Attachment system and method for attaching wall or floor systems to respective floors or walls

Abstract

An attachment system and method for coupling a wall and a floor together during and/or after construction, and for facilitating final orientation of the wall and floor, includes first and second members coupled to the respective wall and floor and pivotal about a hinge member. The wall and floor, and thus the first and second members, pivot between an assembly position, and a final position. In the assembly position, the wall or the floor is assembled, and the first and second members are coupled to the respective wall and floor. In the final position, the wall and floor are finally oriented with respect to one another.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An attachment system configured to couple a wall and a floor together, the system comprising: 
 a) first and second members configured to be coupled to the respective wall and floor;    b) a hinge member, coupled between the first and second members; and    c) the first and second members pivoting with respect to one another about the hinge member between: 
 1) an assembly position in which the wall or the floor is assembled, and in which the first and second members are coupled to the respective wall and floor; and  
 2) a final position in which the wall and floor are finally oriented with respect to one another.  
   
     
     
         2 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a) a fastener, extending through both the first and second members in the final position.    
     
     
         3 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members are configured so that the wall and an upper surface of the floor are substantially parallel with one another in the assembly position; and wherein the first and second members are configured so that the wall and the upper surface of the floor are substantially perpendicular with one another in the final position.  
     
     
         4 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members are substantially parallel with one another in the assembly position.  
     
     
         5 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a) first and second holes formed in the respective first and second members; and    b) the first and second holes being positioned to align with one another in the final position.    
     
     
         6 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a) an elongated strap having opposite sides defining the first and second members, and having a fold portion defining the hinge member, the strap being bendable about the fold portion as the hinge member pivots.    
     
     
         7 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a) a concrete anchor, attached to either the first or second member, configured to be disposed in concrete forming the wall or the floor before the concrete is cured.    
     
     
         8 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a) indicia, formed on the first or second members, to properly position the wall or floor with respect to the respective first or second member.    
     
     
         9 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the hinge member and the first and second members are substantially flat in the assembly position to be substantially flush with the wall or the floor.  
     
     
         10 . An attachment system configured to attach a wall system to a floor with an upper surface, the attachment system comprising: 
 a) an elongated strap, configured to be attached to, and between, the wall system and the floor, including: 
 1) a base portion, configured to be attached flush with the upper surface of the floor;  
 2) an attachment portion, pivotally coupled to the base portion, configured to be attached to the wall system;  
 3) a hinge portion, coupled between the base and attachment portions, with a pivot axis about which the attachment portion is pivotal with respect to the base portion; and  
 4) the attachment portion being pivotal about the pivot axis with respect to the base portion to a pivoted configuration in which the attachment portion is disposed over the base portion, configured to receive a portion of the wall system therebetween; and  
   b) a fastener, insertable through the attachment portion, the base portion, and the portion of the wall system therebetween, to secure the wall system to the floor.    
     
     
         11 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the base portion has an attachment hole, and the attachment portion has an alignment hole; wherein the alignment hole and the attachment hole align in the pivoted configuration; and wherein the fastener is insertable through the attachment hole and the alignment hole in the pivoted configuration.  
     
     
         12 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a) positioning indicia, formed on the strap, to properly align the strap with the floor.    
     
     
         13 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a) alignment indicia, formed on the strap, configured to align the portion of the wall system on the strap.    
     
     
         14 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a) a plurality of fastener holes, formed in the strap, through which fasteners can be inserted to secure the strap to the flood; and to secure the portion of the wall system to the strap.    
     
     
         15 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the floor is formed of concrete; and further comprising: 
 a) a concrete anchor, attached to the strap, configured to be received within the concrete of the floor, having an anchor bore therein to securely receive the fastener, and having an anchor portion extending therefrom to resist removal of the concrete anchor from the floor.    
     
     
         16 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the anchor bore has screw threads formed therein; and wherein the fastener has screw threads formed thereon engagable with the screw threads in the anchor bore to secure the fastener to the concrete anchor.  
     
     
         17 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the strap has an initial configuration in which the strap is substantially flat.  
     
