# US 12,180,707 B2 · Service access floor panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,707 B2 - Document ID: US12180707B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/881,005 - Filed: 2022-08-04 - Published: 2024-02-08 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-08-04 - Assignees: Tate Access Floors, Inc. - Applicants: Tate Access Floors, Inc. - Inventors: Benjamin Lee Steinburg; Daniel Kennedy; Gwen Demosky; Daniel Catalfu; Santosh Dhakal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180707B2 ## CPC - E04B 5/43: Floor structures of extraordinary design; Features relating to the elastic stability; Floor structures specially designed for resting on columns only, e.g. mushroom floors ({anchoring devices for balconies with means for preventing cold bridging E04B1/0038}; extraordinary constructions in general E04B1/34) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) ## Abstract An access floor panel that includes a base and a top plate on top of the base in a thickness direction of the access floor panel. The base includes at least one elongated slot having (1) a depth in the thickness direction, (2) a longitudinal axis in a first direction perpendicular to the thickness direction and (3) a slot opening in the top of the base in the thickness direction. The top plate has an elongated opening that is aligned with the slot opening of the at least one slot. The base and the top plate are configured such that a fastener assembly is received through the slot opening of the base and the elongated opening of top plate and retained within the slot to attach a structure to the access floor panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An access floor panel comprising: a base that includes an elongated first member (a) that includes spaced longitudinal side walls and spaced inwardly extending top wall portions that extend inwardly from tops of the spaced longitudinal side walls toward each other and (b) defining a first slot having (1) a first depth in a thickness direction of the access floor panel, (2) a first longitudinal axis in a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the thickness direction and (3) a first slot opening formed by and between the inwardly extending top wall portions in a top of the base in the thickness direction; a top plate (1) attached to the base on the top of the base in the thickness direction and (2) having a first top plate elongated opening that is aligned with the first slot opening of the first slot; and a fastener assembly that is received through the first top plate elongated opening and the first slot opening and affixed to the inwardly extending top wall portions to attach another member to the access floor panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An access floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the top plate includes at least one hole configured to receive a fastener to attach the access floor panel to a pedestal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An access floor panel according to claim 2, wherein the at least one hole comprises a hole in each corner of the top plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An access floor panel according to claim 1, wherein each of the inwardly extending portions is hook-shaped with a curved free end of the hook-shape facing downward in the thickness direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An access floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the fastener assembly includes: a threaded bolt received through the first slot opening and the first top plate elongated opening; and a nut that mates with the threaded bolt and that is retained within the first slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An access floor panel according to claim 5, wherein the inwardly extending portion is configured to engage the nut. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An access floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the top plate is permanently affixed to the base. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An access floor panel according to claim 1, wherein a top plate elongated opening length and a top plate elongated opening width of the first top plate elongated opening corresponds to a slot opening length and a slot opening width of the first slot opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An access floor panel according to claim 1, wherein: the base includes an elongated second member (a) that includes second member spaced longitudinal side walls and spaced second member inwardly extending top wall portions that extend inwardly from tops of the second member spaced longitudinal side walls toward each other and (b) defining a second slot having (1) a second depth in the thickness direction of the access floor panel, (2) a second longitudinal axis in the first direction and (3) a second slot opening formed by and between the second member inwardly extending top wall portions in the top of the base in the thickness direction; the top plate has a second top plate elongated opening that is aligned with the second slot opening; and the first slot and the second slot are spaced and parallel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An access floor panel according to claim 9, wherein: each of the the elongated first member and the elongated second member is an integral and one-piece member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) An access floor panel according to claim 9, wherein: the first top plate elongated opening and the second top plate elongated opening are spaced and parallel and have the same shape and size when viewed in the thickness direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) An access floor panel according to claim 9, wherein the top plate is configured such that the first top plate elongated opening and the second top plate elongated opening are uncovered when the access floor panel is in use. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An access floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the first slot opening extends an entire length of the elongated first member in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An access floor panel according to claim 1, wherein: the fastener assembly is a bolt assembly comprising a bolt and a nut; the bolt passes through the first top plate elongated opening and the first slot opening; and the nut engages the inwardly extending top wall portions to affix the bolt assembly to the elongated first member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An access floor panel according to claim 14, wherein the fastener assembly includes a spring between the nut and a bottom wall of the elongated first member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An access floor panel according to claim 1, wherein the elongated first member is an integral, one-piece member.