Patent ID: 12209418

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reinforced Pedestal (A)

At first instance, the present invention has for purpose a reinforced pedestal (A) to support raised surfaces or overlying on fixed surfaces; where the gap that remains between the raised or overlying surface and the fixed surface, ducts, conduits, cables, pipes, hoses, etc., are housed for services or other purposes. Raised or overlapping surfaces can be what are commonly called: “false floors”, “false walls”, “false ceilings”, to name a few examples.

According toFIGS.1to8, said reinforced pedestal (A), according to the present invention, comprises: an internal part (1), where one of its embodiments is made up of a truncated conical tubular body (2), which in turn comprises externally and longitudinally, at least one rib (3), to have a greater weight resistance; optionally, at its narrow or upper end, it is provided with a perforated cavity (4), where a fastening element (5) can be housed to fasten a screw (6); and at its wide or lower end, it is fixed to a base (7), which in turn may optionally comprise at least one perforation (8) for when it is desired to fix the pedestal (A) on a fixed surface; where the fixing instrument can be any that is compatible with the perforation (8), such as glues, cements, adhesives, screws, tacks, nails, etc. (not illustrated).

With the truncated conical shape of the internal part (1) it is possible to obtain a resistance to weight; and by adding the external ribs (3) it is possible to further increase the resistance to weight of said internal part (1).

Said improved pedestal (A) also comprises an external tubular part (9) that houses the internal part (1); where one of the embodiments of the external tubular part (9) is made up of a truncated conical tubular body (10) opened at both ends, in whose center has a longitudinally truncated conical space to house the truncated conical body (2) of the internal part (1), seeFIG.8; said truncated conical space is delimited by: at least two internal radial walls (11) originated diametrically opposite of each other from the internal wall of the tubular body (10) and are thrown towards the central longitudinal axis of said tubular body (10), so that the width of the internal radial walls (11) is such that leaves a gap with the shape and dimensions sufficient for the truncated tubular body (2) to be completely housed; and the truncated conical space is also delimited by a ring (12) supported by the free edges of the internal radial walls (11) located towards the center of the narrow or upper end of the truncated conical body (10), but optionally, at a position such that it leaves a sufficient upper space where a guide crosshead (13) can be inserted when a surface (14) is placed, seeFIGS.14and15. In the lower part of said ring (12) there is also a perforated cavity (4′) equal to the cavity (4) of the narrow end of the tubular body (2), both cavities (4and4′) form an enclosure to house a nut (5) or some other means of fastening screws (6), seeFIG.8.

In the external walls of the truncated conical tubular body (10) of the external tubular part (9), there are at least two longitudinal groves provided (15) diametrically opposite each other, which are thrown towards the interior of the tubular body (10). going longitudinally along the inner wall of said tubular body (10); such longitudinal grooves (15) serve as reinforcements to give more weight resistance to the external walls of the tubular body (10), because as the height of the walls of the tubular body (10) increases, the resistance decreases.

Furthermore, in order to internally secure said base (7) to the external walls of the tubular body (10), on the internal lower edge of the external walls, some edges (16) are strategically provided that are thrown towards the interior of the tubular body (10), in such manner that the base (7) is perpendicular in relation to the external walls, fixed by said edges (16), and thus the entire internal tubular part (1) is also firm inside the tubular part (9), seeFIG.7, where it can be seen that this base (7) serves as a cover for the wide or lower opening of the external tubular part (9).

Just as the internal part (1), the external tubular part (9), by having a truncated conical shape, acquires a level of resistance to weight and when the grooves (15) are added, the resistance to weight increases.

The way to integrate the improved pedestal (A), to support raised or overlying surfaces, according to the present invention, is to insert the truncated conical tubular body (2), of the internal part (1), through the lower part of the external tubular part (9), being housed in the truncated conical space of said external tubular part (9), and pressing the base (7) of said internal part (1) until the edges (16) trap the base (7), seeFIGS.6,7, and8. It should be noted that when the truncated conical tubular body (2) includes the perforated cavity (4), this remains connected to the lower cavity (4′) and aligned with the perforation of the ring (12), in case it is desired to insert a screw (6) with its respective fastening means (5) such as a washer, for example, as illustrated inFIG.17.

