Support Plate System for Elevated Flooring Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevated flooring systems face challenges in providing a stable and durable surface, particularly in outdoor applications, where drainage and prevention of surface tile deterioration are essential, and existing support pedestals may not adequately secure tiles against dropping or falling due to fracture or cracking.

Innovation Solution

The system employs support pedestals with adjustable heights and support plates that have locating structures to securely position surface tiles, using adhesives to bond the tiles to the plates, and attachment systems to secure the plates to the pedestals, ensuring stability and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If support pedestals are used to elevate surface tiles, then drainage and prevention of tile deterioration are improved, but tiles may drop or fall due to fracture or cracking of the pedestals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetile stabilityVSAvoidtile dropping

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A support plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the support pedestal and the surface tile. The support plate receives the tile and provides additional support, preventing the tile from dropping even if the pedestal fractures or cracks. This intermediary structure distributes the load and eliminates the direct dependency of the tile on the pedestal's structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate acts as a preventive measure by being installed beforehand on the pedestal. It cushions against the potential harmful effect of pedestal failure by providing a backup support surface that prevents tile dropping before such an event occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable height pedestals are used to accommodate surface variations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of surface variationsVSAvoidpedestal structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support pedestal is divided into separate segments: an adjustable height mechanism and a support plate. This segmentation allows the complexity to be isolated to the adjustment mechanism while the support plate remains a simple, separate component that facilitates easy installation and tile positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If locating structures are added to support plates to secure tiles, then tile positioning stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetile positioning accuracyVSAvoidsupport plate fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Locating structures such as protrusions or ridges are pre-formed on the support plate during manufacturing. These structures preliminarily position the tile in the correct orientation and location, guiding the installer and ensuring precise tile placement without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9951529B2Support plate system for elevated flooring tiles

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 UNITED CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

An elevated flooring surface assembly including surface tiles disposed on respective support plates, the corners of which in turn rest on support pedestals disposed upon a fixed surface with a predetermined spacing therebetween to provide for increased degrees of support of the surface tiles above the fixed surface.