FLOOR LEVELING SYSTEM
A floor-leveling system is provided and includes such features as a corner pedestal, a cross-joint pedestal, a side-joint pedestal, an interior pedestal, an exterior frame support, an interior frame support, and drop-in pins that may be used and assembled together to construct a sufficient foundation to collectively support a temporary structure that is placed thereon. These various components may be quickly coupled together in assorted configurations to form the foundation that is sufficiently strong and rigid to suitably support the weight of the structure. Many of the components of the foundation can be adjusted to conform to uneven elevations of the ground surface upon which the foundation is to be placed. The ability of the foundation to be quickly assembled and adapted to uneven elevation significantly reduces the man-power and time required to assemble the foundation and erect the structure thereon.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application to Duane Armijo entitled “FLOOR LEVELING SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 61/352,944, filed Jun. 9, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to building components and more particularly to components of a floor-leveling system used to support building walls, floors, and ceilings placed thereon.
2. State of the Art
Every structure should be built upon a solid foundation—one that properly transfers the weight of the structure, including the weight of the floor, walls, and roof, to the ground surface upon which the foundation and the structure rest. Moreover, the weight of any structure must be distributed evenly over the foundation upon which the structure rests so that the weight of a particular part or section of the structure does not exceed the bearing capacity of the foundation. If the foundation is not solid, or if the weight of the structure exceeds the bearing capacity of the foundation, the foundation is likely to fail and the structure will collapse.
Given these considerations, the foundation should maintain solid contact with the ground surface upon which the foundation rests so as to provide a solid base for the support of the structure, and the foundation should retain the structure in a level configuration so as to evenly disperse the weight of the structure over the foundation. Ensuring that these considerations are met results in the structural integrity of the structure being maintained.
Oftentimes, to meet these considerations, the ground surface is first leveled or flattened to provide an optimal surface upon which to lay the foundation. Typically, heavy machinery and extensive man hours are required to adequately perform the task. Once complete, the foundation is laid upon the leveled surface.
Temporary, or non-permanent, structures are no different. Temporary structures, like permanent structures, must have a solid foundation upon which to sit to maintain structural integrity. However, with temporary structures it is usually not possible, not feasible, and not economically viable to level or flatten the ground surface upon which a temporary structure will be erected. For example, more often than not, heavy machinery is not available to flatten the ground surface at the location where the temporary structure is to be erected. Also, the time and effort it takes to level, flatten, and prepare the surface upon which the structure is to be constructed (and thereafter construct the structure) is not worth the need for the use of the structure itself. For instance, the time alone required to prepare the ground surface and erect the structure can be longer than the time that the structure will be used. Indeed, the need for the use of the temporary structure may be, in some cases, only a few hours. Additionally, those who utilize a temporary structure may wish to leave as small an ecological footprint as possible, which precludes the manipulation of the ground surface upon which the structure is to be erected.
Accordingly, there is a need for a floor leveling system that solves the aforementioned problems. Specifically, there is a need for a floor leveling system that can quickly and easily be assembled, and yet can make solid contact with an uneven ground surface to provide structural integrity to a non-permanent structure placed thereon.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to building components and more particularly to components of a floor-leveling system used to collectively support a structure placed thereon.
One aspect of the system of the present invention comprises a corner pedestal, a cross-joint pedestal, a side-joint pedestal, an interior pedestal, an exterior frame support, an interior frame support, and drop-in pins that may be used and assembled together to construct a sufficient foundation to collectively support a structure that is placed thereon. These various components may be quickly coupled together in assorted configurations to form the foundation that is sufficiently strong and rigid to suitably support the weight of the structure that is placed thereon. Moreover, many of the components of the foundation can be adjusted to conform to uneven elevations of the ground surface upon which the foundation is to be placed. The ability of the foundation to be quickly assembled and adapted to uneven elevation significantly reduces the man-power and time required to assemble the foundation and erect the structure thereon.
