US 8,615,937 B1Granted

Dance floor assembly

OwnerDouglas Richard Heiminventor

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Abstract

A dance floor and a method of assembly of the dance floor are disclosed. The dance floor contains a plurality of interconnecting frames, each containing intersecting elongated panels, trim panels, wiring embedded inside channels disposed on the bottom of the elongated panels that are connected to electrical connectors, electrical receptors and ribbon lights. An electrical controller produces a chase pattern where strings of adjacent light bulbs cycle on and off to give the illusion of lights moving along the string. The dance floor is manufactured of lightweight materials and is configured for easy in situ assembly, installation and disassembly.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A dance floor assembly comprising a plurality of frame members configured for adjoining one another, wherein each frame member contains:

a first longitudinal panel having a top, a bottom, a midpoint, an upper end, a lower end, an outer side and an inner side;
a second longitudinal panel having a top, a bottom, a midpoint, an upper end, a lower end, an outer side and an inner side, said second longitudinal panel being disposed substantially parallel in relation to the first longitudinal panel;
a first transverse panel having a top, a bottom, a first segment and a second segment;
said first segment of the first traverse panel having a first side and a second side, a first end and a second end, said first end of the first segment of the first transverse panel being joined with the midpoint of the first longitudinal panel, said second end of the first segment of the first traverse panel being joined with the midpoint of the second longitudinal panel;
said second segment having an inner side and an outer side, a first end and a second end, said first end of the second segment of the first transverse panel being joined with the midpoint of the second longitudinal panel;
a second transverse panel having a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, a mid point, an outer side and an inner side, said first end of the second transverse panel being joined with the upper end of the first longitudinal panel, said midpoint of the second transverse panel intersecting the upper end of the second longitudinal panel;
a dance floor panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge and a lower edge, said bottom surface of the dance floor panel being attached to the top of the first longitudinal panel, said bottom surface of the dance floor panel also being attached to the top of the second longitudinal panel, to the top of the first transverse panel and to the top of the second transverse panel in a manner that the upper edge of the dance floor panel is spaced from the outer side of the second transverse panel to form a first recess and the first side edge of the dance floor panel is spaced from the outer side of the first longitudinal panel to form a second recess, said second end of the second segment of the first transverse panel and the second end of the second transverse panel being spaced from the second side edge of the dance floor panel to form a first overhang, said lower end of the first longitudinal panel and the lower end of the second longitudinal panel being spaced from the lower edge of the dance floor panel to form a second overhang;
a first channel disposed in the bottom of the first longitudinal panel, said first channel traversing from the lower end to the upper end of the first longitudinal panel;
a second channel disposed in the bottom of the second longitudinal panel, said second channel traversing from the lower end to the upper end of the second longitudinal panel;
a third channel disposed in the first segment of the first transverse panel, said third channel traversing from the first end to the second end of the first segment of the first transverse panel, said third channel being in communication with the first channel and with the second channel;
at least one enlarged area disposed within the first channel and at least one enlarged area disposed within the second channel;
a plurality of interconnected electrical wires traversing the first channel, the second channel and the third channel, said wires having endings at the upper end and the lower end of the first longitudinal panel and having endings at the upper end and the lower end of the second longitudinal panel, wherein a portion of said interconnected wires comprise power supplying lines;
at least one electrical wire junction disposed inside at least the enlarged area disposed within the first channel and the enlarged area disposed within the second channel;
a first electrical connector connecting the wire endings at the lower end of the first longitudinal panel,
a second electrical connector connecting the wire endings at the lower end of the second longitudinal panel,
a first electrical receptor connecting the wire endings at the upper end of the first longitudinal panel;
and
a second electrical receptor connecting the wire endings at the upper end of the second longitudinal panel.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/593,410Filed 23 Aug 2012
Granted: 31 Dec 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E04F 15/107
Of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite tiles, hardboard , or with a top layer of other materials:…
E04F 15/105
Of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite tiles, hardboard , or with a top layer of other materials: of…
E04F 2201/0511
Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins, keys or strips: strips or bars, e.g. nailing strips
E04F 2290/026
For accommodating service installations or utility lines, e.g. heating conduits, electrical lines, lighting devices or service outlets: for lighting

Family

No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.

