Extrusion for use in a floor assembly

Abstract

An extrusion for use in a floor assembly including a load bearing horizontal portion and at least one horizontal support member in a substantially parallel horizontal plane, and a plurality of leg members extending downwardly from the load bearing horizontal portion. The extrusion also includes a tongue extending outwardly from a first outside surface thereof and a receiving portion provided at the second outside surface thereof that is sized and positioned to receive therein a tongue of a second extrusion forming a part of the floor assembly. The second outside surface also includes at least one aperture that is sized and positioned to receive therethrough at least one fastener for securing the extrusion to a rigid underlying support such as a plurality of wood joists.

1 . An extrusion for use in a floor assembly, comprising: 
 a load bearing horizontal portion in a first horizontal plane;    at least one horizontal support member in a second horizontal plane substantially parallel to said first horizontal plane, said extrusion having a first outside surface located adjacent to a first end of said at least one horizontal support member and a second outside surface located adjacent to a second end of said at least one horizontal support member and opposite said first outside surface;    a plurality of leg members extending downwardly from said load bearing horizontal portion;    a tongue extending outwardly from said first outside surface, said second outside surface having a receiving portion sized and positioned to receive a tongue of a second extrusion therein;    said at least one horizontal support surface having at least one first aperture, said at least one first aperture being sized and positioned to receive therethrough at least one fastener for securing said extrusion to a rigid underlying support, said at least one first aperture being located between said receiving portion and said first outside surface at a position that is adjacent to said receiving portion.    
   
   
       2 . An extrusion according to  claim 1 , said plurality of leg members comprising a first outer leg member and a second outer leg member, said tongue being connected to said first end of said at least one horizontal support member, said receiving portion being part of said second outer leg member.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one aperture provided in said second outer leg member.  
   
   
       4 . An extrusion according to  claim 3 , said at least one horizontal support member comprising a first horizontal support member and a second horizontal support member, said tongue being connected to said first horizontal support member, said at least one first aperture being provided in said second horizontal support member.  
   
   
       5 . An extrusion according to  claim 1 , said at least one horizontal support member comprising a first horizontal support member and a second horizontal support member, said extrusion further comprising a first inner leg member connected to said first horizontal support member and a second inner leg member connected to said second horizontal support member, said first and second inner leg members defining a channel disposed along a longitudinal axis of said extrusion for receiving a snap connector secured to said rigid underlying support.  
   
   
       6 . An extrusion according to  claim 5 , said first inner leg member and said second inner leg member each including a retaining tab which cooperates with said snap connector for mechanically securing said extrusion to said snap connector.  
   
   
       7 . An extrusion according to  claim 3 , said at least one first aperture comprising a plurality of first apertures, said at least one second aperture comprising a plurality of second apertures, each of said first apertures being aligned with a corresponding one of said second apertures such that each said first aperture and the corresponding second aperture are adapted to receive therethrough a fastener for securing said extrusion to said rigid underlying support.  
   
   
       8 . An extrusion according to  claim 3 , said at least one first aperture and said at least one second aperture each being an elongated slot.  
   
   
       9 . An extrusion according to  claim 3 , said at least one first aperture being aligned with said at least one second aperture such that said at least one first aperture and said at least one second aperture are adapted to receive therethrough said at least one fastener, said at least one first aperture and said at least one second aperture being sized to allow water and debris to pass therethrough when said at least one fastener is received therethrough.  
   
   
       10 . An extrusion according to  claim 7 , each of said first and second apertures being an elongated slot.  
   
   
       11 . An extrusion according to  claim 7 , each of said first and second apertures being sized to allow water and debris to pass therethrough when a fastener is received through each said first aperture and the corresponding second aperture.  
   
   
       12 . An extrusion according to  claim 2 , said receiving portion being an overhang portion, said second outer leg member including a vertical member extending upwardly from said at least one horizontal support member and a horizontal member connected to said vertical member, said vertical member and said horizontal member forming said overhang portion.  
   
   
       13 . An extrusion according to  claim 3 , said second outer leg member including an outwardly and downwardly extending angled member, said at least one second aperture being provided in said angled member.  
   
   
       14 . An extrusion according to  claim 7 , said second outer leg member including an outwardly and downwardly extending angled member, said plurality of second apertures being provided in said angled member.  
   
   
       15 . An extrusion according to  claim 1 , said extrusion having a longitudinal axis, said tongue and said receiving portion extending along an entire length of said extrusion along said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       16 . An extrusion according to  claim 1 , said extrusion being made of an extruded plastic material.  
   
   
       17 . An extrusion according to  claim 16 , said plastic material being PVC material.  
   
   
       18 . An extrusion according to  claim 1 , said extrusion being made of a first extruded material and a second extruded material, said second extruded material forming an outer surface of said extrusion.  
   
