Patent Grant
9556621
This is a National Filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT/US2014/025768 with an International Filing Date of Mar. 13, 2014 that relied on Provisional Application No. 61/779,085 filed Mar. 13, 2013.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates generally to a device and a method for supporting a structure above a fixed surface, and more particularly, to a height and slope adjustable pedestal device made using a single length of unthreaded piping, the rotatable device base having minimal surface threading, and the device head able to be locked in a zero or non-zero slope for supporting a structure above a fixed surface, and the method of using such a device.
The background information discussed below is presented to better illustrate the novelty and usefulness of the present invention. This background information is not admitted prior art.
Elevating pedestal support devices are used, for example, when an elevated floor is required, such as when wiring, water pipes, and/or heating and cooling piping must be installed between a floor and sub-surface, or in many instances for deck installations. Floors supported by pedestals, are often referred to as pedestal floors. The supporting pedestals are uniformly distributed over a sub-surface to cooperate in supporting floor panels such as pavers or decking boards. The sub-surface may be a horizontally level concrete floor, a roof, or any other surface on top of which it is desired to locate an elevated floor. For these uses the elevating support pedestals need only be height adjustable. Substrates, however, are often not horizontal, such as roof surfaces that are generally sloped at a given angle from the horizontal for the purpose of draining rainfall and melting snow and ice. In these instances, in order to provide for the installation of a horizontally flat floor over a sloping sub-surface, the support pedestals need to be both height and slope adjustable.
Elevated deck construction, especially on sloped roofs, is gaining in popularity. Elevated deck floors often are made of deck-tiles, supported and connected by an array of pedestals. A deck tile typically consists of a 24″×24″ square assembly of deck boards that are used primarily for patios and rooftop lounge areas. It is these deck-tiles that must be installed over and elevated up from a non-level roof surface to create a new, level walking deck surface, or optionally a sloped ramped surface.
The present inventive concept is to provide height and slope adjustable pedestals that are strong, can be securely locked in a sloped or non-sloped position to securely maintain their height and slope, are cost effect, readily available, and easy to install. To make his concept a reality, the present Inventor developed a set of inventive principles to provide devices to support and attach a level walking surface over a first level or non-level sub-surface.
For the purpose of fully illustrating the inventive principles, one exemplar pedestal device is presented herein and referred to as a pedestal elevation system for the installation of decking tiles over level or non-level surfaces. As mentioned above, deck-tiles are typically a 24″×24″ square assembly of deck boards. The pedestal elevation system, as taught herein, securely connects such deck-tiles to each other as well as to the surface over which the deck-tiles are being installed and ensures that the newly installed deck-tiles, regardless of being installed either on a flat or a sloping surface of a pitched roof, present a level floor surface.
The leveling, elevating pedestals include a rotatable means that consists of a threaded pedestal base that is rotatably attached to a threaded first end of a coupling, whereas the combination provides for each pedestal to be independently height adjustable, that is, each pedestal is easily adjusted to a specified height and can be rapidly and easily raised or lowered relative to the sub-surface for fine adjustments. A non-threaded second end of the coupling supports and is non-rotatably fastened to a non-threaded first end of a midsection of a predetermined length. A non-threaded second end of the midsection is not-rotatably attached to and supports a lockable, leveling (tilting) support-head, thus creating a pedestal that is able to compensate for any sloping or uneven surfaces over which deck-tiles are being installed as it is connecting deck-tiles to each other at their corner sites. This design provides for each pedestal to independently support each deck tile, as required (described in more detail below). One pedestal can provide support for and attach the intersecting corners of up to four deck-tiles. Each pedestal, once completely installed and tightened in place, using a tightening bolt, secures the surface it is supporting. However, the pedestal can be easily and rapidly accessed to make any required adjustments by simply loosening the tightening bolt. Additionally, if desired, one skilled in the art would be able to adapt the pedestal to be used in its reverse orientation.
