Perforated decking

• US 20070034583A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bert Culpepper, David Cross, John Henning, Timothy Kircher
• Original Assignee: Bert Culpepper, David Cross, John Henning, Timothy Kircher
• Inventors: Cross, David, Henning, John, Kircher, Timothy, Culpepper, Bert
• Application Number:
  US11/584,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034583A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/153
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/021 Structural features of shelf bases
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/322 with parallel corrugations
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/427 Expanded metal or other monolithic gratings

Abstract

A corrugated decking is provided that has a plurality of top horizontal surfaces, a plurality of bottom surfaces, and a plurality of transition surfaces, each transition surface connecting one of the top horizontal surfaces to one of the bottom surfaces. One of the top horizontal surfaces has a plurality of apertures, the apertures having downwardly sloping flanges surrounding each aperture.

Claims

1. A corrugated decking, comprising:

a plurality of top horizontal surfaces;

a plurality of bottom surfaces; and

a plurality of transition surfaces, each transition surface connecting one of the top horizontal surfaces to one of the bottom surfaces,

wherein one of the top horizontal surfaces has a plurality of apertures,

the apertures having downwardly sloping flanges surrounding each aperture.

2. The decking of claim 1, wherein one of the bottom surfaces has a plurality of apertures having downwardly sloping flanges surrounding each aperture.

3. The decking of claim 1, wherein the bottom surfaces are horizontal.

4. The decking of claim 1, wherein the transition surfaces are substantially vertical.

5. The decking of claim 1, wherein the transition surfaces are at an angle of between 90 and 120 degrees relative to the top horizontal surfaces.

6. The decking of claim 5, wherein the transition surfaces are at an angle of between 90 and 110 degrees relative to the top horizontal surfaces.

7. The decking of claim 1, wherein the transition surfaces are at an angle relative to the top horizontal surfaces such that two identical pieces of the decking are stackable with each other and, when stacked, the bottom surfaces of an upper one of the two pieces of decking are below a level of the top horizontal surfaces of a lower one of the two pieces of decking.

8. The decking of claim 1, wherein a width of a first one of the top horizontal surfaces is defined as a distance in a transverse direction between a first point where a first one of the transition surfaces contacts the first top horizontal surface and a second point where a second one of the transition surfaces contacts the first top horizontal surface,

a width of a first valley is defined as a distance in the transverse direction between the second point and a third point where a third one of the transition surfaces contacts a second one of the top horizontal surfaces, the second top horizontal surface being adjacent the first top horizontal surface, and

the width of the first top horizontal surface is greater than the width of the first valley.

9. The decking of claim 8, wherein the width of the first top horizontal. surface is at least twice the width of the first valley.

10. The decking of claim 8, wherein the width of the first valley is less than one inch.

11. The decking of claim 1, wherein the top horizontal surfaces have a non-skid surface.

12. The decking of claim 11, wherein the non-skid surface comprises a plurality of shapes embossed in the top horizontal surfaces.

13. The decking of claim 12, wherein the plurality of shapes embossed in the top horizontal surfaces form a predetermined pattern.

14. The decking of claim 1, wherein the apertures are arranged in a predetermined pattern.

15. The decking of claim 14, wherein the apertures on a first top horizontal surface are arranged in a first predetermined pattern, the apertures on a second top horizontal surface are arranged in a second predetermined pattern and the first predetermined pattern is different than the second predetermined pattern.

16. The decking of claim 1, wherein the apertures occupy at least fifty percent of a total area in plan view of the top horizontal surfaces and the bottom surfaces.

17. The decking of claim 1, wherein one of the transition surfaces has a plurality of apertures having downwardly sloping flanges surrounding each aperture.

18. The decking of claim 1 ;

wherein a width of a first one of the top horizontal surfaces is defined as a distance in a transverse direction between a first point where a first one of the transition surfaces contacts the first top horizontal surface and a second point where a second one of the transition surfaces contacts the first top horizontal surface,

a width of a first valley is defined as a distance in the transverse direction between the second point and a third point where a third one of the transition surfaces contacts a second one of the top horizontal surfaces, the second top horizontal surface being adjacent the first top horizontal surface,

the width of the first top horizontal surface is greater than the width of the first valley,

the transition surfaces are at an angle relative to the top horizontal surfaces such that two identical pieces of the decking are stackable with each other and, when stacked, the bottom surfaces of an upper one of the two pieces of decking are below a level of the top horizontal surfaces of a lower one of the two pieces of decking, and

the top horizontal surfaces have a non-skid surface, the non-skid surface comprising a plurality of shapes embossed in the top horizontal surfaces.

