CA1068873A - Modular elements for covering floors and walls with tiles and the like - Google Patents
Modular elements for covering floors and walls with tiles and the likeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1068873A CA1068873A CA276,720A CA276720A CA1068873A CA 1068873 A CA1068873 A CA 1068873A CA 276720 A CA276720 A CA 276720A CA 1068873 A CA1068873 A CA 1068873A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tiles
- elements
- tile
- bar
- base
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Floor Finish (AREA)
- Finishing Walls (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure Preformed modular element for forming floor and wall coverings in combination with tiles and the like. The assembled modular elements define an array of regularly shaped cavities, each adapted to receive at least one tile. The cavities are preferably of a lesser depth than the tile thick-ness, thus resulting in an array of grooves between adjacent tiles, corresponding to the modular elements that separate the tiles and are depressed on the top faces thereof; finishing strips being received in the grooves of such a thickness to be flush with the tile top faces.
Description
.:
This invention relates to a prefabricated modular element for forming a reticular support to define cavities for receiving tiles and the like.
m e tiles are inserted in the reticular support in a spaced-apart relationship, and create tile connecting bands, which bands can afterwards be covered, as they will be prefer-ably covered with strips or the like of a suitable material, fixed to the modular elements by means of suitable adhesives.
The modular elements, in a depressed position in respect to the top faces, are provided with transversally pro-jecting tabs or brackets of any shape and/or size, supporting at least a portion of at least one of the sides of the adjacent tiles, while to allow two modular elements to be connected in aligned or angular relationship, the elements are provided with fixed joints or other suitable joints for the connection of the `- modular elements.
Floor or wall coverings are formed with a series of the elements above set forth, comprising non-conventional modular elements and conventional tiles and possible covering - 20 strips thereof. This type of floor or wall covering has the peculiarity of employing tiles and the like, of any possible shape, and preferably polygonal, square, rhomboidal and with curved or mixed profiles, and made of any suitable material and particularly of ceramic, stoneware, glass, tile, plastics, marble or other natural stones, as well as synthetic materials , and the like. Each tile has its own housing cavity defined by a reticular support composed of the prefabricated modular ele-ments, forming connecting bands which separate a tile from the adjacent tiles. m e tiles, or the like, are secured on the reticular support by means of a small quantity of cement , conglomerate or other suitable adhesive, placed in the cavity for fixing each tile in its cavity in a substantially ~ ............ , , . , ~ ::
~0688~3 independent relationship. The adhesive is also used to fix said reticular structure to the wall or floor structure by means of said tiles and said tabs. The reticular support, formed by the modular elements, is preferably covered with strips, which can be of a minimum thickness or be made of non-rigid materials, as the stiffening effect caused by the underlying support, to which the strips will be fi~ed by means of a suitable adhesive, con-tributes to strengthen the strips.
The strips will be made of wood, plastic covered or otherwise treated wood, cork, plastics, or synthetic materials, metal, rubber or stripes of a soft material such as the so-called "moquette" or, more generally, the strips will be made of any suitable material, whereby a combined floor is obtained, ~; which comprises strips and tiles of any suitable material.
` Combined floors made of different materials are already known, but these floors were obtained with a mosaic composition, whereby the cooperating elements were simultaneously placed in a side-by-side relationship in a casting of cement.
With this previous system of forming combined floors, the floors became lumpy, owing to the uneven unit load the elements were able to bear, the strips were rigid and, where made of wood, ;~-they easily embarked, they were difficult to repair and maintain and required the use of skilled and costly work owing to the very difficult laying thereof.
