US20130199125A1

US20130199125A1 - System and Method for Decorating Posts

Info

Publication number: US20130199125A1
Application number: US13/365,582
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry D. Shupe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-03
Filing date: 2012-02-03
Publication date: 2013-08-08

Abstract

A tile retaining bracket includes a tile saddle portion having a pair of saddle arms that extend away from one another to engage a corner portion of a support structure. A tile retainer portion extends outwardly from an end portion of the tile saddle and, along with portions of the tile saddle portion, partially defines a channel in which the edge portions of one or more tiles may be secured. The tile saddle and tile retainer may be separately or integrally formed. A plurality of tile retaining brackets may be used to decoratively conceal one or more exposed faces of support posts and similar structures.

Description

BACKGROUND

Oftentimes residential and commercial buildings will include exterior structural details such as decks, pergolas, and the like. Such external: structures are, more times than not, supported above the ground using a plurality of support posts. Such support posts are provided using a variety of different materials, including wood, concrete, composite materials, metals, and the like. While the supports provide a necessary support function, they lack decorative appeal and, at times, can be an eyesore to the overall external structure.
Previous attempts to conceal or otherwise decorate the support posts of external structures have met with mixed results. In some applications, decorative columns are prepared that arc split longitudinally and provided with a hollow interior. The columns are then used to encase each individual support post and are permanently secured to the support posts. Other attempts have involved permanently affixing sections of siding, and other such materials, to the exposed faces of the support posts. Commonly, the materials chosen will match the siding or other exterior fascia of the building to which the external structure is coupled. However, these prior attempts to conceal the support posts are time consuming and costly. Just importantly, however, these attempts have provided an inflexible decorating option. To be sure, the encasing of support posts in these manners is relatively permanent and cannot be changed other than simple painting of the new exterior fascia.
Other attempts to conceal support posts have involved the forming flutes or other structural details within the support posts. However, such attempts have a permanent, lasting effect that is not easy to change as the owner of the structure changes his or her decorative mind. Other attempts have simply involved the painting or staining of the support posts, which can be easily changed, when desired, but lack visual appeal or structural detail.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary, and the foregoing Background, is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A tile retaining bracket according to the present technology will include an elongated tile saddle, having a pair of saddle arms that extend away from one another, outwardly from a saddle base. The saddle arms include a seat surface and an opposite structure engaging surface. In some embodiments, the saddle arms are oriented so that the structure engaging surfaces of the saddle arms are disposed at an angle of approximately 90 degrees from one another. In various embodiments, the tile saddle includes a mounting surface that faces away from the structure engaging surfaces of the saddle arms. In some embodiments, a pair of seat sidewalls extend between edge portions of the seat surfaces of the saddle arms and opposite side edges of the mounting surface of the saddle base. The tile retaining bracket further includes an elongated tile retainer, having an ornamental face and an opposite mounting face. The tile retainer may be provided in various ornamental combinations that are limited only by the imagination.
In at least one method of use, the tile retaining bracket is coupled in pairs to opposing corner portions of a support structure. A user may begin by securing a tile saddle along one corner portion of the support structure so that the saddle arms straddle the corner portion of the support structure. The tile saddle may be coupled with the corner portions of the support post simply by pressing or holding the tile saddles closely adjacent the corner portions of the support post. Regardless of the manner in which the tile saddle is coupled with the support structure, a second tile saddle will be positioned on the opposing corner portion of the support structure, across an exposed surface. The user may then position at least one tile such that portions of its tile mounting face are positioned closely adjacent the scat surfaces on the saddle arms of the tile saddles. With at least a first tile positioned at the bottom end portion of the support structure and between the opposing tile saddles, a user may then begin to secure tile retainers with the mounting surface of the tile saddles. In one embodiment, mechanical fasteners such as screws may be inserted through the various tile retaining bracket structures. By inserting a first course of screws at the lower end portion of the tile retainers only, the upper end portions of the tile retainers will remain flexible so that the user may pull the tile retainers away from the tile saddles, as needed, in order to slide one or more additional tiles between the tile saddle and tile retainer as it is being positioned. In this fashion, the tile retainer is secured to the tile saddle in a stepped process as tiles are added from the bottom of the support structure to the top.
The use of the tile saddle will position the tiles in a spaced apart relationship with the exposed surface of the support structure being decorated. In this manner, it is contemplated that wires, tubing or other structures may be passed between the tiles and the exposed surface of the support structure. This will provide a manner of hiding wiring and other mechanisms used for lights, fans, audio systems and the like with the decorative tiles, which would not otherwise be available through other methods of decorating the support structure.
In some applications, it is contemplated that the support structure may be provided in the form of two or more structures that are simply positioned adjacent one another. In such an instance, the present system for decorating support structures may be used to give two or more smaller support structures the appearance of a single large support structure, which may be more visually appealing once adorned with the tiles.
In an alternate embodiment, the tile retaining bracket includes a tile saddle portion and tile retainer portion that are integrally formed with one another, whereby the seat surfaces of the previously described saddle arms, as well as the mounting surface of the saddle base 18, are at least substantially obscured by the integral formation of the tile retainer portion. In such an embodiment, saddle arms extend outwardly from one another. However, only structure engaging surfaces and distal end faces remain exposed. A mounting face of the tile retainer portion extends beyond the distal end portions of the saddle arms to define tile retaining tabs. In this embodiment, the tile retaining bracket secures tiles closely adjacent an exposed surface of the support structure 34.
These and other aspects of the present system and method will be apparent after consideration of the Detailed Description and Figures herein.

DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the present technology as it is used to decorate or otherwise conceal a support post.

FIG. 2 depicts a partially exploded, partial view of the decorated support post depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts a cutaway, top plan view of the decorated post depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts a side elevation view of the decorated post depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 depicts a partial, cutaway view of an alternate embodiment of the tile retaining bracket of the present technology, as the same may be used to decorate or conceal a support post.

FIG. 6 depicts an alternate embodiment of a method of employing the tile retaining bracket of the present technology to adorn a support post with a plurality of tiles.

FIG. 7 depicts several different embodiments of tile retainers that may be used with the tile retaining brackets of the present technology, specifically depicting at least a few of the contemplated ornamental faces that may be provided to the tile retainers.

FIG. 8 depicts an alternate method of employing the tile retaining brackets of the present technology and depicts a manner in which the system may be used to conceal a support structure that is comprised of a plurality of separate, spaced apart post members.

FIG. 9 depicts a partial, cutaway view of an alternate embodiment of the tile retaining bracket of the present technology, demonstrating one manner in which the tile saddle and tile retainer may be integrally formed to provide a tile retaining bracket that supports tiles closely adjacent the support structure to which it is mounted.

FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view of the tile retaining bracket depicted in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The technology presented provides a system and method for decorating or concealing support posts. While the term “support post” may be depicted and described herein as a single, vertically oriented support post that may be coupled with an exterior deck or pergola structure of a building, the application of the present technology will not be limited to such structures, let alone their location exterior to or within a building. Accordingly, the term “support post” should be construed herein as to include a single, vertically oriented member, but also a support member that includes a plurality of separate elongated “posts” or structures that may be positioned closely adjacent or spaced apart from one another. Moreover, the support posts, as they are used with the present technology, may or may not provide support to other connected or adjacent structures. The support posts may or may not have well defined corner portions. To be sure, general rounded or curved portions of a post may be considered a “corner portion” for purposes of the present technology. Moreover, the support posts used with the present technology may be provided in the form of nearly any material or composition without limiting the scope or nature of the present technology.
With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the system for decorating or concealing support structures will include a tile retaining bracket 10. In many embodiments, the tile retaining bracket 10 will include an elongated tile saddle 12, having a pair of saddle arms 14 and 16 that extend away from one another, outwardly from a saddle base 18. In various embodiments, each of the saddle arms will include a seat surface 20 and an opposite structure engaging surface 22. In some embodiments, the saddle arms 14 and 16 are oriented so that the structure engaging surfaces 22 of the saddle arms 14 and 16 are disposed at an angle of approximately 90 degrees from one another. In this manner, the tile saddle May be positioned closely adjacent a corner portion of a support post, such that the saddle arms 14 and 16 straddle the corner portion of the support post in a secure position that resists lateral movement of the tile saddle 12.
In various embodiments, the tile saddle 12 will include a mounting surface 24 that faces away from the structure engaging surfaces 22 of the saddle arms 14 and 16. In many embodiments, the mounting surface 24 is generally positioned between the seat surfaces 20 of the saddle arms 14 and 16. In various embodiments, the mounting surface 24 of the saddle. base 18 is positioned so that it is proud of the seat surfaces 20 of the saddle arms 14 and 16. In this manner, a pair of seat sidewalls 26 extend between edge portions of the seat surfaces 20 of the saddle arms 14 and 16 and opposite side edges of the mounting surface 24 of the saddle base 18. While it is contemplated that the seat sidewalls 26 will extend away from the seat surfaces 20 at an angle approximating 90 degrees, other angles are contemplated to accommodate the size and dimensions of various tiles or other components that may be, used in particular applications.
In various embodiments, the tile retaining bracket 10 will include an elongated tile retainer 28, having an ornamental face 30 and an opposite mounting face 32. In some embodiments, the mounting face 32 is shaped to engage the mounting surface 24 of the tile saddle base 18. In some applications, this may mean that the mounting face 32 and the mounting surface 24 are generally flat and smooth. However, in other applications, it is contemplated that various interlocking mechanical structures could be provided to accurately position and lock the tile retainer 28 with the tile saddle 12. Such examples may include a pin and keyhole combination, or the like. With reference to FIG. 7, a plurality of tile retainers 28 are depicted in cross section. This is to provide exemplary embodiments of a variety of tile retainers 28 having different ornamental faces 30. It is contemplated that the ornamental face 30 of the tile retainer 28 may be provided in various ornamental combinations that are limited only by the imagination. In particular, various aspects of the ornamental face 30 may be partially or completely curved. In some applications, the ornamental face 30 may be multifaceted wherein one or more of the facets is provided in a flat, planar shape, whereas other facets may be curved (concave or convex) or include one or more compound curves.
