AU760000B2

AU760000B2 - Support structure

Info

Publication number: AU760000B2
Application number: AU20839/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alan Sian Ghee Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-07
Filing date: 2000-03-13
Publication date: 2003-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-13
Also published as: AU2083900A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Alan Sian Ghee Lee 4 a..

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ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Support structure The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- Technical Field The present invention relates to a vertically-adjustable support structure for supporting members such as pavers, paving slabs, or roof bearing nmembers.

Background Art Various kinds of vertically-adjustable support structures are already known. These structures can be used to raise and support paving slabs above another surface, for example a roof such that drainage can take place beneath the slabs. One type of support structure has four wedge-like support blocks distributed around a base plate and is designed to be positioned at the intersection of four pavers. A chock piece placed on top of each support block supports a corner of a separate paving slab. The height adjustability of the support structure comes about by moving the chock piece up or down the wedge. An engagement means between the support block and the chock piece prevents the chock piece from sliding down the wedge. A variety of engagement means are known, including teeth, slots, or pins.

Summary of the Invention A first aspect of the present invention is a support structure for supporting an upper member such as a paving slab, the support structure including: a base member having an under-side, and an upper-side with a plurality of support blocks formed thereon, each support block including an inclined surface portion, the inclined surface portion including a first engagement means; a plurality of individual wedge-like chocks positionable independently of the other chocks along one of the inclined surface portions such that a desired elevation of the chock can be selected, each of the chocks including an upper support surface for at least partly supporting the upper member, and a second engagement means which engages the first engagement means and secures each chock against displacement towards the base member, wherein at least one of the chocks further includes an attachment means which releasably attaches the chock to one of the support blocks.

This aspect of the invention addresses a common problem encountered when laying out support structures of the prior art on a work site, namely, that the chock pieces easily become displaced from the respective wedges and are subsequently either mis-aligned or lost.

Preferably, each of the chocks has a separate attachment means for releasably attaching the chock to one of the support blocks. The attachment means may be such that it only attaches the chock to the support block when the first engagement means is engaged with the second engagement means.

The attachment means may be formed as an integral part of the structure of the chock. Alternatively, the attachment means may be formed as an integral part of the structure of each support block.

Preferably, the attachment means clutches the support block with a strength which allows the chock to be easily fitted or removed from the support block by hand, but prevents the chock from falling off the support block if the support structure is held upside down.

The attachment means may include pair of opposed parallel flanges 15 which are formed on each chock and shaped to clutch onto a support block.

In one embodiment, each support block has a generally wedge-like shape and a pair of parallel sides standing perpendicular to the base. Each chock has a pair of opposed parallel flanges with a small lug formed on each of the opposing faces of the flanges. When the chock is placed on a support block the parallel flanges slide over the parallel support block sides and the lugs force the opposing faces of the parallel flanges to flex outward slightly.

The outward flexing of the flanges causes the chock to clutch onto the wedge-like support block when the first and second engagement means are engaged. The opposed flanges and lugs may be formed integrally with the S 25 structure of the chock. Alternatively, the lugs may instead be formed on the sides of the support blocks. The lugs could have a variety of shapes, such as rounded lumps or elongated ridges.

A channel may be provided between each flange and the chock to improve the flexing of the flanges and clutching power of the chocks.

The first and second engagement means may consist of interlocking toothing on the chock and the support block respectively.

A second aspect of the present invention is a support structure for supporting an upper member such as a paving slab, the support structure including: a base member with an under-side and an upper-side with a plurality of support blocks formed thereon, each support block including an inclined surface portion, the inclined surface portion including a first engagement means; a plurality of individual wedge-like chocks positionable independently of the other chocks along one of the inclined surface portions such that a desired elevation of the chock can be selected, each of the chocks including an upper support surface for at least partly supporting the upper member, and a second engagement means which engages one of the first engagement means and secures each chock against displacement towards the base member.

wherein the base member is divided into a plurality of portions with frangible connections therebetween, each of the portions having a separate support block and a separate set of guides for positioning the separate .support block relative to one of the upper members.

The base member may be divided into four quadrants having S. 15 substantially equal areas and frangible connections therebetween. Such a support structure has the advantage that a half or a quarter of the structure can be used when it is necessary to provide support at a paving area edge or *corner, respectively. Known devices are not divided up into portions with *...*frangible connections therebetween, and require the base member to be cut with a tool. However, some of the cut-off portions must inevitably be discarded as there are an insufficient number of guides. This aspect of the :"invention therefore allows the amount of wastage to be significantly reduced.

Each set of guides may consist of two or more pillars standing perpendicular to the base member. The pillars may be located adjacent straight edges of each base portion such that the straight edges can be aligned parallel to paving slab edges. The pillars of adjacent base portions may be aligned substantially side-by-side along a radial direction from the centre of the base member. By placing the pillars radially side-by-side, adjacent guides are able to work together as a single guide when the support structure is not divided into portions. In one embodiment, the support structure is structured such that it can be broken into either halves or quarters, each half or quarter having a separate set of guiding pillars.