On the contrary, a floor or wall covering according to this invention, has the important advantage of allowing any ` broken tile to be easily and quickly replaced without damaging ; the adjacent tiles.
m e present invention includes a prefabricated modular element for forming a surface covering for a base such as a wall or a floor surface, in which the surface covering includes tiles which can be made from different component materials and the _ - 2 -,~ :
8~73 outer facing surface is free from lumps and unevenness, compris- -ing: a plurality of rigid bar shaped elements each including connection means at their opposite ends and at the midpoint thereof between said opposite ends for connection of individual of said elements together to form a reticular support adapted for placement onto said base, each of said bar shaped elements including a lower facing surface and an upper facing surface having a preselected spacing therebetween; a plurality of the supporting ledges connected with said lower facing surface of : 10 each said bar shaped elements, each said ledges being in the form of projecting tabs having a lower surface flush with the lower surface of said bar shaped elements, the thickness of said ; tabs being less than said preselected spacing so that the upper :: surface of said tab is below the upper surface of said bar . shaped elements, said preselected spacing being at least equal . to the thickness of said tiles whereby said tiles are supported by said tabs in said reticular support spaced from said base, the spacing between said base and the bottom surface of said tiles being at least equal to the thickness of said tabs; said - 20 rigid bar shaped elements being interconnected by said connec-~; tion means to form with said base a cavity to receive said tiles, adhesive material placed into and onto said base, said cavity and the bottom surface of said tiles being pressed against said adhesive material to form a firm bond with said :
adhesive material, said bottom surface of said tiles solely holding said tabs to said base for connection thereto of said reticular support together with said tiles. -Moreover forming the reticular support with pre-~ fabricated modular elements, including elements for the mutual connection thereof, makes it easy forming of the tile housing cavity even to a completely inexperienced person. Placing the ,, , : tiles in the so-formed housing cavities automatically allows , lE~
,:. . . .
10~i8873 the tiles to be perfectly aligned, while the brackets or tabs of the modular elements, function as a ledge and a rule or a straight edge, and assure that the tiles all lie in the same plane. The modular elements are of lightweight structure, easy to handle and cheap to manufacture as they can be moulded in their final shape from a suitable plastic material.
The appended drawings show, for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, some possible embodiments of the invention, and precisely:
Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a top and a bottom view of a first embodiment of a bar-shaped . modular element;
~ Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view .~ taken along line S-S in Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of a floor- or ~-wall-covering formed utilizing the bar shaped :~ modular element of Figures 1 to 3, with frag- - -.
mentary sections of some elements thereof, and .
' in different steps of the forming operation;
.j` 20 Figures 5 and 6 show a cross-shaped modular element and a square modular element, respectively, ~
both elements being intended to form a reticular -.
~- structure similar to the reticular structure illustrated in Figure 4;
Figure 7 shows the front face of another type of ::
.! modular element forming a supporting reticular ~
structure receiving two different types of :
`' tiles; ~ ::
, -, Figure 8 shows, with fragmentary sections, a view of a floor formed making use of the modular ele- ~:;
ment of Figure 7;
, j Figure 9 shows the front face of an element similar to ., , i ~ _ 4 _ :~
.. , .: , . ......... . .
106~873 the element of Figure 7, but of such a width as to form the housing cavity for a tile; and Figure 10 shows a portion of floor covering, in different steps of the forming operation thereof, performed making use of the modular element of Figure 9.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the modular ele-ment generally indicated with reference 1 comprises a bar ` shaped element, made of a plastic material and moulded in its final shape. Of course, it is possible to obtain modular ele-ments by a moulding or melting process, and in different but `~ functionally equivalent shapes, and/or making use of different materials, such as rolled sections. Element 1, in the illus-; trated embodiment, is of a length which is two times the width - of a tile, plus the selected width of element 1. The tile and the like is generally indicated by reference 2, and in this embodiment it is square shaped. It has to be pointed out, ` however, that two or more separate rectangular tiles, in abut-ting relationship, can also be used to replace a square tile 2 and, in this instance, the number of support tabs, which will be described below, will be suitably increased.
` In this instance, the modular elements 1 are formed to support two sides of two tiles on each longitudinal side and accordingly at least a pair of brackets or tabs 3 for each tile ~' 2 are protruding along the longitudinal sides of each element 1, -these tabs having their lower face flush with the lower face of the bar shaped element 1. Furthermore, the thickness of tabs 3 allows the upper face thereof to remain below the upper plane of , element 1 with a distance less than, or possibly equal to, the thickness of the tiles 2 utilized herein.
.~ .
~ It can be observed that preferably tile 2 will rise s above the plane formed by modular elements 1 by a length equal , _ 5 _ .