The components to the tile retaining bracket 10 may be formed from nearly any material, according to its intended application and use. For example, various weather resistant and rot resistant woods may be used such as cedar. Other composite materials and the like may also be used. It is contemplated that in certain applications metal, stone and other such materials may be used as a portion of, if not all, of the individual components for the tile retaining bracket 10. In one embodiment, the tile saddle 12 may be provided in lengths of one or more feet. In certain applications, three and four foot lengths may be desirable. In one particular embodiment, the tile saddle 12 is formed so that each of its seat surfaces 20 are formed to have a width of approximately 1.0625 inches, extending from the seat sidewall 26 to a distal end portion of the saddle arms 14 and 16. In such an embodiment, the structure engaging surfaces 22 of the saddle arms 14 and 16 may be provided to have a total width of approximately 1.0 inches. It is contemplated that within such an embodiment, the saddle arms 14 and 16 will be provided to have a thickness of approximately 0.375 inches. Depending on the desired application and the tile retainer 28 to be used, the mounting surface 24 of the saddle base 18 may be provided to have a width of approximately 0.625 inches. Similarly, the offset of the mounting surface 24 from the seat surfaces 20 may be provided with seat sidewalls 26 having a total height of approximately 0.125 inches. Similarly, the tile retainer 28 may be provided in dimensions according to its intended application. However, in at least one particular embodiment, the tile retainer is provided to have a total thickness of approximately 0.375 inches and a total width of approximately 1.5 inches.
In at least one method of use, the tile retaining bracket 10 is coupled in pairs to opposing corner portions of a support structure, such as a support post 34. A user may begin by securing a tile saddle 12 along one corner portion of the support structure 34 so that the saddle arms 14 and 16 straddle the corner portion of the support structure 34. It is contemplated that the tile saddle 12 may be secured with the corner portion of the support structure 34 using various different methods. For example, a temporary or permanent adhesive may be used to adhere the two structures with one another. It is contemplated that where a permanent application is not desired, a temporary adhesive or mechanical fasteners may be used. However, it is further contemplated that the tile saddle 12 may be coupled with the corner portions of the support post 34 simply by pressing or holding the tile saddles 12 closely adjacent the corner portions of the support post 34. One or more mechanical fasteners, such as screws 36, may be used to hold the tile saddles 12 in position which may provide some benefits to a single user who will be performing the operation without the assistance of another. Regardless of the manner in which the tile saddle 12 is coupled with the support structure 34, a second tile saddle 12 will be positioned on the opposing corner portion of the support structure 34, across an exposed surface 38. The user may then position at least one tile 40 such that portions of its tile mounting face are positioned closely adjacent the seat surfaces 20 on the saddle arms 14 and 16 of the tile saddles 12. In this regard, it is contemplated that the tiles 40 will be provided to have dimensions suitable for the particular application. For example, the distance between the opposing seat sidewalls 26 in the pair of tile saddles 12 will provide a maximum width for which the tiles should be provided. In some embodiments, it will be preferable to have the tiles provided having a width of just slightly less than the distance between the opposing seat sidewalls 26. The length of each of the tiles 40 will be determined by the total length of support structure to be adorned and the design width which it will be adorned and the components of the tile retaining bracket 10 may be provided in nearly any desired length and dimensions. For example, a plurality of tiles 40 having a shortened height may be used with alternating colors or patterns in each successive tile 40 to provide an alternating or non-uniform color or design dispersal along the height of the support structure 34. It is contemplated that the tile thickness will generally be between 0.125 inches and 0.25 inches. However, it is contemplated that the present technology may be used with tiles of nearly any thickness and dimension, so long as they are appropriate for the size and configuration of support structure 34 to be concealed or decorated.
With at least a first tile 40 positioned at the bottom end portion of the support structure 34 and between the opposing tile saddles 12, a user may then begin to secure tile retainers 28 with the mounting surface 24 of the tile saddles 12. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by simply placing the mounting face 32 of the tile retainer 28 against the mounting surface 24 of the tile saddle 12. Permanent adhesives may be used, however, in various embodiments, best results may be obtained through the use of mechanical fasteners such as screws 36. First, the screws may be inserted and removed through the various structures repeatedly, whereas the permanent adhesives make removal and realignment of tiles more difficult. Pilot holes 37 may be formed in any portions of the tile retaining brackets 10 in order to facilitate insertion of the screws 36. Secondly, the tile retainers 28 will rest against the mounting surface 24 and edge portions of the tile 40 simultaneously. In this manner, pressure may be applied from the tile retainers 28 to the tiles 40 in order to secure them in position. Such pressure may be increased or decreased, as desired, through the use of screws which may be advanced and retracted. By inserting a first course of screws 36 at the lower end portion of the tile retainers 28 only, the upper end portions of the tile retainers 28 will remain flexible so that the user may pull the tile retainers 28 away from the tile saddles 12, as needed, in order to slide one or more additional tiles 40 between the tile saddle 12 and tile retainer 28 as it is being positioned. In this fashion, the tile retainer 28 is secured to the tile saddle 12 in a stepped process as tiles 40 are added from the bottom of the support structure 34 to the top. In at least one manner of use, the screws 36 are passed through the tile retainer 28 and through the tile saddle 12 so that at least a portion of the screws 36 embed themselves within the support structure 34. Where the support structure 34 is made from a material that is not conducive to the receipt of basic screws, it is contemplated that adhesives and the like may be adequately used to secure the tile saddles 12 with the support structures 34.
With reference to FIG. 6, it is contemplated that tiles 40 may present a thickness that is larger than expected. In such situations, a gap is formed when the tile retainer 28 is pressed against the side edge portions of opposing tiles 40. The gap extends between the mounting face 32 of the tile retainer 28 and the mounting surface 24 of the tile saddle 12. This may be acceptable in many instances and the screws 36 or other fasteners arc simply passed through each of the successive structures as they would be if the tile retainer 28 were seated directly against the tile saddle 12.
With reference to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the use of the aforedescribed tile saddle 12 will position tiles 40 in a spaced apart relationship with the exposed surface 38 of the support structure 34 being decorated. In this manner, it is contemplated that wires, tubing or other structures may be passed between the tiles 40 and the exposed surface 38 of the support structure 34. This will provide a manner of hiding wiring and other mechanisms used for lights, fans, audio systems and the like with the decorative tiles 40, which would not otherwise be available through other methods of decorating the support structure 34. With reference to FIG. 5, the gap 42 between the tiles 40 and the exposed surface 38 of the support structure 34 may be increased, when desired, through the use of one or more spacer blocks 44. In such an application, one or more spacer blocks 44 are simply positioned between the mounting surfaces 24 of the saddle arms 14 and 16 and the exposed surface 38 of the support structure 34 prior to securing the tile saddle 12 with the support structure 34.
With reference to FIG. 8, it is contemplated that the support structure 34 may be provided in the form of two or more structures that are simply positioned adjacent one another. In such an instance, the present system for decorating support structures may be used to give two or more smaller support structures the appearance of a single large support structure, which may be more visually appealing once adorned with the tiles 40. In such an example, the tile saddles 12 are simply placed on opposing corner portions of the individual support structures 34, such that a perimeter of the tile saddles 12 is formed. It is also contemplated that only one face of the plurality of support structures 34 may be covered by tiles 40. In such an instance, one would simply place pairs of tile saddles 12 at the edge portions of any “face” of the plurality of structures that is to be covered. The further assembly of the tile retaining brackets 10 and positioning of the tiles 40 will commence as described previously.
With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, an alternate embodiment of the tile retaining bracket 10 is disclosed. In particular, the tile retaining bracket 46 includes a tile saddle portion 48 and tile retainer portion 50 that are integrally formed with one another, whereby the seat surfaces 20 of the previously described saddle arms 14 and 16, as well as the mounting surface 24 of the previously described saddle base 18, are at least substantially obscured by the integral formation of the tile retainer portion 50. In such an embodiment, saddle arms 52 and 54 extend outwardly from one another. However, only structure engaging surfaces 56 and distal end faces 58 remain exposed. A mounting face 60 of the tile retainer portion 50 extends beyond the distal end portions of the saddle arms 52 and 54 to define tile retaining tabs. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the tile retaining bracket 46 is provided to secure a tile 40 closely adjacent an exposed surface 38 of the support structure 34. Where it is desirable to use the tile retaining bracket 46 but a gap 42 is desired between the exposed surface 38 of the support structure 34 and the tile 40, one or more spacer blocks 44 may be used as previously described.
Although the technology has been described in language that is specific to certain structures, materials, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, materials, and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in the specification (other than the claims) arc understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or any and all individual values subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should be considered to include and provide support for claims that recite any and all subranges or individual values that are between and/or inclusive of the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to 3.56, and so forth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994, and so forth).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A tile retaining bracket for securing one or more tiles adjacent an exposed surface of a structure, the tile retaining bracket comprising:

