This invention relates to a slope compensator for a pedestal for elevated floors.
It is known to provide elevated or raised floors, also known as pedestal floors. Elevated flooring incorporates a number of height adjustable pedestals which are uniformly distributed over a subsurface/sub floor such as a concrete floor of a multi-story building, a roof, terrace, or any other surface on top of which it is desired to locate an elevated floor. Other non-exhaustive applications of pedestal floors include technical floors for laboratories, fitting out old buildings, patios, balconies, swimming pool surrounds and decking. The pedestals cooperate in supporting floor panels, such as pavers, or other floor surfaces. The panel members provide a relatively flat high strength floor.
Problems arise when forming a raised surface on a sub floor/subsurface which is not itself horizontal such as roof terrace which will typically slope at an angle of up to 5% in order to allow water run off.
Although height adjustable pedestals with means for compensating for slope, are known to address the problem of slope, existing pedestals incorporating slope adjustment tend to be rather awkward to use and adjust. One common problem with existing systems is that where slope compensation is provided, it may not always be immediately apparent which direction the head of the pedestal should face, relative to the slope of the subsurface.
One further problem with existing pedestal jacks is stability of the pedestals and this is a problem which is currently and somewhat unsatisfactorily addressed by tying wire to the pedestals which is awkward messy and does not work well.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.
According to the present invention, there is provided an adjustable pedestal adapted to support panel members of an elevated floor structure comprising:
The use of two spherical surfaces to provide slope compensation, allows for a relatively straightforward adjustment of the slope of the adjustment plate by rotation of the adjustment plate about the centre of curvature of its convex surface.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the slope adjustment plate defines at least one depending peg and the head member defines an array of holes for receiving the peg and which extend about the centre of the top surface of the head member. In this preferred embodiment, the holes are not equidistant from the centre of the head member but rather are located on a gentle spiral curve to account for relative movement of the adjustment plate on the head member.
Most preferably, a relatively large circular aperture is defined in the centre of the head member and a semi-circular skirt portion depends from the circumference of the aperture. A relatively smaller circular aperture is also defined in the centre of the adjustment plate. A larger diameter circular skirt portion depends down from the convex (underside) of the slope adjustment plate encompassing the aperture and whose centre is offset from the centre of the aperture in the plate. A projecting tab extends outwardly from the base of the circular skirt.
The apertures in the adjustment plate allows an installer of a pedestal floor to adjust the relative orientation of plate and head member by inserting their finger or thumb in the aperture, raising, rotating and lowering the plate. The projecting tab and semi-circular skirt assist in preventing mis-assembly and maladjustment of the head assembly.
In order to provide a pedestal having sufficient strength and load bearing area, it is preferred that both the head member and the slope adjustment plate define further part spherical surfaces which bear against each other in use to distribute loads. In particular the edge area of the head member may define a further part spherical surface which extends in a ring around the perimeter of the head member. The further part-spherical surface is concentric with the centre of curvature of the first concave part-spherical surface but had a larger radius of curvature. Similarly the edge area of the slope adjustment plate defines a part spherical convex surface which extends in a ring around the perimeter of the plate, which is concentric with the centre of curvature of the second convex part-spherical surface but had a larger radius of curvature. This arrangement provides a second load bearing at the outer edges of the plate and head member, in addition to the first and second concave and convex surfaces which share any load carried by the pedestal.
An annular flange and a series of radially extending support ribs may extend between the first concave surface of the head member and the concave outer ring and a series of through holes may be defined in the flange to prevent the build up of water in the head member.
The adjustment plate is typically generally circular in plan view. Preferably, the top of the adjustment plate is marked with a cross passing through the centre of the plate, typically in the form of a relatively shallow groove. At each end of the cross a short arm may be defined which protrudes beyond the circumference of the top surface of the adjustment plate. The arm may define a hole for tying wire, string or the like to the pedestal.
One line/arm of the cross is preferably clearly marked with an arrow and “UP SLOPE” or the like to indicate that, in use, the arrow/arm should point in the upward direction of the slope of the sub floor.