, ~:
~688~3 to the thickness of a strip to be described below, which will be used as a cover for elements 1. There are two tabs 3 for each side of tiles 2 but, more generally, the tabs will be pro-vided in a number sufficient to support one side of the tile in cooperation with the tabs 3 of the other elements 1, defining the housing cavity for a tile 2. One end of each modular ele-ment 1 is provided with a tongue 5, aligned with the upper face of element 1, having at least a tooth 6 downwardly protruding from the lower face thereof. A notch 7 is cut at the other end of each modular element 1, which is complementary to the tongue 5 in order to receive the latter and to obtain again the thick-ness of modular elements 1, in this connection area, while a hole 8 is drilled in the bottom of notch 7 for receiving each tooth 6 and completing the fixed-joint connection of two modular elements 1 placed in angular relationship therebetween.
; In correspondence with the transverse symmetrical plane of each modular element, the element 1 is provided with a tongue 5a and teeth 6a on one side, and a notch 7a and holes 8a in the other side, having the same function of those provided -~
on the end joints of modular element 1 and intended to allow a right-angle connection of two modular elements 1, identical with the connection shown in Figures 1 and 2. Of course, any other functionally equivalent system of connection may be substituted to the one illustrated therein.
With reference to Figure 4 therein, the assembling method is now shown for laying a floor or wall covering employing modular elements of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3. On the -floor or wall to be covered, the modular elements are arranged to form a reticular support, placing longitudinal and transverse -rows of elements 1, cutting off, where required, the excessive portions to accommodate the reticular structure to the shape and size of the wall or floor. After laying of the reticular .
.
.. . . .
lQ6~3873 support, modular elements 1 will define a plurality of houqing cavities, which will be square-shaped in this case, each cavity being adapted to receive a tile 2. Before laying each tile 2, a small quantity of mortar or other adhesive will be placed in the cavity. A slight knock on the tile 2 will cause the same to compress the utilized adhesive for securing the tile to the floor or wall until tile 2 is engaged with the upper face of the supporting tabs 3. Any excessive material will come out from the splits or spaces formed between guiding teeth 4. After setting, tile 2 will be secured to the underlying floor or to the wall behind and, by means of tabs 3, will also fix the reticular support formed by modular elements 1.
Tabs 3 will operate also as a ledge and rule prevent-ing a generic tile to be in a depressed or raised position in respect of the place of the other tiles.
After setting, modular elements 1 are preferably .~ covered with strips 9 secured by means of adhesives. Depending on the desired decorative effects, the strips, as already stated, will be made of various suitable materials. Of course, -should the strips 9 be employed, the thickness of elements 1 -~
will be sized to allow tiles 2 to project from the upper face of elements 1, of such a length as to have their facing plane flush with the plane formed by strips 9 or the like utilized therein.
It has also to be pointed out that the same reticular support and, accordingly, the same embodiment of Figure 4 will be obtained as well making use of the sam@ tiles 2 and the same strips 9 but replacing the bar shaped element 1 by another modular element, such as the star element la of Figure 5 or the ~-square element lb of Figure 6 or, more generally, any other modular element which, once assembled with similar elements, will form a reticular support corresponding to the reticular support of Figure 4.
It has also to be pointed out that in the embodiments described below, which are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the reticular support will be obtained both with the already illustrated modular elements and with one or more modular elements complementary to said reticular support, being stated that, even modifying the struc-ture of the modular elements, forming the reticular support, its function remains unchanged.
The embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 is substantially identical with the above embodiment. Modular elements 10 are here again bar shaped elements, comprising support tabs 3 and 11;
however female joints 12 and 12a and male joints 13 and 13a are provided for connecting modular elements 10 under 30 angles.
This system is assembled in the same way as above, but this different coupling system will provide housing cavities for two different types of tiles and precisely for conventional hexa-gonal tiles 14 and triangular tiles 15, whereas the strips 9 will be of rhomboidal configuration.
The embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 is a modification of the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8. In this case, the bar shaped modular elements 16 are very wide so that, by means of the depressed transverse members 17a, which connect two beam shaped side elements 17b and also replacing the tabs, at least a housing cavity for a tile 18 can be formed in the body of each modular element 16. In this case, the floor will be covered '~ with hexagonal tiles 19 and rhomboidal tiles 18 and with strips 9 (Figure 10), the junction area will be provided with pairs of mutually engaging elements. Of course, according to the same concept, other types of modular elements can be obtained, which are complementary and able to be mutually connected by means of fixed joints and the like, and defining, in combination, housing cavities for a plurality of tiles.
