FLOOR MOUNT

Abstract

A floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure comprises a foot, a lift spring having a top end and a bottom end and supportable in weight bearing relation at the bottom end by the foot, a top coupler supportable in weight bearing relation by the lift spring at the top end, and a cover supportable in weight bearing relation by the top coupler. A removable securing member temporarily secures together the foot, the lift spring, the top coupler and the cover. A lift adjustment member is engageable in threaded relation in one of the cover and the top coupler and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the other of the cover and the top coupler. The lift adjustment member is rotatable to adjust the elevation of the cover with respect to the top coupler, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor.

Claims

1. A floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, said floor mount comprising: a foot; a lift spring having a top end and a bottom end and supportable in weight bearing relation at said bottom end by said foot; a top coupler supportable in weight bearing relation by said lift spring at said top end; a cover supportable in weight bearing relation by said top coupler; a removable securing member for temporarily securing together said foot, said lift spring, said top coupler and said cover in an in-use arrangement; a lift adjustment member engageable in threaded relation in one of said cover and said top coupler and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the other of said cover and said top coupler; wherein, said lift adjustment member is rotatable about its operational axis to adjust the elevation of said cover with respect to said top coupler, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of said floor.

2. The floor mount according to claim 1, wherein said foot comprises a bottom plate and a central protector.

3. The floor mount according to claim 2, wherein said central protector is upwardly open.

4. The floor mount according to claim 3, wherein said bottom end of said lift spring is disposed on said bottom plate.

5. The floor mount according to claim 1, wherein said bottom plate is substantially flat.

6. The floor mount according to claim 2, wherein said foot extends laterally outwardly past said central protector.

7. The floor mount according to claim 2, wherein said foot is substantially circular.

8. The floor mount according to claim 7, wherein said bottom plate has a larger radius than said central protector.

9. The floor mount according to claim 7, wherein said lift spring comprises a cylindrical coil.

10. The floor mount according to claim 1, wherein said bottom plate includes a central aperture.

11. The floor mount according to claim 10, further comprising an anchoring portion secured in non-lifting relation to said foot for receiving said removable securing member in threaded relation therein.

12. The floor mount according to claim 11, wherein said anchoring portion comprises a vertically extending cylinder having an internal female thread.

13. The floor mount according to claim 12, wherein said anchoring portion is secured to said bottom plate in surrounding relation around said central aperture.

14. The floor mount according to claim 1, wherein said removable securing member comprises a first threaded fastener.

15. The floor mount according to claim 14, wherein said first threaded fastener comprises a bolt.

16. The floor mount according to claim 1, wherein said lift adjustment member comprises a second threaded fastener.

17. The floor mount according to claim 16, wherein said second threaded fastener comprises a bolt.

18. The floor mount according to claim 1, wherein said top coupler comprises a flat disk.

19. The floor mount according to claim 18, further comprising a central aperture in said flat disk.

20. The floor mount according to claim 18, wherein said flat disk is substantially circular.

21. The floor mount according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a top plate and a vertical spacer extending downwardly from said top plate.

22. The floor mount according to claim 21, wherein said vertical spacer comprises a cylindrical wall.

23. The floor mount according to claim 21, further comprising an annular base flange extending laterally outwardly from the bottom of said vertical spacer.

24. The floor mount according to claim 21, further comprising a central aperture in said top plate.

25. The floor mount according to claim 1, wherein said floor mount further comprises four re-bar support portions spaced radically equally around said cover.

26. The floor mount according to claim 25, wherein said four re-bar support portions each have an upwardly facing concave surface for receiving a reinforcing bar therein.

27. The floor mount according to claim 26, wherein said four re-bar support portions each comprise a re-bar support rib.

28. The floor mount according to claim 27, wherein said four re-bar support portions each extend vertically between said annular base flange to said top plate.

29. The floor mount according to claim 28, wherein said top plate extends laterally outwardly beyond said vertical spacer and said four re-bar support portions each contact said annular base flange and said top plate.

30. The floor mount according to claim 25, wherein on one opposed pair of said four re-bar support portions said re-bar support portions are at a first vertical distance above said annular base flange and on the other opposed pair of said four re-bar support portions said re-bar support portions are at a second vertical distance above said annular base flange.

31. The floor mount according to claim 1, wherein said lift adjustment member is engageable in threaded relation in said cover and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against said top coupler.