Another aspect of the present invention further comprises the structure of the pedestals. The pedestals may include a base portion that includes a support plate, a base plate, a base shaft, and a threaded rod. The support plate is larger in size than the base plate and may be used to contact the ground surface to support the weight of the system. In some cases, the support plate can be dispensed with and a base plate alone may contact the ground surface to support the weight of the system. Where the support plate is desired, the base plate may be coupled to the support plate on the top surface of the support plate. The base shaft is fixedly coupled to the base plate. The threaded rod having opposing thread patterns on each side of a center nut that is fixedly coupled to the center portion of the threaded rod may be threaded into the base shaft.
Another aspect of the present invention further comprises the pedestal portion of the pedestals. The pedestal portion may include a receiver plate, a pedestal shaft, a shield plate and a spacer plate. The pedestal shaft may be threaded onto the exposed side of the threaded rod. Once threaded, jamb nuts on either side of the center nut on the threaded rod may be used to secure the pedestal shaft and base shaft in position on the threaded rod. The jamb nuts are threaded toward the base shaft and the pedestal shaft until one jamb nut contacts the base shaft and the other jamb nut contacts the pedestal shaft to secure each shaft in position on the threaded rod. The receiver plate further comprises holes in an outer extremity portion thereof. The spacer plate is fixedly coupled to the receiver plate and extends substantially perpendicularly from the top surface of the receiver plate. The shield plate is fixedly coupled to the spacer plate behind the spacer plate, such that the shield plate does not contact the receiver plate.
Another aspect of the present invention comprises the various structural configurations of the receiver plate and the corresponding structure of the shield plate and spacer plate. Certain embodiments of the pedestal portion include the receiver plate having an L-shape along with the spacer plate and the shield plate. Other embodiments of the pedestal portion include the receiver plate having a T-shape, with the shield plate and the spacer plate being straight. Yet other embodiments of the pedestal portion include the receiver plate having a straight-shape, with the shield plate and the spacer plate being straight. Still other embodiments of the pedestal portion include the receiver plate having a straight-shape and the spacer plate or shield plate not being attached thereto.
Another aspect of the present invention comprises the frame supports, both exterior and interior. The interior frame supports are structured similarly to the exterior frame supports, except that when assembled, the interior frame supports are turned upside down. The exterior and interior frame supports are L-shaped and include a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The horizontal portion supports the weight of the structure to be placed thereon, and the vertical portion provides strength and rigidity to the horizontal portion and prevents the structure from sliding off of the horizontal portion. At the ends of the horizontal portion of each of the exterior and interior frame supports, a c-channel is fixedly coupled thereto. The c-channel is fixedly coupled to the exterior frame support on the underside of the horizontal portion, which is on the opposite side of the vertical portion. In contrast, the c-channel is fixedly coupled to the interior frame support on the topside of the horizontal portion, which is on the same side as the vertical portion. The c-channel defines an opening into which the receiver plate of each of the pedestals is inserted to couple each of the frame supports to each of the pedestals. Thus, when the exterior frame support is coupled to the pedestal by way of the c-channel being inserted onto the receiver plate, the c-channel is underneath the horizontal portion and thus does not interfere with the structure that is placed on the horizontal portion. As mentioned above, when the interior frame support is coupled to the pedestal by way of the c-channel, the interior frame support is turned upside down so that the vertical portion is directed downward. Likewise, with the c-channel being coupled to the topside of the horizontal portion of the interior frame support, when the interior frame support is turned upside down, the c-channel is positioned underneath the horizontal portion and thus neither the vertical portion nor the c-channel interferes with the structure that is placed on the horizontal portion.
Another aspect of the present invention further comprises holes in the frame supports and holes in the accompanying c-channels. The holes allow the drop-in pins to be inserted through the holes in the frame supports, down through the holes in the respective receiver plates, and out through the holes in the c-channel to hold the frame supports on the pedestals. The drop-in pins may be held in place by gravity.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to building components and more particularly to components of a floor-leveling system used to provide a sufficient foundation to support a structure thereon, the structure including, for example, a floor, a ceiling, and walls.