To ensure that the surface being installed, such as a surface made-up of deck-tiles, is secured from being up-lifted from its subsurface, due, for example, to a wind storm, each elevating pedestal has a platy locking element as part of the pedestal that, as the tiles are laid, is positioned within grooves pre-cut into the side of the deck-tiles. An example of such a locking element is a plastic coated metal washer with a distinctive property. The washer, according to the inventive concept, is caused to have a narrow elongate slot emanating from the center of the washer through to its perimeter, thus having its length that of a radius of the washer. This slot is unlike the slot of any other similar device. Other devices offer a “pac-man like”, that is, a large-angle cut-out on each washer that can be described as a notch intersecting the washer perimeter to its center point of from approximately 105° to 130° wide. A notch of this width necessarily greatly decreases the surface area of the washer that, in turn, both greatly decreases the strength of the washer's hold-down capacity and provides much less surface to support each deck tile. In addition, getting the washers with the large-area slot into aligned engagement with the corners of each of the deck-tiles the pedestal is supporting requires time consuming adjustment of the washer to assure that as much surface of the washer as possible is supporting a deck-tile. In comparison, the width of the elongate slot of the washer of the present invention is limited to being only wide enough to have the slot fit about the stem of the center tightening bolt, but not so wide as to fit about the head of the bolt. This design makes it possible for the washer to offer maximum hold-down strength and maximum surface area to more fully engage with the corner cut-outs of all four deck-tiles. Additionally, the narrow elongate slot provides for the washer to be simply slid into, and out of, engagement with the deck-tiles.
There is a center tightening bolt combined with a double-ended, multi-purpose bushing that is used to tighten the head and the uplift fastener in place. The tightening bolt locks the tiltable, leveling head either in a level horizontal position or in a tilted position, which is a unique feature. There is also a locking washer (as discussed in more detail below) that serves to secure the tiltable leveling pedestal head in place. Some presently available devices provide for limited degrees of leveling, but they cannot be locked into infinitely varied angled positions as can the present invention. The leveling head of the present invention is infinitely adjustable between a zero percent slope and an approximate seven percent slope. The present invention provides locking means for the leveling head to be a lockable stationary head by, in the example as shown, the use of a zero compensator washer (zeroing plug) that can rapidly and easily lock the leveling head to zero degrees. Designing the leveling head as a stationary head accurately zeroed provides the additional advantage of decreasing the installation time on top of level surfaces and, also, securely locks the head in the zero degree position, where currently available adjustable heads may easily slip out of the zero degree position. When installation is on a sloped surface, the zero compensator washer is removed, the head tilted to the required slope, and then locked into that position using the locking washer. The head is locked into position from the top side by using the center tightening bolt that is tightened into double-ended, multi-purpose bushing bolt mechanism. As mentioned, the tightening bolt fastener secures the multi-purpose bushing in place at the desired slope and also further secures the deck-tiles to the head. The leveling head also includes four tabs, each positioned at right angles to its neighbor tab, for the correct spacing of the elevated surface pieces being installed or, alternatively, the upper surface of the head is fitted with a joist support for the installation of elevated joists.
To elevate the pedestal to various heights ranging up to about 30 inches above the subsurface over which the deck-tiles are being installed, the example of the present invention illustrated herein uses predetermined lengths of unthreaded PVC pipe as its mid-section (also referred to as its main pedestal support section) and, as explained above, in conjunction with the threaded coupling section and its receiving base provides for final, small scale adjustments. As described above, the threaded coupling section rotatably connects the main pedestal support section to the threaded base. In this example, the base is internally threaded to accept the externally threaded portion of the coupling section. Many of the devices presently available rely on all of their pipe sections being threaded in order to achieve a desired height. The present invention does include a threaded section that is employed for final, fine adjustments, but the main elevating and support section of the pedestal relies on lengths of custom cut unthreaded PVC pipe, for several reasons. Unthreaded PVC pipe provides added strength and rigidity over the currently available systems, as threaded elongate sections tend to have less strength, be less rigid, and thus, be wobbly. Moreover, unthreaded PVC pipe is readily available because such pipe can be found in most home stores ready to be cut to the desired length. The use of unthreaded PVC pipe also reduces cost, while creating a more rigid, stronger pedestal. The use of the unthreaded PVC pipe also improves installation time since it greatly reduces the number of threaded components which other devices require you to “gang” together to achieve the height required.
