Customizable tile for modular platform system, modular platform system with customizable tile, and method of platform making

Abstract

A customizable tile is configured for use with a modular platform system that uses tiles, beams supporting the tiles, and legs supporting the beams. The customizable tiles include a tile sizing structure on an underside thereof. The tile sizing structure includes channels and cutting slots extending in different directions so that the channels and cutting slots intersect. The cutting slots act as a guide to cut the tile to alter its width and/or length so that the tile has a customized size for use in the modular platform system. The channels are configured to receive a support board, if necessary, to provide support for the tile on the beams once the tile is cut to size. The channels can also connect to the beams for tile support if need be.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A customizable sized tile comprising:
 a top portion and a tile periphery, the tile periphery including peripheral members,   a tile size adjusting structure extending from an underside of the top portion, a periphery of tile size adjusting structure and the peripheral members forming a peripheral slot inward of the peripheral members;   the tile size adjusting structure further comprising a plurality of channels extending in first and second directions, and a plurality of cutting slots also extending in the first and second directions, the channels and cutting slots extending in the first direction intersecting with the channels and cutting slots extending in the second direction;   for channels and cutting slots extending in the same direction, each channel is positioned between a pair of cutting slots, cutting along one or more of the cutting slots allowing the dimension of the tile to be reduced.   
     
     
         2 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the tile is made of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein each channel is formed by opposing discontinuous walls, each discontinuous wall having spaces to accommodate intersecting channels and intersecting cutting slots. 
     
     
         4 . The tile of  claim 3 , wherein each cutting slot is formed by one of the opposing discontinuous walls for each channel and a second discontinuous wall, the second discontinuous wall formed by wall segments of the opposing discontinuous walls forming channels intersecting the cutting slot. 
     
     
         5 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein corners of the periphery of the tile size adjusting structure includes l-shaped wall segments. 
     
     
         6 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion has a plurality of openings therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The tile of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion has a closed top surface with no openings therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The tile of  claim 6 , wherein surface portions of the top portion include protrusions for traction. 
     
     
         9 . The tile of  claim 7 , wherein the closed top surface has raised or recessed portions to provide traction. 
     
     
         10 . A tile assembly comprising the customizable tile of  claim 1  and at least one support board, the at least one support board sized to fit into one of the channels. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one support board is cuttable so that the at least one support board that can fit into a channel whose length is changed by cutting of the tile along one of the cutting slots thereof. 
     
     
         12 . In a modular platform system comprising tiles, beams, and legs, wherein the tiles are supported by the beams and the beams are supported by the legs, the improvement comprising at least one of the customizable tiles of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The modular platform system of  claim 12 , further comprising and at least one support board, the at least one support board sized to fit into one of the channels. 
     
     
         14 . In a method of creating a modular platform system at an on-site location, wherein tiles are attached to beams at the on-site location site and the beams are attached to legs at the on-site location, the improvement comprising providing at least one of the customizable tiles of  claim 1 , and cutting the at least customizable tile at the on-site location for fitting on at least two beams. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one support board is provided, the support board sized to fit into one of the channels, and the at least one support board is positioned in one of the channels after the tile is cut. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one support board is also cut to a predetermined size before being positioned in the channel of the cut customizable tile.