Grid floor

Abstract

The floor is composed of a series of plates ( 3 ), of quadrangular shape and provided with rounded slots ( 4 ), which are installed resting on the lower inner flange ( 2 ) of a perimeter frame ( 1 ) and the side flanges ( 6 ) of a shape acting as a middle divider ( 5 ), these plates ( 3 ) having grooves ( 8 ) in two of the adjoining edges and shoulders ( 9 ) on the other two, complementary to one another to permit the matched jointing of said plates when they are installed on the frame ( 1 ), being secured in place by means of a finish cover ( 7 ) on the intermediate shape ( 5 ) and a lock plate ( 10 ) fitted on the edge corresponding to the frame ( 1 ), through which the plates ( 3 ) are inserted and removed. The grid floor obtained forms a surface for covering an empty space as well as a support to permit, for instance, the washing of a domestic animal by hand, so that the water and dirt pass through the slots with which the plates ( 3 ) are provided.

1 . Grid floor which, being designed to form a platform or surface to cover an empty space, for instance that defined in a cubicle for washing animals by hand, and being composed of a series of plates duly supported on a frame, the former provided with slots so as to act not only as a support, but also to permit the passage of liquid or dirt through the actual slots, is characterised in that the corresponding frame ( 1 ) has a lower inner perimeter flange ( 2 ) for supporting the corresponding plates ( 3 ), the former having an intermediate shape ( 5 ) forming a divider with lower horizontal flanges ( 6 ) which, in combination with the lower flange ( 2 ) of the frame ( 1 ), form the means of support for the respective plates ( 3 ), these being retained at the top, once fitted, by means of a cover ( 7 ) provided as an upper finish for the intermediate shape ( 5 ), a cover ( 7 ) which extends all along said shape ( 5 ) with the exception of an end section through which the plates ( 3 ) are installed on the frame ( 1 ), these being secured by means of an appendage to the shape in the form of a lock plate ( 19 ) situated at the corresponding edge of the frame through which the actual grid plates ( 3 ) are inserted and removed, while said plates ( 3 ) are designed so that two of their adjacent edges have grooves ( 8 - 8 ′) complementary to respective shoulders ( 9 - 9 ′) provided on the other two edges, forming means which permit the matched jointing of the plates ( 3 ), which have the special feature that both larger faces ( 3 - 3 ′) are the same as each other, so that either of them may be installed facing upwards.  
     
     
         2 . Grid floor, according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the slots ( 4 ) with which the plates ( 3 ) are provided have their ends and edges ( 11 ) fully rounded.  
     
     
         3 . Grid floor, according to the previous claims, characterised in that the arrangement of the grooves ( 8 - 8 ′) and shoulders ( 9 - 9 ′) at the edges of the plates ( 3 ) and the symmetry of both faces ( 3 - 3 ′) make it possible, by means of the corresponding turning or handling of said plates ( 3 ), to compose a varied geometry through the placement of said plates ( 3 ) with the alignments of the slots ( 4 ) of adjoining plates perpendicular to one another.