     
         18 . An attachment system configured to attach a wall system to a concrete floor with an upper surface, the attachment system comprising: 
 a) a concrete anchor, configured to be substantially entirely disposed in the concrete floor before concrete of the concrete floor is cured, and including: 
 1) an anchor bore having an opening thereto configured to be located substantially flush with the upper surface of the concrete floor, and a longitudinal axis;  
 2) an anchor portion having at least a portion extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis to anchor in the concrete and resist removal of the concrete anchor;  
   b) a strap, attached to the concrete anchor, and configured to be disposed flush with the concrete floor, and including: 
 1) a base portion, configured to be attached flush with the upper surface of the concrete floor;  
 2) an attachment portion, pivotally coupled to the base portion, configured to be attached to the wall system;  
 3) a hinge portion, coupled between the base and attachment portions, with a pivot axis about which the attachment portion is pivotal with respect to the base portion; and  
 4) the attachment portion being pivotal about the pivot axis with respect to the base portion to a pivoted configuration in which the attachment portion is disposed over the base portion, configured to receive a portion of the wall system therebetween; and  
   c) a fastener, insertable through the attachment portion and the base portion of the strap, and configured to extend through the portion of the wall system therebetween, to secure the wall system to the concrete floor.    
     
     
         19 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the base portion of the strap has an attachment hole, and the attachment portion of the strap has an alignment hole; wherein the alignment hole and the attachment hole align in the pivoted configuration; and wherein the fastener is insertable through the attachment hole and alignment hole in the pivoted configuration.  
     
     
         20 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a) positioning indicia, formed on the strap, to properly align the strap with the concrete floor.    
     
     
         21 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a)alignment indicia, formed on the strap, configured to align the portion of the wall system on the strap.    
     
     
         22 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the anchor bore has screw threads formed therein; and wherein the fastener has screw threads formed thereon engagable with the screw threads in the anchor bore to secure the fastener to the concrete anchor.  
     
     
         23 . An attachment system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the strap has an initial configuration in which the strap is substantially flat.  
     
     
         24 . A method for coupling a wall and a floor together, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) securing the wall and the floor to respective first and second members that are coupled together by a hinge member while the wall and the floor are in an assembly position in which the wall or the floor are constructed; and    b) pivoting the wall and the floor with respect to one another about the hinge member from the assembly position to a final position in which the wall and the floor are in a final oriented with respect to one another.    
     
     
         25 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , further comprising the step of: 
 a) inserting a fastener through portions of the wall and the floor, and through both the first and second members, in the final position.    
     
     
         26 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the wall and an upper surface of the floor are substantially parallel with one another in the assembly position; and wherein the wall and the upper surface of the floor are substantially perpendicular with one another in the final position.  
     
     
         27 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , further comprising the step of: 
 a) aligning first and second holes formed in the respective first and second members in the final position.    
     
     
         28 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the step of securing further includes securing the wall and floor to opposite sides of a strap; and wherein the step of pivoting further includes bending the strap about a fold portion.  
     
     
         29 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the step of securing further includes disposing a concrete anchor attached to either the first or second member into concrete forming the wall or the floor before the concrete is cured.  
     
     
         30 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the step of securing further includes positioning the wall or the floor with indicia formed on the first or second members to properly position the wall or the floor with respect to the respective first or second member.  
     
     
         31 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , further comprising the step of: 
 a) forming a bore in the wall or the floor using a hole in the first or second member as a guide.    
     
     
         32 . A method for attaching a wall system to a floor with an upper surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) securing a strap on the upper surface of the floor;    b) securing a portion of the wall system to the strap while the wall system is in a horizontal orientation; and    c) pivoting the wall system with respect to the floor from the horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation with the strap acting as a hinge about which the wall system pivots and with the strap maintaining the portion of the wall system secured to the floor.    
     
     
         33 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the step of securing the strap on the upper surface of the floor further includes: 
 a) positioning the strap on the floor using a positioning indicia on the strap.    
     
     
         34 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the floor is a wood floor; and wherein the step of securing the strap on the upper surface of the wood floor further includes: 
 a) driving fasteners through the strap and into the wood floor.    
     
     
         35 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the floor is a concrete floor; and wherein the step of securing the strap on the upper surface of the concrete floor further includes: 
 a) disposing a concrete anchor attached to the strap in concrete forming the concrete floor before the concrete cures.    
     
