Support device of floor panel, and fixing member for support device of floor panel

Abstract

To provide a support device of a floor panel in which fixing members are less likely to loosen.SOLUTION: A support device of a floor panel 10 comprises a base member 22 having an upwardly protruding male thread 24, a support member 26 inserted into the male thread 24, and a fixing member 30 having a cylindrical portion 46 with a female thread 48 that engages with the male thread 24, formed on an inner peripheral surface and which sandwiches the floor panel 10 between itself and the support member 26. The fixing member has a protrusion 52 that protrudes downward from the cylindrical portion 46 and abuts against the support member 26 to elastically deform when the cylindrical portion 46 is attached to the male thread 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a support device for a floor panel and a fixing member for a support device for a floor panel. [Background technology]

[0002] In buildings such as offices, double-floor structures called free-access floors or OA floors, which have gaps under the floor for cable wiring, are used. In such free-access floors, floor panels are supported by support legs placed on the building's slab. For example, some support legs have screw supports and include an installation plate fixed to the slab, a support plate with female threads that engage with the screw supports and support the floor panel, and a panel retainer attached to the screw supports and sandwiching and fixing the floor panel between the support plate and the support plate (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The support leg in Patent Document 1 adjusts the vertical position of the support plate relative to the screw supports and restricts rotation of the support plate relative to the screw supports by pressing a ring-shaped anti-rotation member into the gap between the screw supports and the female threads of the support plate using the panel retainer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-144378 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the support leg of Patent Document 1, if the panel holder becomes loose, the rotation restriction effect of the rotation prevention member may be reduced.

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems associated with the conventional technology in order to solve these problems in an appropriate manner, and aims to provide a floor panel support device equipped with a fixing member that is difficult to loosen, and a fixing member for a floor panel support device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the floor panel support device according to the present invention is a base member having an upwardly projecting external thread; a support member inserted into the male screw; a fixing member having a tubular portion on an inner circumferential surface of which an internal thread that engages with the external thread is formed, and which sandwiches the floor panel between itself and the support member; The fixing member has a protrusion that protrudes downward from the cylindrical portion and abuts against the support member and elastically deforms when the cylindrical portion is attached to the male screw.

[0007] A second aspect of the floor panel support device according to the present invention is the same as the first aspect, The protrusion may come into contact with the male screw when deformed by contact with the support member.

[0008] A third aspect of the floor panel support device according to the present invention is the same as the second aspect, The radially outer surface of the protrusion on the cylindrical portion may be inclined radially inward from a base side connected to the cylindrical portion toward a tip side.

[0009] An example of a fixing member for a floor panel support device according to the present invention is: A fixing member used in a floor panel support device comprising a base member having an external thread protruding upward and a support member inserted into the external thread, the fixing member sandwiching the floor panel between the base member and the support member, a cylindrical portion having an internal thread formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof, the internal thread engaging with the external thread; and a protrusion that protrudes downward from the cylindrical portion and abuts against the support member and elastically deforms when the cylindrical portion is attached to the male screw. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the floor panel support device of the present invention, the fixing members are less likely to loosen. The fixing member for a floor panel support device according to the present invention is less likely to come loose. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a support device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a support device according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a support device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the support device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a fixing member according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Next, a preferred embodiment of a floor panel support device and fixing member according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments and drawings described below are intended to exemplify a portion of the embodiment of the present invention, and are not intended to be used for the purpose of limiting the present invention to these configurations, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a support device 20 for a floor panel 10 according to the embodiment supports the floor panel 10 at a distance from the floor slab of a building. The support device 20 supports the corners of the rectangular floor panel 10 (see Figure 3). The support device 20 is also capable of adjusting the height of the floor panel 10 relative to the floor slab.

[0014] 4 and 6, the support device 20 includes a base member 22 having an external thread 24, support members 26, 28 attached to the external thread 24 of the base member 22, and a fixing member 30 attached to the external thread 24. The support device 20 holds the floor panel 10 placed on the support members 26, 28 by sandwiching it between the fixing member 30 attached to the external thread 24 and the support members 26, 28. Note that the support members in this embodiment are composed of a first support member 26 attached to the external thread 24 of the base member 22, and a second support member 28 placed on the first support member 26 and inserted into the external thread 24.

