Pedestal for Ballast Block Decking

Abstract

A deck system and pedestal for use in forming an elevated surface are provided. The system includes a plurality of ballast blocks, pavers or panels laterally positioned in a pattern to form a deck. Each of the blocks, pavers or panels has corner portions, and the pattern includes intersection areas in which the corner portions of adjacent blocks, pavers or panels extend. The system also includes a plurality of pedestals. The pedestals are located directly beneath the intersection areas and support the corner portions of adjacent blocks, pavers or panels a spaced distance above an underlying structure. Each pedestal has a base at a lower end thereof and a support at an upper end thereof. The support is rotatable relative to the base for altering an overall height of the pedestal. One or more couplers can be added to the pedestal to alter the overall height of the pedestal. The pedestals can include a rubber pad or coating that secures and stabilizes the block, paver, or panel on the pedestals. Brace securement eyelets can be provided in a flange extending circumferentially about the coupler and in the base of the pedestal.

1 . A deck system for forming an elevated surface, comprising:
 a plurality of blocks, pavers or panels laterally positioned in a pattern to form a deck, each of said blocks, pavers or panels having corner portions, said pattern including intersection areas in which corner portions of adjacent blocks, pavers or blocks extend; and   a plurality of pedestals, each of said pedestals being located directly beneath one of said intersection areas for supporting said corner portions of said adjacent blocks, pavers or panels a spaced distance above an underlying structure;   each of said pedestals including a base at a lower end thereof and a support at an upper end thereof for supporting said corner portions of said adjacent blocks, pavers or panels thereon, said support being adjustably mounted relative to said base for altering an overall height of said pedestal.   
   
   
       2 . A deck system according to  claim 1 , wherein said support includes a support plate having an upper surface with a pad, coating or texture on which said corner portions of said adjacent blocks, pavers or panels are supported, and wherein said pad, coating or texture secures and stabilizes said blocks, pavers or panels on said support and prevents noise from being generated when pedestrians walk on the blocks, pavers or panels. 
   
   
       3 . A deck system according to  claim 2 , wherein said pad, coating or texture includes a pad made of rubber. 
   
   
       4 . A deck system according to  claim 3 , wherein said upper surface of said support plate has a plurality of upstanding walls that project therefrom and that define quadrants on said support plate, each of said quadrants supporting one of said corner portions of said adjacent blocks, pavers or panels, and each of said upstanding walls defining lateral spacing between said adjacent blocks, pavers or panels to permit drainage of fluid through said deck to the underlying structure. 
   
   
       5 . A deck system according to  claim 4 , wherein said pad is mechanically snapped onto said support plate with cooperating bosses and recesses formed in engaging surfaces of said pad and support plate. 
   
   
       6 . A deck system according to  claim 5 , wherein said pad is adhesively secured to said support plate. 
   
   
       7 . A deck system according to  claim 1 , wherein said support includes a substantially cylindrical, externally-threaded post depending from a support plate, wherein said base has a base plate and a substantially cylindrical, hollow, internally-threaded post projecting from said base plate, and wherein said externally-threaded post of said support and internally-threaded post of said base are cooperatively engagable to permit said support to be connected to said base and to permit said support to be rotatable relative to said base to enable said overall height of said pedestal to be altered. 
   
   
       8 . A deck system according to  claim 7 , wherein said support plate and said base plate are of substantially the same size. 
   
   
       9 . A deck system according to  claim 8 , wherein said support plate and said base plate are circular in plan and have diameters that are substantially identical. 
   
   
       10 . A deck system according to  claim 7 , wherein at least some of said pedestals further comprise one or more couplers for assembly within said pedestal intermediate said support and said base for further altering said overall height of said pedestal, each of said couplers having a flange extending circumferentially about said coupler, a substantially cylindrical, externally-threaded post depending from said flange, and a substantially cylindrical, internally threaded post projecting from said flange. 
   
   
       11 . A deck system according to  claim 10 , wherein said flange has a series of spaced-apart brace securement eyelets extending therethrough. 
   
   
       12 . A deck system according to  claim 11 , wherein said series of eyelets are equally spaced-apart circumferentially about said coupler, whereby the uniform distribution of closely-spaced eyelets about the coupler ensures that an eyelet will substantially always be opposed to an eyelet in an adjacent pedestal thereby permitting ready placement of bracing wires between pedestals. 
   
