Improvements in pedestal assemblies for elevated floors

Abstract

A pedestal assembly (100) comprising: a pedestal base (106); a pedestal head (108) vertically offset from the pedestal base along a pedestal axis (BA) in use; an adaptor (104) for supporting one or more flooring members in use, the adaptor being slidably engaged with the pedestal head in an assembly direction (LD) normal to the pedestal axis such that in an assembled position, the adaptor and pedestal head are constrained together in the direction of the pedestal axis (BA); an uplift prevention subassembly (184) configured to retain one or more flooring 0 members (10) against the adaptor in use.

Description

Improvements in pedestal assemblies for elevated floorsTechnical Field

[0001] The present application is concerned with a pedestal assembly for an elevated floor. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a pedestal head that is configured to be attached to a pedestal and provides the ability of floor members to be retained adjacent thereto to mitigate wind uplift.Background Art

[0002] Raised or elevated flooring systems are commonly used in exterior design projects. Several pedestals are put into position onto which a floor is supported. Such systems are visually appealing, offer enhanced drainage and can level off uneven floor surfaces.

[0003] One such system is disclosed in the applicant's co-pending patent application WO 2023 / 21 7962. In that system, a pedestal is provided that comprises a base and a head. The head and base are connected by a threaded connection to allow the height of the pedestal to be adjusted. The head has a plurality of upstanding tabs to provide spacing between floor members (typically paving slabs) positioned directly thereon.

[0004] In the field of external floor systems, wind lift is a problem. High speed winds across the upper surface of floor members such as paving slabs reduces the static pressure on the surface. The reduction in static pressure tends to exert a lifting force on the slab, which once weight is overcome can move the slab in an upwards direction. Once the slab is lifted, and the underside exposed, it is acted on by the wind to further lift it out of position. This problem is exacerbated by the position of the floor in exposed conditions- for example on balconies or terraces.

[0005] As a result of climate change, higher speed winds and gusts are becoming more prevalent in regions which had not traditionally experienced them. Therefore there are large areas of paving which have become susceptible to wind uplift.

[0006] Evidently the movement of paving slabs is best avoided. Applicant's earlier application WO 2023 / 21 7962 provides a retention apparatus that is secured to the head of the pedestal.

[0007] It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved, floor member retention apparatus.Summary of Invention

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pedestal assembly comprising: a pedestal base; a pedestal head vertically offset from the pedestal base along a pedestal axis in use; an adaptor for supporting one or more flooring members in use, the adaptor being slidably engaged with the pedestal head in an assembly direction normal to the pedestal axis such that in an assembled position, the adaptor and pedestal head are constrained together in the direction of the pedestal axis; an uplift prevention subassembly configured to retain one or more flooring members against the adaptor in use.

[0009] Advantageously, the pedestal of the present invention can be adapted to carry flooring members using the 'slide on' adaptor claimed herein. This configuration makes assembly more straightforward.

[0010] Preferably the uplift prevention subassembly is connected to the adaptor.

[0011] Preferably the adaptor and uplift prevention subassembly are attached via a threaded connection.

[0012] Preferably: the adaptor defines an opening; the pedestal head comprises an opening; and, the uplift prevention subassembly engages the opening in the adaptor and enters the opening in the pedestal head.

[0013] Preferably the uplift prevention subassembly comprises a bolt having a threaded shaft, a head, and a clamping plate receiving the bolt to clamp one or more flooring members in use.

[0014] Preferably the clamping plate is a washer.

[0015] Preferably the adaptor comprises at least one upstanding abutment formation for abutting one or more flooring members in use.

[0016] Preferably the upstanding abutment is a tab unitary with the adaptor.

[0017] Preferably the upstanding abutments are deformed regions of the adaptor.

[0018] Preferably the upstanding abutments are configured to space apart one or more flooring members in use for attachment of the uplift prevention subassembly therebetween.

[0019] Preferably the adaptor comprises at least one retention tab receiving part of the pedestal head.

[0020] Preferably the at least one retention tab forms a C-shape with the adaptor to receive part of the pedestal head.

[0021] Preferably the adaptor comprises at least two retention tabs engaging the pedestal head.

[0022] Preferably the adaptor comprises a plurality of retention tabs with an opening between two of the tabs for receiving the pedestal head in the assembly direction.