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The base plate 14 is structured to be sufficiently strong to support the weight of the system 100 and the structure 200 placed thereon without the assistance of the support plate 12. In fact, the base plate 14 can, in certain embodiments, be placed directly on the ground surface to support the system 100 and structure 200 placed thereon, without the assistance of the support plate 12. Certain ground surfaces may not provide substantial surface area for the relatively larger support plate 12 to be used effectively. In these cases, it is more convenient to place the relatively smaller base plate 14 directly on the ground surface. Moreover, in other cases, where the ground surface upon which the system 100 and structure 200 are to be placed is substantially firm enough, the base plate 14 can be placed directly on the ground surface and can support the weight of the system 100 and structure 200 without negative effects, such as the base plate 14 dipping or sinking into a soft ground surface.
The corner pedestal 10 further comprises the threaded rod 18, mentioned above, a center nut 20, and jamb nuts 22. The threaded rod 18 can have the center nut 20 fixedly coupled thereto, such as by welding or other permanent adhesion technique. The threaded rod 18 is threaded on both sides of the center nut 20 and the thread on either side of the center nut 20 is opposite to one another. For example, the threaded rod 18 may have left-hand thread on one side of the center nut 20 and right-hand thread on the opposing side, or vice versa. Jamb nuts 22 can be threaded onto the threaded rod 18, one on either side of the center nut 20 to assist in securing the corner pedestal 10 at a vertical elevation, to be described below.
The corner pedestal 10 further comprises a pedestal shaft 24, a receiver plate 26, a spacer plate 28, and a shield plate 30. The pedestal shaft 24 is similar to the base shaft 16 in that the pedestal shaft 24 is hollow and the axial direction of the pedestal shaft 24 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the receiver plate 28 under the condition that the pedestal shaft 24 is coupled to the receiver plate 28. The interior surface of the pedestal shaft 24 is configured to receive the thread of the threaded rod 18.
The receiver plate 26 of the corner pedestal 10 is structured in an L-shape to form a corner. Specifically, the receiver plate 26 is fixedly coupled, such as by welding or other permanent adhesive technique, to the pedestal shaft 24 such that the two “legs” of the “L” extend substantially perpendicularly from the axis of the pedestal shaft 24 in two directions, the directions being substantially at right angles to one another to form the L-shape. The receiver plate 26 of the corner pedestal 10 is structured to receive the exterior frame supports 70. The length of each of the two “legs” of the receiver plate 26 is substantially the same. Holes 32 are placed in the top surface of the receiver plate 26 toward the ends of the “legs”. The holes 32 are generally circular in shape and run entirely through the receiver plate 26, such that drop-in pins 92, shown in
Spacer plate 28 is also L-shaped to form a corner. The spacer plate 28 is fixedly coupled, such as by welding or other permanent adhesion technique, to the receiver plate 26, the corner of the spacer plate 28 being positioned proximate the corner of the receiver plate 26. A portion of the spacer plate 28 is fixedly coupled to the outside edge of the receiver plate 26 and the remaining portion of the spacer plate 28 extends vertically, relative to the horizontal top surface of the receiver plate 26, such that the top surface of the receiver plate 26 and the remaining portion of the spacer plate 28 are substantially perpendicular to one another. The “legs” of the spacer plate 28 run along the outside edge of the receiver plate 26 and the length of the “legs” of the spacer plate 28 is less than the length of the “legs” of the receiver plate 26.
Shield plate 30 is also L-shaped to form a corner. Shield plate 30 is fixedly coupled, such as by welding or other permanent adhesion technique, to the spacer plate 28, the corner of the shield plate 30 being positioned proximate the corner of the receiver plate 26 and the spacer plate 28. The width of the spacer plate 28 and the shield plate 30 are substantially the same, such that the vertical height of the spacer plate 28 and the shield plate 30 are the same. Shield plate 30 also extends vertically relative to the horizontal top surface of the receiver plate 26. The length of the “legs” of the shield plate 30 is larger than the length of the “legs” of the spacer plate 28, such that the outer ends of the “legs” of the shield plate 30 extend beyond the spacer plate 28 to create end portions 34. End portions 34 do not contact the receiver plate 26 and are spaced apart from the outside edge of the receiver plate 26 by the depth of the spacer plate 28, thus creating, or defining, a gap 36 between the outer edge of the receiver plate 26 and the inside surface of the shield plate 30. The purpose of the gap 36 will be described in further detail below.
