Flooring system

• US 6,526,710 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Killen
• Original Assignee: Andrew Killen
• Inventors: Killen, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Application Number:
  US09/529,841
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 522/201, 522/202, 521/266, 522/205, 522/203, 521/77, 521/05, 525/851, 428/174
• US Class Current: 52/220.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02411 with integrated feet E04F15/02417 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/10 of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite tiles, hardboard , or with a top layer of other materials

Abstract

A flooring system includes a board (6) having a lower surface (2) in which arcuate grooves (3) are formed. Grooves (3) are arranged in a grid, having points of intersection (5). Each groove (3) extends from one edge of the board to the opposite edge of the board. The grooves serve to enable the passage of electrical wire which might be used for telephones, computers, hi-fi systems or other applications. The system makes such cabling unobtrusive and is particularly suitable where access to an under floor area is limited or non-existent.

Claims

1. A flooring system including:

a board having a substantially planar upper surface and a lower surface, and at least one groove extending from an edge of the lower surface to another edge of the lower surface, the or each groove being sized to receive at least one cable;

the board further including at least one discrete recess located in the at least one side wall; and

at least one inflexible connecting element, each inflexible connecting element adapted for insertion in a respective one of the recesses and further adapted for being inserted into one of the recesses of an adjacent board in use of the system to interlock the boards to restrict their displacement relative to each other

such that the inflexible connecting element alone interlocks adjacent boards and when in use is concealed from view at the planar upper surface in a manner so as to prevent access to that element.

2. The flooring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the boards are placed such that the at least one groove is aligned with a groove of another board.

3. The flooring system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the or each board is substantially rectangular or square in shape.

4. The flooring system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the or each groove is straight and extends from an edge of the lower surface to an opposite edge of the lower surface of the or each board.

5. The flooring system as claimed in claim 4 wherein each board in the system has a plurality of grooves which are arranged in a grid.

6. The flooring system as claimed in claim 5 wherein each groove is substantially arched or arcuate in profile.

7. The flooring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each board has four side walls with the least one recess in each side thereof, each of the recesses being adapted to receive the inflexible connecting element, the inflexible connecting element being also received in one of the recesses of an adjacent like board to restrict at least one of a vertical and a horizontal displacement of the boards relative to each other when positioned.

8. The flooring system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the inflexible connecting element is an elongate member.

9. The flooring system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the elongate member is a dowel.

10. The flooring system as claimed in claim 9 wherein markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate at least one of the location of the grooves and the junctions where one of the grooves intersects with another of the grooves.

11. The flooring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each board is made from particle board, plywood, or a dense plastics material.

12. The flooring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each board is substantially rectangular or square in shape.

13. The flooring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each groove is straight and extends from an edge of the lower surface to an opposite edge of the lower surface of the or each board.

14. The flooring system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the or each groove is straight and extends from an edge of the lower surface to an opposite edge of the lower surface of the or each board.

15. The flooring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each board in the system has a plurality of grooves which are arranged in a grid.

16. The flooring system as claimed in claim 2 wherein each board in the system has a plurality of grooves which are arranged in a grid.

17. The flooring system as claimed in claim 3 wherein each board in the system has a plurality of grooves which are arranged in a grid.

18. The flooring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each groove is substantially arched or arcuate in profile.

19. The flooring system as claimed in claim 2 wherein each groove is substantially arched or arcuate in profile.

20. The flooring system as claimed in claim 3 wherein each groove is substantially arched or arcuate in profile.

21. The flooring system as claimed in claim 4 wherein each groove is substantially arched or arcuate in profile.

22. The flooring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate at least one of the location of the grooves and the junctions where one of the grooves intersects with another of the grooves.

23. The flooring system as claimed in claim 2 wherein markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate at least one of the location of the grooves and the junctions where one of the grooves intersects with another of the grooves.

24. The flooring system as claimed in claim 3 wherein markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate at least one of the location of the grooves and the junctions where one of the grooves intersects with another of the grooves.

25. The flooring system as claimed in claim 4 wherein markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate at least one of the location of the grooves and the junctions where one of the grooves intersects with another of the grooves.

26. The flooring system as claimed in claim 5 wherein markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate at least one of the location of the grooves and the junctions where one of the grooves intersects with another of the grooves.

27. The flooring system as claimed in claim 6 wherein markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate at least one of the location of the grooves and the junctions where one of the grooves intersects with another of the grooves.

28. The flooring system as claimed in claim 7 wherein markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate at least one of the location of the grooves and the junctions where one of the grooves intersects with another of the grooves.

29. The flooring system as claimed in claim 8 wherein markings are applied to the upper surface of each board to indicate at least one of the location of the grooves and the junctions where one of the grooves intersects with another of the grooves.

30. A method for installing a flooring system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a board having a substantially planar upper surface and a lower surface having at least one groove formed therein, with at least one side wall extending between the upper and the lower surfaces and at least one groove extending from an edge of the lower surface to another edge of the lower surface, the or each groove being sized to receive at least one cable, the board further including at least one discrete recess located in the at least one side wall;

(b) providing at least one inflexible connecting element, each inflexible connecting element adapted for insertion in one of the recesses and further adapted for being inserted into one of the recesses of an adjacent board in use of the system to interlock the boards to restrict their displacement relative to each other such that the element alone interlocks the adjacent boards;

(c) laying a plurality of the boards of an existing floor with the boards placed such that the at least one groove is aligned with one of the grooves of another board; and

(d) aligning the recess in the at least one side wall of one of the boards with another of the recesses of an adjacent board to enable the insertion of the inflexible connecting element in both recesses such that the inflexible connecting element in use is concealed from view at the planar upper surface in a manner so as to prevent access to that element.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30 further comprising the step of running the at least one cable through at least one groove of the boards.