[0001] The invention relates to a system for forming a tiled floor on an outdoor subsurface,
according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] A system of this type is used to create a tiled surface, such as a terrace, or tiled
path, on a roof, a balcony, or an outdoor corridor, such as an open corridor of an
apartment buildings with outside entrances. A corner element is bonded to a corner
of a tile, with bonding means such as glue or a double-sided adhesive tape, and the
tile with the corner element is positioned on a tile support. The tile support rests
directly on the outdoor subsurface, or on a pedestal. A suitable pedestal is a simple
block of material, e.g. an elastic material such as rubber. Another suitable pedestal
is a height-adjustable pedestal, such as known in the art.
[0003] A system of this type is known from
EP 3 507 420 A1. In this system, the corner element has a locking pin which extends from its lower
side. The tile support of the system includes a pin receiving hole for receiving the
locking pin. The tile support further includes a locking element that is movable from
an open position to a locking position to lock the locking pin in the pin receiving
hole. By locking the locking pin in the pin receiving hole, vertical displacement
of the corner element with respect to the tile support is prevented. This prevents
unauthorised people from lifting a tile out of the tiled surface. Only authorised
people, who know where the locking element is and how to operate is, can disengage
the locking element if a tile needs to be removed for maintenance purposes.
[0004] The known system has proved to be effective against vandalism, by making it harder
to lift tiles out of the tiled surface. However, in exceptional cases, vibrations
may cause the locking element of some tiles to inadvertently move back to the open
position. This can create a dangerous situation, as unauthorised persons may be able
to lift those tiles out of the tiled surface and throw them from the elevated roof
or corridor with potential lethal consequences for persons downstairs. Clearly such
dangerous situations should be avoided, even when the chances of this situation occurring
are small.
[0005] The invention aims to solve at least one of these problems, or at least to provide
an alternative. In particular, the invention aims to provide a system that is more
safe.
[0006] This aim is achieved by a system according to claim 1.
[0007] A system is provided for forming a tiled floor on an outdoor subsurface, such as
a roof, balcony, or an outdoor corridor. The system comprises a tile support for supporting
at least two tiles and a corner element for receiving a lower corner of one of the
tiles. The corner element comprises a corner plate with an upper side and a lower
side. The upper side is connectable to the lower corner of the tile and the lower
side is dimensioned such as to be received by the tile support. The tile support comprises
a body. The body has an upper receiving face for receiving at least two such corner
elements and a lower face which is placeable on the outdoor subsurface or on a pedestal
positioned on the outdoor subsurface. The corner element comprises a locking pin which
extends vertically from the lower side. The body of the tile support comprises a pin
receiving hole for receiving the locking pin. In an assembled state of the system,
the lower side of the corner element rests on the upper receiving face of the body
of the tile support and the locking pin extends in the pin receiving hole. The tile
support further comprises a locking element provided at the pin receiving hole, wherein
the locking element is movable from an open position to a locking position. The open
position enables the locking pin to enter or leave the pin receiving hole. In the
locking position, the locking element engages the locking pin to prevent the locking
pin to move out of the pin receiving hole. The system further comprises arresting
means which engage with the body of the tile support and with the locking element
for holding the locking element in its locking position.
[0008] The arresting means are arranged to engage with the body of the tile support and
with the locking element when the locking element is in its locking position, thus
preventing the locking element to move back to its open position. By securing the
locking element in its locking position, the locking pin remains locked in the pin
receiving hole even as the tiled floor is exposed to various vibrations over a long
period of usage. This prevents unauthorised persons from lifting a tile out of a tiled
surface and thus improves safety. An additional advantage of arresting the locking
element is that it avoids wind lift up of the tiles, which is particularly relevant
for lightweight tiles such as certain types of ceramic tiles.
[0009] Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
[0010] In an embodiment, the arresting means comprise a boss and an opening for receiving
said boss when the locking element is in its locking position. The boss is formed
on one of the body of the tile support and the locking element, and the opening is
formed in the other one of the locking element and the body of the tile support, respectively.
For example, the opening is a recess or a through-hole.
[0011] In the locking position of the locking element, the boss enters the opening. An advantage
of using an interconnecting boss and opening is that no additional parts, such as
screws or bolts, are needed to keep the locking element in its locking position.
[0012] In an embodiment, the arresting means comprises a spring arranged to hold the locking
element in its locking position. Particularly, in the embodiment wherein the arresting
means comprise a boss and opening as described above, the spring is arranged to press
the boss in the opening when the locking element is in its locking position.
