GB2036328A - Template for tile fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for use in determining the shape of a tile for fitting into a restricted space on a fixture. A locating bar 26 on a housing member 10 projects downwardly therefrom to be locatable against an edge of a tile and a pair of elongate members 20 register any spacing from full tile size to zero between the locating bar and locations on a fixture perimeter. Each of the elongate members is movable along its longitudinal axis relative to the housing member and can be retained in any desired position. With one face of the locating bar against an edge of an installed tile the spacing is registered and is then transferred to a tile to be cut with the opposite face of the locating bar engaging against the edge of that tile. The desired spacing between tiles is automatically achieved by virtue of the thickness of the locating bar, and each side edge of the housing member has a scale of measurement. In another embodiment, Fig. 28 (not shown) only a single elongate member (104) is provided but a bar (116) which may be pliable is provided at its end to mould to the contour of the tile. In Fig. 40 (not shown) the housing member is telescopic. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for shaping a tile This invention relates to apparatus for use in determining the shape of a tile for fitting into a restricted space on a surface of a floor, wall or ceiling, hereinafter referred to as a 'fixture' and can be used in the installation of tiles be they ceramic, linoleum, vinyl, asbestos or any other type.

Walls and floors are rarely of true and level dimensions and it is a difficult, time consuming task to measure restricted spaces at the perimeter of the fixtures to which tiles are being applied and then shape the tiles by cutting according to the measurements taken. In ceramic tiling in particular the task is made more difficult in that the acceptable appearance of a finished installation depends almost as much upon uniform grouted joints as upon the quality of the tiles themselves and therefore accuracy in measuring and cutting tiles to maintain equal, even joints is essential.

Accurate tile installation in such restricted spaces is rarely achieved even by professional installers because of the problems and length of timeinvolved using present methods, which involve placing a tile to be cut face down against the space with, in the case of ceramic tiles, spacer lugs of one edge in contact with the perimeter of the fixture. The back of the tile is then marked in line with the edge of a previously installed tile with an allowance being made to provide a joint space between the tile to be cut and the perimeter edge which is equal to the joints formed by the spacer lugs of adjacent tiles. The marks on the back of the tile have then to be carried over to the face of the tile so that the tile can be cut.It will be appreciated that as well as the problem of correct orientation of the tile when face down, particularly when the continuity of a directional pattern is to be ensured, and the time involved, there is considerable opportunity for error in transferring the marking from the back of the tile to the face of the tile. Also for wide angled contoured cuts a visual judgement has to be made with the existing methods.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate disadvantages such as outlined above.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in determining the shape of a tile for fitting into a restricted space on a fixture, said apparatus comprising a housing member provided with means for locating the apparatus against an edge of a tile and means adjustable relative to the housing member to register any spacing from full tile size to zero between the locating means and one or more individual locations on a fixture perimeter defining the restricted space which is to be tiled.

Preferably the registering means comprises a pair of elongate members retained in a spaced apart parallel relation in, and projecting from, the housing member and each being movable along its longitudinal axis relative to the housing member.

Preferably also the elongate members are adapted to releasably mount a scribing bar between adjacent ends thereof.

Further the locating means may comprise a bar which extends at right angles to the direction in which the registering means is adjustable and projects the housing member to be locatable against an edge of a tile.

Preferably for use with tiles having spacers at the edges thereof, the bar has a thickness equal to twice the thickness of one of the spacers.

Alternatively for use with tiles which have no spacers but which have to be spaced apart in use, the bar has a thickness equal to twice the desired spacing between adjacent tiles.

Also for use with tiles desired to be butt jointed, the bar has a minimum thickness.

