BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a floor assembly for placing a floor on an existing surface,
comprising floorboards and supports for supporting the floorboards.
[0002] Such floors are for instance placed on an existing gallery floor in order to reduce
the differences in height between the existing gallery floor and the thresholds of
doors at the gallery. In addition the gallery is given a fine finish. The floor is
built up by sawing off the supports at the desired height, after which the floorboards
are placed on the supports. The downward oriented edges of the floorboards then end
up in the recesses of the supports.
[0003] The height of the floor and thus the length of the supports that have been sawn off
varies per gallery, for instance between 5 and 20 cm. The supports have a standard
length that just suffices to be sawn off at 17 cm. In case of larger floor heights
much longer supports are used, for instance 35 cm long. In case of a floor height
of for instance 18 cm relatively much waste is created, because nearly half of the
longer support is sawn off.
[0004] When the floorboards are walked over, the walking sounds produced therewith are largely
transferred via the supports to the gallery floor, as a result of which noise pollution
may arise for the gallery therebelow.
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a floor assembly for placing a floor
on an existing surface, wherein less waste is created under the given circumstances
when sawing the supports to size.
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a floor assembly for placing a floor
on an existing surface, wherein the height with respect to the existing surface can
be varied over a large range.
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a floor assembly for placing a floor
on an existing surface, wherein the transfer of sound to the existing surface is reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention, from one aspect, provides a floor assembly for placing a floor built
up from floorboards on an existing surface, comprising supports for supporting the
floorboards, wherein the supports have been built up from several support members
that can be placed onto each other, wherein the support members comprise an insertion
part and an accommodating counterpart that are adjusted to one another for partially
inserting the support members into each other, preferably clampingly.
[0009] Because the supports have been built up from several support members, they can be
placed onto each other or be stacked in order to bring the floor at height. It may
suffice that one of these support members that have been placed onto each other is
sawn to size. As a result the quantity of waste can remain limited.
[0010] The support members are easy to handle and place into each other if the support members
are similar.
[0011] Preferably the supports have been built up using similar, preferably identical support
members, that have been manufactured from a material that can be shortened, preferably
be shortened using a saw. Similar or identical support members can then be delivered
as one stock of the same type to the floor supplier or to the location where the floor
will be installed, after which per support only one support member has to be sawn
to size if necessary. Said support member can be shortened, for instance by sawing
it off prior to delivery of the floor or at the location of installation.
[0012] In a first development the support members comprise a cylindrical, preferably circle-cylindrical
circumferential wall having a wall thickness that remains substantially the same in
circumferential direction, wherein the circumferential wall bounds an accommodation
space of the accommodating part. Such a support member can simply be shortened by
sawing the cylindrical circumferential wall to size. The pre-shaped assembly of insertion
part and accommodation part can then remain intact for inserting the support members
into each other.
[0013] In one embodiment thereof the circumferential wall comprises a free, circular first
circumferential edge spaced apart from the insertion part, wherein the first circumferential
edge defines a first support surface for the support member, which support surface
extends transverse to the insertion direction. In that way the support member can
be placed on the existing surface with the insertion part upward.
[0014] The insertion part can be kept as high as possible above the floor when the first
circumferential edge defines a first support surface for the support member, which
support surface extends transverse to the insertion direction, wherein the first support
surface defines a head or end face of the insertion part.
[0015] In one embodiment the support member comprises a second support surface for the floorboards,
preferably for a downward projecting edge of the floorboards, wherein the circumferential
wall and the second support surface preferably form one unity. The second support
surface can be placed simultaneously with the circumferential wall, ready to support
the floorboards.
[0016] Passing on walking sounds from the floorboards to the existing surface can be counteracted
if on the second support surface a supporting layer of sound insulating material has
been provided.
[0017] Pressure forces on the floor can be passed on to the existing surface in a stable
manner via the cylindrical circumferential edges if the cylindrical circumferential
wall comprises a preferably circular second circumferential edge that is counter the
circular first circumferential edge, which circular second circumferential edge defines
a third support surface of the support member, which support surface extends transverse
to the insertion direction.
[0018] The support members that have been inserted onto and partially into each other can
remain positioned straight onto each other if the third support surface is bounded
by a first positioning surface extending in the insertion direction and in radial
direction inwardly offset with respect to the circumferential wall for abutment against
a second positioning surface on the circumferential wall of a next support member.
[0019] The support members that have been inserted into each other can be prevented from
inadvertently pushing further into each other due to use of the floor, if the first
and second support surface in the situation in which they have been placed onto one
another abut fittingly on each other.
[0020] The supports may stably rest sidewards onto each other if the second and/or third
support surface is situated along an outside of a support member, preferably circular.
