GB2410259A

GB2410259A - Clamping device for supporting floor boards

Info

Publication number: GB2410259A
Application number: GB0401196A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chiu-Ying Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-04
Filing date: 2004-01-20
Publication date: 2005-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2024-01-20
Also published as: DE20318905U1; US20050120651A1; GB2410259B; GB0401196D0

Abstract

A clamping device for supporting floor boards comprises multiple clamping seats 20 longitudinally connected to form a strip. Each clamping seat 20 comprises a snapper 21, a first rib 23 and a second rib 22 extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to be received in floor boards 10 for connecting the floor boards. Each clamping seat 20 has a cylinder 256 for receiving a stub 246 of the adjacent clamping seat. A spring 36 is compressively received in the cylinder. The clamping device allows relative movement between clamping seats 20 allowing for thermal expansion of the floor boards. The clamping device further includes multiple lateral rods 30 each of which connects two parallel strips of clamping seats 20. Each of the lateral rods 30 has two opposite ends each having a hook 31 longitudinally extending therefrom, the two hooks 31 engaged to corresponding indentations 252 in sidewalls of the clamping seats. The lateral rods 30 assure parallel relation between strips of longitudinally connected clamping seats.

Description

24 1 0259

I CLAMPING DEVICE FOR COMBINED FLOORS

2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

3 1. Field of the Invention

4 The present invention relates to a clamping device, and more s particularly to a clamping device for combined floors.

6 2. Description of Related Art

7 The most popular ways to decorate a floor are to lay a carpet, to cover 8 the floor with plastic bricks, or to use a combined floor. However, the carpet is 9 hard to keep clean and the plastic bricks are easily worn and torn. Consequently, to cover the floor with a combined floor is the most popular way to decorate the 11 floor, and the combined floor is usually wooden.

12 To lay the conventional wooden bricks on the original floor, it is 3 necessary to nail a base member on the original floor and the combined floor is 14 glued on the base member. Such a construction takes a lot of time and lacks effect. Furthermore, the conventional base member provides no space to absorb 16 any change of the combined floor arising because the combined floor expands 17 when hot and shortens when cold.

18 The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the 19 disadvantages of the conventional clamping device for combined floors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

21 The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved 22 clamping device for combined floors that has a better connection.

23 To achieve the objective, the combined floors includes multiple wooden 24 bricks each having a first long side, a second long side parallel to the first long I side, a first short side and a second short side respectively connecting two 2 opposite ends of the first long side and the second long side. An L- shaped 3 protrusion laterally extends from the first long side and the first short side of the 4 brick and an L-shaped groove is laterally defined in the second long side and the s second short side of the brick for partially receiving the L-shaped protrusion of 6 two adjacent bricks. A first groove is defined laterally defined in the second 7 long side of the brick under the L-shaped groove and a second groove is 8 laterally defined in the first long side of the brick under the Lshaped protrusion.

9 A first slot and a second slot are respectively defined in a bottom of the brick, lo wherein the first slot corresponds to the second long side of the brick and the 11 second slot corresponds to the first long side of the brick.

12 The clamping device includes multiple clamping seats each made of 13 plastic material and having a rectangular shape. The clamping seat includes a 4 protrusion with a T-shaped cross-section upwardly extending therefrom. The IS protrusion has two opposite topsides respectively received in the first groove 16 and the second groove of two adjacent bricks. A first rib and a second rib 17 respectively extend from a top of the clamping seat and correspond to the two 18 opposite topsides of the protrusion. A guider longitudinally extends from a first 19 end of the clamping seat corresponding to the second rib. The guider has two side plates longitudinally connected to the clamping seat and a connecting plate 21 connected to two free ends of the two side plates. A stub extends from the 22 connecting plate toward the clamping seat. A wing laterally extends from the 23 stub and connected to a corresponding one ofthe two side plates ofthe guider. A 24 receiving space is defined in a second end of the clamping seat for I longitudinally receiving the guider of the adjacent clamping seat. Two parallel 2 sidewalls and a plate upwardly extend from a bottom of the receiving space to 3 define the receiving space. An indentation is defined in a top of each of the 4 sidewalls and the plate includes two opposite sides each having a guiding groove defined therein and corresponding to the two side plates of the guider so 6 that the two side plates of the guider of the adjacent clamping seat can be 7 slidably received in the two guiding groove. A cylinder inwardly extends from 8 the plate for receiving the stub of the adjacent clamping seat. A spring is 9 compressively received in the cylinder and the stub of the adjacent clamping seat compresses the spring to enhance the connection between the two adjacent 11 clamping devices due to the restitution force of the spring. A gap is laterally 12 defined in the cylinder and corresponds to the wing so that the wing is slidably 13 received in the gap of the adjacent clamping seat to enhance the connection 14 between the two adjacent clamping devices.

Multiple lateral rods each is straddled two parallel clamping seats. The 16 lateral rod includes two opposite ends each having a hook longitudinally 17 extending therefrom. The two hooks are respectively engaged to the indentation 18 of a corresponding one of the two parallel clamping seats to assure parallel 19 relation between the two parallel clamping seats.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become 21 apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate 22 reference to the accompanying drawings.

23 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

24 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two clamping devices for combined I floors laterally connected to each other in accordance with the present 2 invention; 3 Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the clamping device in fig. 1; 4 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamping device of the present invention and a wooden brick of the combined floor; 6 Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the clamping device of the present invention; 7 Fig. 5 is a side plan view of the clamping device in Fig. 4; 8 Fig. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the clamping device in Fig. 4 9 along line 6-6; 0 Fig. 7 is a front cross-sectional view of the clamping device in Fig. 4 11 along line 7-7; 12 Fig. 8 is a front cross-sectional view of two clamping devices of the 13 present invention before being engaged to each other; 14 Fig. 9 is a front cross-sectional view of two clamping devices of the present invention after being engaged to each other; 16 Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of mounting the bricks of the combined 17 floor on the engaged clamping devices of the present invention; 18 Fig. 11 is a schematic plan view of mounting the bricks of the combined 19 floor on the engaged clamping devices of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a schematic plan view of mounting the bricks of the combined 21 floor on the engaged clamping devices of the present invention; and 22 Fig. 13 is a top plan view of mounting the bricks of the combined floor 23 on the engaged clamping devices of the present invention.

24 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1 With reference to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1-7, a clamping 2 device for combined floors in accordance with the present invention comprises 3 multiple clamping seats (20) linearly connected one after one and laterally 4 connected to an adjacent clamping seat (20) by a lateral rod (30).

The combined floors includes multiple rectangular bricks (10) each 6 having a first long side, a second long side parallel to the first long side, a first 7 short side and a second short side respectively connecting two opposite ends of 8 the first long side and the second long side. In the preferred embodiment of the 9 present invention, the brick (10) is wooden. The brick (10) includes an lo L-shaped protrusion (11) laterally extending from the first long side and the I I first short side ofthe brick (10) and an L-shaped groove (13) laterally defined in 12 the second long side and the second short side of the brick (10) for partially 3 receiving the L-shaped protrusion (11) of two adjacent bricks (10). A first 14 groove (14) is defined laterally defined in the second long side of the brick (10) IS under the L-shaped groove (13) and a second groove (12) laterally defined in 16 the first long side of the brick (10) under the L-shaped protrusion (11). A first 17 slot (18) and a second slot (17) are respectively defined in a bottom ofthe brick 18 (10), wherein the first slot (18) corresponds to the second long side ofthe brick 19 (10) and the second slot (17) corresponds to the first long side ofthe brick (10).

The clamping device includes multiple clamping seats (20) each made 21 of plastic material and having a rectangular shape. The clamping seat (20) 22 includes a protrusion (21) with a T-shaped cross-section. The protrusion (21) 23 has two opposite topsides respectively received in the first groove (14) and the 24 second groove (12) oftwo adjacent bricks (10). A first rib (23) and a second rib s I (22) respectively extend from a top of the clamping seat (20) and correspond to 2 the two opposite topsides of the protrusion (21). The second rib (22) is received 3 in the second slot (17) and the first rib (23) is received in the first slot (18) in an 4 adjacent brick (10). A guider (24) longitudinally extends from a first end of the s clamping seat (20) corresponding to the second rib (22). The guider (24) has 6 two side plates (241) longitudinally connected to the clamping seat (20) and a 7 connecting plate (245) connected to two free ends of the two side plates (241).

8 Each side plate (241) includes an engager (243) inward laterally extending 9 therefrom. A stub (246) extends from the connecting plate (245) toward the lo clamping seat (20). A wing (247) laterally extends from the stub (246) and is 11 connected to a corresponding one ofthe two side plates (241) of the guider (24).

12 A lever (248) longitudinally extends from the connecting plate (245) opposite 13 to the stub (246) and has a stopper (249) downward extending from the lever 14 (248) Further with reference to Figs. 8-13, a receiving space (25) is defined in 16 a second end of the clamping seat (20) for longitudinally receiving the guider 17 (24) ofthe adjacent clamping seat (20). Two parallel sidewalls (251) and a plate 18 (253) upwardly extend from a bottom (258) of the receiving space (25) to 19 define the receiving space (25). An indentation (252) is defined in a top of each ofthe sidewalls (251) for laterally connected to the lateral rod (30). The plate 21 (253) includes two opposite sides each having a guiding groove (255) defined 22 therein and corresponding to the two side plates (241) of the guider (24) so that 23 the two side plates (241) of the guider (24) of the adjacent clamping seat (20) 24 can be slidably received in the two guiding groove (255). A slit (254) is laterally I defined in the two opposite sides of the plate (253). Each slit (254) 2 communicates with a corresponding one of the two guiding groove (255) and 3 corresponds to a corresponding one of the two engagers (243) so that the two 4 engagers (243) are respectively slidably received in the two slits (254) for assuring the two adjacent clamping seats (20) in a horizontal condition when 6 the two adjacent clamping seats (20) are longitudinally connected to each other.

7 A cylinder (256) inwardly extends from the plate (253) for receiving the stub 8 (246) ofthe adjacent clamping seat (20). The first rib (23), as described above, 9 upwardly extends from the two sidewalls (251) and the cylinder (256). A spring lo (36) is compressively received in the cylinder (256) and the stub (246) of the 11 adjacent clamping seat (20) compresses the spring (36) to enhance the 12 connection between the two adjacent clamping devices (20) due to the 13 restitution force of the spring (36). A gap (257) is laterally defined in the 14 cylinder (256) and corresponding to the wing (247) so that the wing (247) is slidably received in the gap (257) ofthe adjacent clamping seat (20) to enhance 16 the connection between the two adjacent clamping devices (20) when 17 connecting the two adjacent clamping seats (20). An aperture (259) is defined 18 in the bottom (258) for receiving the stopper (249) of the lever (248) of the 19 adjacent clamping seat (20) for holding the adjacent clamping seat (20) in place.

21 The lateral rod (30) straddled two parallel clamping seats (20). The 22 lateral rod (30) includes two opposite ends each having a hook (31) 23 longitudinally extending therefrom. The two hooks (31) respectively engaged 24 to the indentation (252) of a corresponding one of the two parallel clamping I seats (20) to assure parallel relation between the two parallel clamping seats 2 (20). A cushion (not shown) is attached to a bottom of the clamping seat (20) for 3 absorbing vibration and reducing noise.

4 The multiple clamping seats (20) are arranged to a series of parallel strip for combining the bricks (10) and every two parallel strips of clamping seat (20) 6 are connected by multiple lateral rods (30). The bricks (10) sequentially 7 straddle on the series of parallel strip of the clamping seats (20). The lateral 8 bricks (10) are interlaced relative to each other so that the middle portion of 9 each of the bricks (10) is securely connected to a corresponding one of the lo clamping devices (20). The first groove (14) and the second groove (12) ofthe 11 two adjacent bricks (10) are combined to form a T-shaped passage for receiving 12 the protrusion (21). The brick (10) will make the stub (246) of the clamping seat 13 (20) push the spring (36) ofthe adjacent clamping seat (20) and form a distance 14 (H) between every two adjacent clamping seat (20), and the two engagers (243) are received in the two slit (254) of the plate (253) of the adjacent clamping seat 16 (20) so that the connection between every two adjacent clamping seats (20) are 7 stable. The stopper (249) of the lever (248) is engaged to the aperture (259) in 18 the bottom (258) ofthe adjacent clamping seat (20) to promote the convenience 19 and accuracy for assembling the clamping seats (20). The user can upwardly wrench the lever (248) to make the stopper (249) disengage from the aperture 21 (259) in the adjacent clamping seat (20) and then the clamping seat (20) can be 22 easily detached from the adjacent clamping seat (20).

23 As described above, the restitution force ofthe spring (36) can provide a 24 better clamping effect to the adjacent clamping seats (20) and the spring (36) 1 can absorb length variation of the combined floor due to the variation of the 2 ambient temperature. Furthermore, the bricks (10) are combined without 3 needing any glue and nails, and the user only needs to pull the lever (248) of the 4 clamping seat (20) upwardly, thereby detaching the clamping seat (20) from each other easily and conveniently.

6 Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred 7 embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and 8 variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the 9 invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

I WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
2 1. A clamping device for combined floors, wherein
3. The clamping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping seat 6 further comprising a lever longitudinally extending from the connecting plate 17 opposite to the stub and having a stopper downward extending from the lever, 18 an aperture defined in the bottom of the receiving space for receiving the 19 stopper of the lever of the adjacent clamping seat for holding the adjacent clamping seat in place.

21
4. The clamping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the side 22 plates of the guider includes an engager inward laterally extending therefrom, 23 and a slit is laterally defined in the two opposite sides of the plate, each slit 24 communicating with a corresponding one of the two guiding groove and I corresponds to a corresponding one of the two engagers so that the two 2 engagers are respectively slidably received in the two slits for assuring the two 3 adjacent clamping seats in a horizontal condition.

4
5. The clamping device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the side plates of the guider includes an engager inward laterally extending therefrom, 6 and a slit is laterally defined in the two opposite sides of the plate, each slit 7 communicating with a corresponding one of the two guiding groove and 8 corresponds to a corresponding one of the two engagers so that the two 9 engagers are respectively slidably received in the two slits for assuring the two adjacent clamping seats in a horizontal condition.

11
6. The claiming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brick is 2 wooden.

13
7. A clamping device for combined floors substantially as hereinbefore 14 described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

3 the combined floors includes: 4 multiple bricks each having a first long side, a second long side parallel to the first long side, a first short side and a second short side 6 respectively connecting two opposite ends of the first long side and the 7 second long side; 8 an L-shaped protrusion laterally extending from the first long 9 side and the first short side of the brick and an L-shaped groove laterally lo defined in the second long side and the second short side of the brick for 11 partially receiving the L-shaped protrusion of two adjacent bricks; 12 a first groove defined laterally defined in the second long side 13 of the brick under the L-shaped groove and a second groove laterally 14 defined in the first long side of the brick under the L-shaped protrusion; and 16 a first slot and a second slot respectively defined in a bottom of 17 the brick, wherein the first slot corresponds to the second long side ofthe 18 brick and the second slot corresponds to the first long side of the brick; 19 the clamping device includes: multiple clamping seats each made of plastic material and 21 having a rectangular shape, the clamping seat including a protrusion with 22 a T-shaped cross-section upwardly extending therefrom, the protrusion 23 having two opposite topsides respectively received in the first groove and 24 the second groove of two adjacent bricks; Ia first rib and a second rib respectively extending from a top of 2the clamping seat and correspond to the two opposite topsides of the 3protrusion; 4a guider longitudinally extending from a first end of the 5clamping seat corresponding to the second rib, the guider having two side 6plates longitudinally connected to the clamping seat and a connecting 7plate connected to two free ends of the two side plates; 8a stub extending from the connecting plate toward the clamping 9seat; loa wing laterally extending from the stub and connected to a 11corresponding one of the two side plates of the guider; 12a receiving space defined in a second end of the clamping seat 13for longitudinally receiving the guider ofthe adjacent clamping seat, two 14parallel sidewalls and a plate upwardly extending from a bottom of the 15receiving space to define the receiving space; 16an indentation defined in a top of each of the sidewalls and the 17plate including two opposite sides each having a guiding groove defined 18therein and corresponding to the two side plates of the guider so that the 19two side plates ofthe guider of the adjacent clamping seat can be slidably 20received in the two guiding groove; 21a cylinder inwardly extending from the plate for receiving the 22stub of the adjacent clamping seat; 23a spring compressively received in the cylinder and the stub of 24the adjacent clamping seat compressing the spring to enhance the 1 connection between the two adjacent clamping devices due to the 2 restitution force of the spring; and 3 a gap laterally defined in the cylinder and corresponding to the 4 wing so that the wing is slidably received in the gap of the adjacent clamping seat to enhance the connection between the two adjacent 6 clamping devices; and 7 multiple lateral rods each straddled two parallel clamping seats, the 8 lateral rod including two opposite ends each having a hook longitudinally 9 extending therefrom, the two hooks respectively engaged to the indentation of a lo corresponding one ofthe two parallel clamping seats to assure parallel relation 11 between the two parallel clamping seats.

12 2. The clamping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second rib of 13 the clamping seat is received in the second slot and the first rib of the clamping 14 seat is received in the first slot in the adjacent brick.