EP3812534A1

EP3812534A1 - Floor support system with dampening

Info

Publication number: EP3812534A1
Application number: EP19204767.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fredrik Blom; Kent Blom
Original assignee: Granab Forvaltning AB
Current assignee: Granab Forvaltning AB
Priority date: 2019-10-23
Filing date: 2019-10-23
Publication date: 2021-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-23
Also published as: WO2021078847A1; EP3812534C0; EP3812534B1

Abstract

A floor support device comprising a foot and a level adjustment screw, wherein the foot comprises an upper part arranged to receive the level adjustment screw, a lower part intended to contact an underlying surface, and a dampening material sandwiched between the lower part and the upper part. The lower part engages with one of the upper part and the level adjustment screw so as to prevent detachment of the lower surface from the upper surface, while allowing compression of the floor support device. By having the lower part of the foot engage with the upper part of the foot while having the dampening material sandwiched in between, the foot is held together without the dampening material having to be processed, such as by adhesive or vulcanization.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a dampened floor support device adapted to be attached to a floor joist in a floor system.

Background of the invention

In construction of buildings, it is often desirable to position floors at a certain height above the underlying support surface. This is due to many reasons, among which is improved ventilation, the possibility of achieving a more horizontally even floor and improved insulation against sound and vibration. Such a floor is often designed to be supported by a system of joists, wherein a joist may be outfitted with some means of receiving e.g. an adjustment screw which in turn is fastened to a foot standing on the underlying support surface. A floor system like this allows for localized adjustment of height so that any uneven characteristics of the underlying surface does not translate to the floor which is intended for use. Furthermore, in the case of multiple story buildings or apartment blocks, by separating the floor which e.g. is walked on and supports heavy objects, such as furniture, such a floor system allows for solutions that aims at minimizing the propagation of harmful, disturbing and otherwise unwanted forces and dissipations of energy. Other solutions utilize dampening between the floor joists and the level adjustment screws.
Another development is providing dampening in the foot in contact with the underlying surface, such as the floor support structure disclosed in SE 540 180 . Therein, the foot is separated into two parts and a dampening material is provided between said parts.
A drawback with the solution provided in SE 540 180 is that the dampening material needs to be attached to the lower and upper part in order to keep them together. Using an adhesive is possible, but does not provide satisfactory strength and reliability. Another approach is to use a rubber dampening material which is vulcanized to the upper and lower parts. This does provide satisfactory structural strength, but is expensive and time-consuming. Also, the rubber material is susceptible to wear and tiring, and therefore not ideal for dampening.
Thus, there is a need for an improved floor support structure that is cost-efficient, easier to assemble and at the same time provide satisfactory dampening properties.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is thus to alleviate at least some of the aforementioned problems with the prior art.
In all of the aspects and exemplary embodiments below, snap-fitted is to be understood as bringing two elements into direct physical contact with each other whereupon they are arranged in a latched position so that the movement of one element at least partially induces movement in the other element, or that movement of one element in at least one direction is restricted by the other element.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a floor support device is provided, the floor support device comprising a foot and a level adjustment screw, the level adjustment screw being adapted to be attached to a floor joist; wherein the foot comprises an upper part arranged to receive the level adjustment screw, the upper part comprising a lower surface, a lower part intended to contact an underlying surface, the lower part comprising an upper surface, and a dampening material sandwiched between the lower surface and the upper surface; characterized in that: the lower part engages with one of the upper part and the screw so as to prevent detachment of the lower part from the upper part, while allowing compression of the floor support device.
By having the lower part of the foot engage with the upper part of the foot while having the dampening material sandwiched in between, the foot is held together without the dampening material having to be processed, such as by adhesive or vulcanization. This allows for a faster, easier and cheaper assembly of the floor support device. The dampening material may also be freely chosen, without considering such processing.
The engagement allows for compression of the floor support device, which entails that a decrease of distance between the lower surface and the upper surface is allowed, i.e. the parts may be moved towards each other. The engagement also allows for expansion, i.e. moving the parts away from each other and so that the dampening material may expand. At the same time, the engagement prevents detachment, i.e. ensures a mechanical connection between the parts. The engagement therefore defines an end position at which the distance between the lower surface and the upper surface is at a maximum, and hinders an increase in distance beyond that maximum value.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the lower part engages with both the upper part and the level adjustment screw.