[0021] Pressure forces may in particular be stably passed on to the existing surface if
the circumferential walls of the support members that have been inserted onto and
partially into each other are contiguous and substantially in line with each other,
wherein in the insertion direction the cylinder wall preferably extends continuously
straight between the first and second circumferential edge.
[0022] In one embodiment the insertion part and the accommodating part comprise a first
and second clamping surface, respectively, preferably extending in the insertion direction,
wherein the first and second clamping surface of support members that are inserted
into each other clampingly abut each other under slight deformation of the insertion
part and/or the accommodating part. Due to the clamping the correct mutual positioning
of the support members that have been placed onto each other can be permanently maintained.
Clamping can in that case remain substantially concentrated around the clamping surfaces,
as a result of which the insertion part and accommodating part can be taken out of
each other for installing the floor.
[0023] When the first and/or second clamping surface preferably project transverse to the
insertion direction with respect to the first and/or second positioning surface, the
clamping can take place substantially around the first and/or second clamping surface,
wherein in response to the deformation occurring therewith the first and second positioning
surface may fittingly abut each other. A clamping fit is therefore effected between
the insertion part and the accommodating part.
[0024] In a simple embodiment the first and/or second clamping surface is situated on a
raised clamping edge extending in insertion direction.
[0025] Positioning and/or clamping can take place in several directions transverse to the
insertion direction when the support members comprise several first and/or second
positioning surfaces and/or first and/or second clamping surfaces that are positioned
circular in circumferential direction, and preferably are interrupted. In this way
a proper fit can be achieved, preferably clamping. The interruption can also be used
for positioning the floorboards with respect to the support members by accommodating
a part of a downward projecting edge of the floorboard therein.
[0026] The support members can be self-loosening from an injection mould if the support
members are tapered, conical or cone-shaped in support or insertion direction.
[0027] Preferably the support members have been manufactured from synthetic material, preferably
an injection mouldable synthetic material, preferably polypropene or PVC.
[0028] In a lightweight yet strong embodiment the support members comprise an almost circle-cylindrical
part that preferably is at least partially hollow at the inside.
[0029] The invention furthermore, according to a further aspect, provides a method for placing
a floor assembly on an existing surface, wherein the floor assembly comprises floorboards
and supports for supporting the floorboards, wherein the supports are built up using
several support members that are placed onto each other and partially into each other,
wherein at least some of the supports are brought at the desired height by shortening
one support member per support, preferably the bottom support member.
[0030] The invention furthermore, according to a further aspect, provides a support member
intended and suitable for the floor assembly described above according to the invention.
[0031] The aspects and measures described in this description and claims of the application
and/or shown in the drawings of this application may where possible also be used individually.
Said individual aspects, such as the layer of sound insulating material in a support
member, and other aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications relating
thereto. This applies in particular to the measures and aspects that have been described
per se in the sub claims.
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments
shown in the attached drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view, partially in cross-section, of a raised floor with
supports according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows an isometric bottom view of a floorboard of the floor as shown in figure
1;
Figure 3 shows an isometric view of two support members that have been taken apart
from each other, which together form one of the composite supports as shown in figure
1, prior to sawing the bottom support member to size;
Figure 4A shows a side view of the top support member as shown in figure 3, wherein
for clarity's sake a side section has been cut away;
Figure 4B shows a top view of the top support member as shown in figures 3 and 4A;
Figure 4C shows a side view of the support according to figure 3, in composite situation,
after sawing the bottom support member to size; and
Figure 5 shows an isometric view of a foot for the supports according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] Figure 1 shows a part of a raised floor 1 according to the invention. The raised
floor 1 has been placed on a recessed gallery floor 2. The floor 1 has been built
up from floorboards or flooring tiles 4 that are borne by composite supports 5. The
floorboards 4 are covered by a carpeting 6 which by means of fastening means that
are not further shown is attached along the circumference of the floor 1. Both the
floorboards 4 and the composite supports 5 may have been manufactured from thermosetting
or thermoplastic synthetic materials, such as PVC.
[0034] The floorboards 4, as shown in figures 1 and 2, comprise a substantially level top
surface 8 and a circumferential edge or side edge 9, which with a certain length projects
in a direction facing away from the top surface 8. In the built-up condition of the
floor 1 said side edges 9 face downward. The floorboards 4 have been provided with
openings 10 that run through the top surface 8. Due to said openings 10 water in the
carpeting can be discharged. Moreover the openings 10 can be used for by means of
a hook lifting the floorboard 4 after it has been placed, after which the space underneath
the floor 1 may for instance be hosed clean.
[0035] As shown in figure 2 the bottom sides of the floorboards 4 have been provided with
webs or ribs 11 that are transverse to each other and parallel to the side edges 9.
