Composite structure and assembly joint for a floor system

Claim 1

In a structural system of the type for constructing floor structures having a planar top wear surface provided by a plurality of wood boards substantially identical in length arranged generally in a side-by-side and end-to-end abutting configuration, apparatus for assembling said boards comprising: (a) each said board being substantially elongated to define a first end, a second end remote from said first end, a pair of spaced elongated longitudinal sides extending between the first and second ends, a planar bottom surface integral with and bridging said sides, and said top wear surface spaced from said bottom surface integral with and bridging said sides; (b) said first end of each board including: (i) an upper end portion, (ii) a lower end portion spaced below and terminating longitudinally short of said upper end portion; and (iii) a groove defined between said upper and lower end portions being open at said first end; (c) said second end of each board including: (i) an upper end portion, (ii) a lower end portion spaced below said upper end portion extending longitudinally past said upper end portion, and (iii) a groove defined between said upper and lower end portions being open at said second end, (d) an elongated channel strip for being fastened to an associated subfloor structure including first and second generally horizontally outwardly extending flange means; (e) a n end assembly joint defined by the abutment of the first end of one board with the second end of another board in said system; (f) said assembly joint including lengths of said channel strip extending generally across the entire width of said structure surface being formed contiguously across each said assembly joint in said system joining said boards in a side-by-side arrangement, said flange means of said channel strip being received in said groove of said first end and in said groove of said second end, said upper end portion of said second end extending over a portion of said first flange means and said upper end portion of said first end extending over said second flange means and the remaining portion of said first flange means generally abutting said upper end portion of said second end; and (g) said plurality of boards being joined in side-by-side arrangement by said assembly joint connecting said ends with said planar longitudinal sides being essentially devoid of interconnection therebetween.