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US 9,151,063 B2Granted
Tile and support structure
AssigneeMbrico, LLC
InventorMark A. McManus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An illustrative embodiment of a tile and support structure may include a plurality of tiles, which may be generally rectangular in shape, engaged with one or more support structures. The tile may be formed with four edges, wherein two opposing edges may be formed with grooves therein and the other two opposing edges may be formed with protrusions thereon. The support structure may be formed with a generally vertical spine having two rails extending outward from a distal end thereof. The support structure may also include two generally horizontally extending flanges, which may be formed with a trough therein. The trough may include a plurality of apertures formed therein. One side of the trough may be defined by a lip.
Claims20
A tile and support structure comprising:
- a. a rectangular tile having a height, a width, and a thickness, said rectangular tile comprising:
- i. a first rectangular face, wherein said first rectangular face is configured to be generally facing upward during use;
- ii. a second rectangular face, wherein said second rectangular face is opposite said first rectangular face, wherein said first and second rectangular faces are separated by said thickness of said rectangular tile, and wherein a surface area of said first and second rectangular faces is defined by said height and said width of said rectangular tile;
- iii. a first, second, third, and fourth edge defining a periphery of said rectangular tile;
- iv. a groove formed in one of said first, second, third, or fourth edges;
- b. a support structure comprising:
- i. a base having a first flange and a second flange extending horizontally, wherein said first and second flanges are opposed to one another, wherein said first and second flanges are each formed with a trough therein extending along an entire length of said base, wherein said first and second flanges have a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface from a first end of said first and second flanges to each said trough, wherein each said trough in said first and second flanges is formed with an inner and an outer angled wall sloping downward to a bottom surface of said trough, wherein each said trough has a plurality of apertures formed therein along a length of each said trough, wherein a distal end of each said trough terminates at a lip having a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface, wherein said flat top surface of said lip is collinear with said flat top surface of both said first and second flanges, and wherein said first and second flanges are symmetrical with respect to one another about a vertical plane bisecting said base;
- ii. a spine engaged with said base, wherein said spine extends upward from a center of said base, and wherein said spine is generally perpendicular with respect to said base;
- iii. a tip engaged with said base, wherein said tip extends downward from said center of said base, wherein said tip is generally perpendicular with respect to said base, wherein a distal surface of said tip is generally flat, and wherein said distal surface of said base is collinear with said flat bottom surface of each said lip,
- iv. a first rail extending from a terminal end of said spine, wherein said first rail is generally perpendicular with respect to said spine;
- v. a second rail extending from said terminal end of said spine, wherein said second rail is generally perpendicular with respect to said spine, wherein said support structure is generally symmetrical about a plane perpendicularly oriented with respect to said first and second rails and bisecting said spine, and wherein said first and second rails are configured to engage at least one said groove so as to secure a position of said rectangular tile with respect to said support structure in a direction parallel with respect to said thickness of said rectangular tile and simultaneously allow said rectangular tile to move with respect to said support structure in a direction parallel to said length of said rectangular tile.