   
       13 . A deck system according to  claim 11 , wherein said externally-threaded post of said coupler is cooperatively engagable with said internally-threaded post of said base to permit said coupler to be connected to said base and to permit said coupler to be rotatable relative to said base to enable said overall height of said pedestal to be altered, and wherein said internally-threaded post of said coupler is cooperatively engagable with said externally-threaded post of said support to permit said coupler to be connected to said support and to permit said coupler to be rotatable relative to said support to enable said overall height of said pedestal to be altered. 
   
   
       14 . A deck system according to  claim 11 , wherein, when one or more couplers are assembled with said support and base, said flange of said one or more couplers extends substantially parallel with said support plate and base plate. 
   
   
       15 . A deck system according to  claim 11 , further comprising bracing for restraining movement of said pedestals, said bracing including an elongate wire or rod having one end secured to one of said eyelets in one of said pedestals and another end secured to one of said eyelets in an adjacent one of said pedestals. 
   
   
       16 . A deck system according to  claim 11 , wherein said base has a plurality of spaced-apart, radially-extending reinforcement walls projecting from said base plate and extending outwardly from an exterior wall of said internally-threaded post of said base, and wherein each of said reinforcement walls has a bracing securement eyelet formed therein. 
   
   
       17 . A deck system according to  claim 16 , further comprising bracing for restraining movement of said pedestals, said bracing including an elongate wire or rod having one end secured to one of said eyelets in said coupler of one of said pedestals and another end secured to one of said eyelets in said base of an adjacent one of said pedestals. 
   
   
       18 . A deck system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of slope compensators, each compensator supporting one of said pedestals in a manner ensuring that the pedestal extends substantially vertical despite the underlying structure being sloped relative to horizontal. 
   
   
       19 . A deck system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of removable caps, each cap overlying the corner portions of the blocks, pavers or panels in one of said intersection areas and being removably secured to an underlying one of said pedestals. 
   
   
       20 . A deck system according to  claim 1 , wherein said pedestal is made of a moldable plastic material. 
   
   
       21 . A ballast block deck system for forming an elevated surface on an exterior roof structure, comprising a plurality of ballast blocks and a plurality of pedestals, said ballast blocks being laterally positioned in a pattern to form a deck, each of said ballast blocks having corner portions, said pattern including intersection areas in which corner portions of adjacent ballast blocks extend, one of said pedestals being located directly beneath one of said intersection areas for supporting said corner portions of said adjacent ballast blocks a spaced distance above said underlying roof structure, each of said pedestals being made of molded plastic and comprising:
 a base at a lower end thereof and a support at an upper end thereof for supporting said corner portions of said adjacent ballast blocks thereon, said support being rotatable relative to said base for altering an overall height of said pedestal;   said support including a support plate and a substantially cylindrical, externally-threaded post depending from said support plate, said support plate having an upper surface with a plurality of upstanding walls that define quadrants on said support plate, each of said quadrants supporting one of said corner portions of said adjacent ballast blocks, and each of said upstanding walls defining lateral spacing between said adjacent ballast blocks to permit drainage of fluid through said deck to the underlying roof structure;   said base having a base plate and a substantially cylindrical, hollow, internally-threaded post projecting from said base plate, said externally-threaded post of said support and internally-threaded post of said base being cooperatively engagable to connect said support to said base in a manner permitting said support to be rotated relative to said base to enable said overall height of said pedestal to be altered; and   one or more couplers intermediate said support and said base for further altering said overall height of said pedestal;   each of said couplers having a circumferentially-extending flange, a substantially cylindrical, externally-threaded post depending from said flange, and a substantially cylindrical, internally threaded post projecting from said flange;   said externally-threaded post of said coupler being cooperatively engagable with said internally-threaded post of said base to permit said coupler to be connected to said base and to permit said coupler to be rotatable relative to said base to enable said overall height of said pedestal to be altered, and said internally-threaded post of said coupler is cooperatively engagable with said externally-threaded post of said support to permit said coupler to be connected to said support and to permit said coupler to be rotatable relative to said support to enable said overall height of said pedestal to be altered; and   said flange defining a series of brace securement eyelets equally spaced-apart circumferentially about said coupler.   
   
   
       22 . A deck system according to  claim 21 , wherein said base has a plurality of spaced-apart, radially-extending reinforcement walls projecting from said base plate and extending outwardly from an exterior wall of said internally-threaded post of said base, and wherein each of said reinforcement walls has a bracing securement eyelet formed therein. 
   