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Abstract

A dance floor assembly comprising a plurality of frame members configured for adjoining one another, wherein each frame member contains:

a first longitudinal panel having a top, a bottom, a midpoint, an upper end, a lower end, an outer side and an inner side;
a second longitudinal panel having a top, a bottom, a midpoint, an upper end, a lower end, an outer side and an inner side, said second longitudinal panel being disposed substantially parallel in relation to the first longitudinal panel;
a first transverse panel having a top, a bottom, a first segment and a second segment;
said first segment of the first traverse panel having a first side and a second side, a first end and a second end, said first end of the first segment of the first transverse panel being joined with the midpoint of the first longitudinal panel, said second end of the first segment of the first traverse panel being joined with the midpoint of the second longitudinal panel;
said second segment having an inner side and an outer side, a first end and a second end, said first end of the second segment of the first transverse panel being joined with the midpoint of the second longitudinal panel;
a second transverse panel having a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, a mid point, an outer side and an inner side, said first end of the second transverse panel being joined with the upper end of the first longitudinal panel, said midpoint of the second transverse panel intersecting the upper end of the second longitudinal panel;
a dance floor panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, an upper edge and a lower edge, said bottom surface of the dance floor panel being attached to the top of the first longitudinal panel, said bottom surface of the dance floor panel also being attached to the top of the second longitudinal panel, to the top of the first transverse panel and to the top of the second transverse panel in a manner that the upper edge of the dance floor panel is spaced from the outer side of the second transverse panel to form a first recess and the first side edge of the dance floor panel is spaced from the outer side of the first longitudinal panel to form a second recess, said second end of the second segment of the first transverse panel and the second end of the second transverse panel being spaced from the second side edge of the dance floor panel to form a first overhang, said lower end of the first longitudinal panel and the lower end of the second longitudinal panel being spaced from the lower edge of the dance floor panel to form a second overhang;
a first channel disposed in the bottom of the first longitudinal panel, said first channel traversing from the lower end to the upper end of the first longitudinal panel;
a second channel disposed in the bottom of the second longitudinal panel, said second channel traversing from the lower end to the upper end of the second longitudinal panel;
a third channel disposed in the first segment of the first transverse panel, said third channel traversing from the first end to the second end of the first segment of the first transverse panel, said third channel being in communication with the first channel and with the second channel;
at least one enlarged area disposed within the first channel and at least one enlarged area disposed within the second channel;
a plurality of interconnected electrical wires traversing the first channel, the second channel and the third channel, said wires having endings at the upper end and the lower end of the first longitudinal panel and having endings at the upper end and the lower end of the second longitudinal panel, wherein a portion of said interconnected wires comprise power supplying lines;
at least one electrical wire junction disposed inside at least the enlarged area disposed within the first channel and the enlarged area disposed within the second channel;
a first electrical connector connecting the wire endings at the lower end of the first longitudinal panel,
a second electrical connector connecting the wire endings at the lower end of the second longitudinal panel,
a first electrical receptor connecting the wire endings at the upper end of the first longitudinal panel;
and
a second electrical receptor connecting the wire endings at the upper end of the second longitudinal panel.

15 more elements

Facts

Application

13/593,410Filed 23 Aug 2012

Granted

31 Dec 2013

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E04F 15/107
Of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite tiles, hardboard , or with a top layer of other materials:…
E04F 15/105
Of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite tiles, hardboard , or with a top layer of other materials: of…
E04F 2201/0511
Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins, keys or strips: strips or bars, e.g. nailing strips
E04F 2290/026
For accommodating service installations or utility lines, e.g. heating conduits, electrical lines, lighting devices or service outlets: for lighting