Upright structure assembly for flooring system

Abstract

A flooring assembly (100) comprising a plurality of spaced apart joists (124) and a plurality of flooring members (104) supported by the joists An upright member support subassembly comprises a base member (132) spanning two of the plurality of spaced apart joists (162a), a top member (134) spanning the said two of the plurality of spaced apart joists (162a) and at least one mechanical fastener (136a) extending between the base member and top member such that the base member and top member clamp the said two of the plurality of spaced apart joists therebetween. An upright member (108) is supported by the top member, the upright member extending to the side of the flooring members opposite the joists.

Description

Upright structure assembly for flooring systemTechnical Field

[0001] The present application is concerned with an upright structure assembly for a flooring system. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with an assembly for supporting a balustrade or other vertically extending structure normal to the surface of a supported floor.Background Art

[0002] Suspended floors are well known in the art. Such systems comprise a plurality of spaced-apart pedestals (typically in a grid). Joists are supported on, and between adjacent, pedestals in a parallel and spaced-apart manner. Rails are then secured to the top surface of the joists perpendicular thereto to form a layered grid. Flooring members such as paving slabs are supported on the rails. Various components may be secured to the rails to facilitate this, such as spacers and cushioning elements.

[0003] Other underfloor structures are possible. For example, in some cases, the rails are attached directly to the pedestals without the intervening joists.

[0004] Suspended floors are often constructed on raised areas such as balconies and roof terraces. The underlying substrate is often weather sealed (made waterproof) prior to the floor being installed. Such waterproofing takes the form of a sheet or coating to keep water from passing through the underlying substrate, and the pedestals are rested on the top of the waterproof layer.

[0005] Structural elements such as balustrades can be problematic to install. In the prior art, such elements are secured to the underlying substrate (for example a roof) using appropriate mechanical fasteners. The balustrade extends up through the flooring system to extend above the surface thereof.

[0006] Balustrades in particular need to be able to withstand significant loading. For example, several people may lean on a balustrade, which applies a significant torque at its base (or more specifically where the base attaches to an underlying surface). Attachment to the balustrade directly to the substrate allows those loads to be reacted without damage or movement of the balustrade itself.

[0007] There are several problems with this prior art method. Firstly, the mechanical fasteners need to penetrate the underlying substrate, and therefore need to penetrate the waterproof layer. This requires further work to seal the penetrations.

[0008] Further, waterproofing us typically carried out by a different team to the flooring installer. The need to attach the upright structures to the substrate with penetration requires both teams to work together which is problematic for planning issues.

[0009] It is an aim of the present invention to overcome, or at least mitigate, these problems.Summary of Invention

[0010] According to the present invention there is provided a flooring assembly comprising: a sub structure comprising a plurality of spaced apart joists; a plurality of flooring members supported by the joists, the plurality of floor members defining a floor level; an upright member extending from the sub structure above the floor level, the upright member supported on at least one of the joists.

[0011] Advantageously the present invention alleviates the need for upright members to be supported on underlying substrate. Instead, the present invention allows both vertical and torque loading to be supported on the joists. The upright is preferably not directly connected to the underlying substrate- it is entirely supported on the substructure (i.e. the joists).

[0012] Advantageously, lateral forces applied to the upright member are reacted by the joists, which in turn support the flooring members. Therefore the weight of the flooring members at least partially reacts the lateral force applied to the upright member (and the torque resulting therefrom).

[0013] Preferably the upright member is attached only to the joist, or another structural member attached to the joists (such as rails). Preferably the upright member does not contact the underlying substrate on which the assembly is supported at all.

[0014] The upright member may be supported on two adjacent joists. Preferably the two adjacent joists are supported on pedestals, directly below the upright member. At least one joist therefore lies in the load path from the upright member to the underlying substrate.

[0015] Preferably there is an upright member support subassembly comprising: a base member; a top member; and, at least one mechanical fastener extending between the base member and top member such that the base member and top member clamp at least one of the joists therebetween.

[0016] Preferably the base member and the top member span and clamp two of the plurality of spaced apart joists therebetween.

[0017] Preferably the joists are supported on pedestals.

[0018] Preferably at least one pedestal is positioned beneath the upright member support subassembly.

[0019] Preferably one pedestal per joist is positioned beneath the upright member support subassembly.

[0020] Preferably the assembly comprises a plurality of rails overlying and forming a lattice with the plurality of joists, the flooring members being supported by the rails.

[0021] Preferably the top member is below the upper surface of the plurality of flooring members.

[0022] Preferably the pedestal comprises a receiving formation for one of the plurality of joists, and wherein the base member comprises at least one cut out for the receiving formation.

