Floor member retention apparatus, floor assembly comprising such apparatus and a method for installing said floor assembly

Abstract

A floor member retention apparatus (100) comprising: a first member (104) having a threaded first opening (114); a second member (106) having a second opening (120); at least one flexible tether (107) connecting the first and second members; a threaded fastener (102) engaging the first and second openings, the fastener being rotatable to draw the first and second members together either side of adjacent flooring members.

Description

FLOOR MEMBER RETENTION APPARATUS, FLOOR ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SUCH APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR INSTALLING SAID FLOOR ASSEMBLYTechnical Field

[0001] The present application is concerned with a floor member retention apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a retention apparatus to secure paving or decking members to adjacent members for the prevention of wind lift.Background Art

[0002] In the field of external floor systems, wind lift is a problem. High speed winds across the upper surface of floor members such as paving slabs reduces the static pressure on the surface. The reduction in static pressure tends to exert a lifting force on the slab, which once weight is overcome can move the slab in an upwards direction. Once the slab is lifted, and the underside exposed, it is acted on by the wind to further lift it out of position. This problem is exacerbated by the position of the floor in exposed conditions- for example on balconies or terraces.

[0003] As a result of climate change, higher speed winds and gusts are becoming more prevalent in regions which had not traditionally experienced them. Therefore there are large areas of paving which have become susceptible to wind uplift.

[0004] Evidently the movement of paving slabs is best avoided. Applicant's earlier application WO 2023 / 217962 provides a retention apparatus that is secured to a pedestal.

[0005] Existing solutions tend to require special components such as bespoke pedestals in order to provide wind uplift prevention. Other solutions require access to the underside of the paving slabs, or the underlying surface substrate.

[0006] It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved, floor member retention apparatus.Summary of Invention

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a floor member retention apparatus comprising: a first member having a threaded first opening; a second member having a second opening;at least one flexible tether connecting the first and second members; a threaded fastener engaging the first and second openings, the fastener being rotatable to draw the first and second members together either side of adjacent flooring members.

[0008] Advantageously, the present invention provides a way of tying two adjacent floor members togetherto inhibit relative lift, and thereby reduce or eliminate wind lift. Evidently the potential for two or more linked floor members to be lifted by wind together is less than that for a single, untethered member the present invention can be retrospectively fitted to an existing flooring assembly in which the pedestals and floor members have already been installed.

[0009] Preferably the second opening is a plain opening, and wherein the fastener has a head configured to bear against the second member.

[0010] Preferably there is provided a further flexible tether connecting the first and second members.

[0011] Preferably the tethers are disposed either side of the openings on each respective member.

[0012] Preferably the fastener and the tethers, when taut, are disposed on a plane perpendicular to the first and second members.

[0013] Preferably the fastener engages both the first and second openings when the tether is taut.

[0014] The invention also provides a flooring assembly comprising: a first floor member; a second floor member adjacent the first floor member being separated by a gap; the floor members each having a first, lower, side and a second, upper, side; a floor member retention apparatus according to any preceding claim, the first member contacting the first side of the floor members, the second member contacting the second side of the floor members.

[0015] Preferably the fastener is in tension to apply a clamping force to the first and second floor members.

[0016] Preferably there is provided at least one pedestal supporting the floor members.

[0017] Preferably there is provided a spacer between the first and second floor members to maintain the gap.

[0018] Preferably the spacer is connected to the at least one pedestal.

[0019] According to a second aspect there is provided a method of installing a flooring assembly comprising the steps of: providing: a first floor member; a second floor member adjacent the first floor member being separated by a gap, the floor members each having a first, lower, side and a second, upper, side; and, a floor member retention apparatus according to any preceding claim; inserting the first member though the gap such that the first member is on the first side of the floor members, and the second member is on the second side of the floor members, with the tether passing through the gap; assembling the fastener through the first opening; engaging the fastener with the second opening; rotating the fastener relative to the second opening to draw the first and second members together either side of the floor members.

[0020] Preferably the fastener is rotated to be in tension to apply a clamping force to the first and second floor members.

[0021] Preferably there is provided the step of: providing at least one pedestal supporting the floor members.

[0022] Preferably there is provided the step of: providing a spacer between the first and second floor members to maintain the gap.

[0023] Preferably the spacer is connected to the at least one pedestal.Brief Description of Drawings

[0024] 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 a floor member retention apparatus in accordance with the present invention;FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a floor assembly; and,FIGURES 3a to 3g are stages of use and assembly of the apparatus of Figure 1 .Description of the first embodimentConfiguration

[0025] Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a floor member retention apparatus 1 00 comprising a clip 1 01 and a screw 1 02. The clip 1 00 comprises a first washer 1 04 and a second washer 1 06 connected by first and second tethers 1 07, 1 08.

[0026] The first washer 1 04 is a flat, square component having a first surface 1 1 0, a second surface 1 12 and an open threaded bore 1 14 passing therethrough at the geometric centre. Two further openings 1 1 6, 1 1 8 are provided on opposite sides of the bore 1 14.

[0027] The second washer 1 06 is a flat, annular component having a plain, open bore 1 20 in the centre thereof.

[0028] The tethers 1 07, 1 08 are constructed from an elongate, flexible but substantially inextensible material (in this embodiment a polymer). The tethers are identical in length, and are attached to the first washer 1 04 at a first end (at the openings 1 1 6, 1 1 8) and the second washer 1 06 at a second end, either side of the bore 1 20. The tethers have a taut length L between the washers 1 04, 1 06.

