US1175316A - Resilient floor. - Google Patents

Description

L. V. SOLON.

RESILIENT FLOOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12. 1914.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET vii knew:

L. v. SOLON.

RESILIENT FLOOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-12,1914.

1,175,316. Patented Mar. 14,1916.

I w A W a 07M 1 I i gwfi H24. flmmm LEON VICTOR SOLON, OF MALTA'WAN, NEW JERSEY. t

BESILIENT FLOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed October 12, 1914. Serial No. 866,334.

which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in resilient floors, especially designed for dancm The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed and yielding floor,

which is especially pleasing when used for.

dancing, effecting great economy of energy for the dancer and increased pleasure given to the rhythm of the dance by a corresponding motion in the floor.

Another object is to provide a floor of this character having improved cushioning means.

Another object is to provide a sectional floor having improved means for tying the sections together.

Another object is to provide a portable floor of this character made in sections, which may be laid and removed with a minimum consumption of time and labor. With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a floor constructed in accordance .with this invention with parts broken out; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion thereof with parts broken out; 1

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the springs and its support; Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig.

4; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the sections detached; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section takenon line 77 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of aportion of a floor showing a slightly difierent form ofthe invention. Y

In the embodiment illustrated a portable resilient or elastic floor is shown,,although it is obvious that it may be permanently installed if desired. This floor is composed of a plurality of detachably connected rectangular sections, 1 which may be" of any desired size, being here shown about three feet square, more or less. Each section 1 is provided on one of its edges with a tongue or tongues 2 and on another edge extending at right angles to said first mentioned edge with their tongues 2', which latter have one of their" outer corners rounded fora purposerto be described. The other edges of each section are provided with sockets 3 and 3, the sockets of one member or section being positioned to receive the tongues of an adjacent section whereby said sections are interlockingly engaged and held with their upper faces, flush to present a continuous smooth flat floor. The sockets on the sides opposite the tongues are shaped to correspond with the shapes of said tongues and thetongues having rounded corners are designed to facilitate the assembling of the sections. These sections may either be formed in strips by inserting the angular tongues 3 in their correspond-- ing sockets and then the strips connected by sliding longitudinally relatively to one another with the rounded corners of the tongues 2' facing in the direction of movement of the strips to prevent the tongues.-

from engaging a strip until desired, and

then its curved corners will permit said tongues toreadily slip into their sockets.

These sections 1, are mounted on cross. shaped supporting blocks or bases, 4:, here shown cross-shaped having interlocking sockets midway their ends, to dispose. the upper faces of the members thereof, flush with each other. shaped blocks 4 is extended longer than the others for a purpose to be described' Extending centrally through the socketed portions of the bldck 4 is a borev 5 here shown angularin cross section, and having its lower end enlarged to receive a bolt head to provide fora flat smooth surface-engaging face for said block.

A bolt 6 is passed through the registering bores in the members of the block 4 with its head seated in the enlarged portion thereof One arm of the crossand with its threaded end projecting upwardly above the" upper face of theblock and on which is mounted a flat, arcnate or seml-elllqotical spring 7, having longitudinallyt extendingtongues at each end, the

tongue 7 at one end being longer than the T other tongue 7" and apertured to receive said bolt 6. The terminal of the shorter of the tongue 7" is curved upwardly to permit .mounted under each section 1, but it is obvious that more may be employed if desired or found necessary according to the size the sections are made. These springs 7 are preferably each constructed of a fiat resilient metal strip and positioned with both ends engaging'the base block 4, the free end resting on the long arm of said block, and

the curved intermediate portion thereof the under face of a floor section. 1.

The cross-shaped supporting blocks 4: are arranged with their arms lying in planes parallel to the sides of the rectangularfioor sections 1, and with their long arms in planes at right angles to the long arms of the blocks which support sections contacting with each other, and extending in difi erent directions as seen in F ig'. 2 of the drawings. By this arrangement, the floor as a whole is prevented from swaying in any one direction, and yet is allowed to yield transversely. When pressure is applied to it, as when a group of dancers are passing over it, the springs 7 bend' and slide longitudinally away from their secured ends. The frictional engagement of their curved intermediate portions with the floor sections tend .to make the sections sway in the direction of this longitudinal movement, but this is counteracted by having the springs extending in different directions.

To hold the floor from movement horizontally in any direction, tie clamps 10 are shown in U-shaped form with one leg engaging a socket in the outer edge of one sec tion and the other leg engaging a socket in the outer edge of the adjacent section as is shown clearly in Fig. 2. These iron clamps 10 are employed on the outer or boundary.

edges only of the floors, as is shown clearly in Fig. 2. These clamps may be made sufliciently thin to adapt them to serve the purpose of ties and yet be sufficiently elastic to yield lengthwise to avoid interfering with the elasticity of the floor. It will now be seen that while the floor is held against movement horizontally, it will elastically yield to pressure, and this yielding will take 4 place at any given area over its surface, so that each dancer or each couple or group of dancers may enjoy the benefit in any 10- cality.

The bowed shape of the springs 7 pro vides suflicient elasticity for the floor without danger of their breaking, and the upwardly curved free end thereof permits said end to slide on its support without embedding itself therein when pressure is brought to bear on said spring.

In Fig. 8 floor sections 1 are shown of different sizes arranged to break joint with each other, the structure being otherwise the same as that above described.

I claim as my invention:

1 A portable resilient floor comprising cross-shaped supporting blocks, arcuate springs secured to the upper face of said blocks, and an overlying floor structure yiieldably supported by said spring carrying supporting blocks, one of said blocks being arranged under each of said sections.

2. A portable resilient fioor comprising cross-shaped supporting blocks, arcuate springs secured to the upper face of said blocks, an overlying floor structure composed of a plurality of separable sections resting yieldably upon said spring carrying supporting blocks, one of said blocks being arranged under each of said sections with their springs disposed to one side of the center of said sections, and telescoping interlooking elements disposed on the adjacent edges of'contiguous sections, whereby when one section is caused to yield downwardly, the contiguous sections are also caused to yield.

3. A floor structure comprising a, plurality of separable interlocking rectangular sections, each of said sections being supported by resilient supports composed of crossshaped blocks each having one arm thereof longer than the others, a bolt extending centrally upward therethrough, anv arcuate spring secured at one end to said bolt, its other end resting on the outer end of said long arm and having its central curved portion in engagement with the lower face of one of said sections, the arms of said cross shaped blocks lying in planes parallel to the sides of said rectangular sections, the long arms being arranged in planes at right angles to the long arm of the blocks which support sections contactingwith each other, and extending in diflerent directions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit-

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