Pedestal and support structure for tile

Abstract

A support structure for tile comprising a pair of flanges separated by and extending outward from the spine of the support structure each with an upper most planar surface. Where the tile comprises of a first face that is entirely planar, a second face that is entirely planar that is opposite the first face, a plurality of side edges extending between the first face and the second face with each of the plurality of side edges being square with respect to the first face and the second face, and a groove formed in at least one of the plurality of side edges. The groove of the at least one of the plurality of edges of the tile is configured for engagement by the first support structure rail of the support structure. The second face of the tile rests on the upper most planar surface of one of the pair of flanges.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A tile system comprising:
 a support structure;   a support structure spine extending upward from the support structure;   a first support structure rail extending perpendicularly outward from the support structure spine;   a second support structure rail opposite the first support structure rail extending perpendicularly outward from the support structure spine;   a pair of flanges separated by and extending outward from the spine of the support structure each with an upper most planar surface;   a tile comprising a first face that is entirely planar, a second face that is entirely planar that is opposite the first face, a plurality of side edges extending between the first face and the second face with each of the plurality of side edges being square with respect to the first face and the second face, and a groove formed in at least one of the plurality of side edges; and   wherein the groove of the at least one of the plurality of edges of the tile is configured for engagement by the first support structure rail of the support structure;   wherein the second face of the tile rests on the upper most planar surface of one of the pair of flanges.   
     
     
         22 . The tile system of  claim 21 , and further comprising a pedestal comprising a pedestal upper surface and a pedestal base configured to engage an underlying structure; wherein the support structure is configured for attachment to the pedestal upper surface. 
     
     
         23 . The title system of  claim 22 , wherein the pedestal further comprises a pair of pedestal spines extending upward from the pedestal upper surface each of which having a pedestal rail oriented perpendicular to the pedestal spine and projecting inward toward each other. 
     
     
         24 . The tile system of  claim 23 , wherein the support structure further comprises a lip formed on each side of the support structure and configured for engagement by the corresponding pedestal rail to attach the support structure to the pedestal. 
     
     
         25 . The tile system of  claim 24 ,, and a pair of side members extending downward from respective ends of the pair of flanges opposite the spine, and the lip formed on each of the pair of side members. 
     
     
         26 . The tile system of  claim 25 , wherein the pair of flanges each further comprise a trough positioned between the spine and the end of the flange. 
     
     
         27 . The tile system of  claim 23 , wherein the pedestal further comprises an adjustment portion connecting the pedestal base to the pedestal upper surface, wherein the adjustment portion is combined to the pedestal upper surface and is in threaded engagement with the pedestal base for adjusting a height of the pedestal. 
     
     
         28 . The tile system of  claim 27 , wherein an orientation of the pair of pedestal spines is rotated with the pedestal upper surface due to the threaded engagement of the adjustment portion to the pedestal base. 
     
     
         29 . The tile system of  claim 28 , wherein the pedestal upper surface is generally planar in shape, wherein a height of the pair of pedestal spines is defined by a distance from the pedestal upper surface to a distal end of each of the pair of pedestal spines. 
     
     
         30 . The tile system of  claim 28 , wherein the pair of pedestal spines are spaced inward from an outer perimeter of the pedestal upper surface and in a spaced relation from each other corresponding to a width of the support structure. 
     
     
         31 . The tile system of  claim 30 , wherein the pedestal rail of each of the pair of pedestal spines is spaced from the pedestal upper surface. 
     
     
         32 . The tile system of  claim 21 , wherein the tile further comprises a protrusion formed on at least two of the plurality of side edges that are opposite each other configured to provide a spaced relation between adjacent tiles. 
     
     
         33 . The tile system of  claim 21 , wherein the tile further comprises a groove formed in two of the plurality of side edges that are opposite of each other, wherein the two of the plurality of side edges are each square with respect to the first face and the second face. 
     
     
         34 . The tile system of  claim 33 , wherein the first support structure rail and the second support structure rail are configured to provide a spaced relation in a first direction between adjacent tiles. 
     
     
         35 . The tile system of  claim 34 , wherein adjacent tiles are configured in a spaced relation in a second direction between adjacent tiles. 
     
     
         36 . The tile system of  claim 35 , wherein the tile further comprises a protrusion formed on at least two of the plurality of side edges that are opposite each other configured to provide the spaced relation in the second direction between the adjacent tiles. 
     
     
         37 . The tile system of  claim 35 , and further comprising an element with an element spine, a first element rail extending perpendicularly outward from the element spine, and a second element rail opposite the first element rail extending perpendicularly outward from the element spine configured to provide the spaced relation in the second direction between the adjacent tiles. 
     
     
         38 . The tile system of  claim 21 , wherein the support structure further comprises: ; a pair of side members extending downward from respective ends of the pair of flanges opposite the spine; and a lip formed on each side of the support structure and configured for engagement by the corresponding pedestal rail to attach the support structure to a pedestal. 
     
     
         39 . The tile system of  claim 38 , wherein the support structure further comprises a bottom member extending between the pair of side members to define a cavity in the support structure, wherein the cavity is formed by the pair of flanges on a top of the cavity, the pair of side members on opposite sides of the cavity, and the bottom member on a bottom of the cavity. 
     
     
         40 . The tile system of  claim 39 , wherein the pedestal further comprises an adjustment portion connecting the pedestal base to a pedestal upper surface, wherein the adjustment portion is combined to the pedestal upper surface and is in threaded engagement with the pedestal base for adjusting a height of the pedestal; wherein the pedestal further comprises a pair of pedestal spines extending upward from the pedestal upper surface each of which having a pedestal rail oriented perpendicular to the pedestal spine and projecting inward toward each other; wherein an orientation of the pair of pedestal spines is rotated with the pedestal upper surface due to the threaded engagement of the adjustment portion to the pedestal base; wherein the pedestal upper surface is generally planar in shape; and wherein the pair of pedestal spines are spaced inward from an outer perimeter of the pedestal upper surface and in a spaced relation from each other corresponding to a width of the support structure. 
     
     
         41 . The tile system of  claim 40 , wherein the tile further comprises a groove formed in two of the plurality of side edges that are opposite of each other; wherein the first support structure rail and the second support structure rail are configured to provide a spaced relation in a first direction between adjacent tiles; and further comprising an element with an element spine, a first element rail extending perpendicularly outward from the element spine, and a second element rail opposite the first element rail extending perpendicularly outward from the element spine configured to provide the spaced relation in the second direction between the adjacent tiles.