'. ~
";
This invention relates to a prefabricated modular element for forming a reticular support to define cavities for receiving tiles and the like.
m e tiles are inserted in the reticular support in a spaced-apart relationship, and create tile connecting bands, which bands can afterwards be covered, as they will be prefer-ably covered with strips or the like of a suitable material, fixed to the modular elements by means of suitable adhesives.
The modular elements, in a depressed position in respect to the top faces, are provided with transversally pro-jecting tabs or brackets of any shape and/or size, supporting at least a portion of at least one of the sides of the adjacent tiles, while to allow two modular elements to be connected in aligned or angular relationship, the elements are provided with fixed joints or other suitable joints for the connection of the `- modular elements.
Floor or wall coverings are formed with a series of the elements above set forth, comprising non-conventional modular elements and conventional tiles and possible covering - 20 strips thereof. This type of floor or wall covering has the peculiarity of employing tiles and the like, of any possible shape, and preferably polygonal, square, rhomboidal and with curved or mixed profiles, and made of any suitable material and particularly of ceramic, stoneware, glass, tile, plastics, marble or other natural stones, as well as synthetic materials , and the like. Each tile has its own housing cavity defined by a reticular support composed of the prefabricated modular ele-ments, forming connecting bands which separate a tile from the adjacent tiles. m e tiles, or the like, are secured on the reticular support by means of a small quantity of cement , conglomerate or other suitable adhesive, placed in the cavity for fixing each tile in its cavity in a substantially ~ ............ , , . , ~ ::
~0688~3 independent relationship. The adhesive is also used to fix said reticular structure to the wall or floor structure by means of said tiles and said tabs. The reticular support, formed by the modular elements, is preferably covered with strips, which can be of a minimum thickness or be made of non-rigid materials, as the stiffening effect caused by the underlying support, to which the strips will be fi~ed by means of a suitable adhesive, con-tributes to strengthen the strips.
The strips will be made of wood, plastic covered or otherwise treated wood, cork, plastics, or synthetic materials, metal, rubber or stripes of a soft material such as the so-called "moquette" or, more generally, the strips will be made of any suitable material, whereby a combined floor is obtained, ~; which comprises strips and tiles of any suitable material.
` Combined floors made of different materials are already known, but these floors were obtained with a mosaic composition, whereby the cooperating elements were simultaneously placed in a side-by-side relationship in a casting of cement.
With this previous system of forming combined floors, the floors became lumpy, owing to the uneven unit load the elements were able to bear, the strips were rigid and, where made of wood, ;~-they easily embarked, they were difficult to repair and maintain and required the use of skilled and costly work owing to the very difficult laying thereof.
On the contrary, a floor or wall covering according to this invention, has the important advantage of allowing any ` broken tile to be easily and quickly replaced without damaging ; the adjacent tiles.
m e present invention includes a prefabricated modular element for forming a surface covering for a base such as a wall or a floor surface, in which the surface covering includes tiles which can be made from different component materials and the _ - 2 -,~ :
8~73 outer facing surface is free from lumps and unevenness, compris- -ing: a plurality of rigid bar shaped elements each including connection means at their opposite ends and at the midpoint thereof between said opposite ends for connection of individual of said elements together to form a reticular support adapted for placement onto said base, each of said bar shaped elements including a lower facing surface and an upper facing surface having a preselected spacing therebetween; a plurality of the supporting ledges connected with said lower facing surface of : 10 each said bar shaped elements, each said ledges being in the form of projecting tabs having a lower surface flush with the lower surface of said bar shaped elements, the thickness of said ; tabs being less than said preselected spacing so that the upper :: surface of said tab is below the upper surface of said bar . shaped elements, said preselected spacing being at least equal . to the thickness of said tiles whereby said tiles are supported by said tabs in said reticular support spaced from said base, the spacing between said base and the bottom surface of said tiles being at least equal to the thickness of said tabs; said - 20 rigid bar shaped elements being interconnected by said connec-~; tion means to form with said base a cavity to receive said tiles, adhesive material placed into and onto said base, said cavity and the bottom surface of said tiles being pressed against said adhesive material to form a firm bond with said :
adhesive material, said bottom surface of said tiles solely holding said tabs to said base for connection thereto of said reticular support together with said tiles. -Moreover forming the reticular support with pre-~ fabricated modular elements, including elements for the mutual connection thereof, makes it easy forming of the tile housing cavity even to a completely inexperienced person. Placing the ,, , : tiles in the so-formed housing cavities automatically allows , lE~
,:. . . .