     
         36 . A method in accordance with  claim 35 , further comprising the step of: 
 a) inserting a fastener through the strap and into an anchor bore of the concrete anchor after the wall has been pivoted to the vertical orientation to secure the portion of the wall system to the concrete floor.    
     
     
         37 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the step of securing the portion of the wall system to the strap further includes the steps of: 
 a) aligning the portion of the wall system with an alignment indicia on the strap;    b) folding an attachment portion of the strap to abut to the portion of the wall system; and    c) securing the attachment portion of the strap to the portion of the wall system.    
     
     
         38 . A method in accordance with  claim 37 , further comprising the step of: 
 a) forming a bore through the portion of the floor system using an alignment hole in the attachment portion of the strap to form the bore in a proper location.    
     
     
         39 . A method in accordance with  claim 38 , wherein the step of pivoting the wall system further includes: 
 a) folding a hinge portion of the strap about a fold axis of the strap so that the bore of the portion of the floor system aligns with an attachment hole in the strap, and so that the portion of the floor system is disposed between the attachment portion of the strap and a base portion of the strap.    
     
     
         40 . A method in accordance with  claim 39 , further comprising the step of: 
 a) inserting a fastener through the alignment hole in the strap, the bore in the portion of the wall system, and the attachment hole in the strap to secure the portion of the wall system to the floor.    
     
     
         41 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the step of pivoting the wall system further includes: 
 a) folding a hinge portion of the strap about a fold axis of the strap.    
     
     
         42 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , further comprising the step of: 
 a) inserting a fastener through the strap, through the portion of the wall system, and into the floor after the wall system has been pivoted to the vertical orientation to secure the portion of the wall system to the floor.    
     
     
         43 . A method for attaching a wall system to a concrete floor with an upper surface, the method comprising the steps of. 
 a) disposing a concrete anchor in concrete forming the concrete floor before the concrete cures to secure the concrete anchor to the concrete floor;    b) positioning a strap attached to the concrete anchor substantially flush with the upper surface of the concrete floor so that the strap is secured to the concrete floor;    c) placing a baseboard of the floor system on the strap and aligning the baseboard with an alignment indicia on the strap;    d) folding an attachment portion of the strap to abut to the baseboard of the wall system;    e) securing the attachment portion of the strap to the baseboard of the wall system;    f) pivoting the wall system from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation with the strap acting as a hinge about which the wall system pivots and with the strap maintaining the baseboard of the wall system secured to the concrete floor;    g) simultaneously folding a hinge portion of the strap about a fold axis of the strap so that the attachment portion of the strap is disposed above the baseboard, and a base portion of the strap is disposed under the baseboard; and    h) inserting a fastener through the strap and the baseboard, and into an anchor bore of the concrete anchor to secure the base board of the wall system to the concrete floor.    
     
     
         44 . A method in accordance with  claim 43 , further comprising the steps of: 
 a) forming a bore through the baseboard of the wall system using an alignment hole in the attachment portion of the strap before the wall system is pivoted to the vertical orientation;    b) aligning the bore of the baseboard with an attachment hole in the strap; and    c) inserting the fastener through the alignment hole of the strap, the bore of the baseboard, the attachment hole of the strap, and into the anchor bore of the concrete anchor to secure the base board of the wall system to the concrete floor.    
     
     
         45 . A sub-surface attachment system configured to couple a wall and a floor together, the system comprising: 
 a) a concrete anchor, configured to be substantially entirely disposed in concrete forming the wall or the floor before the concrete is cured, and including: 
 1) an anchor bore having an opening thereto configured to be located substantially flush with an outer surface of the wall or the floor, and having a longitudinal axis; and  
 2) an anchor portion having at least a portion extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis to anchor in the concrete and resist removal of the concrete anchor; and  
   b) a fastener, insertable into the anchor bore of the concrete anchor, having a head to secure at least a portion of the wall or the floor between the head and the concrete anchor.    
     
     
         46 . A sub-surface attachment method for coupling a wall and a floor together, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) disposing a concrete anchor in concrete forming the wall or the floor before the concrete is secured;    b) placing a portion of the wall or the floor against the concrete anchor; and    c) inserting a fastener through the wall or the floor against the concrete anchor, and into an anchor bore of the concrete anchor.