	US 7,386,955 C2 (13,151st)
	Stackable pedestal for supporting decking elements
John Repasky, Hanover, PA (US)
Filed by John Repasky, Hanover, PA (US)
Assigned to HANOVER PREST-PAVING COMPANY, Hanover, PA (US)
Reexamination Request No. 90/019,659, Sep. 13, 2024.
Reexamination Certificate for Patent 7,386,955, issued Jun. 17, 2008, Appl. No. 11/559,055, Nov. 13, 2006.
Reexamination Certificate C1 7,386,955, issued Dec. 30, 2022.
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate issued on Jan. 21, 2026.
Int. Cl. E04F 15/024 (2006.01); E04B 5/00 (2006.01); E04D 11/00 (2006.01); E04F 15/02 (2006.01)

CPC E04F 15/02447 (2013.01) [E04D 11/005 (2013.01); E04F 15/02183 (2013.01); E04F 2015/02111 (2013.01); E04F 2015/02127 (2013.01)]

AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT:

The patentability of claims 8 and 12-15 is confirmed.

Claims 10-11 were previously cancelled.

Claims 1, 5, 9, 16 and 19 are determined to be patentable as amended.

Claims 2-4, 6-7 and 17-18, dependent on an amended claim, are determined to be patentable.

1. A pedestal assembly for supporting corner portions of decking elements, in edgewise juxtaposition above an underlying surface, comprising:

a first base and a separate companion base each having a plurality of corner support portions and a topside and a bottom side defining a predetermined thickness, said predetermined thickness of said first base being substantially identical to said predetermined thickness of said companion base;

each of said first base and said companion base having abutments projecting upwardly from said topside a predetermined height that is greater than or equal to said predetermined thickness, at least one of said abutments extending between each adjacent pair of corner support portions; and

said first base having apertures extending transversely therethrough [ radially ] offset from [ and in angular alignment with ] said abutments for receiving said abutments of said companion base when said first base and companion base are matingly engaged [ in a vertically stacked relation] .

5. A pedestal assembly for supporting corner portions of decking elements, in edgewise juxtaposition above an underlying surface, comprising:

~~A pedestal assembly according to claim 4,~~ [ a first base and a separate companion base each having a plurality of corner support portions and a topside and a bottom side defining a predetermined thickness, said predetermined thickness of said first base being substantially identical to said predetermined thickness of said companion base;

said first base having apertures extending transversely therethrough offset from said abutments for receiving said abutments of said companion base when said first base and companion base are matingly engaged;

wherein said plurality of corner support portions includes four corner support portions defining four separate quadrants on each of said first and companion bases for supporting the corner portions of the decking elements, and wherein said abutments define the lateral spacing between each adjacent pair of quadrants;

wherein first and second imaginary planes extend vertically through each of said first and companion bases in a crosswise pattern and define said quadrants, and wherein said abutments and apertures are arranged within said first and second planes;

wherein said abutments are solid upstanding flanges and said apertures are elongate slots; and]

wherein said flanges extending within said first plane are located closer to a center of said first base than said slots, and wherein said slots extending within said second plane are located closer to said center of said first base than said flanges.

9. An assembly of fixed height stackable pedestals for supporting a plurality of corner portions of decking elements in edgewise juxtaposition above an underlying surface to form a deck, comprising:

at least a pair of substantially-identical fixed height pedestals each having a topside with corner support portions defined by intersecting first and second orthogonal lines of position;

each of said fixed height pedestals having a first pair of abutments with surfaces projecting upwardly from said topside in first spaced relation on said first line of position and a second pair of abutments having surfaces projecting upwardly from said topside in second spaced relation on said second line of position, each of said first and second pairs of abutments of each of said fixed height pedestals being of a height that is greater than or equal to a thickness of said fixed height pedestal;

said first pair of abutments of each of said fixed height pedestals being separated from one another on said first line of position a distance different from the spacing of said second pair of abutments on said second line of position; and

each of said fixed height pedestals having through apertures on said first line of position and on said second line of position arranged to receive abutments of another one of said fixed height pedestals [ such that the through apertures of an upper one of said fixed height pedestals can only receive the abutments of a lower one of said fixed height pedestals ] when said fixed height pedestals are matingly engaged with said first line of position of an [ the ] upper one of said fixed height pedestals disposed orthogonal to said first line of position of said lower one of said fixed height pedestals.

16. A deck system for forming an elevated surface, comprising:

a plurality of decking elements in edgewise juxtaposition to form a deck, said decking elements having corner portions, and said deck including intersection areas in which said corner portions of adjacent decking elements extend; and

a plurality of pedestals positioned directly beneath said intersection areas for supporting said corner portions a spaced distance above an underlying surface;

at least one of said pedestals including at least a pair of substantially-identical fixed height base plates each having a topside and a bottom side defining a predetermined fixed height therebetween;

each of said base plates having abutments projecting upwardly from said topside a predetermined distance that is greater than or equal to said predetermined fixed height of said base plate,

each of said base plates having apertures extending transversely through said base plate [ radially ] offset from [ and positioned along a radial line with at least one of ] said abutments for receiving said abutments of the other of said fixed height base plates when said base plates are stacked together.

19. A deck system for forming an elevated surface, comprising:

~~A deck system according to claim 18,~~ [ a plurality of decking elements in edgewise juxtaposition to form a deck, said decking elements having corner portions, and said deck including intersection areas in which said corner portions of adjacent decking elements extend; and

a plurality of pedestals positioned directly beneath said intersection areas for supporting said corner portions a spaced distance above an underlying surface;

each of said base plates having abutments projecting upwardly from said topside a predetermined distance that is greater than or equal to said predetermined fixed height of said base plate,

each of said base plates having apertures extending transversely through said base plate offset from said abutments for receiving said abutments of the other of said fixed height base plates when said base plates are stacked together;

wherein each of said pedestals includes at least one of said abutments extending between each adjacent pair of corner portions to define proper positioning and spacing between said adjacent decking elements to ensure that drainage passages extend between said adjacent decking elements and through said deck to the underlying surface;

wherein first and second imaginary planes extend vertically through each of said base plates in a crosswise pattern and define quadrants on the base plate, wherein said abutments and apertures are arranged within said first and second planes; and]

wherein said abutments are solid upstanding flanges and said apertures are elongate slots, wherein said flanges extending within said first plane are located closer to a center of each of said base plates than said slots, and wherein said slots extending within said second plane are located closer to said center of each of said base plates than said flanges.