10~i8873 the tiles to be perfectly aligned, while the brackets or tabs of the modular elements, function as a ledge and a rule or a straight edge, and assure that the tiles all lie in the same plane. The modular elements are of lightweight structure, easy to handle and cheap to manufacture as they can be moulded in their final shape from a suitable plastic material.
The appended drawings show, for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, some possible embodiments of the invention, and precisely:
Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a top and a bottom view of a first embodiment of a bar-shaped . modular element;
~ Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view .~ taken along line S-S in Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of a floor- or ~-wall-covering formed utilizing the bar shaped :~ modular element of Figures 1 to 3, with frag- - -.
mentary sections of some elements thereof, and .
' in different steps of the forming operation;
.j` 20 Figures 5 and 6 show a cross-shaped modular element and a square modular element, respectively, ~
both elements being intended to form a reticular -.
~- structure similar to the reticular structure illustrated in Figure 4;
Figure 7 shows the front face of another type of ::
.! modular element forming a supporting reticular ~
structure receiving two different types of :
`' tiles; ~ ::
, -, Figure 8 shows, with fragmentary sections, a view of a floor formed making use of the modular ele- ~:;
ment of Figure 7;
, j Figure 9 shows the front face of an element similar to ., , i ~ _ 4 _ :~
.. , .: , . ......... . .
106~873 the element of Figure 7, but of such a width as to form the housing cavity for a tile; and Figure 10 shows a portion of floor covering, in different steps of the forming operation thereof, performed making use of the modular element of Figure 9.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the modular ele-ment generally indicated with reference 1 comprises a bar ` shaped element, made of a plastic material and moulded in its final shape. Of course, it is possible to obtain modular ele-ments by a moulding or melting process, and in different but `~ functionally equivalent shapes, and/or making use of different materials, such as rolled sections. Element 1, in the illus-; trated embodiment, is of a length which is two times the width - of a tile, plus the selected width of element 1. The tile and the like is generally indicated by reference 2, and in this embodiment it is square shaped. It has to be pointed out, ` however, that two or more separate rectangular tiles, in abut-ting relationship, can also be used to replace a square tile 2 and, in this instance, the number of support tabs, which will be described below, will be suitably increased.
` In this instance, the modular elements 1 are formed to support two sides of two tiles on each longitudinal side and accordingly at least a pair of brackets or tabs 3 for each tile ~' 2 are protruding along the longitudinal sides of each element 1, -these tabs having their lower face flush with the lower face of the bar shaped element 1. Furthermore, the thickness of tabs 3 allows the upper face thereof to remain below the upper plane of , element 1 with a distance less than, or possibly equal to, the thickness of the tiles 2 utilized herein.
.~ .
~ It can be observed that preferably tile 2 will rise s above the plane formed by modular elements 1 by a length equal , _ 5 _ .
, ~:
~688~3 to the thickness of a strip to be described below, which will be used as a cover for elements 1. There are two tabs 3 for each side of tiles 2 but, more generally, the tabs will be pro-vided in a number sufficient to support one side of the tile in cooperation with the tabs 3 of the other elements 1, defining the housing cavity for a tile 2. One end of each modular ele-ment 1 is provided with a tongue 5, aligned with the upper face of element 1, having at least a tooth 6 downwardly protruding from the lower face thereof. A notch 7 is cut at the other end of each modular element 1, which is complementary to the tongue 5 in order to receive the latter and to obtain again the thick-ness of modular elements 1, in this connection area, while a hole 8 is drilled in the bottom of notch 7 for receiving each tooth 6 and completing the fixed-joint connection of two modular elements 1 placed in angular relationship therebetween.
