Outdoor flooring, deck and patio surface system and method

Abstract

A system and method for providing an outdoor flooring such as a lightweight deck surface, employs a fiber reinforced polymer structural panel with plural grid openings therein. Connectors adapted to interlock adjacent panels to one another and to a base, also are adapted for receiving support column members therein for providing ground or base oriented surface or an elevated surface. A surfacing material, such as a quarried stone or tile, is attached to the top of the panel, providing a deck surface without requiring substantial structural support.

1 . A flooring system, comprising:
 a structural panel member having length and width dimensions, adapted for mounting as a base framework;   
     said panel member comprising:
 plural openings therein defined in a pattern in a portion of said panel member; and 
 cutting guideline members for assisting in guiding cutting of said structural panel member into sub-panels, at least one of said sub-panels having a length or width dimension that is a pre-defined desired dimension. 
 
   
   
       2 . The flooring system according to  claim 1 , wherein plural said cutting guideline members are provided to provided plural said pre-defined desired dimensions. 
   
   
       3 . The flooring system according to  claim 2 , wherein said plural pre-defined desired dimensions comprise 24 inches and 16 inches. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said structural panel member comprises a fiber reinforced polymer panel. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said structural panel member is formed with plural openings therein. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said plural openings form a grid pattern. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein ones of said plural openings are substantially rectangular in shape. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein ones of said plural openings are substantially square in shape. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 5 , comprising plural ones of said structural panel members and further comprising a connector member for connecting adjacent ones of said panel members to one another. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said connector member comprises engaging members for interacting with ones of said plural openings on said structural panels for providing engagement. 
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a connector member for connecting said panel member to a base, wherein said connecting member comprises an engaging feature and said structural panel member comprises a corresponding engagement feature for interacting to provide engagement therebetween. 
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a support column member, wherein said connector member further comprises an engaging feature for also engaging with said support column member for providing an elevated support for said panel member. 
   
   
       13 . A flooring system, comprising:
 a structural panel member having length and width dimensions, adapted for mounting as a base framework;   a connector for engaging with said structural panel member for securing said panel member to a base or to an adjacent other structural panel.   
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said connecting member comprises an engaging feature and said structural panel member comprises a corresponding engagement feature for interacting to provide engagement therebetween. 
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said base comprises a support column member, wherein said connector member further comprises an engaging feature for also engaging with said support column member for providing an elevated support for said panel member.