   
       23 . A deck system according to  claim 22 , further comprising bracing for restraining movement of said pedestals, said bracing including an elongate wire or rod having one end secured to one of said eyelets in said coupler of one of said pedestals and another end secured to one of said eyelets in said base of an adjacent one of said pedestals. 
   
   
       24 . A deck system according to  claim 22 , wherein said flange of said coupler extends parallel to said support plate and base plate. 
   
   
       25 . A deck system according to  claim 24 , wherein each of said pedestals further comprises a rubber pad or coating on an upper surface of said support plate on which said corner portions of said adjacent ballast blocks are supported. 
   
   
       26 . A deck system according to  claim 25 , wherein said rubber pad or coating is a pre-manufactured pad that is mechanically snapped onto said support plate with cooperating bosses and recesses formed in engaging surfaces of said pad and support plate. 
   
   
       27 . A deck system according to  claim 26 , wherein said pad is adhesively secured to said support plate. 
   
   
       28 . A deck system according to  claim 25 , wherein said support plate, base plate and flange having circular peripheries in plan, and wherein said support and base plates have diameters that are substantially identical. 
   
   
       29 . A deck system according to  claim 28 , further comprising a plurality of slope compensators, each compensator supporting one of said pedestals in a manner ensuring that the pedestal extends substantially vertical despite the underlying roof structure being sloped relative to horizontal. 
   
   
       30 . A deck system according to  claim 29 , further comprising a plurality of removable caps, each cap overlying the corner portions of the ballast blacks in one of said intersection areas and being removably secured to an underlying one of said pedestals. 
   
   
       31 . A pedestal for supporting blocks, pavers, tiles, or panels a spaced distance above an underlying surface, comprising:
 a support including a support plate having an upper surface with a plurality of upstanding walls that define quadrants on said support plate; and   a rubber pad, coating or texture on said upper surface for securing and stabilizing the blocks, pavers, tiles, or panels on the upper surface such that the pad, coating, or texture deadens noise, absorbs shock, and increases friction between the blocks, pavers, tiles, or panels and the upper surface.   
   
   
       32 . A pedestal according to  claim 31 , wherein said support includes a substantially cylindrical, externally-threaded post depending from said support plate, and wherein said pedestal further comprising:
 a base having a base plate and a substantially cylindrical, hollow, internally-threaded post projecting from said base plate, said externally-threaded post of said support and internally-threaded post of said base being cooperatively engagable to connect said support to said base in a manner permitting said support to be rotated relative to said base to enable said overall height of the pedestal to be altered; and   a coupler removably assembled intermediate said support and said base, said coupler having a circumferentially-extending flange, a substantially cylindrical, externally-threaded post depending from said flange, and a substantially cylindrical, internally threaded post projecting from said flange;   said externally-threaded post of said coupler being cooperatively engagable with said internally-threaded post of said base to permit said coupler to be connected to said base and to permit said coupler to be rotatable relative to said base to enable said overall height of said pedestal to be altered, and said internally-threaded post of said coupler is cooperatively engagable with said externally-threaded post of said support to permit said coupler to be connected to said support and to permit said coupler to be rotatable relative to said support to enable said overall height of said pedestal to be altered;   said flange having a series of spaced-apart brace securement eyelets extending therethrough.   
   
   
       33 . A pedestal according to  claim 32 , wherein said base has a plurality of spaced-apart, radially-extending reinforcement walls projecting from said base plate and extending outwardly from an exterior wall of said internally-threaded post of said base, and wherein each of said reinforcement walls has a bracing securement eyelet formed therein. 
   
   
       34 . A pedestal according to  claim 33 , wherein said series of eyelets are equally spaced-apart circumferentially about said coupler. 
   
   
       35 . A pedestal according to  claim 34 , wherein said flange of said coupler is annular and extends in a plane that is substantially parallel with said support plate and base plate. 
   
   
       36 . A pedestal according to  claim 35 , wherein said support, said base, and said coupler are made entirely of a moldable plastic material. 
   
   
       37 . A pedestal according to  claim 36 , wherein said support plate and said base plate are circular in plan and have diameters that are substantially identical. 
   
   
       38 . A pedestal according to  claim 31 , wherein said pad or coating is a pre-manufactured pad and is mechanically snapped onto said support plate with cooperating bosses and recesses formed in engaging surfaces of said pad and support plate. 
   
   
       39 . A pedestal according to  claim 38 , wherein said pad is adhesively secured to said support plate.