The present invention relates to a terrace pedestal suitable for holding one or more floor boards at a distance from an underlying surface, comprising a supporting plate suitable for supporting one or more floor boards.

The floor boards in question may be wooden or plastic floor boards, but are preferably ceramic or concrete floor boards, or floor boards made of natural stone. The floor boards are in particular terrace tiles or terrace planks. The floor boards are preferably placed directly on the supporting plate of the terrace pedestal, but may also be placed on the supporting plate by means of a distance piece, a so-called bearing profile.

Terrace pedestals are widely known; they generally form part of a so-called carrying system for floors or terraces. Carrying systems of this kind are often used when for example we wish to form a flat roof for a useful exterior space or we wish to lay a terrace on an uneven substrate or level substrate of for example balcony terraces of flats, hotels or restaurants. Terrace pedestals make it possible to place the floor boards (tile elements) at a suitable distance from one another and at a distance from an underlying surface. In this way, screed and tile adhesive are no longer necessary, rainwater can be led away through the open joints and lines can simply be laid in the free space under the floor surface. So as to be able to keep the same joint width everywhere, the upper surface of the tile carrier is provided with a number of tile holders extending transversely on the supporting plate. The floor boards should be placed adjacent to the tile holders.

Certain floor boards, in particular floor boards made of natural stone and to a lesser extent ceramic floor boards, are not of equal thickness overall. Now, to compensate for irregularities in the surface of floor boards and thus correct any height differences between floor boards placed next to each other, it is known, where necessary, to place rubber filling pieces under the floor boards or to spray on at the level of the support points at the bottom of the tile. However, this manner of working is time- consuming. An additional disadvantage of the existing carrying systems is that in storms or strong gusts of wind, one or more floor boards may be lifted and damaged.

European patent publication EP 1 010 833 describes a method for placing raised floor boards and a device (support) usable in this method. The support consists of a supporting plate that is connected to a supporting tube in which a spindle nut and an associated spindle are fastened. The supporting plate is also provided with a central access opening through which the spindle can be operated. Elastic adhesive strips or an adhesive are applied in the corners of the supporting plate. According to EP 1 010 833, it is important that the corner of a floor board is only placed ¼ on the supporting plate, so that the central access opening in the supporting plate remains free.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a solution for the problems described above, so that (dimensional) deviations in the height (thickness) between different floor boards, in particular floor boards made of natural stone or ceramic material, may be compensated, and after placement, lifting of floor boards can be prevented.

The aim of the invention is achieved by providing a terrace pedestal suitable for holding one or more floor boards at a distance from an underlying surface, comprising a supporting plate suitable for supporting one or more floor boards, wherein the supporting plate is provided with a levelling body for the one or more floor boards, wherein the levelling body is formed from a bituminous material, the levelling body comprises a removable protective layer and the levelling body has a thickness between 1 mm and 10 mm. Owing to its composition, the levelling body will ensure that unevenness in the floor boards or thickness differences between adjacent floor boards are compensated so that the floor boards will lie perfectly flat. The compensation will occur because the floor boards are partly pressed into the (soft) bituminous material. The bituminous material preferably comprises unmodified bitumen. The levelling body is preferably provided centrally on the supporting plate. Owing to the low softening point, preferably between 45° and 100°, of the bituminous material, through the effect of the warmth of the sun and the weight, there will also be adhesion to the objects placed thereon, preferably floor elements or a bearing profile. This adhesion will on the one hand ensure that the floor boards will no longer move when for example they are walked upon. Owing to the adhesiveness of the levelling body, the floor boards (or bearing profile) lying thereon will be properly fixed, and when such terrace pedestals are used for forming a terrace, the various terrace pedestals and the floor boards placed thereon form as it were an assembled structure that will move as a single whole. This will on the other hand prevent individual floor boards being lifted, for example in a storm. In contrast to the existing systems, the structure will now move as a single whole and accordingly will be more resistant to extreme weather conditions.

Preferably the levelling body has a core that is covered with the bituminous material. The core is preferably formed from glass cloth.

The levelling body of the terrace pedestal according to the invention comprises a removable protective layer. The protective layer is to be removed before the floor boards are placed. The protective layer is preferably a polyethylene film.

The levelling body of the terrace pedestal according to the invention has a thickness between 1 mm and 10 mm. In particular the levelling body has a thickness between 2 and 8 mm and more particularly a thickness between 4 mm and 8 mm.

According to a particular embodiment of the terrace pedestal according to the invention, the terrace pedestal is made of plastic, preferably PP. Other suitable plastics, for example such as polycarbonate, obviously may also be considered. The terrace pedestal is preferably made by injection moulding or extrusion.

In a more particular embodiment of the terrace pedestal according to the invention, it comprises a base for placing on an underlying surface. The terrace pedestal according to the invention is preferably adjustable for height. To explain the properties of the present invention in more detail and to indicate additional advantages and features thereof, there now follows a more detailed description of the terrace pedestal according to the invention. It should be made clear that nothing in the description given hereunder is to be interpreted as limiting the protection claimed in the claims.