an elongated tile saddle having a pair of saddle arms that extend away from one another, outwardly from a saddle base; the saddle arms each having a seat surface and an opposite structure engaging surface; the tile saddle base having a mounting surface that faces away from the structure engaging surfaces of the saddle arms and is positioned between the seat surfaces of the saddle arms; and

an elongated tile retainer having an ornamental face and an opposite mounting face; the mounting face being shaped to engage the mounting surface of the tile saddle base.

2. The tile retaining bracket of claim 1, wherein the mounting surface of the saddle base is positioned to be proud of the seat surfaces of the saddle arms; a pair of seat sidewalls extending between edge portions of the seat surfaces of the saddle arms and opposite side edges of the mounting surface of the saddle base.

3. The tile retaining bracket of claim 2 wherein the scat sidewalls of the tile saddle extend away from the saddle arms at an angle of approximately ninety degrees.

4. The tile retaining bracket of claim 3 wherein the structure engaging surfaces of the saddle arms are disposed at an angle of approximately ninety degrees from one another.

5. The tile retaining bracket of claim 1 wherein the mounting face of the tile retainer has a width greater than a width of the mounting surface of the tile saddle base, such that edge portions of the tile retainer extend outwardly from side edges of the mounting face of the tile saddle base.

6. The tile retaining bracket of claim 1 wherein the ornamental face of the tile retainer is at least partially curved.

7. The tile retaining bracket of claim 1 wherein the ornamental face of the tile retainer is multifaceted.

8. In combination:

a support structure having a pair of opposite corner portions that flank an exposed surface;

a pair of tile retaining brackets, each tile retaining bracket including:

an elongated tile saddle having a pair of saddle arms that extend away from one another, outwardly from a saddle base; the saddle arms each having a seat surface and an opposite structure engaging surface; the tile saddle base having a mounting surface that faces away from the structure engaging surfaces of the saddle arms and is positioned between the seat surfaces of the saddle arms; the mounting surface of the saddle base positioned proud of the seat surfaces of the saddle arms; a pair of seat sidewalls extending between edge portions of the seat surfaces of the saddle arms and opposite side edges of the mounting surface of the saddle base; and

an elongated tile retainer having an ornamental face and an opposite mounting face; the mounting face being operatively coupled with the mounting surface of the tile saddle base; the mounting face of the tile retainer having a width greater than a width of the mounting surface of the tile saddle base, such that edge portions of the tile retainer extend outwardly from side edges of the mounting face of the tile saddle base;

at least one tile having an ornamental face and an opposite mounting face that extend between opposite side edges; the at least one tile being positioned so that its opposite side edges are positioned adjacent the seat sidewalls of the tile saddles of the pair of retaining brackets; portions of the tile mounting face positioned against the seat surface of the saddle arms of the pair of retaining brackets; portions of the tile retainer mounting face engaging the at least one tile adjacent its opposite side edges and resisting removal of the at least one tile from the pair of tile retaining brackets.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein mechanical fasteners are used to secure the tile retainers to their respective tile saddles and the tile retaining brackets to the support structure by passing at least partially through each of the tile retainers, tile saddles and support structures.