Advantageously on each of two opposed side edges extending at right angles to the direction of adjustment of the registering means, the housing member is provided with a scale of measurement.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1:: Figs. 3 to 6 illustrate a first method according to the invention; Figs. 7 to 10 illustrate a second method according to the invention; Figs. 11 to 1 5 illustrate a method of installation in a restricted space in the form of an external corner; Figs. 1 6 to 1 9 illustrate a method of installation in a restricted space in the form of an irregular inside corner; Figs. 20 to 26 illustrate a method of installation in a restricted space in the form of a contoured perimeter edge; Fig. 27 and 27A show a modification of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 28 is a plan view of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 29 is a section through A-A of Fig. 28; Figs. 30 to 31 illustrates a method according to the invention using the apparatus of Figs. 28 and 29; Fig. 32 is a partial plan view of a modification of the apparatus of Figs. 28 and 29; Fig. 33 is a section through C-c of Fig. 32; Figs. 34 to 39 illustrate a method according to the invention using the apparatus of Figs. 32 and 33; and Fig. 40 is a third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings a first embodiment of an apparatus for determining the shape of a tile for fitting into a restricted space on a fixture comprises a housing member in the form of a casing 10 of substantially rectangular configuration. The casing 10 is a moulding of metal, plastics, or other suitable material and has upper projections 12, 14 providing hand grips.

The casing 10 has outwardly sloping areas extending to its side edges and is formed, close to each end and parallel thereto, with aligned openings 18 defining a guide channel which can locate registering means in the form of an elongate rod 20. Within the casing 10 and located above and longitudinally of each rod 20 there is a friction spring 22. A friction force is therefore applied which will retain the rod 20 in any longitudinal position to which it is moved but can be overcome by manual pressure applied to the rod 20. The guide channels are designed to minimise any lateral or vertical movement of the rods 20 but do not restrict movement of the rods along their longitudinal axes.On each of its sloping side areas extending at right angles to the rods 20 the casing 10 has a scale of Imperial or metric measurement 24, or of any other units such as units equivalent to the thickness of a tile spacer lug, as referred to hereinafter, inscribed thereon for a purpose hereinafter described. The scales originate at the same end of the casing 10 to facilitate the use of the scales alternately and in transposing measurements.

The rods 20 have a length at least equal to the facial dimension of the tiles for which the apparatus is designed to be used and the casing 10 has the same length as the facial dimension of the tiles such that the casing can be located against the tile for both measuring a space and measuring a tile to be cut, with the rods 20 as close to the extremities of the tile as possible so that only one set of measurements is necessary for the majority of cuts. The width of the casing is preferably less than half the facial dimension of the tiles to permit measurement as hereinafter described but is wide enough to hold the rods 20 firmly and securely and to be a practical size for handling.

The casing 10 has a downwardly extending projection in the form of a bar 26 along one longitudinal edge. The bar 26 has a predetermined thickness as hereinafter described.

When it is desired to cut a tile to fit a restricted space having a dimension, measured from the edge of a previously installed tile to a fixture perimeter, of less than a half tile, the shaping is carried out in accordance with the method shown in Figs. 3 to 6.

The casing 10 is placed on top of the previously installed tile 28 with the bar 26 located with its inside face against spacer lugs 30 on the edge of the tile 28 facing the fixture perimeter 32. When used with tiles having spacer lugs the bar 26 has a thickness equal to twice the width of a spacer lug.

The rods 20 are then adjusted until they contact the perimeter edge 32, the apparatus then being removed with the rods 20 retained in position. The apparatus is then placed against a tile 34 tote cut (Fig. 5) with the outside face of the bar 26 located against the spacer lugs 30 on the tile 34.

The rods 20 project over the front face of the tile 34 and the latter is marked on its front face immediately below the ends of the rods 20. The tile 34 is then scored and cut along a staright line between the two marks and the line of cut will match the line of the perimeter edge 32.

When the cut tile 34 is installed in position with its spacer lugs 30 in contact with the spacer lugs 30 of the adjacent previously installed tiles with the cut edge adjacent to the perimeter edge 32, a gap 36 is defined between the cut edge of the tile 34 and the perimeter edge 32 which is equal in width to the spacing apart of the previously installed tiles by virtue of their spacer lugs 30, due to the thickness of the bar 26 and the opposite faces of the bar 26 being used when transferring the measurements to the tile 34.

When it is desired to shape and cut a tile to fit in a restricted space which is defined between a previously installed tile and a perimeter edge of a fixture and which has a dimension greater than half the length of a tile, a method of installation is used as shown in Figs. 7 to 10.