[0023] Preferably the base member comprises two one cut outs for two respective receiving formations.

[0024] Preferably the base member is H-shaped in plan.

[0025] Preferably the receiving formation is U-shaped.

[0026] Preferably there are two upright member support subassemblies, wherein the upright member is supported by the two upright member support subassemblies.

[0027] Preferably the joists are box section joists.

[0028] Preferably the plurality of joists comprises a first joist and a second joist making up the pair of joists, and a third joist, wherein the space between the first and the second joist is less than half the space between the second and third joists.

[0029] Preferably the plurality of joists comprises a fourth joist, wherein the space between the first and the second joist is less than half the space between the fourth and first joists.

[0030] Preferably the upright member is part of a balustrade.

[0031] Preferably the assembly is a freestanding system. By that we mean that the system is not attached to the underlying floor substrate- it merely rests on it. This means that no attachments need to penetrate any underlying water- or damp-proofing.Brief Description of Drawings

[0032] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figure in which:FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the present invention;FIGURE 2 is a side view of the assembly of Figure 1 ;FIGURE 3 is a detail view of a part of the assembly of Figure 1 ;FIGURE 4 is a further detail view of a part of the assembly of Figure 1 ; and,FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of a part of the assembly of Figure 1 .Description of the first embodiment

[0033] An assembly 100 is shown in Figures 1 to 5.Configuration

[0034] The assembly 100 comprises a suspended floor substructure 102, a plurality of flooring members 104 supported thereon, and two balustrade support assemblies 106 witha balustrade 108 supported thereon. The assembly 100 is a freestanding system. By that we mean that the system is not attached to the underlying floor substrate- it merely rests on it.

[0035] The suspended floor substructure 102 comprises a plurality of individual, adjustable pedestals 1 10. Each pedestal 1 10 comprises a foot 1 12 and a head 1 14 with a U-shaped pedestal bracket 1 16. The foot 1 12 and head 1 14 are adjustable relative to each other such that the height of the pedestals can be adjusted. The bracket 1 16 comprises a base 1 18 and two spaced apart flanges 120, 122 forming a U-shaped cross section.

[0036] The suspended floor substructure 102 further comprises a plurality of elongate, prismatic joists 124. The joists 124 will not be described in detail here, suffice to say they are hollow section beams constructed from an extruded aluminium material.

[0037] The suspended floor substructure 102 further comprises a plurality of elongate, prismatic rails 126. The rails 126 are hollow section beams constructed from an extruded aluminium material. Each rail has features designed for supporting and retaining the flooring members 104, such as seal grooves 128 and a central channel 130 for spacers.

[0038] The flooring members 104 in this embodiment are paving slabs, constructed from a ceramic material.

[0039] A balustrade support assembly 106 is shown in Figure 3. It comprises a base plate 132, a top plate 134 and a plurality of mechanical fasteners 136.

[0040] The base plate 132 is a flat, metal, plate. The plate 132 is rectangular, more specifically square, with two square cut outs 138a, b extending inwardly from opposite edges thereof. This provides the plate 132 with a "H" shape in plan. Four primary fastening openings 140 are provided in square formation proximate the centre of the plate 132. Two smaller openings 142 are provided in each limb of the "H" with two opposing openings 144 either side of the central primary fastener openings 140.

[0041] The top plate 134 is a flat, metal, plate. The plate 134 is rectangular, more specifically square. Four primary fastening openings 146 are provided in square formation proximate the centre of the plate 134. Eight smaller openings 148 are provided spaced around the periphery of the plate 134 (four in the corners, four in the centre of each side).

[0042] The fasteners 136 are assemblies having a bolt 136a and nut 136b.

[0043] The balustrade comprises two uprights 150 and a cross rail 152. At the base of each upright there is provided a mounting plate 154. Each mounting plate 154 is circular, having a central opening 156 and four spaced apart fastener openings 158.Assembly

[0044] The floor substructure is assembled as in the art, with the pedestals 1 10 supporting a plurality of spaced apart parallel joists 124, which in turn support a plurality of parallel, spaced apart rails 126. The joists 124 and rails 126 are fastened together (for example with screws) to form a lattice.

[0045] The joists 124 are supported in the pedestals 1 10 by inserting them into the U- shaped brackets 1 16. Screws 160 are inserted into the upright flanges 120, 122 of each bracket 1 16 to engage the joist 124 and hold it in place.

