Structurally integrated accessible floor system

Abstract

A floor system for a building that includes primary and secondary structural supports, a grid attached to the supports, and a plurality of panels removably mounted in the grid to provide access to the space below the panels and the grid. The floor system replaces conventional permanent structural floors, and provides ready access to the underlying space which would otherwise be inaccessible in a conventional floor.

1 . A floor for a building, comprising: 
 a plurality of primary structural building members;    a plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members spanning the primary building members, each one of the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a support grid on the top surfaces of the secondary building members and configured to receive panels; and    a plurality of panels mounted on the support grid to form a floor, each of the plurality of panels individually removable from the support grid to provide access to the space between the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members.    
     
     
         2 . The floor of  claim 1 , comprising means for fastening the plurality of panels individually to the support grid.  
     
     
         3 . The floor of  claim 1 , comprising a system for leveling the floor.  
     
     
         4 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the leveling system comprises a plurality of structures individually interposed between each of the plurality of spaced apart secondary structural building members and the support grid, and individually adjustable to vary a distance between each of the plurality of spaced apart secondary structural building members and the support grid.  
     
     
         5 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of panels comprises at least one panel configured to enable the passage of gas from a first side of the at least one panel to a second side of the at least one panel.  
     
     
         6 . The floor of  claim 5 , comprising a partition in the space between the plurality of spaced apart secondary structural building members to subdivide a plenum formed by the floor.  
     
     
         7 . The floor of  claim 1 , comprising a fire resistant barrier affixed to the bottom surfaces of the plurality of spaced apart secondary structural building members.  
     
     
         8 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of panels are configured to dampen sound transmission.  
     
     
         9 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein a major axis of the support grid is oriented at about 90 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the plurality of spaced apart secondary structural building members.  
     
     
         10 . The floor of  claim 1  wherein a major axis of the support grid is oriented at about 45 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the plurality of spaced apart secondary structural building members.  
     
     
         11 . A floor structure for use with a primary support system, the structure, comprising: 
 means adapted for spanning a primary support system to provide a secondary support system;    means for supporting a plurality of floor panels on the spanning means, the supporting means configured to enable removal of individual floor panels to provide access to a space beneath the panels and between the supporting means; and    means for adjusting the position of the supporting means on the spanning means.    
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 11  wherein the supporting means comprises a grid having a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings configured to receive one of the plurality of floor panels.  
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 11 , further comprising means for fastening each of the plurality of floor panels to the supporting means.  
     
     
         14 . A floor structure, comprising: 
 a plurality of horizontal structural members held in a spaced-apart relationship;    a grid assembly, attached to the plurality of horizontal structural members, and having a plurality of first and second intersecting grid members defining a plurality of openings; and    a plurality of panels, each sized and shaped to be individually and removably engaged with the grid assembly to cover the plurality of openings.    
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 14  wherein each of the plurality of panels is removable to provide access to a space beneath the plurality of panels and between the plurality of horizontal structural members.  
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 14  wherein each of the plurality of panels is configured to fit within a respective opening, and each panel includes an upper surface configured to extend over a portion of those of the plurality of grid members that form the respective opening.  
     
     
         17 . The structure of  claim 16  wherein each the plurality of panels is provided with a flexible gasket surrounding the upper surface, such that when the plurality of panels are placed within contiguous ones of the plurality of openings, adjacent flexible gaskets engage one another.  
     
     
         18 . The structure of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of panels comprises at least one panel configured to enable gas to pass from a first side to a second side.  
     
     
         19 . The structure of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of panels comprises at least one panel configured to distribute power via an electrical outlet.  
     
     
         20 . The structure of  claim 16  wherein each of the plurality of panels is configured to dampen sound transmission from one of the plurality of panels to a contiguous one of the plurality of panels.  
     
     
         21 . The structure of  claim 16  wherein each of the plurality of panels is configured to be removably attached to the grid assembly.  
     
     
         22 . The structure of  claim 14 , further comprising an attachment system configured to attach the grid assembly to the plurality of structural members and to maintain an adjustable gap between the grid assembly and each of the plurality of structural members to provide for leveling of the grid assembly.  
     
     
         23 . The structure of  claim 14 , further comprising walls removably attached to the grid assembly.  
     
     
         24 . A floor assembly, comprising: 
 a plurality of longitudinal structural supports, each of the plurality of longitudinal structural supports having an upper surface and a lower surface;    a grid assembly having a plurality of openings;    an attachment system attaching the grid assembly to the upper surface of each of the longitudinal structural supports and configured to enable adjustment in the position of the grid assembly relative to the longitudinal structural supports; and    a plurality of panels, each panel having a top portion and a bottom portion, the size and shape of at least the bottom portion configured to be slidably received into one of the plurality of openings, the size and shape of the top portion selected to bear against a top surface of the grid assembly.    
     
     
         25 . The floor of  claim 24  wherein each of the plurality of panels is individually removable to permit access to a space beneath the grid assembly and between the plurality of longitudinal structural supports.  
     
     
         26 . A building, comprising: 
 a plurality of primary structural building members;    a plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members spanning the primary building members, each one of the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a support grid affixed to the top surfaces of the secondary building members and configured to receive panels; and    a plurality of panels removably received in the support grid to form a floor, each of the plurality of panels individually detachable from the support grid to provide access to the space between the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members.    
     
     
         27 . A building, comprising: 
 a plurality of primary structural building members;    a plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members spanning the primary building members, each one of the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a support grid affixed to the top surfaces of the secondary building members and configured to receive panels;    an attachment system attaching the support grid to the top surface of each of the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members and configured to enable adjustment in the position of the support grid relative to the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members; and    a plurality of panels removably received in the support grid to form a floor, each of the plurality of panels individually detachable from the support grid to provide access to the space between the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members.    
     
     
         28 . A building, comprising: 
 a plurality of primary structural building members;    a plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members spanning the primary building members, each one of the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members having a top surface and a bottom surface;    a support grid affixed to the top surfaces of the secondary building members and configured to receive panels;    a plurality of panels removably received in the support grid to form a floor, each of the plurality of panels individually detachable from the support grid to provide access to the space between the plurality of spaced-apart secondary structural building members; and    walls, removably attached to the support grid.