Additionally, if desired there is provided a self-leveling head with a joist support that includes a slide feature to permit joists of different widths to be securely fit therein.
Still other benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed specification and related drawings.
In order that these and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention may be more fully comprehended and appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in appended drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures. It should be understood that these drawings only depict preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting in scope, thus, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.
Referring now, with more particularity, to the drawings, it should be noted that the disclosed invention is disposed to embodiments in various sizes, shapes, and forms. Therefore, the embodiments described herein are provided with the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as illustrative and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments described herein.
The present inventive concept provides the principles that are used to make a leveling support pedestal system that is height adjustable and has a locking/titling leveling head. The pedestal levels, supports, and holds-down. That is, besides supporting and leveling the elevated surface that is being installed, the system is designed to secure the elevated surface against up-lift, from wind, for example. The inventive concept requires that the pedestal employs a single piece of non-threaded piping of predetermined length to provide the required elevated height. The example described herein uses inexpensive, readily available, strong and rigid PVC piping, although any piping that fills this need is contemplated within the scope of the invention. The principles provide for a leveling pedestal that is also able to secure the leveled, elevated surface deck-tiles, and the like, to a sub-floor that is at either a zero or a non-zero slope. To make final, small scale adjustments, rotatable means provided by the interaction of the base of the pedestal and a coupling section, provide for the pedestal to be raised or lowered vertically, as needed. To provide its leveling action, that is to compensate for sloped surfaces, the pedestal has a tilting head. For those cases where the slope of the sub-surface is zero degrees, the pedestal includes a zero compensator washer (zeroing plug) which locks the head of the pedestal to zero degrees. If the sub-surface is sloped, the zero compensator washer is removed so that the head can be tilted to the required slope of from zero degrees up to approximately seven degrees and then locked. In the exampled illustrated, the head is locked in position from the top of the pedestal by using the center tightening bolt/bushing-bolt mechanism as, in the example illustrated, comprises a washer having a narrow elongate slot, a bolt or the like, a double-ended multi-purpose bushing, and one or two locking washers. This fastener mechanism both secures the tiltable head in place at the desired slope and also secures the deck-tiles to the leveling head. On the supporting surface of the leveling head are four spacing tabs, each at a 90° orientation to its neighboring tabs, to space the deck-tiles being installed. The inventive principles also contemplate the pedestal used in a variety of different applications including variable height, sound insulation, and easing of maintenance. The self-leveling head can be, alternatively, provided with a joist support having a slide feature to permit joists of different widths to be securely fit therein. The center tightening bushing-bolt fastener mechanism also serves as an adapter for joist bracket accessory attachments, while maintain its ability to lock the angle of the head. An important part of the inventive concept is the fact that, if required, the entire pedestal may be adapted to be used in reverse, that is, literally upside down. When the pedestal is used in this orientation, it is the tiltable head that is securely attached to the sub-surface, and it follows then that what was the bottom side of the base would, in the reverse position, act to support the surface that is being installed. If desired, the pedestal could still be tightened from the top simple by have the bolt's position changed to the base instead of the head.