[0023] Preferably the pedestal base and head are adjustable to alter the height of the pedestal along the pedestal axis.

[0024] There is also provided a flooring system comprising: a plurality of pedestals according to any preceding claim; a plurality of flooring members, each supported on the plurality of pedestals and restrained thereto by the uplift prevention subassemblies.Brief Description of Drawings

[0025] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures in which:FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pedestal assembly in accordance with the present invention;FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the pedestal of Figure 1 ;FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the pedestal of Figure 1 ;FIGURE 4 is a section, perspective view of the pedestal of Figure 1 ; and,FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the pedestal of Figure 1 in use.Description of the embodimentConfiguration

[0026] Referring to the Figures, there is provided a pedestal assembly 100 comprising a two-part pedestal 102 and a pedestal head adaptor 104.

[0027] The two-part pedestal 102 comprises a base 106 and a head 108. The base 106 comprises a base plate 1 10 and an upstand 1 12. The base plate 1 10 has a top side 1 14 and an underside 1 16. The underside 1 1 6 supports the base plate 1 10 on a floor surface 10 (or other underlying surface). The base plate 1 10 defines a plurality of openings 1 1 8 for attachment to an underlying surface. The upstand 1 12 defines a male threaded shaft 120 having an opening 122 at the free end thereof. An opening 124 is defined in the base plate 1 10 concentric with the shaft 120. The upstand defines a base axis BA.

[0028] The head 108 comprises a head plate 126 and a shaft 128 extending therefrom. The head plate 126 is circular having an outer edge 130. The head plate defines a head axis HA. In the centre of the head plate 126 there is provided a circular opening 132 having a diameter HOD. The shaft 128 defined a female thread on the interior surface thereof and has an opening 134 at a free end thereof. A radially outwardly extending drive formation 136 is provided at the outer perimeter of the free end.

[0029] The head adaptor 104 is provided in the form of a plate having a circular outer perimeter 138 centred on an adaptor axis AA. The diameter of the adaptor 104 is the same as the diameter of the outer edge 130 of the head plate 126. A threaded circular opening 140 of diameter D is provided at the centre of the head plate 126.

[0030] Four equally spaced rectangular openings 142, 1 44, 146, 148 are provided adjacent to (but slightly spaced from) the perimeter 138. The openings 142, 144, 146, 148 are 90degrees apart, and extend with their long sides in a generally radial direction. At the outer edge of each opening 142, 144, 146, 148 there is provided an abutment tab 1 50, 152, 154, 1 56. The tabs 1 50, 1 52, 1 54, 1 56 extend out of the plane of the adaptor 104 in a first, upward direction. The tabs 1 50, 152, 1 54, 1 56 extend at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees (45 degrees in this embodiment, although this may be varied by preference). Each tab has a width TW which is less than the width OW of the respective opening 142, 144, 146, 148 (Figure 3).

[0031] Three retention tabs 1 58, 1 60, 1 62 are provided at the perimeter 138. Each retention tab has a downwardly depending portion 1 64 (labelled with respect to the retention tab 1 60 in Figure 4) and a radially inwardly projecting portion 166. The retention tabs 1 58, 1 60, 1 62 therefore form L-shapes, or C-shapes with the adjacent outer portion of the adaptor plate. The retention tabs 1 58, 1 60, 1 62 are radially aligned with three of the abutment tabs 1 52, 1 54, 1 56 respectively. There is a 1 80 degree separation between two of the tabs 1 58, 1 62, with the third 1 60 being spaced between them.Assembly

[0032] The two-part pedestal 102 is assembled by assembling the base 106 and the head 108. The open shaft 128 of the head is aligned with the shaft 120, and the threads engaged by relative rotation thereof about the axes BA, HA. The pedestal can therefore be adjusted to a suitable pedestal height PH.

[0033] The adaptor 104 can be used to provide a surface for mounting flooring members to the pedestal 1 02. The adaptor is engaged with the head 108 by inserting the head plate 126 between the two 1 80 degree spaced retention tabs, with the plate 126 engaging the C-shapes formed by those tabs. The adaptor 1 04 and pedestal 102 are translated relative to each other in a lateral direction LD, perpendicularto the axes BA, HA until the head plate 126 engages the middle retention tab 1 60 as shown in section in Figure 4. Once in position, it will be noted that the axes BA, HA, AA are aligned and the opening 140 is directly aligned with the head plate opening 132.

