Perforated decking

• US 7,156,243 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Design Assistance
• Original Assignee: Design Assistance Construction Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Henning, John T., Cross, David J., Culpepper, Bert Y. Jr., Kircher, Timothy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US10/403,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 211/153, 211/183, 108/51.3, 108/53.1, 108/51.11, 108/901, 108/902, 526/30, 524/50, 522/204, 521/80, 523/36, 428/182, 428/132
• US Class Current: 211/153
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/02 made of metal only
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/021 Structural features of shelf bases

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 at least one of the top horizontal surfaces has a plurality of first apertures, the first apertures each having a downwardly sloping flange;

wherein at least one of the bottom surfaces has a plurality of second apertures;

and wherein the corrugated decking has an open area comprising at least fifty percent of a total area in plan view of the corrugated decking, the open area being formed at least by the first apertures and the second apertures.

2. The decking of claim 1, wherein the second apertures each have a downwardly sloping flange.

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 chat 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 cop 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 cop 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 at least one of the top horizontal surfaces has 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 at least one of the transition surfaces has a plurality of third apertures, each third aperture having a downwardly sloping flange.

17. 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

at least one of the top horizontal surfaces has a non-skid surface, the non-skid surface comprising a plurality of shapes embossed in the top horizontal surfaces.

18. A storage rack having as shelving the decking of claim 17.

19. A floor deck having as decking the decking of claim 17.

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 corrugated decking, comprising:

a plurality of top horizontal surfaces;

a plurality of bottom surfaces;

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

wherein at least one of the top horizontal surfaces has a plurality of first apertures, the first apertures each having a downwardly sloping flange;

wherein the corrugated decking has an open area comprising at least fifty percent of a total area in plan view of the corrugated decking, the open area being formed at least by the first apertures; and

wherein the transition surfaces are at an angle relative to the top horizontal surfaces and bottom surfaces such that two identical pieces of the corrugated 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.

23. The decking of claim 22, wherein at least one of the bottom surfaces has a plurality of second apertures.

24. The decking of claim 23, wherein the second apertures each have a downwardly sloping flange.

25. The decking of claim 22, wherein the bottom surfaces are horizontal.

26. The decking of claim 22, 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.