19. A storage rack having as shelving the decking of claim 18.

20. A storage rack having as shelving the decking of claim 1.

21. A floor deck having as decking the decking of claim 1.

22. A floor deck having as decking the decking of claim 18.

23. A corrugated decking, comprising:

a plurality of top horizontal surfaces; and

a plurality of transition surfaces, each transition surface connecting one of the top horizontal surfaces to another one of the transition surfaces,

wherein one of the top horizontal surfaces has a plurality of apertures,

the apertures having downwardly sloping flanges surrounding each aperture.

24. The decking of claim 23, wherein one of the transition surfaces has a plurality of apertures having downwardly sloping flanges surrounding each aperture.

25. The decking of claim 23, wherein the transition surfaces are at an angle of between 90 and 120 degrees relative to the top horizontal surfaces.

26. The decking of claim 25, wherein the transition surfaces are at an angle of between 90 and 110 degrees relative to the top horizontal surfaces.

27. The decking of claim 23, wherein the transition surfaces are at an angle relative to the top horizontal surfaces such that two identical pieces of the decking are stackable with each other and, when stacked, an edge where two of the transition surfaces of an upper one of the two pieces of decking contact each other is below a level of the top horizontal surfaces of a lower one of the two pieces of decking.

28. The decking of claim 23, wherein a width of a first one of the top horizontal surfaces is defined as a distance in a transverse direction between a first point where a first one of the transition surfaces contacts the first top horizontal surface and a second point where a second one of the transition surfaces contacts the first top horizontal surface,

a width of a first valley is defined as a distance in the transverse direction between the second point and a third point where a third one of the transition surfaces contacts a second one of the top horizontal surfaces, the second top horizontal surface being adjacent the first top horizontal surface, and

the width of the first top horizontal surface is greater than the width of the first valley.

29. The decking of claim 28, wherein the width of the first top horizontal surface is at least twice the width of the first valley.

30. The decking of claim 28, wherein the width of the first valley is less than one inch.

31. The decking of claim 23, wherein the top horizontal surfaces have a non-skid surface.

32. The decking of claim 31, wherein the non-skid surface comprises a plurality of shapes embossed in the top horizontal surfaces.

33. The decking of claim 32, wherein the plurality of shapes embossed in the top horizontal surfaces form a predetermined pattern.

34. The decking of claim 23, wherein the apertures are arranged in a predetermined pattern.

35. The decking of claim 34, wherein the apertures on a first top horizontal surface are arranged in a first predetermined pattern, the apertures on a second top horizontal surface are arranged in a second predetermined pattern and the first predetermined pattern is different than the second predetermined pattern.

36. The decking of claim 23, wherein the apertures occupy at least fifty percent of a total area in plan view of the top horizontal surfaces and the transition surfaces.

37. The decking of claim 23, wherein a width of a first one of the top horizontal surfaces is defined as a distance in a transverse direction between a first point where a first one of the transition surfaces contacts the first top horizontal surface and a second point where a second one of the transition surfaces contacts the first top horizontal surface,

a width of a first valley is defined as a distance in the transverse direction between the second point and a third point where a third one of the transition surfaces contacts a second one of the top horizontal surfaces, the second top horizontal surface being adjacent the first top horizontal surface,

the width of the first top horizontal surface is greater than the width of the first valley,

the transition surfaces are at an angle relative to the top horizontal surfaces such that two identical pieces of the decking are stackable with each other and, when stacked, an edge where two of the transition surfaces of an upper one of the two pieces of decking contact each other is below a level of the top horizontal surfaces of a lower one of the two pieces of decking, and

the top horizontal surfaces have a non-skid surface, the non-skid surface comprising a plurality of shapes embossed in the top horizontal surfaces.

38. A storage rack having as shelving the decking of claim 36.

39. A storage rack having as shelving the decking of claim 23.

40. A floor deck having as decking the decking of claim 23.

41. A floor deck having as decking the decking of claim 36.