U.S. patent application number 15/024193 was filed with the patent office on 2016-08-25 for fasteners for pedestal supported tiles or decking.
The applicant listed for this patent is ELMICH PTE LTD. Invention is credited to Alan Sian Ghee, Henry Greaves.
Application Number | 20160244979 15/024193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52827471 |
Filed Date | 2016-08-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160244979 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Greaves; Henry ; et
al. |
August 25, 2016 |
FASTENERS FOR PEDESTAL SUPPORTED TILES OR DECKING
Abstract
A fastener (30) for attaching surface tiles (12) or the like to
a support pedestal (10), wherein the pedestal includes a base and a
head member for directly or indirectly supporting a tile. Each tile
corner comprises a triangular slot (24) for receiving the fastener
(30), which is generally rhomboidal in shape, with a central slot
(32) extending between two opposed corners of the fastener. A tab
(34) projects from the corner of the fastener adjacent each slot
(32) end. An anchoring means such as a screw, in use, is located in
the slot, and screws into the head of the pedestal (10). In use,
the fastener can be located in or moved out of the slots in the
sides of the surface tiles and the sliding movement can be used to
secure the tiles to the pedestal or to disengage a tile when
removal of a tile is required.
Inventors: |
Greaves; Henry; (Watsons
Bay, AU) ; Ghee; Alan Sian; (Singapore, SG) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ELMICH PTE LTD |
Singapore |
|
SG |
|
|
Family ID: |
52827471 |
Appl. No.: |
15/024193 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
October 17, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2014/050292 |
371 Date: |
April 8, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 15/02476 20130101;
E04F 15/02494 20130101; E04F 15/02464 20130101; E04F 15/0247
20130101; E04F 15/02452 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04F 15/024 20060101
E04F015/024 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 18, 2013 |
AU |
2013904010 |
Claims
1. A fastener for attaching surface tiles or the like to a support
pedestal, the pedestal including a base which can be located on a
surface, and a head member for directly or indirectly supporting a
tile, the tile defining a slot in its side for receiving the
fastener, wherein the fastener is generally rhomboidal in shape and
defines a central elongate slot which extends between two opposed
corners of the fastener.
2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tab projects up from
the fastener adjacent each end of the slot.
3. A fastener as claimed in claim 2, including an anchoring means
having a head and wherein the head of the anchoring means is wider
than the width of the slot.
4. A fastener as claimed in claim 2, including a circular recess
defined in the centre of the slot for receiving the head of the
anchoring means for use in locking the fastener in position in the
centre of four tiles and preventing accidental movement of the
fastener.
5. A fastener as claimed in claim 4, including a generally
cruciform support element for supporting the fastener the support
element defining a central hole for receiving a shaft of the
anchoring means.
6. A raised floor including a plurality of tiles supported on a
plurality of pedestals wherein the pedestals including a base which
can be located on a surface, and a head member for directly or
indirectly supporting a tile, wherein the tiles defining a slot in
their sides for receiving a fastener, wherein the fastener which
attaches the tile to the pedestal is generally rhomboidal in shape
and defines a central slot which extends between two opposed
corners of the fastener and wherein sliding the fastener moves the
fastener into or out of the slots in the tiles to allow tiles to be
lowered onto the pedestal or removed to secure the tiles to the
pedestal or to disengage a tile when removal of a tile or tiles is
required.
7. A raised floor as claimed in claim 6, wherein a tab projects up
from the fastener adjacent each end of the slot.
8. A raised floor as claimed in claim 7, including an anchoring
means having a head and wherein the head of the anchoring means is
preferably wider than the width of the central slot.
9. A raised floor as claimed in claim 7, including a circular
recess defined in the centre of the slot for receiving the head of
the anchoring means for use in locking the fastener in position in
the centre of four tiles and preventing accidental movement of the
fastener.
10. A raised floor as claimed in claim 8, including a paver spacer
comprising four tabs arranged in a cruciform orientation provided
on the top of the head, the tabs being spaced from one another and
spaced from the centre of the paver spacer, the tabs locating
between adjacent pavers, and including a cruciform support element
which supports the fastener and locates in the centre of the paver
spacer, the support element defining a central hole for receiving a
shaft of the anchoring means.