In more detail, the elevating leveling pedestal, used herein to illustrate the inventive concept, is made up of a threaded base rotatably attached to and supporting a threaded first end of a coupling. The base and coupling collectively provide a height adjustment mechanism for final small-scale adjustments. A second non-threaded end of the coupling is non-rotatably attached to, and supports, a first end of a non-threaded midsection of a pre-determined length. A second end of the midsection is non-rotatably attached to and supports a head assembly, thus providing a pedestal that supports, secures, and levels a surface being installed over a non-sloping or sloping sub-surface. The head assembly includes a support-head having a support surface overlying and attached to a cap having a centered cap aperture therethrough. Either the support-head or the cap have a convex mating surface while the other has a concave mating surface providing for said support-head and said cap to be slidably re-positionable along their mating surfaces. The support-head is, thus, tiltable with respect to the cap and it will be shown, is lockable between zero degrees and approximately seven degrees of tilt. The support-head further includes a centered recess, referred to as a recess aperture, in which is a bottomed-well having a centered-bottom-well aperture. Detachably attaching the support-head to the cap, is an assembly comprising a double-ended bushing having a first end and a second end, that is inserted, from the support-head's support surface down into the bottomed-well of the support-head, while from the bottom surface of the cap, an attachment device, such as a headed bolt, is inserted through an aperture of a locking washer and then up through an aperture in the cap to continue up through the bottom-well aperture until it securely engages with said second end of said double-ended bushing. Once the support-head has been tilted, as required, by slidably re-positionable the support-head along the mating convex/concave surfaces of the support-head and the cap, the support-head can be securely locked at the desired angle, for example, by inserting a hex-wrench into the hex-accepting first end of the bushing aperture and turning the wrench until the desired amount of locking tightness is achieved effectively locking said support-head in a tilted position from zero to approximately seven degrees. Depending on the tolerance in the apertures, the degrees of tilt may extend pass seven degrees to an amount measured in degree minutes. When there is no slope that requires compensation, there is available a zero compensator washer that rapidly and easily locks the support-head at zero degrees. The pedestal further comprises a washer having a narrow elongate slot emanating from the washer's center to its edge, with the slot being of a width no wider than that required for the slot to just fit about the stem of a center-tightening device, such as a bolt or a screw, that extends through the center—most portion of said slot into said double-ended bushing. As a raised surface, such as decking tiles, is installed over a sub-surface, pre-made slots in the sides of the decking tiles accept the slotted washer. The washer, thus, provides a hold-down preventing the raised surface from being lifted, by the wind, for example. The support-head further comprises, on its support surface, spacer tabs that space the deck-tiles or said deck-boards being installed. The spacer tabs are either molded with said support-head or are positioned into slots molded into said support-head, as required. In the case where the spacer tabs are molded with support-head, they are available scored making them easily removed if not needed. In most cases, the spacer tabs are each positioned at a 90° orientation to a neighboring tab. Additionally, the support surface of the support-head is available provided with a joist support having a slide feature to permit joists of different widths to be securely fit therein. The structure of the pedestal is designed to allow the pedestal to be easily adapted to be used in reverse orientation.
Turning now to the drawings,
Clearly shown in
In some instances, raised deck floors are installed on an upper story, such as a roof top. This can happen often if entertainment space is needed but there is no land surface available, such as in a densely populated area. If the raised deck was installed over a living space where quiet was appreciated, the sound created by entertainment on the deck could be intrusive. In such an instance, it would be desirable to include sound insulation in the deck installation. With the present system this is easily accommodated by simply inserting a rubber sound-proofing pad between tiltable support-head 10 and the deck-tiles.
There are instances when the installation of a raised surface would be better served by installing the raised surface on support joists which are raised. Pedestal 20 accomplishes this by providing secure support for construction joists instead of floor tiles, or the like. Thus, the inventive principles provide for tiltable support-head 10 to be designed with accessory joist support 60 as illustrated in
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, uses specific and defined nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing description of the specific embodiment is presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made to the features, embodiments, and methods of making the embodiments of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the described methods, embodiments, features or combinations of features but include all the variation, methods, modifications, and combinations of features within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is limited only by the claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2014/025768 | 3/13/2014 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2014/160076 | 10/2/2014 | WO | A |
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