The distance between two adjacently placed webs 11 is always the same. The webs 11
and the side edges 9 therefore subdivide the bottom side of the floorboard 4 in equal-sized
square boxes or spaces 12. The wall thickness of 9 is substantially equal to the wall
thickness of the webs 11.
[0036] One of the composite supports or carriers 5 is shown in figure 3 prior to the installation
thereof. In this example the support 5 has been built up from two support members
7A, 7B which in support direction A are partially inserted into each other. In figures
4A and 4B one of the support members, the upper support member 7A is shown in top
view and side view. The support members 7A, 7B have been built up from hollow cylinders
23 which at the upper side have been closed off with a supporting wall 24, and which
at the bottom side leave an accommodation opening 28 open. The cylinder wall 23 around
the accommodation opening 28 at the bottom side forms a circular support edge 21.
The hollow cylinder wall 23 and the accommodation opening 28 define an accommodating
part 33 of the support members 7A, 7B. At the inside the support members 7A, 7B are
provided with two transverse partitions 16 that are at right angles to each other
and which together form a cross bond for reinforcement of the support members 7A,
7B. At the upper side the transverse partitions are connected to the supporting wall
24, and with the bottom side are spaced apart from the support edge 21.
[0037] The upper side of the support members 7A, 7B have been provided with four substantially
equally high merlons 15 having an inwardly offset position with respect to the outer
wall of the hollow cylinder 23, as a result of which a circular support edge 20 has
been formed, which counter to the insertion direction A is offset with respect to
the circular upper edge members 31. The merlons 15 and the support edge 20 define
an insertion part 30 of the support members 7A, 7B. Between the merlons 15 four recesses
13 have been formed. As shown in figures 4A and 4B in the space between the merlons
a layer of sound insulating material 26 can be arranged on the supporting wall 24.
Between the circular support edge 20 and the circular support edge 21 the cylinder
wall 23 extends continuously straight in the insertion direction, which means that
there are no step-wise diameter changes at the outside of the cylinder wall 23 between
the support edges 20, 21.
[0038] At the outside the merlons 15 have been provided with a partially cylindrical raised
clamping edge 14 extending in insertion direction A. The raised clamping edges 14
in top view are situated in the extension of the transverse partitions 16. The dimensional
relation of the support members 7A, 7B is such that the outer diameter D3 of the raised
clamping edges 14 is larger than the inner diameter D2 of the accommodation opening,
and the outer diameter D4 of the merlons 15 as measured adjacent to the raised clamping
edges 15 is smaller than the inner diameter D2 of the accommodation opening 28.
[0039] The dimensional relation between the support members 7A, 7B and spaces 12 is such
that the largest diameter D5 of a support member 7A, 7B is slightly smaller than the
sum of the width of two spaces 12 and the width of a rib 11. As a result of this dimensional
relation any merlon 15 can be placed with a little play in one of the spaces 12 at
the bottom side of a floorboard 4. The depth of the recesses 13 is smaller than the
length of the side edges 9 of the floorboards 4, so that the ends of the side edges
9 rest on supporting wall 24 or, if present, on the layer of sound insulating material
26. The width of the recesses 13 is such that two side edges 9 of two floorboards
4 to be placed adjacent to each other, can be placed adjacently in a recess 13. The
insertion parts 30 of the upper support members 7A of the supports 5 thus not only
serve as carrier but also as coupling element for coupling two, three or four floorboards
4.
[0040] Figure 5 shows a synthetic foot 40 to be placed underneath the supports 5. The foot
40 comprises a circular bottom plate 41 having raised, circular outer edge sections
42 that mutually leave recesses 43 open, and raised inner edge sections 44 opposite
the recesses 43 that follow the curvature of the outer edge sections 42. The cylinder
wall 23 of the bottom support member 7B can be placed between the inner edge sections
44 and the outer edge sections 42 in order to protect the bottom edge 21.
[0041] The support members 7A, 7B are identical prior to being installed, and together with
the floorboards 4 are delivered in bulk to the location of installation of the raised
floor 1. When installing the bottom support member 7B is sawn to size at the bottom
side along saw line 25 in order to bring the composite support 5 at the correct height.
The saw cut 25 can be arranged up to the bottom edge of the transverse partitions
in order to retain the shape stability and shape rigidity of the upper support member
7A. The pre-shaped insertion part 30 of the bottom support member 7B, and the support
edge of the upper support member 7A remain untouched, as a result of which a proper
and durable mutual placement of the support members 7A, 7B is guaranteed. The as a
result of the saw cut 25 newly formed support edge 21 around the accommodation opening
28, remains sufficiently strong for supporting the floor 1 on the gallery floor 2.
If due to the desired support height a saw cut is desired that in principle has to
be made through the transverse partitions 16, both support members 7A, 7B can be shortened
according to a saw cut 25, 32. The accommodation shape of the accommodation part 33
of the upper support member 7A is not affected by it.