[0029] The screw 1 02 is a standard, off-the-shelf component having a threaded shaft 122 and a head 1 24 having a shoulder 1 26 and a formation 1 28 for mechanical engagementwith a tool for the application of torque thereto (in this case in the form of a recessed hex formation). The screw is configured to be rotatable relative to the first and second members.Use

[0030] The present invention can be used on a pre-installed floor assembly 10 as shown in Figure 2. The floor assembly 10 comprises a plurality of pedestals 12, each of which supports the corner of at least one flooring member 14, which in this case is a paving slab constructed from a ceramic material. Each flooring member has a first (bottom) side 16, a second (top) side 18 and four edges 20 extending between corners 22. It will be noted that the flooring members are assembled with the pedestals such that there is a small gap 24 of width g between adjacent members 14. This is due to upstanding tabs 26 on the upper surface of each pedestal (see Figure 3c) which act as spacers between the adjacent flooring members. It will be noted that such spacers do not need to be attached to, or part of, the pedestal.

[0031] Referring to Figures 3a to 3g:

[0032] In Figure 3a, the clip 101 is positioned above the gap 24 between adjacent edges of two adjacent flooring members 14.

[0033] In Figure 3b, the first washer 104 is rotated such that it can fit through the gap 24 (the washer 104 being of lower thickness than the gap 24). The first washer 104 is passed through the gap 24 as shown in Figure 3c.

[0034] In Figure 3d, the clip 101 is lowered by holding the second washer 106 until the first clip 104 is clear of the underside 18 of the flooring members. The clip is then moved upwards in direction D until the first washer 104 bears against the underside of the flooring members. The first washer 104 will naturally rotate under the resilience of the tethers towards parallel with the flooring members.

[0035] In Figure 3f, the screw 102 is inserted into the second washer 106 and through the gap 24 until it engages with the threaded bore 1 14 of the first washer 104. The screw 102 is then hand rotated to engage the thread (the tension of the tethers 107, 108 retaining the first washer 104). Once the screw 102 is hand tight, a tool can be used to fully tighten it. As the screw 102 is rotated, the corresponding threaded connection to the first washer reduces the distance between the washers 104, 106 (the shoulder 126 of the screw head124 abutting the washer 106 as the screw rotates relative thereto) thus clamping the adjacent flooring members 14 together. During this process, the tethers 107,108 will become slack.

[0036] It will be noted that the screw shaft 122 has an axial length SL which when engaged in the first washer 106 is longer than the tether distance L such that at full taut extension of the tethers 107, 108 the shaft 122 is able to engage the first washer 104.

[0037] Figure 3g shows four apparatuses 100 installed between the adjacent edges of four floor members 14. When exposed to wind loading, the apparatuses reduce the risk of wind lift by inhibiting vertical separation / lifting of the members 14.

[0038] Preferably the components of the present invention are solely constructed from metal material such that it is non-combustible.Variations

[0039] The washers 104, 106 are shown as square and circular respectively. It will be noted that they may be any shape as long as they are capable of supporting a clamping force to clamp adjacent flooring members.

[0040] The above embodiment is shown with paving slabs, but the present invention may be used with any type of flooring member.

Claims

Claims1. A floor member retention apparatus comprising: a first member having a threaded first opening; a second member having a second opening; at least one flexible tether connecting the first and second members; a threaded fastener engaging the first and second openings, the fastener being rotatable relative to the first and second members to draw the first and second members together either side of adjacent flooring members.

2. A floor member retention apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second opening is a plain opening, and wherein the fastener has a head configured to bear against the second member.

3. A floor member retention apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a further flexible tether connecting the first and second members.

4. A floor member retention apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the tethers are disposed either side of the openings on each respective member.

5. A floor member retention apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fastener and the tethers, when taut, are disposed on a plane perpendicular to the first and second members.

6. A floor member retention apparatus according to any preceding claim, configured such that the fastener engages both the first and second openings when the tether is taut.

7. A flooring assembly comprising: a first floor member; a second floor member adjacent the first floor member being separated by a gap; the floor members each having a first, lower, side and a second, upper, side; a floor member retention apparatus according to any preceding claim, the first member contacting the first side of the floor members, the second member contacting the second side of the floor members.

8. A flooring assembly according to claim 7, wherein the fastener is in tension to apply a clamping force to the first and second floor members.

9. A flooring assembly according to claim 7 or 8, comprising at least one pedestal supporting the floor members.

10. A flooring assembly according to any of claims 7 to 9, comprising a spacer between the first and second floor members to maintain the gap.1 1 . Aflooring assembly according to claim 9, dependent on claim 8, wherein the spacer is connected to the at least one pedestal.

12. A method of installing a flooring assembly comprising the steps of: providing: a first floor member; a second floor member adjacent the first floor member being separated by a gap, the floor members each having a first, lower, side and a second, upper, side; and, a floor member retention apparatus according to any preceding claim; inserting the first member though the gap such that the first member is on the first side of the floor members, and the second member is on the second side of the floor members, with the tether passing through the gap; assembling the fastener through the first opening; engaging the fastener with the second opening; rotating the fastener relative to the second opening to draw the first and second members together either side of the floor members.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the fastener is rotated to be in tension to apply a clamping force to the first and second floor members.

14. A method according to claim 12 or 13, comprising the step of: providing at least one pedestal supporting the floor members.

15. A method according to any of claims 12 to 14, comprising the step of: providing a spacer between the first and second floor members to maintain the gap.1 6. A flooring assembly according to claim 1 5, dependent on claim 14, wherein the spacer is connected to the at least one pedestal.

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