In this description, reference is made, using reference numbers, to the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1: is a front view of a terrace pedestal according to the invention, which keeps two floor boards at a distance from an underlying surface;

Fig. 2: is a perspective view of a terrace pedestal according to the invention, which keeps a wooden bearing profile at a distance from an underlying surface; Fig. 3: shows a supporting body comprising a supporting plate, on which a levelling body is provided centrally.

The terrace pedestal (1) according to the present invention, and as illustrated in the accompanying Figs. 1 and 2, is suitable for holding one or more floor boards (2) at a distance from an underlying surface.

The terrace pedestal (1) is made up of a number of components:

a support (3) or supporting plate suitable for supporting one or more floor boards (2);

a base (5) for placing on an underlying surface, and

a connecting piece (6), which will form the connection between the base (5) and the supporting plate (3).

The connecting piece (6) is made ring-shaped and is provided rotatably in the base (5). Because the connecting piece (6) is provided on its periphery with a thread that engages in a thread present on the inside of the base (5), the height of the terrace pedestal (1) is adjustable. The height of the terrace pedestal (1) is adjustable by turning the connecting piece (6) relative to the base (5), optionally by means of a suitable tool. A height-adjustable terrace pedestal (1) of this kind has the advantage that it can also be placed on a substrate that does not lie flat everywhere. To ensure good placing of the terrace pedestal (1), in a preferred embodiment the underside of the base (5) may be provided with a damping layer 2 to 25 mm thick, which is made for example of PE, foamed PE, PVC, foamed PVC or a mixture of one or more of the foregoing materials.

According to the present invention, a levelling body (4) that is formed from a bituminous material is placed on the supporting plate (3), more specifically the levelling body has a core of glass cloth that is covered with a bituminous material, preferably unmodified bitumen. Owing to its composition, the bituminous material will adhere well to the material from which the terrace pedestal, and more specifically the supporting plate (3), is made. As standard, the terrace pedestal (1) and the supporting plate (3) are made of plastic, in particular polypropylene. The supporting plate (3) is further provided with a vertical edge that serves as a holder (8) for the floor boards (2), or if applicable as a holder (8) for a bearing profile (7).

The levelling body preferably has a circular cross-section, with a diameter between 5 cm and 15 cm. Obviously other configurations, such as quadrangular, rectangular, leaf-shaped, etc., are also possible. The thickness of the levelling body (4) is between 1 mm and 10 mm.

The levelling body (4) is also provided with a removable protective layer or protective film of polyethylene, which is to be removed before an object is placed on the levelling body (4).

On the terrace pedestal (1), the floor boards (2), as shown in Fig. 1, may be placed directly on the levelling body (4). The floor boards (2) may, as shown in Fig. 1, be tile elements that are made of plastic, natural stone, ceramic material, rubber, etc.. The floor boards may, however, also be plank-shaped elements, which for example are made of: solid wood, a wood-based material, or plastic. The floor boards may also be grid-shaped elements made of metal, plastic, etc.

However, floor boards (2) may also, as shown in Fig. 2, not be placed directly on the levelling body (4), but on a bearing profile (7) that is suitable for carrying one or more floor boards. In this case the bearing profile (7) is placed on the levelling body (4). Said bearing profile may be made of aluminium, solid wood, a wood-based material, or plastic.

The presence of a levelling body (4) according to the invention makes it possible, if necessary, when for example two adjacent floor boards (2) do not lie perfectly flat owing to a difference in thickness or as a result of unevenness of the surface, to press one floor board into the levelling body (4) a little more, so that the height difference is compensated and the floor boards will lie perfectly flat.

An additional effect of the levelling body (4) described is that after placing, the floor boards (2) or if applicable the bearing profiles (7), will, owing to the warmth of the sun and loading, adhere to the levelling body. This occurs because the (bituminous) material from which the levelling body (4) is made has a low softening point. This will also ensure that the floor boards (2) (bearing profiles), once placed, will be more difficult to move or tilt, when walked upon. With the existing systems, tiles will sometimes tilt when walked upon, with an unpleasant ticking sound in consequence. As a result of the adhesion, the floor boards will also no longer be lifted in a rough storm or squalls.

Fig. 3 shows a supporting body that consists of a supporting plate (3) and a levelling body (4) as defined above. A supporting body (9) of this kind forms part of the terrace pedestal (1) according to the invention. A supporting body (9) of this kind may, however, also be used for positioning other objects or structures properly flat next to each other and/or wherein adhesion is also achieved between the levelling body (4) and the object or structure placed thereon. Another option consists of making the supporting plate L-shaped and providing the vertical part thereof with the levelling body (4). A supporting body of this kind then makes it possible to place, in a flooring system, a floor board vertically against the lateral edge of a floor board placed horizontally, for example for forming a step.