In a preferred embodiment, a series of apertures typically six, are defined in the slope adjustment plate. The apertures may have particular shape, e.g. triangular, and a correspondingly shaped protrusion projects up from the head member and slots through into one of the six apertures. The degree of slope compensation (typically 0% to 5%, in one percent increments) provided by the head assembly is indicated by which aperture the protrusion is located in. The protrusion is most preferably in a contrasting colour to the colour of the slope compensation plate. The numbers zero to five are typically defined on the adjustment plate adjacent the aperture providing that percentage of slope compensation.
To provide a combination of light weight and sufficient strength, the pedestal is typically injection moulded in a plastics material such as polypropylene, however other suitable materials or manufacturing methods could be used.
In a related aspect, the present invention provides a slope adjustable head for an adjustable pedestal adapted to support panel members of an elevated floor structure the head comprising:
In a yet further aspect the present invention provides an adjustable pedestal adapted to support panel members of an elevated floor structure comprising:
The locking elements have the advantage of considerably increasing the stability of the pedestal.
The head assembly may further include a head member; and a slope adjustment plate embodying previously described aspects of the invention.
In order to provide further improvements in stability, in a yet further aspect the present invention provides an adjustable pedestal adapted to support panel members of an elevated floor structure comprising:
The adjustable pedestal may be filled with ballast at least some of which has a diameter of 8 mm or more, or 1 cm or more, or 2 cm or more or larger up to the narrowest part of the internal diameter of the spacer portion which is about 80 mm.
The adjustable pedestal may be filled with concrete to create a concrete pillar enclosed by the pedestal for improved strength and durability.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
A specific of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
a is an exploded view seen from one side and above of the height adjustable pedestal of
b is an exploded view seen from one side and below of the height adjustable pedestal shown in
a shows the sectioned pedestal containing ballast;
b shows the sectioned pedestal containing concrete; and
Referring to the drawings,
As shown in
A locking ring 28 is provided to prevent unintentional rotation of the first spacer element relative to a further cylindrical spacer element 30 which is threadably engaged in the first spacer element 20. The locking ring defines projecting lugs 28a which define holes through which wires or the like may be threaded, if desired. The locking ring may be rotated to move it up or down the external threading of the spacer element 30. When it is moved down so that it abuts the flange 24 of the spacer element 20, the contact/interference between the two create stability and prevent wobble of the spacer element 30 within the spacer element 20.
The further spacer element 30 has a generally annular cross section comprising a lower portion 32 which is externally threaded and configured to locate inside the spacer element 20 and an upper, larger diameter portion 34, which is internally threaded. The base of the spacer element is substantially open.
A further locking ring 28 is disposed between a head portion 50 which will be described in more detail below but includes an upper portion 52 and a depending externally threaded cylindrical portion 54 which is threadably engaged inside the threaded portion 34. A slope compensator plate 100 locates on top of the upper portion of the head portion 50 which again will be described in greater detail below. A cruciform paver separator 150 snap fits into an aperture 110 in the upper portion of the slope adjuster plate.
The pieces together form a telescopic height adjustable jack which can range in height from a minimum of around 60 mm up to approximately 1050 mm. For a pedestal having the lowest possible height the further spacer element 30 is omitted and the head member is threaded directly into the first spacer element 20. Height adjustment is obtained by relative rotation of the head member 50 inside the first spacer element and of the first spacer element 20 inside the base.
When greater height is required the spacer member 30 is used as shown in
In use, a grid of intersecting parallel string lines may be set out on top of a subsurface/sub floor on which a pedestal floor is to be located. The spacing between the string lines will correspond to the width of the floor panel members, such as pavers allowing for any slight gaps between the panel members. A pedestal is placed at each intersection. The height of the pedestals is adjusted to compensate for any slope on the underlying sub floor so that the pedestal floor may be horizontal, if desired. However, it will be appreciated that if the head of the pedestal were perpendicular to the vertical axis of the pedestal, i.e. parallel to the base the pavers will not sit evenly on the pedestals. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide slope compensation as well as height adjustment for the pedestal to account for those circumstances in which the sub-floor is not horizontal but is sloping.