By having the lower part engage with both the upper part and the level adjustment screw, a strong floor support device rigidly held together is provided.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the lower part of the foot comprises at least two prongs extending in a substantially axial direction of the floor support device, the at least two prongs being adapted to engage with the upper part such that the upper part is snap-fitted to the at least two prongs.
By having the upper part snap-fitted to at least two prongs that are extending in a substantially axial direction of the floor support device, the movement of the upper part is restricted with regards to a plane horizontal to the extension of the floor support device. The at least two prongs may include two prongs arranged on opposite sides of the lower part of the foot. The at least two prongs may be arranged in such a way so that they, when engaging with the upper part, are arranged on the outside of the dampening material, i.e. that the at least two prongs at least partially envelopes, or at least partially encases, the dampening material such that it is hindered to move in at least two directions in a plane horizontal to the floor support device. By having the dampening material at least partially enveloped, or at least partially encased, by the at least two prongs such that movement of the dampening material is restricted, the dampening material is held together with the rest of the floor support device without it having to be processed, such as by vulcanization. The dampening material may be press-fitted between the at least two prongs such that it is latched between them.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the floor support device comprises four prongs spaced along a circumference of the lower part.
By having the four prongs spaced along a circumference of the lower part, movement of the dampening material is hindered in at least four directions in a plane horizontal to the floor support device. The four prongs may be arranged in such a way so that they, when engaging with the upper part, are arranged on the outside of the dampening material, i.e. that the at least two prongs at least partially envelopes, or at least partially encases, the dampening material such that it is hindered to move in at least one direction in a plane horizontal to the floor support device. The four prongs may be equally spaced along a circumference of the lower part.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the lower part of the foot comprises a hook arranged substantially centered in the lower part and extending through the dampening material in a substantially axial direction of the floor support device, the hook being adapted to engage with the level adjustment screw such that the hook is snap-fitted to the level adjustment screw.
By having the hook extend from the lower part to the upper part, through the dampening material, and snap-fitted to the level adjustment screw, the floor support device is kept together without having the dampening material processed. Furthermore, due to the hook being extended through the dampening material, movement of the dampening material in a plane horizontal to the floor support device is restricted.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the upper part comprises an opening adapted to receive the level adjustment screw.
By having the opening receive the level adjustment screw so that it is arranged within restricts movement of the screw in a plane horizontal to the floor support device. The screw may be arranged in the opening without any direct physical contact with the upper part. The screw is adapted to be arranged within the opening such that it is free to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the screw.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the dampening material comprises a through hole adapted to receive the hook such that the hook extends through the dampening material and engages with the level adjustment screw.
By having a through hole adapted to receive the hook, the hook is easily extended through the dampening material so that it may reach the upper part so that the lower part engages with the upper part. The through hole may be larger than the hook so that the hook, when extending through the dampening material, is not arranged in direct physical contact with the dampening material. The through hole may also be small enough so that the dampening material is pressed outwards from the hook when the hook is fitted within, thereby allowing the dampening material to be attached to the hook.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the lower part further comprises at least one off-center hook adapted to engage with the upper part, and wherein the dampening material comprises at least one off-center through hole adapted to receive the off-center hook.
An off-center hook is to be understood as a hook that is arranged in a position offset from a center of the lower part of the foot. An off-center through hole is to be understood as a through hole that is arranged in a position offset from a center of the lower part of the foot.
By having at least one off-center through hole and at least one off-center hook arranged in such a through hole, the lower part engages with the upper part in at least two positions, whereby the support foot is not only held together better, but the upper part and/or the dampening material is hindered from rotating around a center of the lower part.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the level adjustment screw comprises an opening on a distal end adapted to receive the hook such that the hook is snap-fitted to the opening.
By having the hook be snap-fitted to the level adjustment screw, the hook and the screw are arranged in mechanical contact with each other. The hook is adapted to be snap-fitted to the level adjustment screw such that the screw is free to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the screw.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the dampening material is substantially rectangular.
By having a substantially rectangular dampening material, the dampening material does not have to be cut or otherwise processed in order to acquire a certain geometric shape, such as a circular shape, thereby reducing material waste, thus making the floor support device cheaper to manufacture