[0013] The spring force keeps the boss in the opening and thus creates a particularly strong
coupling between the locking element and the body of the tile support, and is able
to resist vibrations.
[0014] In particular, the locking element is movable against a force exerted by the spring
for disengaging the arresting means, e.g. for disengaging the boss and the opening.
This allows a user to disengage the arresting means so that the locking element is
movable from its locking position to its open position.
[0015] In an embodiment, the locking element is rotatable from the open position to the
locking position. A rotating movement can easily be applied, e.g. by a screwdriver
or an Allen key through the limited space that is available between the tiles.
[0016] In a further embodiment, the locking element is provided in a recess in the upper
receiving face of the body of the tile support. The spring is arranged to press the
locking element upwards such that, in the locking position, the spring presses the
locking element against a lower surface of an edge of the recess.
[0017] The recess in the upper face of the tile support body allows the locking element,
and optionally also the spring, to be inserted into the body of the tile support from
above. This contributes to the ease of installation.
[0018] In a further embodiment, the locking element is a plate-shaped element having a rotational
symmetric shape with flanges formed along its edge. The recess in the upper receiving
face of the body of the tile support has a shape that matches the shape of the locking
element such that, in the locking position, the spring presses the flanges of the
locking element against the lower surface of the edge of the recess.
[0019] Preferably, the shape of the recess in the body of the tile support matches the shape
of the locking element. In particular, the edge of the recess preferably has flanges
that extend inwards and form an abutment surface for the flanges of the locking element.
Preferably the recess has slightly larger dimensions than the locking element, e.g.
1-5 mm larger, for allowing easy insertion of the locking element.
[0020] Rotating the locking element to its locking position moves its flanges to a position
wherein, when pressed upwards by the spring, they are pressed against the abutment
surface formed by the flanges of the edge of the recess in the body of the tile support.
The rotational symmetric shape of the locking element ensures that the locking element
is pressed against the body of the tile support in a uniform manner and e.g. does
not get skewed or tilted by the spring force. The locking element is provided with
at least two flanges are, for example three or four flanges.
[0021] In an embodiment, the locking element comprises a hole, and the system further comprises
a tool with a shape that matches a shape of the hole in the locking element for using
the tool to move the locking element from its open position to its locking position.
[0022] In an embodiment, the locking pin comprises a restricted protrusion with a length
which is less than a length of the locking pin, the restricted protrusion is provided
at a lower end of the locking pin, and the locking element, in its locking position,
engages an upper face of the restricted protrusion to prevent the locking pin to move
out of the pin receiving hole. For example, the locking pin has a vertically extending
part with a lower end from which the restricted protrusion extends horizontally. For
example, the locking pin is L-shaped. The cooperation between the upper face of the
restricted protrusion and the locking element provides a simple and reliable locking.
[0023] In an embodiment, the body of the tile support comprises a pedestal for positioning
on the outdoor subsurface. Preferably, the lower face of the pedestal is provided
with grooves. The grooves improve the weight distribution when placing the pedestal
on a membrane material provided on the outdoor subsurface. Examples of the membrane
material are bitumen, roofing felt or tar paper. Alternatively or additionally, the
lower face of the pedestal may be provided with grooves that serve as cutting lines,
i.e. lines that indicate where to cut to adjust the pedestal to form an edge of the
tiled floor.
[0024] In a further embodiment, the system further comprises at least one sloped plate for
compensating a slope of the outdoor surface, the sloped plate comprising on its upper
surface a ridge for positioning the pedestal atop the sloped plate. Part of the outdoor
subsurface may exhibit a slope, e.g. up to 6 degrees, for which the sloped plate can
compensate. The ridge along the upper surface of the sloped plate ensures a proper
placement of the pedestal, and prevents the pedestal from sliding away.
[0025] In a further embodiment, at least two circle-shaped sloped plates are provided. The
advantage of using two circle-shaped sloped plates is that they, when stacked, can
be rotated with respect to each other to adjust the compensation angle. Moreover,
the compensation angle can be adjusted in a continuous manner. For example, the compensation
angle can be adjusted from 0 to e.g. 6 degrees. Preferably, the at least two circle-shaped
sloped plates are identical. Preferably, the lower surface of each of the identical
plates is arranged to fittingly stack on the upper surface of the identical plates,
e.g. the lower surface fits within the ridge of the upper surface. For example, three
identical and stackable circle-shaped plates are provided that each provide a 2 degrees
tilt angle, to enable compensating for a slope of 0-6 degrees.