32. A floating floor above a sub-structure, said floating floor comprising: a cured concrete slab, and a plurality of floor mounts in each concrete slab; wherein each floor mount comprises: a foot; a lift spring having a top end and a bottom end and supportable in weight bearing relation at said bottom end by said foot; a top coupler supportable in weight bearing relation by said lift spring at said top end; a cover supportable in weight bearing relation by said top coupler; a removable securing member for temporarily securing together said foot, said lift spring, said top coupler and said cover in an in-use arrangement; a lift adjustment member engageable in threaded relation in one of said cover and said top coupler and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the other of said cover and said top coupler; wherein, said lift adjustment member is rotatable about its operational axis to adjust the elevation of said cover with respect to said top coupler, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of said floor.

33. A floor mount for supporting a floating floor above a sub-structure, said floor mount comprising: a foot, a lift spring, a top coupler, and a cover disposed in seriatim one with the next; a removable securing member for temporarily securing together said foot, said lift spring, said top coupler and said cover in an in-use arrangement; a lift adjustment member for adjusting the elevation of said cover with respect to said top coupler, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of said floor.

34. A floating floor above a sub-structure, said floating floor comprising: a cured concrete slab, and a plurality of floor mounts in each concrete slab; wherein each floor mount comprises a foot, a lift spring, a top coupler, a cover, and a removable securing member for temporarily securing together said foot, said lift spring, said top coupler and said cover in an in-use arrangement; wherein the cover is captured by the concrete; a lift adjustment member for adjusting the elevation of said cover with respect to said top coupler, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of said floor.

35. A method of assembling a floor mount, said method comprising the steps of: mounting a lift spring at a bottom end thereof onto a foot; mounting a top coupler onto said lift spring at a top end thereof; mounting a cover onto said top coupler; and, temporarily securing together said foot, said lift spring, said top coupler and said cover in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member.

36. A method of assembling a floating floor for installation above a sub-structure, said method comprising the steps of: temporarily securing together a plurality of floor mounts in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member, wherein each floor mount comprising a foot, a lift spring, a top coupler and a cover; placing said plurality of floor mounts on a receiving surface surrounded by a frame; pouring concrete within said frame around said plurality of floor mounts such that the cover is captured by the concrete; and, permitting said concrete to set.

37. A method of installing a floating floor above a sub-structure, said method comprising the steps of: temporarily securing together a plurality of floor mounts in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member, wherein each floor mount comprising a foot, a lift spring, a top coupler and a cover; placing said plurality of floor mounts on a receiving surface surrounded by a frame; pouring concrete within said frame around said plurality of floor mounts such that the cover is captured by the concrete; permitting said concrete to set; and, removing said removable securing member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0074] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the floor mount according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently known embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0075] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the first illustrated embodiment of a floor mount according to the present invention, before fully assembled;

[0076] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 1;

[0077] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 1, in an initial assembled configuration with the removable securing member in place but before the lift spring has been compressed;

[0078] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 3;

[0079] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 3;

[0080] FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 3, taken along section line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

[0081] FIG. 7 is a sectional side elevational view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 3, taken along section line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

[0082] FIG. 8 is a sectional top plan view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 3, taken along section line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

[0083] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 1, in a pre-compressed configuration with the removable securing member having been rotated to compress the lift spring;

[0084] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 9;

[0085] FIG. 11 is a sectional perspective view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 9;

[0086] FIG. 12 is a sectional side elevational view of the first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount of FIG. 9;

[0087] FIG. 13 is a sectional side elevational view similar to FIG. 7, but with the removable securing member removed and with the lift spring somewhat compressed due to the weight of the supported floor;

[0088] FIG. 14 is a sectional side elevational view similar to FIG. 13, but with the lift adjustment bolt having been put in place and about to be rotated to contact the top coupler;

[0089] FIG. 15 is a sectional side elevational view similar to FIG. 14, but with the lift adjustment bolt having been rotated to contact the top coupler, thereby lifting the floor;

[0090] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second illustrated embodiment of a floor mount according to the present invention;

[0091] FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the second illustrated embodiment of FIG. 16;

[0092] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a floor being constructed using floor mounts according to the present invention, before the concrete is poured;

[0093] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a floor being constructed using floor mounts according to the present invention, with about half the concrete poured;

[0094] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a finished floor constructed using floor mounts according to the present invention, prior to installation in a building;

[0095] FIG. 21 is an enlarged top plan view of a floor mount according to the present invention embedded within a finished floor;

[0096] FIG. 22 is an enlarged perspective view of a removable securing bolt being removed from a floor mount according to the present invention in order to allow the floor mount to lift the floor somewhat;

[0097] FIG. 23 is an enlarged perspective view of a lift adjustment bolt about to be installed into a floor mount according to the present invention in order to allow the floor mount to lift the floor to a desired elevation;