; In correspondence with the transverse symmetrical plane of each modular element, the element 1 is provided with a tongue 5a and teeth 6a on one side, and a notch 7a and holes 8a in the other side, having the same function of those provided -~
on the end joints of modular element 1 and intended to allow a right-angle connection of two modular elements 1, identical with the connection shown in Figures 1 and 2. Of course, any other functionally equivalent system of connection may be substituted to the one illustrated therein.
With reference to Figure 4 therein, the assembling method is now shown for laying a floor or wall covering employing modular elements of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3. On the -floor or wall to be covered, the modular elements are arranged to form a reticular support, placing longitudinal and transverse -rows of elements 1, cutting off, where required, the excessive portions to accommodate the reticular structure to the shape and size of the wall or floor. After laying of the reticular .
.
.. . . .
lQ6~3873 support, modular elements 1 will define a plurality of houqing cavities, which will be square-shaped in this case, each cavity being adapted to receive a tile 2. Before laying each tile 2, a small quantity of mortar or other adhesive will be placed in the cavity. A slight knock on the tile 2 will cause the same to compress the utilized adhesive for securing the tile to the floor or wall until tile 2 is engaged with the upper face of the supporting tabs 3. Any excessive material will come out from the splits or spaces formed between guiding teeth 4. After setting, tile 2 will be secured to the underlying floor or to the wall behind and, by means of tabs 3, will also fix the reticular support formed by modular elements 1.
Tabs 3 will operate also as a ledge and rule prevent-ing a generic tile to be in a depressed or raised position in respect of the place of the other tiles.
After setting, modular elements 1 are preferably .~ covered with strips 9 secured by means of adhesives. Depending on the desired decorative effects, the strips, as already stated, will be made of various suitable materials. Of course, -should the strips 9 be employed, the thickness of elements 1 -~
will be sized to allow tiles 2 to project from the upper face of elements 1, of such a length as to have their facing plane flush with the plane formed by strips 9 or the like utilized therein.
It has also to be pointed out that the same reticular support and, accordingly, the same embodiment of Figure 4 will be obtained as well making use of the sam@ tiles 2 and the same strips 9 but replacing the bar shaped element 1 by another modular element, such as the star element la of Figure 5 or the ~-square element lb of Figure 6 or, more generally, any other modular element which, once assembled with similar elements, will form a reticular support corresponding to the reticular support of Figure 4.
It has also to be pointed out that in the embodiments described below, which are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the reticular support will be obtained both with the already illustrated modular elements and with one or more modular elements complementary to said reticular support, being stated that, even modifying the struc-ture of the modular elements, forming the reticular support, its function remains unchanged.
The embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 is substantially identical with the above embodiment. Modular elements 10 are here again bar shaped elements, comprising support tabs 3 and 11;
however female joints 12 and 12a and male joints 13 and 13a are provided for connecting modular elements 10 under 30 angles.
This system is assembled in the same way as above, but this different coupling system will provide housing cavities for two different types of tiles and precisely for conventional hexa-gonal tiles 14 and triangular tiles 15, whereas the strips 9 will be of rhomboidal configuration.
The embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 is a modification of the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8. In this case, the bar shaped modular elements 16 are very wide so that, by means of the depressed transverse members 17a, which connect two beam shaped side elements 17b and also replacing the tabs, at least a housing cavity for a tile 18 can be formed in the body of each modular element 16. In this case, the floor will be covered '~ with hexagonal tiles 19 and rhomboidal tiles 18 and with strips 9 (Figure 10), the junction area will be provided with pairs of mutually engaging elements. Of course, according to the same concept, other types of modular elements can be obtained, which are complementary and able to be mutually connected by means of fixed joints and the like, and defining, in combination, housing cavities for a plurality of tiles.