In this manner we obtain a pedestal or reinforced support (A) to support and/or hold elevated or overlying surfaces on a fixed surface, which can support a weight of 5 to 10 tons/m2, thanks to the truncated conical shapes and added reinforcements the components.

Grid Structure

One more instrument of the present invention is a grid structure to support overlying surfaces on a fixed surface, where said grid structure comprises:i) at least two reinforced pedestals (A), such as the pedestals described above, which are placed apart and parallel to each other, at a sufficient distance to support an overlapping surface (14); andii) at least two guide crossheads (13) useful to guide the placement of the pieces (14) that are going to shape the overlying surface on a fixed surface, where said guide crossheads (13) have a pivot (13′) to be inserted into the upper space of the ring (12), passing through its lower cavity (4′) to the perforated cavity (4) of the piece (1).

One modality of the grid structure of the present invention is that it also comprises at least one connector that joins in a linear plane the external reinforced tubular part (9) of a reinforced pedestal (A) with the internal reinforced part (1) of another reinforced pedestal (A). Said connector can be a longitudinal connector (17), where one of its ends is attached to a horizontal projection (22) of the base (7) of the internal part (1) and the other end is attached to the lower edge of the side that does not have an inlet (23) on the external wall of the tubular body (10). Another modality is when the connector is a first transverse connector (24) that joins the two internal parts (1) of two contiguous reinforced pedestals (A), by means of second linear edges (25) located on the sides adjacent to the sides where the first linear edges (22) of the base (7) are. The connector can also be a second transverse connector (26) that joins the two external pieces (9) of two contiguous reinforced pedestals (A), by means of their lower edges of their sides that do not have inlets (23).

Another modality of the structure according to this invention is when it also comprises at least one detachment mechanism (18) to easily separate the pieces (1and9) of the connector that joins them; where the detachment mechanism (18) is preferred to be placed at the junction points between the connectors (17,24and26) and the edges (22,25) of the base (7) of the internal parts (1), and/or the lower edge of the external wall of the tubular body (10) of the external parts (9). An example of the detachment mechanism (18) is a slit, and/or a weakening, or any other mechanism that allows the pieces (1,9) to be easily detachable.

Another variant that the aforementioned structure may have, is that it may also comprises at least one fastening element (19) adhered to the connector that joins the parts (1) and (9); where the fastening element (19) is selected from the following group: rings, rings, and staples, to quote a few examples.

In order to assemble faster and efficiently the grid structure proposed by the present invention, it is proposed to manufacture the modules (B and C) forming the reinforced pedestals (A); Therefore, these modules (B and C) and all their variants that can be built are subjects of the present invention. Furthermore, a description of some embodiments of said pedestal-forming modules (B, C) is made, by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples.

FIG.9illustrates a first embodiment of a simple module (B) to form the reinforced pedestals (A); where said simple module (B) is made up of an internal part (1) and an external tubular part (9), both as described in this invention; but with the difference that the internal part (1) has at least one horizontal edge (22,25) in at least one of the sides of the base (7), and the external tubular part (9) has at its wide or lower end of the tubular body (10), at least one inlet (23) on the lower edge of at least one of the sides of the tubular body (10) so that the horizontal edge (22,25) of the base (7) is perfectly housed in said inlet (23). As can be seen inFIG.9, the parts (1) and (9) are not assembled together, but are joined in a linear plane by means of a longitudinal connector (17), where one of their ends is joined at the horizontal projection (22) of the base (7) of the internal part (1) and the other end is joined to the lower edge of the side that does not have an entrance (23) of the external wall of the tubular body (10). It is worth mentioning that optionally, at least one weakening mechanism (18) is provided to easily detach the pieces (1and9) from the longitudinal connector (17); for example, a slit or thinning can be a weakening mechanism (18), which is preferred to be located at the connection point between the longitudinal connector (17) and the edge (22) of the base (7) the internal piece (1) and/or on the external wall of the tubular body (10) of the external part (9).