[0026] In an embodiment, the corner element comprises at least one positioning wall for
positioning the tile on the corner element, in particular the corner element comprises
two positioning walls. The positioning wall ensures an accurate and rapid positioning
of a tile on the corner element when they are bonded together. In particular the corner
element comprises two positioning walls, preferable at right angles, so that the position
of tile relative to the corner element is fully determined.
[0027] In an embodiment, the body of the tile support comprises a positioning ridge along
an edge of the upper receiving face for positioning the corner element on the tile
support along the positioning ridge. This ensures a proper placement of the corner
element, and prevents it from sliding away.
[0028] In an embodiment, the body of the tile support comprises at least one tile spacer
which extends from the upper receiving face. A tile spacer ensures a predetermined
space between adjacent tiles.
[0029] In a further embodiment, the body of the tile support comprises at least two tile
spacers, and the body of the tile support and corner element are dimensioned such
that the corner element fits between the positioning ridge and the tile spacers. The
ensures an easy and proper placement of the corner element on the tile support.
[0030] The invention further relates to a tiled floor with a combination of a tile with
multiple lower corners and at least one corner element. Such a tiled floor provides
the same technical effects as described above in relation to the inventive system.
Moreover, the same preferred features as defined for the system are preferred features
for the combination.
[0031] In an embodiment of the tiled floor, the tile is rectangular and is provided with
multiple corner elements, in particular four corner elements.
[0032] In an embodiment, the tile is made of a ceramic material. Ceramic is a light weight
material, relative to its strength, and very suitable for surfaces that have a limited
load-bearing capacity.
[0033] The invention further relates to a tile support for the system described above. The
tile support comprises a body. The body has an upper receiving face for receiving
at least two corner elements for receiving a lower corner of one of the tiles. The
body further has a lower face which is placeable on an outdoor subsurface or on a
pedestal positioned on the outdoor subsurface. The body comprises a pin receiving
hole for receiving a locking pin which extends vertically from a lower side of one
of the corner elements. The tile support further comprising a locking element provided
at the pin receiving hole, wherein the locking element is movable from an open position
to an open position. The locking position enables the locking pin to enter or leave
the pin receiving hole. In the locking position, the locking element engages the locking
pin to prevent the locking pin to move out of the pin receiving hole. The tile support
further comprises arresting means which engage with the body of the tile support and
the locking element for holding the locking element in its locking position.
[0034] The same technical effects as described above apply to the tile support as described
above in relation to the inventive system. Moreover, the same preferred features as
defined for the system are preferred features for the tile support.
[0035] The invention further relates to a method for assembling a tiled floor above an outdoor
subsurface, such as a roof, balcony, or an outdoor corridor. The method comprises
providing multiple tiles with corner elements under at least one of the respective
tile corners. The corner elements each comprises at least one locking pin which extends
vertically from the lower side of the corner element. The method further comprises
providing tile supports, wherein the tile supports each comprise a body having an
upper receiving face for receiving at least two such corner elements, a lower face
and at least one pin receiving hole for receiving the locking pin. The method further
comprises positioning the tile supports in a grid-like configuration corresponding
to the dimensions of the tiles, either directly on the outdoor subsurface or on a
pedestal placed on the outdoor subsurface. The method further comprises placing each
of the multiple tiles with a vertical movement on the tile supports, such that the
locking pins enter the respective pin receiving holes until the corner element rests
on the tile support. The method further comprises moving a locking element of the
tile support to a locking position, wherein the locking element engages the locking
pin in order to lock the locking pins relative to the pin receiving holes. The step
of moving the locking element comprises having arresting means engage with the body
of the tile support and with the locking element to hold the locking element in its
locking position.
[0036] This method results in a tiled floor with the same or similar technical effects as
described above.
[0037] The invention, its effects, and advantages will be explained in more detail on the
basis of the schematic drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross sectional view of a tiled floor according to the invention
on a roof;
Fig. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the system according to an embodiment
of the invention;
Fig. 3 shows the tile support and locking element of the system of Fig. 2 in detail,
with the leaf spring placed in the tile support;
Fig. 4 illustrates the insertion of the corner element in the tile support of Fig.
