Flooring Member

Abstract

A flooring member 10 comprises a metallic base layer 12, a metallic intermediary layer 14, a wooden upper layer 16 and a core 18 disposed between the base later 12 and the intermediary layer 14. The core 18 is made from spaced plywood members 34 extending longitudinally through the flooring member between the base layer 12 and the intermediary layer 14. Connection means 20, 22 are disposed on the edges of the flooring member 10 enabling a plurality of flooring members to assembled to make a floor.

1 . A flooring member comprising a metallic base layer, a metallic intermediary layer, a wooden upper layer, and a core made from spaced plywood members mounted between the metallic base layer and the metallic intermediary layer. 
     
     
         2 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the spaces between adjacent members of the plywood core extend between the metallic base layer and the metallic intermediary layer. 
     
     
         3 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the spaces are filled with metallic material. 
     
     
         4 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the plywood members extend longitudinally of the flooring member and the spaces are longitudinally disposed between adjacent plywood members. 
     
     
         5 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 1 , in which corresponding first and second connection means are disposed on respective longitudinal edges of the flooring member for connecting a plurality of flooring members together. 
     
     
         6 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the first connection means comprises a half-dovetail slot extending along one edge of the flooring member and the second connection means comprises a half-dovetail projection extending along the other edge of the flooring member. 
     
     
         7 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the first and second connection means are made from metallic material. 
     
     
         8 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the wooden upper layer is made from a hardwood. 
     
     
         9 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 8  in which the hardwood upper layer is between 2 mm and 6 mm thickness and is bonded to the metallic intermediary layer. 
     
     
         10 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the metallic base layer and metallic intermediary layer are made from aluminium. 
     
     
         11 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the first and second connection means are made from aluminium. 
     
     
         12 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the flooring member has a thickness of between 15 and 22 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A flooring member as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the metallic base layer, metallic intermediary layer and connection means are formed from a single sheet of aluminium.