[0015] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the base member 22 has a male screw 24 that protrudes upward from a plate-shaped base portion 22a. The male screw 24 is a rod-shaped body with a thread formed on the outer peripheral surface. The base member 22 is placed with the base portion 22a placed on the floor slab of a building and the tip of the male screw 24 facing upward. Although not particularly limited, the base member 22 in this embodiment is made of metal.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 , the first support member 26 has a female thread (hereinafter referred to as the support female thread) 34 that engages with the male thread 24 of the base member 22, and a panel support portion 36 that extends laterally from the upper edge of the support female thread 34. The support female thread 34 is located in the center of the first support member 26. The support female thread 34 also penetrates the first support member 26 in the vertical direction. The first support member 26 is attached to the male thread 24 of the base member 22 by engaging the support female thread 34 with the male thread 24. By rotating the first support member 26, the position of the first support member 26 can be changed along the axial direction of the male thread 24 due to the engagement between the male thread 24 and the support female thread 34. Furthermore, when the first support member 26 is attached to the male thread 24, the male thread 24 is positioned so that it protrudes upward from the upper opening of the support female thread 34. Although not particularly limited, the first support member 26 in this embodiment is made of synthetic resin.

[0017] 4 and 6, the panel support portion 36 is plate-shaped and has an inclined portion 36a that inclines upward as it extends laterally outward from the support female screw 34, and a laterally extending portion 36b that extends laterally from the upper end of the inclined portion 36a. In the first support member 26, the floor panel 10 is placed above the laterally extending portion 36b of the panel support portion 36. The first support member 26 has a recessed central portion, where the upper opening of the support female screw 34 is formed, compared to the laterally extending portion 36b of the panel support portion 36.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the second support member 28 has a mounting portion 40 that covers the panel support portion 36 of the first support member 26 and a position restricting portion 42 that protrudes upward from the mounting portion 40. The mounting portion 40 is plate-shaped, and the underside of the floor panel 10 is placed on it. A downward-protruding hook wall 40a is formed on the outer periphery of the mounting portion 40. When the second support member 28 is placed on the first support member 26, the panel support portion 36 of the first support member 26 fits inside the hook wall 40a, thereby positioning the first support member 26 and the second support member 28. The position restricting portion 42 is formed in a substantially cross shape in a plan view (see FIG. 3). When the floor panels 10 are placed on the mounting portion 40, the position restricting portion 42 is located between adjacent floor panels 10 to position the floor panels 10. A through-hole 44 penetrating in the vertical direction is formed in the center of the position restriction portion 42. When the second support member 28 is placed on the first support member 26, the through-hole 44 is positioned above the support female thread 34, and the through-hole 44 and the support female thread 34 are connected. Here, the inner diameter of the through-hole 44 is larger than the inner diameter of the support female thread 34 and is formed to be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of a tubular portion 46 (described later) of the fixing member 30. When the first support member 26 is attached to the male thread 24 and the second support member 28 is placed on the first support member 26, the male thread 24 protruding upward from the support female thread 34 of the first support member 26 is positioned inside the fixing female thread 48. Note that, although not particularly limited, the second support member 28 in this embodiment is made of synthetic resin.