3 that has its locking element in the open position;
Fig. 5 and 6 shows a partial cross-section of the system of Fig. 2, with the locking
element in its open position;
Fig. 7 shows a partial cross-section of the system of Fig. 2, with the locking element
in its locking position;
Fig. 8 shows a perspective bottom view of the system of Fig. 12 that illustrates the
locking position of the locking element; and
Fig. 9 and 10 show a perspective bottom view of the system of Fig. 2 to illustrate
the arresting means, wherein for illustrative purposes the locking element is not
shown in Fig. 9 while it is shown in Fig. 10.
Figure 1 shows the system 2 for forming a tiled floor 4 on an outdoor subsurface,
in this embodiment a roof 6. The system 2 is shown in more detail in figure 2. The
system 2 comprises a tile support 8 and a corner element 10. The corner element 10
is designed for receiving a lower corner of a tile 12. In this embodiment, the corner
elements 10 are bonded to the tiles 12 using an adhesive, such as adhesive double-sided
tape 14.
[0038] The tile support 8 is designed to receive the tiles 12, in this embodiment four tiles
12, via the respective corner elements 10. In fig. 2, only one corner element 10 is
shown for illustrative purposes. Generally, most tile supports 8 of a tiled floor
4 will support the corners of four tiles 12, each tile being provided with a corner
element 10. Typically, only tile supports 8 positioned at the edges of the tiled floor
4 will carry less than four tiles 12, e.g. two tiles (along the edge of the tiled
floor) or a single tile (at a corner of the tiled floor).
[0039] Referring to fig. 2, the corner element 10 comprises a corner plate 16 with an upper
side 18 and a lower side 20. The upper side 18 is connectable to the lower corner
of the tile 12 and the lower side 20 is dimensioned such as to be received by the
tile support 8. The tile support 8 comprises a body 22 having an upper receiving face
24 for receiving the four corner elements 10. The tile support 8 further has a lower
face 26, which in this embodiment is the lower face of a pedestal 28 that forms part
of the body 22. The pedestal 28 is designed for positioning on an outdoor subsurface
such as a roof or balcony.
[0040] The pedestal 28 is placed on an optional sloped plate 30. In this embodiment, the
sloped plate 30 has a slope of 2°. The sloped plate 30 is equipped on its upper surface
with a ridge 32 along its circumference for positioning the pedestal 28 atop the sloped
plate 30 and within the confines of the ridge 32. In this embodiment, the sloped plate
30 has a circular shape that matches the circular shape of the lower face of the pedestal
28. Optionally, at least two identical circle-shaped sloped plate 30 are provided.
By rotating two circle-shaped slope plates 30 with respect to each other the slope
angle can be set to a desired angle between 0° to 4°. If only a height adjustment
is desired, the sloped plates 30 are placed at an angle of 180° with respect to each
other to achieve a slope of 0° degrees. Similarly, using three circle-shaped sloped
plates 30 enables adjusting a slope angle between 0° to 6°.
[0041] The corner element 10 comprises a locking pin 34. The locking pin 34 extends vertically
from the lower side 20 of the corner element 10. In this embodiment, the corner element
10 further comprises four positioning walls 36.
[0042] The body 22 of the tile support 8 comprises a pin receiving hole 38 for receiving
the locking pin 34. In the assembled state of the system, the lower side 20 of the
corner element 10 rests on the upper receiving face 24 of the tile support 8 and the
locking pin 34 extends in the pin receiving hole 38.
[0043] The tile support 8 comprises a locking element 40 which is rotatably provided at
the pin receiving hole 38. The locking element 40 is rotatable from an open position
(fig. 4-6) to a locking position (fig. 7-10), as will be explained below in more detail.
[0044] In this embodiment, the locking pin 34 has a restricted protrusion 42 with a length
which is less than a length of the locking pin 34 (fig. 2 and fig. 8). The restricted
protrusion 42 is provided at a lower end of the locking pin 34, and comprises an upper
face 44. The locking element 40 engages the upper face 44 of the restricted protrusion
42 for locking the locking pin 34 in the pin receiving hole 38 in the locking position
(fig. 8 and 10).
[0045] In this embodiment, the tile support 8 comprises a positioning ridge 46 (fig. 2)
along an edge of the upper receiving face 24 of the tile support body 22 for positioning
the corner element 10 on the tile support 8 along the positioning ridge 46. The tile
support 8 further comprises four tile spacers 48 which extend vertically from the
upper receiving face 24. One or more of the tile spacers 48 may be broken away from
the tile support body 22 in order to provide a partly or fully free upper receiving
face 24, for instance to enable positioning the tile support 8 at an edge or corner
of the tiled floor 4. The tile support 8 and the corner element 10 are dimensioned
such that the corner element 10 fits between a quarter part of the positioning ridge
46 and two of the tile spacers 48.
