threaded portion is either
stamped, embossed or welded to the flat arm.
The invention described herein provides a method of levelling floor panels supported
by pedestals at adjacent corners of said floor panels comprising of the steps of
positioning said pedestals having telescoping threaded members at the corners of
said adjacent floor panels for support said floor panels; accessing said telescoping
threaded members by tools capable of threadedly adjusting the height of said telescoping
threaded members from above said floor panels.
Although the preferred embodiment as well as the operation and use have
been specifically described in relation to the drawings, it should be understood
that variations in the preferred embodiment could be achieved by a person skilled
in the trade without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed herein.
*