A hole may be formed in the centre of the base member. The hole reduces the material required for each support structure, and may also be used for aligning the support structure during use, or for stacking support structures on a rod whilst in storage.

A third aspect of the present invention is a support structure for supporting an upper member such as a paving slab, the support structure including: a base member with an under-side and an upper-side with a plurality of support blocks formed thereon, each support block including an inclined surface portion, the inclined surface portion including a first engagement means; a plurality of individual wedge-like chocks positionable independently of the other chocks along one of the inclined surface portions such that a desired elevation of the chock can be selected, each of the chocks including an upper support surface for at least partly supporting the upper member, and a second engagement means which engages one of the first engagement means and secures each chock against displacement towards the base member 15 wherein each of the support blocks includes a plateau surface portion above the inclined surface portion.

The plateau surface portion may be parallel to the under-side of the base member, and may be used to support component members at a fixed height without using the chocks. For example, the chocks may not be needed if paver thicknesses are regular and height adjustments are not necessary. Alternatively, the plateau surface allows minor height adjustments to be made by placing shims or self-adhesive tape on it.

Brief Description of Drawings 25 The following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided as an example of the invention and is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a pictorial view of an embodiment of the support structure without chocks in place; Figure 2 is a pictorial drawing of the support structure in Figure 1 with a set of four chocks in place on the support blocks; Figure 3 is a front view of the support structure in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a top view of the support structure in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a pictorial view of one of the chocks shown in Figure 2, in which an engagement means can be seen on one of the flanges; Figure 6 is a rear view of the chock shown in Figure Figure 7 is another perspective view of the chock shown in Figures and 6 showing the front and the upper support surface of the chock; and Figure 8 is another perspective view of the chock shown in Figures 5 to 7 in which an engagement means can be seen on a different flange.

Detailed Description of Drawings Figures 1 to 4 show an embodiment of a support structure 10 with a circular plate-like base member 20, four wedge-like support blocks 30, four chocks 40 mounted on top of the support blocks 30, and four pairs of guide pillars 50' and 50". Figures 1, 3 and 4 show the support structure 10 without the chocks, and Figure 2 shows the support structure 10 with the four chocks 40 in place on the support blocks Each of the support blocks 30 has an inclined surface portion 60 and a plateau-like surface portion 70. The plateau-like surface portion 70 can be used to support components such as paving slabs without chocks. A series of S. *teeth 80 are formed on the inclined surface portion 60. The support blocks also have flat parallel sides 90 which are oriented perpendicular to the base member The base member 20 has a central circular hole 100 and is divided into four quadrants 110 by four radial rows 120 of slots 130 extending from near the hole 100. Short webs 140 between the slots 130 hold the quadrants 110 together and serve as frangible connections. The base member 20 may be broken into halves by snapping the webs between those halves. Each half of the base may then be broken along the next row of slots to form quarters of the original base. One wedge-like support block 30 and two pillars 50' or are formed on each quadrant 110.

Each pillar is positioned symmetrically on one of the straight edges 160 of each quadrant 110. The pillars are rectangular in shape and stand perpendicular to the base member 20. Pairs of adjacent pillars on adjacent quadrants are positioned radially side-by-side such that a first pillar 50' is radially proximal to the central hole 100 of the base and the second pillar is radially distal. The positions of the pillars on each quadrant alternate between the distal and proximal positions from one quadrant to the next.

Quadrants with proximal pillars 50' are therefore adjacent to quadrants with distal pillars 50". Each pillar 50 is braced on a first side 170 by a buttress 100 which extends towards the wedge-like block of its quadrant.

Each of the radial rows 120 of slots 130 is arranged in two closelyspaced parallel lines. The first line of slots 190 extends radially from the central hole 100 along a second side 200 of the proximal pillar 50' opposite its first side 170, and terminates next to the closest edge 210 of the distal pillar 50" to the central hole 100. The second line 220 of slots is arranged onl the second side 200 of the distal pillar 50", and extends radially from adjacent an edge 230 of the proximal pillar 50' which is furthest from the central hole 100, to a web 250 at the outer edge of the base member Figures 5 to 8 show more detailed views of one of the chocks 40. The chock has a flat upper support surface 270 and an inclined lower support surface 280 with teeth 290 formed on it. The inclination of the lower support surface 280 relative to the upper support surface 270 is the same as the o* inclination of the inclined surface portion 60 of the wedge-like blocks relative to the base member 20. This ensures that when a chock 40 is placed 15 on one of the blocks 30, the upper support surface 270 of the chock is parallel to the base member 20. The teeth 290 formed on the chock 40 have the same profile as the teeth 80 formed onil each of the wedge-like support blocks S. and enable the chock to engage the wedge-like support block without sliding towards the base. In other embodiments, the tooth spacing on each chock is a multiple of, such as double, the tooth spacing on each of the blocks. It is understood that other known types of engagement means may be used instead of teeth. In another embodiment, there is a pin protruding from the lower support surface of the chock for insertion into one of a range of apertures in the inclined support surface at different heights.