Brief description of the drawings

For exemplifying purposes, the invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a floor support device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when in use.
Fig. 2A is a schematic exploded view of the floor support device in Fig. 1.
Fig. 2B is a schematic perspective view of the floor support device in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative to the floor support device in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative to the floor support device in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one example of the device in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention

Detailed description of currently preferred embodiments

In the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present invention will be described. It is however to be understood that, unless anything else is specifically indicated, features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways. Even though in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present invention.
In Fig. 1, a floor support device 1 comprising a foot 2 and a level adjustment screw 3 is shown. The foot 2 is in direct physical contact with and attached to the underlying surface 4. The level adjustment screw 3 is attached to the foot 2 and a floor joist 5 adapted to support a floor. The floor joist 5 shown in this figure is a U-shaped metal joist, but the system may also be adapted for e.g. a wooden joist. The floor joist 5 comprises openings 5',5" that allow access to the level adjustment screws 3 so that the level of the floor joist can be adjusted by rotation of the screws with e.g. a hex key.
Fig. 2A-B show a floor support device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the floor support device 1. In Fig. 2A, an exploded view of the floor support device 1 is shown. The level adjustment block 6 comprises at least one engagement means 7 adapted to engage with a metal floor joist 5 so that the level adjustment block 6 is attached thereto. The engagement means 7 is here a snap-fit. The metal floor joist 5 comprises an opening 18 for receiving the at least one engagement means 7 of the level adjustment block. The level adjustment block 6 further comprises a threaded through hole 8 adapted to receive the level adjustment screw 3. The level adjustment screw 3 comprises threads 9 adapted to engage with the threaded through hole 8 of the level adjustment block 6 such that the level adjustment screw 3 is brought into attachment with the level adjustment block 6. The level adjustment screw furthermore comprises an opening 3A adapted to receive a means for screwing, such as a hex key, in order to adjust the height of the floor support device 1.
The level adjustment screw 3 is further adapted to be connected to a foot 2 of the level adjustment device 1. The connection is preferably such that the foot is axially fixed, but the screw may be rotated in relation to the foot. Examples of such connections will be described in more detail with reference to figures 5-8. The foot 2 comprises an upper part 10 and a lower part 11. The upper part 10 of the foot 2 comprises a recess 14 adapted to receive the level adjustment screw 3. The upper part 10 comprises a lower surface 10A, and the lower part comprises an upper surface 11A. The surfaces 10A and 11A are adapted to be in mechanical contact with a dampening material 12 sandwiched in between them. The lower part 11 further comprises prongs 13 extending in a substantially axial direction of the floor support device 1 that engages with the upper part 10 so as to prevent detachment of said lower surface 10A from said upper surface 11A while allowing compression of the floor support device 1. The lower part 11 is furthermore adapted to be in direct physical contact with the underlying surface 4, shown in Fig. 1, and comprises through holes 22 adapted to receive a screw, nail or similar so that the floor support device 1 may be fixedly attached to an underlying surface 4.
The dampening material 12 comprises an upper surface 15 adapted to be arranged in direct physical contact with the lower surface 10A of the upper part 10 of the foot 2. The lower part 11 of the foot comprises a recess 16 enclosed by the prongs 13, the recess 16 being adapted to receive the dampening material 12 and the upper part 10. Preferably, the horizontal dimensions of the recess 16 corresponds to those of the dampening material 12 so that the material, when arranged inside the recess 16, is fixedly attached within and movement thereof in a plane horizontal to the level adjustment device 1 is hindered. The upper part 10 may have a diameter smaller than that of the recess 16 so that, when arranged inside the recess, the upper part 10 has a horizontal play.
Every prong 13 comprises an abutment 17 that opposes insertion of the dampening material 12 as well as subsequent insertion of the upper part 10. The abutments 17 are slanted in such a way so that the upper part 10 may be brought downwards toward the dampening material 12 so that they may be arranged in direct physical contact. The abutments 17 of the prongs 13 are displaced outwards when the dampening material 12 or the upper part 10 are inserted into the recess 16 so that the dampening material 12 or the upper part 10 are snap-fitted to the lower part 11. The abutments 17 further hinders, when the upper part 10 is arranged in direct physical contact with the dampening material 12, such that the material 12 is sandwiched between the lower surface 10A and the upper surface 11A, detachment of the lower surface 10A from the upper surface 11A.