11. A method of securing a tile to a pedestal using a fastener
wherein the fastener is generally rhomboidal in shape and defines a
central elongate slot which extends between two opposed corners of
the fastener, the method comprising the steps of: providing a
pedestal including a base which can be located on a surface, and a
head member for directly or indirectly supporting a tile and a
paver spacer located on the head; providing a tile defining a slot
in its side for receiving the fastener; providing a support
defining a central hole for receiving a shaft of the fastener;
attaching the fastener and support are attached to the top of the
pedestal using the fastener with the shaft of the fastener passing
through the support; locating corners of the tiles on the top of
the pedestal in between two adjacent tabs of the paver spacer; and
sliding the fastener to move it into or out of the slots in the
tiles to allow tiles to be lowered onto the pedestal or removed to
secure the tiles to the pedestal or to disengage a tile when
removal of a tile or tiles is required.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a tab projects up from
the fastener adjacent each end of the slot.
13. A method as claimed in claim 11 including an anchoring means
having a head and wherein the head of the anchoring means is wider
than the width of the slot.
14. A fastener as claimed in claim 12 including a circular recess
defined in the centre of the slot for receiving the head of the
anchoring means for use in locking the fastener in position in the
centre of four tiles and preventing accidental movement of the
fastener.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian
Provisional Patent Application No. 2013904010 filed on 18 Oct.
2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to a fastener for attaching surface
tiles, pavers, or the like to a support pedestal when forming a
raised floor.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is known to provide elevated or raised floors, also known
as pedestal floors. Elevated flooring incorporates a number of,
typically height adjustable, pedestals which are uniformly
distributed over a subsurface/sub floor such as a concrete floor of
a multi-story building, 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.
[0004] In many cases, the raised floor will comprise rectangular,
most commonly square, tiles or pavers. Each of the spaced apart
pedestals therefore supports the corners of four adjacent
tiles/pavers.
[0005] Examples of such support pedestals are shown in
International Patent Application No PCT/AU 2006/001613. In some
cases, for example with concrete pavers, the weight of the tiles or
pavers is typically sufficient to keep the tiles on the pedestals.
However if the tiles are made of a less dense material such as wood
or plastic, they may require fixing to the pedestals. It is known
to do this using various techniques and such techniques include
using rotating anchoring washers such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 8,302,356, however such washers are fiddly and are awkward to
use.
[0006] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices,
articles or the like which has been included in the present
specification 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 disclosure
as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this
application.
[0007] 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.
SUMMARY
[0008] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a fastener
for attaching surface tiles or the like to a support pedestal, the
pedestal including a base which can be located on a surface, and a
head member for directly or indirectly supporting a tile, the tile
defining a slot in its side for receiving the fastener, wherein the
fastener is generally rhomboidal in shape and defines a central
elongate slot which extends between two opposed corners.
[0009] An anchoring means such as a screw, which is attached to the
head of the pedestal, will typically locate in the slot in use. The
anchoring means may slide along and relative to the slot.
[0010] It is preferred that a tab projects up from the fastener
adjacent each end of the slot. The tab may be contacted by a tool
such as screwdriver or the like for pushing/moving the fastener
relative to the anchoring means.
[0011] The head of the anchoring means is preferably wider than the
width of the slot.
[0012] In the centre of the slot there is preferably a circular
recess for receiving the head of the anchoring means for locking
the fastener in position in the centre of four tiles and preventing
accidental movement of the fastener.
[0013] Typically a paver spacer comprising four tabs arranged in a
cruciform orientation will be provided on the top of the head. The
tabs do not touch, and are spaced from one another. In use the tabs
locate between adjacent pavers.
[0014] It is preferred that a cruciform support element is provided
which supports the fastener and locates in the centre of the paver
spacer.
[0015] In use, the fastener can be located in or moved out of the
slots in the sides of the surface tiles and the sliding movement
can be used to secure the tiles to the pedestal or to disengage a
tile when removal of a tile or tiles is required.