:i 25 Each of the chocks 40 has a pair of opposed parallel flanges 300 on the underside, with a rounded lump 310 protruding from the opposing faces 320 of the flanges 300. When a chock 40 is placed on a block 30 such that the respective teeth engage, the rounded lumps 310 abut against the parallel sides 90 of the block and force the flanges 300 to flex away from each other.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) one of the rounded lumps 310 is formed on each side 90 of the support blocks 30. A channel 330 is formed between each flange 600 and the teeth 290. The channels 330 allow the flanges 300 to flex from a depth below the level of the troughs 340 in the teeth 290, and it is believed this improves the clutching power of the chocks.

The chocks 40 have a hollow cavity 350 formed between the upper support surface 270 and the inclined lower support surface 280 to save material costs and weight. There is also a cavity (not shown) under each of the blocks In this embodiment, everything except the chocks is injection moulded as one integral structure. Each of the chocks 40 are injection moulded as separate pieces. All parts of this embodiment of the support structure 10 are made from UV-stabilised polypropylene, but other known plastics materials may also be appropriate.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

.e

Claims

1. A support structure for supporting an upper member such as a paving slab, the support structure including: a base member having an under-side, and an upper-side with a plurality of support blocks formed thereon, each support block including an inclined surface portion, the inclined surface portion including a first engagement means; a plurality of individual wedge-like chocks positionable independently of the other chocks along one of the inclined surface portions such that a desired elevation of the chock can be selected, each of the chocks including an upper support surface for at least partly supporting the upper member, and a second engagement means which engages the first engagement means and secures each chock against displacement towards the base member,

2. A support structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment 15 means includes pair of opposed parallel flanges which are formed on each chock and shaped to clutch onto a support block with a strength which allows the chock to be easily fitted or removed from the support block by hand, but prevents the chock from falling off the support block if the support •II :structure is held upside down.

3. A support structure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each support block has a generally wedge-like shape and a pair of parallel sides standing perpendicular to the base, and wherein each chock has a pair of opposed parallel flanges with a small lug formed on each of the opposing faces of the flanges, the arrangement being such that the chock is placed on a support block the parallel flanges slide over the parallel support block sides and the lugs force the opposing faces of the parallel flanges to flex outward slightly, which outward flexing of the flanges causes the chock to clutch onto the wedge-like support block when the first and second engagement means are engaged with each other.

4. A support structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the opposed flanges and lugs are formed integrally with the structure of the chock.

A support structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the lugs are formed on the sides of the support blocks.

6. A support structure as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein a channel is provided between each flange and the chock to improve the flexing of the flanges and clutching power of the chocks.

7. A support structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second engagement means consist of interlocking toothing on the chock and the support block respectively.

8. A support structure as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 7 wherein the base member is divided into a plurality of portions with frangible connections therebetween, each of the portions having a separate support block and a separate set of guides for positioning the separate support block relative to one of the upper members.

9. A support structure for supporting an upper member such as a paving slab, the support structure including: a base member defining an under-side and an upper-side with a plurality of support blocks formed on the upper-side, each support block including an inclined surface portion, the inclined surface portion including a first engagement means; 15 a plurality of individual wedge-like chocks positionable independently of the other chocks along one of the inclined surface portions such that a desired elevation of the chock can be selected, each of the chocks including an upper support surface for at least partly supporting the upper member, and a second engagement means which engages one of the first engagement means and secures each chock against displacement towards the base member, wherein the base memnber is divided into a plurality of portions with frangible connections therebetween, each of the portions having a separate support block and a separate set of guides for positioning the separate support block relative to one of the upper members.

A support structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base member is divided into four quadrants having substantially equal areas and frangible connections therebetween.

11. A support structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each set of guides consists of two or more pillars standing perpendicular to the base member located adjacent straight edges of each base portion such that the straight edges can be aligned parallel to paving slab edges.

12. A support structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pillars of adjacent base portions are aligned substantially side-by-side along a radial direction from the centre of the base member, such that adjacent guides are able to work together as a single guide when the support structure is not divided into portions.

13. A support structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support structure is structured such that it can be broken into either halves or quarters, each half or quarter having a separate set of guiding pillars.

14. A support structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a hole is formed in the centre of the base member.

A support structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each of the support blocks include a plateau surface portion extending generally parallel to the plane of the base above the inclined surface portion.

16. A support structure for supporting an upper member such as a paving slab, the support structure including: a base member with an under-side and an upper-side with a plurality S. of support blocks formed thereon, each support block including an inclined 15 surface portion, the inclined surface portion including a first engagement S: Ineans; a plurality of individual wedge-like chocks positionable independently of the other chocks along one of the inclined surface portions such that a desired elevation of the chock can be selected, each of the chocks including an upper support surface for at least partly supporting the upper member, and a second engagement means which engages one of the first engagement means and secures each chock against displacement towards the base me mber wherein each of the support blocks includes a plateau surface portion 25 extending generally parallel to the plane of the base above the inclined surface portion.

17. A support structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this thirteenth day of March 2000 Alan Sian Ghee Lee Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO