Expansion joint for modular flooring system

• US 8,141,314 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signature Systems Group, LLC (Myers Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Signature Fencing And Flooring Systems LLC
• Inventors: Rosan, Arnon
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stephan, Beth
• Application Number:
  US12/471,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 523/94, 523/95, 524/02, 525/821, 525/915, 525/81, 525/911, 525/891, 525/913, 525/921, 525/922, 525/881, 525/822, 523/021, 523/024
• US Class Current: 52/589.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/105 of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/041 Tongues or grooves with slits or cuts for expansion or flexibility

Abstract

An expansion joint for a modular flooring system in disclosed, which includes the slidable engagement of two subsections of the expansion joint. The expansion joint is sized such that it is equivalent in overall dimension to the intended adjacent modular floor tiles of which it will form a part within a matrix of such interlocked modular floor tiles. The expansion joint is provided with at least one slot on one module, corresponding to at least one locking pin on the other module. The slot receives and restrains the locking pin and permits the slidable engagement along the longitudinal axes thereof.

Claims

1. An expandable modular floor tile comprising:

a first floor tile subsection having a top surface;

at least one leg for supporting said top surface on a substrate;

a receiving sleeve and an interlock for the intermittent connection of said expandable modular floor tile with at least one other modular floor tile;

a second floor tile subsection having a top surface;

at least one leg for supporting said top surface on said substrate;

a support, extending from and integral with said second floor tile subsection, having a top surface and at least one leg, wherein said top surface of said support is supported by said at least one leg on said substrate, said support being sized for slidable, removable engagement with said receiving sleeve of said first floor tile subsection and an interlock for intermittent connection of said expandable modular floor tile with at least one other modular floor tile; and

a lock for the selective, slidable interconnection between said first and second floor tile subsections.

2. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 1, wherein said lock further comprises at least one locking pin provided extending outwardly from at least one of said first and second subsections which slidably engages and is restrained within an elongated aperture in the other of said subsections.

3. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 2, wherein said locking pin is provided with at least one protrusion which restrains said locking pin in said aperture.

4. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 2, wherein said locking pin is permanently restrained within said aperture after insertion therein.

5. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 2, wherein said aperture further comprises an insertion point for the insertion and removal of said locking pin.

6. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 1, wherein said second subsection further comprises a main body and said support extends outwardly therefrom along a longitudinal axis.

7. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 6, wherein said support is undercut with respect to said main body.

8. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 1, wherein said first subsection further comprises a main body and said receiving sleeve extends outwardly therefrom along a longitudinal axis.

9. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 8, wherein said receiving sleeve further comprises a three sided enclosure for receiving and slidably restraining said support.

10. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 1, further comprising a top surface having features for increasing the traction of said top surface.

11. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 1, further comprising a top surface having features for one of distribution and transmission of fluids.

12. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 11, wherein said top surface features are ventilation holes.

13. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 1, wherein said subsections may be positioned in at least one of open, closed and intermediate positions.

14. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 13, further comprising a top surface which is generally flat while said expandable modular floor tile is positioned in any position.

15. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 13, wherein said subsections are resiliently biased toward at least one of said positions.

16. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 1, further comprising a structural support web.

17. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 1, wherein said interlock facilitates at least one of the alignment and slidable displacement of said expandable floor tile.

18. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 1, wherein said interlock further comprises a slot and tab.

19. An expandable modular floor tile as described in claim 18, wherein said interlock slot is provided in said second subsection and said locator tab is provided on said first subsection.

20. A matrix of interlocked modular floor tiles, at least one of said modular floor tiles further comprising:

a first floor tile subsection having a top surface;

at least one leg for supporting said top surface on a substrate;

a receiving sleeve and an interlock for the intermittent connection of said expandable modular floor tile with at least other modular floor tile;

a second floor tile subsection having a top surface;

at least one leg for supporting said top surface on said substrate;

a support sized for slidable, removable engagement with said receiving sleeve of said first floor tile subsection extending from and integral with said second floor tile subsection, having a top surface and at least one leg, wherein said top surface of said support is supported by said at least one leg on said substrate and an interlock for intermittent connection of said expandable modular floor tile with at least one other modular floor tile; and

a lock for the selective, slidable interconnection between said first and second floor tile subsections.