Loft flooring system

Abstract

The present invention provides a loft flooring system that, inter alia, comprises: a plurality of bridging supports each adapted to bridge between a substantially parallel pair of joists of a loft floor and having a first upright leg with a foot to mount onto a first of the joists and having, in use, a second upright leg with a foot to mount onto a second of the joists, and a spanning element therebetween defining a flooring surface or onto which flooring boards or flooring panels are laid, wherein each leg is initially separate and the spanning element is an initially separate beam that is mounted to the legs to span between the joists. The system is comparatively straightforward and efficient to install and, where needed, uninstall and also is robust and stable. With special support arms on the legs or hung from the spanning element it can also greatly facilitate discrete management of pipe-work and cabling below the raised floor too.

1 . A loft flooring system that comprises: a plurality of bridging supports each adapted to bridge between a substantially parallel pair of joists of a loft floor and each bridging support having a first upright leg with a foot to mount onto a first of the joists and, in use, a second upright leg with a foot to mount onto a second of the joists, and a spanning element therebetween over which flooring boards or flooring panels are laid. 
     
     
         2 . A loft flooring system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each leg is initially separate and the spanning element is an initially separate beam that is mounted to the legs to span between the joists. 
     
     
         3 . A loft flooring system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each leg has at its upper end a platform on which the beam may rest. 
     
     
         4 . A loft flooring system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each leg has at its upper end an integral spanning element portion that extends from an upper end of the upright of the leg and projects towards the other leg in use and on which the beam may rest, wherein the integral spanning element portion projects over the channel between the joists in use. 
     
     
         5 . A loft flooring system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spanning element has an upwardly facing channel thereon that carries electrical cabling and/or pipes therein, wherein the upwardly facing channel has a cover with a fascia incorporating an electrical power outlet and/or lighting. 
     
     
         6 . A loft flooring system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, the flooring system is adapted to accommodate inter-row fitting storage containers that take advantage of the space between rows of fitted spanning elements to provide a parking zone for the containers and comprises a set of rigid edge-support shelves that are hung spanning between two adjacent rows of the fitted spanning elements and configured to support and constrain in place rebated bottom edges of the storage containers 
     
     
         7 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a services conduit support hanger that is adapted to engage with and hang from the spanning element. 
     
     
         8 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the spanning element is an elongate beam with a channel extending therealong and the services conduit support hanger is adapted to slidingly engage within the channel of the beam to hang therefrom and be slidable along the channel to be positionally adjustable along the length of the beam. 
     
     
         9 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the beam has a lateral rim/flange along each longitudinal edge of the channel whereby each rim/flange projects towards the other over the channel 
     
     
         10 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the services conduit support hanger has a stem and a head that that is larger than the stem and whereby the head is adapted to be held in the channel by the lateral rims/flanges. 
     
     
         11 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the services conduit support hanger has a pair of grooves with one groove on each side, whereby one of the flanges fits into one of the grooves and the other flange fits into the other of the grooves. 
     
     
         12 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the services conduit support hanger comprises a stem having at least one support arm thereon projecting laterally therefrom and where the arm provides a support ledge on which pipe-work or cabling may be carried. 
     
     
         13 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the services conduit support hanger has a pair of support arms arranged with one arm extending from each opposing side of the stem or one arm that projects to each opposing side of the stem. 
     
     
         14 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one support arm is mounted to the stem, the stem having a socket into which the support arm mounts. 
     
     
         15 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the services conduit support hanger comprises at least a first support arm or pair of support arms at a first level along the stem and a second arm or pair of support arms at a second level further down the length of the stem. 
     
     
         16 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the second support arm or pair of support arms is/are longer than the first support arm or pair of support arms. 
     
     
         17 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the hanger is formed as a saddle having a channel in a lower in use face with sidewalls to fit astride the top and sides of a said spanning element to hang therefrom and the saddle being slidable along the spanning element for the hanger to be positionally adjustable along the length of the spanning element. 
     
     
         18 . A raised support system or raised flooring system that comprises: a plurality of support legs adapted to raise services conduits to bridge between a substantially parallel pair of joists of a floor and having a first upright leg with a foot to mount onto a first of the joists and having, in use, a second upright leg with a foot to mount onto a second of the joists, wherein the system further has at least one services conduit support arm projecting from at least one of said legs. 
     
     
         19 . A raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the services conduit support arm is positioned below the top of the leg to provide a support ledge on which pipe-work or cabling may be carried below the level of the raised floor. 
     
     
         20 . A raised support system or raised flooring system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the least one services conduit support arm is mounted to the leg by a socket on the leg.