The casing 10 of the apparatus is placed in the restricted space between the previously installed tile 38 and the perimeter edge 40 with the outer face of the bar 26 located against the spacer lugs 42 of the tile 38. The rods 20 are then moved longitudinally until they are in contact with the perimeter edge 40.

The apparatus is then removed and placed on a tile 44 to be cut (Fig. 9) with the inner face of the bar 26 located against the spacer lugs 42 of the tile 44. The latter is marked at the points immediately below the ends of the rods 20 and the tile is cut along a line between the two marks with the line of cut matching the line of the perimeter edge 40. When the cut tile 44 is installed in position with its spacer lugs 42 in contact with the spacer lugs 42 of the previously installed tiles, a gap 46 is defined between the cut edge of the tile 44 and the perimeter edge 40 which is equal in width to the spacing between adjacent tiles formed by adjacent spacer lugs 42. This gap 46 is due to the thickness of the bar 26 and the use of the opposite face of the bar 26 when the measurements are transferred to the tile 44.

Figs. 11 to 15 show a method of shaping and cutting a tile to fit into a restricted space in the form of an external corner. The space is less than a half tile in one dimension and more than a half tile in the other dimension and therefore the apperatus is used in accordance with both the methods previously described. With reference to Figs. 3 to 6, with a previously installed tile 50 facing one edge 51 of the corner 52 a first of the rods 20 is moved into engagement with the edge 52 of the corner 52 and the other of the rods 20 is moved until its end is aligned with the plane in which the edge 51 of the corner 52 is located. The tile 54 to be cut is then marked with a straight line joining the points immediately below the ends of the rods 20.

The apparatus is then used in the way described with reference to Figs. 7 to 10 with a previously installed tile 56 facing the other edge 53 of the corner 52, one of the rods 20 being moved into engagement with the edge 53 of the corner 52 and the other of the rods 20 to a position wherein its end is in the plane of the edge 53 (Fig. 1 3). Another line can then be marked on the tile 54 to be cut and the two lines define an area 58 (Fig. 14) which is to be removed from the tile 54 to fit around the external corner with a required gap between the cut edges of the tile and the edges of the corner.

Figs. 1 6 to 19 show a method of shaping and cutting a tile to fit an irregular inside corner. The part tiles between a previously installed tile 60 and respective perimeter edges of a fixture are initially left out to facilitate measurement of the corner space and are afterwards measured and cut as described with reference to Figs. 3 to 6 and Figs. 7 to 10 respectively.

This method is described in relation to tiles which do not have spacer lugs and in such a case the bar 26 of the casing 10 has a thickness equal to twice the desired width of the spacing between adjacent tiles.

The spacing between the tile 60 and the respective corner edge 62 is less than a half tile wide such that the apparatus is placed on the tile 60 as described in Fig. 3, although the apparatus is offset along the edge of the tile 60 such that one of the rods 20 is positioned in the intended location of the cut tile to be inserted. The rods 20 are both moved until they engage the perimeter edge 62 and the spacing Y on the scale opposite the bar 26 in line with the outside edge of the tile 60 is noted. The apparatus is then removed and placed against a tile 64 to be cut but offset so that the measurement Y on the scale above the bar 26 is in line with the edge of the tile. A line is then drawn on the tile between the ends of the rods 20.

The apparatus is then placed on the other free edge of the tile 60 (Fig. 1 8) in a manner described with reference to Fig. 7 but is again offset such that one of the rods 20 is positioned in the intended location of the cut tile to be inserted. The rods 20 are then moved into engagement with the other corner edge 66 and the measurement Z on the scale above the bar 26 above the corner of the tile 60 is noted. the apparatus is then transferred to the tile 64 with the measurement Z in line with the edge of the tile and the tile is marked between the ends of the rods 20. The intersection of the lines defines an area 68 of the tile 64 which will fit into the corner.

Figs. 20 to 26 show a method of shaping and cutting a tile to fit around a contoured perimeter edge. This method is described in relation to tiles which do not have spacer lugs and again therefore the bar 26 of the casing 10 has a thickness equal to twice the desired spacing between adjacent tiles.