[0098] FIG. 24 is a very enlarged perspective view of a floor mount according to the present invention with a slit therein for illustrative purposes, with the top coupler within the floor mount partially visible; and,

[0099] FIG. 25 is a very enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 24, but with the lift adjustment bolt having been rotated in order to cause the cover of the floor mount to lift the floor to a desired elevation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0100] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 25 of the drawings, it will be noted that FIGS. 1 through 15 show a first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount according to the present invention, FIG. 16 shows a second illustrated embodiment of the floor mount according to the present invention, FIG. 17 shows a third illustrated embodiment of the floor mount according to the present invention, and FIGS. 18 through 25 show the installation of a floor using the floor mounts according to the present invention.

[0101] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 through 15 FIGS. 18 through 25, which show a first illustrated embodiment of the floor mount according to the present invention, as indicated by the general reference numeral 100. As can be best seen in FIGS. 18 through 25, the floor mount according to the present invention is installing a sprung floor on a sub-structure such as a sub-floor.

[0102] In brief, the floor mount 100 comprises a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150, a cover 160, a removable securing member 170 and a lift adjustment member 180.

[0103] The floor mount 100 according to the present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the Figures.

[0104] In the first illustrated embodiment according to the present invention, which is a floor mount 100 for supporting a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112, the floor mount 100 may comprise the foot 120 that may be substantially circular and may comprise a bottom plate 122, a central protector 130 and an anchoring portion 138. The bottom plate 122 may be substantially flat and may include a central aperture 123. The foot 120 may extend laterally outwardly past the central protector 130, or in other words the bottom plate 122 has a larger radius than the central protector 130.

[0105] The central protector 130 may have an outwardly projecting base flange portion 132 and an upwardly projecting cylindrical portion 133. An upwardly projecting anchoring portion 134 may define a throughpassage 136 extending between a top end 136t and a bottom end 136b. The throughpassage 136 may be open at the top end 136t. The bottom end 140b of the lift spring 140 may be disposed in weight bearing relation on the outwardly projecting base flange portion 132 of the upwardly open central protector 130. The anchoring portion 134 may be secured in non-lifting relation to the bottom plate 122 around the central aperture 123 by a small threaded fastener 121. The anchoring portion 134 may be for receiving the removable securing member 170 in threaded relation therein. The anchoring portion 138 may comprise a vertically extending cylinder 138 having an internal female thread.

[0106] The floor mount 100 may comprise a removable securing member 170 for temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. The removable securing member 170 may comprise a first threaded fastener 170 that may comprise a bolt 170.

[0107] The lift spring 140 may have a top end 140t and a bottom end 140b and may be supportable in weight bearing relation at the bottom end 140b by the foot 120. The lift spring 140 may comprise a cylindrical coil, or any other suitable shape or configuration.

[0108] The top coupler 150 may be supportable in weight bearing relation by the lift spring 140 at the top end 140t of the lift spring 140 and may be disposed in force transfer contact with the top end 140t of the lift spring 140. The top coupler 150 may comprise a flat disk 152 and may comprise a central aperture 154 in the flat disk 152. The flat disk 152 may be substantially circular or any other suitable shape.

[0109] The top coupler 150 may further comprise an alignment guide 156 that may extend downwardly from the top coupler 150. The alignment guide 156 may comprise a cylindrical wall 166 that may be disposed in surrounding relation around the central aperture 154 and may depend from the bottom surface of the top coupler 150. The alignment guide 156 may be shaped and dimensioned to fit around the anchoring portion 138 and within the lift spring 140.

[0110] The cover 160 may be supportable in weight bearing relation by the top coupler 150. The cover 160 may comprise a top plate 162 and a vertical spacer 166 extending downwardly from the top plate 162. The top plate 162 and the vertical spacer 166 may be secured together by welding 165 at the outer periphery of the top plate 162.

[0111] A central aperture 164 may be located in the top plate 162 and the central aperture may have a female thread that may receive the lift adjustment member 180 in threaded relation therein.

[0112] The vertical spacer 166 may comprise a cylindrical wall having an outer diameter “OD” and an inner diameter “ID”. The top plate 162 and the cylindrical wall together protect the internal components of the floor mount 100.

[0113] The cover 160 may further comprise an annular base flange 168 extending laterally outwardly from the bottom of the vertical spacer 166. The annular base flange 168 may be circular and may have an outer diameter “OD” just slightly less than the inner diameter “ID” of the cylindrical wall 166 of the cover 160.

