Support Tile for a Tiled Terrace

Abstract

The invention relates to a support tile for a tiled terrace, which support tile includes a body with a rectangular base surface, a top surface parallel to the base surface and a peripheral wall extending along the circumference of the base surface and between the base surface and the top surface, and support flanges extending from the peripheral wall and extending parallel to the top surface. The support flanges are arranged at either of two different distances from the top surface, such that the support flanges of adjacent support tiles can slide interlocking in a direction parallel to the top surface and provide a support in a direction perpendicular to the top surface.

Claims

1. A support tile for a tiled terrace, which support tile comprises a body with a rectangular base surface, a top surface parallel to the base surface and a peripheral wall extending along the circumference of the base surface and between the base surface and the top surface, further comprising support flanges extending from the peripheral wall and extending parallel to the top surface, wherein the support flanges are arranged at either of two different distances from the top surface, such that the support flanges of adjacent support tiles can slide interlocking in a direction parallel to the top surface and provide a support in a direction perpendicular to the top surface.

2. The support tile according to claim 1, wherein the flange nearest to the top surface has a bottom support surface, wherein the flange furthest from the top surface has a top support surface and wherein the top support surface and the bottom support surface extend in the same plane parallel to the top surface.

3. The support tile according to claim 1, wherein strengthening ribs are provided on the peripheral wall extending perpendicular from the support flanges and wherein recesses are provided in the flanges for accommodating strengthening ribs of adjacent support tiles, when the support tiles are in an interlocking position.

4. The support tile according to claim 1, wherein the top surface comprises at least one recess and wherein the support tile comprises a spacer element arranged in the at least one recess, wherein the spacer element is provided with at least one rib extending perpendicular to the top surface to space apart two tiles supported by the support tile.

5. The support tile according to claim 4, wherein a number of recesses are provided in the top surface at a fixed pitch in both length and width direction.

6. The support tile according to claim 4, wherein the spacer element comprises a center part, spoke parts extending radially from the center part and a rim part connecting free ends of the spoke parts, wherein the at least one rib is arranged on the rim part.

7. The support tile according to claim 4, wherein at least one rib is arranged on the rim part between two adjacent spoke parts.

8. The support tile according to claim 4, wherein straight channels are arranged in the top surface, which straight channels connect the recesses in the top surface.

9. The support tile according to claim 1, further comprising at least two lips arranged on opposite edges of the top surface, wherein the at least two lips extend substantially perpendicular to the top surface and wherein the free end of each lip is provided with a protrusion for protruding into a circumferential groove of a tile, which protrusions extend over the top surface.

10. The support tile according to claim 9, wherein the lips are resilient and are distributed along the circumference of the top surface.

11. A combination comprising: a support tile according to claim 9; and a ceramic tile, wherein the ceramic tile comprises in the circumferential side wall at least a number of recesses; and wherein the protrusions of the lips protrude in the recesses of the ceramic tile.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the recesses are provided by a circumferential groove arranged in and extending along the circumferential side wall.

13. A combination comprising: a number of support tiles according to claim 1, wherein the support tiles are arranged interlocking and next to each other to provide a support surface, a number of ceramic tiles arranged on the support surface provided by the number of support tiles.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the top surface comprises at least one recess and wherein the support tile comprises a spacer element arranged in the at least one recess, wherein the spacer element is provided with at least one rib extending perpendicular to the top surface to space apart two tiles supported by the support tile, wherein the ceramic tiles are arranged abutting the ribs of the spacer elements.

15. The combination according to claim 13, wherein straight channels are arranged in the top surface, which straight channels connect the recesses in the top surface, further comprising masonry joints arranged between adjacent ceramic tiles, wherein the masonry joints extend into the straight channels and preferably extend under the ceramic tiles to provide a masonry joint with a non-releasing cross-section.

16. The support tile according to claim 2, wherein strengthening ribs are provided on the peripheral wall extending perpendicular from the support flanges and wherein recesses are provided in the flanges for accommodating strengthening ribs of adjacent support tiles, when the support tiles are in an interlocking position.

17. The support tile according to claim 2, wherein the top surface comprises at least one recess and wherein the support tile comprises a spacer element arranged in the at least one recess, wherein the spacer element is provided with at least one rib extending perpendicular to the top surface to space apart two tiles supported by the support tile.

18. The support tile according to claim 3, wherein the top surface comprises at least one recess and wherein the support tile comprises a spacer element arranged in the at least one recess, wherein the spacer element is provided with at least one rib extending perpendicular to the top surface to space apart two tiles supported by the support tile.

19. The support tile according to claim 5, wherein the spacer element comprises a center part, spoke parts extending radially from the center part and a rim part connecting free ends of the spoke parts, wherein the at least one rib is arranged on the rim part.