Due to the irregular space to be filled being larger in size than a half tile the apparatus is first of all used according to the method described with reference to Figs. 7 to 9 but it is necessary to take further measurements at suitable datum points on the contoured perimeter edge as shown in Figs.

22 and 24. In each case the apparatus is offset relative to a respective edge of a previously fixed tile with the offset length being noted from the respective measurement scale 24 of the casing 10 and being taken into account when the measurements of the datum points are transferred to the tile to be cut.

In a modification (Fig. 27) the rods 20 are provided with ball joints 70 at their free ends and a scribing bar 72 is arranged for releasable connection to the rods 20 as shown. The bar 72 is formed from a resilient material such as plastics and has sockets 74 opening on to one side 76 to receive the respective ball joints 70 of the rods 20 in a snap fitment. To enable free movement of the scribing bar 72 the latter is provided with a fixed ball socket at one end having a flared mouth, and a slotted ball socket at the other end having a flared mouth. The bar 72 is faced with a plate 78 of metal or the like on the side 80 remote from the side 76 to provide a scribing edge for the marking and cutting of tiles, and the plate 78 is graduated in Imperial or metric measurement.

Referring to Figs. 28 and 29 of the drawings a second embodiment comprises a casing 100 preferably formed from a onepiece moulding of metal or a plastics material and being of substantially rectangular configuration. The casing 100 has a through transverse slot 102 wherein is located a slidable registering means in the form of an elongate trip 104 having a central longitudinal slot 106. The strip 104 can be releasably clamped to the casing 100 by means of a plate member 108 having a threaded projection 110 and being arranged such that the projection 110 extends through a bore located centrally of the casing 100 from below, also passing through the elongate slot -106 of the strip 104. A locking nut 112 is threaded on to the free end of the projection 110 and can be tightened to clamp the strip 104 in a desired position relative to the casing 100.

At each end of the strip 104 there is provided a through hole 114. A scribing bar 116 can be secured on to either end of the strip 104 by means of a threaded projection 118 on the bar 11 6, the projection 11 8 passing through the respective hole 114 and a locking nut 122 locating on the projection 11 8 to clamp the scribing bar 11 6 in the desired position. Alternatively a separate plate with a threaded projection may be provided with the projection arranged to pass through an aperture in the bar 116 and the respective hole 114.

The casing 100 has on each of its side edges, which are sloped for easier reading, a scale of Imperal or metric measurement, or any other units such as units equivalent to the thickness of a tile spacer lug, inscribed thereon. The casing 100 also has, projecting inwardly from one side edge, a longitudinal strip 1 24 or lugs. The scribing bar 116 has a scale of imperial or metric measurement or any other suitable units inscribed thereon.

When it is desired to cut a tile to fit a restricted space the apparatus is used in accordance with the methods described with reference to the first embodiment with the scribing bar 11 6 being pivotal about the respective end of the strip 104 to adjust to the shape of the perimeter. Where the perimeter does not enable the scribing bar 11 6 to be used it can simply be removed and the strip 104 used in conjunction with the scale edges of the casing 100 as described in the first embodiment.

In the modification shown in Figs. 32 and 33, the bar 116 is replaced by a pliable form-retaining bar 130 of any suitable construction which is retained in a form 132 of a member 134, the latter having a threaded projection 1 36 engageable through the respective hole 11 4 in the strip 104 with a locking nut 138.

The apparatus is used in accordance with the method previously described, the bar 130 being deformable (Figs. 34 to 39) into any desired shape of a fixture perimeter and, where appropriate, the measurement on the respective scale to point X', Y' or Z' being noted for positioning of the apparatus on the tile to be cut. Figs. 36 to 39 show the use of the apparatus to transfer the contours of a fixture such as a pipe to the tile to be cut.

As an alternative to the pliable bar, in the apparatus of the first embodiment a pliable wire may be stretched between corresponding ends of the register rods, being passed through holes therein for connection purposes.

When it is desired to cut a tile to fit a space of less than the width of the scribing bar 11 6, the shaping is carried out in accordance with the method shown in Figs. 30 to 31.