[0114] The lift adjustment member 180 may be engageable in threaded relation in one of the cover 160 and the top coupler 150 and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the other of the cover 160 and the top coupler 150. As illustrated, the lift adjustment member 180 may comprises a second threaded fastener 180 that may comprise a bolt 180. The lift adjustment member 180 may be engageable in threaded relation in the cover 160, specifically in the threaded central aperture 164 of the top plate 162, and may be engageable in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the top surface 153 of the flat disk 152 of the top coupler 150. The lift adjustment member 180 is rotatable about its operational axis, specifically its longitudinal axis “L”, to adjust the elevation of the cover 160 with respect to the top coupler 150, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floating floor 110.

[0115] It is further contemplated that in another embodiment of the present invention, the lift adjustment member 180 could be threadably engaged in the top coupler 150 and engaged in abutting relation with the top plate 162 of the cover 160.

[0116] The floor mount 100 may further comprise four re-bar support portions 190 spaced radically equally around the cover 160. The four re-bar support portions 190 may be secured by welding to the bottom portion of the cylindrical wall 166 and to the top surface 169 of the annular base flange 168.

[0117] The four re-bar support portions 190a,190b,190c,190d may each have an upwardly facing concave surface 192a,192b,192c,192d, respectively, for receiving a reinforcing bar 194 therein, and may each comprise a re-bar support rib. The upwardly facing concave surface 192a,192b on the first opposed pair of the four re-bar support portions 190a,190b may be at a first vertical distance “D1” above the annular base flange 168 and the upwardly facing concave surface 192c,192d on the second opposed pair of the four re-bar support portions 190c,190d may be at a second vertical distance “D2” above the annular base flange 168.

[0118] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show the first illustrated embodiment of a floor mount 100 according to the present invention, before fully assembled, or in other words, about to be assembled. The cover 160 of the floor mount 100 is being placed over the foot 120, the lift spring 140, and the top coupler 150. The removable securing member 170 is about to be put in place.

[0119] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 4 through 8, which show the first illustrated embodiment of a floor mount 100 according to the present invention, being initially assembled. The removable securing member 170 extends through the central aperture 164 in the top plate 162 of the housing 160 and through the central aperture 154 in the top coupler 150 and is about to be threadably engaged into the upwardly projecting anchoring portion 134.

[0120] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 9 through 12, which show the first illustrated embodiment of a floor mount 100 according to the present invention, but now in a pre-compressed configuration whereat the lift spring is compressed via rotation of the removable securing member 170 engaged in the internally threaded upwardly projecting anchoring portion 134.

[0121] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 9 through 12, which show the first illustrated embodiment of a floor mount 100 according to the present invention, but now in a pre-compressed configuration whereat the lift spring is compressed via rotation of the removable securing member 170 engaged in the internally threaded upwardly projecting anchoring portion 134.

[0122] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 13 through 15, which show the first illustrated embodiment of a floor mount 100 according to the present invention, but with the concrete 114 having been poured and cured to thereby form the floating floor 110. FIG. 13 shows the removable securing member 170 having been removed and shows the lift spring 140 somewhat compressed due to the weight of the supported floating floor 110. FIG. 14 shows the lift adjustment bolt 180 having been put in place and about to be rotated to contact the top coupler 150. FIG. 15 shows the lift adjustment bolt 180 having been rotated about its operational axis “L” until it contacts the top coupler, and then is rotated further to thereby lifting the floating floor 110. The lift adjustment bolt 180 is chosen to have a threaded shaft portion 182 of a length suitable to lift the supported floating floor 110 by a predetermined amount when the head 184 of the lift adjustment bolt 180 contacts the top surface 163 of the top plate 162.

[0123] In another aspect, the present invention comprises a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112. The floating floor 110 comprises a cured concrete slab 114, and a plurality of floor mounts 100 in each concrete slab 114; wherein each floor mount 100 comprises a foot 120; a lift spring 140 having a top end 141 and a bottom end 142 and supportable in weight bearing relation at the bottom end 142 by the foot 120; a top coupler 150 supportable in weight bearing relation by the lift spring 140 at the top end 141; a cover 160 supportable in weight bearing relation by the top coupler 150; a removable securing member 170 for temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement; a lift adjustment member engageable in threaded relation in one of the cover 160 and the top coupler 150 and engaged in vertically abutting yet rotatable relation against the other of the cover 160 and the top coupler 150. The lift adjustment member is rotatable about its operational axis “L” to adjust the elevation of the cover 160 with respect to the top coupler 150, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor 110.