[0019] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the fixing member 30 has a tubular portion 46 having an internal thread (hereinafter referred to as the fixing internal thread) 48 formed on its inner surface to engage with the external thread 24 of the base member 22, and a retaining portion 50 extending laterally from the upper end of the tubular portion 46. The tubular portion 46 has a cylindrical shape that is open at the bottom. The outer diameter of the tubular portion 46 is set to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 44 of the second support member 28, and in this embodiment, the outer diameter of the tubular portion 46 is approximately the same as or equal to the inner diameter of the through hole 44. When the fixing internal thread 48 is engaged with the external thread 24 to attach the fixing member 30, the retaining portion 50 is positioned so as to overlap the upper side of a step 12 formed at the corner of the floor panel 10. In this way, the floor panel 10 is fixed to the support device 20 with the step 12 sandwiched between the retaining portion 50 and the opening edge of the through hole 44 in the second support member 28. Although not particularly limited, the fixing member 30 in this embodiment is made of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 , the fixing member 30 has a protrusion 52 protruding downward from the tubular portion 46. The protrusion 52 comes into contact with the first support member 26 when the fixing member 30 is attached to the male thread 24. A plurality of protrusions 52 are provided around the lower opening of the female fixing thread 48 of the tubular portion 46. The protrusions 52 are also arranged at positions closer to the inner peripheral edge of the tubular portion 46. The protrusions 52 are elastically deformable. When the female fixing thread 48 of the tubular portion 46 is screwed into the male thread 24 of the base member 22 to attach the fixing member 30, the protrusions 52 come into contact with the first support member 26 and elastically deform. The protrusions 52 return to their original shape when the female fixing thread 48 of the tubular portion 46 is loosened and separated from the first support member 26. The protrusions 52 are formed thinner than the tubular portion 46, making them more easily deformable than the tubular portion 46. Furthermore, the protrusions 52 are more flexible than the first support member 26, and are more likely to deform when they come into contact with the first support member 26. In the support device 20, the protrusions 52 of the fixing member 30 attached to the male screw 24 press the first support member 26 from above, thereby restricting the rotation of the fixing member 30 relative to the male screw 24 and the rotation of the first support member 26 relative to the male screw 24.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 5, when the protrusion 52 is deformed by contact with the first support member 26, it contacts the male thread 24 of the base member 22. That is, when the protrusion 52 contacts the first support member 26, it not only elastically deforms in the vertical direction but also inward in the radial direction of the tubular portion 46. An outer peripheral surface 52a of the protrusion 52 on the radially outer side of the tubular portion 46 is inclined radially inward of the tubular portion 46 from the base side connected to the tubular portion 46 toward the tip side (see FIG. 7). When the outer peripheral surface 52a of the protrusion 52 contacts the first support member 26, the protrusion 52 is guided radially inward by the inclination of the outer peripheral surface 52a. Furthermore, an inner peripheral surface 52b of the protrusion 52 on the radially inner side of the tubular portion 46 is inclined radially inward of the tubular portion 46 from the base side connected to the tubular portion 46 toward the tip side. The protrusion 52 as a whole is inclined radially inward from the base side connected to the tubular portion 46 toward the tip side, making it easier for the protrusion 52 to be guided radially inward when it abuts against the first support member 26.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 7 , the circumferential dimension of the protrusion 52 is smaller at the tip end than at the base end connected to the tubular portion 46. When viewed from the side, the protrusion 52 in this embodiment has a generally triangular shape that tapers toward the tip end than at the base end connected to the tubular portion 46. The protrusion 52 is formed in a shape that allows it to easily engage with the first support member 26 when it abuts against the first support member 26. The protrusion 52 may be formed such that the first surface 52c, which faces the rotation direction in which the fixed female thread 48 loosens from the male thread 24, extends in the vertical direction (the axial direction of the male thread 24). Alternatively, the protrusion 52 may be formed such that the first surface 52c, which faces the rotation direction in which the fixed female thread 48 loosens from the male thread 24, extends in a direction closer to the vertical direction than the second surface 52d, which faces the rotation direction in which the fixed female thread 48 tightens from the male thread 24. The protrusion 52 is shaped so that the lower edge of the first surface 52c, which faces the rotation direction in which the fixing member 30 loosens, can more easily fit into the first support member 26 than the lower edge of the second surface 52d, which faces the rotation direction in which the fixing member 30 tightens. When the protrusion 52 abuts against the first support member 26, the protrusion 52 is more likely to get caught on the first support member 26 when the fixing member 30 rotates in the direction in which it loosens, making it difficult for the fixing member 30 to loosen. Furthermore, when the protrusion 52 abuts against the first support member 26, the protrusion 52 is less likely to get caught on the first support member 26 when the fixing member 30 rotates in the direction in which it tightens, making it easy to tighten the fixing member 30.

[0023] Next, assembly of the support device 20 will be described. The base member 22 is placed on the floor slab, and the female support threads 34 of the first support member 26 are screwed into the male threads 24 of the base member 22, and the height of the first support member 26 is adjusted to match the height of the floor panel 10 to be installed. Next, the through-holes 44 of the second support member 28 are fitted into the male threads 24 of the base member, and the second support member 28 is placed on the first support member 26. Then, the floor panel 10 is placed on the second support member 28.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4 , the tubular portion 46 of the fixing member 30 is inserted into the through-hole 44 of the second support member 28, and the female fixing thread 48 of the tubular portion 46 is screwed into the male thread 24 of the base member 22. As the fixing member 30 is screwed in, the protrusion 52 of the tubular portion 46 abuts against the opening edge of the female support thread 34 of the first support member 26. As the fixing member 30 is further screwed into the male thread 24, the protrusion 52 elastically deforms and engages with the first support member 26, increasing the contact area between the protrusion 52 and the first support member 26, and causing the protrusion 52 to strongly interfere with the first support member 26. The protrusion 52 also deforms radially inward, abutting against the male thread 24 and engaging with the threads and grooves of the male thread 24, causing the protrusion 52 to strongly interfere with the male thread 24. At this time, the pressing portion 50 of the fixing member 30 abuts from above against the step portion 12 formed at the corner of the floor panel 10, sandwiching and fixing the floor panel 10 between the pressing portion 50 and the second support member 28.

[0025] The fixing member 30 has a protrusion 52 that protrudes downward from the tubular portion 46 and elastically deforms upon contact with the first support member 26 when the tubular portion 46 is attached to the male thread 24. Because the protrusion 52 of the fixing member 30 elastically deforms upon contact with the first support member 26, the protrusion 52 of the fixing member 30 and the first support member 26 can be caused to strongly interfere with each other, making it difficult for the first support member 26 to rotate relative to the male thread 24. Similarly, because the protrusion 52 of the fixing member 30 and the first support member 26 can be caused to strongly interfere with each other, it is possible to make it difficult for the fixing member 30 to rotate relative to the male thread 24. In this way, the support device 20 can prevent the first support member 26 and the second support member 28, which have been adjusted to a required height, from shifting in position by preventing the first support member 26 from rotating due to the protrusion 52 of the fixing member 30 coming into contact with the first support member 26. Furthermore, the support device 20 prevents the fixing member 30 from rotating by abutting the protrusion 52 of the fixing member 30 against the first support member 26, thereby preventing the fixing member 30 that holds the floor panel 10 from loosening. In this way, the support device 20 using the fixing member 30 makes it difficult for the fixing member 30 to loosen.

[0026] In the support device 20, a restoring force of the protrusion 52 that has elastically deformed is applied in the vertical direction between the tubular portion 46 of the fixing member 30 and the first support member 26. For this reason, a force is applied in the vertical direction to the engagement between the male thread 24 of the base member 22 and the female fixation thread 48 of the fixing member 30, making it difficult for the fixing member 30 to rotate relative to the male thread 24. Similarly, a force is applied in the vertical direction to the engagement between the male thread 24 of the base member 22 and the female support thread 34 of the first support member 26, making it difficult for the first support member 26 to rotate relative to the male thread 24. Furthermore, because the protrusion 52 is elastically deformable, dimensional errors in the floor panel 10 and dimensional errors and clearances of the members that make up the support device 20 can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the protrusion 52, making it possible to hold the floor panel 10 without rattle.

[0027] Because the protrusions 52 are formed integrally with the fixing member 30, unlike separate locking members such as washers, the fixing member 30 can be attached to the male threads 24 of the base member 22 so that it can abut at a predetermined position on the first support member 26. Furthermore, because the protrusions 52 are formed integrally with the fixing member 30, unlike separate locking members such as washers, the locking member will not fall off and become lost, or become displaced from the support female threads 34 or through-holes 44. Therefore, the support device 20 allows for efficient installation of the floor panel 10 and is easy to use.

[0028] When the protrusion 52 is deformed by abutting against the first support member 26, it abuts against the male thread 24, and therefore interference between the protrusion 52 and the male thread 24 makes it difficult for the fixing member 30 attached to the male thread 24 to loosen. Here, the outer peripheral surface 52a of the protrusion 52 on the radially outer side of the tubular portion 46 is inclined radially inward of the tubular portion 46 from the base side connected to the tubular portion 46 toward the tip side, which makes it easy for the protrusion 52 to deform radially inward when it abuts against the first support member 26.

[0029] (Example of change) The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned matters, but may be, for example, as follows: Note that the present invention is not limited to the specific descriptions of the embodiment and the following modified examples. (1) In the embodiment, the protrusion of the fixing member abuts against the first support member, but this is not limited to this, and the protrusion of the fixing member may abut against a second support member fixed to the first support member. (2) In the embodiment, the plurality of protrusions are set to have the same protruding dimension from the tubular portion, but this is not limiting, and the device may have a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion that protrudes from the tubular portion less than the first protruding portion. In this case, it is preferable that the first protruding portion be made more elastically deformable than the second protruding portion. (3) The support member may have a recess or projection at a portion where the protrusion of the fixing member abuts. The recess or projection of the support member engages with the protrusion, making it difficult for the fixing member to come loose. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10 floor panel, 20 support device, 22 base member, 24 male screw, 26 first support member (support member), 28 second support member (support member), 30 fixing member, 46 cylindrical portion, 48 fixed female screw (female screw), 52 protrusion, 52a outer peripheral surface (the radially outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the protrusion)

Claims

1. a base member having an upwardly projecting external thread; a support member inserted into the male screw; a fixing member having a tubular portion on an inner circumferential surface of which an internal thread that engages with the external thread is formed, and which sandwiches the floor panel between itself and the support member; The fixing member has a protrusion that protrudes downward from the tubular portion and abuts against the support member and elastically deforms when the tubular portion is attached to the male screw, in a floor panel support device.

2. The floor panel support device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion abuts against the male screw when deformed by abutment with the support member.

3. 3. The floor panel support device according to claim 2, wherein the radially outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the protrusion is inclined radially inward from the base side connected to the cylindrical portion toward the tip side.

4. A fixing member used in a floor panel support device comprising a base member having an external thread protruding upward and a support member inserted into the external thread, the fixing member sandwiching the floor panel between the base member and the support member, a cylindrical portion having an internal thread formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof, the internal thread engaging with the external thread; A fixing member for a floor panel support device, the fixing member having a protrusion that protrudes downward from the tubular portion and abuts against the support member and elastically deforms when the tubular portion is attached to the male screw.

Images