[0046] The rotatable locking element 40 comprises a plate-shaped element with a rotational
symmetric shape with flanges 50 along its edge (fig. 2 and 3). In this embodiment,
the locking element 40 has four flanges 50. The locking element 40 has a hexagonal
operative hole 52 for rotating the locking element from above using a key 54 with
a matching shape (fig. 5), i.e. to move the locking element 40 from its open position
to its locking position.
[0047] The system 2 further comprises arresting means for holding the locking element 40
in its locking position. In this embodiment, the arresting means comprises a boss
56 formed on a lower side of the body 22 of the tile support 8 facing an upper side
of the locking element 40 and an opening 58 in the locking element 40 for receiving
said boss 56 (fig. 9 and 10). In figure 9, the locking element 40 is omitted to more
clearly illustrate the boss 56. The arresting means further comprises a leaf spring
60 arranged to press the boss 56 in the opening 58 when the locking element 40 is
in its locking position (fig. 9 and 10). Particularly, the leaf spring 60 is positioned
in a recess 61 in the body 22 of the tile support 8, via the upper receiving face
24. The locking element 40 is positioned on top of the leaf spring 60 (fig. 3 and
4). The leaf spring 60 is thus arranged to press the locking element 40 upwards against
a lower surface of an edge of the recess 61. In particular, along the edge of the
recess 61 flanges 62 are formed that extend inwards, i.e. towards the centre of the
body 22, and provide an abutment surface for the locking element 40. As shown in fig.
10, in the locking position of the locking element 40, the flanges 50 of the locking
element 40 are pressed against the flanges 62 around the recess 61. Fig. 10 further
shows that the bosses 56 are formed on the lower surface of the flanges 62. In this
embodiment, each flange 50 of the locking element 40 is provided with at least one
opening 58 and correspondingly at least one boss 56 is formed on the body 22 of the
tile support 8 for each flange. Using multiple pairs of bosses and openings has the
advantage of solidly keeping the locking element 40 in its locked position. In this
embodiment, the locking element 40 comprises two openings 58 in each of its flanges
50 which are positioned symmetrically on the respective flange 50. This ensures that
the locking element 40 is symmetric, i.e. is the same irrespective of which side faces
up. This avoids accidentally placing the wrong side up during assembly of the tile
support 8.
[0048] As shown in figure 5, the body 22 of the tile support 8 comprises a top part 64,
that includes the receiving face 24, and a pedestal 28 that forms a lower part of
the body 22. The body 22 further comprises a bolt 66 that connects the top part 64
and the pedestal 28, using a threaded connection. In the embodiment, the bolt 66 has
an external thread and the top part 64 and pedestal 28 have an opening with an internal
thread. Tile supports 8 of different heights are obtained by using bolts 66 of a different
lengths. This has the advantage that only a single type of top part 64 and a single
type of pedestal 28 needs to be manufactured, while still being able to provide tile
supports 8 of different heights.
[0049] The tile support body 22 assembled from the pedestal 28, the top part 64 and the
bolt 66, is then assembled into a full tile support 8 by inserting spring 60 into
recess 61 and subsequently placing locking element 40 on top of the spring 60. When
creating a tiled floor 4 above an outdoor subsurface, such as a roof, balcony, or
an outdoor corridor, the tile support 8 can be assembled on-site, but preferably the
tile support 8 is pre-assembled to decrease the time of on-site construction. A tiled
floor 4 is then assembled by means of the following steps. Multiple tiles 12, corner
elements 10 and tile supports 8 (preferably pre-assembled) are provided. The corner
elements 10 are bonded to at least some of the corners of the multiple tiles 12, e.g.
with an adhesive double-sided tape 14. The tile supports 8 are positioned on the roof
6 at regular intervals, to form a grid with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions
of the tiles 12.
