Flooring system

Abstract

A flooring system for use on a planar base surface including a plurality of rectangular panels matingly secured together; a plurality of plastic rectangular base members comprising top latches to be lockingly secured to the panels and an arrangement to be matingly secured to an adjacent base member; a plurality of parallel transverse supports comprising two recessed seats of cross-section between two ends; and a plurality of longitudinal supports comprising first and second T members and a cross member between the T members. Tops and bottoms of the base members, the transverse supports, and the longitudinal supports are flush. Ends of the transverse support are rotatably fitted in side sleeves of two opposite base members. Cross members are lockingly fitted in the recessed seats.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to flooring systems and more particularly to such a flooring system with enhanced underlying support structure.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, flooring systems are available in short panels. One type of panel is made of wood fibers, i.e., wood floor. Prior art wood floors are often subject to warping, twisting, and/or cupping. The invention described later is an outgrowth of earlier work by the present inventor hereof, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,000 B1, entitled “Clamping Device for Combined Floors”, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. The patent has been successfully used in a commercial application. However, no fixing arrangement is provided to fasten two adjacent base members.

U.K. Patent No. 2,410,259 B, entitled “Clamping Device for Supporting Floor Boards” was also an earlier work of the present inventor and was an improvement of above U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,000. Two parallel rods are provided to securely interconnect two adjacent clamping seats. However, longitudinal fixing arrangement is not provided to enhance the interconnection of two adjacent clamping seats. Further, it may hinder disassembly or assembly. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a flooring system having an enhanced underlying support structure.

To achieve the above and other objects, the invention provides a flooring system for use on a generally planar base surface, comprising a plurality of rectangular panels comprising an elongated tongue on one side edge, an elongated groove on the other opposite side edge, a first cut abutted the groove, a second cut under the tongue, two bottom first troughs, and a bottom second trough parallel with the first trough; a plurality of plastic rectangular base members comprising a transverse top latch of substantially T-section, a transverse top latching member at the other end being parallel with the latch, a recess at one end being proximate to the latch, two sleeves projecting out of both sides of the recess respectively, two islands proximate to both sides of one end respectively, each of the islands having a receptacle, a channel for separating the island from the side of the recess, two latched elements projecting upward from both sides of the recess respectively, and a hollow, compartmented, rectangular guiding unit projecting out of the other end and comprising two blocks proximate to both sides respectively; two biasing members each disposed in the receptacle; a plurality of parallel transverse supports comprising at least one recessed seat of cross-section between two ends; and a plurality of longitudinal supports comprising first and second T members and a cross member between the first and second T members, wherein the latched elements are lockingly fitted in the first troughs, the latching member is lockingly fitted in the second trough, the latch is lockingly fitted in the first cut of one panel and the second cut of an adjacent panel, the biasing members expand to urge against the blocks, the tongue of one panel is lockingly fitted in the groove of an adjacent panel, tops of the base members, the transverse supports, and the longitudinal supports are flush, bottoms of the base members, the transverse supports, and the longitudinal supports are flush, the ends of the transverse support are rotatably fitted in the sleeves, and the cross members are lockingly fitted in the recessed seats.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of flooring system according to the invention where some panels are removed to expose underlying support structure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a unit of the support structure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base member;

FIG. 4 is is a top plan view of the base member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 6 depicting steps of assembling the transverse supports with the base member;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the assembled transverse supports and base member shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two assembled base members;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an assembly of the flooring system; and

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of FIG. 1 showing an installation of the flooring system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 11, a flooring system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

A plurality of rectangular panels 10 are made of wood. The panel 10 comprises an elongated tongue 11 formed on one side edge, an elongated groove 13 formed on the other opposite side edge, a first cut 14 abutted the groove 13, a second cut 12 under the tongue 11, two short first troughs 15 on the bottom, and an elongated second trough 16 on the bottom being parallel with the first trough 15. The tongue 11 of one panel 10 can be matingly inserted into the groove 13 of an adjacent panel 10 to assemble them together.

A plurality of rectangular base member 20 are made of plastic. The base member 20 comprises a transverse latch 21 of substantially T-section on a top, a transverse latching member 27 on the top being parallel with the latch 21, a recess 25 proximate to the latch 21 but distal from the latching member 27, two sleeves 252 projecting out of both sides of the recess 25 respectively, a rectangular cut 258 on a center of one end, two holes 259 behind the cut 258, two islands 256 proximate to both sides of one end respectively, the island 256 including a spring receptacle 281, an opening 257 facing the cut 258 and being in communication with the spring receptacle 281, and an arcuate segment 28 on a portion of an outer surface of the spring receptacle 281, a channel 29 for separating the island 256 from the side of the base member 20, and two latched elements 26 each projecting upward from one side of the recess 25 and top of the island 256.

The base member 20 further comprises a guiding unit 24 proximate to the latching member 27 but distal from the latch 21 as detailed below (i.e., projecting out of the other end). The rectangular, hollow, compartmented guiding unit 24 comprises two sidewalls 241, a front wall 245, two blocks 246 each disposed in either side compartments of the guiding unit 24, two wings 247 each extending laterally from the block 246 to a wall of a central compartment of the guiding unit 24, a bent lever 248 in the central compartment of the guiding unit 24, and two short pegs 249 on the bottom of the lever 248.