[0046] When laying out the pedestals 1 10 and joists 124, it will be noted that in the present embodiment the joists 124 are not evenly spaced. In Figure 1 there are two joist pairs 162a, b. The pairs 162a, 162b are closely spaced (150mm) compared to the usual distance of 600mm. On a larger scale, the joists are regularly separated by a predetermined first distance (600mm) and where upright support is required, more closely spaced (150mm) joist pairs are provided.

[0047] As can be seen in Figure 3, this allows the base plate 132 and upper plate 134 are positioned below and above the joist pair 162a. The joists 124 in the pair 162a are spaced apart so as to extend the width of the plates 134a, 134. The brackets 1 16, and in particular the uprights 120, 122, engage the cut outs 138a, 138b to allow the pedestals 1 1 O to engage the joists 124 through the base plate 132. The plates 132, 134 are screwed to the joists 124 with screws engaged with the openings 142, 144, 148.

[0048] The mounting plate 154 of the balustrade is positioned on the upper plate 134. The bolts 136a of the fasteners 136 pass through the openings 158 in the plate 154, though the primary fastening openings 146 in the upper plate 134 and through the primary fastener openings 140 in the base plate 132. The bolts 136a are secured with nuts 136b which are tightened to apply a tension to the bolts 136a.

[0049] This tensioning clamps the joists 124 between the plates 132, 134 whilst retaining the balustrade on the upper plate 134.Use

[0050] The assembly allows any loads applied to the balustrade 108 to be reacted in an extremely robust manner. The plates 132, 134 clamping the joists 124 spread any load and the resulting box-like structure is extremely strong. It will be noted that the plates 132, 134 and spaced apart joists 124 form a box section with a cavity 164.

[0051] Furthermore, the present invention allows a freestanding floor system to react the load requirement on a balustrade. Referring to Figure 2, a force F of 1.7kN is applied in a horizontal direction to the balustrade 108, at a height H of 1.1 m above the pedestrian surface (the upper surface of the flooring members). This force is successfully reacted by the fact that the balustrade 108 is attached to the joists 124 of the flooring system, which in turn are attached to all the other elements (pedestals, rails and flooring members) of the assembly. This means that although this is a freestanding system, the fact that the joists (and the mass attached thereto) react the balustrade loads means that such a load can be accommodated without any direct attachment to the floor.

[0052] It will also be noted that covering plates, members, grills and so on are provided between the assemblies 106.

[0053] Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that a substrate 10 with a waterproof covering 12 is not penetrated by installation of the balustrade 108.Variations

[0054] Although paving slabs 104 are depicted and described above, any flooring members are suitable for use with the present invention. For example deck boards could be used.

[0055] Balustrades are mentioned above, although it will be noted that any upright structure can be supported this way. By "upright structure" we mean a structure extending above the surface of the installed floor. In many cases the structure will also be vertical, meaning it is normal to the surface of the installed floor. It may be, for example, part of a sign, light fitting or furniture.

Claims

Claims1. A flooring assembly comprising: a sub structure comprising a plurality of spaced apart joists; a plurality of flooring members supported by the joists, the plurality of floor members defining a floor level; an upright member extending from the sub structure above the floor level, the upright member supported on at least one of the joists.

2. A flooring assembly according to claim 1 , comprising an upright member support subassembly comprising: a base member; a top member; and, at least one mechanical fastener extending between the base member and top member such that the base member and top member clamp at least one of the joists therebetween.

3. A flooring assembly according to claim 2, wherein the base member and the top member span and clamp two of the plurality of spaced apart joists therebetween.

4. A flooring assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the joists are supported on pedestals.

5. Aflooring assembly according to claim 4, wherein at least one pedestal is positioned beneath the upright member support subassembly.

6. A flooring assembly according to claim 5, wherein one pedestal per joist is positioned beneath the upright member support subassembly.

7. A flooring assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of rails overlying and forming a lattice with the plurality of joists, the flooring members being supported by the rails.

8. A flooring assembly according to claim 7, wherein the top member is below the upper surface of the plurality of flooring members.

9. A flooring assembly according to claim 4, or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the pedestal comprises a receiving formation for one of the plurality of joists, and wherein the base member comprises at least one cut out for the receiving formation.

10. A flooring assembly according to claim 9, wherein the base member comprises two one cut outs for two respective receiving formations.1 1. A flooring assembly according to claim 10, wherein the base member is H-shaped in plan.

12. A flooring assembly according to any of claims 9 to 1 1 , wherein the receiving formation is U-shaped.

13. A flooring assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising: two upright member support subassemblies; wherein the upright member is supported by the two upright member support subassemblies.

14. A flooring assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the joists are box section joists.

15. A flooring assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the upright member is part of a balustrade.9

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