As described above, the pedestal shaft 24 is configured to receive the thread of the threaded rod 18. When the pedestal shaft 24 is threaded onto one side of the threaded rod 18 and the base shaft 16 is threaded onto the remaining side of the threaded rod 18, the corner pedestal 10 can be set in its desired position within the system 100 and can be set for elevation. The elevation of the corner pedestal 10, or more particularly, the elevation of the receiver plate 26 of the corner pedestal 10 with respect to the ground surface, can be adjusted, as needed, by adjusting how much of the threaded rod 18 is threaded into either the base shaft 16 or the pedestal shaft 24. Indeed, the amount of thread of the threaded rod 18 that is threaded into the pedestal shaft 24 and the base shaft 16 can be independently adjusted to change the height of the receiver plate 26 relative to the ground surface. Once the desired elevation is obtained by adjusting the threaded rod 18, the jamb nuts 20 on either side of the center nut 20 can be tightened against the pedestal shaft 24 and the base shaft 16, respectively, to lock the threaded rod 18 in position and thus lock the corner pedestal 10 at its desired elevation.
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The interior frame supports 90 are similar in structure to the exterior frame supports 70, except that the c-channel 82 is coupled to the interior frame supports 90 on the topside of the horizontal portion 72. Then, when the interior frame support 90 is to be mounted to one of the cross-joint pedestal 40 and the interior pedestal 60, the interior frame support 90 is flipped upside down, such that the vertical portion 74 is pointed generally downward and the c-channel is positioned below the horizontal portion 72, as shown in
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Although the coupling of the exterior frame supports 70 to the corner pedestal 10 has been described in detail above, the exterior frame supports 70 may be coupled to each of the cross-joint pedestal 40, the side-pedestal 50, and the interior pedestal 60 in a similar manner. Specifically, the exterior frame supports 70 may slide onto the receiver plate 26 of each of the pedestals 40, 50 and 60, by the c-channel 82 being placed onto the receiver plate 26 of each of the respective pedestals 40, 50 and 60. Moreover, the edge of the c-channel 82 may also slide into the gap 36 on each of the cross-joint pedestal 40 and the side-pedestal 50, if needed, as described above in relation to the exterior frame supports 70 and the corner pedestal 10. Furthermore, the interior frame supports 90 can slide onto and couple to each of the cross-joint pedestal 40 and the interior pedestal 60 in a similar manner to that of the exterior frame supports 70.
To further secure the exterior frame supports 70 and the interior frame supports 90 to any of the pedestals 10, 40, 50 and 60, drop-in pins 92 can be utilized. For example, as the receiver plate 26 is slid into the opening 84 in the c-channel 82, the pin holes 86 in the exterior frame support 70 match up with and overlap holes 32 in the receiver plate 26. When the pin hole 86 in the exterior frame supports 70 overlaps the hole 32, the drop-in pin 92 can be inserted through both the pin hole 86 and the hole 32 to keep the exterior frame support 70 in position on any of the pedestals 10, 40, 50 and 60. Pin holes 86 are also provided in the interior frame supports 90 and in the c-channels 82 attached thereto. Thus, when the pin hole 86 in the interior frame supports 90 overlaps the hole 32, the drop-in pin 92 can be inserted through both the pin hole 86 and the hole 32 to keep the interior frame support 90 in position on any of the pedestals 40 and 60.
