Multi-layer floor system comprising a lightweight tile

Abstract

A lightweight multi-layer tile of a floor system for scenes or stages easy to install and easy to flip to show up any of its two faces is described. The multi-layer tile has a top surface and a bottom surface that can both be shown. The multi-layer tile has a frame defining a rigid structure; a core low-density component inserted in the frame such that the frame surrounds it; and dense plywood panels affixed to opposed walls of the core component. The panels extend beyond the core component over a section of the frame, with a surrounding lip of the frame surrounding and protecting the edges of the panels. The panels provide the reversible surfaces of the multi-layer tile, allowing to show one or the other surface by flipping the tile upside down.

1 . A multi-layer tile of a floor system for scenes or stages, the multi-layer tile having a top surface and a bottom surface, the multi-layer tile comprising:
 a frame, the frame defining a rigid structure;   a core component, the core component forming a central layer of the multi-layer tile, the core component having a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, and the core component being inserted in the frame such that the frame surrounds the side wall of the core component; and   a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel being denser than the core component, the first panel and the second panel providing top and bottom layers and providing the top surface and the bottom surface of the multi-layer tile, the first panel and the second panel being respectively affixed to the top wall and the bottom wall of the core component,   wherein the first panel and the second panel extend beyond the core component over a section of the frame and bound the section of the frame in-between.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are made of plywood. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises outward projections that surround the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 3 , wherein the outward projections of the frame are substantially flush with the top surface and the bottom surface of the multi-layer tile. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 1 , wherein the core component is made of a composite material. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 5 , wherein the composite material is glass fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the frame is made of extruded metal. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 7 , wherein the extruded metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 1 , further comprising adhesive bounding the first panel, the core component and the second panel together. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of casing components and a plurality of corner components, wherein each one of the corner components adjoins two of the casing components neighboring one another. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the corner components comprises a bore for receiving a securing means for securing the multi-layer tile to a receiving structure. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 11 , wherein each one of the first panel and the second panel has a bore extending thereacross, wherein the bores of the panels and of at least one of the corner components are aligned to one another, providing a common bore passing through the multi-layer tile. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 10 , wherein the corner components are made of a metallic material. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a bottom protrusion and a top a protrusion extending away to the core component, whereby providing a clearance in-between the top and bottom protrusions away to the core component. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 14 , wherein the frame further comprises outward projections that surround the first panel and the second panel, the outward projections extending from the protrusions distant to the core component. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 14 , wherein the frame further comprises inward projections extending from the protrusions distant to the core component. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 16 , wherein the inward projections further comprise a portion extending at least partially towards the core component, thereby defining a hook. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-layer tile of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises an inner wall adjoining the core component, an outer wall distant to the inner wall, and a void in-between the inner wall and the outer wall. 
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a floor with the multi-layer tile of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 laying down the multi-layer tile on a receiving structure with its bottom surface laid against the receiving structure, the first multi-layer tile having a bore extending thereacross; and   inserting securing means into the bore of the multi-layer tile to secure it to the receiving structure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 removing the securing means from the bore, thereby releasing the multi-layer tile from the receiving structure;   flipping the multi-layer tile, thereby having the multi-layer tile laying on the receiving surface with its bottom surface distant and facing away to the receiving structure; and   inserting the securing means back into the bore of the multi-layer tile to secure it to the receiving structure upside-down.