Impact and/or sound deadening hydronic sub-flooring panel with underlayment assemblies and related systems and methods

Abstract

A sub-flooring panel with improved impact and/or sound deadening (ISD) properties that is adapted to adjoin other sub-flooring panels to form a sub-flooring panel assembly, includes a base body having an upper surface formed with a groove for receiving a heating/cooling element, such as hydronic piping. A sub-flooring system with significantly improved ISD properties includes the sub-flooring panel assembly and an underlayment assembly which comprises a plurality of generally rigid stabilizing panels and pistons, each piston being adjustable in height, to support at least sub-flooring panels, and any sound trapping panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An underlayment assembly, comprising:
 at least one stabilizing panel having an upper portion, a lower portion and at least one piston, the upper portion having at least one first recess adapted to contain particulate substance to support the at least one piston, the lower portion having at least one second recess adapted to form an air pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one second recess is generally in vertical alignment with the at least one first recess. 
     
     
         3 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one piston has an inner cavity adapted to form an air pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one second recess is generally in vertical alignment with the at least one first recess and the inner cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least the one stabilizing panel includes at least one tubular member configured to circumferentially line the at least one first recess and to circumferentially contain the particulate substance. 
     
     
         6 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first recess includes a first ISD pad below the particulate substance and a second ISD pad above the particulate substance. 
     
     
         7 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one piston is positioned on the second ISD pad. 
     
     
         8 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sound trapping panel having at least one recess adapted to form at least one air pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one sound trapping panel is positioned on the at least one piston. 
     
     
         10 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising at least a second sound trapping panel arranged side-by-side with the at least first sound trapping panel. 
     
     
         11 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising at least a second sound trapping panel stacked on the at least first sound trapping panel. 
     
     
         12 . The underlayment assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least second sound trapping panel is stacked vertically offset from the at least first sound trapping panel. 
     
     
         13 . A sub-flooring system, comprising:
 the underlayment assembly of  claim 1 ; and   one or more sub-flooring panels above the underlayment assembly, at least one sub-flooring panel having a recess, and an elongated heating element positioned in the recess.   
     
     
         14 . The sub-flooring system of  claim 13 , wherein the underlayment assembly further comprises at least one sound trapping panel having at least one recess adapted to form at least one air pocket. 
     
     
         15 . A method of installing an underlayment assembly, comprising:
 providing a support surface;   providing a first amount of particulate substance on the support surface;   positioning at least one stabilizing panel on the first amount of particulate substance, the at least one stabilizing panel having an upper portion, a lower portion and at least one piston, the upper portion having at least one first recess;   providing a second amount of particulate substance in the at least one first recess; and   positioning the at least one piston above the second amount of particulate substance.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , farther comprising placing a tubular member in the at least one first recess before providing a second amount of particulate substance in the at least one first recess. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the lower portion has at least one second recess. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing at least one sound trapping panel on the at least one stabilizing panel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising positioning an ISD sheet on the first amount of particulate substance before positioning the at least one stabilizing panel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising vertically aligning the at least one first recess and the at least one second recess.