Fig. 2B shows an assembled floor support device 1 according to the same embodiment as is shown in Fig. 2A.
When assembling a floor support structure using adjustment screws, joists 5, level adjustment screws 3 and feet 2 are typically provided separately. The level adjustment screw 3 is first attached to the joist 5, either by snap-fitting the block 6 into the joist 5, or by screwing the screw 3 into pre-attached blocks 6. A foot 2 is then attached to each screw 3. As mentioned above in relation to figure 1, the distance between the joist 5 and the underlying surface may now be adjusted by turning the screw 3 through the opening 5'.
Fig. 3 shows an alternative of the same embodiment as shown in Fig. 2A-B. Here, part of the floor joist 5 is shown with the level adjustment block 6 arranged inside. The level adjustment block 6 is secured to the floor joist 5 through the engagement means 7. In a similar manner as the device in Fig. 2A-B, the engagement means 7 are snap-fitted to openings 18 in the floor joist 5. The threaded through hole 8 of the level adjustment block 6 is engaged with the level adjustment screw 3, which screw 3 is further connected to the foot 102 of the level adjustment device 1. The foot 102 comprises an upper part 110, a lower part 111 and a dampening material 112 sandwiched in between them. Here, the dampening material 112 has a substantially rectangular shape. Therefore, the lower surface 110A of the upper part 110 is substantially rectangular. The lower part is also substantially rectangular. The lower part 111 comprises prongs 113 extending in a substantially axial direction of the floor support device 101 that engages with the upper part 110 so as to prevent detachment of the lower part 111 from the upper part 110, while allowing compression of the floor support device 101. Here, the prongs 113 are adapted to engage with the corners 19 of the upper part 110.
Fig. 4 shows another alternative of the same embodiment as shown in Fig. 2A-B, also in this case with a substantially rectangular dampening material 112, where the prongs 113' are adapted to engage with edges 20 of the upper part 110.
Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of one example of the device in Fig. 4. Here, the upper surface 111A and the lower surface 110A are at a maximum distance from each other. The level adjustment screw 3 comprises an opening 21 on a distal end 22 thereof. The upper part 110 comprises a substantially centered prong 23 adapted to be snap-fitted to the opening 21 of the level adjustment screw 3 such that the screw 3 is attached to the upper part 110. The level adjustment 3 screw is attached to the upper part 110 in such a way so that rotation of the screw 3 with respect to its longitudinal axis is allowed. The top part 110 is arranged between the prongs 113' so that there is a space 28 between the top part 110 and a prong 113'.
Fig. 6 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein the lower part 211 comprises a hook 25 adapted to extend through the dampening material 212 and through the opening 21 on the distal end 22 of the screw 3 and to engage with the level adjustment screw 3. The dampening material comprises a through hole 24 adapted to receive the hook 25. The hook 25 comprises a top part 26 adapted to be arranged in mechanical contact with the level adjustment screw 3 so to prevent detachment of said lower surface 210A from said upper surface 211A, while allowing compression of the floor support device 301. The top part 26 of the hook 25 is adapted to be displaced so that the level adjustment screw 3, when brought into the recess 214 of the top part 210 downwards toward the hook 25, may be brought to a latched position where the hook is snap-fitted to the opening 21. The top part of the hook further comprises a tip surface 26A adapted to be arranged in direct physical contact with the level adjustment screw. The friction between the tip surface 26A and the level adjustment screw 3 is preferably low enough so that the screw 3 is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis. Here, the lower part 211 comprises bumps 27 adapted to further restrict the movement of the dampening material 212 in a plane horizontal to the floor support device 301.
Fig. 7 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, the dampening material comprises at least one off-center through hole 29 adapted to receive at least one off-center hook 30. The off-center hook 30 is longitudinally extended through the off-center through hole 29 and engages with the upper part 110'. The off-center hook 30 comprises a tip 30A adapted to be arranged in mechanical contact with the upper part 110'.
Fig. 8 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention where the lower part 211' comprises a hook 25 and at least one off-center hook 30, wherein the off-center hook 30 is longitudinally extended through the off-center through hole 29 and engages with the upper part 210'. The off-center hook 30 comprises a tip 30A adapted to be arranged in mechanical contact with the upper part 210'.
The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims, which generally relate to the mounting principle. For example, the details of the engagement between the upper and lower part of the foot may be designed in many different ways, as long as the claimed function is achieved.