The casing 100 is placed with the locating strip 124 in line with the inside edge of that tile 126 which is adjacent to the space to be filled. The scribing bar is then moved until it is in contact along it full length with the perimeter edge and the locking nuts 112 and 118 are tightened, to lock the strip 104 and the scribing bar 116 in position.

The apparatus is then removed and a "dummy" or spacing tile 128 (Fig 31) is placed against the tile 130 which is to be cut. The strip 124 is placed with its inside edge against the edge of the tile 128 and the tile 130 is scored along the front edge of the scribing bar 11 6.

The third embodiment (Fig. 40) comprises a member in the form of a two-part casing 210 of substantially rectangular configuration and of generally inverted U-shape in cross section with closed ends. One part 212 of the casing 21 0 has a first or end section 214 through which registering means in the form of an elongate rod 21 6 extends transversely, passing through aligned holes in the opposed sides of the end section 214. The rod 216 is movable relative to the part 212 and can be retained in any desired position relative thereto.

The part 212 of the casing 210 also comprises a spigot section 21 8 of similar cross section to the end section 214 but dimensioned so as to be slidable fit within the other part 220 of the casing 210, the part 220 being of the same cross section as the end section 214. Further registering means in the form of an elongate rod 222 extends transversely through the part 220 adjacent to the closed end thereof, and, as with the rod 216, the rod 222 extends through aligned holes in the opposed sides of the part 220 and is movable relative to the latter but can be retained in any desired position.

The spigot section 218 has a central elongate slot 224 in the base of the U and a clamping member in the form of a threaded bolt 226 is located to extend upwardly through the slot 224 and through an aligned aperture in the part 220 with a locking nut 228 being located on the free end of the bolt 226. To accommodate tiles of different widths the locking nut 228 can be released to enable the parts 212, 220 to slide relative to one another by means of the location of the bolt 226 in the slot 224 and the parts can be clamped in any desired position simply by means of tightening the nut 228.

One side of the casing 210 is provided with locating means in the form of an integral bar 230 projecting downwardly of the casing 210 from said one side edge thereof. The bar 230 is formed in two parts and extends along the length of the end section 214 and the part 220 of the casing 210. Although the continuity of the bar 230 is broken when the parts 212, 220 are moved apart this does not inhibit the use of the tool.

;41so along the outer face of each side of the casing 210 there is inscribed thereon a scale of imperial or metric measurement 232, or a scale of any other unit such as units equivalent to the thickness of a tile spacer lug. The scale is continued on the outer faces of the sides of the spigot portion 218 so that the tool remains completely functional when the parts 212, 220 are moved apart. The continuity of the scale is broken but this is of no consequence as it,is used only to identify a point of reference for re-locating the apparatus against the tile to be cut It will be appreciated that the apparatus according to the invention can be used with tiles which have no spacer lugs as well as tiles which have spacer lugs, with the thickness of the locating bar being varied accordingly.It is envisaged that the same locating bar as would be used with tiles having spacer lugs could be used with tiles which have no spacer lugs provided an additional member was connected to the locating bars to increase its thickness. For tiles which are installed butt jointed, for example vinyl, asbestos, etc. the locating bar could be of minimum thickness and would be solely for locating the apparatus against the edges of the tiles.

It is also envisaged that any number of measuring rods can be used in the apparatus and indeed for uncommon or irregular sized and shaped tiles or installations an apparatus according to the invention may have only one measuring rod.

An apparatus as hereinbefore described has the following advantages:- (1) ability to register accurately, without the need for visual observation, the dimensions of a space, between the edge of an installed tile and a perimeter edge or fixture, which requires to be filled with a part tile; (2) it is capable of retaining the registration of the dimensions of the space so that they can be transferred to the face of the tile to be cut, in the same relationship as the part tile, when cut, will be placed into the installation, with the cut edge adjacent to the perimeter edge or fixture and with the spacer lug or finished edges against the other tiles and maintaining continuity of pattern, where applicable:: (3) it is capable of registering and transferring the dimensions of spaces varying from 0" to a full size tile, even where the variation is found in one space to be filled with one part tile; (4) it provides a means for registering and transferring the dimensions of spaces with acute angled, right angles, obtuse angled or contoured edges; (5) With ceramic tiles, it allows for the width required to maintain equal width joints throughout the installation, by mechanically adjusting the registered dimensions of the space in transferring the dimensions to the tile to be cut.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the measuring rods may be of any other suitable shape and the structure of the casing may be other than that shown although it is desirable to provide an arrangement wherein the rods are only longitudinally movable and can be retained in any adjusted position.