Therefore, it is obvious that said simple module (B) can be made more complex by adding more internal parts (1) and external tubular parts (9), in a quadrangular, rectangular or other arrangement. Therefore, an embodiment of a complex module (C) forming pedestals (A), is as illustrated inFIG.10, and it is when it comprises at least two simple modules (B), such as the one described above, arranged amidst each other, in a parallel way; where a first transverse connector (24) joins the two internal parts (1) by means of second linear edges (25) located on the adjacent sides of the sides where the first linear edges (22) are located and a second transverse connector (26) joins the two external pieces (9), by means of their lower edges of their sides that do not have inlets (23). As well as in the longitudinal connector (17), in the transverse connectors (24and26), they can also be provided with at least one weakening mechanism (18) to easily detach the pieces (1and9) from such transverse connectors (24and26); for example, a groove can be a weakening mechanism located at the connection point between said transverse connectors (24and26) and the lower edges of the walls of the two external pieces (9).

It is worth mentioning that, in this embodiment, it is obvious to an expert in the art that the longitudinal and transverse connectors (17,24and26) can have a different arrangement, such as being crossed, including the parts (1and9) They could have a different distribution, as long as a perfect coupling between simple (B) and/or complex (C) modules can be carried out.

Therefore, the grid structure of the present invention can also be built with, at least, two modules (B and/or C) that form the aforementioned reinforced pedestals (A), to support raised surfaces or overlying on fixed surfaces; where the pieces (1and9) of a simple module (B) and/or complex module (C), are assembled with the pieces (1and9) of other simple modules (B) and/or complex modules (C), seeFIGS.11and12; even sometimes, to finish the grid structure, it is required to assemble pieces (1or9) independently, that is, they do not necessarily have to be a complete module, and hence the importance of placing the weakening mechanism (18) to detach a single one part, either the internal part (1) or the external tubular part (9).

InFIGS.13to16, an example can be seen of a grid structure made up of the modules (B and C) that form reinforced pedestals (A), and internal parts (1) and individual external tubular parts (9), and the gaps that remain between the raised surface and the fixed surface are used to place service installations, such as pipes (20), gutters (21), cables, hoses, etc.; remaining these hidden.

To fix the pieces (14) that will give rise to the raised surface, any fastening element can be used, such as screws (6), which are inserted into the plates and pass through the ring (12) of a tubular piece (9) and the upper perforation of the truncated conical tubular body (2) of an internal part (1), and to fix it a washer (5) is provided in the cavity formed by the cavities (4and4′) of the tubular truncated body (2). If the part (14) is hard or very resistant, previously drilling can be done for the introduction of the screw (6).

The grid structure of the present invention also has the advantage that it can be disassembled, so it can be assembled and disassembled easily and, in less time, raised or overlapping surfaces, which gives it more advantages compared to other false surface supports, which are fixed and complicated to build.

Construction Method of the Grid Structure

Therefore, another subject of the present invention is a method for building the grid structure, in accordance with the present invention, where said method comprises the following steps:i) provide at least two modules (B) and/or (C) that form reinforced pedestals (A), where each module comprises: at least one internal part (1) with at least one horizontal edge (22,25) on at least one of the sides of its base (7); an external tubular piece (9) that has at its wide or lower end of the tubular body (10), at least one inlet (23) in the lower edge of at least one of the sides of the tubular body (10) so that the horizontal edge (22,25) of the base (7) is perfectly housed in said entrance (23); and at least one connector joins the internal part (1) with the external tubular part (9) in a horizontal plane;ii) assemble the pieces (1and9) of a module with the pieces (1and9) of other modules to assemble the reinforced pedestals (A); where the internal part is inserted into the truncated conical gap of the external part (9), until the base (7) is secured by the edges (16) of said part (9), and the horizontal edges (22,25) are coupled to their respective inlet (23) of said external tubular part (9);iii) repeat the previous step until all the required modules (B) and/or (C) are assembled forming the pedestals (A); andiv) assembling parts (1,9) independently in those parts (1,9) that were not assembled, to finish the grid structure.