[0042] By inserting the merlons 15 in the accommodation space 28 a transverse clamping is
realised at the location of the raised clamping edges 15. The resulting slight outward
deformation of the cylinder wall 23 at the location of the raised clamping edges 1
5 ensures an opposite, inward movement of the cylinder wall 23 between the merlons
15. The transverse partitions 16 prevent a deformation of the insertion part 30. Due
to the deformation the cylinder wall 23 at the location of the recesses 13 will fittingly
abut the merlons 15. This ensures a play-free and squeak-noise proof fit between the
support members 7A, 7B that can still be lifted manually. The bottom edge 21 rests
fittingly all round on the circular support edge 20, and the cylinder walls 23 of
the support members 7A and 7B are in line with each other.
[0043] If necessary the transverse partitions 16 of the upper support member 7A can be accommodated
in the recesses 13 of the bottom support member 7B. If the saw cut 32 is arranged
in the upper support member 7A, the fit around the merlons 15 will advantageously
be tighter due to the conicity of the cylinder wall 23 in the direction of the insertion
part 30.
1. Floor assembly for placing a floor built up from floorboards on an existing surface,
comprising supports for supporting the floorboards, wherein the supports have been
built up from several support members that can be placed onto each other, wherein
the support members comprise an insertion part and an accommodating counterpart that
are adjusted to one another for partially inserting the support members into each
other, preferably clampingly.
2. Floor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the support members are similar, and/or
wherein the supports have been built up using similar, preferably identical support
members, that have been manufactured from a material that can be shortened, preferably
be shortened using a saw.
3. Floor assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support members comprise a cylindrical
circumferential wall having a wall thickness that remains substantially the same in
circumferential direction, wherein the circumferential wall bounds an accommodation
space of the accommodating part, wherein the circumferential wall near the accommodation
space preferably comprises a free, preferably circular first circumferential edge
spaced apart from the insertion part, wherein the first circumferential edge defines
a first support surface for the support member, which support surface extends transverse
to the insertion direction, wherein the first support surface defines a head or end
face of the insertion part.
4. Floor assembly according to claim 3, wherein the support member comprises a second
support surface for the floorboards, preferably for a downward projecting edge of
the floorboards, wherein the circumferential wall and the second support surface preferably
form one unity, and wherein on the second support surface preferably a supporting
layer of sound insulating material has been provided.
5. Floor assembly according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cylindrical circumferential
wall comprises a preferably circular second circumferential edge that is counter the
circular first circumferential edge, which circular second circumferential edge defines
a third support surface of the support member which surface extends transverse to
the insertion direction, wherein the third support surface preferably is bounded by
a first positioning surface extending in the insertion direction and in radial direction
inwardly offset with respect to the circumferential wall for abutment against a second
positioning surface on the circumferential wall of a next support member, wherein
the first and second support surface in the situation in which they have been placed
onto one another preferably abut fittingly on each other, wherein the second and third
support surface preferably merge into one another.
6. Floor assembly according to any one of the claims 3-5, wherein the circumferential
walls of the support members that have been inserted onto and partially into each
other are contiguous and substantially in line with each other, wherein in the insertion
direction the cylinder wall preferably extends continuously straight between the first
and second circumferential edge.
7. Floor assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion
part and the accommodating part comprise a first and second clamping surface, respectively,
preferably extending in the insertion direction, wherein the first and second clamping
surface of support members that are inserted into each other clampingly abut each
other under slight deformation of the insertion part and/or the accommodating part,
wherein the first and/or second clamping surface preferably project transverse to
the insertion direction with respect to the first and/or second positioning surface,
wherein the first and/or second clamping surface preferably is situated on a raised
clamping edge extending in insertion direction.
8. Floor assembly according to any one of the claims 5-7, wherein the support members
comprise several first and/or second positioning surfaces and/or first and/or second
clamping surfaces that are positioned circular in circumferential direction, and preferably
are interrupted.
9. Floor assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support members
are tapered, conical or cone-shaped in support or insertion direction.
10. Floor assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support members
have been manufactured from synthetic material, preferably an injection mouldable
synthetic material, preferably polypropene or PVC.
11. Method for placing a floor assembly on an existing surface, wherein the floor assembly
comprises floorboards and supports for supporting the floorboards, wherein the supports
are built up using several support members that are placed onto each other and partially
into each other, wherein at least some of the supports are brought at the desired
height by shortening one support member per support, preferably the bottom support
member.
12. Support member intended and suitable for a floor assembly according to any one of
the preceding claims.
13. Building having a gallery comprising a floor assembly according to any one of the
claims 1-10.
14. Package suitable for assembling a floor to be placed on an existing surface, comprising
a floorboard and/or a support member according to any one of the claims 1-10.