When used with tiles having spacer lugs on, for example, two adjacent sides only, i.e. the thickness of a spacer lug determines the spacing between adjacent tiles, the locating bar should have a thickness equal to that of a spacer lug.

Claims (29)

1. Apparatus for use in determining the shape of a tile for fitting into a restricted space on a fixture, said apparatus comprising a housing member provided with means for locating the apparatus against an edge of a tile and means adjustable relative to the housing member to register any spacing from full tile size to zero between the locating means and one or more individual locations on a fixture perimeter defining the restricted space which is to be tiled.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the registering means comprises a pair of elongate members retained in a spaced apart parallel relation in, and projecting from, the housing member and each being movable along its longitudinal axis relative to the housing member.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein further elongate members are provided in a spaced parallel relation at required intervals in, and projecting from, the housing member, each of the other elongate members being movable along its longitudinal axis relative to the housing member.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein a pliable form-retaining device is extended between adjacent ends of the elongate members.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , wherein the registering means comprises a single elongate member retained in and projecting from the housing member and being movable along its longitudinal axis relative to the housing member.

6. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the housing member includes means for applying pressure to the or each elongate member to provide a friction force which retains the or each elongate member in any position but which can be overcome by a manually applied force.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the means for applying pressure to the or each elongate member is a friction spring.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the means for applying pressure to the or each elongate member comprises a compressible material such as felt or nylon.

9. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 8 wherein the or each elongate member is located in a guide within the housing member to prevent any lateral or vertical movement.

10. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 9, wherein the or each elongate member has a length at least equal to the facial dimension of the tiles for which the apparatus is designed to be used.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, or any of Claims 6 to 10 when dependent on Claim 2 or 3, wherein the elongate members are adapted to raleasably mount a scribing bar between adjacent ends thereof.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the scribing bar is mounted on the elongate members by means of ball joints on the latter engageable within sockets in the scribing bar.

1 3. Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein at least one of thesockets in the scribing bar is slotted and each socket has a flared mouth.

14. Apparatus according to any of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the scribing bar has a scribing edge graduated in a scale of measurement.

1 5. Apparatus according to Claim 5, or any of Claims 6 to 10 when dependent on Claim 5, wherein the elongate member is adapted to mount a scribing bar at either end thereof by means of a releasable clamping arrangement.

1 6. Apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein the scribing bar has a scribing edge graduated in a scale of measurement.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 5, or any of Claims 6 to 10, when dependent of Claim 5, wherein the elongate member is adapted to mount a pliable form-retaining bar on either end thereof.

1 8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a dimension of the housing member is adjustable such that the apparatus can be used with tiles of different sizes.

1 9. Apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein the housing member comprises two parts which are slidable relative to one another along said dimension of the housing member and means are provided for releasably clamping the parts together in any desired position.

20. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the locating means on the housing member comprises a bar which extends at right angles to the direction in which the registering means is adjustable and projects from the housing member to be locatable against an edge of a tile.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein for use with tiles having spacers at the edges thereof, the bar has a thickness equal to the desired spacing between adjacent tiles.

22. Apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein, for use with tiles which have no spacers but which have to be spaced apart in use, the bar has a thickness equal to twice the desired spacing between adjacent tiles.

23. Apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein, for use with tiles desired to be butt jointed, the bar has a minimum thickness.

24. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein on each of two opposed side edges extending at right angles to the direction of adjustment of the registering means, the housing member is provided with a scale of measurement.

25. Apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein the scales of measurement originates at the same end of the housing member.

26. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing member has projections on an upper face to enable gripping by the hand.

27. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing member is formed of a moulded plastics material or alloy.

28. Apparatus for use in determining the shape of a tile for fitting into a restricted space on a fixture, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the the preceding claims.