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As described above, each of the pedestals 10, 40, 50 and 60 comprises the threaded rod 18, the center nut 20 and the jamb nuts 22. Accordingly, any of the pedestals 10, 40, 50 and 60 can be adjusted for elevation by adjusting how much the threaded rod 18 is threaded into either the base shaft 16 or the pedestal shaft 24. In this way, the elevation of the receiver plate 26 on any of the respective pedestals 10, 40, 50 and 60 can be adjusted for height with respect to the ground surface. As a result, each pedestal 10, 40, 50 or 60 that is used to construct a certain desired configuration of the system 100 can be separately and independently adjusted for elevation to account for the uneven ground surface upon which the system 100 is placed to place the system 100 in a level orientation prior to the structure 200 being placed thereon. Moreover, after the system 100 has been leveled and the structure 200 has been placed thereon, settling may occur. To account for settling, each of the pedestals 10, 40, 50 and 60 may be separately and independently adjusted to raise the level of the respective pedestals 10, 40, 50 and 60 to return the system 100 and the structure 200 thereon to a level orientation.
In an alternative embodiment of the pedestal configuration described above, as shown in
The platform unit 44 is closed at its top by the receiver plate 26 that is fixedly coupled to the top of the hollow box 43 to form the top portion of the platform unit 44. And, the tube 124 extends from the bottom of the hollow box 43. The tube 124 aligns with the opening (not shown) in the bottom of the hollow box 43, such that a shaft 118 can be placed inside the platform unit 44, including through the tube 124 and the opening (not shown) in the bottom of the hollow box 43, and the shaft 118 can slide freely within the platform unit 44, including the tube 124 and the hollow box 43, without engaging either the tube 124 or the hollow box 43.
A riser mechanism 120 may be coupled to the shaft 118. The riser 120 engages the shaft 118 and is configured to travel up and down the shaft 118 as desired by the user. The riser 120 may engage the shaft 118 by friction, the riser 120 being clamped about the shaft 118 at a location on the shaft 118 chosen by the user. Alternatively, the shaft 118 can be a threaded rod. As a threaded rod, the shaft 118 allows the riser 120 to be a threaded nut. The riser 120, as a threaded nut on a threaded rod, can rotate about the shaft 118 in a continuous interval, instead of at discreet intervals or incremental steps. Indeed, the center nut riser 120 can travel along most of the length of the threaded shaft 118. Under the condition that the platform unit 44 is placed over the shaft 118, the center nut riser 120 engages the platform unit 44 at the bottom end of the tube 124. As the center nut riser 120 is rotated about the shaft 118, the center nut riser 120 rises or lowers, as the case may be, and displaces the platform unit 44 accordingly. In other words, as the center nut riser 120 moves up or down the shaft 118, by rotation about the shaft 118, the platform unit 44 is likewise moved up or down, respectively.
Handle-bar arms 21 extend from the riser 120 to assist in rotating the riser 120 about the shaft 118. The arms 21 are fixedly coupled to the riser 120 at opposing sides of the riser 120 to provide the user better grip to produce more torque on the riser 120 to get the riser 120 to rotate when a heavy load is placed on the receiver plate 26, which creates rotational frictional resistance between the engagement of the tube 124 and the riser 120.
As mentioned above, the receiver plate 26 is the top portion of the platform unit 44. As the riser 120 is adjusted along the length of the shaft 118, the riser 120 engages the platform unit 44 and adjusts the height of the platform unit 44, and thus the receiver plate 26, above the base 14. Due to the fact that the base 14 rests on the surface on which the system 100 is being erected, adjusting the position of the riser 120 along the length of the shaft 118 adjusts the distance between the receiver plate 26 and the base plate 14, or in other words the distance between the receiver plate 26 and the ground surface.
As described above, the support plate 12 may be coupled to the base plate 14. In an embodiment, the support plate 12 is releasably slidably coupled to the base plate 14, so that the base plate 14 can be easily engaged or released from engagement, as desired by the user, by sliding the base plate 14 out of engagement with the support plate 12. As shown in
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Once the exterior frame supports 170 are coupled to the corner pedestal 10 at the receiver plate 26, the riser 120 of the pedestal 10 can be operated to adjust the height of the receiver plate 26 and consequently the height of the frame supports 170 coupled thereto. In this way, the frame supports 170 can be adjusted to rest in a level plane above the surface to thereby support the flooring that has been placed on the frame supports 170 in the same level plane above the surface. Additionally, once the interior frame supports 190 are coupled to the interior pedestal 60 at the receiver plate 26, as will be discussed below, the riser 120 of the pedestal 60 can be operated to adjust the height of the receiver plate 26 and consequently the height of the frame supports 190 coupled thereto. In this way, the frame supports 190 can be adjusted to rest in a level plane above the surface to thereby support the flooring that has been placed on the frame supports 190 in the same level plane above the surface.