[0050] Each of the tiles 12 is placed with a vertical movement on four tile supports 8,
such that the locking pin 34 enters the pin receiving hole 38 until the corner elements
10 rest on the respective tile support 8. The restricted protrusion 42 of the locking
pin 34 passes the locking element 40, as the restricted protrusion 34 can pass through
the space defined between two flanges 50 of the locking element 40. In this position,
the upper face 44 of the restricted protrusion 34 is positioned at a lower position
than the lower surface of the locking element 40. As a next step, the key 54 is inserted
into the operative hole 52 of the locking element 40, and the locking element 40 is
rotated from its open position, as shown in fig. 4 - 6 to the locking position, as
shown in fig. 7, 8 and 10. In this locking position, the upper face 44 of the restricted
protrusion 42 is positioned below the lower surface of the locking element 40 so that
the locking pin 34 is locked relative to the pin receiving hole 38. When the locking
element 40 is rotated to the locking position, the boss 56 formed on the body 22 of
the tile support 8 enters the opening 58 of the locking element 40 (fig. 10). The
spring 60 exerts an upward spring force upon the locking element 40 that keep the
boss 56 in the opening 58 by pressing the locking element 40 against the lower surface
of the flanges 62.
[0051] If it is desired to disassemble a tiled floor, the locking element 40 can be pushed
against the spring force of spring 60 to move boss 56 out of the opening 58, after
which the locking element 40 can be rotated in the opposite direction. In the illustrated
embodiment, the locking element 40 is provided with an optional sticker 68 which has
printed on its top side an arrow 70 indicating the direction for moving the locking
element 40 to its open position. Alternatively or additionally, the direction for
moving the locking element 40 to its locking position is printed on the sticker 68.
[0052] Several variants are possible within the scope of the attached claims. All features
of the system are suitable and intended for the tiled floor, as well as for the method.
The features of the above described preferred embodiment may be replaced by any other
feature within the scope of the attached claims, such as the features described in
the following paragraphs and under the general description.
[0053] In the embodiment of the figures, the body of the tile support comprises a top part
and a lower part that are movable with respect to each other in the vertical direction,
to allow height adjustment of the tile support. Alternatively, the body of the tile
support can be formed as an integral component.
[0054] In an embodiment, the arresting means comprise a first part formed on the body of
the tile support and a second part formed on the locking element. The first and second
part are arranged to align with each other in the locking position for coupling the
first and second part with each other. For example, the first and second part comprise
an opening and a boss as described above, wherein the boss and opening align when
the locking element is in its locking position. Alternatively, the arresting means
comprises a hole in the locking element and a hole in the body of the tile support,
wherein these holes arranged to align when the locking element is in its locking position,
and the arresting means further comprises a pin, bolt or screw for inserting into
the holes to thereby lock movement of the locking element with respect to the body
of the tile support.
[0055] In the embodiment of the figures, the boss is formed on the body of the tile support
and the opening is formed in the locking element. Alternatively, a boss is formed
on the locking element and the body of the tile support comprises an opening for receiving
said boss.
[0056] In the figures, the spring is arranged to press the locking element upwards against
a lower surface of the tile support body. In an alternate embodiment, a spring is
arranged to press the locking element downwards against an upper surface of the body
of the tile support. In this embodiment, said upper surface of the tile support body
is provided with the boss or opening for engaging with the opening or boss of the
locking element.
[0057] In the illustrated embodiments, the opening for receiving the boss and the boss have
a circular cross-section. However, the boss and opening may have any other suitable
shape, such as square, rectangular or elliptic.
[0058] Likewise, the locking pin and/or the pin receiving hole may have different shapes
and cross-sections than those shown in the example of the figures. Whereas the locking
pin in the figures has a restricted protrusion to form a hook-shaped locking pin,
the locking pin may alternatively consist of a vertically extending part only. In
such embodiment, the locking element may include a recess to receive the locking pin
in a formfitting manner, i.e. the locking element and the locking pin engage in a
formfitting manner. Alternatively or additionally, the locking pin has a recess for
receiving the locking element in a formfitting manner. These formfitting connections
may optionally be combined with a locking pin having a restricted protrusion as disclosed
above. In other words, in any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the arresting means
may comprise formfitting arresting means.
[0059] In an embodiment, the operative hole of the locking element has a rectangular shape,
and the matching key is a flat screwdriver. In an alternative embodiment, the operative
hole has a star shape, and the matching key is a matching screwdriver, e.g. a Phillips,
Pozidrive, or Torx type screwdriver.
[0060] The shape of the tiles may be square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, or octagonal.
The tile supports of a system for such tiles will be suitable to receive a corresponding
number of tile corners. The material of the tiles may be concrete, natural stone,
or a composite material, instead of the preferred ceramics. The system is suitable
for any outdoor situation.