'. ~
";
Claims (10)
1. A prefabricated modular element for forming a surface covering for a base such as a wall or a floor surface, in which the surface covering includes tiles which can be made from different component materials and the outer facing surface is free from lumps and unevenness, comprising:
a plurality of rigid bar shaped elements each includ-ing connection means at their opposite ends and at the midpoint thereof between said opposite ends for connection of individual of said elements together to form a reticular support adapted for placement onto said base;
each of said bar shaped elements including a lower facing surface and an upper facing surface having a preselected spacing therebetween;
a plurality of the supporting ledges connected with said lower facing surface of each said bar shaped elements, each said ledges being in the form of projecting tabs having a lower surface flush with the lower surface of said bar shaped elements, the thickness of said tabs being less than said pre-selected spacing so that the upper surface of said tab is below the upper surface of said bar shaped elements;
said preselected spacing being at least equal to the thickness of said tiles whereby said tiles are supported by said tabs in said reticular support spaced from said base, the spacing between said base and the bottom surface of said tiles being at least equal to the thickness of said tabs;
said rigid bar shaped elements being interconnected by said connection means to form with said base a cavity to receive said tiles;
adhesive material placed into and onto said base, said cavity and the bottom surface of said tiles being pressed against said adhesive material to form a firm bond with said adhesive material, said bottom surface of said tiles solely holding said tabs to said base for connection thereto of said reticular support together with said tiles.
a plurality of rigid bar shaped elements each includ-ing connection means at their opposite ends and at the midpoint thereof between said opposite ends for connection of individual of said elements together to form a reticular support adapted for placement onto said base;
each of said bar shaped elements including a lower facing surface and an upper facing surface having a preselected spacing therebetween;
a plurality of the supporting ledges connected with said lower facing surface of each said bar shaped elements, each said ledges being in the form of projecting tabs having a lower surface flush with the lower surface of said bar shaped elements, the thickness of said tabs being less than said pre-selected spacing so that the upper surface of said tab is below the upper surface of said bar shaped elements;
said preselected spacing being at least equal to the thickness of said tiles whereby said tiles are supported by said tabs in said reticular support spaced from said base, the spacing between said base and the bottom surface of said tiles being at least equal to the thickness of said tabs;
said rigid bar shaped elements being interconnected by said connection means to form with said base a cavity to receive said tiles;
adhesive material placed into and onto said base, said cavity and the bottom surface of said tiles being pressed against said adhesive material to form a firm bond with said adhesive material, said bottom surface of said tiles solely holding said tabs to said base for connection thereto of said reticular support together with said tiles.
2. The modular element as claimed in claim 1, including auxiliary strips covering said top surfaces of said rigid bar shaped elements.
3. The modular element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the thickness of said tiles plus the thickness of said tabs is greater than the thickness of said rigid elements, so that the top surface of said tiles project above said top sur-face of said rigid elements, and the thickness of said auxiliary strips is selected in accordance with the thickness of said tiles to provide a uni-formly continuous outer surface covering without defined trans-itional lines between said auxiliary strips and said tiles, whereby said tiles and strips are flush and in a uniform plane as said rigid bar shaped elements take up any unevenness in said base.
4. The modular element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said auxiliary strips are formed of non-rigid material, and adhesive means to affix said auxiliary strips to said bar elements.
5. The modular elements as claimed in claim 1, including guiding teeth between said ledges on each said bar elements, and said teeth having spaces therebetween communicating with said cavity to permit excessive adhesive to be guided out of said cavity from between the bottom of said tile and said base, thereby preventing bulging of said tiles, whereby to provide a uniform surface covering with said rigid bar elements taking up any unevenness in said base.
6. The modular element as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said bar element includes a straight flat surface between said upper and said lower surfaces to provide a straight edge for a side of said tile, said straight flat surface having a plurality of inwardly directed spaces separated by projecting teeth connected with said bar element, said projecting teeth extending to said straight flat surface and positioned between said ledges, said spaces permitting excessive adhesive to exist from said cavity to the front surface of the tile while assuring uniform distribution of said adhesive between said base and the bottom of said tile without causing an outward bulging thereof.
7. The modular element as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said bar elements has a length equal to twice the width of said tiles and a width equal to the width of said covering strip.
8. The modular element as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said bar elements includes at least two ledges for each tile in support engagement therewith, each said tile having one of its sides in said support engagement with one of said bar elements, and each of said bar elements being in support engagement with at least two tiles.
