Pedestal and Support Structure for Tile

Abstract

One illustrative embodiment of a tile & support structure may be configured to secure the position of a tile in a generally vertical configuration, such as the riser of a step, as a border around a portion of a deck, a building and/or wall façade, ventilated façade, interior or exterior wall covering, or other generally vertical surface. The support structure may be formed with a spine having at least one rail extending outward from a distal end thereof. The spine and rail(s) may be configured to secure one or more tiles, which tiles may be formed with a groove on at least one edge thereof, and wherein one or more rails may be positioned within the groove.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A tile securing system comprising:
 a structural component, the structural component formed with an anchor extending downward through an upper surface of the structural component;   a retaining element engaged with a fastener;
 wherein the fastener includes a first end configured to engage the anchor and a second end configured to engage the retaining element such that a portion of the fastener is positioned within an aperture formed in the retaining element and wherein the fastener is rotatable with respect to the retaining element about the aperture; 
 wherein the retaining element is configured to simultaneously engage a first groove formed in a first edge of a first tile and a second groove formed in a second edge of a second tile, wherein the first tile and second tile are positioned adjacent to one another such that the first edge of the first tile faces the second edge of the second tile; 
 wherein the second end of the fastener is accessible via a clearance between the first tile and the second tile; 
 wherein engaging the first end of the fastener with the anchor secures the relative positions of the structural component, retaining element, first tile, and second tile with respect to one another in at least a dimension parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fastener. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising the first tile and the second tile both having a bottom face, wherein the bottom face of the first tile and the bottom face of the second tile rest on the upper surface of the structural component. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the structural component is further defined as being engaged with a pedestal. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the structural component is further defined as a pedestal. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the first edge of the first tile and a portion of the second edge of the second tile are positioned between the retaining element and the structural component. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the retaining element is further defined as being moveable along a length of the first groove in the first tile and the second groove in the second tile prior to engaging the fastener with the structural component. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the structural component is further defined as a support structure. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the retaining element is further defined as being formed in a substantially oval shape. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the engagement among the fastener, retaining element, first tile, second tile, and structural component prevents wind uplift for the first and second tiles. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the retaining element is further defined as being moveable along a length of the first groove in the first tile and the second groove in the second tile prior to engaging the fastener with the structural component, and wherein the position of the retaining element is secure with respect to the first and second tiles in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fastener. 
     
     
         31 . A tile securing system comprising:
 a pedestal having a pedestal upper surface and a pedestal base configured to engage an underlying structure;   a retaining element having a generally T-shaped cross-sectional shape with a first rail and a second rail extending laterally from a first distal end of a spine;   a fastener engaged with the retaining element, wherein the fastener includes a first end configured to engage the pedestal upper surface and a second end second end configured to engage the retaining element such that a portion of the fastener is positioned within an aperture formed in the retaining element, and such that the fastener is rotatable with respect to the retaining element about the aperture;   wherein the first rail of the retaining element is configured to engage a first groove formed in a first edge of a first tile   wherein the second rail of the retaining element is configured to engage a second groove formed in a second edge of a second tile;   wherein the first tile and second tile are positioned adjacent to one another such that the first edge of the first tile faces the second edge of the second tile, and the spine of the retaining element is positioned between the first tile and the second tile;   wherein the second end of the fastener is accessible via a clearance between the first tile and the second tile;   wherein engaging the first end of the fastener with the pedestal upper surface secures the relative positions of the pedestal, retaining element, first tile, and second tile with respect to one another in at least a dimension parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fastener.   
     
     
         32 . The tile securing system of  claim 31 , wherein a first pedestal spine extends upward from the pedestal upper surface, and where the first pedestal spine is substantially parallel to the spine of the retaining element. 
     
     
         33 . The tile securing system of  claim 31 , further comprising the first tile and the second tile both having a bottom face, wherein the bottom face of the first tile and the bottom face of the second tile rest on the pedestal upper surface. 
     
     
         34 . The tile securing system of  claim 31 , wherein the retaining element is further defined as being moveable along a length of the first groove in the first tile and the second groove in the second tile prior to engaging the fastener with the structural component. 
     
     
         35 . The tile securing system of  claim 31 , wherein the engagement among the fastener, retaining element, first tile, second tile, and pedestal prevents wind uplift for the first and second tiles. 
     
     
         36 . The tile securing system of  claim 31 , wherein the retaining element is further defined as being moveable along a length of the first groove in the first tile and the second groove in the second tile prior to engaging the fastener with the structural component, and wherein the position of the retaining element is secure with respect to the first and second tiles in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fastener. 
     
     
         37 . A method for securing a tile, the method comprising:
 positioning a first tile with respect to a support structure;
 wherein the first tile is formed with a first groove on a first edge of the first tile; 
   positioning a second tile with respect to the first tile and the support structure;
 wherein the second tile is formed with a second groove on a second edge of the second tile; 
 wherein a portion of the first tile and a portion of the second tile rest on and are supported by the support structure; 
   positioning a retaining element between the first edge of the first tile and the second edge of the second tile;
 wherein the first edge of the first tile faces the second edge of the second tile and there is a clearance therebetween; 
 wherein a first portion of the retaining element is positioned in the first groove formed in the first tile and a second portion of the retaining element is positioned in the second groove of the second tile; 
 wherein the retaining element is moveable with respect to the first groove and the second groove along their lengths; 
   engaging a fastener with the support structure;
 wherein the fastener is rotatable with respect to the retaining element about an aperture formed in the retaining element; 
 wherein a first end of the fastener is engageable with the retainer, a second end of the fastener is engageable with the support structure, and a portion of the fastener therebetween is positioned in an aperture of the retaining element; 
 wherein the second end of the fastener is accessible through the clearance between the first tile and the second tile, and wherein rotating the second end of the fastener causes the first end of the fastener to selectively engage the support structure. 
   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of engaging a bottom surface of a first tile with an upper surface of the support structure. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of engaging the support structure with a pedestal. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising preventing wind uplift of the first and second tiles through the engaging of the fastener with the support structure.