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The second riser 120 engages the second shaft 218 and is configured to travel up and down the shaft 218 as desired by the user. The riser 220 may engage the shaft 218 by friction. For example, the riser 220 can be clamped about the shaft 218 at a location (i.e., height) on the shaft 218 chosen by the user. As shown in
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A method of using the system 100 will hereinafter be described. To assemble the system 100, a user may plan a configuration of a building or structure to be erected, and determine what footprint the building will have. For example, the desired configuration may be a square. Or, in other embodiments, the desired configuration may be a rectangle. In yet other embodiments, the configuration may be a collection of squares and rectangles pieced together. Indeed, the desired configuration of the system 100 may require any number of the pedestals to be used, or, on the other hand, may require a number of certain types of the pedestals to be used, but none of the remaining types of pedestals. Moreover, smaller configurations of the system 100 may only require that the exterior frame supports be used and not the interior frame supports. Needless to say, the system 100 is adaptable to any desired configuration incorporating a collection of squares and rectangles, because the collection, and interchangeability, of the pedestals and frame supports allow freedom of choice to the user. Based on the footprint of the building or structure to be erected, a user can then determine which portions of the system 100 are needed to construct the particular footprint.
After selecting the desired configuration, or footprint, the user may assess the configuration and assign the required pedestal to each intersection of the frame supports that will be utilized to construct the desired configuration. The user may then lay out a desired configuration for the system 100 on which the structure will be placed. Thereafter, the support plate, the base plate, or both, of each respective pedestal may be laid out on the ground surface at the intersections of the exterior frame supports and the interior frame supports. The shaft may then be coupled to each of the base shafts. The appropriate receiver plate configuration can then be coupled to the shaft. Alternatively, the pedestals may be pre-assembled prior to being set out and used by the user. Thus, after setting out the pre-assembled components or after assembling the individual components on sight, the user may then adjust the height of each of the individual pedestals.
Alternatively, the user can engage the frame supports with the respective pedestals by placing frame supports onto the respective receiver plates. After the frame supports are engaged with the respective receiver plates, the drop-in pins can be inserted into each of the through holes in the respective receiver plates and frame supports to further secure the frame supports to each of the respective pedestals. After securing the frame supports with the drop-in pins in this manner, the system 100 can be adjusted for elevation. Specifically, each of the pedestals that are used to construct the system 100 can be separately and individually adjusted for height to ensure that each of the frame supports is in a level plane with respect to each of the other frame supports. This ensures that the entire system 100 is level. Once level, or once the desired elevation has been set, a flooring structure can be placed on the system 100. Thereafter, each pedestal of the system 100 can be adjusted for height to ensure that each of the frame supports is in the level plane with respect to the other frame supports. Then, after leveling the system with the floor thereon, the structure 200, including floors and building, may be assembled on the system 100. Thereafter, each pedestal of the system 100 can be adjusted for height to ensure that each of the frame supports is still in the level plane with respect to the other frame supports. After the weight of the floor and/or the weight of the building is placed on the system 100, or even from the passage of time, the ground surface on which the system 100 is placed, may settle and shift. Thus, it is necessary to be able to adjust the plane of the system 100 at any time before, during, or after placement of the structure 200 on the system. In this way, the system 100 ensures that the building 200 remains on a level plain despite the uneven ground surface on which the system rests. The system 100 may be disassembled by reversing one or more of the steps described above.
The step of adjusting any of the pedestals further comprises and hereby incorporates any of the steps described above that relate to the intended operation of the structural aspects of the pedestals, including, but not limited to, adjusting the shaft or the riser to engage the platform unit to thus raise or lower the receiver plate that has the frame supports coupled thereto.