8 more elements
A method of building a deck, said method comprising:
- a. positioning a first joist in a first direction;
- b. positioning a second joist in said first direction, wherein said first and second joists are parallel with respect to one another and separated from one another by a first distance;
- c. securing a first support structure to said first and second joists, wherein a length of said first support structure is perpendicular to said first and second joists, and wherein said first support structure comprises:
- i. a base having a first flange and a second flange extending horizontally, wherein said first and second flanges are opposed to one another, wherein said first and second flanges are each formed with a trough therein extending along an entire length of said base, wherein said first and second flanges have a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface from a first end of said first and second flanges to each said trough, wherein each said trough in said first and second flanges is formed with an inner and an outer angled wall sloping downward to a bottom surface of said trough, and wherein each said trough has a plurality of apertures formed therein along a length of each said trough;
- ii. a spine engaged with said base, wherein said spine extends upward from a center of said base, and wherein said spine is generally perpendicular with respect to said base;
- iii. a first rail extending from a terminal end of said spine, wherein said first rail is generally perpendicular with respect to said spine;
- iv. a second rail extending from said terminal end of said spine, wherein said second rail is generally perpendicular with respect to said spine, and wherein said support structure is generally symmetrical about a plane perpendicularly oriented with respect to said first and second rails and bisecting said spine;
- d. securing a second support structure to said first and second joists, wherein a length of said second support structure is perpendicular to said first and second joists, and wherein said second support structure comprises:
- i. a base having a first flange and a second flange extending horizontally, wherein said first and second flanges are opposed to one another, wherein said first and second flanges are each formed with a trough therein, wherein said first and second flanges have a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface from a first end of said first and second flanges to each said trough, wherein each said trough in said first and second flanges is formed with an inner and an outer angled wall sloping downward to a bottom surface of said trough, and wherein each said trough has a plurality of apertures formed therein along a length of each said trough;
- ii. a spine engaged with said base, wherein said spine extends upward from a center of said base, and wherein said spine is generally perpendicular with respect to said base;
- iii. a first rail extending from a terminal end of said spine, wherein said first rail is generally perpendicular with respect to said spine;
- iv. a second rail extending from said terminal end of said spine, wherein said second rail is generally perpendicular with respect to said spine, and wherein said support structure is generally symmetrical about a plane perpendicularly oriented with respect to said first and second rails and bisecting said spine;
- e. sliding a first rectangular tile between said first and second support structures, wherein said first rectangular tile has a height, a width, and a thickness, said first rectangular tile comprising:
- i. a first rectangular face, wherein said first rectangular face is configured to be generally facing upward during use;
- ii. a second rectangular face, wherein said second rectangular face is opposite said first rectangular face, wherein said first and second rectangular faces are separated by said thickness of said first rectangular tile, and wherein a surface area of said first and second rectangular faces is defined by said height and said width of said first rectangular tile;
- iii. a first, second, third, and fourth edge defining a periphery of said first rectangular tile;
- iv. a first groove formed in said first edge;
- v. a second groove formed said third edge, wherein said first and third edges are parallel to one another;
- f. securing a position of said first rectangular tile with respect to said first and second support structures in a generally horizontal direction parallel with respect to said first and second joists via an engagement of said first and second rails with said first and second grooves in said first rectangular tile;
- and,
- g. securing a position of said first rectangular tile with respect to said first and second support structures in a generally vertical direction perpendicular with respect to said first and second joists via an engagement of said first and second rails with said first and second grooves in said first rectangular tile.
18 more elements
A support structure comprising:
- a. a base having a first flange and a second flange extending horizontally, wherein said first and second flanges are opposed to one another, wherein said first and second flanges are each formed with a trough therein extending along an entire length of said base, wherein said first and second flanges have a flat top surface and a flat bottom surface from a first end of said first and second flanges to each said trough, wherein each said trough in said first and second flanges is formed with an inner and an outer angled wall sloping downward to a bottom surface of said trough, and wherein each said trough has a plurality of apertures formed therein along a length of each said trough;
- b. a spine engaged with said base, wherein said spine extends upward from a center of said base, and wherein said spine is generally perpendicular with respect to said base;
- c. a first rail extending from a terminal end of said spine, wherein said first rail is generally perpendicular with respect to said spine;
- d. a second rail extending from said terminal end of said spine, wherein said second rail is generally perpendicular with respect to said spine, and wherein said support structure is generally symmetrical about a plane perpendicularly oriented with respect to said first and second rails and bisecting said spine, and
- e. a tip engaged with said base, wherein said tip extends downward from said center of said base, wherein said tip is generally perpendicular with respect to said base, wherein a distal surface of said tip is generally flat, and wherein said distal surface of said base is collinear with said flat bottom surface of each said lip.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.