Claims

A floor support device (1) comprising a foot (2) and a level adjustment screw (3), said level adjustment screw (3) being adapted to be attached to a floor joist;
wherein said foot (2) comprises an upper part (10) arranged to receive said level adjustment screw (3), said upper part (10) comprising a lower surface (10a), a lower part (11) intended to contact an underlying surface, said lower part comprising an upper surface (11a), and a dampening material (12) sandwiched between said lower surface (10a) and said upper surface (11a); characterized in that:
said lower part (11) engages with one of said upper part (10) and said level adjustment screw (3) so as to prevent detachment of said lower surface (10a) from said upper surface (11a), while allowing compression of the floor support device (1).
The floor support device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said lower part (11) engages with both said upper part (10) and said level adjustment screw (3).
The floor support device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said lower part (11) of said foot (2) comprises at least two prongs (13) extending in a substantially axial direction of the floor support device (1), said at least two prongs (13) being adapted to engage with said upper part (10) such that said upper part (10) is snap-fitted to said at least two prongs (13).
The floor support device (1) according to claim 3, comprising four prongs (13) spaced along a circumference of said lower part (11).
The floor support device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said lower part (11) of said foot (2) comprises a hook (25) arranged substantially centered in said lower part (11) and extending through said dampening material (12) in a substantially axial direction of the floor support device (1), said hook (25) being adapted to engage with said level adjustment screw (3) such that said hook (25) is snap-fitted to said level adjustment screw (3).
The floor support device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said dampening material (12) comprises a through hole (24) adapted to receive said hook (25) such that said hook (25) extends through said dampening material (12) and engages with said level adjustment screw (3).
The floor support device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said level adjustment screw (3) comprises an opening (21) on a distal end (22) adapted to receive said hook (25) such that said hook (25) is snap-fitted to said opening (21).
The floor support device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said lower (11) part further comprises at least one off-center hook (30) adapted to engage with said upper part (10), and wherein said dampening material (12) comprises at least one off-center through hole (29) adapted to receive said off-center hook (30).
The floor support device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said upper part (10) comprises a recess (14) adapted to receive said level adjustment screw (3).
The floor support device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said dampening material (12) is substantially rectangular.
The floor support device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said level adjustment screw (3) is connected to said foot (2) so that said level adjustment screw (3) is axially fixed and allowed to rotate around a longitudinal axis of said level adjustment screw (3).