[0061] In an embodiment, the system is used without a pedestal. In an embodiment, the corner
element is provided without a positioning wall. In an embodiment, the tile support
is provided without a tile spacer and/or without a positioning ridge.
[0062] The above embodiments describe connecting a tile to a corner element by means of
double sided adhesive tape, but the invention is not limited to this manner of connecting
the tile. Alternatively or additionally, the tile is bonded to the corner element
with glue. In an alternative embodiment, a tile is formed from a fluid material, such
as concrete, and the corner element is provided with protrusions in its upper side
which are put inside the soft concrete and after hardening forms a bond between the
tile and the corner element. In a further alternative embodiment, the tiles and corner
elements are connected by providing the tiles with protrusions that engage with corresponding
holes provided in the corner element in a formfitting manner. Equivalently, the tiles
may be provided with holes that engage with protrusions provided to the corner elements.
[0063] In an embodiment, the locking element is slidable sideways, instead of rotatable.
1. System (2) for forming a tiled floor (4) on an outdoor subsurface (6), such as a roof,
balcony, or an outdoor corridor, comprising a tile support (8) for supporting at least
two tiles (12) and a corner element (10) for receiving a lower corner of one of the
tiles (12), wherein
the corner element (10) comprises a corner plate (16) with an upper side (18) and
a lower side (20), the upper side (18) being connectable to the lower corner of the
tile (12) and the lower side (20) being dimensioned such as to be received by the
tile support (8),
the tile support (8) comprises a body (22), the body (22) having an upper receiving
face (24) for receiving at least two such corner elements (10) and a lower face (26)
which is placeable on the outdoor subsurface (6) or on a pedestal positioned on the
outdoor subsurface (6),
the corner element (10) comprises a locking pin (34) which extends vertically from
the lower side (20),
the body (22) of the tile support (8) comprises a pin receiving hole (38) for receiving
the locking pin (34), wherein in an assembled state of the system, the lower side
(20) of the corner element (10) rests on the upper receiving face (24) of the body
(22) of the tile support (8) and the locking pin (34) extends in the pin receiving
hole (38), and
the tile support (8) further comprises a locking element (40) provided at the pin
receiving hole (34), wherein the locking element (40) is movable from an open position,
which enables the locking pin (34) to enter or leave the pin receiving hole (38),
to a locking position in which the locking element (40) engages the locking pin (34)
to prevent the locking pin (34) to move out of the pin receiving hole (38), characterized in that
the system (2) comprises arresting means (56, 58, 60) which engage with the body (22)
of the tile support (8) and with the locking element (40) for holding the locking
element (40) in its locking position.
2. System (2) according to claim 1, wherein the arresting means comprise:
a boss (56) formed on one of the body (22) of the tile support (8) and the locking
element (40); and
an opening (58) for receiving said boss (56) when the locking element (40) is in its
locking position, formed in the other of the locking element (40) and the body (22)
of the tile support (8), respectively.
3. System (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the arresting means further comprise
a spring (60) arranged to hold the locking element (40) in its locking position.
4. System (2) according to the combination of claim 2 and 3, wherein the spring (60)
is arranged to press the boss (56) in the opening (58) when the locking element (40)
is in its locking position.
5. System (2) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the locking element (40) is movable
against a force exerted by the spring (60) for disengaging the arresting means.
6. System (2) according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the locking
element (40) is rotatable from the open position to the locking position.
7. System (2) according to any one or more of claims 3-6, wherein the locking element
(40) is provided in a recess (61) in the upper receiving face (24) of the body (22)
of the tile support (8), and the spring (60) is arranged to press the locking element
(40) upwards such that, in the locking position, the spring (60) presses the locking
element (40) against a lower surface of an edge of the recess (61).
8. System (2) according to claim 7, wherein the locking element (40) is a plate-shaped
element having a rotational symmetric shape with flanges (50) formed along its edge,
and the recess (61) has a shape that matches the shape of the locking element (40)
such that, in the locking position, the spring (60) presses the flanges (50) of the
locking element (40) against the lower surface of the edge of the recess (61).
9. System (2) according to any one or more of the claims 1-8, wherein the locking element
(40) comprises a hole (52), and the system (2) further comprises a tool (54) with
a shape that matches a shape of the hole (52) in the locking element (40) for using
the tool (54) to move the locking element (40) from its open position to its locking
position, and/or the locking pin (34) comprises a restricted protrusion (42) with
a length which is less than a length of the locking pin (34), the restricted protrusion
(42) is provided at a lower end of the locking pin (34), and the locking element (40),
in its locking position, engages an upper face (44) of the restricted protrusion (34)
to prevent the locking pin (34) to move out of the pin receiving hole (38).