9. The modular element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means including angularly related complementary connectors at said opposite ends and said midpoint for connecting said rigid bar shaped elements together to form a tile housing network for said tiles with angles between adja-cent connected elements being equal to angles opposite thereto between opposite adjacent connected elements, and said tiles having an outer configuration to fit within said housing network.
10. The modular element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes a first tongue-notch arrangement with said tongue aligned with said upper surface of said bar element at one end thereof and at the midpoint thereof on one side thereof, and a second tongue-notch arrange-ment with said last-mentioned tongue being aligned with said lower surface of said bar element at said other end thereof and at said midpoint thereof on said other side thereof, said first and said second tongue-notch arrangements being adapted for engagement with each other to provide for uniform continuous surfaces of said upper and said lower sur-faces of said bar elements, said first tongue-notch arrangement being provided with a hole therein, and said second tongue-notch arrangement including a projecting tooth for engagement with said hole to lock said first and said second tongue-notch arrangement together, said connecting means are angular arranged with said bar elements to form said reticular support with two different types of cavities, and tiles complementary to the outer configuration of said cavity to provide a tile surface covering with different tile configurations.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA276,720A CA1068873A (en) | 1977-04-21 | 1977-04-21 | Modular elements for covering floors and walls with tiles and the like |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA276,720A CA1068873A (en) | 1977-04-21 | 1977-04-21 | Modular elements for covering floors and walls with tiles and the like |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1068873A true CA1068873A (en) | 1980-01-01 |
Family
ID=4108464
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA276,720A Expired CA1068873A (en) | 1977-04-21 | 1977-04-21 | Modular elements for covering floors and walls with tiles and the like |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1068873A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2452117A (en) * | 2007-06-15 | 2009-02-25 | Tile Fixer Ltd | A tile spacer grid |
-
1977
- 1977-04-21 CA CA276,720A patent/CA1068873A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2452117A (en) * | 2007-06-15 | 2009-02-25 | Tile Fixer Ltd | A tile spacer grid |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4135338A (en) | Modular elements for covering floors and walls with tiles and the like | |
| US7340865B2 (en) | Interlocking tile | |
| AU2002302249B2 (en) | Panel, kit and method for forming a masonry wall | |
| US9428906B2 (en) | Irregular tessellated building units | |
| US7993718B2 (en) | Irregular tessellated building units | |
| US6865855B2 (en) | Building component structure, or building components | |
| AU2002302249A1 (en) | Panel, kit and method for forming a masonry wall | |
| WO2009072795A2 (en) | Brick usable as a mold and method for constructing a wall using the same | |
| CA2669449C (en) | Irregular tessellated building units | |
| CA1068873A (en) | Modular elements for covering floors and walls with tiles and the like | |
| US5058349A (en) | Surface tile for flooring and the like | |
| DE2846717A1 (en) | CLADDING PANEL, IN PARTICULAR FOR BOEDEN | |
| US6640514B2 (en) | Modular wall or double wall element for dry assembly | |
| EP0149689A1 (en) | Modular assembly element structure, particularly for erecting partition walls and the like | |
| IE57103B1 (en) | A construction of tile | |
| GB2171428B (en) | A plastics material profile for the formation of expansion joints in floors or walls provided with rigid coverings, more especially ceramic tiles. | |
| GB2458511A (en) | Building element for lattice grid | |
| US5620278A (en) | Tile | |
| JPH08158506A (en) | Ceramics block and manufacture thereof and ceramics block wall | |
| DE7725149U1 (en) | CERAMIC COMPONENT | |
| JPH08420Y2 (en) | Wall material | |
| ITTO20000314A1 (en) | PERFECTED BRICK, IN PARTICULAR TILE EQUIPPED WITH ELASTIC MEANS FOR EXPANSION AND COMPRESSION. | |
| JP2002129736A (en) | Unit type floor material, manufacturing therefor and laying structure therefor | |
| IE930373A1 (en) | A tile | |
| ITMI960618U1 (en) | ELEMENT FOR THE EXECUTION OF WOOD OR WOOD OR WOOD AND CERAMIC STONE COVERINGS OR SIMILAR WITH INLAY EFFECT |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |