Access floor system

Abstract

An access floor system including an access floor panel having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface and at least one pedestal. The pedestal includes a base portion for resting on a subfloor, a head portion and a jack interconnecting the base portion and the head portion, the head portion having an upper surface for engaging the bottom surface of the floor panel. A selected one of the upper surface of the head portion of the pedestal or the bottom surface of the floor panel comprises a protrusion extending therefrom, and the other of the upper surface of the head portion or bottom surface of the floor panel defines a receptacle therein, the receptacle being of a size to complementarily and detachably engage the protrusion. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure. The abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b).

What i claim is:  
     
         1 . An access floor system, comprising: 
 a. an access floor panel having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface; and    b. at least one pedestal comprising a base portion for resting on a subfloor,    a head portion and a jack interconnecting the base portion and the head portion, the head portion having an upper surface for engaging the bottom surface of the floor panel,    wherein a selected one of the upper surface of the head portion of the pedestal or the bottom surface of the floor panel comprises a protrusion extending therefrom, and wherein the other of the upper surface of the head portion or bottom surface of the floor panel defines a receptacle therein, the receptacle being of a size to complementarily and detachably engage the protrusion.    
     
     
         2 . The access floor system of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends from the upper surface of the head portion and the bottom surface of the floor panel defines the receptacle therein.  
     
     
         3 . The access floor system of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends from the bottom surface of the floor panel and the upper surface of the head portion defines the receptacle therein.  
     
     
         4 . The access floor system of  claim 2 , wherein the protrusion is permanently attached to the upper surface of the head portion.  
     
     
         5 . The access floor system of  claim 2 , wherein the head portion is formed of a selected material and the protrusion is integrally formed from the same selected material that forms the head portion.  
     
     
         6 . The access floor system of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion and receptacle form an interference fit therebetween.  
     
     
         7 . The access floor system of  claim 1 , wherein a selected one of the protrusion or the receptacle comprises a pliable material capable of repeated deformation.  
     
     
         8 . The access floor system of  claim 7 , wherein the receptacle comprises a bushing fabricated of a pliable material capable of repeated deformation.  
     
     
         9 . The access floor system of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion extends from the upper surface of the head portion and the bottom surface of the floor panel defines the receptacle therein and wherein at least a portion of the bushing extends below the bottom surface of the floor panel.  
     
     
         10 . The access floor system of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises an inner bore having a non-uniform cross section in side view.  
     
     
         11 . The access floor system of  claim 10 , wherein the inner bore comprises a detent therein for detachably engaging the protrusion.  
     
     
         12 . The access floor system of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion is substantially square having four comers and comprises four protrusions, one protrusion extending from the upper surface of the head portion adjacent each comer thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The access floor system of  claim 12 , wherein the floor panel is substantially square having four corners and defines four receptacles therein, one receptacle adjacent each corner thereof, each receptacle for receiving a respective one of the four protrusions therein.  
     
     
         14 . An access floor system, comprising: 
 a. an access floor panel having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface; and    b. at least one pedestal having a base portion, a head portion and a jack having a jack length interconnecting the base portion and the head portion, the base portion for resting on a subfloor and the head portion for engaging the bottom surface of the floor panel,    wherein the jack is adjustable along a substantially vertical longitudinal axis between the base portion and the head portion for varying the jack length.    
     
     
         15 . The access floor system of  claim 14 , wherein the jack comprises a first sleeve and a complementary second sleeve of a size to complementarily interconnect to the first sleeve, the first sleeve attached to the base portion and the second sleeve attached to the head portion, the first and second sleeves being in coaxial telescopic relation to each other.  
     
     
         16 . The access floor system of  claim 15 , wherein the first sleeve is larger than the second sleeve, and wherein the at least a portion of the inner surface of the first sleeve engages at least a portion of the outer surface of the second sleeve.  
     
     
         17 . The access floor system of  claim 16 , wherein the first sleeve and second sleeve are cylindrical, and wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the first sleeve and at least a portion of the outer surface of the second sleeve comprise complementary threads so that the first and second sleeves are in threaded engagement with each other.  
     
     
         18 . The access floor system of  claim 17 , wherein the base portion comprises a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, the bottom surface for contacting the subfloor and the top surface connected to the jack, the base portion further comprising at least one tab protruding from the top surface of the base portion.  
     
     
         19 . The access floor system of  claim 17 , wherein the base portion comprises a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, the bottom surface for contacting the subfloor and the top surface connected to the jack, the base portion further comprising at least one tab protruding from the outer surface of the first sleeve.  
     
     
         20 . An access floor system, comprising: 
 a. an access floor panel having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface;    b. at least one pedestal having a base portion, a head portion and a jack having a jack length interconnecting the base portion and the head portion, the base portion for resting on a subfloor and the head portion for engaging the bottom surface of the floor panel; and    c. means for varying the length of the jack along a substantially vertical longitudinal axis between the base portion and the head portion.    
     
     
         21 . A method of forming an access floor system, comprising: 
 a. providing an access floor panel having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface;    b. providing at least one pedestal comprising a base portion for resting on a subfloor, a head portion and a jack interconnecting the base portion and the head portion, the head portion having an upper surface for engaging the bottom surface of the floor panel, wherein a the upper surface of the head portion of the pedestal comprises a protrusion extending therefrom, and wherein the bottom surface of the floor panel defines a receptacle therein, the receptacle being of a size to complementarily and detachably engage the protrusion; and    c. assembling the access floor panel and the at least one pedestal by inserting a selected protrusion into a selected receptacle.