Floor assembly utility panel

Abstract

A floor tile assembly comprises a floor panel supported above a floor surface by at least one frame member, wherein the floor panel includes an aperture, and an insert assembly including a first plate including a top surface, a bottom surface and a side edge having a first indentation, wherein the first plate covers at least a portion of the aperture. A second plate is adjacent to the first plate and includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a side edge located adjacent the side edge of the first plate, wherein the second plate covers at least a portion of the aperture and a side edge of the second plate cooperates with the first indentation of the first plate to form a first opening. A structural reinforcement member is connected to the bottom surface of the first plate and abuts the bottom surface of the second plate, thereby reinforcing the first and second plates against vertically applied loads.

1 . A floor tile assembly comprising:
 a floor panel supported above a floor surface by at least one frame member, wherein the floor panel includes an aperture; and   an insert assembly comprising:
 a first plate including a top surface, a bottom surface and a side edge having a first indentation, wherein the first plate covers at least a portion of the aperture; 
 a second plate adjacent to the first plate and including a top surface, a bottom surface and a side edge located adjacent the side edge of the first plate, wherein the second plate covers at least a portion of the aperture, and wherein the side edge of the second plate cooperates with the first indentation of the first plate to form a first opening; and 
 a first structural reinforcement member connected to the bottom surface of the first plate and abutting the bottom surface of the second plate, thereby reinforcing the first and second plates against a load applied to the top surfaces of the first and second plates. 
   
     
     
         2 . The floor tile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the side edge of the second plate includes a first indentation and wherein the first indentation of the first plate and the first indentation of the second plate cooperate to form the first opening. 
     
     
         3 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first structural reinforcement member has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is fixedly connected to the first plate, and the second portion of the structural reinforcement member extends substantially orthogonal to the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the first plate is weldably coupled to the first portion of the structural reinforcement member. 
     
     
         5 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 1 , wherein approximately one-half of the first portion of the structural reinforcement member extends outwardly from the side edge of the first plate. 
     
     
         6 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the side edge of the first plate has a second indentation and the side edge of the second plate has a second indentation, and wherein the second indentation of the first plate and the second indentation of the second plate cooperate to form a second opening. 
     
     
         7 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 1 , further including:
 a second structural reinforcement member connected to the bottom surface of the second plate and operably engaging the first structural reinforcement member thereby reinforcing the first and second plates against a load applied to the top surfaces of the first and second plates.   
     
     
         8 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 7 , further including:
 a first catch disposed below the first plate, wherein the second structural reinforcement member nests within the first catch.   
     
     
         9 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 8 , further including:
 a second catch disposed below the second plate, wherein the first structural reinforcement member nests within the second notch.   
     
     
         10 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second catches are integrally connected with the first and second structural reinforcement members, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second catches are each U-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insert assembly includes an outer frame member, and wherein the outer frame member includes an outer support rim abutting the floor panel and an inner support rim supporting the first and second plates. 
     
     
         13 . A floor tile insert assembly adapted to be received within a floor tile supported above a floor surface by a frame assembly, the floor tile having an aperture extending therethrough, the floor tile insert comprising:
 a first plate including a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side edge having a first indentation, wherein the first plate is adapted to be located within an aperture of a floor tile and adapted to be supported by a floor tile;   a first structural reinforcement member having a first end connected to the bottom surface of the first plate;   a first catch disposed below the first plate;   a second plate including a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side edge cooperating with the indentation of the first plate to form a first opening adapted to receive power and communication lines therethrough, wherein the second plate is adapted to be located within an aperture of a floor tile, and adapted to be supported by a floor tile; and   a second structural reinforcement member having a first end connected to the bottom surface of the second plate and a second end nesting within the first catch, wherein the first and second structural reinforcement members cooperate to support the first and second plates against a vertically applied load.   
     
     
         14 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second structural reinforcement members each include a first planar portion and a second planar portion extending longitudinally along and perpendicularly to the first planar portion. 
     
     
         15 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first structural reinforcement member is weldably coupled to the bottom surface of the first plate and the second structural reinforcement member is weldably coupled to the bottom surface of the second plate. 
     
     
         16 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 13 , further including:
 a second catch disposed below the second plate, wherein the first structural reinforcement member is nested within the second catch.   
     
     
         17 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second catch is integrally formed with the second structural reinforcement member. 
     
     
         18 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second catches are each U-shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first catch is located proximate the first end of the first structural reinforcement member, and wherein the second catch is located proximate the first end of the second structural reinforcement member. 
     
     
         20 . The floor tile insert assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first catch is integrally formed with the first structural reinforcement member.