[0124] In another aspect, the present invention comprises a floor mount 100 for supporting a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112. The floor mount 100 comprises a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150, and a cover 160 disposed in seriatim one with the next; a removable securing member 170 for temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement; and a lift adjustment member for adjusting the elevation of the cover 160 with respect to the top coupler 150, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor 110.

[0125] In another aspect, the present invention comprises a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112. The floating floor 110 comprises a cured concrete slab 114, and a plurality of floor mounts 100 in each concrete slab 114; wherein each floor mount 100 comprises a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150, a cover 160, and a removable securing member 170 for temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement. The cover 160 is captured by the cured concrete. A lift adjustment member is for adjusting the elevation of the cover 160 with respect to the top coupler 150, to thereby permit selection of the elevation of the floor.

[0126] In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of assembling a floor mount 100. The method may comprise the steps of mounting a lift spring 140 at a bottom end 142 thereof onto a foot 120; mounting a top coupler 150 onto the lift spring 140 at a top end 141 thereof; mounting a cover 160 onto the top coupler 150; and temporarily securing together the foot 120, the lift spring 140, the top coupler 150 and the cover 160 in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member 170. The method further comprises the step of temporarily compressing the lift springs 140 such that each of the floor mounts 100 is in a pre-compressed configuration.

[0127] In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of assembling a floating floor 110 for installation above a sub-structure 112. The method may comprise the steps of temporarily securing together a plurality of floor mounts 100 in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member 170, wherein each floor mount 100 comprising a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150 and a cover 160; placing the plurality of floor mounts 100 on a receiving surface surrounded by a frame 116; pouring concrete 114 within the frame 116 around the plurality of floor mounts 100 such that the cover 160 is captured by the concrete 114; and permitting the concrete 114 to set. The method further comprises the step of temporarily compressing the lift springs 140 such that each of the floor mounts 100 is in a pre-compressed configuration.

[0128] In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of installing a floating floor 110 above a sub-structure 112. The method comprising the steps of temporarily securing together a plurality of floor mounts 100 in an in-use arrangement using a removable securing member 170, wherein each floor mount 100 comprising a foot 120, a lift spring 140, a top coupler 150 and a cover 160; placing the plurality of floor mounts 100 on a receiving surface surrounded by a frame 116; pouring concrete within the frame 116 around the plurality of floor mounts 100 such that the cover 160 is captured by the concrete 114; permitting the concrete 114 to set; and removing the removable securing member 170. The method further comprises the step of temporarily compressing the lift springs 140 such that each of the floor mounts 100 is in a pre-compressed configuration.

[0129] The above-described methods may further comprise the step of pre-calculating the length of the lift spring 140 from the top end 141 to the bottom end 142 and pre-calculating the spring constant of the lift spring 140. The method may further comprise the step of releasing the floor mount 100 from its pre-compressed configuration.

[0130] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 18 through 25, which show the first illustrated embodiment of a floor mount 100 according to the present invention during installation of the supported floating floor 110.

[0131] FIG. 18 shows the floor 110 being constructed using the floor mount 100 according to the present invention, before the concrete is poured. The various re-enforcing bars 116 are supported in transverse directions at offset elevations by the re-bar support portions 190a,190b,190c,190d. FIG. 19 shows concrete 104 being poured to form the floor 110, with about half the concrete poured. FIG. 20 shows a finished floor 110, with the concrete 104 cured, constructed using the floor mounts 100, prior to installation in a building. FIG. 21 shows a floor mount 100 embedded within the finished floor 110. FIG. 22 shows one of the removable securing bolts 170 being removed from floor mount 100 in order to allow the floor mount 100 to lift the floating floor 110 a few centimeters. FIG. 23 shows one lift adjustment bolt 180 about to be installed into a floor mount 100 in the floating floor 110. FIG. 24 shows through a slit in the floor mount 100, the top coupler 150 within the floor mount 100. FIG. 25 shows the lift adjustment bolt 180 having been rotated in order to cause the cover 160 of the floor mount 100 to lift the floating floor 110 to a desired elevation.

[0132] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 16 and 17, which show a second illustrated embodiment of the floor mount according to the present invention, as indicated by the general reference numeral 200. The second illustrated embodiment floor mount 200 is similar to the first illustrated embodiment floor mount 100 except that the top plate 262 and the vertical spacer 266 may be secured together by threaded fasteners 265 threadably engaged in co-operating threaded apertures 268 in an internal flange 267.

[0133] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the combination infant mat and carrying bag, of the present invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

[0134] Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

[0135] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising”, “having”, “including”, and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”, “for example”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0136] Illustrated embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those illustrated embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.