10. System (2) according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the body
(22) of the tile support (8) comprises a pedestal (28) for positioning on the outdoor
subsurface (6), the system in particular further comprising at least one sloped plate
(30) for compensating a slope of the outdoor surface (6), the sloped plate comprising
on its upper surface a ridge (32) for positioning the pedestal (28) atop the sloped
plate (30).
11. System (2) according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the body
(22) of the tile support (8) comprises a positioning ridge (46) along an edge of the
upper receiving face (24) for positioning the corner element (10) on the tile support
(8) along the positioning ridge (46).
12. System (2) according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the body
(22) of the tile support (8) comprises at least one tile spacer (48) which extends
from the upper receiving face (24).
13. Tiled floor (4), comprising multiple combinations of a tile (12) having multiple lower
corners and at least one corner element (10), comprising multiple tile supports (8)
provided at at least a plurality of the multiple corners of the tiles (12), an arresting
means (56, 58, 60), wherein the at least one corner element (1), the multiple tile
supports (8), and the arresting means are defined in any one or more of the preceding
claims, and
the upper side (18) of each corner element (10) is fixedly connected to one of the
lower corners of the corresponding tile (12),
the upper receiving face (24) of the body (22) of each tile support receives at least
two such corner elements (10), wherein the lower side (20) of each corner element
(10) rests on the upper receiving face (24) of the corresponding tile support (8),
the lower face (26) of the body (22) of each tile support (8) is placed on the outdoor
subsurface (6) or on a pedestal positioned on the outdoor subsurface (6), characterized, in that
the tiled floor (4) comprises arresting means (56, 58, 60) which engage with the body
(22) of the tile support (8) and with the locking element (40) for holding the locking
element (40) in its locking position.
14. Tile support (8) for a system (2) for forming a tiled floor (4) on an outdoor subsurface
(6) according to any one or more of the claims 1-12, comprising:
a body (22) having an upper receiving face (24) for receiving at least two corner
elements (10) for receiving a lower corner of one of the tiles (12), the body (22)
further having a lower face (26) which is placeable on an outdoor subsurface (6) or
on a pedestal positioned on the outdoor subsurface (6), the body (22) comprising a
pin receiving hole (38) for receiving a locking pin (34) which extends vertically
from a lower side (20) of one of the corner elements (10); and
a locking element (40) provided at the pin receiving hole (38), wherein the locking
element (40) is movable from an open position, which enables the locking pin (34)
to enter or leave the pin receiving hole (38), to a locking position in which the
locking element (40) engages the locking pin (34) to prevent the locking pin (34)
to move out of the pin receiving hole (38),
characterized, in that
the tile support (8) further comprises arresting means (56, 58, 60) which engage with
the body (22) of the tile support (8) and the locking element (40) for holding the
locking element (40) in its locking position.
15. Method for assembling a tiled floor (4) above an outdoor subsurface (6), such as a
roof, balcony, or an outdoor corridor, comprising the steps of:
- providing multiple tiles (12) with corner elements (10) under at least one of the
respective tile corners, wherein the corner elements (10) each comprises a locking
pin (34) which extends vertically from the lower side (20) of the corner element (10),
- providing tile supports (8), wherein the tile supports (8) each comprise a body
(22) having an upper receiving face (24) for receiving at least two such corner elements
(10), a lower face (26) and at least one pin receiving hole (38) for receiving the
locking pin (34),
- positioning the tile supports (8) in a grid-like configuration corresponding to
the dimensions of the tiles (12), either directly on the outdoor subsurface (6) or
on a pedestal placed on the outdoor subsurface (6),
- placing each of the multiple tiles (12) with a vertical movement on the tile supports
(8), such that the locking pins (34) enter the respective pin receiving holes (38)
until the corner element (10) rests on the tile support (8),
- moving a locking element (40) of each of the tile supports (8) to a locking position,
wherein the locking element (40) engages the respective locking pin (34) in order
to lock the locking pins (34) relative to the pin receiving holes (38), characterised in that
the step of moving the locking element (40) comprises having arresting means (56,
58, 60) engage with the body (22) of the tile support (8) and with the locking element
(40) to hold the locking element (40) in its locking position.