Deck accessories

Abstract

A modular system for creating multi-level areas on pedestal supported tiled decks and any flat surface for use as platforms, plinths, benches, seats, tables, planters and other accessories that exceed the area of six tiles and which can utilize standard floor tiles for the visible horizontal surfaces. An accessory uses enabling components called “ledge frames” which fit together to form the perimeter of the accessory. Tiles and box shaped modules fit in the frames and on the frames. Ledge frames hold the modules together in a horizontal plane and support additional modules in a vertical plane. The completed accessories appear to be built-in and to be a part of the deck but can be easily relocated or expanded both horizontally and vertically. The accessories can be used in a deck or on any flat surfaced plaza, deck, patio, rooftop or recreational surface.

1 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An assembly of component frames and vertical side elements which enable the creation of tiled platforms and multi-level features in a pedestal supported deck, said component frames being selected from:
 (a) A single unit ledge frame  12 , rectangular in shape, with a flat horizontally disposed surface, capable of supporting one tile, or a box shaped module with the external dimensions of said tile, within the boundaries of said single unit frame where, (i) two opposite short sides of said single unit ledge frame have a width equal to the length of one tile plus a predetermined amount to allow for a small gap between the ends of said tile and the edges of said single unit ledge frame, and (ii) two opposite long sides of said single unit frame which are wider than said short sides of said single unit frame by a predetermined amount to create a single tile ledge  16  sufficiently wide to support one side only of an adjacent tile, or a box shaped module with the external dimensions of said tile, that is otherwise located outside the boundaries of said single unit ledge frame,   (b) A double unit ledge frame  13 , rectangular in shape, with a flat horizontally disposed surface, capable of supporting two tiles, or two box shaped modules each with the external dimensions of each of said tiles, within the boundaries of said double unit ledge frame where, (i) two opposite long sides of said double unit ledge frame have a width equal to the length of two tiles plus a predetermined amount to allow for a small gap between the ends of said two tiles and the edges of said double unit frame and between said two tiles, and (ii) two opposite short sides of said double unit ledge frame which have a width equal to the length of one tile plus two of said small gaps plus a predetermined amount to create a double tile ledge  18  sufficiently wide to support one side only of two adjacent tiles, or box shaped modules with the external dimensions of said tiles, that are otherwise located outside the boundaries of said double unit ledge frame,   (c) A triple unit double corner ledge frame  14 , rectangular in shape, with a flat horizontally disposed surface, capable of supporting three tiles, or three box shaped modules each with the external dimensions of each of said tiles, within the boundaries of said triple unit double corner frame where, (i) two opposite long sides of said triple unit double corner ledge frame have a width equal to the length of three tiles plus a predetermined amount to allow for a small gap between the ends of said three tiles and the edges of the frame and between said three tiles, and (ii) two opposite short sides of said triple unit double corner ledge frame which have a width equal to the length of one tile plus two of said small gaps, and (iii) said triple unit double corner ledge frame is wider adjacent to the location of the center tile by a predetermined amount to create a single tile ledge  17  sufficiently wide to support one side only of one tile, or a box shaped modules with the external dimensions of said tile, that is otherwise located outside the boundaries of said triple unit double corner ledge frame,   (d) A triple unit single corner ledge frame  15 , rectangular in shape, with a flat horizontally disposed surface, capable of supporting three tiles, or three box shaped modules each with the external dimensions of each of said tiles, within the boundaries of said triple unit single corner ledge frame where, (i) two opposite long sides of said triple unit double corner ledge frame have a width equal to the length of three tiles plus a predetermined amount to allow for a small gap between the ends of said three tiles and the edges of the frame and between said three tiles, and (ii) one short side of said triple unit single corner ledge frame has a width equal to the length of one tile plus two of said small gaps, and (iii) the second short side of said triple unit single corner ledge frame has a width equal to the length of one tile plus two of said small gaps plus a predetermined amount to create a double tile ledge  19  sufficiently wide to support one side only of two tiles, or box shaped modules with the external dimensions of said tiles, that are otherwise located outside the boundaries of said triple unit double corner ledge frame, said double tile ledge having a length equal to two tiles.   
       Said vertical side elements having a predetermined height and thickness said height being greater than the thickness of said frames, said vertical side elements being attached to one or more outside edges of said frames with a predetermined distance between the top surface of the frame and the top of the vertical side element and a predetermined distance between the bottom surface of the frame and the bottom of the vertical side element,
 whereby a deck accessory or platform is assembled covering a deck area three tiles wide or more in each direction by: (i) setting square or rectangular box shaped modules at the four corners of the desired assembly and at predetermined locations in-between, said modules having the exterior horizontal dimensions of one or more contiguous tiles, said boxes being of equal height, (ii) placing and joining selected frames, as claimed, in juxtaposition on top of said modules to create the entire perimeter of the assembly, one tile wide, (iii) attaching vertical side elements to the outside edges of the frames around the perimeter, (iv) placing standard deck pedestals, if necessary, within the enclosed area of the assembly to support the corners of tiles or modules that are not supported by the ledges of the perimeter frames. 
 
     
     
         7 . An accessory created using component frames and vertical side elements of  claim 6  having one or more levels of tiles or box shaped modules above the deck. 
     
     
         8 . An accessory created using component frames and vertical side elements of  claim 6  where the horizontal frame elements are attached to each other and to the vertical side elements with horizontal dowels. 
     
     
         9 . An accessory created using component frames and vertical side elements of  claim 6  where the frames are joined horizontally using wires, turnbuckles and eyelets set in the edges of the frames.