   
       19 . An extrusion according to  claim 18 , said first extruded material being recycled PVC material and said second extruded material being virgin PVC material.  
   
   
       20 . An extrusion according to  claim 1 , said load bearing horizontal portion having an exposed surface, said exposed surface having a plurality of depressions.  
   
   
       21 . An extrusion according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one soft material layer attached to a bottom surface of said at least one horizontal support member, said load bearing horizontal portion, said at least one horizontal support member, and said plurality of leg members being made of a first material, said soft material having a durometer that is softer than a durometer of said first material.  
   
   
       22 . An extrusion according to  claim 21 , said soft material layer being soft PVC.  
   
   
       23 . A floor assembly, comprising: 
 a plurality of extrusions, each extrusion including: 
 a load bearing horizontal portion in a first horizontal plane;  
 at least one horizontal support member in a second horizontal plane substantially parallel to said first horizontal plane, said extrusion having a first outside surface located adjacent to a first end of said at least one horizontal support member and a second outside surface located adjacent to a second end of said at least one horizontal support member and opposite said first outside surface;  
 a plurality of leg members extending downwardly from said load bearing horizontal portion;  
 a tongue extending outwardly from said first outside surface, said second outside surface having a receiving portion sized and positioned to receive therein a tongue of an adjacent one of said plurality of extrusions;  
 said at least one horizontal support surface having at least one first aperture, said at least one first aperture being located between said receiving portion and said first outside surface at a position that is adjacent to said receiving portion;  
   each of said extrusions being secured to a rigid underlying support by at least one fastener inserted through said at least one first aperture and into said rigid underlying supporting, each of said receiving portions of each of said extrusions except for a last one of said extrusions forming said floor assembly receiving therein the tongue of the extrusion located directly adjacent thereto.    
   
   
       24 . A floor assembly according to  claim 23 , said plurality of leg members comprising a first outer leg member and a second outer leg member, said tongue being connected to said first end of said at least one horizontal support member, said receiving portion being part of said second outer leg member.  
   
   
       25 . A floor assembly according to  claim 24 , each said extrusion further comprising at least one second aperture provided in said second outer leg member.  
   
   
       26 . A floor assembly according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of snap connectors secured to said rigid underlying support, each of said extrusions being mechanically secured to a corresponding one of said snap connectors.  
   
   
       27 . A floor assembly according to  claim 26 , said at least one horizontal support member comprising a first horizontal support member and a second horizontal support member, each said extrusion further comprising a first inner leg member connected to said first horizontal support member and a second inner leg member connected to said second horizontal support member, said first and second inner leg members defining a channel disposed along a longitudinal axis of said extrusion for receiving said corresponding one of said snap connectors.  
   
   
       28 . A floor assembly according to  claim 27 , each of said first inner leg members and said second inner leg members including a retaining tab which cooperates with said corresponding one of said snap connectors for mechanically securing said extrusion to said corresponding one of said snap connectors.  
   
   
       29 . A floor assembly according to  claim 28 , each of said snap connectors including an elongated base portion and a pair of flanges attached to opposite sides of said base portion, each said flange including a pilot surface to facilitate mechanical securing of the corresponding extrusion thereto.  
   
   
       30 . A floor assembly according to  claim 23 , further comprising one or more snap connectors secured to said rigid underlying support, each of one or more of said extrusions being mechanically secured to a corresponding one of said one or more snap connectors.  
   
   
       31 . A floor assembly according to  claim 30 , said at least one horizontal support member of each of said extrusions mechanically secured to a corresponding one of said one or more snap connectors comprising a first horizontal support member and a second horizontal support member, each of said extrusions mechanically secured to a corresponding one of said one or more snap connectors further comprising a first inner leg member connected to said first horizontal support member and a second inner leg member connected to said second horizontal support member, said first and second inner leg members defining a channel disposed along a longitudinal axis of said extrusion for receiving said corresponding one of said one or more snap connectors.  
   
   
       32 . A floor assembly according to  claim 31 , each of said first inner leg members and said second inner leg members including a retaining tab which cooperates with said corresponding one of said one or more snap connectors for mechanically securing said extrusion to said corresponding one of said one or more snap connectors.  
   
   
       33 . A floor assembly according to  claim 32 , each of said snap connectors including an elongated base portion and a pair of flanges attached to opposite sides of said base portion, each said flange including a pilot surface to facilitate mechanical securing of the corresponding extrusion thereto.  
   
   
       34 . A floor assembly according to  claim 21 , further comprising first and second snap connectors secured to said rigid underlying support, a first one of said extrusions being mechanically secured to said first snap connector and a second one of said extrusions being mechanically secured to said second snap connector.  
   
   
       35 . A floor assembly according to  claim 30 , said at least one horizontal support member of said first one of said extrusions and said second one of said extrusions comprising a first horizontal support member and a second horizontal support member, said first one of said extrusions and said second one of said extrusions each further comprising a first inner leg member connected to said first horizontal support member and a second inner leg member connected to said second horizontal support member, said first and second inner leg members defining a channel disposed along a longitudinal axis of said extrusion, said channel of said first one of said extrusions for receiving said first snap connector and said channel of said second one of said extrusions for receiving said second snap connector.  
   
   
       36 . A floor assembly according to  claim 35 , each of said first inner leg members and said second inner leg members including a retaining tab, said retaining tabs of said first one of said extrusions cooperating with said first snap connector for mechanically securing said first one of said extrusions to said first snap connector and said retaining tabs of said second one of said extrusions cooperating with said second snap connector for mechanically securing said second one of said extrusions to said second snap connector.  
   
   
       37 . A floor assembly according to  claim 36 , each of said first and second snap connectors including an elongated base portion and a pair of flanges attached to opposite sides of said base portion, each said flange including a pilot surface to facilitate mechanical securing of the corresponding extrusion thereto.  
   
   
       38 . A floor assembly according to  claim 34 , said first one of said extrusions being a first extrusion forming said floor assembly and said second one of said extrusions being a last extrusion forming said floor assembly.  
   
   
       39 . A floor assembly according to  claim 25 , said at least one horizontal support member comprising a first horizontal support member and a second horizontal support member, said tongue being connected to said first horizontal support member, said at least one first aperture being provided in said second horizontal support member.  
   
   
       40 . A floor assembly according to  claim 25 , said at least one first aperture comprising a plurality of first apertures, said at least one second aperture comprising a plurality of second apertures, and said at least one fastener comprising a plurality of fasteners, each of said first apertures being aligned with a corresponding one of said second apertures, each said first aperture and the corresponding second aperture having inserted therethrough and into said rigid underlying support one of said fasteners.  
   
   
       41 . A floor assembly according to  claim 25 , said at least one first aperture and said at least one second aperture each being an elongated slot.  
   
   
       42 . A floor assembly according to  claim 25 , said at least one first aperture being aligned with said at least one second aperture such that said at least one first aperture and said at least one second aperture are adapted to receive therethrough said at least one fastener, said at least one first aperture and said at least one second aperture being sized to allow water and debris to pass therethrough when said at least one fastener is received therethrough.  
   
   
       43 . A floor assembly according to  claim 40 , each of said first and second apertures being an elongated slot.  
   
   
       44 . A floor assembly according to  claim 40 , each of said first and second apertures being sized to allow water and debris to pass therethrough when said one of said fasteners is received through each said first aperture and the corresponding second aperture.  
   
   
       45 . A floor assembly according to  claim 24 , said receiving portion being an overhang portion, said second outer leg member including a vertical member extending upwardly from said at least one horizontal support member and a horizontal member connected to said vertical member, said vertical member and said horizontal member forming said overhang portion.  
   
   
       46 . A floor assembly according to  claim 25 , said second outer leg member including an outwardly and downwardly extending angled member, said at least one second aperture being provided in said angled member.  
   
   
       47 . A floor assembly according to  claim 40 , said second outer leg member including an outwardly and downwardly extending angled member, said plurality of second apertures being provided in said angled member.  
   
   
       48 . A floor assembly according to  claim 23 , each of said extrusions having a longitudinal axis, each of said tongues and said receiving portions extending along an entire length of each of said extrusions along said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       49 . A floor assembly according to  claim 23 , each of said extrusions being made of an extruded plastic material.  
   
   
       50 . A floor assembly according to  claim 49 , said plastic material being PVC material.  
   
   
       51 . A floor assembly according to  claim 23 , each of said extrusions being made of a first extruded material and a second extruded material, said second extruded material forming an outer surface of each of said extrusions.  
   
   
       52 . A floor assembly according to  claim 51 , said first extruded material being recycled PVC material and said second extruded material being virgin PVC material.  
   
   
       53 . A floor assembly according to  claim 23 , said load bearing horizontal portion having an exposed surface, said exposed surface having a plurality of depressions.  
   
   
       54 . A floor assembly according to  claim 23 , each of said extrusions further comprising at least one soft material layer attached to a bottom surface of said at least one horizontal support member, said load bearing horizontal portion, said at least one horizontal support member, and said plurality of leg members being made of a first material, said soft material having a durometer that is softer than a durometer of said first material.  
   
   
       55 . A floor assembly according to  claim 54 , said soft material layer being soft PVC.  
   
   
       56 . A floor assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein each of said at least one first apertures of each of said extrusions is not obscured by the tongue of the extrusion located directly adjacent thereto.  
   
   
       57 . A floor assembly according to  claim 40 , wherein each said first aperture and the corresponding second aperture of each of the extrusions define a continuous channel for allowing water and debris to pass from the load bearing horizontal portion of the extrusion through said channel.