The head member, best seen in
A semi-circular skirt portion 68 (also seen in
A post 70 having a generally triangular cross-section extends up from the head member approximately where the flange and outer part spherical surface meet.
A series of twelve generally circular holes 72 extend through the first part spherical surface 58. In use the apertures may receive one of two diametrically opposed pegs which depend from the slope adjuster plate described in more detail below. Although the circular holes are superficially similar in appearance, in fact the axes of the circular holes are slightly different and apart from a 0% compensation pair of opposed circular holes are offset relative to the vertical axis of the pedestal, to compensate for the different orientations of the slope adjuster plate on the head member. There are two pegs and the apertures are located so that diametrically opposed pairs are aligned at the same angle. Also the centre of the circular holes are not arranged equidistantly from the centre of the head member but are arranged on two part spiral curves each extending through 180°, to account for the differences in position of the slope adjuster plate on the head member. The holes corresponding to a particular percentage compensation is further from the centre of the aperture 56, than the holes corresponding to a lesser degree of slope compensation.
The slope adjuster plate is best shown in
In order to fix the slope compensation plate relative to the head 50 and prevent accidental dislodgement of the same due to wind, an impact or the like, screw holes 113 are provided in the top of the plate through which “tek” screws or the like may pass into receiving/pilot holes 115 in the head 50 (see
The top surface of the adjustment plate is marked with a cross 114 passing through the centre of the plate and defined by intersecting relatively shallow grooves. At each end of the cross a short arm 116 is defined which protrudes beyond the circumference of the top surface of the adjustment plate and defines a hole 118 for tying wire, string or the like to the pedestal. The arms can also be used to lift the adjustment plate for adjusting the degree of slope compensation.
One arm of the cross is marked with an arrow 120 and “UP SLOPE”. In use, the arrow/arm should point in the upward direction of the slope of the sub floor.
A series of six spaced apertures 122 are defined in the top surface of the slope adjustment plate. The apertures are triangular, and are shaped to receive the triangular post 70 which projects up from the head member 50 and slots into one of the six apertures depending on the relative orientation of the plate 100 and head member 50. In the described embodiment the degree of slope compensation is from 0% to 5%, in one percent increments and the apertures are numbered 0 to 5 to indicate the selected degree of slope compensation. The post 70 is most preferably in a contrasting colour to the colour of the slope compensation plate.
The underside of the slope compensation plate defines a convex part spherical surface 130 extending in a band outside the skirt 110. The surface is not continuous but is defined by the lower edges of an array of intersecting circular rings and radial ribs. This allows for drainage and for simpler manufacture. A flange 140 extends from the outer edge of the convex surface to a further part spherical convex surface 142 defined at the outer edge of the underside of the plate 100. The centre of curvature of the further convex surface is the same at that of the convex surface, although its radius of curvature in greater.
Two diametrically opposed cylindrical pegs 132 and 134 depend down from the convex surface spaced, one peg 134 being relatively wider than the other 132.
In the described embodiment the head assembly may be positioned in six different orientations corresponding to the degree of slope compensation from 0% (
Numerous variations to the described embodiment are possible. For example although 0 to 5% slope compensation is provided in the described example, it will be appreciated that it would be possible to create say 0 to 6% compensation, in which case 14 holes will be provided in the central concave area of the head member, or greater degrees of compensation such as 0 to 10% or more.
Although the pedestal as described above is particularly suited to use on sloping sub floors and subsurfaces to create a level pedestal floor, it will be appreciated that it may also be used to create a level raised floor on a level/horizontal sub floor, in which case the slope adjustment plate is set to 0% slope compensation. Alternatively it could also be used to create a sloping pedestal floor on top of a horizontal sub floor/subsurface.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2005905990 | Oct 2005 | AU | national |
The present application is a continuation-in-part of PCT/AU2006/001613 which claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2005905990 filed on 28 Oct. 2005, the contents of both applications being incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/AU2006/001613 | Oct 2006 | US |
Child | 12109233 | US |