20. The support tile according to claim 5, wherein at least one rib is arranged on the rim part between two adjacent spoke parts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the combination according to the invention.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of a combination of support tiles.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a spacer element for the combination according to the invention.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a second embodiment of a combination according to the invention.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a support tile according to the invention.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a support tile of FIG. 6 with a ceramic tile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the combination 1 according to the invention. The combination 1 has a number of support tiles 2 on which ceramic terrace tiles 3 are arranged.

[0046] Each support tile 2 has a rectangular base surface 4, a top surface 5 parallel to the base surface 4 and a peripheral wall 6 extending along the circumference of the base surface 4 and between the base surface 4 and the top surface 5.

[0047] Along the peripheral a number of support flanges 7, 8 are arranged. The support flanges 7, 8 are alternating positioned at a distance closer to the top surface 5 (support flanges 7) and at a distance further away from the top surface 5 (support flanges 8). Each of the support flanges 7, 8 is provided with strengthening ribs 9. The lower support flanges 8 are provided with recesses 10 for accommodating the strengthening ribs 9 of the higher support flanges 7, when two adjacent support tiles 2 are interlocked (see also FIG. 2).

[0048] The top surface 5 is furthermore provided with recesses 11, in which a spacer element 12 (see also FIG. 4) can be positioned. Each spacer element 12 has ribs 13 extending perpendicular from the top surface 2 and provide a spacing between the terrace tiles 3.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the embodiment 1 of FIG. 1. Two adjacent support tiles 2 are interlocked by the support flanges 7, 8 being slid over each other in horizontal direction. This ensures that in vertical direction, the support flanges 7, 8 can transfer a load onto each other, while the support flanges 7, 8 can still slide freely in horizontal direction to accommodate for any heat expansion.

[0050] The top surface 5 on which the terrace tiles 3 are supported are provided with a straight channel 14, which is formed in this part by the edges of both support tiles 2. This allows for a masonry joint material 15 to fill the space between the terrace tiles 3 and to have a non-releasing cross-section, in this case an inverted T-shape. The straight channel 14 has side grooves 20, which contribute to the non-releasing cross-section and which prevent the joint material 15 to break loose from the support tiles 2. Also the tiles 3 are provided with a slanting sides 21 and cutouts 22 which furthermore contribute to a firm attachment of the joint material 15 to the tiles 3 and the support tiles 2.

[0051] Preferably the bottom of each tile 3 is provided with ridges 23, which are housed in the straight channels 14.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of a combination of support tiles 2. Each support tile 2 is provided with a number of recesses 11 in which a spacer element 12 can be positioned dependent on the size of the terrace tiles used.

[0053] Each recess 11 is connected with a straight channel 14 allowing for a masonry joint with a non-releasing cross-section to be provided between the terrace tiles.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a spacer element 12 for the combination 1 according to the invention. The spacer element 12 has a center part 16, spoke parts 17 extending radially from the center part 16 and a rim part 18 connecting the free ends of the spoke parts 17. On the rim part 18, between the spoke parts 17, the ribs 13 are arranged to provide a spacing between the terrace tiles 3.

[0055] Because the ribs 13 are arranged on the rim part 18 between two spoke parts 17, the rim part 18 can deform slightly, when a force is exerted on a rib 13, without transferring all forces onto the center part 16 and onto the support tile 2.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment 30 of the combination according to the invention, which corresponds largely with the embodiment 1 according to FIG. 1.

[0057] The tiles 31 are supported on support tiles 2. The tiles 31 have sides 32, which diverge in upward direction, such that the joint material 15 provides a lock of the tiles 32 to the support tiles 2, especially when the straight channels 14 are provided with side grooves 20, which lock the masonry joint material 15 to the support tiles 2.

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a support tile 40 according to the invention. The support tile 40 corresponds largely with the support tile 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The support tile 40 has additionally a number of resilient lips 41 arranged along the edge of the top surface 42. The resilient lips 41 extend perpendicular to the top surface 42 and have a protrusion 43, which extend over the top surface 42.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of two support tiles 40 arranged next to each other and with support flanges 44, interlocking with each other such that vertical forces are evenly distributed over both support tiles 40 and that horizontal expansion can easily be compensated for.

[0060] Ceramic tiles 46 are positioned on top of the support tiles 40. Each ceramic tile 46 has a circumferential groove 47 in the side surface 48. The protrusions 43 of the lips 41 protrude into the circumferential groove 47 such that the ceramic tile 46 can be attached to the support tile 40 without the need for any adhesive.

[0061] The top surface 42 can be provided with wall plug like protrusions 49, which extend into dove-tail shaped holes 50 in the ceramic tile 46 to further clamp and attach the ceramic tile 46 to the support tile 40.