[0034] An anti-uplift sub-assembly 182 is provided comprising a threaded member 1 84 and a clamp plate 1 86. The threaded member 1 84 has a male threaded shaft 1 88 terminating in a head 1 0 with a formation for engagement with a tool (a hex key in this embodiment). The clamp plate 1 86 is a circular was her (although it may be any other shape)into which the member 1 84 is inserted. The head of the threaded member therefore holds the clamp plate down.Use

[0035] Flooring members 10 (see Figures 3 & 5) are supported on the adaptor 104. Two such members 10 in the form of paving slabs are shown in Figure 5. The tabs 1 50, 1 52, 1 54, 1 56 act as abutments to space the flooring members apart by the tab width TW as shown in Figure 3.

[0036] Once the flooring members are in place, the anti-uplift sub-assembly 182 can be installed. The threaded member 1 84 is inserted into the clamp plate 1 86 and the free end of the threaded member engaged with the corresponding female thread in the opening 140. The member 1 84 can pass through the opening 132. The member 184 is screwed such that the plate 1 86 contacts the upper surface of the members 10. Therefore uplift is prevented. It will be noted that because the tab width TW > D, the threaded member can be inserted into the opening between the members 10.Variations

[0037] Although the present invention is described with respect to an adjustable pedestal, it may also be implemented with fixed pedestals.

[0038] The example above is provided with three retention tabs, although more or fewer may be provided as long as the adaptor can be slidably engaged with the pedestal head to co-restrain the two components.

[0039] Formations other than tabs may be provided on the adaptor, and no formations or tabs may be provided at all (the adaptor being entirely flat).

Claims

Claims1 . A pedestal assembly comprising: a pedestal base; a pedestal head vertically offset from the pedestal base along a pedestal axis in use; an adaptor for supporting one or more flooring members in use, the adaptor being slidably engaged with the pedestal head in an assembly direction normal to the pedestal axis such that in an assembled position, the adaptor and pedestal head are constrained together in the direction of the pedestal axis; an uplift prevention subassembly configured to retain one or more flooring members against the adaptor in use.

2. A pedestal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the uplift prevention subassembly is connected to the adaptor.

3. A pedestal assembly according to claim 2, wherein the adaptor and uplift prevention subassembly are attached via a threaded connection.

4. A pedestal assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: the adaptor defines an opening; the pedestal head comprises an opening; and, the uplift prevention subassembly engages the opening in the adaptor and enters the opening in the pedestal head.

5. A pedestal assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the uplift prevention subassembly comprises a bolt having a threaded shaft, a head, and a clamping plate receiving the bolt to clamp one or more flooring members in use.

6. A pedestal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the clamping plate is a washer.

7. A pedestal assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the adaptor comprises at least one upstanding abutment formation for abutting one or more flooring members in use.

8. A pedestal assembly according to claim 7, wherein the upstanding abutment is a tab unitary with the adaptor.

9. A pedestal assembly according to claim 8, wherein the upstanding abutments are deformed regions of the adaptor.

10. A pedestal assembly according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the upstanding abutments are configured to space apart one or more flooring members in use for attachment of the uplift prevention subassembly therebetween.1 1 . A pedestal assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the adaptor comprises at least one retention tab receiving part of the pedestal head.

12. A pedestal assembly according to claim 1 1 , wherein the at least one retention tab forms a C-shape with the adaptor to receive part of the pedestal head.

13. A pedestal assembly according to claim 1 1 or 1 2, wherein the adaptor comprises at least two retention tabs engaging the pedestal head.

14. A pedestal assembly according to claim 13, wherein the adaptor comprises a plurality of retention tabs with an opening between two of the tabs for receiving the pedestal head in the assembly direction.1 5. A pedestal assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the pedestal base and head are adjustable to alter the height of the pedestal along the pedestal axis.1 6. A flooring system comprising: a plurality of pedestals according to any preceding claim; a plurality of flooring members, each supported on the plurality of pedestals and restrained thereto by the uplift prevention subassemblies.

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