A torsion spring 36 is disposed in each of the two spring receptacles 281 and is stopped by the block 246 when one base member 20 is assembled with an adjacent base member 20. The pegs 249 are matingly inserted into the holes 259 for positioning and fastening purposes when two base members 20 are assembled together. A person may manipulate the lever 248 to facilitate the assembly or disassembly of two base members 20.

A plurality of parallel, elongated transverse supports 30 are provided. The transverse support 30 comprises two enlarged ends 31 and two intermediate recessed seats 32 of cross-section. The ends 31 are shaped to rotatably fit in the sleeves 252 to secure two parallel base members 20 together (see FIG. 8). A plurality of I-shaped longitudinal supports 40 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal support 40 comprises an intermediate cross element 42, a first T element 41 extending from the cross element 42 to the left of the cross element 42, the first T element 41 having a transverse wall 411 at one end, and a second T element 43 extending from the cross element 42 to the right of the cross element 42, the second T element 43 having a transverse wall 431 at the other end. The second T element 43 has a length shorter than that of the first T element 41. The cross elements 42 are lockingly fitted in the recessed seats 32 to secure the transverse support 30 and the longitudinal support 40 together.

The base members 20, the transverse supports 30, and the longitudinal supports 40 together form an underlying support structure of the flooring system. The support structure has a flush bottom surface to be placed upon a generally planar base surface. Hence, the base of the flooring system is flush without warping and/or buckling.

The latched elements 26 are lockingly fitted in the first troughs 15, the latching member 27 is lockingly fitted in the second trough 16, and the latch 21 is lockingly fitted in the first cut 14 of one panel 10 and the second cut 12 of an adjacent panel 10. The springs 36 expand to urge against the blocks 246 to enhance the fastening of the panels 10 and the base members 20. The wings 247 may fit in the openings 257 by smoothly riding downward along the arcuate segments 28. As shown in FIG. 11, the width of the panel 10 is slightly longer that the length of the longitudinal support 40. The top of base members 20, transverse supports 30, and longitudinal supports 40, i.e., the support structure, is also flush. Hence, the panels 10 placed thereon is stable and are not subject to warping, twisting, and/or cupping.

It is contemplated by the invention that in addition to the above advantages an assembly or a disassembly of the flooring system is made easy. That is, the flooring system is a snapping type flooring system.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A flooring system for use on a generally planar base surface, comprising:

a plurality of rectangular panels (10) comprising an elongated tongue (11) on one side edge, an elongated groove (13) on the other opposite side edge, a first cut (14) abutted the groove (13), a second cut (12) under the tongue (11), two bottom first troughs (15), and a bottom second trough (16) parallel with the first trough (15);

a plurality of plastic rectangular base members (20) comprising a transverse top latch (21) of substantially T-section, a transverse top latching member (27) at the other end being parallel with the latch (21), a recess (25) at one end being proximate to the latch (21), two sleeves (252) projecting out of both sides of the recess (25) respectively, two islands (256) proximate to both sides of one end respectively, each of the islands (256) having a receptacle (281), a channel (29) for separating the island (256) from the side of the recess (25), two latched elements (26) each projecting upward from either side of the recess (25) and a top of the island (256), and a hollow, compartmented, rectangular guiding unit (24) projecting out of the other end and comprising two blocks (246) proximate to both sides respectively;

two biasing members (36) each disposed in the receptacle (281);

a plurality of parallel transverse supports (30) comprising at least one recessed seat (32) of cross-section between two ends (31); and

a plurality of longitudinal supports (40) comprising first and second T members (41, 43) and a cross member (42) between the first and second T members (41, 43),

wherein the latched elements (26) are lockingly fitted in the first troughs (15), the latching member (27) is lockingly fitted in the second trough (16), the latch (21) is lockingly fitted in the first cut (14) of one panel (10) and the second cut (12) of an adjacent panel (10), the biasing members (36) expand to urge against the blocks (246), the tongue (11) of one panel (10) is lockingly fitted in the groove (13) of an adjacent panel (10), tops of the base members (20), the transverse supports (30), and the longitudinal supports (40) are flush, bottoms of the base members (20), the transverse supports (30), and the longitudinal supports (40) are flush, the ends (31) of the transverse support (30) are rotatably fitted in the sleeves (252), and the cross members (42) are lockingly fitted in the recessed seats (32).

2. The flooring system of claim 1, further comprising two holes (259) on the recess (25), a bent lever (248) in the guiding unit (24), and two pegs (249) on a bottom of the lever (248), the pegs (249) adapted to lockingly insert into the holes (259).

3. The flooring system of claim 1, further comprising two wings (247) each extending laterally from the block (246) and an opening (257) facing the other island (256) and being in communication with the receptacle (281), the opening (257) being adapted to lockingly receive the wings (247).

4. The flooring system of claim 1, wherein the first T member (41) has a length greater than that of the second T member (43).

5. The flooring system of claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one recessed seat (32) of each transverse support (30) is two.

6. The flooring system of claim 1, wherein the biasing members (36) are torsion springs.