Due to the ease of assembly and the adaptability to uneven surfaces, the system 100 of the present invention allows the user to quickly provide temporary structures where needed and only for the duration of the need without requiring substantial preparation of the ground surface that oftentimes results in permanent damage to the environment after the temporary structure has been disassembled and moved.
The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A pedestal of a floor leveling system, comprising:
- a base having a top face and a bottom face, the bottom face adapted to engage a surface on which the system rests;
- a shaft having opposing ends, one of the ends being coupled to the base such that the shaft extends orthogonally from the base;
- a platform unit having a receiver plate on a top portion thereof; and
- a riser mechanism functionally engaged with the shaft, the riser mechanism being configured to support the platform unit thereon and to transition along the shaft,
- wherein a height of the receiver plate above the surface is adjustable within a predetermined range by moving the riser mechanism along the length of the shaft.
2. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 1, the platform unit further comprising:
- the receiver plate having a top face and a bottom face;
- a hollow box defining a cavity therein, the box being coupled to the bottom face of the receiver plate, the hollow box having an opening in a bottom surface thereof; and
- a tube having a top end and a bottom end, the top end being coupled to the bottom surface of the box and the tube extending below the box, the tube aligning with the opening in the box, and
- wherein the tube and the opening in the hollow box fit onto the shaft so that under the condition that the riser mechanism raises and lowers the platform unit the riser mechanism engages the bottom end of the tube and the shaft slides freely within the tube and the opening.
3. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 1, wherein the shaft is a threaded rod and the riser mechanism is a bolt that threads onto the rod and transitions along the length of the rod in a continuous interval within the predetermined range in response to being rotated about the rod.
4. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a support plate that releasably couples to the bottom face of the base plate to support the pedestal, the support plate being larger in size than the base plate and residing between the base plate and the surface on which the system rests.
5. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 3, further comprising:
- a handle bar coupled to the bolt that extends outwardly from the bolt to assist in the rotation of the bolt about the threaded rod.
6. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a support wall protruding from the receiver plate,
- wherein the receiver plate has a square-shaped top surface that has through holes positioned in opposing corners thereof, and
- wherein the support wall protrudes from the receiver plate proximate a corner not occupied by one of the through holes.
7. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 1, wherein the receiver plate has a rectangular-shaped top surface that has through holes positioned in each of neighboring corners of a length of the rectangle and another through hole positioned proximate the midpoint of the opposing length of the rectangle.
8. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 1, wherein the receiver plate has a rectangular-shaped top surface that has through holes positioned proximate the midpoint of opposing widths of the rectangle.
9. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second shaft having opposing ends, one of the ends being coupled to the base such that the second shaft extends orthogonally from the base;
- a platform unit having a box-shaped receptacle on a top portion thereof, the receptacle having an open top; and
- a riser mechanism functionally engaged with the second shaft, the riser mechanism being configured to support the box-shaped receptacle thereon and to transition along the second shaft,
- wherein a height of the box-shaped receptacle above the surface is adjustable within a predetermined range by moving the riser mechanism along the length of the second shaft.
10. A pedestal of a floor leveling system, comprising:
- a base plate adapted to engage a surface on which the system rests;
- a base plate tube coupled to a top portion of the base plate and extending orthogonally from the base plate,
- a receiver plate;
- a receiver plate tube coupled to an underside portion of the receiver plate and extending orthogonally from the receiver plate; and
- a shaft having opposing ends, the shaft being configured to engage the base plate tube at one of the opposing ends and to engage the receiver plate tube at the other of the opposing ends to support the receiver plate at an adjustable distance above the surface,
- wherein the distance is adjustable within a predetermined range by adjusting the engagement between the shaft and one or both of the base plate tube and the receiver plate tube.
11. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 10, wherein the shaft is threaded and has fixedly attached thereto a turning mechanism, and wherein each of the receiver plate tube and the base plate tube is internally threaded to engage the threads of the shaft, so that by rotating the turning mechanism the engagement between the shaft and one or both of the receiver plate tube and the base plate tube is adjusted, wherein threading the shaft into one or both of the receiver plate tube and the base plate tube decreases the exposed length of the threaded shaft to thus decrease the distance between the receiver plate and the surface, and wherein threading the shaft out of one or both of the receiver plate tube and the base plate tube increases the exposed length of the threaded shaft to increase the distance between the receiver plate and the surface.
12. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 11, further comprising:
- locking mechanisms on the threaded shaft on each side of the turning mechanism,
- wherein one of the locking mechanisms is positioned against the base plate tube and the other of the locking mechanisms is positioned against the receiver plate tube to lock the engagement between the threaded shaft and each of the base plate tube and the receiver plate tube.
13. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 10, further comprising:
- a support plate that couples to the underside portion of the base plate and supports the pedestal thereon, the support plate resting on the surface between the surface and the base plate.
14. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 10, further comprising:
- a spacer plate coupled to a length of the receiver plate, the spacer plate extending orthogonally from a top surface of the receiver plate; and
- a shield plate coupled to the spacer plate, such that the spacer plate is positioned between the receiver plate and the shield plate, the spacer plate creating a gap between the receiver plate and the shield plate.
15. The pedestal of a floor leveling system of claim 10, wherein the receiver plate of the pedestal is shaped in one of an L-shaped pattern, a T-shaped pattern, or a straight pattern.
16. A floor leveling system, comprising:
- a plurality of frame beams that support a floor thereon; and
- a plurality of pedestals, each pedestal comprising: a base having a top face and a bottom face, the bottom face adapted to engage a surface on which the system rests; a shaft having opposing ends, one of the ends being coupled to the base such that the shaft extends orthogonally from the base; a platform unit having a receiver plate on a top portion thereof; and a riser mechanism functionally engaged with the shaft, the riser mechanism being configured to support the platform unit thereon and to transition along the shaft, wherein a height of the receiver plate above the surface is adjustable within a predetermined range by moving the riser mechanism along the length of the shaft, and
- wherein the receiver plates of the pedestals are coupled to the frame beams and support the frame beams at a distance above the surface, each of the pedestals being independently adjustable to a desired height within a predetermined range to place the floor in a level plane above the surface.
17. A method of using a floor leveling system, the method comprising:
- setting out the pedestals on a surface on which system rests;
- setting out the frame beams between the pedestals;
- coupling the frame beams to the pedestals;
- adjusting the height of the pedestals to level the frame beams;
- placing a floor on the level frame beams, wherein the floor is supported in a level plane above the surface; and
- erecting a structure on the level floor above the surface.
18. The method of using a floor leveling system of claim 17, further comprising:
- generating a building footprint;
- determining the system components needed to create the footprint;
- setting out the system components on a surface on which the system will be placed according to the respective position of each component within the footprint; and
- assembling the individual system components prior to assembling the individual components to one another.
19. The method of using a floor leveling system of claim 17, further comprising:
- adjusting the height of the individual pedestals according to one or more of the following: prior to coupling the frame beams to the individual pedestals; after coupling the frame beams to the individual pedestals to place the frame beams in a level plane above the surface; after the floor has been placed on the frame beams to place the floor in a level plane; or after a structure has been placed on the floor and the surface has settled.
20. The method of using a floor leveling system of claim 17, wherein adjusting the height of the pedestals further comprises adjusting a riser mechanism coupled to a shaft having opposing ends, one of the ends being coupled to a base resting on the surface such that the shaft extends orthogonally from the base, and the other of the ends functionally engaging a platform unit, the platform unit having a receiver plate coupled to a top portion thereof, the riser mechanism being configured to support the platform unit thereon and transition along the shaft to raise or lower the receiver plate as the riser mechanism moves along the shaft supporting the platform unit.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 8, 2011
Publication Date: Dec 15, 2011
Applicant: SUSTAINABLE BUILDING INNOVATIONS, INC. (Manasquan, NJ)
Inventor: Duane Armijo (Scottsdale, AZ)
Application Number: 13/156,249
International Classification: E04B 5/43 (20060101); E04F 15/024 (20060101);