10. The combination of claim 8 wherein the ornamental face of the tile retainer is at least partially curved.

11. The combination of claim 8 wherein the at least one tile includes a plurality of separate tiles that are retained within the opposing tile retaining brackets.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein at least two of the plurality of separate tiles that arc retained within the opposing tile retaining brackets differ from one another in size, shape or color.

13. The combination of claim 8 wherein the support structure is provided as a single, vertically oriented post having a plurality of corner portions and at least three separate. exposed surfaces that arc flanked by pairs of the plurality of corner portions.

14. The combination of claim 8 wherein the support structure is provided as a plurality of vertically oriented posts; each of the posts having at least one corner portion and at least one exposed surface, adjacent the at least one corner portion; each of the tile retaining brackets within the pair of tile retaining brackets coupled with a separate, spaced-apart, vertically oriented post, so that the at least one tile positioned within the pair of tile retaining brackets spans across the exposed surfaces of two posts.

15. A method of covering an exposed surface of a support structure having a pair of opposite corner portions that flank the exposed surface, the method comprising:

securing a first elongated tile saddle along a first of the corner portions of the support structure, such that a pair of saddle arms that extend away from one another, outwardly from a saddle base on the first tile saddle, straddle the first corner portion of the support structure and mounting surfaces of the saddle arms operatively engage the support structure;

securing a second elongated tile saddle along a second of the corner portions of the support structure, such that a pair of saddle arms that extend away from one another, outwardly from a saddle base on the second tile saddle, straddle the first corner portion of the support structure and mounting surfaces of the saddle arms operatively engage the support structure;

positioning at least one tile, having an ornamental face and an opposite mounting face that extend between opposite side edges, such that portions of the tile mounting face are positioned closely adjacent seat surfaces on the saddle arms of the first and second elongated tile saddles;

securing a first elongated tile retainer, having an ornamental face and an opposite mounting face, with a mounting face located adjacent the seat surface of the first elongated tile saddle such that edge portions of the first elongated tile retainer extend outwardly from a side edge of the mounting face of the tile saddle base and engage the at least one tile adjacent a first side edge and resisting removal of the at least one tile from the first elongated tile saddle; and

securing a second elongated tile retainer, having an ornamental face and an opposite mounting face, with a mounting face located adjacent the seat surface of the second elongated tile saddle such that edge portions of the second elongated tile retainer extend outwardly from a side edge of the mounting face of the tile saddle base and engage the at least one tile adjacent a second side edge and resisting removal of the at least one tile from the second elongated tile saddle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the opposite side edges of the at least one tile are positioned adjacent seat sidewalls of the first and second elongated tile saddles; the seat sidewalls extending between edge portions of the seat surfaces of the saddle arms and edge portions of the mounting face of the tile saddle base.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein:

mechanical fasteners are used to secure the first elongated tile retainer and the second elongated tile retainer to their respective first elongated tile saddle and second elongated tile saddle and the first elongated tile saddle and second elongated tile saddle to the support structure by passing at least partially through each of the tile retainers, tile saddles and support structure.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the support structure includes a plurality of vertically oriented posts; each of the posts having at least one corner portion and at least one exposed surface, adjacent the at least one corner portion; each of the first elongated tile saddle and second elongated tile saddle coupled with a separate, spaced-apart, vertically oriented post, so that the at least one tile, positioned such that portions of the tile mounting face are positioned closely adjacent the seat surfaces on the saddle arms of the first and second elongated tile saddles, spans across the exposed surfaces of two posts.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

positioning one or more spacers between the mounting surfaces of the saddle arms of the first and second elongated tile saddles and the corner portions of the support structure, prior to the steps of securing the first and second elongated tile saddles along the first and second corner portions of the support structure.

20. The tile retaining bracket of claim 1 wherein:

the elongated tile saddle and elongated tile retainer are integrally formed with one another, whereby the scat surfaces on the saddle arms and the mounting surface on the saddle base are at least substantially obscured by the integral formation with the elongated tile retainer;

distal end portions of the saddle arms defining tile edge engagement faces; and

the mounting face of the elongated tile retainer extending beyond the distal end portions of the saddle arms to define tile retaining tabs.