Modular flooring substrate system and element

Abstract

A modular substrate system for use in the support of a flooring surface including a plurality of elongate substrate members which can be rapidly assembled to provide a semi-rigid support surface for a floor. Various flooring elements can be adhered to the semi-rigid support surface using an adhesive to, in cooperation with the modular substrate system, provide an enhanced composite rigidity to the assembled floor. The substrate member itself includes an upper surface, side surfaces, and lateral flange portions, the lateral flange portions of the substrate members maintain adjacent substrate members in parallel spaced apart relationship to each other defining substrate channels therebetween. The substrate channels strengthen the assembled modular substrate system and provide routes of egress for water from below the flooring surface disposed thereon.

1 . A modular flooring system, comprising:
 a substrate system comprising a plurality of adjacent and parallel elongate substrate members each having a substantially flat upper surface, side surfaces meeting the upper surface in upper edges, and lateral flange portions at the distal ends of the side surfaces,   each substrate member being substantially rigid along a longitudinal axis and torsionally flexible around the longitudinal axis, the flat upper surfaces of the substrate members forming an upwardly-facing substrate mounting surface; and   a floor surface, a bottom of which is adhesively attached to the substrate mounting surface;   wherein the substrate system is created by parallel alignment of the substrate members such that each pair of adjacent substrate members is retained in position by interaction of the lateral flange portions of the adjacent side surfaces of the pair, creating a substrate channel therebetween which remains open to the bottom of the floor surface; and   wherein the adhesive attachment of the bottom of the floor surface to the substrate mounting surface creates a space between the floor surface and the substrate system allowing for movement of water across the substrate mounting surface and into the substrate channels such that water between the floor surface and the substrate mounting surface has unimpeded flow access to the substrate channels to exit from one edge to the other of the substrate mounting surface.   
     
     
         2 . The modular flooring system of  claim 1 , wherein each substrate member forms a U-shaped structure. 
     
     
         3 . The modular flooring system of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral flange portions of a substrate member are configured to engage lateral flange portions of adjacent substrate members. 
     
     
         4 . The modular flooring system of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive attachment of the floor surface to the substrate mounting surface comprises a plurality of setting adhesive mounts which will support the floor surface to create the space between the floor surface and the substrate system. 
     
     
         5 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of constructing a modular flooring system comprising:
 (a) a substrate system comprised of a plurality of adjacent and parallel elongate substrate members each having a substantially flat upper surface, side surfaces meeting the upper surface in upper edges, and lateral flange portions at the distal ends of the side surfaces, each substrate member being substantially rigid along a longitudinal axis and torsionally flexible around the longitudinal axis, the flat upper surfaces of the substrate members forming an upward-facing substrate mounting surface; and   (b) a floor surface having a bottom adhesively attached to the substrate mounting surface;   the method comprising   i) aligning the plurality of elongate substrate members by parallel alignment of the lateral flange portions of adjacent pairs thereof such that each pair of adjacent substrate members is retained in position by interaction of the lateral flange portions of the adjacent side surfaces of the pair, creating a substrate channel therebetween which remains open to the lower surface of the floor surface and in aggregate defining the substrate system;   ii) attaching the aligned substrate members to each other; and   iii) adhesively attaching the bottom of the floor surface to the substrate mounting surface such that a space is created between the floor surface and the substrate system allowing for movement of water across the substrate mounting surface and into the substrate channels;   wherein each substrate channel remains open to the lower surface of the floor surface so that water between the floor surface and the substrate mounting surface has unimpeded flow access across the substrate mounting surface to the substrate channels to exit from one edge to the other of the substrate mounting surface.