[0016] The present invention also encompasses a pedestal
incorporating a fastener and a floor incorporating pedestals and
fasteners embodying the present invention, as well as a method of
assembling flooring.
[0017] Hence in a second aspect of the present invention there is
provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be
described, by way of example only, and with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an assembly illustrating a
fastener embodying the present invention in use;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a further isometric view of the assembly of FIG.
1; and
[0023] FIG. 5 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 1; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the fastener only.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a part of a raised
floor including a pedestal 10 supporting a raised floor comprising
wooden tiles 12, as are commonly used for outdoor decking. It will
be appreciated, however, that the tile may be made of any suitable
material including plastic. Each tile 12 typically comprises five
adjacent boards or planks of wood 14 connected by a transverse
bottom rail 16 at opposed ends. Note that in the drawings, only the
tile 12a is shown complete with two bottom rails 16. Note also that
in the drawings one of the boards 14a is shown as being
transparent, to illustrate features which would otherwise be hidden
by that board.
[0026] The pedestal is a known height adjustable pedestal marketed
by Elmich Pte Ltd under the "VersiJack" trade mark. With reference
to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, on the top of the pedestal there is a
cruciform paver spacer 18 which includes four tabs 20, paced apart
at 90.degree. on a circular plate 22. In use, as shown, these tabs
18 locate between corners of adjacent tiles/pavers 12 as is best
seen in FIG. 3.
[0027] As is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 in particular, a triangular
slot 24 is formed in the top of the rails 16 of each tile at each
corner of each tile. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, where three tiles
meet at a pedestal, there are three adjacent slots 22.
[0028] The fastener 30 is shown in FIG. 6. It is generally
rhomboidal (square) in plan view and defines an elongate slot 32
which extends from adjacent one corner to adjacent a diagonally
opposite corner. At each opposed end of the slot, there is an
upstanding cylindrical tab or projection 34. In the centre of the
fastener, a circular recess 35 is formed in the slot to receive the
head of a screw 36 or a similar elongate anchoring means.
[0029] Underneath the fastener 30 there is a cruciform support 40
which defines a cylindrical hole in its centre for receiving the
shaft of the screw 36 and four walls 42 spaced at 90.degree. to
each other which are the same height at the tabs 20 of the paver
spacer 18, and are sized to locate inside the paver spacer.
[0030] In use, with reference to FIG. 2, the fastener and support
are attached to the top of a pedestal 10 using the screw. Corners
of the tiles are placed on the top of the pedestal in between two
adjacent tabs 18 of the paver spacer. It will be appreciated that
the tiles may be slid into position horizontally or lowered
vertically onto the pedestal depending on the stage of construction
of the raised floor. The fastener 30 can be slid to move it into or
out of the slots 24 to allow tiles to be lowered onto the pedestal
or removed.
[0031] For example, FIG. 2 shows the fastener in a central
position, as it would be positioned to retain the tiles in
position. Note that the screw is located in the circular recess 35
in the centre of the slot and this prevents accidental movement of
the fastener 30. It will be appreciated that there will typically
be a fourth tile 16 present, when the floor is complete, which is
omitted to show the features of the fastener. To remove a tile the
screw is loosened sufficiently to allow the fastener 30 to be slid
along the axis of the slot. The fastener slides out of two of the
slots 24 and further into the opposite two slots releasing two
tiles from engagement. The tabs 34 allow the fastener to be slid by
using an elongate tool such as a screwdriver, or the like sliding
the tool into the gap between tiles and pushing on the tab 34. They
also have the additional function of keeping the fastener aligned
with the gap between the tiles, so that the fastener does not twist
as it slides.
[0032] Once the fasteners at all four corners of a tile have been
disengaged the tile can be removed and replaced. Once a tile has
been replaced the fasteners can be moved back to the centre
position shown in FIG. 2, and the screw 36 tightened, locking the
replaced tile in position.
[0033] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the
above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad
general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments
are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative
and not restrictive.
* * * * *